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A group of Christian church investors is planning to put pressure on companies which have no women directors or a questionable record on tax.
The Church Investors Group has pension fund members with £21bn in assets.
It says it will vote against chairmen and women of boards of big companies which have poor polices on tax transparency and climate change.
It will also vote against pay reports which do not disclose the ratio of pay between top bosses and workers.
The Church Investors Group (CIG) has 67 members including the pension funds for the Church of England and the Methodist Church.
"Ultimately a company's license to operate depends on the confidence of the public and its long-term contribution to the common good," said Canon Edward Carter, chair of CIG.
"As asset owners, we will continue to press with our votes the need for companies to act responsibly and work not only for the benefit of shareholders, but also contribute to the wider common good in both the short and long term," he said.
CIG says it has told FTSE 350 companies - the largest companies publicly traded in London - of its plans.
It will also include Russell 50 companies - an index of the biggest US companies - when it comes to tax transparency.
Large companies will soon have their annual meetings where shareholders will be called to vote on board membership, pay for top executives and to accept annual results.
The CIG says its members will vote against the chairs of FTSE 350 and Russell 50 companies with a score of zero for tax transparency in the FTSE ESG ratings, which look at environmental, social and governance matters.
Currently, that includes Exxon, Amazon and Broadcom, the Financial Times reported.
The CIG also said it wanted to "take a hard line on excessive executive remuneration" and that it "continues to have concerns about CEOs receiving pension payments that are more generous than those made to other staff".
The Church of England has a £8.3bn investment fund, which it says it invests in an "ethical and responsible way".
The Church holds investments in firms including pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, the bank HSBC, supermarket Tesco, as well as tech firms Microsoft and Samsung.
However, it has been criticised for some of its investments.
In September, the Church said it was keeping its shares in Amazon - a day after the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the firm was "leeching off the taxpayer".
The archbishop had questioned Amazon's tax record.
In 2014, the commissioners sold around £75,000 of shares in failed payday lender Wonga after the archbishop pledged to "put it out of business".
He had admitted to being "embarrassed" and "irritated" when details of the link emerged in 2013.
Ben Angel and his team created a massive survey of entrepreneurs. Here are the results.
March 1, 2019 1 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
We surveyed 10,000 entrepreneurs and what we uncovered was shocking. 46 percent are struggling with low energy, fatigue, depression and biological and psychological challenges.
This is impacting not just their behavior, but their psychological wellbeing, thus leading them to procrastinate, experience brain fog and fatigue. In this video, bestselling author of Unstoppable, Ben Angel breaks down these results and shares what they mean for your ability to succeed in business and in life.
Related: What Really Causes Depression?
Entrepreneur Network is a premium video network providing entertainment, education and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. We provide expertise and opportunities to accelerate brand growth and effectively monetize video and audio content distributed across all digital platforms for the business genre.
EN is partnered with hundreds of top YouTube channels in the business vertical. Watch video from our network partners on demand on Roku, Apple TV and the Entrepreneur App available on iOS and Android devices.
The chief financial officer of China's tech giant Huawei is suing Canada over her arrest at the request of the US.
Meng Wanzhou was held in December at Vancouver airport on suspicion of fraud and breaching US sanctions on Iran.
On Friday Ms Meng filed a civil claim against Canada's government, border agency and police for "serious breaches" of her civil rights.
It came on the same day that Canada officially launched Meng Wanzhou's extradition process to the US.
China has attacked Ms Meng's arrest and the extradition process as a "political incident". She denies all the charges against her.
Ms Meng's claim - filed in British Columbia's Supreme Court on Friday - seeks damages against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the federal government for allegedly breaching her civil rights under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
She says CBSA officers held, searched and questioned her at the airport under false pretences before she was arrested by the RCMP.
Her detention was "unlawful" and "arbitrary", the suit says, and officers "intentionally failed to advise her of the true reasons for her detention, her right to counsel, and her right to silence".
Ms Meng, 47, will next appear in court on Wednesday, when it will be confirmed that Canada has issued a legal writ over her extradition to the US. A date for an extradition hearing will be set.
But this is still the early stages. A judge must authorise her committal for extradition and the justice minister would then decide whether to surrender her to the US.
There will be chances for appeal and some cases have dragged on for years.
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The US alleges Huawei misled the US and a global bank about its relationship with two subsidiaries, Huawei Device USA and Skycom Tech, to conduct business with Iran.
US President Donald Trump's administration has reinstated all sanctions on Iran removed under a 2015 nuclear deal and recently imposed even stricter measures, hitting oil exports, shipping and banks.
It also alleges Huawei stole technology from T Mobile used to test smartphone durability, as well as obstructing justice and committing wire fraud.
In all, the US has laid 23 charges against the company.
