Firefighters are making some progress in containing the blazes that have leveled complete neighborhoods in the U.S. city of Los Angeles. As of Saturday morning, the Palisades Fire was 43% contained, up from 31% contained on Friday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire. That fire has burned…
Cars as movie co-stars and museum artworks by Steve Parks – Chestertown Spy January 18, 2025 This post was originally published on here
(The Center Square) – Southern states swept the top ranking for having the best business climate in the U.S. according to the latest annual Site Selection magazine survey.Texas and North Carolina were the two states with two cities ranking in the top 10 for corporate headquarter relocations. Dallas ranked first, Austin ranked sixth. Charlotte ranked second; Raleigh ranked fifth.The biggest upset in the ranking was Texas dropping from its long-held top spot in the ranking. Texas for years has ranked first for having the best business climate. This year, that changed, with Georgia taking the top spot.Georgia was followed by North Carolina and South Carolina closing out the top three. Texas tied with Tennessee for the fourth spot. Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and outliers Ohio and Indiana rounded out the top 10 states having the best business climate.The majority of the top cities for business headquarter relocations were also in the south, according to the survey. Dallas ranked first, followed by Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, Austin, Chicago, Richmond, Memphis, Phoenix and San Diego.Dallas receiving the top ranking “should come as no surprise,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said. “Dallas has been on an economic winning streak in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down heading into 2025. Texas has rightly earned its reputation as the ideal state to do business, and this recognition reinforces Dallas as the best city not just in Texas, but in the entire nation for businesses.”Site selectors “tend to favor Southern states,” the magazine said, because their business climates have the best “workforce, state and local tax policy, and cost of living.” They also have the best incentives offered by states, quality of life and worker training programs, according to the survey.South Carolina-based Global Location Strategies principal and vice president Tess Fay said, “The South has a logistics and infrastructure advantage that has always made them attractive for projects like those that GLS work. Coupled with a relatively low-cost environment and relatively favorable business policies, they continue to be top of mind for many of our clients.” Key differentiators also include economic development infrastructure and inventory availability, she said.
This year, 36 site selectors participated in the survey, which covered issues ranging from “business climates to how they value access to innovation hubs and the importance of power availability.”Site selectors said California and New Jersey have the worst business climates; South Carolina, Ohio and Michigan have the best manufacturing workforce.The top five southern states “accounted for roughly 60% of all our state-specific client inquiries and related location research,” John Boyd Jr., principal of The Boyd Company Inc., a national site consulting firm with offices in Florida and New Jersey, said.“The South wins the business climate race because of things like the demographic shift to the South, investments into site readiness, workforce training programs, the availability of incentives, lower costs and lower taxes, sound tax and fiscal policies, and positive labor-management relations,” Boyd added. “Having seasoned economic development professionals at the state and local levels and at major utility companies doing a superior job servicing consultant inquiries and promoting these states.”He also said that South Carolina ranking first for having the best manufacturing workforce was because of its “top-notch workforce training program – readySC – that works hand-in-glove with the state’s network of technical colleges, as well as its outstanding labor-management relations climate.”Atlanta-based Garner Economics LLC president Jay Garner said the legislatures of the top five ranked southern states “have worked tirelessly for years to be business friendly. Many rank favorably in the Tax Foundation’s annual tax competitiveness index.”California and New Jersey have the worst business climate because of their high tax policies, he added.When asked to name the biggest workforce challenges over the next decade, site selectors listed labor shortages, affordable housing, upskilling, childcare and lack of soft skills.
