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Jack Dorsey Exits Bluesky Confirms on ‘Freedom Technology’ X
Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of X/Twitter until he resigned in 2021, has left the board of X rival Bluesky, a decentralized social media network he helped create, fund, and promote.
Bluesky started as a small research project within then-Twitter in 2019 and became its own platform in 2022. The company’s goal is to create a common operating standard for social media platforms so that apps can work between them. It works a lot like Twitter, which it was designed to replace.
Dorsey has been on Bluesky’s board since the platform split from Twitter, now X, two years ago, but took to X on Saturday to simply write “no” when asked if he was still on the board.
no
— jack (@jack) May 4, 2024
He also posted and pinned: “Don’t depend on corporations to grant you rights. defend them yourself using freedom technology. (you’re on one)” on the same day, deeming X “freedom technology.”
Jack Dorsey. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
On Sunday, Bluesky posted an official statement on their site thanking Dorsey “for his help funding and initiating” Bluesky. The company stated it was looking for a new board member “who shares our commitment to building a social network that puts people in control of their experience.”
We sincerely thank Jack for his help funding and initiating the bluesky project. Today, Bluesky is thriving as an open source social network running on atproto, the decentralized protocol we have built.
— Bluesky (@bsky.app) May 5, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Dorsey also reportedly unfollowed over 2,000 people this weekend and weighed in on government surveillance.
Related: Jack Dorsey Blasts Mark Zuckerberg Over Threads Follow Request: ‘Too Soon’
He now follows just three people on X: Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, and Stella Assange.
The seemingly public approval of X is a change of tune for Dorsey, who openly called out Elon Musk’s leadership of X last year.
Dorsey also founded the fintech conglomerate Block, which the Department of Justice is currently investigating after a former employee alleged compliance issues.
Dorsey mainly dismissed the news report at Block’s earnings call last week.
Related: ‘Should Have Walked Away’: Jack Dorsey Says ‘It All Went South’ After Elon Musk Took Over Twitter
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Add Some Life to the Office with $60 off This Bluetooth Speaker
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Sometimes, the office gets a little quiet. We know there are more than a few examples of teams out there that work a little bit better and happier when they have some occasional tunes to groove to. And if your office lacks a proper delivery system for said tunes, then we have just the deal for you.
To help wake everybody up, you can get a TREBLAB HD-360 Portable Bluetooth Speaker on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $159) for a limited time only.
You can count on reaching for this thing whenever you need it because the powerful battery can deliver a full 20 hours of playtime (from fully charged) before needing to be plugged back in. The powerful speaker has a peak power of 90W and offers a full 360-degree surround sound despite its singular, portable design.
Its Bluetooth 5.0 technology makes connecting to your favorite devices easy. There’s nothing worse than getting everyone excited for a happy hour or dance party only to have them wait while you try and pair your phone with the speaker. That shouldn’t happen with this TREBLAB.
For teams that enjoy the occasional outing, the speaker comes with an IPX4 waterproof design, so it should be able to withstand the elements. It also has a built-in mic, which lets you take calls on it, turning your TREBLAB into its own independent conference call service.
Don’t miss your chance to get a TREBLAB HD-360 Portable Bluetooth Speaker while it’s on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $159) for a limited time only.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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Brand New GPT-4o Revealed: 3 Mind Blowing Updates and 3 Unexpected Challenges for Entrepreneurs
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Unveiling OpenAI’s GPT-4.0: The latest AI with vision, auditory, and emotional intelligence abilities is revolutionizing industries. How will it affect your business?
In today’s in-depth discussion, I uncover three astonishing updates in GPT-4.0’s technology poised to redefine customer interaction, marketing strategies, and operational efficiency. We also confront three critical challenges this AI evolution brings, including ethical considerations, market disruptions, and the competitive landscape—essential insights to keep your venture at the forefront of innovation.
Take the AI skills quiz here (available for a limited time) and equip yourself with practical knowledge by grabbing a copy of my new book, ‘The Wolf is at the Door – How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.’
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How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Business
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
A few years ago, my friend Sabah turned her passion for cooking into a chef-on-demand business. She started off serving her local Cleveland area, quickly grew to cover other major Ohio cities and plans to expand even further. She is just one of the many people I know who have turned their passion project into a successful business.
We all have our passion projects. We do them because they’re fun, or we like the challenge, or they’re our way of doing some good in the world. From time to time, though, our niche interests and hobbies lead us to marketable ideas. For many, that’s as far as it goes; they don’t know how to take the next step.
Sabah had a shortcut — she’s married to my friend and business partner, who knew not only the next step to take but all the steps after that. If you’re not lucky enough to have a spouse or friend who can help, here’s how to turn your passion project into a successful business.
Related: Ten Tips To Turn Your Passion Project Into A Business
Hobbies that make great side hustles
So you have a niche hobby, and you’re wondering: How can I make some money from this? It’s important to remember that not all hobbies are created equal, financially speaking. And a niche interest that might have driven profits 20 years ago (collecting Beanie Babies, say) could be a financial sinkhole today.
By keeping a pulse on the zeitgeist, you can anticipate trends and hobbies gaining public interest — and capitalize on those trends. Some, like the following, are side hustle ideas you could start at any time.
Photography
Senior portraits, weddings, special events, professional headshots — quality and affordable photography never lacks in demand. With a website highlighting your work, you can book clients and start earning money from your passion.
Coding
From bug bounty programs to website design, freelance coding offers major earning opportunities. A background in HTML, Python, Java, C++ or a myriad of other coding languages can be a financial boon.
