Connect with us

Business

Read Now: How to Write a Professional Email That Actually Gets a Response – 101 Latest News

Published

9 months ago

on

How to Write a Professional Email That Actually Gets a Response

#Write #Professional #Email #Response

One of the most efficient channels for communication, both inside and outside of an organization, is email. 

Regardless of your position, you will probably utilize email for its effectiveness. You might have to write a letter of introduction, exchange information, communicate a critical update, or summarize an important meeting.

A well-written email gives the recipient a welcoming, concise, and actionable message. Writing emails adhering to these requirements can be learned with practice. You must professionally compose your email if you want it to stand out, be opened, and read. 

In this post, we’ll go over creating a professional email that grabs the reader’s attention and helps them take action, regardless of whether you manually send emails or use email marketing automation. 

What is a professional email?

There are several approaches to writing a professional email. It could be a thank you letter, a letter of resignation to your employer, or a cover letter with a CV for a job application. Whatever your motive for sending an email, you must craft a professional note to increase the chances of success.

Like other forms of communication, you should begin by introducing yourself before diving into the purpose of the email and asking the recipient to take action. A professional email does not look like the example below. 

Source: Moosend

A professional email must be meticulously crafted with specific elements that we will analyze in the following section. 

Elements of a professional email

Every professional email can be divided into the same fundamental parts. You may not use all of these components, but you should always carefully consider each one.

It is impossible to undervalue the effectiveness of a well-structured, professional email that gets the point across in the fewest possible words and motivates the reader to act. To better understand how to create that experience, here is a list of the elements to keep in mind when writing.

Subject line

The email subject line, along with your name or email address, will be what the receiver sees before deciding whether or not to click on your email. As a result, you want to ensure you’re articulating your message’s purpose and establishing expectations.

It must also be compelling to persuade the recipient to open the email. No matter how well-structured your email body is, if the subject line doesn’t grab their attention, they might not even open it, and that’s the last thing you want as a professional.

Here are some subject line tips to keep in mind for your next professional email:

  • Use less than 60 characters.
  • Clearly state the email’s goal in one sentence.
  • Make it pop, starting with the recipient’s name.

For instance, if you need to postpone a meeting, you could write, “Hey [first name], can we please reschedule the meeting?”. If you want to invite someone for a webinar, you could write, “[first name], here is your chance to learn everything about email marketing!”

example of email subject line

Source: Moosend

Pro tip: While crafting subject lines for cold emails, remember not to mislead the audience by writing clickbait subject lines. Always be genuine, using a concise subject line that conveys your message while respecting their time.

Greeting

Making the greatest possible first impression with a formal salutation, commonly referred to as a greeting, is crucial when composing a professional email.

It’s crucial because failing to spell someone’s name correctly or using the incorrect greeting could hurt how they see you. Giving the welcome enough thought establishes the tone for the entire email. 

Unless the recipient works for a more formal organization where their full name could be more suitable, using the first name only is sufficient in most professional discussions.

It’s always preferable to use someone’s first or last name rather than mistakenly using “Ms.” or “Mr.” However, the preferred format for professors and doctors is typically their title followed by their last name.

You can sometimes start your email by writing “Hello” or “Hi there” instead of the recipient’s name if you are unsure of their identity. 

Pro tip: It is polite to start by thanking the recipient, whether you are communicating with someone for the first time, responding to their inquiry, or receiving feedback. The reader will be more open to what you have to say next if you express gratitude. 

Body

In the email body, you must include the information you want to communicate with your recipient. When writing professional emails, use appropriate language for the circumstance and avoid using spam words. State clearly why you are sending the message and what action you hope the receiver will take after reading.

Always start with an introduction about yourself. This is crucial, especially if it’s the first time emailing someone. This can be a brief paragraph of one to two sentences about you that fits the message’s goal. 

Here are some tips:

  • Avoid including irrelevant information to the email’s main point.
  • Keep your introduction to no more than two sentences.
  • Link to your website or LinkedIn page.
  • Keep the introduction simple; avoid making it too complicated. 

After introducing yourself, you can start explaining the context of your email. The email body should thoroughly explain the message you wish to send, how the receiver can benefit from it, and what you are waiting for from them.

Nobody has the time to read a long, difficult-to-read email with no context, so keep it simple and concise. Pay attention to how much you can say with fewer words.