“I look at getting older as a privilege and I’m incredibly grateful for the life I’ve been able to create so far, and the opportunity to do it even better in the future,” she shares.Lorna Jane Clarkson celebrated her 60th birthday in November 2024. “We’re all getting older — there is no way to stop that — but what we can control is how we feel as we get older.“What I’ve learnt is that when we take care of ourselves — move our bodies every day, eat well, protect our sleep, and invest in our mental wellbeing — getting older feels great.”AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.As she’s gotten older, Clarkson has made some adjustments to her personal fitness routine, swapping running for walking, particularly uphill, and yoga for strength training.“I also eat a higher-protein diet than I did in my 30s, and I get more sleep.”But as someone who has been in the fitness industry for years and seen trends come and go, she knows all too well that wellness isn’t always one-size-fits-all.“The best advice I think I could give to women of any age would be to find what works for you and show up every day — make being fit and healthy your priority,” she says. “I learnt a long time ago that if you want to succeed at anything then consistency is key — and that goes for your health and wellbeing as well.”Lorna Jane Clarkson made her own workout clothes in the 80s. She believes that even the simple act of putting on an activewear set in the morning can help you take that first step and get moving.“We believe in the cognitive effect of wearing activewear and are committed to educating our team and customers around the importance of being active every day.”As a 20-something fitness instructor, Clarkson had already been creating her own workout clothes for herself and her clients before “activewear” as we know it was a thing.“It was only supposed to be for me to wear to my classes — no one else,” she says of her early designs, created at home on her dining table with swimsuits and a pair of scissors.“But the women in my classes had other ideas — they loved what I was wearing so much that they convinced me to make some for them, too.”AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.One day, she stood in front of her class, looked around and realised every one of them was wearing one of her designs. Clarkson resigned from her job the next day and hasn’t looked back.She had “no idea” just how popular her fitness gear would become with women in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.Lorna Jane Clarkson is credited with coining the phrase “activewear”. Photo / Supplied“I couldn’t have imagined when I first started designing and sewing activewear on my dining room table 35 years ago that Lorna Jane would now be a thriving global brand.”A few decades on, Lorna Jane is a household name — you’ll spot her signature logo of 3 slanted squares, formed from the stylised letters L and J, everywhere from the gym to the beach.Activewear is a wardrobe staple for countless women globally, and according to Clarkson that’s not likely to change anytime soon.While she’s “not here to predict trends”, activewear in 2025 doesn’t look too different from that room full of women wearing her clothes in the late 80s.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.“Activewear is actually getting closer to how I envisioned it 35 years ago.“The casualisation of fashion in general is giving women more opportunities to dress for comfort — and they are choosing their activewear over everything else.”Clarkson counts opening her first store, expanding into New Zealand, the United States and Singapore, and designing the world-first “squat-proof” leggings among the highlights.“But I guess the big one is being credited with coining the phrase ‘activewear’.“It came from simply wanting to design clothing that women could put on in the morning, wear all day and just be active.“I often look back and think that if I’d known how big the activewear category would become, I would have been more imaginative with the name,” she jokes.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.As for lessons learned along the way, “I think the biggest [one] has been to always trust your instincts and stay true to your vision, even when the world around you is changing”.Her advice to other aspiring female founders? Don’t wait for the right time to start, because it might never arrive.“So often, we hold ourselves back because we’re waiting for that perfect doing what we love, but the truth is, it will never be perfect — nothing is.“My advice is to take that first step, learn as you go, and don’t be afraid to fail — because that’s where the real growth happens. Life is too short to put your dreams on hold, so set goals, gather some courage, and go out and make it happen.”Lorna Jane Clarkson pictured with husband Bill Clarkson.Looking ahead, Clarkson says, “There’s still so much I want to do”.“For the business, it’s about focusing on being the best at what we do rather than the biggest — we want to lead the way, in design, innovation, technology and sustainability.”AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.She teases some “exciting new projects” and clothing collections set to launch in Lorna Jane stores and online this year, the details of which are tightly under wraps.“If I told you, I’d have to kill you, so you’ll just have to wait and see,” she jokes.As for Lorna Jane herself, she’s still fine-tuning the art of “getting the balance” right between work and life.“But who am I kidding — name me one person who’s mastered balance so far?“I’ll keep trying and enjoying the process along the way.”