Home design
If you designed your home to belong in an issue of Architectural Digest, others will take notice. Consult on color palettes, furniture selections, room layouts and lighting — and bring your curated aesthetic to the masses with a home design business.
Video and audio production
Whether promoting a brand on social media or starting a podcast, freelance producers can bring a marketing campaign to life. Sell yourself with past work, and mention your experience with programs in the Adobe Creative Suite or Pro Tools.
Gardening
Your green thumb could put some green in your pocket. The landscaping and gardening industry was valued at more than $250 billion in 2024, according to Mordor Intelligence, and if your own garden is thriving, you can fill a niche in your own (proverbial) backyard.
Writing
Can you construct clear and concise copy for a variety of clients? If so, the opportunities are as vast as your vocabulary. Wordsmiths can serve as speechwriters, copywriters, technical writers and ghostwriters, as well as assist with any editing needs.
Baking
Your beautiful cakes, cookies and baked goods could be more than delicious treats; they could be a source of income. Many entrepreneurs found success with home baking during the pandemic, and with proper planning and consistent clients, you can join them.
Vetting if your hobby could be a business
Before you make any hard commitments or major financial decisions, consider if your niche hobby can earn consistent money. Who is the target client? How much are current practitioners charging? How much money do you have saved? How much do you expect to make?
It’s crucial to be clear-eyed about expectations before investing your own money into your venture. The following steps can help you assess whether or not to turn your passion project into a side hustle — or even a career.
Run it by friends
When we have that eureka moment, it sometimes blinds us to flaws in our logic. To get a quick check, run your idea by a few trusted friends. They might be able to point out roadblocks you didn’t think of or know a way to bring your idea to life. For Sabah, that meant asking other chefs for input. Avoid relying solely on one or two peoples’ opinions, but do gauge your friends’ enthusiasm. After all, close confidantes have your best interests in mind.
Analyze the market
Chances are, others have had your idea. Sabah wasn’t the first to think of a chef-on-demand service, but when she analyzed the market, she realized her idea could still work. Market analysis requires thoroughly researching consumer trends and expectations, market size and the demand for your offering.
To truly excel, you must conduct a thorough analysis of your rivals. Although they might offer a comparable product, your goal is to surpass them. Analyze their customer feedback to identify gaps. When you look hard at similar businesses, you might find opportunities to fill the gaps they’re leaving.
Network
Networking with others who have launched their business or product can be invaluable. They’re ahead of you on the journey and can help you avoid costly missteps. If you’re lucky, you might find someone with similar experience and a willingness to mentor you. A good mentor can help you find the path forward when you hit a roadblock. Keep the lines of communication with your network and your mentor open. They know the twists and turns and can save you headaches and expenses.
Devise a business plan
Don’t invest significant money into a project before creating a detailed business plan. Prior steps, such as analyzing the market, will help you write this document, and you’ll want to come away with clear financial expectations. Do the math — calculate your startup and overhead costs, insurance, marketing budget, earnings expectations and taxes. This will give you some base-level expectations and a roadmap to funding, if necessary.
Getting your side business off the ground
You’ve done your research. You’ve talked to friends and other entrepreneurs. You’ve analyzed the market and built a business plan. Now it’s time to take the first big step: getting your side business off the ground.
Turning passion into profit takes work. Don’t be discouraged. There may be moments of doubt and anxiety as your business slowly ramps up. Lean on mentors, and consult your business plan. Like Sabah, if you’ve done the proper pre-launch work, you can keep your head down and follow the roadmap. The following steps can position you for success when turning your niche hobby into a business.
Build an MVP
In the software development world, a minimum viable product (MVP) is a way to test your idea with a small group of early adopters. It’s essentially an early product version with just a few core features. For Sabah, the MVP was a limited menu with a select set of chefs — and she was one of them. Once she proved her idea would work, she hired more chefs and added more meals to the menu based on the feedback she got from her customers. Early and genuine feedback is the goal of an MVP. After all, it’s easier and less expensive to make changes at the beginning of the development cycle than in the middle of it.
Related: 5 Tips for Solidifying MVP, and Why It’s the Most Important Aspect of Building a Startup
Set achievable goals
Be realistic about your first-year financial expectations. In fact, it’s common for new businesses to lose money in their first year of business as they pay back initial investments and build consistent customer bases. Sabah set goals — both financial and personal — that she could reasonably achieve. But don’t mistake this for easy goals. You should be ambitious but practical when planning to achieve your goals.
Get help
Sabah didn’t build her business alone. She knew she needed help building the web applications her fledgling company needed and outsourced that work. Trying to do everything leads to stress, burnout and costly mistakes. It also takes you longer to get to market and could mean competitors beat you to the finish line. Engage freelance help or outsource product development to a team with the knowledge and bandwidth to quickly build a high-quality product.
Knowing when to get help involves recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you can build the product but need help with market analysis. Or maybe you need help with building a brand identity and marketing the product. Outsourcing some of the work frees you up to focus on what you’re good at and can take stress off your shoulders.
Related: Asking For Help Is Good For You and Your Business
Keep your finger on the pulse
Markets and trends can shift rapidly, so it’s essential to keep tabs on competitors and monitor your customers’ needs. The last thing you want is a product that’s outdated by the time it launches or a business plan built around last year’s “it” thing. By staying up-to-date on market and cultural trends, you can be ready to shift priorities when the time is right.
It’s been a joy to watch my friend’s business grow. She’s met challenges with grace and never lets setbacks slow her down. And that, too, is key to turning your passion project into a successful business: believing in your vision enough to stick with it, no matter what.
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