Some Western nations are reviewing business with the firm over spying concerns, although Huawei has always maintained it acts independently.
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The arrest has seriously strained relations between China, and the US and Canada.
Beijing says it is an "abuse of the bilateral extradition treaty" between Canada and the US, and has expressed its "resolute opposition" and "strong dissatisfaction" with the proceedings.
China also says the accusations against Huawei, the world's second biggest smartphone maker by volume, are a "witch-hunt".
Two Canadian citizens are thought to have been detained in China in retaliation for the arrest.
China and the US are also engaged in tough trade negotiations to end a major tariff dispute.
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You can't control everything that happens during the day but you can control how it begins.
March 4, 2019 8 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Everyone approaches their morning differently. Some people wake up excited to start their day. Others like to ease into their day more gradually. No matter how you like to start your morning, there are things you can do to ensure every day gets off to a great start.
A good morning routine will help you feel relaxed, alert and energized. Starting your morning on the right foot means creating a feeling of happiness that you can carry with you all day long. Your morning routine should include not only getting ready, but also making space for feeling joy and feeling mentally and physically prepared to take on whatever the world has in store for you.
Start your day off the right way with these 9 habits that happy people use to get their morning going. (Hint: It’s not about gulping coffee and running out the door.)
An exhausted person isn’t a happy person. Nothing will kill your happiness faster than waking up tired and grumpy. If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, you’re probably starting your day drained and irritated. It’s hard to have a positive outlook when all you want to do is crawl back into bed.
A good night’s sleep is like a magical elixir for your physical health, and is key to your overall sense of happiness and well-being. Research has shown that sleep is one of the most effective ways to improve concentration, strengthen the immune system and improve a person’s mood and feeling of well-being.
However, not getting enough sleep impairs memory and increases levels of stress hormones. So, the first step to creating a happy, cheerful morning is ensuring you get enough quality sleep the night before. Set a sleep schedule for yourself and stick to it -- your happiness may depend on it.
Related: Too Much Sleep Can Kill You, Scientists Say
Happy people begin each day anew. They wake up with the mindset that each day is a new beginning -- a chance to move forward and not let past failures weigh them down. Yesterday may have been a rotten day, but that doesn’t mean today has to be.
Happy people start their day with an affirmation. They declare from the outset how they want their day to go. A positive morning affirmation can be a powerful way to start your day feeling confident and ready for success. Examples include:
Waking up with a feeling of gratitude ensures you start your day in good spirits. A thankful heart is a happy heart. Gratitude is powerful because it’s both a feeling and an action. Actively thinking about things you’re grateful for, in turn, makes you feel grateful. It’s a positive thought loop that’s easy to practice and has beneficial effects on your physical and mental health.
You can wake up feeling grateful by simply taking a moment when you first open your eyes to look about and feel a swell of appreciation for everything around you. Recognize how wonderful this moment is, and how good it feels to be here. Today is a gift, and you can do with it what you will. You can choose to make the most of it. You can choose happiness. Take a moment to acknowledge all you have and see the possibilities of the day before you.
Happy people don’t frantically tear around trying to get ready at breakneck speed and then rush out the door, already late for their first meeting or appointment of the day. Doing this will set you up for feeling stressed out and harried all day long. Starting the day with a contented and peaceful attitude requires you to have time to wake up properly and to get ready at a calm and measured pace.
Happy people tend to keep their routine simple and manageable. A complex routine is hard to stick to and can leave you feeling anxious and exasperated first thing in the morning. Cut out multitasking and reject unneeded distractions, like checking and returning email while trying to get ready. Do one thing at a time. Keep your morning uncomplicated and as stress-free as possible so you’ll set yourself up to be in a good mood all day long.
Related: The 10-Minute Morning Routine That Will Clear Your Mind
Daily meditation, whether it’s a quick five-minute practice or a lengthier session, can help create a contented and happy mind. Spending time meditating each morning improves focus, increases self-esteem and confidence, and quiets the cacophony of mental angst and turbulence we are constantly contending with. You can meditate at any time of day, but it’s best to do it in the morning so you’re sure to get it in, and so you can benefit from its effects throughout the day.
To begin the practice of meditation, start by sitting quietly in a comfortable position or in a chair for two minutes every morning. This is a chance for you to check in with how you're feeling, both in your mind and body. Be focused on the moment. Turn your attention to your breaths or do a body scan, focusing on one body part at a time. Recognize your thoughts and feelings, and maintain a loving attitude toward yourself. Meditation is a chance to get to know yourself and be aware of each moment you are in.
Related: 7 Proven Ways Meditating Prepares You for Success
Before you dive into a long day of work, make sure you take time to get some exercise in. Some people find that fresh air first thing in the morning brightens their mood all day. Try a brisk walk, a run around the block or a trip to the gym. Other people may prefer to start their day with a home workout, such as stretching or yoga.
