Feeling more impatient lately? It’s not entirely your fault.
Sarah Schnitker, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, explains how a culture of instant gratification — fueled by our use of smartphones and on-demand everything — has made patience feel unnecessary. But her research shows that patience helps people stay regulated, persist through challenges, and feel more satisfied with their progress.
Depending on the size and industry of your business, a toll-free number is a solution that might be on your radar. In this article, we take a look at the reasons why a toll-free number could be a good choice for your business, and how you can find and implement a solution that is cost effective.
Why choose toll-free?
The main benefit of a toll-free number is that it can be called by customers across the country without them incurring a charge. They are often used for customer service purposes, like help and information lines, so customers can freely access a business.
Toll-free numbers work by using specific toll-free codes, made up of the initial three-digit prefix. These include, 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
On top of the ease of access that toll-free numbers bring your customers, benefits of using one include:
For a lot of businesses, depending on call volume and needs, this decision is a no-brainer.
When wouldn’t you use a toll-free number?
Say you’re a single-location veterinary practice or hair salon – you don’t serve customers outside your direct region. In this case, you’re likely not receiving a lot of calls from long distance numbers, and the cost of the toll-free number wouldn’t be worth the services included. You can probably make do with a more traditional set up and a local number.
With cloud telephony, toll-free is easier than ever.
Toll-free numbers have been in circulation since 1966. Today, with the rise of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems, and cloud solutions in general, toll-free lines for your business are easier and more affordable than ever.
From being able to use any device, anywhere, to adding more numbers, and scaling the size of your solutions, VoIP toll-free numbers allow for seamlessly implemented solutions that can be customized to your business’ needs.
Find the right solution for your business.
Many providers offer toll-free numbers. For a VoIP option, you can expect to pay roughly ten to fifteen dollars a month per toll-free number.
Be sure to shop around. Different providers will have different options for you, that might be more worth the cost depending on your needs. For example, some providers “require a minimum monthly payment and have a specific number of minutes while many others need no monthly payment but charge per minute.”
Or perhaps you’re looking for a specific feature that some packages offer. Some that virtually all providers will offer include:
Some features will be more provider-specific, such as:
The best thing you can do is be aware of your needs and make the choice that is most cost-efficient for your business.
Likewise, there is no limit to how many toll-free numbers a single business can use. If your business needs multiple, search for packages that can accommodate that need.
In conclusion…
Depending on your business, a toll-free number might be a necessary solution for customer service. Although this solution has been around for nearly six decades, the advent of VoIP and other cloud technologies has made it easier and more affordable to find the best solutions for your business’ individual needs.
This article was originally posted in June, 2022.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), we’re living in an era marked by declining trust. This lack of trust isn’t specific to one industry or arena; generally, the average person’s trust in any kind of leadership – in business and other areas of life – has been declining since 2019. In fact, a 2025 study found that 68% percent of individuals find business leaders, specifically, untrustworthy.
This is a crisis that businesses are facing right now. Trust is tantamount to good business leadership; from attracting and retaining clients, to creating brand power that people believe in, to employee retention.
So how do you lead and build trust in a world where trust is generally declining? Whether you’re engaging with your clients, employees, or any sort of audience, in this issue of the Pulse, we take a look.
Studies have found that trust in a business is important for as much as 80% of consumers. Likewise, 71% of consumers say they are unlikely to buy from a company they no longer trust, while 73% confirmed they would spend much less. Those numbers are significant. Up to 80% of your customer base is not worth putting in jeopardy by not prioritizing building trust in your business strategy.
Leaders who inspire trust in others are often well-regarded for their ability to listen critically and thoughtfully.
As the WEF puts it, “listening leaders can collect perspectives and data from different actors and points of view to inform their strategies and decisions, and are able to create inclusive cultures that enable even further trust-building.”
Honing your listening skills, and processes that allow you to listen and gather feedback, will help your foster trust.
