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Ethereum (ETH) price surged over 13 percent on Friday to reach a multi-year peak of $4,834 during the mid North American session. Ether price outshined Bitcoin (BTC) and the top large-cap altcoins in Friday’s bullish rebound. The sudden Ether price jump resulted in more than $673 million rekt from the wider crypto leveraged market, mostly involving short traders. As a result, the total crypto market cap surged over 5 percent in the past 24 hours to hover about $4.12 trillion at the time of this writing. Top Reasons Why Ethereum Price Outperformed Wider Crypto Market Today The main reason why the Ethereum price recorded a sharp uptick on Friday was due to the comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. During his speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium on Friday, Fed Chair Powell hinted at a possible rate cut in September. The Ether price jump on Friday was heavily bolstered by the renewed demand from whale investors. For instance, BlackRock has led institutional investors from rotating their capital from Bitcoin to Ethereum’s ETFs.  According to market data analysis from SoSoValue, BlackRock’s IBIT recorded a net cash outflow of $127 million on Thursday. On the other hand, BlackRock’s ETHA registered a net cash inflow of $233 million on Thursday, thus a cumulative total net inflow of $12 billion. Midterm Targets  Following Friday’s ETH price pump, it is safe to say that the altcoin has little to no resistance ahead. With the ongoing capital rotation from Bitcoin to Ethereum, the ETH price is well-prince to enter its price discovery in the near future. However, a potential consolidation is likely to happen to cool down the leveraged market. In such a scenario, the ETH price will be preparing for its parabolic rally in the coming weeks. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Back to top button Read More

The US Dollar (USD) retains a firm undertone in quiet trade ahead of Powell’s remarks at 10ET. A rebound in risk appetite is giving a mild boost to EM FX, however, with the ZAR, KRW and MXN outperforming the core majors and the USD, Scotiabank’s Chief FX Strategists Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret note. USD firm versus majors “US data reports yesterday were mixed—weaker than expected Initial/Continuing Claims and Philly Fed survey data versus very robust PMIs—with the PMI data prompting a stronger response from the dollar and yields. Swaps are less persuaded by the prospect of a 25bps cut in September now and have moved to reprice risks around the outlook for rate reductions over the balance of the year, with a bit less than 50bps of easing reflected through December.” “Cautious comments on the rate outlook from Schmid (voter) and Hammack (non-voter), in keeping with their usual perspectives, added to the lift in yields and the USD but Collins (voter) said a rate cut ‘soon’ (i.e. September) may be appropriate if the labour outlook worsens. Goolsbee (voter) reiterated that September is a ‘live’ meeting. The August NFP data, released on September 5th, may effectively be the make-or-break factor for a September cut now.” “Dollar gains on yesterday’s data might have pre-empted a cautious-sounding Fed chair at Jackson Hole and, in the event he appears cool on the idea of easing, the dollar may not gain much. Leaving the door open to a September cut will nudge the USD a little lower while a clearly dovish lilt to comments will likely dump the USD back to near this week’s low. Regardless, we still rather think that USD gains are unlikely to stick. The Fed will ease policy sooner or later and other constraints on the USD outlook—the softening in US exceptionalism, potential erosion in Fed independence and weak fiscal policy—remain very much intact.” Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

GBP/USD: Friday correction after surge On Friday, the GBP/USD pair declined to 1.3401 after strong gains earlier in the week. The previous rally was triggered by July business activity data, which showed the best performance in a year, mainly supported by the services sector. The release came alongside fresh UK inflation statistics, which briefly lifted sterling. However, economists noted that the price acceleration was largely driven by airfare increases rather than broad-based inflationary pressure, meaning its effect on the Bank of England policy remains limited. Read more… GBP/USD Forecast: Pound Sterling could extend downtrend on a hawkish Powell tone GBP/USD stabilizes slightly above 1.3400 in the European session on Friday after posting losses for four consecutive days and losing about 1% since the beginning of the week. Investors refrain from taking large positions ahead of Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole Symposium. The US Dollar (USD) benefited from the upbeat Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data from the US and caused GBP/USD to push lower on Thursday. S&P Global Manufacturing PMI improved to 53.3 in August’s preliminary estimate from 49.8 in July and the Services PMI came in at 55.4, beating the market expectation of 54.2. Reflecting the broad-based USD strength, the USD Index climbed to its highest level in over two weeks near 99.00 early Friday. Read more… Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

