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Discourse is a vital element in driving toward a more constructive society.

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Networking can be tough, but building relationships doesn't have to be. Networking is a major way to forge new connections and find potential business opportunities when you're an entrepreneur. But once you’ve made an initial connection, keeping the momentum going with that contact afterward — whether with other professionals or brands — can be tricky as you both return to your hectic daily lives. According to the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council, however, maintaining good business relationships doesn’t have to be challenging or take up a lot of time — it’s all about doing it the right way. Below, they list a few of their top tips for keeping the networking momentum going and why they work so well.

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Where can we get a break and create a safe space of our choosing? Welcome to the metaverse. 

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Operating a business has been the challenge of a lifetime as of late.

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Sometimes scaling quickly isn't the best path forward. While it's every company's hope to grow, what many companies may not realize is that quick, explosive growth might not actually be the best way to scale. Though some companies may not have a choice if they experience sudden “overnight” success, those actively looking to skyrocket in popularity and sales need to consider a few important points first. Below, 11 business leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council list some of the points an entrepreneur should be concerned about if they’re looking to grow their company quickly, and offer their best tips for scaling successfully in the long term.

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In order to appease their customers, company leaders will need to shift their mindsets. The demand is clear: The next generation of consumers wants more eco-friendly businesses. And yet, not every business is on board, continuing to roll out products made with nonbiodegradable materials destined for landfill or approving unsustainable supply chain practices that hurt more than just the environment. So what’s keeping current businesses from implementing more sustainable, eco-friendly practices and products? To shed some light on the issue, a panel of Rolling Stone Culture Council members each share one factor they believe is holding many company leaders back from developing a more earth-conscious approach to business.

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Will remote work cause employees to lose focus due to a lack of in-person reinforcement? 

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Today, consumers expect businesses to express their support for positive movements for the betterment of overall society.

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When dealing with cause marketing, it’s important to promote honesty and legitimacy. As concerns over social, environmental and political issues rise, many companies are being founded with a particular cause in mind, with their founders looking to use their businesses and platforms to raise awareness and do some good. For other businesses, getting involved in particular causes or building product lines around certain issues came later as their brands evolved. But the challenge for all of these businesses lies in earning consumer trust. Now attuned to insincerity and false concern, customers can tell when a company isn’t being honest in their claims. To help prove to your customers that your efforts to help your cause are legitimate, consider these tips from the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council and learn what steps you can take to build your credibility and reputation as an honest, trustworthy business.

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Encouraging growth and development sets up the employee and the company for future success. In business, creativity sparks creativity, and the more employees are allowed to learn and grow in their positions, the more ideas and innovation they are able to bring to their company as a result. Continued learning, therefore, can be a powerful benefit to the company and employees within it, offering them new and exciting challenges and opportunities for promotion and leadership. To encourage this growth and development, employers can opt for a multitude of strategies. Business leaders themselves, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council each shared the way in which they and their department managers inspire their employees to pursue continued growth and learning throughout their careers.

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Is the desire to possess or vend luxury items out of step in today's world?

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As brand leaders, we need to find ways to align our brands with causes to support larger social change.

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These brands are great examples of how to tell your story right. Effective branding occurs when a consumer can think of a company and an image immediately comes to mind. These companies can evoke certain feelings and produce certain thoughts in customers’ minds all while telling a story well enough to convince those customers they need that product or service. All of these elements are what make a brand memorable, and to achieve that status for your company, you’ll need to study other successful brands. To help you, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council shared a few examples of brands that really nailed their respective stories and how they did it.

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When you’re caring for your company, it can be hard to take care of yourself as well. For better or worse, "hustle culture" has become popular among the entrepreneurial community. It's sometimes viewed as a badge of honor to be constantly busy and "hustling" to grow your business. However, when you don’t take time away from work, you run the risk of inducing health- and emotional-related issues that could set you back. That’s why it’s important to take time for self-care, especially if you’re always on the go or constantly feel the need to be productive. To help you find balance, 13 members of Rolling Stone Culture Council give their best tips for busy leaders who may have to "force" themselves to step away from their jobs.