Morning exercise gets your blood flowing and gives you a boost of energy for the day. Exercise also releases feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These may buffer feelings of stress and anxiety, and help relieve symptoms of depression. Research has shown that working out improves how we feel about our bodies and gives us a sense of well-being.
It may sound silly, but beginning your day by making your bed can set you up for feeling ready to take on the world. According to one survey of 2,000 Americans, bed makers tend to be adventurous, confident and sociable. People who don’t make their beds tend to be shy, moody and sarcastic.
Many successful people recommend making your bed as a simple way to start the day off on the right foot. For example, Tim Ferriss has said that the simple act of bed making teaches us that it’s the little things in life that matter.
US Navy SEAL commander Admiral William H. McRaven gave a now-famous commencement speech at the University of Texas in which he said that making your bed is so powerful because it gives you a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning. It encourages you to take on even more tasks and motivates you to get more done in life.
You’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s true. Eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism and gets your body and mind prepped for a busy day. Research has found that breakfast eaters have better diets and consume more fruit and vegetables than those who don’t eat breakfast.
But just as important, a nourished body leads to an improved mood. Eating breakfast also sends a positive message to yourself that you are taking care of your health and well-being. You’ll find you can concentrate better if you start the day with a healthy meal. You’ll be less likely to feel fatigued and get that “hangry” feeling mid-morning, which leads to overeating at lunch. The best breakfasts pair carbs with proteins to get your body fueled and ready to go.
Happy people often have a sense of purpose. They aren’t wandering aimlessly through life; they work each day to make progress and accomplish their tasks. It feels satisfying to have set priorities for yourself and strive to meet milestones. Happy people make sure they begin their day by setting goals for themselves. What do you want to accomplish today? What is the most efficient and effective use of your time?
Make it a point to spend a few minutes each morning determining what you want to do that day. Be sure to think through your to-do list carefully -- often we spend too much time on things that aren’t really important. Focus on what matters and make sure you’re scheduling downtime. After all, the secret to lasting happiness is finding ways to enjoy each day in its entirety.
It's FriYAY!! What are your plans and how are you going to enjoy your weekend? Comment below! #Friday #enjoy #weekend
A group of Christian church investors is planning to put pressure on companies which have no women directors or a questionable record on tax.
The Church Investors Group has pension fund members with £21bn in assets.
It says it will vote against chairmen and women of boards of big companies which have poor polices on tax transparency and climate change.
It will also vote against pay reports which do not disclose the ratio of pay between top bosses and workers.
The Church Investors Group (CIG) has 67 members including the pension funds for the Church of England and the Methodist Church.
"Ultimately a company's license to operate depends on the confidence of the public and its long-term contribution to the common good," said Canon Edward Carter, chair of CIG.
"As asset owners, we will continue to press with our votes the need for companies to act responsibly and work not only for the benefit of shareholders, but also contribute to the wider common good in both the short and long term," he said.
CIG says it has told FTSE 350 companies - the largest companies publicly traded in London - of its plans.
It will also include Russell 50 companies - an index of the biggest US companies - when it comes to tax transparency.
Large companies will soon have their annual meetings where shareholders will be called to vote on board membership, pay for top executives and to accept annual results.
The CIG says its members will vote against the chairs of FTSE 350 and Russell 50 companies with a score of zero for tax transparency in the FTSE ESG ratings, which look at environmental, social and governance matters.
Currently, that includes Exxon, Amazon and Broadcom, the Financial Times reported.
The CIG also said it wanted to "take a hard line on excessive executive remuneration" and that it "continues to have concerns about CEOs receiving pension payments that are more generous than those made to other staff".
The Church of England has a £8.3bn investment fund, which it says it invests in an "ethical and responsible way".
The Church holds investments in firms including pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, the bank HSBC, supermarket Tesco, as well as tech firms Microsoft and Samsung.
However, it has been criticised for some of its investments.
In September, the Church said it was keeping its shares in Amazon - a day after the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the firm was "leeching off the taxpayer".
The archbishop had questioned Amazon's tax record.
In 2014, the commissioners sold around £75,000 of shares in failed payday lender Wonga after the archbishop pledged to "put it out of business".
He had admitted to being "embarrassed" and "irritated" when details of the link emerged in 2013.
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When deciding on long- and short-term goals, perhaps the Goldilocks and the Three Bears fable best exemplifies a healthy process.
If you aim too high, not attaining them can be too hot.
Aim too low, and your motivation could get cold.
Setting the best goals for your needs is a lot like serving porridge, it needs to be just right.
That being said, there is no right recipe or perfect temperature that works for everyone.