Here are some pointers for crafting a great email body:

  • Use formatting and bullets to make the email easier to skim.
  • Use bolding and italicize certain words.
  • Write short sentences to improve readability.
  • Ask an open-ended question at the conclusion.
  • Proofread your email and check for grammar mistakes.

Understanding your readers is key to getting them to pay attention to what you have to say and take the appropriate action. 

Closing

The section before your name and signature is your email closing. A call to action should also be included at this point. This could involve receiving a response, guiding the recipient to a specific link with a lead magnet, or performing another particular action.

What the recipient does after reading your email will determine everything. You have a reasonable probability of getting a response if it is effectively written, emphasizes the value, and has the appropriate closing words.

Typical sign-off examples include:

  • Regards
  • Best
  • Sincerely
  • Thanks
  • Kind regards

The incorrect sign-off can provide the wrong impression by coming across as overly familiar or unprofessional; therefore, choose one depending on your relationship with the recipient.

Signature

This section may include your contact information, title, organization, or links to pages with additional information about you or your business. All these parameters can add another layer of information for your recipients and create a professional email signature.

Although most professionals don’t take advantage of this chance, a professional email signature has a huge potential to tell readers more about you or your business and give them ways to contact you.

You can also add automated email signatures to every email you send using most email marketing platforms, including Gmail and Outlook. Although it sounds efficient to automate this section, it’s better to adjust it depending on the goal of your email to get a better response.

Best practices for writing professional emails

Know that you know how to incorporate all the necessary elements of a professional email, it’s time to explore several tips to improve the chances of success.

Keep your email concise

People receive many emails daily, so a recipient is more likely to respond to an email that is a few short paragraphs than something that is considerably longer. Therefore, considering other people’s time, writing concise professional emails is prudent. It shouldn’t be longer than one to three brief paragraphs, each with three to five sentences. However, it’s crucial to avoid making it too short.

The tricky part is the email body, which needs to cover a lot of material, making it challenging to keep the length in check. Email copywriting can be an important weapon in your arsenal, and mastering the principles of crafting a concise email that converts can help you immensely in the long run.

Remember that professionals, mainly the decision-makers in the organization, lack time to read through lengthy communications. As a result, having a skimmable email with a professional tone facilitates the recipient’s ability to reply.

Would you prefer to read a brief, concise email that gets right to the point or a long email that bores you just by looking at it? 

Personalize it 

In a world where personalized push notifications are commonplace for apps and customized ads bombard every medium you may use, personalizing business emails is a must tool in your arsenal.

A personalized email looks like this:

personalized email example

Source: Moosend

Personalizing a professional email is far beyond adding the recipient’s name to the subject line. It means adding details that indicate you have done your research and have set aside time to produce a solid email proposal for them.

Many marketers strongly believe that personalization increases customer engagement, so paying attention to it might significantly enhance your email open rate and the likelihood of receiving a response. When crafting your email design, the best strategy is to have a highly researched opening paragraph. You can do that research by looking through the recipient’s social media accounts, website, or news articles.

The concept behind personalization is to create a spreadsheet with information about a contact. That would be their name, email address, an icebreaker, and possibly a link referring to a particular blog post or social media post.

 spreadsheet with information to personalize emails

Source: Moosend

Success rates can be increased dramatically if you take some time to research your recipient and add a personalized touch to your professional email.

However, if you want to take it to the next level and avoid manual work, I got you covered. You can leverage email marketing software and import your CSV, letting the software work its magic. This strategy can be highly effective, especially for people seeking job opportunities or who are into sales and want to pitch professionally to other businesses.

Proofread before sending

Spelling and punctuation issues in business emails can cause a negative impression and costly results. Starting with the basics, even if you believe your email is flawless, double-check the recipient’s name and the email address.

Continue with the subject line, the man body of the email, and your closing. It shouldn’t take much time to proofread your email, but doing so could keep it from ending up in the recipient’s trash.

 Ensure your email’s first paragraph states your purpose clearly. Keep in mind that this is your final opportunity to catch any errors. 

Another parameter to keep in mind is your grammatical errors. You don’t need to be proficient in grammar and punctuation to send an email, but it’s essential to look for these errors. When writing a professional email, it is advised to use simple and understandable English avoiding jargon and complicated phrases.

Pro tip: You can always have an add-on tool to your browser to check for grammatical errors that can ruin your emails.