New Zealand Dollar extends losses to 0.5800 on track to a 2% weekly depreciation. The risk-averse sentiment ahead of Powell’s speech is underpinning the US Dollar. USD/JPY remains on the back foot since the RBNZ’s “dovish cut” earlier in the week. The New Zealand Dollar extends losses for the fifth consecutive day against a firmer US Dollar, with investors reluctant to take risks ahead of Fed Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole. The pair has reached the 0.5800 level for the first time since mid-April, on track for a 2% weekly sell-off. The US Dollar is outperforming its peers on Friday with all eyes on Fed Powell, who is expected to give further hints about the central bank´s next monetary policy steps. With the market pricing in a 75% chance of a rate cut in September, the US Dollar might be particularly sensitive to hawkish comments from Powell. A divided Fed committee is failing to give any insight into Powell’s speech today. On Thursday, Fed officials Mammack and Smidt represented the hawkish party, downplaying risks of an economic downturn and warning about tariffs’ inflationary risks. At the same time, Collins showed openness to cut rates next month to support a softening labour market. On the other hand, the Kiwi has been on the back foot since the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut its Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3%, as widely expected, with two policymakers voting for a half-point rate cut. The voting standings raised hopes of further monetary easing down the road and sent the Kiwi tumbling across the board. Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback. The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis. In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar. Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

the US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell said that they will adopt a new policy framework of flexible inflation targeting and eliminate the ‘makeup’ strategy for inflation, while delivering a speech on ‘Economic Outlook and Framework Review’ at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. Powell speech at Jackson Hole Symposium, key takeaways “Framework calls for balanced approach when central bank’s goals in tension.” “Prior framework’s emphasis on overly specific set of economic conditions may have led to some confusion.” Developing story, please refresh the page for updates. This section below was published at 09:00 GMT as a preview of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole Symposium. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak on monetary policy at the Jackson Hole Symposium. All eyes remain on Powell’s speech for fresh insights into the US interest-rate outlook. The US Dollar is set to rock with Powell’s speech influencing market pricing of Fed policy outlook. US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to deliver a speech on “Economic Outlook and Framework Review” at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on Friday at 14:00 GMT.   Market participants will closely scrutinize Powell’s speech for any fresh hints on the trajectory of monetary policy, particularly about the timing of the Fed’s first interest-rate cut of the year and the potential scope and timing of subsequent rate reductions.  His words are expected to stir markets, injecting intense volatility around the US Dollar (USD), as the world’s most powerful central bank looks to steer toward a policy-easing path as early as September.   In the July policy meeting, the Fed left the federal funds rate unchanged in the range of 4.25%-4.50%, but two policymakers dissented, with Fed Governor Christopher Waller and Fed Governor Michelle Bowman voting in favor of a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut. In a statement published a few days after the July meeting, Governor Waller explained that he dissented because he saw tariffs as a one-time price event that policymakers should “look through” as long as inflation expectations remain anchored. Governor Bowman argued that slowing growth and a less dynamic labor market make it appropriate to begin gradually moving the moderately restrictive policy stance toward a neutral setting. The US employment data for July, however, revived concerns over worsening conditions in the labor market and fed into expectations of an interest rate cut in September. Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) in the US rose by 73,000 in July, while NFP increases for May and June were revised down by 125,000 and 133,000, respectively. On the other hand, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) data from the US hinted at sticky inflation, casting doubt about the number of rate cuts the Fed could opt for in 2025. Against this backdrop, the US Dollar (USD) faces a two-way risk in the run-up to the highly anticipated Jackson Hole showdown. How could Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole affect the US Dollar? Although markets widely anticipate a rate cut at the Fed’s next policy meeting, they seem unsure about whether the US central bank will go for two or three cuts this year. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is a 33% probability of a total of 75 bps reduction in rates in 2025, against a 47% probability of 50. In case Powell emphasizes worsening labor market conditions and adopts a cautious tone on the growth outlook, the USD could come under selling pressure with the immediate reaction. On the flip side, the USD could gather strength against its rivals if Powell downplays the disappointing employment data and reiterates that they need more time to assess the impact of tariffs on inflation before easing the policy in a steady way. Analysts at TD Securities think that Chair Powell will communicate the Fed’s lean towards easing in September at Jackson Hole and explain: “Although there is still more data to come, we believe Powell will suggest that economic conditions support policy recalibration. Downside risks to the labor market have grown, while tariff passthrough into inflation appears slower and more manageable than previously expected.” Eren Sengezer, European Session Lead Analyst at FXStreet, offers a brief technical outlook for the US Dollar Index (DXY):  “The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the daily chart moves sideways near 50 and the US Dollar (USD) Index fluctuates in a tight range at around the 20-day and the 50-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), reflecting a neutral stance in the near term. “On the upside, the 100-day SMA aligns as a key resistance level at 99.00 ahead of 99.60-100.00 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement of the January-July downtrend, psychological level) and 101.55 (Fibonacci 38.2% retracement). Looking south, support levels could be spotted at 97.50 (static level), 96.45 (end-point of the downtrend) and 95.50 (mid-point of the descending regression channel).” Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback. The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis. In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative

SKIP TO CONTENT Harvard Business Review LogoHarvard Business Review Logo Leadership|5 Key Skills to Lead Through Disruption Subscribe Latest Magazine Topics Podcasts Store Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive Search hbr.org Subscribe Latest Podcasts The Magazine Store Webinars Newsletters All Topics The Big Idea Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive My Library Account Settings Explore HBR Latest The Magazine Podcasts Store Webinars Newsletters Popular Topics Managing Yourself Leadership Strategy Managing Teams Gender Innovation Work-life Balance All Topics For Subscribers The Big Idea Data & Visuals Case Selections HBR Executive Subscribe My Account My Library Topic Feeds Orders Account Settings Email Preferences Harvard Business Review Logo Leadership by Adi Ignatius August 22, 2025 HBR Staff; Arthur Debat/Mads Perch/Getty Images; The Noun Project Post Summary.    Leer en españolLer em português Post Welcome to the HBR Executive Agenda for August 21, 2025. Post Read more on Leadership or related topics Leadership and managing people and Leadership qualities Partner Center Read More

Brand management by Abhishek Borah, Johannes Berendt, Sebastian Uhrich and Gavin Kilduff August 22, 2025 HBR Staff; aneduard/Adobe Stock; AI Post Summary.    Leer en españolLer em português Post When Pepsi tweeted “We don’t have Pepsi, Coke OK? #SixWordHorror” back in 2019, it wasn’t just making a joke about beverage options. The soft drink giant was tapping into something more powerful: the narrative appeal of brand rivalry. Post Read more on Brand management or related topics Competitive strategy, Customer strategy, Social media, Social marketing, Market segmentation and Consumer behavior Read More

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When I first moved to the United States, my goal was simple: survive. I had no connections, little understanding of the system, and a burning desire to build something meaningful. At 33, I shared my journey here — how I used grit, education and a bit of luck to launch a real estate tech startup built on transparency. Four years later, I’m still standing — but I’ve changed. So has my definition of success. Today, I’m the founder and CEO of a growing real estate tech company based in New York City. But how I run my business — and how I live — looks completely different from when I started. I’ve learned that building something sustainable takes more than hustle. It requires alignment, clarity, and the courage to evolve. These are the five lessons I wish I’d known sooner. They now form the foundation of how I lead and advise others. Related: I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here’s How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way. 1. Stop chasing the finish line Early on, I thought success meant scaling fast, raising capital and staying in the spotlight. But sprinting toward a vague goal is a recipe for burnout. Now, I prioritize rhythm over speed. My weeks are structured around deep work, reflection and meaningful conversations. Sustainable growth isn’t linear — it’s iterative. Whether you’re building a business or navigating a career shift, ask yourself: What version of success feels good to live, not just good to post? Start your week with a “clarity session.” List your top three priorities — both for your business and your wellbeing. If your calendar doesn’t reflect those, you’re running someone else’s race. 2. Your business should serve your life — not the other way around For a while, my business ran me. Every client issue, notification and small win or loss dictated my emotions. I was reactive, and my personal life paid the price. Now, I see my company as a vehicle for the life I want to lead. I’ve built systems that support autonomy, hired people who don’t need micromanaging and created workflows that don’t require 24/7 attention. Design your business — or your career — backwards. Start by defining the lifestyle you want, then build your work structure around it. This mindset shift made me a more present human and a better leader. 3. Real estate is still one of the best paths to wealth — if you play the long game My company helps people make honest, informed real estate decisions. I’ve watched many chase trends or try to time the market. But real estate rewards patience and perspective. Some of my best investments didn’t look exciting on paper — but they had strong fundamentals. Over time, they became strategic assets, both financially and personally. Avoid the hype. Focus on long-term value. Sometimes, doing nothing is the smartest move you can make. 4. You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room In my early years, I believed visibility equaled success. I over-indexed on appearances — networking events, interviews, panels. But the most impactful moves in my career came from quiet, focused work behind the scenes. Today, I choose depth over noise. I nurture a few meaningful relationships and let results speak for themselves. Build your “trust circle.” Choose five people you admire and invest in those connections. You don’t need a big network. You need a strong one. Related: Entrepreneurial Success Comes Down to Having the Right Mindset — Here’s How to Make Sure You Do 5. Reinvention isn’t a moment — it’s a mindset The biggest myth I believed was that success meant arriving. But success is constant movement. It’s reinvention. Pivoting without losing your center. I’ve evolved from immigrant to employee, tech lead to CEO, and now founder to educator. I mentor entrepreneurs, speak at universities and write — not just to share what I’ve learned, but to keep growing myself. Each quarter, ask: What version of me am I outgrowing? Let the answer shape your next chapter. Looking back, my path hasn’t been straight — and I wouldn’t change a thing. Fulfillment doesn’t come from proving yourself. It comes from building in alignment with who you’re becoming. Whether you’re just starting or starting over, know this: you don’t need to build the biggest company or be the loudest voice to make a lasting impact. You just need to build with intention. And most importantly — keep going. Read More

