Dima Lomachevsky/Getty Images/iStockphoto
The latest news and information for entrepreneurs from across the web universe, brought to you by the Report on Small Business team. Follow us on Twitter @GlobeSmallBiz. Download our app here.
Startup risks cause more worry; intellectual curiosity and energy drive learning, enjoyment
Entrepreneurs are more stressed, yet also more optimistic, than other workers, finds a new survey from Gallup.
In the survey, 45 per cent of entrepreneurs reported experiencing stress the day before versus 42 per cent of other workers, and 34 per cent said they'd experienced worry the day before, four percentage points more than other workers, found the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on about 273,175 interviews in the United States, among them 6,896 respondents who classified themselves as self-employed business owners.
Yet, at the same time, the entrepreneurs also found more positives in their day. For instance, 71 per cent of entrepreneurs said they'd learned or done something interesting the day before, versus 66 per cent of other workers. And 89 per cent said they had experienced enjoyment, versus 86 per cent of others.
They were also more optimistic about their futures. Asked to imagine a ladder with steps running from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top, with the top rung representing the "best possible life" for them, 30 per cent of entrepreneurs put themselves on the highest rung, versus 25 per cent of other workers.
So what's behind these findings? The risks that go with launching a startup may cause more stress and worry, Gallup's release said.
Yet, "the same intellectual curiosity and energy needed to start and run a business may also drive entrepreneurs to seek out and take advantage of opportunities to learn or do something interesting or exciting on a regular basis," Gallup's reporting said, noting also that entrepreneurs have creative and strategic control of their businesses and schedules, possibly affording more flexibility to pursue those interesting and learning opportunities.
Microsoft acquires startup to boost Xbox
Microsoft Corp. appears to be making another move toward expanding its Xbox unit beyond gaming with the reported purchase of Silicon Valley-based home-entertainment technology startup R2 Studios Inc. for an undisclosed sum, according to this Wall Street Journal report.
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft has been trying to expand Xbox beyond a video-game machine to a hub connecting traditional television and Web video, the Journal explains. R2 Studios, a startup created by Sling Media founder Blake Krikorian in 2011, specializes in technology to distribute and display digital content on TVs, which the Journal report notes is a "big new battleground" for tech giants. Microsoft has signed deals with several content providers in the past year to offer on-demand TV programming through the Xbox.
The Journal says that R2 Studios had been in acquisition talks with other companies, including Google and Apple. It says Mr. Krikorian and a small team will join Microsoft at its home base; the deal also includes the transfer of some patents, the Journal reports. Further reading is also in this CNET report, and on Yahoo News and in this report.
More from Gallup: What really makes employees happy?
Sure, the number of working hours, holidays and flexibility count, but what really makes employees feel good is being engaged by their work, according to another study by Gallup.
The researchers of the study, involving 4,894 respondents, found that employee engagement was a much stronger predictor of overall wellbeing than these other factors. "Though workplace policies such as hours worked, vacation time, and flextime do relate to employee wellbeing, the quality of the workplace trumps policy in affecting overall wellbeing," the study release says.
EVENTS AND KEY DATES
Finding business funding
Want to boost your chances of finding funding for your business? Invest Ottawa will hold a seminar on Jan. 9 aimed at offering insights to help understand the key factors that lenders take into account and how best to make an approach. For more information, click here.
Franchise show: Montreal
The Franchise Show, a franchise-only exhibition, will be held in Montreal on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20. For more information, click here.
EDITOR'S PICKS FROM REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS
Four ways to build your community in 2013
As the new year ramps up, it's critical for businesses owners to think about whether they have successfully taken advantage of four trends, and how they can incorporate them this year, writes columnist Lisa Ostrikoff.
FROM THE ROSB ARCHIVES
Risk assessment key to overseas expansion
Small businesses thinking about expanding overseas could be forgiven for getting cold feet after watching uprisings spready from Tunisia to Egypt to Libya and beyond, recounted this piece published in March, 2011. But is it really necessary to hunker down and keep your employees at home? Not if you're prepared. Read how.
Got a tip on news, events or other timely information related to the small-business community? E-mail us at smallbusiness@globeandmail.com
Join The Globe's Small Business LinkedIn group to network with other entrepreneurs and to discuss topical issues: http://linkd.in/jWWdzT
Our free weekly newsletter is now available. Every Friday a team of editors selects the top picks from our blog posts, features, multimedia and columnists, and delivers them to your inbox. If you have registered for The Globe's website, you can sign up here . Click on the Small Business Briefing checkbox and hit 'save changes.' If you need to register for the site, click here .