How is that more than 5.2 billion people in the world have a mobile phone yet, in that one moment that you need to, you cant reach the one person that youd like to speak to?

As mobile carriers continue to put satellites into orbit to improve network connectivity, there are still technical challenges that limit when and where you can make a mobile call. For example, buildings and cars reduce signal strength by an average of 30%. Other factors, like tower distance, high terrain (hills, mountains), dense shrubbery, dust particles, fog, and rain can impede or block transmission of radiofrequency waves. Not to mention the requirement that your phone is adequately charged.

Now, theres a solution to connect to anyone, anytime, from just about anywhere in the world, with specialized technology that reduces the likelihood of being hacked or intercepted. LynQ is a people compass. No phones, no maps, and no cellular networks are required. However, the tracking device cannot be obstructed from orbiting GPS satellites.

Grit Daily caught up with Karina Costa and her team as they were preparing for CES 2020. Costa is a serial entrepreneur who founded her first company at age 22 and has since worked and invested in over 100 startups. She launched one of Portugals first tech accelerators as well as BET Ventures, an NGO which offers a unique 24-hour contest where founders compete for funding. And, she architected TechStars Anywhere as a virtual pre-accelerator program which operates in many cities worldwide. Tiny is how she describes herself but she is undoubtedly mighty. Her Forbes profile states that she spends her spare time on the slopes and studying space exploration. Thats her in the lead photo.

Grit Daily: Whats your personal connection to this technology startup?

Karina Costa: LynQ began its journey around three years ago. The vision was straightforward: develop technology to help people stay connected and find each other without the constraints of limited battery life or cellular signal. When I was 12 years old, I wish that I would have had access to this liberating technology which lets you go anywhere but stay connected to feel safe. At that time, I broke my arm while I was skiing in the mountains and had to wait for hours until my sister found me to take me to a medic. As an avid outdoorswoman, Ive become lost while snowshoeing, hiking or doing other off-road activities. The companys co-founder was motivated to start LynQ as a means of helping people with special needs, like his grandmother who had early-stage Alzheimers, to give them greater self-agency, liberate them but keep them safe. We were all in pursuit of technology that could help us live our lives and experience them in a more meaningful and enjoyable way.

GD: Does LynQ stand for anything, whats behind the name?

KC: LynQ, pronounced link, is all about linking plus connecting people and devices. LynQ is a self-contained network that lets you readily, privately and securely transmit data without any infrastructure. With a decentralized approach and no dependency on cellular tower structures, our solution works worldwide to help people find each other long-range.

GD: How do you explain your technology in simple terms?

KC: People have asked, How can this be? It seems like magic! Each LynQ device each is pulling its own location data from GPS satellites. Customers form a group, for example, a hiking expedition, and each customer connects his or her LynQ device to the other group members devices. In this way, the devices are constantly communicating with each other as they update with new GPS coordinates when they are on the move. The magic comes from the proprietary radio protocols that we developed which enable secure and private transmission between devices at very low power consumption levels. We make it very hard to detect and intercept our transmissions. Its essentially like your own private network. Range varies with topography and weather which can be 6 miles on an open beach or 3 miles in an urban jungle like NYC or in the mountains.

GD: Whats the wow factor behind LynQ?

KC: Theres nothing like this! From the very first time that I tried LynQ, I realized that it worked better than my own brain with respect to how it showed geospatial positioning for me versus the others connected in my LynQ network. It adds a whole new dimension to positioning. The best way that I can describe it is that it emulates that childhood game of hot, hot, getting colder, cold where the direction that you should walk in is intuitive. LynQ does not require training or instructions. Unlike apps or trackers which display blips on a map, LynQ is a personal compass with an arrow that clearly shows which direction you should head in to move towards another member of your party. So far, weve had positive feedback from over 8,000 customers and were very proud of that!

GD: Our readers are always interested in learning about the paths and pivots that entrepreneurs take. How did living on four continents, doing an undergraduate in business in Portugal, studying microeconomics in the UK, and getting a Masters in marketing in Korea set you on a path to lead LynQ?

KC: Each experience brings a new and broader perspective. Portugal doesnt emphasize entrepreneurship, however, my father was an engineer and an inventor who routinely exposed me to solving problems and building prototypes. That foundation put me on a path to become an investor. After I was introduced to LynQ, it became one of my portfolio companies. Soon thereafter, I was brought on to lead it. By that time, I had seen hundreds of pitches but the technology and team at LynQ were so compelling that they literally stole me away from TechStars.

GD: As part of your work at TechStars, you helped more than 100 startups get launched, so you had a pretty good idea of what works and what doesnt work as a concept. How did you know that LynQ would work?