Always follow-up

Professionals may become busy, lose emails in their inboxes, or mark your emails as spam. 

Sometimes people worry that sending follow-ups would make their prospects upset. Instead, many decision-makers appreciate a person with perseverance that doesn’t cross the boundaries. Reading several of your emails creates a sense of familiarity, especially if you send out cold emails to prospects who don’t know you.

To craft a high-converting follow-up email, you should consider these parameters:

  • Gently remind them of your most recent email. 
  • Add more information to your previous emails to spark conversation and pique their attention.
  • Include an open-ended question to put them in a position to respond.
  • The follow-up should be brief and focused on the main points. 

Pro tip: Design a template for a two-email follow-up sequence. Wait three to five business days before following up for the first time. This will allow your prospects some time to respond while you craft your following emails.

Examples of professional emails

To put this article into practice, we will craft two professional email templates in this section. One will be a job application email, and the other will be a cold email pitching some sort of collaboration.

Let’s start with the job application:

Subject Line: Job application for [company name]

Dear [first name],

 

I hope this email finds you well. My name is [your name], and I found your information on [insert icebreaker].

 

I’m looking for a new opportunity to hone my skills and gain knowledge in [your field]. I currently work as a [current role] for [company name]; however, I’m interested in applying for the [position] position that is open at your business. 

 

I believe I could add [xyx] to this organization by [how].

 

Would you be available to further discuss this role via email or a quick call? 

 

Thanks for taking the time to consider my proposal.

 

Sincerely,

[your name]

This email template is an excellent foundation for pitching your CV to other companies. Remember that you have to follow up if you want to increase your chances of a positive answer.

Now let’s explore our second professional email approach. That would be a cold email outreach for a B2B scenario.

 Subject: [first name], we only need 18 seconds 

Hello [first name],

 

I hope this email finds you well. I was browsing the web when I accidentally stumbled upon your article on [topic]. I never thought that [something interesting about the article].

 

I am [your name] and I am a [current role] for [your company]. We are currently seeking experts like you in [field of expertise] to share their valuable insights on our [blog, podcast, etc.].

 

Here are some of our most recent episodes:

I would love to jump on a quick call with you to discuss the opportunity for future collaboration. Would you be open on Friday at 5:00 p.m. EST?

 

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Have a great [day of the week],

[your name]

Although this email example has a less formal approach, the language remains professional and has every element we mentioned above for creating a high-converting email.

The takeaway

Writing a professional email can be challenging, however, if you follow the tips from this article, you have a solid foundation to craft a winning note. Not every email will be successful but following up on your opportunities will ensure a higher return on investment.

Remember to check every element of your professional emails, keep them concise and personalize parts of your approach to make them stand out in your recipients’ inboxes. Proofread your emails before you hit send and wait for three to five days to send your follow-up emails.

Until next time, keep writing those professional emails!

Looking for email newsletter advice? Here are 18 inspiring examples of newsletters that work and why.


Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Read Now: Financial Advisor Scammers – How to Spot Them From a Mile Away – 101 Latest News

Published

7 hours ago

on

June 1, 2023

By

Financial Advisor Scammers – How to Spot Them From a Mile Away

#Financial #Advisor #Scammers #Spot #Mile

Thousands of people fall victim to financial fraud every year, losing millions of dollars. According to the Federal Trade Commission, American consumers lost more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021 — that’s 70% more than in 2020.

A record number of nearly 2.8 million people reported fraud to the FTC in 2021 – the highest number since 2001. An average person lost $500 in these scams, 25% of which resulted in a financial loss.

These figures do not include identity theft reports or any other categories. Another 1.5 million Americans filed complaints related to “other” categories, such as credit reporting companies failing to investigate disputed information or debt collectors making false representations of the amount or status of debt in 2021. In addition, more than 1.4 million Americans reported being victims of identity theft. According to the FTC, both sums are records.

I think it’s safe to say that the number and sophistication of finanical scams are constantly increasing. The good news? By remaining skeptical and learning how to spot financial advisor scammers from a mile away you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

The appeal of “phantom riches.”

It would be great if we could build wealth, wouldn’t it? Of course. But, at the same time, it is this desire that makes people want to invest in high-return investments.