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As people slowly gather together again, customers will expect new experiences from venues. Entertainment venues were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and as restrictions lift and venues start opening up again, business owners and patrons alike are understandably excited to get back to a more “normal” routine. But after everything that’s happened, will customers want more of the same or will they expect a few changes? As each business owner makes this determination for themselves, there are a few ways they can adapt or innovate to freshen up their old model and give customers something even more exciting to look forward to. Below, 12 leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council share some of these strategies and explain why they’re good ways to find new success in the coming years.

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Think about it: What would happen to you — and the audience you have influence over — if you adopted a false brand identity?

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The gig economy’s success boomed during Covid-19, but what trends will we see afterward? At a time when an act as simple as leaving the house felt unsafe, services provided by companies like DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, etc. became critical to consumers just trying to go about their daily lives. The pandemic changed the way customers buy and businesses sell, but what will its lasting impact be on the gig economy? To offer their professional insights, nine leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council share their predictions for the future of this booming industry and why it may or may not be just as vital moving forward.

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Let's see if we can work in a little levity in our brands.

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Coming up with an idea can be challenging, but following the right steps can get you there faster. For many people, the hardest part of starting a business is coming up with a concept. No matter how many ideas you might have on the back burner, choosing the right one to execute can feel intimidating. This is especially true in the culture space, where the stakes are high and audiences are always looking for "the next big thing." Below, 15 Rolling Stone Culture Council members shared some important tips to help you come up with a business idea you think will have a big cultural impact. Read on to get their recommendations and learn how to implement them for yourself.

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Engaging your network can be a daunting task, to say the least, but it shouldn't be.

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To build a positive business network, you need to quickly identify the right people to connect with. It's often said that you are the sum total of the people around you. Your network matters, so when you're trying to build up your entrepreneurial connections, you’ll want to choose individuals who align with your business values and morals.  However, this can be easier said than done. That's why a panel of Rolling Stone Culture Council members shared specific qualities you should look for in a person that will help you determine if they're the "right" person to connect with. Here are 13 characteristics they recommend and why each is so important.

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When your usual outlets aren't available to you, it's important to find alternate coping mechanisms. It’s no question that the last year has been challenging for everyone. Even with the hope of "normalcy" on the horizon, people are finding it difficult to cope with the ongoing pandemic on top of the challenging social and political climate. With many outlets and resources inaccessible at this time, it’s even harder to find ways to de-stress. To help, a panel of Rolling Stone Culture Council members shared activities and methods that can aid in coping with burnout during multiple crises. Follow their advice to find healthy ways to deal with the stress of the modern world.

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The future of marketing is video, so jump on board now. It’s no surprise that video content has dominated marketing across various industries. Apps like TikTok and Instagram’s IGTV and Reels features allow you to better engage consumers with short clips about a given product or service. However, every business has their own unique approach to video marketing. So, to offer some tips on how to leverage video for your particular business, eight members of Rolling Stone Culture Council explained their tried-and-true strategies and how you can replicate them for your own success.

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How do we make sure that our brand images and meaning are in place before we start to market our brand?

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A business’s best advertisement is a happy customer. Word-of-mouth has long been touted as one of the best ways to attract new customers. Prospective consumers want to know how your product or service can directly and positively impact their lives, and customer testimonials can clearly demonstrate that value.  However, it can be challenging to build up a loyal base of advocates who will promote your business to their networks. To offer some actionable steps you can take, 11 members of Rolling Stone Culture Council explain a few strategies that have helped them create true product advocates and why they’ve been so effective for their businesses.

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Set a better example for sustainability in business by starting with your own. With a big social push for environmental awareness, many organizations are looking for more eco-friendly and sustainable ways to run their businesses and produce their products. It’s a win-win situation for the planet and the companies, as conscious customers are likely to go out of their way to buy sustainable products and even spend more if they know a business is environmentally friendly. No matter the industry, every business leader can find ways to make a positive environmental impact. This is especially true of the highly visible culture space, which may influence a broader audience than the average business. For guidance on how to get started, eight members of Rolling Stone Culture Council shared their tips for business leaders who want to set better examples of sustainability.

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For modern consumers, it’s no longer enough to simply sell a product. With the rise of social activism, customers are more interested now than ever in what the companies they support stand for. When you support a cause your customers believe in, you can create a loyal following of fans and do good at the same time. But not every business has a natural lean toward social causes, so how can they find a way to make their brand truly stand for something bigger? Below, members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share their tips for brands that want to be part of a movement and create real change for their customers.