If you expect everyone to agree with your point of view all the time, even when you’re really sure you’re right, you’re never going to be satisfied. Good leadership involves navigating different views and interests and finding practical ways forward. Showing an aptitude for doing this, rather than demanding consensus or conformity, helps build trust with people of varying perspectives, not just yours.
Whether it’s the team beneath you, your clients, or those you’re looking to for referrals, learning what matters to people builds and maintains trust. It’s as simple as asking questions, paying attention, and even taking notes – bringing it back to those listening skills we mentioned. When you show an interest in what matters to others, they trust you more.
Leading with consistent trustworthy principles and traits will build a strong foundation of trust over time.
How we represent ourselves, and how sincere that comes across, matters a lot in business. Your employees, clients, and network more generally will respond to what is engaging, personal, memorable – and above all, authentic. If they view you as fake, trust will be damaged.
Think about your business, your brand, and your processes critically. Is there anything that would cause you to lose trust in a leader or a company? If so, it might be worth reassessing.
Trust in business leadership is in a recession of sorts. In these circumstances, focusing on trust-building as a leader and a brand is more important than ever. If you don’t, it could cost you.
If your business operates a fleet that is subject to electronic logging device (ELD) usage, it’s important to keep an eye on regulatory updates and changes that may impact the solutions you’re using. To ensure you remain compliant with federal law, staying on top of all changes, or working with a third-party expert who can keep track for you, is key.
In September, 2025 alone, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed four ELDs from its list of approved devices. Fleets were given a tight window of sixty days, during which time they were instructed to “discontinue using the revoked ELD and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data,” and “replace the revoked ELD with a compliant ELD from the Registered Devices list.”
Sixty days may seem like a big window, but for large fleets and when approaching a busy season for many operations, this is a huge change that needs to be made quickly. Changing devices, contacting your provider, educating drivers, and potentially sorting through paper logs – these are all time-consuming feats. And that’s if you’re made aware of the device revocation right away. If you miss the memo, you might be racing to implement the necessary changes in time.
The FMCSA doesn’t revoke devices to make life difficult for fleets. In September, the four devices removed – Robinhood ELD, TT ELD PT30, ELOG42 and RENAISSANCE ELD – were done so because they failed to meet technical requirements. They’re not the only devices to face this penalty. Eight other ELDs have also been revoked in 2025. The technical requirements are extensive but readily available, and all the device developers will have the opportunity to revise their ELDs to meet standards. However, that could be a time-consuming fix, and in the meantime, fleets must switch ELDs – and potentially service providers – to remain compliant.
As a fleet manager, you have to be on top of current ELD regulations. Revoked devices can have a real consequence for your operations, and there may be less time than you’d like to make any changes. Working with an expert on current regulations can save a lot of headaches and buy you time when facing this sort of challenge.
Every sale begins with a question, and too many are lost because sellers won’t stop talking. Questions create conversations. Conversations build relationships. Relationships create opportunities. Opportunities drive sales.
For every payment your business processes by card, your business pays a series of fees. One of these is an interchange fee, which is collected by the payment’s issuing bank. While interchange fees aren’t necessarily flexible on your provider’s side, they are something you can take steps to reduce. In this article, we take a look at interchange fees and how you can optimize your payments to lower the cost of this component.
On each payment you accept, whether it’s in person, over the phone, or online, you pay the following fees:
Ultimately, these fees can amount around 2% of the total of every transaction.
Interchange fees are collected from you – the merchant – by the cardholder’s bank and cover the cost of the risk associated with approving a payment. While these fees are determined by the card brands and are non-negotiable, there are different levels of interchange fees based on key factors, including the information that you submit every time a payment is made. In fact, there are over 300 different interchange rate levels that could be applied to your payment processing.
Your interchange fees are going to be impacted by a variety of factors, not all of which are in your control. However, some decisions that you make, as a merchant, will determine what you’re charged.
Interchange fees can be determined by card type, and which types of cards carry more risk for the bank:
The fees are also determined by the way the card was used during the transaction:
In this example, a cardholder signature would be seen as the least risky transaction, whereas a purchase made with card-not-present (CNP) carries the most risk.