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Most people building with AI are chasing the same thing: viral chatbots, cool demos or the next trending wrapper. But I think the real money — the serious, unicorn-level money — is somewhere else entirely. It’s in the stuff nobody wants to touch. Tedious, time-wasting, must-do tasks. The things you hate doing, but have to. That’s where the next wave of AI companies will emerge. Painful > pretty AI that makes you laugh is fun. AI that gets your taxes filed, your Visa sorted or your documents organized? That’s life-changing. When I moved to the UK on a Global Talent visa, I couldn’t find a single tool to track my absence days — something crucial for maintaining legal status. So I built it myself. Not to show off. Just to solve a problem I was quietly freaking out about. That’s the kind of “boring” problem most people overlook. But if it causes stress, repetition or fear — it’s valuable. There’s more money in fixing one painful workflow than chasing 100 likes on a fancy AI-generated avatar. Related: Don’t Be Afraid to Embrace Boring Ideas The more annoying it is, the bigger the opportunity Scheduling medical appointments. Submitting invoices. Picking wines from a 40-page restaurant list. These aren’t sexy problems. But they’re everywhere, and no one enjoys dealing with them. I’ve built apps that take care of those exact scenarios. Some were simple side projects, but they solved problems that people repeatedly run into. That’s the magic formula. In a piece I wrote earlier — 7 AI-Based Business Ideas That Could Make You Rich — I pointed out that the most profitable ideas are often hiding in plain sight. This is another example of that. No team? No problem. The tools available now are ridiculous. With GPT-4o, Supabase, Vercel and Claude, I’ve launched entire products in a week — solo. No designers. No backend engineers. Just a painful idea, an AI stack and a few cups of coffee. I’m not the only one. I’ve seen one-person shops build apps that manage apartment leases, prep legal docs and even coach you through IVF. They’re quiet tools with unflashy interfaces, but they’re deeply useful. If you’re a founder today, your MVP doesn’t need to be impressive — it just needs to make someone’s headache disappear. Build for Tuesday, not for tech Twitter Some of the smartest founders I know aren’t even trying to go viral. They’re building for Tuesdays — for that one problem that hits at 4:00 p.m. when you’re stuck in a bureaucratic loop and need someone (or something) to handle it for you. And here’s the kicker: The more boring the problem, the less competition you’ll have. AI founders are still chasing novelty. That’s your advantage. This article on overlooked metaverse jobs made a similar point: There’s a fortune in places people ignore. Boring doesn’t mean small If you told someone a decade ago that accounting automation or AI-powered scheduling tools would be billion-dollar companies, they’d probably laugh. Now those tools run quietly in the background of almost every business. The lesson: Don’t build for applause. Build for relief. If your product makes someone breathe easier, saves them time or reduces stress — they’ll pay for it. Even if they never tweet about it. Related: Why Unglamorous Entrepreneurial Opportunities Can Be Lucrative Boring tools can still build billion-dollar companies If you need proof, look at Expensify. It started by solving one thing: making expense reports less painful. It’s not exciting, not revolutionary — just useful. Nobody dreams about scanning receipts, but millions of people have to do it. Now Expensify processes billions in transactions. All because it made one annoying task easier. Same story with Calendly, which killed the back-and-forth of scheduling. DocuSign, which removed the pain of printing and scanning contracts. UiPath, which built a massive business by automating office tasks. None of these were flashy, but they fixed something people deal with every day. That’s what makes them work. If you’re building with AI, forget the hype. Look for the problems people quietly suffer through. The ones they never talk about publicly, but deal with constantly. That’s where the best ideas live. Boring isn’t a weakness. Boring is a business model. You don’t need a revolutionary idea. You just need to make one annoying thing go away. If you can do that, it won’t matter how it looks. It will sell. Read More