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Technology holds true unique possibilities for venue and event properties.

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Starting a business is easier with help from those who have already done it. Branching into entrepreneurship often feels like a huge leap of faith. This is especially true for prospective business owners looking to work within the culture space. Many industries in this sphere are already filled with talented creatives, and it can seem near impossible to break into. However, starting your own business can open the door to personal and professional growth and fulfillment. Below, the leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council offer some sage advice for those hesitant to take the first step toward their entrepreneurial dreams.

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In the culture space, taking risks is necessary if you want to reach new heights. Taking risks as a business leader can have a significant positive impact on your company if things turn out well, but it can also set you back if you haven’t fully thought through every pro and con. The practice of calculated risk-taking, however, is essential for business growth. But taking a chance on something in business can be difficult for any entrepreneur, which is why the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council shared 10 tips to help encourage fellow culture leaders to take more calculated risks and explained why doing so is vital to business success.

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New ways of working require more thoughtful leadership. As more and more businesses make what was once a temporary virtual working environment a permanent solution, some leaders are struggling to inspire their teams to perform. Zoom fatigue and a lack of in-person connection present difficult hurdles, and motivation can seem like it’s at an all-time low. For insight on how to inspire a team to do their best work, 13 experts from Rolling Stone Culture Council each shared one motivational strategy that any company leader can use to get their employees feeling and working their best.

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Even in today's ultra-saturated media landscape, it's possible to rise above the noise. From promoted social media posts to TV commercials and everything in between, the world is saturated with advertisements. Now more than ever, businesses need to be strategic in the way they conduct their marketing and find a way to stand out from the crowd. Otherwise, they face the risk of being forgotten or going unseen by their target audience. If you’re looking to truly stand out with your marketing, the leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council offer a few tips for how to set yourself apart from your competitors and genuinely connect with your audience.

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Brand alignment is key in working with influencers. When marketing your business or product, it’s often beneficial to work with an influencer in the industry. However, approaching a celebrity or influencer about endorsing your product or service can be intimidating, and you’ll want to have a solid pitch prepared. To make your offer as persuasive as possible, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council suggest using these eight effective strategies to approach your selected influencer and convince them to come on board.

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Succeeding in business doesn’t have to mean all work and no play. If you’re a leader in the culture space, your work likely isn’t confined to the usual 9-to-5 schedule. Industries such as entertainment, fashion and hospitality often lend themselves to hectic or unpredictable work schedules. As a result, it can be difficult to balance your personal life with the demands of your career. As top culture leaders themselves, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council recommend the strategies they use to achieve better work-life balance and carve out time for what truly matters to them.

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These universal strategies will go a long way toward showing your customers you care. In today’s cultural climate, every business should be focused on creating an inclusive space for not only its employees, but also its consumers. At a time when social justice and equity are in the spotlight, companies need to show that they stand with customers from all walks of life. While the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts may look different across culture and entertainment spaces, there are some universal practices any company can and should implement. Below, 13 members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share the important strategies they believe all business leaders need to put into practice.

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How do we adapt and shape the future of our culture?

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As an innovator, you’re probably looking to rise to the top of your chosen industry. Networking with other top industry leaders is one strategy that can help you get there. The potential for new business opportunities from having a strong network is practically limitless; however, the days of handing out business cards are over. To shed some light on how the pros do it, 10 Rolling Stone Culture Council leaders share their best networking tips for how to build better relationships and connect with the cream of the crop.

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Keeping up with trends doesn't have to cut into your precious business planning and building time. When you’re immersed in your chosen industry, staying on top of news and trends can feel like a full-time job in and of itself. As a business leader, you want to make sure you’re always up to date on what’s happening; however, you still need to allow yourself time to focus on building and growing your business. As experts in their respective spaces, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council have figured out the best ways to keep up with industry news while minimizing the impact on their bigger-picture business work. Here’s how they recommend tapping into your field’s latest and greatest trends.

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How can company leaders steer their brand in a manner that evolves with the current zeitgeist? What are the ways to communicate that change?