Goals, like porridge, is not a one type fits all product. The happy medium goal for each of us can be vastly different from that of others.
Although one common way of thinking is to avoid overreach, aiming too small can also be problematic.
Consider these ways to identify goals that are lacking in some sense.
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Striving for improvement, achievement and success are inherently difficult.
The underlying idea about setting and reaching life goals is that these things take effort.
Making a hardboiled egg requires putting water in a pan, turning on the stove, dropping in an egg and waiting.
The little feeling that occurs during the egg-boiling process hardly sets your blood coursing through your veins.
Small, everyday duties do not inspire us or push our limits in the slightest.
When your goals do not ask you to work harder, maintain a laser focus or get the blood pumping, it’s important to aim a tad higher.
A healthy goal forces us a little out of our comfort zone.
Consider a goal of increasing your wealth by 1 percent or taking a 10-day vacation over last year’s one-week getaway.
Such modest changes would hardly result in a significant improvement on the financial or leisure fronts. That’s because they are not even remotely game changers.
Robust goals take your current situation and enhance it to a noticeable level.
For example, a 5-percent income boost might help you build a deck, purchase a new car or travel to a faraway tropical island for a dream vacation.
A 10-percent uptick could do even more.
While money and leisure are among the more common tangible measures, vibrant goals result in a life change that you experience on a personal level.
Goals that don’t impact you in a meaningful fashion are often too small.
If you have ever played sports or competed in some manner, the feeling that the game is on the line is a moment of pure passion.
You want to win and so do others. You all feel amped, and life goals should be no different.
This is not to say that everyday people need to try out for the NFL to gain a high level of motivation.
But inspirational goals garner your focus and call on your inner self to focus and stay on task.
They have a pull that draws your attention and makes you want to achieve.
One of the indicators that a goal is too small trails back to your lack of enthusiasm.
The idea of getting more fit or earning more money sounds great.
It may even look good as one sentence on a piece of paper in a fortune cookie sort of way.
But serious goals include some level of detail that underscore your determination to reach them.
Take the example of losing 10 pounds in the upcoming year.
A general idea is fine, but specifics about dietary changes, exercise regimens, and other essential details about how to get from today to the day you earn the win are often necessary.
Such information also helps hold your feet to the fire, so to speak.
Without details, details, details, your goal may be too small.
When developing a committed action plan to set and achieve goals, it’s important that your expectations are realistic, substantial efforts are required, and you are fully invested.
There’s no reason your porridge should be too hot or too cold.
Not sure where to start? Download my SMART Goals Template below and take the right steps towards achieving all of your goals!
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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and Youtube.
A single mother herself, this contributor starts out with the tip, 'You're not alone.'
March 1, 2019 7 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Some years ago, early in my career, I was just starting a demanding new job when I had a conversation with my then-boss that is forever etched onto my brain. My son was 6 at the time, and I thought it best to proactively mention that in the case of an illness or emergency, I might need to leave work early to tend to him.
Related: How a Rude Boss Can Hamper Your Parenting Style
I had had my son in my fourth year of college at UCLA and was a young, single mother trying to juggle many responsibilities while providing for my child.
Though I see now that there was no reason to disclose this fact to my leadership -- I should have had every right to take care of my child when necessary -- I thought at the time that I was doing the right thing, being transparent. Unfortunately, my boss’s reaction was jarring.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a son?” was the curt, annoyed reply. This person was visibly flustered that I had a personal obligation that might, on occasion, distract me from my work. And, what’s worse, this person was a woman.
This woman was also very career-focused, with impressive work experience, yet sadly someone who would never be an advocate for me as a single, working mom. Not in that moment, and not at any time after.
That's too bad because, as mothers, we hope and expect that our fellow women will embrace and uplift us -- especially when we're simultaneously juggling two jobs, as full-time worker and full-time single parent. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with this boss and still isn’t the case for so many women today.
Related: Coaching and Parenting Have Similar Goals But It's a Big Mistake to Do Them the Same Way
The lesson I took from that experience is that the battle for support, acknowledgment and understanding is very real, very present and not something to be expected just of our male bosses and counterparts.
Thankfully, I’ve never been the type to let these kinds of experiences weigh me down. I retain them as important lessons but don’t allow them to color my attitude or steal my joy. While I’ve encountered my share of naysayers, I’m fortunate to have been supported and uplifted by a great many men and women throughout my life. I wish the same kind of support, resilience and optimism for every one of the 10 million single working mothers in the United States today.
That’s not to say we don’t have every right to feel drained by the demands of our dual responsibilities. After all, recent studies have shown that we single working moms are putting in approximately 100 hours of labor every week, between work and home. But I want us to take a moment to acknowledge our courage, strength and perseverance, and to find the positive in what can seem like a hopelessly exhausting situation. These four steps are a good start.
