The service industry is a tricky landscape, due to the fact that, often times, no tangible property is transferred back and forth.  Sure, you may purchase a software program that comes on a disk, but in reality, you are merely purchasing the right to use that program, not the rights to the program itself.  The service industry is a world dominated by intellectual property, and protecting yours should be your utmost goal.

AOL Purchases TechCrunch

AOL is trying to regain some of its influence online with the purchase of a number of assets this week including Techcrunch.com. TechCrunch is one of the more popular blogs online covering technology news and company announcements. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, was purchased for $40 million and will continue to operate as a separate entity. The announcement was made at TechCrunch’s conference TechCrunch Disrupt.

Blockbuster Prepares for Bankruptcy

According to sources close to the company, Blockbuster is preparing to file for bankruptcy with plans to close hundreds of more stores as they battle against cheap online options (Netflix) and kiosks (Redbox). The company hopes to convert debt to equity and wipe out debt by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company currently has $900 million in debt and hopes to rid itself of most of the debt.

Adobe Stock Falls Despite Record Revenue

Adobe, the maker of popular computer software for web development and graphics design, announced their third quarter results after the close of the markets last night and reported record revenue. Sales came in at $990.3 million for the quarter. This was a 42% improvement in revenue compared to the same period last year.

Seven Tips to Make the Time to Build Your Business

1) Clearly layout on paper what is most important for your business by what makes the most money for your business. Then focus on those items over other items that might take more time but do not produce results. This is the 80/20 rule that we have all heard about.

2) With the remaining items that did not make the top 20% most important items, you will have to decide if you should minimize the times, delegate the items, or delete them all together. If you determine that a task is important but not worth the time that you spend on it, look for outsourcing services that can handle the task at a reduced wage.

Social entrepreneurship is a fast-growing career field. With the growth of green consciousnesses all over the planet, it is no surprise that some of these innovators are making quite the profit while simultaneously bettering our social environment. Oil spills, war and combat, and a failing economy riddle our news media on a daily basis; it's time for some good news--some stuff that will make us proud to be human.

Here are five companies that are changing the world…for the better.

Three Lessons Learned Starting a Business

Lesson One: The Power of Your Peer Group

During his lifetime, Andrew Carnegie (the world's wealthiest person during his lifetime) said, "No man is smart enough to project his influences very far into the world without the friendly cooperation of other men. Bring this thought home in every way you can for it is sufficient unto itself to open the door to success in the higher brackets of individual achievement."

Hidden in Carnegie's words and example is the real edge that allows some people to out-earn others by a factor of 10,000 to 1. When you have the right peer group around you... supporting you... encouraging you... challenging you... inspiring you... and holding you accountable... then anything becomes possible. And what's more—succeeding financially becomes easy.

ITT Technical Institute offers a variety of programs and services to not only students, but to the community. The educational programs are designed to meet the needs and growing demands of diverse students and the workforce changes that play a critical role in today’s market. With multiple locations within several different states across the U.S., the student can choose from traditional on campus programs requiring the individual to attend class or a distance program that allows them to study from anywhere at any time.

Auction Job Finder

If you are out of work and looking for legitimate work from home opportunities consider researching Auction Job Finder.  Created by America's top work-at-home consultant Catherine Thomas, this online job opportunity requires little skill and eliminates the need to answer to a boss or commute daily to work.  As many may know, eBay has become a popular resource for every day businesses to conduct sales and private parties to post random items for sale.  Become financially stable by taking part in this industry and profit from each posting you enter as an eBay Auction Listing Agent with the guidance needed to get started.  

YouTube Increases Video Length to 15 Minutes

If you have ever felt that the amount of time provided to you by YouTube was just too short, you will be pleased to know that the video-sharing site has announced an increase in the video upload limit from ten minutes to fifteen minutes for non-partners. Whatever you like to film, you will now be able to capture more footage to put online.