KC: The team is very strong. They have a clear vision, unique technology, and an excellent product. Together, they are one of the most talented groups that Ive seen. As I said, I was compelled to become a part of their journey.

GD: LynQ launched about 18 months ago, what has surprised you about the companys journey thus far?

KC: One year ago, I told my mentor that joining LynQ felt like learning how to ride a bicycle: it was a big step. Oddly enough, it now feels like Im learning how to drive a rocketship and, somehow, this doesnt feel as foreign to me as learning how to ride a bike. As you are forming a company, that first part of the learning curve is so fast and dramatic that youre literally evolving as a person and as a leader week-to-week and month-to-month. Today, learning is all about supply chain and international logistics. Were manufacturing complex electronics in China, fulfilling orders in Hong Kong and shipping products worldwide. Success is measured by how fast you learn, how flexible you are and how quickly you can adapt. Every day is different and you are constantly solving big problems. The journey is equally thrilling, scary and painful but the reward is the excitement and being part of a team thats having an impact.

GD: Youve been an entrepreneur since the age of 22. What are you doing differently with LynQ versus what you did for your first startup?

KC: In the early days of my entrepreneurship, we werent venture-backed for hyper-growth like LynQ. Talent acquisition and team management at scale is something that you cant really prepare for. This is what makes LynQ as exciting as it challenging right now. You have to go in realizing that its no longer about you. Its now about building a team because you are only as good as your team. Running a company founded by other entrepreneurs is a whole different experience than running your own but many of the foundational basics clearly still apply.

GD: How and where can consumers buy this?

KC: We are very pleased to announce that, as of 7:00pm EDT last night, customers can shop at LynQme.com and receive their devices within less than a week.

GD: How do you think age and gender affect entrepreneurial success?

KC: I have a lot to say about both. Like most things, there are advantages and disadvantages. Ten years ago, when I launched my first business at 22 years old, people looked at me and laughed. They did not take me seriously. Im a petite, young woman who was trying to look older to conduct business with people older than my father. Audacity was what I leveraged to propel me forward. Along the way, Ive learned to embrace being different and how to find new ways to connect with potential investors and collaborators. I have also worked with many entrepreneurs who are older, some are seniors, and they have the reverse problem. The key is being true to yourself, being authentic, truly owning your skillset and leveraging everything that you have to advance your business. Stay optimistic! If you adopt a victim mentality, youre not going to be successful.

Continued here:
CES 2020 Preview: No Phone? No Problem Go Safely Off the Grid with the Personal Compass by LynQ - Grit Daily

Corporates commonly issue bank cards to their employees, which offer them several benefits. However, it is extremely difficult for early-stage startups to avail corporate cards from banks, which seek a 110 percent deposit guarantee, a personal guarantee from the founders, and a huge amount of documentation and time.

This gap led Chinese VC Pei-fu Hsieh and Amit Jangir to start Karbon. The fintech startup, based out of Bengaluru and Shanghai, was founded at the end of 2019, and issues KarbonCard, a corporate card to startups.

The core team of Karbon

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Prior to starting KarbonCard, Pei worked with US-based VC fund Kleiner Perkins and Chinese fund 01VC, which focused on investments in India. He was earlier with McKinsey and also built from scratch and managed many ventures at Rocket Internet.

Pei had worked with Amit at 01VC, and they roped in Sunil Sinha, who brings decades of experience in the fintech industry and is now in charge of KarbonCards credit policy, card issuance, and customer services. Sunilearlier run his own SME lending company in India, and understands the nuts and bolts of running startups and lending.

The duo also enlisted Bo Li, who worked at Amazon and Tencent prior to Karbon.

He adds that the idea was suggested by many other startups. "Moreover, since we have worked in China earlier, and are beginning to see how Chinese investors are opening the gateways for Indian startups, we want to be an enabler that can seamlessly help both sides without any hiccups.

The card offers four key benefits:

However, the biggest challenge was convincing startups that a product like KarbonCard existed. Most services are catered to large enterprises with the ability to pay. Never before has a product that is entirely free of charge been built for startups. Thus, the biggest challenge lies in bringing the shift from a traditional banking mindset to nu-age banking that brings the interests of a startup to the forefront, Amit says.

Karbon doesnt charge fees of any kind at present. The card and the rewards across AWS, Hubspot, Segment, and the like are completely free for startups to use.The revenue model primarily revolves around taking a cut of MDR when the card is swiped at any merchant.

Karbon at present competes with the likes of HDFC, ICICI Bank, Citibank, and American Express. The team agrees that the biggest competitors are traditional banks, but adds that those arent in the business of serving startups.

