Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
China's 'sharing economy' is booming. But can it last?
Fancy shooting some hoops, but don't have a basketball? Caught in the rain with no umbrella? Smartphone run out of juice? China's rapidly expanding "sharing economy," which already provides car rides and bicycle hire on demand, can help. For just 2 yuan ($0.30) an hour, Nate Liu, a student at the Read More...
Entire country of Sweden listed on Airbnb
In an inspired publicity stunt, Sweden has listed its entire country on Airbnb, advertising the fact that all public land in the country is freely accessible to anyone. The Airbnb listing initially highlights nine specific locations that travelers can visit. Each listing costs nothing, contains Read More...
Uber is further improving ridesharing by making you walk more
In the wake of its terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 2017 (yup, and it's only just May), Uber has been doing a lot of work to improve its service. As an extension of the "smart pickup points" trial from London and other cities last year, the ride-hailing company is augmenting the Uber Pool Read More...
Uber for wine: and all without grapes
The most fascinating wine project I’ve come across this year has no need for vineyards, barrels, or,a winery. It doesn’t even use grapes. If you believe what the people behind the project say, they could be on the brink of challenging everything that people hold dear about wine. Though they Read More...
This app is helping employees of worker-owned cleaning services earn better wages
A new web app by the name of Up & Go is giving worker-owned cleaning cooperatives a much-needed tech boost to expand their reach. The app works as a booking platform that allows users to schedule cleaning services with cooperative home-cleaning businesses in an easy manner. What makes this app Read More...
You can now earn Delta skymiles when you use Lyft
Delta has partnered with Lyft to give customers a new way to earn miles for its SkyMiles rewards program. Users will earn one mile for every dollar they spend through Lyft, not including taxes, tolls, tips or fees. SkyMiles is offering three miles for every dollar spent on trips to and from Read More...
Why you may soon start seeing Metro wait times in the Uber app
Uber, which has hailed itself as a “first-mile, last-mile” option for Washington commuters, will soon display wait times for public transit — including Metro — in its app. Starting this week, Uber is partnering with Transit, an app that displays a dashboard of wait times for nearby trains Read More...
Ikea’s invest in plastics recycling plant to cut down on waste, use raw materials
Ikea wants to become more sustainable by avoiding environmentally damaging activities like illegal deforestation and plastic waste. The Swedish furniture giant has bought forests in Romania and the Baltics, wind farms in Poland and now it is investing in a plastic recycling plant in the Read More...
What is the fastest growing job in the US?
You could guess the answer: As the solar industry continues to grow fast, so do its job opportunities. A new study shows that between 2012 and 2016 solar photovoltaic installers or someone who assembles solar panels was the fastest-growing job in the U.S. The average solar job pays about $42,500 Read More...
Nature is the best business consultant
From The Intelligent Optimist Magazine Summer 2016 Nature provides the principles for sustainable business, but a fear-and-greed-driven mindset obstructs us from running business naturally. Why the “whole brain state” is essential to sustainability. By Rob Williams Photography: Bruce Read More...