CATEGORIES

YOU MIGHT BE A BETTER FIT THAN YOU THINK

Does a cat-focused franchise only want cat lovers? No! Sometimes, people have the wrong idea about what makes a great franchisee-as these three brands can attest to.

WHO REALLY NEEDS YOU?

When Justin Crowe came up with a new form for human ashes, he thought the concept would sell itself to consumers. But he hadn't figured out who his real customer was.

THE DUMBER, THE BETTER

Want to stand out in a crowded market? The founder of ridiculous (and ridiculously successful) canned-water brand Liquid Death has a suggestion: Embrace crazy ideas.

WHAT IS MEANINGFUL WORK? (AN INVESTIGATION)

Everyone says they want it. But nobody can agree on how to find it, provide it, or even define it. So we set out to try.

MAKE ROOM FOR THE UNEXPECTED

This year, our greatest opportunities may be the ones we were never looking for.

HOW TO DO SOMETHING NOBODY HAS EVER DONE

Ankur Jain wanted to create a rewards program that helps people buy a home. Nothing like it existed. To become the first, he'd have to first fail over and over again.

GO LOCAL WITH SOCIAL

National social media campaigns may drive awareness, but hyper-local campaigns actually drive business. Franchisees shouldn't overlook that.

Starting Small Can Generate Big Buzz

How do you build a community around your company? High-profile tech investor Andrew Chen has a counterintuitive answer: Don't take it to the masses-yet.

How to Make a Scary Decision

Growth often requires doing something a little dangerous. Here, six entrepreneurs share the calculus behind their biggest risks.

The Impasse Is the Path

When you hit an obstacle that's out of your control, be transparent with your team and your customers. You may improve your business in ways that have nothing to do with the problem at hand.

Where Will You Be in 10 Years?

Here's how to figure it out and start working toward that future vision now.

Three Tricks to Make Hard Decisions Easier

Entrepreneurs often face what feel like impossible or unknowable choices. Here are three decision-making tricks I relied upon as cofounder and CEO of Netflix-and that I still use today

When Animals Run the Business

FarmHouse Fresh makes organic, homegrown botanical skin care products. But at HQ, the team takes self-care to a whole new level.

When Letting Go Lets You Grow

These founders killed off their sacred cows and discovered whole new fields of opportunity.

Let Them Underestimate You

Building a billion-dollar brand has taught JESSICA SIMPSON that when people assume you're clueless, it only gives you more time to prove them wrong.

If They Like This, Will They Like That?

My company Kettle & Fire was selling broth like crazy. But when we tried to sell soup, we learned how hard product expansion can be.

Recovery Is Part of the Race

"Working long hours is part of what leads to burnout, but it’s not the whole picture. Enduring productivity is often about balancing intense output with periods of regeneration."

The Never-Ending Launch

"Entrepreneurship is a marathon with no finish line. Are you exhausted? Henry Rose founder Michelle Pfeiffer knows exactly how you feel."

How to Go Public While Taking Care of Your People

"Chieh Huang started an e-commerce company in his garage and took it public in eight years. At every step, he prioritized his workers. His dream is to show future generations a “different way to do business.”

What to Do With ‘No'

“Never take no for an answer,” people say. But is that really true? We asked six founders: How do you know when to keep pushing and when to move on?

My Secret Growth Hack

Before my startup launched a single product, I made an unlikely play to buy another company. That bet is still paying off today.

Jimmy Fallon, At Your Service

He spent years chasing a dream that wasn’t really his. But when the biggest opportunity of his career came knocking, he realized he had to find his “why,” or fail trying.

The Audacious Hustle

What does it take to land the biggest clients? A “dentist to the stars” shares how she drilled her way in. (Warning: chutzpah required.)

When to Launch Something Illegal

Some business ideas are good enough to change the law. But you may never know unless you build it first.

Yes, You Can Grow Too Fast

As a venture capitalist, I’ve seen how “blitzscaling” damages companies, people, and the planet. Now my money is on “responsible growth.”

5 Trends That Will Shape Franchising Forever

The pandemic set many changes in motion, from the brands that thrive to the people who are becoming new franchisees. Here are the shifts that will grow even stronger in 2022 and beyond.

Jim Cramer's Decree: No More Low-Hanging Fruit

The CNBC host says he’s bullish on entrepreneurs—because their creativity trumps any challenge.

Working From Home Is Just The Beginning

What does the future of work really look like? In their new book, journalists Anne Helen Petersen and Charlie Warzel argue that we’re at a moment of staggering potential—if we’re only willing to broaden our imaginations.

Two-Way Conversations Are the Future of Recruiting

To hire the right people for today and tomorrow, it’s time to stop asking candidates to prove why they’re right for the job.

Business Is Like Biology

Companies and living creatures grow in eerily similar ways. These lessons from nature can help you thrive—and avoid disruption.