10 Stories From the Web to Know About This WeekJay Z bails on the Nets, parsing the weird productivity tips of historical figures, Twitter and GoDaddy get together, online merchants ditch credit-card processing, tips for delivering a knockout speech. This week's notable news and tantalizing tidbits for entrepreneurs.

ByBrad Crescenzo

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

underconsideration.com
Jay Z

Jay Z bails on the Nets, parsing the weird productivity tips of historical figures, San Francisco partners with Kiva.org, the CBO weighs in on a government shutdown, Twitter and GoDaddy get together, online merchants ditch credit-card processing, ethical fashion gets a bump, tips for delivering a knockout speech… This week's notable news and tantalizing tidbits for entrepreneurs.

1.Jay Z goes pro:The Jigga is liquidating his share in the Brooklyn Nets for $1.5 million after starting his own sports agency,Roc Nation Sports. The all-star roster already includes, Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants and Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant. (Forbes)

2.Historic productivity tips:Benjamin Franklin used to read and write in the buff; Beethoven demanded 60 beans per cup of coffee. Some of the world's greatest thinkers had some borderline crazy methods for staying productive. Here are a few. (Fast Company)

3.Kiva partners with SF:San Francisco moved to partner with online lender Kiva.org to bring crowdfunded loans to local entrepreneurs at zero-percent interest. Loans, which will be accessible through the site KivaZip.org, are seen as critical for bridging the lending gap for startups in particular. (SFGate)

4.CBO talks shutdown:The Congressional Budget Office Chief Douglas Elmendorf says a government shutdown would damage the economy and "scale up" problems over time. He also added that only President Obama can "cushion" the effects. (CNNmoney)

5.The kibosh on credit:The results of a recent National Small Business Association survey shed light on the growing trend of online merchants refusing to accept credit-card payments. Only 69 percent of online merchants currently accept credit cards, down 22 percent in the last three-years. The culprit? Cyber insecurity. (Businessweek)

6.Ethical fashion falls short:After the recent tragedy at the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, the push to make the fashion industry more ethical has lost steam. Still, new online platforms are hoping to buck the trend. (The Guardian)

7.The golden minute:Nailing the first 60-seconds of a speech is critical to success. From dealing with public-speaking anxiety to preparing the room for your arrival, get insightful tips for delivering a knockout speech. (LinkedIn Today)

8.Boston's new Innovation Studio:T3 Advisors, a commercial real-estate consulting firm, has moved to a new space on the Boston waterfront. Included in the new office is an "Innovation Studio" meant to bring T3 closer to the local startup scene. (Boston.com)

9.GoDaddy and Twitter unite:As part of itsWebsite Buildertool, GoDaddy is offering a Twitter functionality aimed at small businesses looking to quickly and easily set up a profile page. Russ Laraway, the director of small and medium businesses at Twitter says, "we're helping businesses get online faster to reach the followers most likely to purchase from them." The service ranges from $1 to $5 per month. (Mashable)

10.The land of engineering:The phrase "German engineering" has become synonymous with quality cars, but now the term is used more broadly, as people head to the country for a chance to win a key apprenticeship. The system has its perks, including partly subsidized earn-as-you-learn schemes. (BBC)

Wavy Line
Brad Crescenzo is a freelance writer in New York.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Devices

This Versatile MacBook Is Only $299.97 During the Back-to-School Sale

Fid out how to get a MacBook Air that's sleek, portable, and reliable for a great price.

Science & Technology

5 Tech Tools To Make You the Envy of Coworkers and Neighbors All Summer

From a self-correcting selfie camera to an cooler that doesn't need ice.

Thought Leaders

I Pitched 300 People a Day For 1 Year — and Learned This Impactful Entrepreneurial Lesson

After working myself to the bone pitching 300 people each day for one year, I came out of that experience as a new man — but surprisingly, an unhappier one. Here's what I learned.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.