By Eugenii Kuznetsov
In the age of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, the value of human touch in the brand’s communication has significantly increased. Besides content-creation, it encompasses the overall feeling of safety and care that a brand can guarantee to its customers, which lies in being transparent about its data collection and processing policies.
Introduction
In the age of tech prosperity and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, the value of human touch in the brand’s communication has significantly increased.
The issue extends far beyond marketing content creation, which includes AI-generated texts, scenarios, images, avatars, voices, etc. It encompasses the overall feeling of safety and care that a brand can guarantee to its customers, being transparent about its data collection and processing policies, as audience insights have become the key to brand’s success in the face of competition.
Data-hungry technologies
Shopping has never been as fast and convenient as it is today. There’s no more need to waste precious time on queues and searching for parking spots when e-commerce platforms and hundreds of related service providers address all aspects, like fast delivery to the customer’s door, online fitting, reviews, and returns opportunities.
In exchange for this incredible speed and convenience, we agree to entrust online platforms with our personal data, share our preferences, interests and activities to help businesses make us the offer we can’t reject.
Powered by advanced algorithms, which analyse exabytes of data on customer behaviour patterns, brands have mastered the art of building hyper efficient marketing campaigns that sometimes make us feel as if under the scrutiny.
However, the competition for customers’ attention is a never-ending story. In the pursuit of profits, businesses are becoming increasingly data-hungry, leaving users feeling vulnerable and anxious – and it’s not for nothing.
Data as Vulnerability
Let’s step back to the 2010s for a moment. I vividly remember the infamous scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, which clearly demonstrated how data insights gathered through social media could influence the political landscape of an entire country. This incident became a catalyst for the enhancement of personal data policies and implementing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), sparking public debates on the ethical use of user data, and raising public awareness about data privacy breaches and related issues.
As a digital marketer and a founder of a marketing tech solution CATCH, I understand that access to user traffic data is crucial for segmenting audiences and delivering highly personalised advertisements. However, as an internet user, whose technology adaptation goes slower than the pace of its evolution, I want to feel confident in my safety.
I believe that in 2025, “safety first” could emerge as one of the major trends in digital marketing. Companies that prioritise safety and accuracy in handling customer data will gain a competitive edge in the market, meaning that brands will have to explore alternative methods to obtaining valuable users insights.
Safety-First Is Cost-Effective
To ensure that users not only feel safe but are actually safe, brands must comply with various data protection regulations. Those targeting EU audiences must adhere to GDPR, one of the strictest policies. This regulation requires companies to ensure their activities are based on user consent, and consider a contractual necessity, legal obligation, vital interests, public tasks, or legitimate interests.
Failure to comply can result in substantial penalties for brands of all sizes, including LinkedIn, META, TikTok, Vinted, Amazon, Uber and other prominent companies. Similar acts have been introduced worldwide and are constantly reviewed and updated.
Alternative Strategies
It is well known that the volume of data under analysis is directly connected to the accuracy of findings. To access almost unlimited marketing data sets, companies have long relied on third-party cookies.
However, as data regulations have tightened, browsers like Safari, Firefox and Brave have blocked the third-party cookies by default, while others are slowly but surely phasing them out.
Businesses are prompted to review their digital marketing strategies and try experimenting with alternative tracking methods that comply with GDPR and respect user privacy. Let’s consider the strategies, based on first-party and zero-party data, entrusted to businesses directly by each customer. Here they are:
Server-to-server (S2S) tracking
An alternative to third-party cookies collection, which complies with GDPR and CCPA. The method relies on first-party data and is independent of browser settings. Can be used by E-commerce companies, digital marketing agencies, mobile app developers, healthcare organisations, etc.
First-party and zero-party data utilization
While being limited in scope, in comparison with third-party data, these types of data allow you to create a much more precise portrait of your audience. These channels are important for customer segmentation, personalization and retention. First-party data can be shared with other companies, however, it is subject to protection and the procedure must comply with GDPR and other regulations.
