Matt Altman

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If you want to convince someone to buy from you, first you have to understand the value you’re offering. When you run a business in a creative industry, it might not always be clear how to monetize your work. Whether you’re an independent artist, a freelance creator or any other form of solopreneur, one of the first steps on your road to success is managing to land your first sale — and that can be a tricky endeavor on your own. Having each worked in the culture space for some time, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council know what it takes to run successful businesses in creative industries. Here, they weigh in with words of wisdom for aspiring or current entrepreneurs on how to land that elusive first sale, and what it takes to keep your business going even after you’ve earned your first customer.

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When you're managing a distributed team, a little intention goes a long way. Both remote and hybrid work environments have proven to be smart solutions for those companies looking to give their employees greater freedom and control over their work-life balance. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t come with their own set of cons. Relationship-building and peer-to-peer connections, while certainly possible, can be more challenging for remote and hybrid teams who aren’t physically in the same place at once. This can leave some employees feeling isolated if there is no plan to address it. Thankfully, managers can utilize plenty of strategies, tips and tricks to keep their teams connected and communicating well. With the recent surge in popularity for remote and hybrid workspaces, the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council have become well-acquainted with these strategies. Below, they discuss their top tips for those struggling to manage their teams in a hybrid or remote workplace and share how to connect with and manage employees well in these types of environments.

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If your employees feel uncertain about how AI will impact their roles, here's how to frame communications to alleviate their concerns. In the last few years, AI has taken off in unexpected ways that have changed the way today's workforce operates. As a result, the fear of automation replacing tasks or entire jobs has become common among employees.  However, automation doesn't remove the need for the human touch — and, in fact, can be used to support employees in their day-to-day workflows. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share reassuring messages that can help calm employees navigating these changes. With the right communications, employees can view AI not as a threat but as a tool to advance their careers and embrace new possibilities.

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These strategies can make it easier to break through productivity blocks and accomplish more during your workday. With the constant barrage of emails, meetings and distractions, finding real focus and productivity in your workday can be challenging. Many professionals struggle to maintain momentum long enough to finish a project. However, the right techniques can help boost concentration and productivity on even the busiest of workdays. Here, 15 Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their favorite techniques for staying on track and explain why these strategies work so well in a busy work environment. From using time-blocking methods to taking strategic breaks, these tactics can help boost focus and efficiency, even when you're in a productivity slump.

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When it comes to human-to-human connection, AI can be a valuable tool. As AI becomes more and more commonplace in business, there are some leaders who worry about it replacing the human element of customer service and engagement. Will customers really be happy talking to AI over another human being? Will business lose its personal touch? While AI is certainly poised to change the way business is currently conducted, many leaders believe that technology can be used as a key tool for bettering relationships between customers and companies — not replacing them. Below, 10 business leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council weigh in with their thoughts on technology in business, each discussing one way a business can leverage technology to build better relationships with its customers and what's worked well for them.