They focus on the larger enterprises with steady revenue streams and significant assets.Startups are considered risky customers by banks; thats why its so difficult for startups to apply for corporate cards from banks, Amit says.

The market for cards is fast growing in India. According to a Reserve Bank of India report, the circulation of cards touched 48.9 million in May 2019 from 38.6 million in May 2018. There has been a 27 percent growth in business opportunities.

(Edited by Teja Lele Desai)

Also Read

Read more from the original source:
How this Chinese VC and Indian investor joined hands to build a fintech platform that assists startups in Beng - YourStory

About 40% of millennials with some type of debt believe they'll be able to wipe out their balances within the next five years. Of those, one in 10 expect to pay off their debt in under a year.

Additionally, only 7% of millennials (defined here as those 24 to 39) expect to die in debt, according to a poll of over 2,600 U.S. adults conducted by YouGov on behalf of CreditCards.com. That's significantly lower than the 20% of millennials who believed they'd never pay off their debts in the 2018 survey.

Positive economic trends are a big contributor to Americans' newfound confidence about their debt levels, says Ted Rossman, industry analyst for CreditCards.com. "Stocks hit numerous record highs this past year, we recently hit the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years and we've enjoyed more than a decade of sustained economic growth," he says.

Still, a majority of millennials, about 70%, do have some kind of outstanding balance. That's especially concerning for those who carry high interest credit card balances, which is the most common type of debt among both millennials and Americans overall.

That's in sync with Northwestern Mutual's 2019 Planning & Progress Study, which found credit card debt, not student loans, is the leading source of debt among millennials.

Overall, Northwestern Mutual found millennials have racked up an average of $27,900 in personal debt, excluding mortgages. The findings are based on a survey conducted by The Harris Poll of over 2,000 U.S. adults.

"I'm still concerned about credit card debt," Rossman says, noting that the average credit card interest rate is over 17%. "That's about four times higher than the average mortgage or auto loan. If you have credit card debt, knocking that out should be your top financial priority," he says.

For some, that's easier said than done becoming debt-free can be difficult. "Even lower levels of debt can be a struggle to pay off for millennials struggling to find room in a budget dominated by record levels of health care, housing and childcare costs," says Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez, a millennial money author.

Juggling higher costs of living while paying down debt hits millennials, who have lower incomes than prior generations did at the same age, particularly hard. A recent report from the nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank New America predicts that millennials will not replicate the financial success of their parents or grandparents. The average millennial today has 41% less wealth than those who were at a similar age in 1989, according to the report.

However, becoming debt-free can be done. The first step toward making headway on your debt: Take inventory. A full 34% of Americans don't know how much of their monthly income is going toward debt, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2019 Planning & Progress Study.

"Tracking and engaging with your money, no matter what age you are, is one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for financial success," O'Connell Rodriguez says.

From there, start with simple steps and work your way up to completely paying off your debt. Come up with a plan to pay it down and set up a budget that works with your strategy. You can use either the so-called "avalanche method," where you start by paying off the debt with the highest interest rate, or the "snowball method," where you start with the smallest balance, pay it off, and then work your way toward tackling the biggest debts.

Don't forget that even though you're paying down debt, you should also put some money aside in savings each month, if possible. Having a savings cushion of three to six months' worth of living expenses will help you out in an emergency, such as a car or home repair, so you don't end up adding more money to your credit card balance.

Don't miss: Millennials have an average of $28,000 in debtand the biggest source isn't student loans

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Millennials with debt feel more confidentand 40% expect to wipe out their balances in less than 5 years - CNBC

ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Ability and tenacity help you make progress at work but it is the tactful way you talk to disappointed rivals that pleases the bosses.

Later, when one partner starts to earn significantly more than the other, it needs to be discussed.

If you are looking for love, you may find it where local teams compete.

1

April 21 to May 21

There are new choices to make, either in relationships or the way you earn a living, so it is time to be strong with individuals who always take the driving seat.

Make your own decisions.

When you plan your own route, it covers so much more ground.

And your love choices amaze friends.

As the moon spins through your intuitive sector, within minutes of meeting a Libra newcomer you know it is love.

But if you are already with a partner, it is your different views of life that make a relationship a success.

When you hear someone talk eloquently about their job, you know it could be perfect for you.

June 22 to July 22

A key day for friendships, and making another move to connect with someone you would like to see more of in your life is part of it.

You can also be more upfront with friends and workmates.

It is time to stop playing in passion terms you are intensely committed.

Sincere promises replace out-of-date doubts.