Data Partnerships
This strategy involves collaborative arrangements between two or more companies to share data and resources. data partnerships focus on direct collaboration and sharing of first-party data with an emphasis on transparency and compliance, which may become an effective alternative to third-party cookies tracking.
Conclusion
When it comes to technology and communication, businesses should not underestimate the importance of customer comfort and safety. While it may take sufficient time and effort to adapt to new methods, acknowledging customers’ concerns and making efforts to implement change will yield benefit sooner than expected.
About the Author
Eugenii Kuznetsov is the founder of the AdTech platform CATCH and the Commercial Director of 2QL Corp. A marketer with an engineering background, he is an advocate of performance-oriented marketing based on measurable metrics. Eugenii’s mission is to develop a comprehensive AdTech platform for highly accurate and transparent web analytics that fully complies with GDPR regulations.
Breadcrumb Trail LinksTechnologyGadgetsConverting tapes, film is the best way to preserve memories for your familyPublished Jan 18, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 5 minute readIt’s easier than you think to preserve your memories by digitizing your old home movies. Photo by SuppliedArticle contentMemories can last forever but not the medium they’re stored on.Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentVideotapes can hold your precious home movies for several years if they’re kept in a cool and dry environment. But eventually these formats deteriorate, making the tapes unwatchable.Adding to the problem: You may not be able to play back these captured moments if you don’t have a working machine. So, now is the time to digitize your dusty collection of tapes.Digitizing your old photos and home movies – and storing them in a safe place – can also safeguard them from damage, such as the devastating wildfires raging through parts of Southern California that have already destroyed more than 12,500 homes.The good news is that preserving these memories is not as daunting as you might think. You can do the conversion yourself or you can use a service to digitize the various formats you have stored: 8mm or 16mm film reels; super 8 and H8 movie film; MiniDV cassettes; and Betacam, Betamax and VHS tapes.Advertisement 3Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentPro tip: If you’re dealing with very old or fragile film, allow a professional to digitize it (see option No. 5). Even if you still have the machine to play it on as part of the conversion process, you risk damaging these memories.Before we look at how to digitize your home movies, keep in mind preserving your family events isn’t just for your enjoyment – it’s for future generations, too. We’re not going to live forever, despite what the Oasis song says. Once your movies are on a computer or cloud site, they can be viewed long after you’re gone.Recommended from Editorial SALTZMAN: Love tech? The best is yet to come SALTZMAN: Five easy ways to be tech-wise in 2025 SALTZMAN: Attention shoppers, here are the best games of 2024 How to digitize your home moviesTravel TimePlan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 4Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThe first step is to find all your shoeboxes of tapes. Don’t worry if they’re not labeled with dates, events or people involved. Once they’re converted, you can preview the files to properly name them.The important thing is to do this sooner rather than later. Then you can organize them effectively.And you have options:1. Connect to a computerIf you still have a working VCR or camcorder, you can connect it to your computer using a “middleman” gadget. They’re often called a “video capture card” or analog video-capture device, and you plug them into the back of your playback machine.RCA cables – yes, the company you grew up with invented these connectors – are often included: yellow for video, and red and white for left and right audio. The other end of this gadget has a USB connector you plug into your PC or Mac. Some also have an HDMI cable that plugs into modern TVs, but they are only ideal for viewing and not digitizing.Advertisement 5Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThese products can cost as little as $14 on Amazon.ca, though more premium offerings with extra conversion features may be closer to $50. If these products don’t come with software to record the video on your computer, you’ll need to download an application on your own (try HandBrake, which is free). Roxio’s converter enambles you to quickly convert old VHS tapes to DVD or digital. Photo by Supplied /Roxio2. Record directly onto memory cardsIf you don’t own a computer or prefer to bypass the computer directly, there are gizmos that plug into the back of your H8, MiniDV camcorder, VCR or Betamax machine. That way you can record directly onto a flash storage device, such as an SD memory card or a USB stick.Products such the Hi8 VHS VCR to Digital Converter ($115) do the