Women today comprise approximately 47 percent of the American workforce. An estimated 70 percent of American mothers with children under 18 participate in the workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and 75 percent of that group are employed full-time.
Of course, nearly all working mothers juggle “second shift” responsibilities at home -- caring for kids, managing the household, cooking, cleaning, caring for relatives, engaging with the community and more. Some of us have help from a partner, and some of us don’t. And those of us doing it all alone are often stressed to the gills in an effort to get it all right.
According to a study from Pew Research, 8 in 10 adults surveyed said that women face a lot of pressure to be an involved parent (as compared to only 56 percent who said the same about men). A 2018 study on motherhood from Welch’s found that the average working mom’s day begins at 6:23 a.m. and doesn’t stop until about 8:31 p.m.. That translates to approximately 14 hours of nonstop work and home duties. And let’s not forget: Our work doesn’t stop when the weekend comes or a holiday arrives.
Take out a piece of paper and make a list of what you’ve done in the last week. Start with your work tasks, the mundane as well as the noteworthy. Then start listing your household and childcare tasks. Include that third load of laundry and the second reading of a favorite bedtime story (the one in which you performed all the characters’ voices, by request).
Don’t forget the nutritious meals you prepared, the life lessons you've taught, the appropriate discipline you've doled out, the picking up of all those pesky Legos. And, finally, include everything you've done to take care of yourself and others: the skincare routine you dutifully carried out, even though it was 11 p.m. and you were dead tired; that call you placed to the aunt you haven’t spoken to in a while; your successful efforts to avoid the doughnuts in the breakroom in favor of a healthy lunch.
Then, when you’ve combed through your memories of the week to include everything you’ve done, take a step back and examine the list as an outsider looking in. Try to see the list for what it really is -- the achievements of a woman who is killing it. A real-life super hero.
hankfully, a growing number of businesses are waking up to the workplace needs of single working moms. Smart companies are expanding their benefits and culture to accommodate parents' unique challenges, and reaping tangible benefits (including better employee engagement and lower turnover, as seen at Google). Then there are companies, like Nike and Patagonia, which offer onsite child care for employees -- a major draw for single mothers and parents overall.
Smaller companies can't necessarily afford on-site daycare but some of the things they might consider are:
Moms (and dads) should push for these benefits and offer positive feedback to their employers when they get them. Having a safe place to leave your child on those federal holidays that many companies don't offer, for example, can be a major stress reliever.
For all that you did this week, and all that you do throughout life, you deserve more than just a pat on the back. Frankly, you deserve a deep-tissue massage, a bottle of rosé and an uninterrupted Netflix binge. But if those things aren't possible today, just take a moment and seriously acknowledge your efforts.
Related: These 4 Startups Are Taking The Pain Out Of Parenting
Don’t let the critical voices -- whether outside or inside -- bring you down. You may not be doing everything you’d ideally like to do, you may be tired every day, and you may sometimes feel like you’re failing. But I’m here to tell you that I see your achievements and your sacrifices, and many others do, too. To the single working mother discouraged by the lack of support at her workplace, or the mom who is desperately reaching for a helping hand, I say: You are more powerful than you can even imagine. And you’re demonstrating your awe-inspiring power every single day.
Happy Monday! Let’s kick this week off with something great! Write your words of wisdom below! #mondaymotivation #Monday
The UK will not lower food standards to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the US, the government says.
It comes after Washington published its objectives for a US-UK trade pact.
The US wants "comprehensive market access" for its farmers' products that would see more US-made food on British supermarket shelves.
European Union rules currently limit US exports of certain food products, including chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-boosted beef.
If free of EU trade rules, the US want the UK to remove such so-called "sanitary and physiosanitary" standards on imported goods.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We have always been very clear that we will not lower our food standards as part of a future trading agreement."
America's National Farmers Union has always maintained that its chicken and beef, which uses processes banned by the EU, is "perfectly safe" and argues there has been a lot of "fear-mongering".
However, its British counterpart, the National Farmers Union, said the UK government should not accept an American deal "which allows food to be imported into this country produced in ways which would be illegal here".
Amy Mount from Greener UK, an environmental lobby group, said: "This wish-list shows that a hard-Brexit pivot away from the EU in favour of the US would mean pressure to scrap important protections for our environment and food quality.
"Any future trade deals should reflect the high standards that the UK public both wants and expects."
The 18-page negotiating stance from Washington also demands that the pound should not be "manipulated" to improve trade income or make UK products cheaper in the US.
US President Donald Trump has previously been outspoken about China "unfairly" using its currency to improve its trade balance - arguing that it keeps the yuan artificially low to make its goods cheaper to sell abroad.