July 23 to August 23

Work and a more personal success on your own terms can be yours.

Even if you have wandered off a set path, give yourself time to get on track.

You have the energy and stamina you need.

Relationships that have felt static are growing again in an unexpected and super-passionate direction.

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Calls cost 1.50 per min plus your telephone companys network access charge. You must have bill payers permission. Calls recorded for your protection, Max call duration 19 minutes for 0905 number. Over 18s only. These services are for entertainment only. SMS cost 1 per received message, max 3 messages per reply. UK only. To opt out of free promo messages call Helpline: 0330 114 0300. SP: Inveroak.com, PO BOX 10015, CM1 9HH.

August 24 to September 22

Turning your thoughts into words is a smart move your ideas have value that you are only just starting to see.

And a new year in a new role is just part of it.

Learning and love go hand in hand ask those questions in your heart and partners at any stage will respond well.

Luck calls three times at door 95.

September 23 to October 23

Too tough a fitness approach is not right for you right now, so use the more gentle approach of Neptune to get faster, longer-lasting results.

Focus on what you love about yourself and other people will do the same.

If you are single, deep-set eyes look into yours at a supermarket checkout.

October 24 to November 22

You are being a generous, understanding partner and friend, but it is time to draw some boundaries.

Start with a set amount of time and space for your dreams and must-dos.

Say what you think, in the right way.

Although the first few words may be hard, keep going and all kinds of relationships will benefit.

November 23 to December 21

When you see your career as a set of stages rather than one straight road, you can really boost ambitions.

If in love, a casual conversation suddenly means so much more.

Single? A networking event or meet-and-greet can change your status.

Luck could reunite a group neighbours for a share in a prize.

December 22 to January 20

There is a playful side to you that you keep hidden, but now it is time to set it free.

At home, work and in love, focus on fun and you feel serious decisions getting simpler to make.

Plus, if you are single, exploring a new creative outlet wakes up an old attraction.

Keep communication channels open in a family.

January 21 to February 18

Your home-loving self is activated and you are ready to test out different ways to get the result you need.

This breaks a pattern and regroups a key set of names.

Roles with a property link are more comfortable to try and a personal history question can be easily answered.

Partners really appreciate each other again.

February 19 to March 20

Your personal style of talking and listening is the key to moving forward and pushing through barriers at home and at work.

Do not try to copy anyone else, be 100 per cent yourself.

In love, showing vulnerability is a strong thing to do.

Still single? A medical and a secret sense of humour are warmest love clues.

Go here to read the rest:
January 6: The stars have a lot to say about love, friendship and family today - The Sun

The 2010s decade has come to a close with it brings a chance to look back at the last 10 years. There were many memorable moments with several players putting forth some strong outings and years along the way. However, it was a span that saw New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady come away as the top performer from that span behind his success and production on the field. Beyond that, it was an extremely difficult list of players behind to narrow down with many others besides the ones chosen that could have easily filled those spots. Nonetheless, here are the few that belong on this exclusive list.

Here comes one of the most challenging tasks is leaving off some deserving names on this shortlist from this past decade, but its tough to deny the Atlanta Falcons star wideout.

Since entering the league in 2011, Jones has been highly productive, as his 12,125 receiving yards are the most for any player in any decade, while he has the NFL record for 96.2 receiving yards per game in his career. He has seven Pro Bowl selections, two First-Team All-Pro selections, and two Second-Team All-Pro nods.

Jones also the fastest player to reach 7,000 receiving yards on through 12,000 yards. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive years with at least 1,400 receiving yards (five), most seasons averaging at least 100 receiving yards per game (five), tied for most campaigns with at least 1,600 receiving yards (twice). He also has the most 100-plus receiving yard games in his first eight years (52), and most receiving yards in his first 100 games (9,618).

All of that in totality makes putting arguably the best wide receiver in the game on this list.

As previously stated, numerous players could have been in this position behind Brady, such as Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt and Richard Sherman. However, Russell Wilson made a more than a strong enough case for this spot.

May not have played the entire decade, but since entering the league in 2012, he has been the definition of success. He has led the franchise to playoff berths in seven out of his first eight seasons while holding winning records in every campaign, including double-digit wins all but once. His winning record in each of his first eight years are also a league record while his 86 regular-season wins are tied for the most over that span with Brady.

Regardless of the change of the roster around him, Wilson has continued to find success along with making two trips to the Super Bowl with one win, seven Pro Bowl selections, led the league in passer rating once, and passing touchdowns once. Wilson is a game-changing factor that has become a bonafide superstar in the league and put a bright future ahead of the franchise with him under center.