trick, or for $100 more you can also view what you’re digitizing on a small screen, with a product like the Unisheen Universal VHS to Digital Converter ($230). You’ll need to pick up SD memory cards or USB drives on your own, but they’re relatively affordable.Advertisement 6Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentOnce your home movies are stored on flash drives, you can insert them into a computer to view and copy them onto an external hard drive. Many TVs have a USB port, so you may be able to watch them on a big screen. It’s easier than you think to preserve your memories by digitizing your old home movies. Photo by Supplied3. Use a DVD recorderWhile not as popular as a few years ago, “ripping” your old tapes onto recordable DVDs is still a viable option. As long as you have a DVD or Blu-ray player, a computer with a DVD drive, or a video game console such as one in the PlayStation or Xbox family, you can watch DVDs packed with your memories.Along with a DVD recorder or a DVD recorder drive on your computer, you’ll need to pick up some blank DVDs. Because DVD recorders can be tougher to find these days, you might consider buying a used one on Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, or Nextdoor. Remember to review the seller’s rating or reputation before you buy.Advertisement 7Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThe process will involve connecting your old machine, such as a VCR or camcorder, to the input of the DVD recorder. Epson EF22 Projector. Photo by Supplied /Epson4. Record from screenAnother way to digitize an old home movie is to play it back on a projector or television and record it on your phone, though the quality won’t be anywhere as good as with the previous methods.But making a recording of a recording is better than keeping your old movies trapped in an outdated medium. And it might be ideal for those who don’t have the time, money or know-how to record to a computer, DVD or portable storage.If this is how you want to rerecord your footage, dim the lights and turn up the audio (if your original has any). Instead of holding your phone while recording, stabilize it on a coffee table or a stack of books. Or you can buy or borrow a tripod that holds your phone steady.Advertisement 8Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentOnce the video is on your phone, you can upload it to a cloud site, copy it to a computer and view it whenever you like.RECOMMENDED VIDEOWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Play Video5. Hire a serviceMost major cities have services that can do all this for you, be it individuals, photo and video stores, or specific departments at big box stores (though it’s more difficult to find these services these days).To keep the home movies in Canada, consider HomeMovies.ca (ask for Steve Hartwell), or send your tapes and reels to ScanMyPhotos in the U.S. (ask for Mitch Goldstone), and these places can also digitize your photographs, negatives and slides.Before you choose a local or national service, compare prices, read reviews and discuss turnaround time.– Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Vision Pro For Dummies (Wiley)Article contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings
By Indiana Lee
Economic volatility tests consulting businesses at every scale. Client budgets shrink, competitors adjust their offerings, and market priorities shift with little warning. Such pressures affect both boutique firms and established consultancies, but the most resilient businesses maintain their momentum through changing conditions. Consultants who build adaptable practices preserve client relationships and sustain revenue streams when uncertainty strikes.
Running a consulting practice requires balancing operational stability with strategic flexibility – strong consultancies combine solid financial practices with adaptable service models, allowing them to pivot when market conditions change. Rather than focusing on short-term gains, a balanced approach to consulting helps businesses weather economic cycles while maintaining consistent value for their clients. From refining core business practices to developing versatile marketing strategies, consulting firms can build lasting resilience with purposeful planning and steady growth.
Foundations of a Strong Consulting Business
A consulting business’s success hinges on clear goals and precise market positioning. The most successful consultants pinpoint specific client needs and align their expertise with market gaps, creating distinctive service offerings that resonate with target audiences. The trick is in building systematic approaches to business management while maintaining the agility to respond to client demands.
Professional consulting requires methodical planning and careful resource allocation. Starting a successful consulting business demands attention to both immediate client needs and long-term business sustainability. The most versatile and profitable consulting firms today rack expenses meticulously, set clear revenue targets and develop repeatable systems for client acquisition.
