'Ben Thinking' for the week of 04.28
I know a lot of companies are struggling at the moment. For a lot of reasons. So, allow me a few seconds to make sure you know Akhia is tracking all the challenges you may be facing and is very likely helping clients push their way through something you may be experiencing.
- If you want help identifying or prioritizing the challenges out there, let’s talk.
- If you know the challenge(s) you’re facing but don’t know where to start, let’s talk.
- If you know where to start, but don’t feel you have the resources, let’s talk.
Bottom line: we’re here to talk.
Anyways, onto what I’ve ‘Ben thinking’ about:
Speaking of challenges: Cyberattacks against manufacturers sets record in Q1.
Mike Lawrence / ChatGPT
No, Akhia isn’t a cybersecurity firm now. BUT, just like anything else that can disrupt your business, if you don’t have a communications plan in the can, the damage will be far greater.
And judging by the Smart Industry article linked in the headline, the potential damage from a cyberattack is already hard enough to deal with. All the numbers are up compared to last year:
- Attacks (an 102% increase)
- Exploited flaws (75% increase)
- IT leaders concerns that they’re next (34% increase)
We’ve been a part of webinars, workshops and helping clients manage these types of incidents. If you want to compare notes, start somewhere, get connected to our partners, who are the best in the business, let me know.
“I think there are some big, bold moves to be made.”
That’s according to the CEO of consulting firm Maine Pointe, talking to CFO Leadership/Chief Executive about what to do while tariffs swirl around us.
I thought the read was a good one with some advice and perspectives I hadn’t thought of, especially as it comes to reclassification.
That’s a good thing, right? Right?!?
In the immortal words of Lee Corso: Not…so…fast.
Hours are down (41 v. 43 a week) but…engagement is at an 11-year low (17%) which means those fewer hours worked could be the result of burnout.
Mike Lawrence / ChatGPT
This is all according to Gallup, who broke down the study and walks you through exactly what it means. If you’re responsible for internal communications and/or HR, you’ll want to read this one. If you’re not…do them a favor and forward this article on.
So, what should you do about it? Keep reading.
Doing what you’ve always done to keep employees, won’t work anymore. (Chief Executive)
I kind of think we need to adopt the Cleveland Browns approach to talent – try a bunch of stuff and see what works!
Ok, I’m joking. Kind of. But outside of the incredible stats (that back-up with the Gallup piece found), the article is a little light on actual suggestions. Which, I think is kind of the point. The piece is more about encouraging you to stop doing what you’re doing…and not be afraid to try something new.
Need workers? Gen Z may be your best bet. (CNBC Make It)
- The cost of a four-year degree is up (30% since 2011)
- The number of students currently enrolled in four-year programs is down (2M less students compared to 2011)
- Gen Z made up 25% of new hires in skilled trades (Q1 of 2025)
Ignore Gen Z at your own risk.
Another challenge? LinkedIn. Just…LinkedIn.
One topic we are talking about A LOT lately is LinkedIn. As in, what the heck LinkedIn?!
Mike Lawrence / ChatGPT
We have been busy helping companies make rhyme and reason regarding the changes that LinkedIn continues to make. I won’t jump into all of them here, but one that you might be experiencing is how to drive engagement through mobile.
One excellent resource I’ve been following (and able to apply to some of our clients’ challenges) is MJ Jaindl. Here is his post on how to design LinkedIn for mobile (which is how 88% of users scroll/interact with LinkedIn, by the way).
“Emotional fatigue eats leaders alive”
Mike Lawrence / ChatGPT
You know my stance on leaders – you don’t need a ‘C’ or a ‘Sr.’ in front of your title to be a leader. It’s a mentality, not a title.
And right now, it’s tough to be a leader. To think like a leader. The Leadership Freak tackles this topic better than I can but the reality of the blog: emotional fatigue can rob you of the very thing that makes you a great leader—your emotional intelligence.
The blog is terrific, and gets right to the point, talking about three things you can do to restore that energy.
Google’s been busy…the latest? Announcing the end of video action campaigns.
What does that mean for you? Basically, customers don’t move in a linear fashion anymore. So Google is doing more to support consumers, wherever they may be, with its new Demand Gen tool.
If you haven’t heard about or looked into this yet, I’d highly recommend the read linked in the headline from our senior digital lead Christina Kay. She breaks down the news and next steps in a way that we can all understand and apply.
Me at the zoo: how 17 seconds turned into 350M views and 20 years of YouTube! (Digital Trends)
Happy 20th anniversary to YouTube. If you never saw the video that started it all, check out the linked story. Hard to believe we went from that to what we have today – the number one streaming platform despite ZERO investment in original content.
A reminder that I think you should take note of: The AI Round-up
This newsletter spun off of ‘Ben Thinking’ about 18 months ago. It’s grown very quickly but is only available via email. (Or on the website but who visits those anymore?)
Point is, I’d highly recommend you subscribing if you haven’t already. Here’s a sample of the type of stories we cover over there:
How to align SEO process with AI discovery. Why? Well 20% of web users have changed ‘how’ they search in the past year and almost 80% have admitted to at least trying a new method (i.e. AI).
For the pod squad: YouTube trends towards virtual influencers and AI-generated videos (For Immediate Release, #461).
This is supposed to be fun!
Mentos…the fresh maker, is back. Thanks, Fortnite!
Read --> Why Mentos relaunched its iconic jingle and brought brand lore to Fortnite.
I don’t know…it’s hard for me to love anything more than those classic Mentos ads.
Or maybe you prefer the Foo Fighters version?
Or maybe you love this version that ChatGPT created:
Feel free to share with anyone else you think would enjoy the articles and resources!
-Ben