His team has included similar demands in its trade negotiations with Japan.
Another demand from President Trump's negotiators is for the NHS to not "discriminate" against US pharmaceuticals and medical devices when purchasing goods and services.
The negotiating objectives, published by the office of US trade representative Robert Lighthizer, are only an initial move in what may be lengthy negotiations between Washington and London.
The US-UK trade relationship is currently worth £173bn annually.
Doing your due diligence before buying a company will earn you bargaining powerand help you avoid unforeseen problems. Here's what you need to know.
March 1, 2019 5 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Andrew Cagnetta bought his first business -- a pasta shop in Wethersfield, Conn. -- at age 25 and quickly realized he hadn't done his homework thoroughly enough. Although he stuck to the shop's original recipes and products, customers began complaining that the recipes had changed. Sales declined, and in less than two years, Cagnetta and his cousin, the co-owner, ended up selling the store.
They had bought the shop from two elderly women who had run it for years, not realizing how integral the previous owners had been to its success. "One question I should have asked [the previous owners] was what do they think drove people to the store?" Cagnetta says.
He would never make that mistake again. 22 years later, he now owns Transworld Business Advisors in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which helps buyers ask the right questions before buying a business. "There are no stupid questions," Cagnetta says. "The more questions you ask, the less risk there will be."
Where to begin? Here are 10 key questions to ask sellers before agreeing to buy their business.
Workers who sign gagging orders in return for pay-offs from their firms will still be able to report wrongdoing to the police under new proposals.
The government has said it will bring in legal measures to protect workers from the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
It wants to enshrine in law that people cannot be prevented from reporting crimes, harassment or discrimination.
Topshop boss Sir Philip Green has been at the centre of controversy over NDAs.
It emerged in October last year that the businessman had used them to buy the silence of at least five members of staff who accused him of sexual and racial harassment.
Last month, Sir Philip abandoned legal action against the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which had first reported the allegations against him.
The government's measures, announced by Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst, also include extending the law to ensure that workers agreeing to NDAs receive independent advice on their limitations.
"Many businesses use Non-Disclosure Agreements and other confidentiality agreements for legitimate business reasons, such as to protect confidential information," said Ms Tolhurst.
"What is completely unacceptable is the misuse of these agreements to silence victims, and there is increasing evidence that this is becoming more widespread.
"Our new proposals will help to tackle this problem by making it clear in law that victims cannot be prevented from speaking to the police or reporting a crime and clarifying their rights."
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Some car buyers are being overcharged by more than £1,000 when they take out a loan to buy a car, the UK's financial watchdog has warned.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the industry practice of allowing dealers to set their own interest rates was costing consumers £300m a year.
Dealers overcharge to boost their commission, the FCA concluded.
But the Finance and Leasing Association said the watchdog's survey was "based largely on out-of-date information".
The regulator launched its investigation into the car finance market in April 2017 after there was a rapid surge in consumer credit led by car dealership finance.
At the time, it said it was concerned about a lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
In its final findings on motor finance, the FCA concluded that the widespread use of commission models, which allow brokers discretion to set the customer's interest rate and thus earn higher commission, can lead to conflicts of interest that are not controlled adequately by lenders.
It said the practice can lead to customers paying significantly more for their motor finance.
Jonathan Davidson of the FCA said: "We found that some motor dealers are overcharging unsuspecting customers over a thousand pounds in interest charges in order to obtain bigger commission payouts for themselves.
"We also have concerns that firms may be failing to meet their existing obligations in relation to pre-contract disclosure and explanations, and affordability assessments.
"This is simply not good enough and we expect firms to review their operations to address our concerns."
Four-fifths of new car finance deals are now what are known as Personal Contract Purchase, or PCP.
Instead of buying a car outright, a PCP allows consumers to rent a car over a three or four-year period.
At the end of the period consumers can buy the car for its residual value (known as a "balloon" payment), hand the car back, or roll over the residual value into a new PCP on a new vehicle.
But problems have arisen because lenders have allowed brokers to set interest rates on the PCP agreements.
The FCA estimated that on a typical motor finance agreement of £10,000, higher broker commission can result in the customer paying around £1,100 more in interest charges over a four-year term of an agreement.
The FCA said it was assessing the options for intervening in the market.
Options include strengthening existing rules or other steps such as banning certain types of commission model or limiting broker discretion.
In the meantime, the regulator said it would deal with individual firms where problems were identified, but it expects all lenders and brokers to review the way they do business to make sure they comply with the law and treat customers fairly.
The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), a UK trade body for asset finance, consumer finance and motor finance, said that the FCA's survey work was "based largely on out-of-date information, and therefore does not reflect the very considerable progress the market has already made in moving away from such structures".