Finally, the fees are also determined by the data sent along with the transaction. The fewer details sent, the higher the fees typically are. This is where your business has room to make decisions that can lower your fees without taking measures to limit your customers, such as reducing the card types you accept.
Depending on the nature of your operations, your business can qualify for a lower interchange rate by working with your payment processor to optimize the data you send every time a transaction is made.
Many businesses that accept basic retail transactions, as well as other CNP transactions, will only be able to send what is known as Level 1 (L1) data. However, organizations with larger corporate or governmental clients can often optimize the information they send to secure the best rates.
Standard L1 transaction data includes very basic information, the amount paid, the card number, and the date. However, there are two additional levels; L2 and L3, that include more data and reduce fees. L2 adds data like customer codes and sales tax amounts for a discount around 0.50% lower. L3 data includes details such as product quantity and item descriptions for a discount of up to 1.0% lower. In order to optimize your interchange rates, you must be working under a payment processing structure that allows for the capture of this information.
Not every organization is eligible for submitting L2 and L3 three data. Unfortunately, these businesses may face higher merchant services fees than others. However, if your business is in the position to optimize your interchange rates, you can expect to save significantly. With payment processing fees eating up a considerable amount of every transaction, you need every advantage that you can get.
The dictionary defines punctuality as “the fact of arriving, doing something, or happening at the expected or correct time and not late”. But in the workplace, it means more than that. It says more about you than you realize.
Being punctual reflects discipline, responsibility, and respect for others’ time. It shows commitment not just to the task, but to the team and the company you are in. When you arrive on time, you signal that you value your colleagues’ time and the collective work. On the other hand, frequent lateness can give the impression of a lack of commitment and disrupt working dynamics.
Punctuality goes beyond just meeting a schedule. It shows reliability and a strong work ethic. While being punctual can set a positive tone for the day and build trust, tardiness can harm productivity, affect morale, and damage your professional relationships.
This is especially true for managers and leaders, as they must set the example for others. When a leader arrives late or doesn’t prioritize punctuality, it sends a message to the team that being on time isn’t that important. Leaders who model punctuality foster a culture of respect and professionalism, creating an environment where everyone understands the value of time.
Being tardy carries many risks, and appearing late to clients goes beyond a minor inconvenience. When a client is waiting for you, they trust that you value their time and are committed to the meeting. Arriving late, even by a few minutes, not only undermines that trust and damages your personal reputation, but it can also reflect poorly on the company as a whole, potentially jeopardizing deals or future opportunities. Punctuality demonstrates respect, reliability, and professionalism, all of which are essential for maintaining strong client relationships.
Improving punctuality can be simple:
Being on time is a simple way to show you’re professional. It means you respect your coworkers and care about your team. When you make punctuality a habit, people will see you as reliable and committed. Try waking up a bit earlier, you’ll be glad you did!
Packing peanuts are a staple for businesses that need to send potentially fragile or breakable products to customers. They’re inexpensive, efficient, and lightweight. In today’s economic climate, those are some considerable pros. But what if the cost is customer satisfaction? In this article, we take a look.
Whether it be the traditional kind or the newer, more eco-friendly versions, customers aren’t fans of packing peanuts. Below are a few reasons why:
They make a mess: They easily scatter and are difficult to clean up.
Hard to dispose of: Due to static cling, they stick to every surface, and their lack of recyclability makes disposal complicated.
Environmental impact: While some versions are biodegradable, the environmental cost is still significant. Non-biodegradable versions remain in the environment for a long time, generating a substantial amount of waste.
Health impact: Traditional foam peanuts production methods can release carcinogenic fumes that could be harmful to workers handling the material.
Increase in shipping costs: For businesses, the biodegradable option can also increase shipping costs since they have a higher weight than traditional packing peanuts.
When a customer receives a package filled with packing peanuts, the unboxing experience, which for many is a highly satisfying moment, quickly turns into frustration. They may even need to spend more time than expected cleaning up the mess and getting rid of the peanuts. This doesn’t only affect the perception of the product but also the company’s image.