Unfortunately, scam artists also exploit this desire to build wealth to make money from their victims. Known as “phantom riches,” scammers entice investors into investing with the promise of wealth. A typical investment scam will include a substantial payoff or guaranteed returns, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

In a nutshell, this tactic consists of:

  • You make an emotional decision rather than a logical one because the scam artist promises riches.
  • Your money is invested, but you don’t get anything back. Due to the fact that the “riches” never existed in the first place, the scam artist cannot pay you.

You’re promised guaranteed returns.

Your potential rate of return will be influenced by the degree of risk associated with each investment. In most cases, if you keep your money perfectly safe, it will yield a low return. On the flip side, investments with high returns are associated with high risks, including a complete loss.

It’s typical or fraudsters to try to persuade investors that extremely high returns are “guaranteed” or “can’t miss.”

In short, in this scam, the clients’ greed and dreams of easy money are exploited. It is likely that an advisor is scamming you if he or she offers or guarantees returns higher than 12-15%. FYI, a typical U.S. stock market return over the last 85 years has been 9.5%. The return is not a “safe” one, since there have been many years when returns were negative.

During free events, you’re pressured to act quickly.

It may sound like a great night out if you’re invited to a free lobster dinner at a popular local restaurant. However, as soon as you hear the words “Act fast!” you should be ready to flee. As a general rule of thumb, never trust a financial advisor who uses high-pressure sales tactics.

It should be noted though, that free events aren’t always scams. To play it safe, before you RSVP, check out FINRA’s BrokerCheck, the CFP Board’s planners or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors’ database to see the host’s credentials.

You’re contacted by a government agency you’re never heard of.

People who claim to be from government agencies often call, send emails, or send text messages posing as government officials — often out the blue. For the sake of sounding official, they may give you their employee ID number. Additionally, they might have information about you, such as your home address or name.

Sometimes they give you fake agency names, like the non-existent National Sweepstakes Bureau, that say they work for the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare. Also, they will give you an explanation as to why you need to send them money or provide them with your personal information right away. This is a call you should hang up on if you receive it. This is a scam.

The government will never call you, send you an email, or send a text message asking for money. That’s only something a scammer would do.

You “owe” taxes or your Social is in jeopardy.

Let’s say you’re at home watching a movie with your family. From out of nowhere, you receive a call from the IRS saying you owe taxes. There’s a claim that you need to pay now. If you don’t pay right away, the caller might threaten you with arrest or deportation. You might get your driver’s license revoked, too.

It’s possible the caller has some info about you, like your Social Security number. After all, it’s supposed to sound like the IRS is calling. However, this isn’t the IRS.

Even though most of these scams happen over the phone, you should also know that the IRS won’t email you, text you, or message you on social media. The IRS will mail you a notice if you owe taxes.

Similarly, if you receive a call, email, text, or social media message stating that your Social Security benefits will be terminated or your Social Security number suspended unless you pay immediately. You will be told that you must pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash mailed in.

There’s no need to worry about being threatened by the real Social Security Administration or having your number suspended.

A real Social Security Administration will not contact you, send you an email, send you a text message, or send you a direct message on social media requesting payment. No government agency will ever ask you to send money. Wiring money, using gift cards, using cryptocurrency, or sending cash is a scam. That call, email, text message, or direct message is a scam.

You’re encouraged to keep all your money in one spot.

We all know diversifying your portfolio makes sense, right? When your money is all in one stock, for example, and it tanks, it could be a disaster.

It’s possible your financial advisor has an ulterior motive if they’re recommending a certain investment. To protect your finances, a trustworthy financial advisor will always recommend a balanced portfolio.

You’ve been told that you won the lottery or a prize.

A lottery or prize scam usually involves scammers calling or emailing you, claiming that you’ve won a prize through a lottery or sweepstakes, and then requesting an upfront fee and tax payment. It is possible for them to claim to be from a federal agency in some cases.

You should never provide any personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know, including your credit card number or Social Security number. If they demand payment immediately, never pay an upfront fee for a prize

They’re selling you products you don’t want.

You should be cautious of anyone who tries to sell you or offers you financial services that you do not understand or need. You may need to question the education of an advisor if they recommend products that don’t fit your needs and your budget.

People you trust are promoting the investment.

Some con artists even get down on their knees and pray with their targets to win their trust, Michelle Singletary writes in the Washington Post.

As one example, a preacher was convicted of defrauding 1,600 non-profit and small churches of nearly $9 million.