Developing Your Consulting Identity
Focused client interviews reveal service gaps worth pursuing. Monthly conversations with industry leaders and target customers help spot overlooked business challenges while competitor research identifies pricing and service opportunities. In the beginning, consulting largely begins with selecting problems you can solve repeatedly for specific client groups.
Service packages need a defined scope and measurable outcomes. First, structure your offerings into tiered solutions, from single-project assessments to ongoing advisory relationships. Start with three core services priced at different levels, then refine these based on early client projects. Be sure to track which services generate repeat business and hone your focus toward the most profitable client segments.
Building Financial Stability
A successful consulting practice should have six months of operating expenses in reserve. Your monthly budget should account for essential costs — software subscriptions, insurance premiums, and basic living expenses. From this baseline, structure your services to generate your ideal profit margins, like 40% for a ballpark figure. Most consultants benefit from weekly monitoring of billable hours against project budgets while maintaining dedicated accounts for taxes, operations, and business development.
Well-crafted contracts are your first line of defence, outlining clear deliverables, timelines, and payment terms. Other than paperwork, building relationships with skilled subcontractors expands your capacity for specialised projects. Regular digital backups protect client materials, and quarterly reviews of professional liability coverage help match your insurance to current service offerings and client needs.
Leveraging Marketing Tools to Strengthen Your Business
Marketing initiatives are far more effective when they communicate your authentic strengths as a consulting practice. Clients are naturally drawn to consultants who demonstrate expertise through clear and consistent messaging across every touchpoint. Professional visibility thrives on a strategic blend of targeted outreach, valuable content creation, and intentional relationship-building.
Your marketing strategy should align with your consulting style and reflect your target clients’ preferences. Small, consistent actions often deliver better results than one-off grand campaigns. A balanced mix of digital presence, personal connections, and thoughtfully designed marketing materials helps maintain steady client interest.
Creating a Professional Brand Identity
Building genuine connections with prospects and partners calls for an intentional focus on leadership habits and relationship-building strategies. Identify three key problems you excel at solving, then craft clear, compelling explanations that resonate with decision-makers in your target market.
A strong online presence starts with a polished, mobile-friendly website that showcases client success stories. Regular LinkedIn updates featuring client outcomes and industry insights can naturally attract potential clients. Additionally, publishing monthly case studies or practical guides can effectively demonstrate your problem-solving expertise without revealing sensitive information.
Client Acquisition and Retention Tools
Successful client relationships mix personal attention with thorough follow-through. To keep track of it all, track communication preferences, project histories, and feedback in a simple CRM system. For example, it’s generally a good idea to schedule quarterly check-ins with past clients to discuss new challenges and opportunities — things frequently change from quarter to quarter.
Promotional products are another great retention tool; you can get as creative as you like. For a more detailed view, consultancies can use proposal acceptance rates and retention numbers to track the impact of each marketing channel, from branded gifts to email campaigns. Monthly content sharing and quarterly appreciation gestures, even handwritten notes or carefully chosen business accessories, can tangibly strengthen client bonds when matched to specific relationship stages.
Adapting to Economic Shifts
Market shifts often show up first in everyday client conversations. Consultants who pay attention can spot these early signals, like budget concerns or hints of restructuring, and adjust their services accordingly. Regular check-ins and basic trend tracking often uncover opportunities before larger changes affect revenue. These conversations aren’t just about maintaining relationships; they are a source of valuable, real-time insight into client concerns and market conditions. Consultants who actively listen and respond to these early signals position themselves to offer solutions before clients fully articulate their needs.
Successful consulting practices rely on a mix of clients from different industries. When spending tightens in one sector, income from others helps maintain stability. Diversifying the client base reduces dependency on any single revenue stream, creating resilience against sudden market shifts. These routine interactions with clients also frequently highlight gaps in service offerings or emerging needs worth exploring.