The FCA analysed contracts between lenders and dealers from 2013 to 2016 and examined lenders' data from January 2017 to July 2018.
The FLA added: "We look forward to working with the FCA as it modernises its regulations in line with market best practice."
New week, new goals! Work on being a better you this week! #mondayvibes #newweek
It's doesn't matter how good your product is if nobody has heard about it.
March 4, 2019 5 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You can have the best products and services in your industry. You can have an impressive website. You can have the experience and knowledge that your customers need. You can have all the elements that it takes to grow a business but it won’t happen without good marketing.
Your marketing plan and efforts are what separates a successful business from those that won’t make it. You can’t generate revenue if no one sees what you offer. You’ve been exposed to good marketing and it’s the reason why you’ve purchased products and services. You see it every day from big brands and companies.
Marketing can be expensive. You can pay for advertising and hire professionals. But, there are also ways to market your business for free and these strategies can be highly-effective if implemented. You can use these strategies right now to grow your customer base and bring in more sales.
Related: This Is the Main Reason Few Entrepreneurs Achieve Explosive Revenue Growth Online
According to Podcast Insights, 44 percent of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast. On average, 73 million people in the United States listen to podcasts every month. The numbers are even more staggering when you factor in global listenership.
This creates a great marketing opportunity for entrepreneurs.
You have the opportunity to pitch a podcast, get interviewed on that show and market your business to new potential customers. Podcast listeners are great because they’re engaged. They are likelier to subscribe to the guest's email lists, follow the guest on social media and seriously consider buying the guest's products and services.
There is no shortage of podcasts you can pitch but many entrepreneurs get it wrong when they pitch. They send pitches that lead with who they are and what they do. No one cares. Instead, lead your pitch with the specific value and takeaways you can bring to that podcaster’s audience.
Show them how you’ll educate their listeners on your topic. You’ll get your chance to promote your business at the end of the show after you’ve added value. That’s how marketing should work, anyhow. You can find shows looking for guests using free services such as Radio Guest List. You can also find shows on iTunes that match your topic and start pitching.
Again, lead with what's in it for the podcaster.
Related: 7 Tips for Getting Interviewed on Top Podcasts in Your Industry
If neither your online audience or potential customer base offline is very big, then go where there already is an established audience. The idea is to take your expertise and train someone else’s large audience. That entrepreneur would be willing to agree to this kind of arrangement because of the value their audience would be getting.
You can train in large Facebook groups. You can create content for large media publications that get millions of monthly visitors. You can do joint-webinars. There are many ways to leverage an already established audience and create a win-win scenario. Use this strategy. It’s free and can get you exposure to millions of people rather quickly.
Related: 4 Things Editors Are Looking When They Read Your Pitch
Not enough entrepreneurs harness the power of strong content. Good audio, video and written content can be leveraged and repurposed. While it can take some work on the front-end, content will pay dividends to your business by helping potential customers to know, like and trust you. It starts the buying process in their mind. Good content gets shared in many places, which creates word-of-mouth marketing for you. That’s a warmer way to market.
Don’t skimp. You can give away a lot in your free content and customers will still buy to get handholding and/or the next steps. Creating good content is free and will market your business far and wide when distributed on social media, through media exposure and to your email list.
If this is going to be a year of explosive growth for your business, you’re going to need to step up your marketing. The good thing is that you can use these three free strategies, and many more, to bring new eyeballs to you and your business.
Get clear on what you offer and who it’s for. You can then find that group and show them why they should pay attention to you. Use marketing because it works.
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The owner of Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner is to close 27 restaurants putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
The brands will enter a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) and close almost a third of their 87 restaurants.
Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) said sales had improved at the chains since they were acquired in 2016, but several sites remained unprofitable.
Tom Crowley, chief executive of BRG, said: "The CVA is the only option to protect the company."
He added: "The combination of increasing costs and over-supply of restaurants in the sector and a softening of consumer demand have all contributed to the challenges both these brands face."
The proposal to enter a CVA will be put to a creditor vote, with advisers from KPMG overseeing the insolvency process.
BRG snapped up Giraffe from Tesco in 2016, before combining it with Ed's Easy Diner, which it had bought in a pre-pack administration the same year.
The two brands form a combined entity, which in the most recently available accounts had annual turnover of £67.1m with underlying losses of £1.6m.
The company owns 70 branches of the two chains, with 17 franchised restaurants unaffected by the CVA.
Will Wright, restructuring partner at KPMG, said: "This CVA seeks to address the cost of the company's leasehold obligations across a number of unprofitable sites, and if successful, will put the business on a surer financial footing."
Creditors will vote on the proposal on 21 March with at least 75% needed to approve it for the CVA to proceed.
BRG also owns other brands, which are not involved in this CVA. These include fish and chip restaurant Harry Ramsden and the upmarket Cinnamon Collection.