Investors who don’t have much confidence in their investing knowledge or who don’t trust their own instincts have been taken advantage of by con artists for a long time, adds Singletary. In order to promote their scheme, crooks hire people who are trustworthy.

The scam is known as affinity fraud.

The word “con” in con man means “confidence.” Con artists gain people’s trust through affiliations with religious organizations or infiltrating a circle of family or friends you might not question.

Listening isn’t their priority.

A client-advisor relationship can often be viewed as one in which one person has all the answers and the other does not. Even though some truth lies in that characterization, an advisor-client relationship is worthless without listening to the client as well.

It is especially important for a person paid to provide advice on decision-making to take into account the individual’s particular needs and circumstances. It is important to ask yourself why a financial advisor is so determined to put your money into a certain investment.

Your money needs to be directly accessible to them.

You may find it incredibly convenient to hand your checkbook over to your financial advisor so they can handle your investments. However, it’s also transferring your checkbook to someone else. Whatever trust you have in your financial advisor, you’ve just paved the way for embezzlement.

As much as possible, keep control of your finances. Your financial advisor should guide you, not drive your finances.

Their abilities and credentials are misrepresented.

A good relationship with your financial advisor depends on your trust that they are better at investing money than you are. Consider asking friends and family for recommendations before hiring any professional.

Whatever method you use to locate a financial advisor, make sure you check their credentials to ensure they are legitimate. A good place to start is to search the list of professionals on the Certified Financial Planner Board. If you want to avoid a scammer, make sure they do not misrepresent their abilities and qualifications.

FAQs

Investment scams: what are they?

Investors can be fooled by investment scams through websites, testimonials, and marketing materials.

One of the most popular investment scams is a Ponzi Scheme. The goal of this is to collect money from new investors in order to repay previous investors. Eventually, the money owed is more than the money being collected and the scheme collapses, leaving all investors out of pocket.

Investment scams can be much more complex today because of the internet and digital communication. Scams like these are so convincing that even professional investors have been duped by them.

Scammers often clone legitimate websites of legitimate firms or get you to invest in scam investments that offer much better returns than savings account rates.

How to spot a financial scam?

Keep an eye out for these warning signs that an investment deal might be a scam:

  • You get unsolicited calls, texts, emails, and knocks on your door.
  • When you can’t contact a financial advisor.
  • The only contact information they give you is a mobile number or a PO box.
  • Despite being told it’s low risk, you’re being offered a high return.
  • The advisor pressures you to act quickly.

How can you protect yourself from financial scams?

  • Keep an eye on your accounts. Make sure there are no unauthorized charges on your credit card and bank accounts. Monitoring your online or mobile banking accounts daily can help you catch fraud fast.
  • Take a look at your credit report. Make sure your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports are up to date every year. You can get your free credit report every year from AnnualCreditReport.com, but beware of lookalikes.
  • Keep track of your credit. If you want to be alerted to any activity related to your credit history and accounts, you might want to sign up for a credit monitoring service. You can use this to find out if someone is trying to steal your identity.
  • Don’t forget to change your passwords. Use different passwords on sensitive accounts, and don’t reuse them.
  • Be careful with online transactions. Use a secure connection when shopping online, and avoid public Wi-Fi.
  • Dispose of documents properly. Shred old bank statements or other papers with sensitive info like account numbers, social security numbers, personal identifiers, etc., before throwing them away.
  • All financial communication should be confirmed. Beware of scams like phishing, where scammers pretend to be banks and ask you to update or confirm your account info. Keep your account information safe by contacting your bank directly. Don’t forget the IRS won’t contact you via email, text, or social media to ask for personal info.

What’s the difference between consultants and advisors?

Consultants misleadingly call themselves experts to make it seem like they’re providing objective advice when they’re actually deceptive salespeople.

You should always be aware that anyone can call themselves a financial consultant since there aren’t many regulations. The result is that less ethical companies and individuals try to gain your trust and assets by falsely claiming that title.

Don’t forget that a consultant can help you make money decisions. However, they don’t have the certifications or licenses to provide financial advice or manage your money.

In other words, a consultant might not be authorized to manage your assets because they don’t have the right qualifications.

There’s no law that says consultants can advise you on the best option. As a rule of thumb, if a consultant appears to offer financial advice, they shouldn’t offer investment or financial advice.

What to do if you think you’ve been targeted?