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Your network is your net worth. Heard that before? I’ve said it for years because I’ve lived it. The right connection can change your life. The right introduction can change your business. The problem is that most people think networking means working the room, shaking 50 hands and walking out with a stack of business cards. I used to think that too — until I realized the most valuable connections happen one-on-one. That’s where Lunch with Legends came from. Every weekday, I have lunch with someone new. Sometimes it’s an investor. Sometimes it’s a founder. Sometimes it’s a friend of a friend I’m meeting for the first time when they slide into the booth. The goal isn’t to pitch. It’s not to sell. It’s to connect because everyone’s happier with good food and good company. Related: The 10 Commandments of Networking You Need to Know Why meals are the secret weapon Meetings are formal. Lunch is real. At lunch, no one’s watching the clock. No one’s hiding behind slides or an agenda. Food slows you down. That’s when you get the truth. You hear about the deal they’re chasing. The challenge they can’t solve. The goal they’ve been sitting on because they don’t know where to start. I’ve learned more over a plate of tacos than I ever have at a conference table. How it started When I was starting in real estate, I worked networking events like it was my job — because it was. I’d collect a pile of business cards, follow up with everyone, etc. One day, someone told me, “Forget the crowd. Take one person to lunch.” It clicked. The best connections are personal, not rushed. That first lunch turned into a connection that shifted my career. Not because I asked for anything, but because we built trust through conversation. Since then, Lunch with Legends has been my daily habit. Networking isn’t about keeping score. It’s about showing up ready to help. Instead of leading with, “Here’s what I do,” I ask, “What’s on your plate — literally and figuratively — and how can I help?” That changes everything. People remember you, not as “the guy from lunch” but as the person who introduced them to their next hire or shared an idea that unlocked a solution. The conversation flows. You’re not pitching. You’re listening. Opportunities come back around. When you help without expecting anything, your name comes up in rooms you’re not even in. What it looks like in practice Last week, I had lunch with people in completely different industries. None of them were “prospects” in the traditional sense. But in every conversation, I found a way to connect them to someone else who could help. A manufacturer. A mentor. A friend. I didn’t have to force those opportunities. They came up naturally because I was paying attention. Related: This ‘Lumberjack Strategy’ Helps Me Find New Clients Quickly — and With Way Less Effort How to host your own Lunch With Legends You don’t need a big title or a fancy budget. You need consistency. One lunch. One new person. Every weekday. Could be a friend-of-a-friend, a young professional looking for guidance or someone you’ve been meaning to meet. Keep it casual. You will see me at the same five places. I have my rotation down. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Listen more than you talk. People will tell you what they need if you give them space. Follow up with value. If you can help, do it right away. The selfie rule Every Lunch with Legends ends with a selfie. It’s not about ego. It’s about memory. That photo is a bookmark. Months later, I can scroll back and remember, ‘Oh yeah, she was looking for a podcast producer. I know someone now.’ It’s a fun ritual that makes the moment feel intentional, and it keeps the connection alive. Networking is a long play. Not every lunch needs to turn into a deal. Some people I’ve met only once. Others have become friends, partners or clients years later. The value comes from showing up consistently, building trust and connecting people. That’s how your network grows in both size and strength. Why food works for networking There’s something about a shared meal that breaks barriers fast. When you eat with someone, you’re both just people deciding between fries or salad. It’s human. It’s disarming. It sets the stage for a real conversation instead of a surface-level exchange. That’s why Lunch with Legends works. It turns networking into something people actually look forward to. Who doesn’t want to break bread and learn something? It’s worth it every time. It’s your move Think of one person you’ve been meaning to meet. Invite them to lunch this week. Don’t overthink it. Don’t make it about what you need. Make it about showing up, asking good questions and leaving them better than you found them. And yes — selfie required. Read More