Diversifying Service Offerings
Client spending capacity influences how they interact with consulting services. Offering a range of options, from self-guided assessments to full-scale consulting packages, gives clients more flexibility to choose what fits their needs and financial limits. Self-guided assessments provide cost-effective entry points, while full-service packages address comprehensive organisational challenges. Virtual services add another layer of accessibility, accommodating remote teams or clients in distant locations.
Balancing project-based work with recurring retainers often yields predictable revenue. Retainers provide a steady income stream, while one-off projects allow for flexibility and responsiveness to client-specific needs. Financial reviews help identify patterns in revenue flow, highlighting which services are most profitable and where adjustments might be needed. Long-term clients can also serve as low-risk testing grounds for new service ideas. Their candid feedback helps refine these offerings before a broader market launch, reducing the risks associated with introducing unproven services.
Market Response Strategies
Budget constraints, shifting priorities, and signs of organisational change often arise naturally in client conversations. Disruptive signals such as these typically first appear in the subtext of passing remarks during meetings or casual comments in emails. Attentive consultants can adjust project scopes, phase deliverables, or offer flexible payment terms to address client concerns without compromising profit margins.
Pricing strategies must be flexible enough to ‘breathe’ with market conditions. Instalment plans can ease financial pressure for clients facing tighter budgets, while premium service packages appeal to clients with greater resources by offering tailored solutions. A tiered pricing model allows clients to scale their investments based on their current needs. Regular financial reviews and lessons from past performance help refine these approaches, enabling consultants to navigate market shifts effectively.
Final Thoughts
A successful consulting business needs specific financial safeguards and clear service packages. Maintaining six months of operating expenses, tracking weekly billable hours, and keeping separate accounts for taxes and operations protects against market shifts. Client meetings give some early signs of changing needs through concrete feedback and project discussions, guiding service adjustments and pricing strategies.
A mix of project work and retainers provides steady income in the long term, while direct consulting packages with measurable outcomes attract clients who see concrete value. By combining precise financial tracking with active client relationships, consulting businesses can grow steadily and adapt to economic changes while preserving profit margins.
About the Author
Indiana Lee is a writer, reader, and jigsaw puzzle enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest. An expert on business operations, leadership, marketing, and lifestyle.
Many experts agree that AI lacks emotions and cannot replace human authors because it cannot create original content. At the Chennai International Book Fair, publishers and authors dismissed the notion that AI could replace human authors. They emphasized the human touch in creative works, underscoring AI’s inability to create anything truly original.
During a panel on global publishing trends, Firat Sunel, Turkey’s Ambassador to India and author, highlighted AI’s significant advances in generating content. However, he pointed out its limitations, stating that while AI can produce prose and stories, it lacks feelings and emotions essential for literary works. He described creativity as being far more complex than binary algorithms.
Aazhi Senthilnathan, founder-CEO of AI platform Ailaysa, agreed, stating that AI cannot generate new ideas but could be valuable for publishing tasks like translation and editing.
AI-Generated Content: A Replica of the Past
During a recent discussion, panelists emphasized that AI lacks emotions and cannot replace human authors in writing meaningful literary works. Simon De Jocas, founder of Publishers Without Borders, remarked that AI-generated books merely replicate existing human creations. Prashant Pathak, co-founder of the same organization and consultant for Italy-based Giunti Editore, added that human intelligence is limitless, unlike AI, which works within the confines of existing data. He warned about potential legal issues, such as copyright violations, if AI usage remains unregulated.
Christian Weiss of Germany’s Draupadi Verlag emphasized that AI cannot rival human creativity. He highlighted poetry and innovative writing as areas beyond AI’s reach. Weiss suggested introducing labels in books to clarify if the content was written by humans, AI, or both.
Military Uses of AI: A Supporting Role Only
The Chinese military has also recognized AI’s limitations. An article in the People’s Liberation Army Daily stressed that AI should enhance human decision-making, not replace it. The article emphasized AI’s inability to demonstrate self-awareness or accountability.