Since taking over as the starting quarterback for the Patriots, Brady has helped the franchise set the bar for the league. The second decade of his career has been quite productive and prosperous for him individually and with the team.

Brady helped guide the franchise to a playoff berth behind an AFC East title with double-digit regular-season wins. The Patriots reached eight straight consecutive conference title games, which no team before had played in more than five straight years. His personal success saw him rack up nine Pro Bowl nods, two regular-season MVPs, two Super Bowl MVPs, and three Super Bowl rings.

From 2010 to 2019, Brady threw for more than 4,000 yards in seven separate seasons. He recorded 30 or more TD passes in every year but three. In 2018, when he neither threw for more than 4,000 yards nor recorded 30 TD passes, he earned his sixthSuper Bowlring.

That also saw him record seven seasons with 4,000 passing yards, seven with 30 or more touchdown passes, and held a passer rating above 100 five times. The 42-year-old has continued to prove to be an ageless wonder that doesnt appear to be stepping away from the game any time soon.

See the article here:
Why Tom Brady Was the Best NFL Player of the 2010s - Sportscasting

Love and discipline likely have more influence on effective leadership (not to mention winning ... [+] football) than you thought.

Its college footballs championship bowl season. One more chance for the players to strut their stuff. And another round of post-game interviews with the coaches.

Soaked in celebratory Gatorade, the coaches often sound as though they use the same crib sheet of clichs: Our guys came to play. We managed to overcome adversity.

The post-game interviews have a strange sense of sameness. But then what should we expect when the questionslike How does it feel to win the big one?are often so predictably inane?

But if you care to listen carefully, you might pick up an interesting theme. Its the theme of love and discipline. Good coaches seem to love their players, and good players seem to love each other. And discipline? Sure, being an accomplished athlete requires lots of personal discipline. But being a winningteamespecially at the end of a long seasonrequirescollaborativediscipline.

Interestingly, love and discipline dont seem to be mentioned very often in discussions of leadership.

But John Eades talks freely about both. Hes the author ofBuilding the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success.

I talked with John about the nature of leadership and the role of love and discipline in boosting performance.

Rodger Dean Duncan: Leadership is one of those words that seems to have dozens of definitions. What is your definition, and why do you define it in the way you do?

John Eades:Its easy to see why there are multiple ways to define leadership.Many tremendous leaders have left us with their input. The definition that I commit to memory and hold myself to is thisInspiring, empowering, and serving in order to elevate others over an extended period of time.

These words are chosen carefully and for great reason.The wordinspirehas its origin from Latin, and it means to breathe life into.Empowermeans to give control over anothers life and the authority to do something.Servecomes from the Latin word servant, in a modern context it means, to devote (part of) ones life or efforts to others. All three are paramount in order to elevate others, which is the key to successful leadership today.

John Eades

Duncan:In response to the nature versus nurture debate, research clearly shows that although some leadership ability may be attributed to genetics, most leadership ability is learned. You say an ideal way for someone to cultivate leadership ability is to be elevated. What do you mean by that?

Eades:Great leadership is often caught and not taught. So the single best way to teach it is for a leader to model it by elevating others.This will allow people being led to have an example of what great looks like so they can learn and model it when they have the opportunity to lead.

Its important to note, I didnt use the word perfect because no leader will ever be perfect. Its all about leaders actions being in the best interest of the people they lead and not themselves.

Duncan:Love and discipline, you say, are key ingredients in effective leadership. In a business environment, what does that look like in terms of observable behavior?

Eades:Before we make any kind of Human Resources violation its important that we define these two terms.Love is defined as contributing to someones long term success and wellbeing. Discipline is defined as promoting standards in order for individuals to choose to be at their best.

A great example of this in action would be a leader setting a new standard such as, each team member remains coachable.Then the leader gives praise, acknowledgment, or shares disapproval with a team member when the standard is or is not met.

The observable behavior would be the creation and communication of a new standard that not only solves a problem, but helps team members for the rest of their lives.This should be followed up by the leader having a direct dialogue to hold team members accountable for meeting or exceeding the new standard.

Duncan:What role does mindset play in a persons leadership development efforts?

Effective leaders work hard to elevate others.

Eades:Mindset is critical in the development of leadership skills or for that matter any skill. Specifically one kind of mindset, a growth mindset. The term growth mindset was coined by Carol S. Dweck, and it means we can grow our brains capacity to learn and solve problems. Unfortunately, the majority of professionals fall into the category of a fixed mindset by believing they were either born with the ability to get the job done or they werent.