It is also the master franchisee for US brand Slim Chickens, which first opened in the UK last year.
BRG is owned by "chicken king" Ranjit Boparan, who also owns the 2 Sister group, which supplies food to supermarkets such as Aldi, Asda, Co-op, KFC, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
Last year, rising costs and tougher competition led to several restaurant brands shutting branches, including Prezzo, Jamie's Italian, Byron, Carluccio's, Gaucho and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
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'The rich are different from you and me,' F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said. Apparently they're different from one another, as well.
March 1, 2019 5 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
To the average person, "millionaire" and "billionaire" sound similar; they're both people with money, right? And, indeed, both have access to far more wealth than the average citizen, and neither may have to worry about money ever again.
Related: 6 Money Tips From Self-Made Billionaires
Furthermore, because entrepreneurship is often the route to wealth accumulation, both may have earned their way to riches the same way. Yet while their monikers "millionaire" and "billionaire" sound the same, there are in fact significant differences between the two.
For starters, the difference between a million versus a billion dollars is immense. To put it in context, consider that one million seconds amount to 11.5 days, while one billion total 31.5 years!. A billionaire could give his or her wealth away and make 1,000 new millionaires overnight.
Further, there are 2,200 billionaires on the planet, according to a CNBC report; and while some of these wealthy elite gained their status from a family inheritance, many of the top-ranked billionaires are entirely self-made through entrepreneurial endeavors. So, what separates these hyper-successful entrepreneurs from millionaires, who are also considered successful?
These are some of the most important factors distinguishing billionaires from millionaires:
First, it's important to consider the billionaire’s goals and commitments. Very few people become one accidentally; instead, billionaires tend to relentlessly pursue wealth, and refuse to compromise to achieve it. Consider the entrepreneur who grows an innovative tech startup for a few years, then gets an acquisition offer from a major tech company for, say, $15 million.
This isn’t exactly rare; Alphabet makes a dozen or more such acquisitions every year. A “typical” entrepreneur might cash out and take the $15 million as a personal victory (and early retirement). A billionaire, however, setting his or her sights higher or living out a commitment to the business's core idea, might reject the $15 million in hopes of obtaining something better, or growing the business further.
Related: Billionaires Like Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos and Mark Cuban Live by Ancient Stoic Philosophy
Though these rejections don’t always pan out, you can’t become a billionaire by settling to be (just) a millionaire.
What should also be considered is the scale on which billionaires operate. If we consider profit as a product of both efficiency and impact, then the more locations your business reaches, the more money you’re going to make. Owning a chain of restaurants in one state might make you a millionaire, but you’ll need to change the world on an international scale if you want to be a billionaire.
Billionaires rarely make their riches by starting just one business. In some cases, they experience a crushing failure and apply the lessons learned from that failure to future endeavors (see: Bill Gates’s Traf-o-Data). In other cases, they settle for selling a company for a few million dollars, only to roll those funds into bigger, better startup ideas (see: Elon Musk’s path through Zip2, Compaq and X.com).
They’re not only willing but eager to repeat the entrepreneurial process over and over again to achieve success.
There’s a reason why so many lottery winners end up losing everything. It’s because poor financial habits and decisions end up bankrupting them no matter how much money they start with (conversely, good financial habits and financial decisions can put you ahead even with a modest income).
Billionaires -- when they first reach millionaire status -- tend to avoid spending lavishly or wasting their money, which makes it easier to grow their wealth even more and retain what they’ve acquired. Some even take this practice to an extreme: Warren Buffett, for example, still lives in the Omaha, Neb., house he bought for just $30,000 in 1958.
You don’t become a billionaire by just "getting the job done." That level of wealth requires you to constantly come up with new ideas; adapt and refine your ideas when challenged; and put in long, hard hours throughout the entire process. While plenty of millionaires can certainly be described as passionate, their level of passion often pales in comparison to that of billionaires (think: Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Meg Whitman).
Passion was always a big motivator for people like these, and kept them moving forward even after their initial success.
Related: 7 Real-Life Business Lessons You Can Learn From Billionaires
Is luck a factor in the success of a billionaire versus a millionaire? This is a hard question to answer, and one that’s been examined in at least one scientific study. Luck is objectively hard to measure, because virtually any positive or negative development for a business might be considered good or bad luck. For example, if you beat an unknown competitor to market by just a few days, is that considered mere luck or the outcome of your tenacity?
While luck is almost certainly a factor (depending on how you define it), it isn’t the only factor, nor is it the most significant. A simple stroke of luck isn’t enough to justify a thousand-fold increase in the monetary success thousands of entrepreneurs enjoy; rather, that success is a product of these fortunate individuals' different mindsets and practices.
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