The PLA advocates for a model where human commanders retain control while AI assists in data analysis and execution. The military relies on AI for simulations and planning but insists final decisions rest with humans to prevent errors from AI’s black-box algorithms.
Even with advancements like autonomous missile defense, human oversight remains critical to ensure accountability and adaptability. The South China Morning Post reported that AI lacks the capacity for reflection or responsibility, underscoring the need for human judgment in military operations.
Across sectors, experts continue to call for regulations to address AI’s ethical and legal implications. While AI holds promise for augmenting human capabilities, it cannot replace the creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence of human decision-makers.
AI as a Tool, Not a Creator
AI is undeniably a powerful tool in content creation, translation, and publishing-related tasks. Its ability to process vast amounts of data and generate text has revolutionized industries. However, AI’s reliance on pre-existing information and algorithms confines it to repeating patterns. Creativity, on the other hand, involves breaking conventions, imagining the unimaginable, and innovating from scratch. This is why AI struggles with creating new ideas or groundbreaking literary works.
The publishing industry believes that AI lacks the emotions and cannot replace human authors, making it unsuitable for crafting emotionally resonant stories. Experts like Firat Sunel and Christian Weiss emphasize that emotions and human experiences are essential for writing stories or poetry. These qualities cannot be replicated by machines. AI cannot understand or express feelings, which limits its capacity to produce works that resonate deeply with readers. In this sense, AI is more of an efficient assistant than an independent creator.
West Midlands Police officers are hunting a burglar after a raid at a business in the Black Country. Officers issued a picture of a man they want to speak to. It follows an incident at a business in High Street, West Bromwich, just before 12.30am on Sunday, November 24 last year. No arrests had been…
President Biden has honored seven Connecticut educators with the nation’s highest award for science and mathematics teachers and mentors.
“These awards honor the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators,” a statement on the White House website says.
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Six Connecticut residents were honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching:
Barbara Budaj
Barbara Budaj is the assistant dean of School and Community Partnerships and Assessments at Central Connecticut State University.
The school said she spent 24 years in the classroom educating Connecticut students.
After three years as a mathematics teacher at East Haven and Newington high schools, Budaj became the mathematics team leader at the Capital Region Education Council Metropolitan Learning Center.
Then she served for one year as principal of Great Path Academy at Manchester Community College and later became the director of Mathematics for the Cromwell Public Schools. Five years later, Budaj returned to the classroom, teaching Algebra 2 and AP Calculus at Capital Preparatory Magnet School.
At Central Connecticut, she oversees placement and support of student teachers, fosters relationships with district partners, and instructs teacher candidates in the M.A.T. program.
Read more about her here.
CCSU said each awardee receives a certificate signed by President Biden and a $10,000 award from the NSF.
Lauren Danner
Patricia Hahn
Carly Levine
Joseph Mancino
Susan Palmberg
Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring
One Connecticut mentor was honored with the award.
Linda Barry
Dr. Linda Barry is a professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences at the UConn School of Medicine and serves as associate director of the UConn Health Disparities Institute and associate dean of the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs.
“The Presidential Award recognizes the invaluable role of mentorship in recruiting, promoting, and sustaining the next generation to pursue scientific careers. I was honored to be nominated but even more thrilled to be amongst the chosen of such an esteemed group,” Barry said in a statement posted on UConn Today. “This award recognizes the great mentorship work we are doing at UConn School of Medicine. It is a profound acknowledgment of the time and effort we invest in our mentees to succeed often without the expectation of recognition.”
Barry has taught and mentored students at UConn’s medical school for more than 14 years and created successful programs for underrepresented students wishing to become future doctors or scientists and encouraged more than 300 students to pursue careers in science, according to UConn.
She also founded the Women in Surgery Interest Group and mentored more than 400 women medical students.
“I strongly believe that any child interested in medicine and science should be able to try to pursue their dreams. Mentorship can be key to putting them on the right path,” Barry added.
Read more about Barry here.
You can see the full list of prople who were honored here.