Once a professional has their mindset on one of growth, then they will begin to take proactive measures to develop themselves as a leader. Until this happens, it doesnt matter what leadership development content an organization provides them, it wont go very far.

Duncan:You quote Starbucks founder Howard Schultz as saying the most undervalued characteristic of leadership is vulnerability and asking for help. Give us a couple of examples of that.

Eades:The business world is moving too fast for a leader to know everything or assume that a standard that exists one day will stay the same way forever. This requires leaders to be vulnerable in front of their people by admitting that things need to change and asking for help on an ongoing basis.

An example of this in the workplace would be, how leaders should introduce a new standard to their team.Instead of just telling them the new standard, they should start with something like this: I realized I failed you from a leadership perspective, (vulnerability) and here is how I propose we solve it (new standard).

By using an approach like this you put the blame on yourself for a current problem instead of putting it on your team which drastically improves your odds they buy-in.

Next: Influence Your People To Rally Around A Common Cause

See the rest here:
Why Love And Discipline Are Keys To Effective Leadership - Forbes

SYDNEY It's one thing to start a company. It's quite another to start one that competes with tech titans like Microsoft and Adobe.

But that's exactly what Australian entrepreneur Melanie Perkins did when she built a design product to rival the tech giants.

"Our goal was to take the entire design ecosystem, integrate it into one page, and then make it accessible to the whole world," said Perkins.

Perkins is the 32-year-old co-founder and CEO of Canva, a free-to-use, online design platform.

The young founder started the company in Australia in 2013 in a bid to make design accessible to all be it for logos, business cards or presentations. Within five years, she made headlines as one of tech's youngest female CEOs, at just 30.

Two years on, the Sydney-headquartered company is now worth $3.2 billion, giving Perkins and her co-founder and now- fiance, Cliff Obrecht, an estimated personal fortune of $900 million. And to think, it all started with a high school yearbook business.

Canva for Enterprise

Canva

Perkins was just 19 when she was first struck by the idea. It was 2006 and she and Obrecht were studying at university in Perth.

The teen would earn a little income on the side by teaching other students design programs. But students found the platforms offered by the likes of Microsoft and Adobe "crazy hard" and she felt there must be a better way.

"People would have to spend an entire semester learning where the buttons were, and that seemed completely ridiculous," Perkins told CNBC Make It. "I thought that in the future it was all going to be online and collaborative and much, much simpler than these really hard tools."

So she and Obrecht set to work making that vision a reality.

With few resources and little business experience behind them, the couple started small and created an online school yearbook design business, Fusion Books, to test out their idea.

They launched a website for students to "collaborate and design their profile pages and articles." The pair would then print the yearbooks and deliver them to schools across Australia.

Melanie Perkins and her boyfriend Cliff Obrecht in Perkins' mother's living room in Perth, Australia in 2010.

Canva

"My mum's living room became my office, and my boyfriend became my business partner, and we started enabling schools to create their yearbooks really, really simply," explained Perkins.

The business was a success, and remains active today. But for Perkins, it was just the first step in what she called her "crazy, big dream" for a one-stop-shop design site so she began chasing investors.

A few years later in 2010, while at a conference in Perth, Perkins received her first big break.

A chance encounter with Silicon Valley investor Bill Tai saw him invite Perkins to San Francisco to pitch her idea. Just hours later, the legendary venture capitalist, clearly impressed, was connecting her with his contacts.

"I thought that he didn't really like what I had to say. He was on his phone, and I thought that meant he wasn't really engaged in what I had to say about the future of publishing," Perkins recalled.

"But then I got home and realized that he was actually introducing me to a few people."

Building new relationships with Silicon Valley was far from plain sailing, Perkins soon discovered.

Tai, an avid kitesurfer, was keen for Perkins and Obrecht to get networking at MaiTai, his unique retreat for investors and kitesurfing enthusiasts. So she had to pick up the sport fast!

"Every time he (Tai) would say how was my business going, he'd also be like 'how's your kitesurfing going?'" Perkins recalled.

"I had not done it before and, to be honest, it's not something that I would normally, naturally try," she said.

"But yeah, decided to give it a go because when you don't have any connections, you don't have any network, you just kind of have to wedge your foot in the door and wiggle it all the way through."

Canva co-founders Cliff Obrecht, Melanie Perkins and Cameron Adams.

Canva

The new skill served her well. Before long, the young couple was winning over major investors and building out Canva's design platform with a fast-growing team of tech engineers.

But it was in 2012 that the business began in earnest. With the help of their tech advisor and the co-founder of Google Maps, Lars Rasmussen, Perkins and Obrecht found a tech co-founder in Cameron Adams and a tech developer in Dave Hearnden.

