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Risky business: The trade war and American farmers

Seth Sandronsky Food & Beverage

Chinese authorities recently announced an end to U.S. agricultural imports following President Trump’s threat to hike tariffs by 10% on $300 billion on Chinese imports, effective Sept. 1. That is bad news for U.S. farmers. What follows is a look at what some industry groups and politicians are doing and saying in response to the situation. "This trade war with China needs to come to an end. It is doing a lot of damage now and we are concerned about the long term," said Gary Wertish, the elected president of the Minnesota Farmers Union.

Infographic: The cost of downtime

Brian Wallace Science & Technology

When the system stops, so does business. So, it is in your interest to resolve any problem as quickly as possible, and more than that, to prevent downtime in the first place. This is where infrastructure monitoring comes in. Every operating system is unique, and if you have a mixed IT infrastructure, you need a server monitoring service that caters to them all. There are several ways to look after your IT infrastructure. Learn more with this infographic.

6 ways to improve your confidence during a presentation

Lisa Mulcahy Communications

A shaky voice...no projection...stuttering...you may have dealt with all these issues prior to a big presentation. A fear of public speaking, as you probably know, is an incredibly common issue even the most experienced businesspeople face. You might be unsure how to nip these problems in the bud if you're not used to speaking before groups, but you can. These strategies will stop public speaking jitters from becoming a long-term issue and give you a lot more confidence!

Vanilla Ice is back with a brand-new invention

Jason Zimmerman Construction & Building Materials

Vanilla Ice built a legacy as an iconic hip-hop music artist. Now he’s building dreams. World-famous rapper, actor and TV reality show personality Robert Van Winkle — professionally known as Vanilla Ice — served as the opening keynote speaker Aug. 7 for the 2019 Sunbelt Builders Show™, hosted by the Texas Association of Builders, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Best known for his No. 1 hit song, "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice has become a successful real-estate entrepreneur and remodeling expert with more than 15 years of hands-on home improvement experience.

The frightening security risks and potential dangers of IoT

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

Imagine you are running late one morning, speeding to the airport to catch a flight. You suddenly realize that you forgot to turn off the heat back at home. If your thermostat is networked, then you can remotely shut down the heater using your smartphone. Sounds great, right? What could possibly go wrong? A lot, it turns out. To better illustrate the security issues that "internet of things" devices have and continue to suffer, l will share some of my personal experiences with IoT operational security.

Improvise, adapt, overcome: Change is inevitable

Lisa Cole Mental Healthcare

"Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!" I feel like I’m doing this a lot lately. I first heard this phrase when my son was in high school — it’s what his AP chemistry teacher barked at his students when they complained. Considered an informal U.S. Marines slogan, it sure can help direct us when we’re faced with change — be it desired or not. Most of us are content operating within our regularities, routines and rituals. We like the stability and safety of the status quo. When things get shaken up, often we get frustrated, impatient, and mad.

Providing risk infrastructure to support opportunity management

Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Failure to provide an appropriate level of risk infrastructure can cripple risk management in an organization. Too little support makes it difficult to implement the risk process efficiently, while too much infrastructure adds to the cost overhead. Getting the supporting infrastructure right is essential for effective risk management, enabling the risk process to deliver the expected benefits to the organization and its projects. It’s particularly important to get all the elements right if we want to use an inclusive risk process that addresses both threats and opportunities.

When you’re too keen to make a sale at any cost

Anne Rose Retail

It's happened to me, and maybe it's happened to you. You’re so keen to make a sale that you overrule the warning signs your gut is giving you. I recently fielded a phone call from a distressed woman who needed help planning a honeymoon, but no other travel agents would speak with her. My first thought was, "Are you that much of a pain in the neck that no one will talk with you?" And as fast as that thought entered my head, it fled. Why didn't I listen to myself?

Insider advice: How to improve your social media marketing

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Pouring over the latest industry reports and third-party studies helps you discover new tips and tricks that can improve your social media marketing. But the most authoritative advice comes from the networks themselves. After all, those companies know every aspect of the algorithm and platform, which means their representatives can share undisputed insights. Without further ado, dive into the latest marketing tips that Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest have shared!

Green buildings can make employees more productive

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

There are a lot of things that you can do to increase employee productivity, but there’s one thing you probably haven’t considered: the physical workplace. According to a new report, creating a "green" environment isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for your company’s bottom line. The World Green Building Council's (WorldGBC) report, "Doing Right by Planet and People," demonstrates the additional benefits that green buildings can offer besides decreased energy use.

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