Despite the fact that you may not be able to recover all of your losses, it’s imperative to report the crime as soon as possible. To get started, take the following steps:

Put together a fraud file.

Make a file with all the relevant documentation about the fraud and keep it somewhere safe. It should include the name, contact info, and website of the perpetrator. In addition, include the fraudster’s purported regulatory registration numbers, if available, and the timeline of events.

Be aware of your rights.

Victims of crimes have rights under federal and, in some cases, state laws. To better protect yourself, learn about your rights. To learn more about your rights as a crime victim and the resources available to you, contact the U.S. attorney’s office in your area, as well as the attorney general’s office in your state.

Inform regulators about fraud.

The federal, state, and national regulatory agencies for investment products and professionals may be able to assist. If possible, notify as many agencies as possible about the investment fraud.

  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: (800) SEC-0330 or submit a complaint.
  • FINRA: (844) 574-3577 or report a tip.
  • NASAA: (202) 737-0900 or send a complaint.
  • National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Contact your state insurance commissioner if you suspect fraud.
  • National Futures Association: (312) 781-1410 or file a complaint.
  • U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission: (866) 366-2382 or send an online tip or complaint.

Also, you might want to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call them at (877) 382-4357. Fraud that is reported to the Consumer Sentinel database is tracked by law enforcement, which can stop ongoing fraud and stop such crimes from happening in the future. If you go through this process, your case will not be investigated criminally.

Report the fraud to law enforcement.

For the recovery process to begin, the responsible parties need to be investigated, and further damage to other individuals can be prevented by reporting the investment fraud to the police.

  • Local Law Enforcement: File a police report with your local law enforcement agency.
  • District Attorney: Get in touch with your local district attorney.
  • Attorney General: Report the fraud to the consumer protection and prosecution unit of your state’s attorney general.
  • Federal Law Enforcement: Submit your tip online or contact your local FBI office. You can also file a complaint through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Take into account your options.

When assets are lost due to investment fraud, it can be difficult to recover them. The situation is not hopeless, however, as there are legitimate avenues to explore. An arbitration, mediation, or civil lawsuit may help you recoup some of your lost assets.

An experienced civil attorney can advise you on which remedies may be available to you depending on your case if you’re considering filing a lawsuit for financial fraud. Although civil lawsuits can take time and cost money, you should know that they can take a long time and cost a lot. In addition, you may have difficulty collecting even if you win.

The post Financial Advisor Scammers – How to Spot Them From a Mile Away appeared first on Due.

Continue Reading

Business

Read Now: The 7 Myths To Follow Your Creative Pursuits – 101 Latest News

Published

8 hours ago

on

June 1, 2023

By

The 7 Myths To Follow Your Creative Pursuits

#Myths #Follow #Creative #Pursuits

Marketing Podcast with Kate Volman

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Kate Volman. She is the CEO of Floyd Coaching. With over twenty years of experience in developing and leading life-changing programs for entrepreneurs and leaders, she has a passion for helping people grow. 

Her new book Do What You Love: A Guide to Living Your Creative Life Without Leaving Your Job shares the seven myths stopping people from exploring their passions and dreams.

Key Takeaway:

Pursuing your creative passions and incorporating them into your life can greatly enhance your overall engagement and fulfillment. It doesn’t require quitting your job or making it your career; you can still be creative while working full-time. Many people hesitate to pursue their passions because they feel they need permission or are waiting for the perfect moment. However, true growth and success come when we give ourselves permission to start creating, even if it’s not perfect.

It’s important to challenge the myths that suggest it’s not possible, that you’re not good enough, or that you need a specific reason to pursue your creativity. Your creative pursuits are inside of you for a reason and they’re not going anywhere, It’s up to each one to feed them to improve.

Questions I ask Kate Volman:

  • [01:42] Why you built that caveat into this book?
  • [05:50] Do you think that as a team leader, you should be trying to find out what are the passions of other team members? Is that crossing the line or is that something that you think would be a healthy business relationship?
  • [08:10] The book is set up around seven myths that you must hear from time to time when you encourage people to follow their dream. So when people have a job, and think it’s impossible to follow their dreams, how do you bat that myth down?
  • [09:22] Can you explain the second myth: You’re not good enough?
  • [15:25] On the fourth myth, do you think we probably assign the need for permission to all of the responsibilities that we have?
  • [17:00] What do you tell people when they say they don’t have time to follow their creative passions?
  • [19:24] Some people may not want to develop their creative pursuits because they may think that what they’re doing is not perfect, what do you think of that?
  • [22:48] Talking about the passion loop, there’s a part missing out and not doing the things you want. So, it’s like a vicious cycle, isn’t it?