Months later, at the close of their first funding round, the company was oversubscribed. That initial $1.5 million investment was even matched by the Australian government in a bid to keep the company on Aussie shores.

The following year, the site went live, allowing subscribers to create a variety of online designs for free.

Today, Canva has helped create close to 2 billion designs in 190 countries and won celebrity backing from the likes of Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson.

In October 2019, an $85 million funding round led by Silicon Valley investor Mary Meeker gave the company a valuation of $3.2 billion.

Perkins said she plans to use the additional funding to expand the team of 700 across Sydney, Beijing and Manila, while also building out the company's paid services, Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise.

Canva's Sydney office in 2018

Canva

That strategy will bring Perkins the closest she's come yet to competing directly with the professional design tools created by tech giants like Microsoft and Adobe.

But with 85% of Fortune 500 companies already using her platform, the young founder says she's up for the challenge.

"I think I've always put a lot of pressure on myself. And I think that sort of internal locus of control has been pretty strong," said Perkins.

"So while the expectations around our company and what we're expected to do is sort of increasing, that's nothing on what I've got on myself!"

Don't miss: How a Harvard dropout founded South Korea's most valuable start-up

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How a 32-year-old turned a high school yearbook idea into a $3.2 billion business - CNBC

FARMINGTON -- Former Razorback Jeb Huckeba experienced football's biggest stage, yet reveals a down-to-earth perspective appreciating the accomplishment for a small town constructing a $16 million facility.

Huckeba was on the roster when the Seattle Seahawks earned a trip to Super Bowl LX. The Enterprise-Leader caught up with him touring Farmington Sports Complex and Cardinal Stadium Aug. 15 during an open house.

"My brother actually lives in Farmington. We live close in Fayetteville and we came out tonight just to check out the new facilities here. Beautiful new stadium, football field and indoor facility along with weight room and plenty of locker rooms," Huckeba said.

Having played in the SEC and NFL, Huckeba recognizes an environment conducive to gridiron success.

"I know from walking around and even getting to be a part of 'Fields of Faith' last year (in October, 2018) at the old football field (Allen Holland Field) and now seeing this, I know that the Lord is going to use this, these facilities here," Huckeba said.

Huckeba shared his personal testimony during a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event hosted by Farmington in October and anticipates the school and athletic program rising to a level of sustained excellence by capitalizing upon the vast array of resources designed to enhance the level of performance.

"The student athletes that get to come through here, the coaches that get to come coach here, and the community of Farmington is really blessed to have this as a place where student-athletes and coaches can come and work hard and give God glory for the success that they're going to have in the future."

Speaking during the Fields of Faith event, Huckeba answered, what for members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, amounts to a rhetorical question.

"In Colossians 3:23 it says, 'Whatever you do, work at it as working for the Lord, not for men. You ask, 'How can I glorify God with my performance in my sport?'"

Huckeba defined an appropriate response as "by showing up for practice every day with a great attitude, a great work ethic. By playing the game with everything you have and then showing great sportsmanship because you're a reflection of Christ even to the other team and also to your teammates."

Huckeba acknowledged life isn't perfect and student-athletes may feel uncomfortable in a certain class or not feel like going to practice. They may feel like the coach doesn't like them or experience issues with a teacher they struggle with.

For Huckeba the key to overcoming that type of adversity is simply a matter of perspective.

"You can still bring God glory every day by living out Colossians 3:23 because it says whatever you do, work at as working for the Lord not for men," Huckeba said.

"We want to please coaches. We want to please teachers. We want to please our parents, but truly you can rest assured that if you're doing your best you are pleasing God and you're a reflection of his glory."

Huckeba pointed out that Farmington High School's capital improvements to its athletic infrastructure reflects well on northwest Arkansas as a whole.

"I know it's really exciting for the community and just for the surrounding communities, as well," Huckeba said.

"I think Farmington has really distinguished themselves as a desirable place to be. You can tell there's a lot of excitement and it's really neat to get to see this happening."

Print Headline: Huckeba: Success Is In The Cards

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Huckeba: Success Is In The Cards - NWAOnline

UROLOGIST Peter Duffy wentfrom personal and professional devastation to runaway success as an author in 2019.

At the beginning of 2019, it appeared the surgeons story - a winding saga that saw him lurch from being voted Furness General Hospitals Doctor of the Year to finding himself apariah within the NHS - had largely drawn to a close.

Months before, an employment tribunal found that he had been unfairly dismissed by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), seeming to conclude a long and bitter dispute - one which, besides uprooting him from his family,had threatened to crush the medicfinancially and psychologically.