More than that, many businesses today are concerned about the environmental impact of their products and processes. If a customer encounters packaging that is harmful to the environment, it could affect their brand loyalty and even damage the company’s reputation.
As consumers become more aware of their purchasing choices, the demand for sustainable (and easy-to-handle) packaging is growing. They want to know their purchases aren’t contributing to a larger environmental problem. Companies that adopt eco-friendly practices not only gain in terms of brand image but can also stand out as leaders in innovation.
Furthermore, customer experience is becoming increasingly valued. Customers who have a positive unboxing experience are more likely to share their impressions on social media, influencing other potential buyers. A well-thought-out package can be an excellent competitive differentiator.
Ultimately, while packing peanuts may be cheap and functional, the hidden costs to customer satisfaction and the environment are significant. Businesses that prioritize eco-friendly and user-friendly packaging not only reduce waste but also create a better experience, strengthen their brand, and show they care about the planet. Choosing smarter alternatives is an investment that pays off in happier customers and a stronger reputation.
When diagnosing the cause of professional burnout, people often point to high-pressure environments where overwork is the norm. Yet, according to executive advisor Liz Wiseman, it’s not always too much work that causes employees to lose steam, but rather too little impact.
So how can you make an impact at work and gain momentum and ease in the process? Start by finding out what’s energizing your company and how you can be of service to that mission. In this video lesson, Wiseman defines the concept of impact players and how becoming one can help you avoid burnout by making a difference.
When creating a budget for your business, it is helpful to separate and account for fixed versus variable expenses. Mistaking the latter for the former can cost you, and the better you understand all your expenses, the better chance you have of optimizing them.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, the best way to describe the difference is that fixed expenses are costs that stay the same from month to month, whereas variable expenses are ever-changing and harder to predict.
Fixed expenses often represent the largest part of your budget. For a business, your fixed expenses are going be costs such as rent payments, insurance premiums, property taxes, and so on. While these are not easy to optimize, they are easy to work into your budget, as they are unchanging and paid at a consistent frequency.
If you can lower these expenses – say, by finding a different insurance plan that works for your needs – you automatically save more money each month or pay period.
In business budgeting, it is important to remember that all your fixed costs must be paid, regardless of your sales that pay cycle. If you’re starting a business, making sure you can cover these expenses for a period before you start bringing in revenue is crucial to staying afloat.
Your variable expenses are going to represent the costs incurred by how a given month or pay period goes for your business. How many credit cards you swipe, how much electricity you use, or how much waste you generate; all of these are going to incur a bill that varies every cycle.
Some of these expenses can be harder to reduce than others. How much heating you use to keep your office warm, for example, may be more difficult to lower than the amount of waste your organization is generating. However, in many cases, these expenses are in areas that you can strategize or work with professionals to identify savings, creating a more predictable monthly bill.
Depending on how you staff your business, your employees can be either a fixed or variable expense. Anyone hired on full time, who is guaranteed a forty-hour work week, will be a fixed expense, whereas a seasonal or part-time employee will likely be a variable expense, as their hours are subject to change month to month.
When you’re budgeting, it’s important to separate your fixed costs and your variable costs. If you’re able to determine what you absolutely will be spending in your fixed costs, then it is easier to identify and strategize areas to save with your variable costs.
Month to month, keep track of your variable expenses. Maybe one month you allotted too little to certain expenditures and went over budget. If you keep a closer eye on each cost category, you can do a better job budgeting and planning for the future going forward.
The lower you can keep your costs, fixed or variable, the better the results for your bottom line. If you don’t have experience negotiating rates or deciding what expenses are fair in comparison with the rest of the market, don’t settle. Explore your options, bring in consultants, and work with professionals who can guide you in the right direction.
Especially for the fixed expenses you will be locked into for some time, this could be a make-or-break decision for your business. Why pay more than you have to?
This article was originally published in November, 2021