More About Kate Volman:

More About The Agency Certification Intensive Training:

Take The Marketing Assessment:

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.

HubSpot Podcast Network is the audio destination for business professionals who seek the best education and inspiration on how to grow a business.

 

Continue Reading

Business

Read Now: California lawmakers and AV industry battle for future of self-driving trucks – 101 Latest News

Published

16 hours ago

on

June 1, 2023

By

California lawmakers and AV industry battle for future of self-driving trucks

#California #lawmakers #industry #battle #future #selfdriving #trucks

A California bill that would require a trained human safety operator to be present any time a heavy-duty autonomous vehicle operates on public roads in the state is getting traction. The bill, first introduced in January, passed the state’s Assembly Wednesday and will now face a committee review and vote in the Senate.

Advocates of the bill want to ensure both the safety of California road users and the job security of truck drivers. AV companies and industry representatives say the move is unreasonable, threatens California’s competitiveness in the AV and trucking space, and hinders the advancement of a technology that can save lives.

“AB 316 is a preemptive technology ban that will put California even further behind other states and lock in the devastating safety status quo on California’s roads, which saw more than 4,400 people die last year,” said Jeff Farrah, executive director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, in a statement. “AB 316 undermines California’s law enforcement and safety officials as they seek to regulate and conduct oversight over life-saving autonomous trucks.”

If the legislation passes in the Senate, it’ll go to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law, unless Newsom decides to veto. While Newsom has received huge donations from big tech companies and recently buddied up to tech billionaire Elon Musk, the politician has also been known to crack down on technology that puts his constituents at risk.

Risk and safety is what the conversation around AB 316 comes down to. Bill authors and supporters have pointed to instances when robotaxis malfunctioned on city streets in San Francisco and Teslas operating under the automaker’s advanced driver assistance systems like Autopilot have caused fatal accidents.

“California highways are an unpredictable place, but as a Teamster truck driver of 13 years, I’m trained to expect the unexpected. I know to look out for people texting while driving, potholes in the middle of the road, and folks on the side of the highway with a flat tire. We can’t trust new technology to pick up on those things,” said Fernando Reyes, Commercial Driver and Teamsters Local 350 member, in a statement. “My truck weighs well over 10,000 pounds. The thought of it barreling down the highway with no driver behind the wheel is a terrifying thought, and it isn’t safe. AB 316 is the only way forward for California.”

The bill does not ban companies from testing or deploying self-driving trucks on California’s public roads. It only insists that a trained human driver be present in the vehicle to take over in case of an emergency.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency tasked with providing testing and deployment permits for AVs in the state, still has a ban on autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds in the state. In anticipation of the DMV soon lifting that ban, AB 316 effectively limits the DMV’s future authority to regulate AVs, power the agency has held since 2012. If passed, the DMV would not be able to sign off on autonomous trucking companies removing the driver for testing or deployment purposes unless the legislature is convinced that it’s safe enough to do so.

Additional language was added to AB 316 to outline the role the DMV will play in providing evidence of safety to policymakers.

By January 1, 2029, or five years after the start of testing (whichever occurs later), the DMV will need to submit a report to the state that evaluates the performance of AV technology and its impact on public safety and employment in the trucking sector. The report will include information like disengagements and crashes, as well as a recommendation on whether the legislature should “remove, modify or maintain the requirement for an autonomous vehicle with a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more to operate with a human safety operator physically present in the vehicle,” according to the bill’s language.

Once that report is handed over, the legislature will conduct an oversight hearing. If the legislature and the governor approve of removing the human safety operator requirement, the DMV will still need to wait another year after the date of the hearing to issue a permit. That means California might not see autonomous trucks operating with no human in the front seat until 2030 at the earliest.

“If enacted, AB 316 will make California an outlier by prohibiting autonomous trucks from operating on their own unless approved by the [California Legislature] through a convoluted process,” said Safer Roads for All, a coalition of AV advocates. “Let’s hope other states are more sensible and let road safety experts do their jobs.”


Continue Reading

Latest