Yet the publication of a book chronicling his experiences as a whistleblower and lifting the lid on alleged failings in UHMBTs urology services stretching back over a decade propelled him back into the headlines lastsummer.

This, alongwith the failings pointed to in the book, has all been documented thanks to an extensive Mail investigation by Chief Reporter Amy Fenton.

Having left family and friends and relocated to the Isle of Man in order to continue practising, Mr Duffy explains that most of what would become Whistle in the Wind was written on the Ben-my-Chree ferry, a three-and-a-half hour crossing back to Lancaster and his family.

Id just get out my laptop and tap out another half a chapter or so, he says. Around three months later he already had the bare bones of a draft.

By April time the book was more or less finished and just needed some proofreading as well as a legal opinion to make sure I didnt leave myself wide open to any defamation claims. And then it was just a question of getting it formatted to go up onto Amazon."

UHMBT finally called an external review into its urology services last year, after the books revelations saw dozens of affected patients come forward to The Mail alleging appalling and, in some cases, fatal care.

The book has continued to resonate with readers within and beyond the Furness area, with the title chalking up some 8,000 sales since publication numbers that Mr Duffy says have gone beyond his "wildest expectations."

I remember thinking, If it sells more than 1,000 copies in its entire lifetime, that Id be ecstatic. So for it to sell more than 7,500 copies in its first six months wasincredible.

"There was a point when, around the time the frontline staff at Morecambe Bay got wind ofit, the book got as high as number 58 in the Amazon best-selling titles rankings. That was quite a surreal moment."

But he still believes Whistle in the Winds material has some distance left to run.

If it wasnt for the fact that I did manage to get the book out, so much of this wouldve stayed hidden. At the heart of it there are two deaths that I personally feel may tip over into medical manslaughter. Obviously youd need a criminal court to decide on that.

But certainly one case covered inthe book compares almost identically to a similar casewhere the consultant ended up with a custodial sentence.

UHMBTs chief executive, Aaron Cummins, has said: The trust has asked NHS England to carry out an external independent investigation into concerns surrounding the urology service.

I have met with Peter and have assured him of our intention to continue to be open and transparent and we hope Mr Duffys concerns will be addressed within the work of the investigation.

Despite the lip service Mr Duffy says is paid to protecting NHS whistleblowers the 58-year-old surgeon still believes he has not yet seen a meaningful change in the way they are treated.

If this continues to be the case, he hints another book could soon be in the works.

He said: I think its shameful that the NHS just fought me all the way through this, trying to silence me and gag me and threaten me.

Even in the course of the employment tribunal the true facts didnt come out.

Under the current system, the tribunal is not so much interested in the whistleblowing - its interested in destroying the character of the whistleblower.

So, had it not been for the book and for Amy Fentons work, obviously, all of this wouldve been buried and concealed forever.

At least there has been a belated realisation that these are serious issues.

And I think it is good the NHS hasnt managed to cover this one up. Its out there now.

See original here:
"It's out there now": Peter Duffy speaks to The Mail about his year and success as an author - NW Evening Mail

The New York Giants' coaching search was not without drama, but the team made the decision to go with former New England Patriots wide receivers and special teams coach Joe Judge to fill the position. The team was reportedly interested in hiring Baylor coach Matt Rhule, but he agreed to the open spot with the Carolina Panthers before ever meeting with New York.

Two of the other top coaches up for grabs, Ron Rivera and Mike McCarthy, went to the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys.

David Samson sat down on "Nothing Personal with David Samson" to discuss the hiring.

When Rhule informed the Giants he would not be making the trip, Samson says the team questioned what it was going to do and 45 minutes later announced its decision.

Samson emphasizes the importance of looking into a coach's "genes" before hiring them and deciding if they will be not just successful, but a good fit.

He discusses Judge's past, working with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Alabama's Nick Saban, commenting that those are two pretty solid coaches to have on your resume.

Judge has two championship rings from college and three in the NFL, but a history of success is not everything when it comes to the job.

The Giants are in no way the Patriots, as Samson points out, and where he puts the most emphasis is whether someone can gel with the owners, the system and the market, not their previous success.

Samson says this was likely not the Giants' first choice, but in his experience teams have every scenario planned out so they can be ready to make a decision.

There was also one thing that helped Judge secure the job. "Here's what he really has that no one else had," Samson said. "He had the ability to say to the Giants at the perfect time, 'Yes.'"

With everyone else either not coming back for another interview or not coming for an interview at all, that "Yes" held a lot of power.

The rest is here:
What went into the Giants hiring of Joe Judge and what set the former Patriots assistant apart - CBS Sports