“Generation Z only knows a world that is hyper-connected, where by the tap of a smartphone, a pair of shoes can be delivered to their doorstep via Uber or a drone in less than an hour. To Generation Z, a phone will be broken if they cannot see the other person on the other end. It’s a brave new world that Generation Z is growing up in.” Ryan Jenkins

According to Laura Stack at TLNT, the first batch of kids born in Y2K is starting college in large numbers and their slightly older siblings are nearing graduation or have graduated.

The first few members of Generation Z , born from about 1996 to 2016, have entered the workforce.

By all indications, they’ll prove themselves just as practical and capable as Millennials.

Read more to learn what Gen Z wants from employers and what we can expect from them.

Kroger announced its top food trend predictions for 2019, curated by its team of Our Brands new product developers, chefs and innovators, focusing on flexible eating styles.

From regional tastes to plant-based alternatives, the year ahead will focus on flexible eating styles, predicts Kroger, one of the country’s largest grocery companies. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company’s team of product developers, chefs and others created this list of top five trends:

The future for gardening looks joyful and holds a connection to Mother Nature that just may be the saving grace of the planet.

This bold prediction comes from the 2019 Garden Trends Report: Rooted Together – Reconnecting with the Natural World.

The 18th annual report dives deep into the intrinsic connection people have with nature and how banding together could be the best defense to protect the earth.

Today’s “social clock” society is online 24/7. In a desert of work, stress and the internet, nature - both indoors and outside - has become an oasis.

We are finding joy in nature to achieve peace and purpose. Our 2019 Garden Trends report showcases trends in design, color and technology that will strengthen our relationship with Mother Nature.

Read more to lean about the 2019 Garden Trends.

Katie has been invited to present the 2019 Garden Trends Report at an exclusive event hosted by the Orlandelli Organization, Orlandelli Horizon.

Half of teenagers in the United States (45%) are online for almost all their waking hours. But where are they and how do marketers reach them?

The social media landscape, in fact the entire internet, looks so different than it did just three years ago. And while Facebook has still remained the giant, it has new competition for teen’s time.

Pew Research revealed that 51% of teenagers (13-17) use Facebook—a drop of 20% from three years ago. Which was a drop from years before that, too.

The Pew Research’s survey also highlights a priority for images and videos to capture teens’ attention. They are embracing visual- and mobile-first platforms.

Read on to learn what platforms they prefer and how to capture their attention there.

Here at Garden Media we are huge fans of talk radio and NPR is our favorite.

So when the podcast medium went through a resurgence, we were thrilled. Our fascination started with Serial and grew with the countless episodes of How I Built This, by Guy Raz.

We've written an entire blog about why you should start podcasting. And we've created a list of our favorite garden podcasts. But today, we are going to dive into our favorite business podcasts to listen to. And, we want to hear from you, too! What are your favorites podcasts? What are your favorite episodes? Let's hear it!

Read on for our eight favorite business podcasts of 2018.

Here at Garden Media we are huge fans of talk radio and NPR is our favorite.

So when the podcast medium went through a resurgence, we were thrilled.

Our fascination started with Serial, grew to How I Built This, by Guy Raz and morphed into an addiction with Adam Grant's new podcast Work Life.

We've written an entire blog about why you should start podcasting. And we've created a list of our favorite PR and marketing podcasts. But today, we are going to dive into our favorite gardening podcasts to listen to. And, we want to hear from you, too! What are your favorites podcasts? What are your favorite episodes? Let's hear it!

Read on for our eight favorite gardening podcasts of 2018.

A headline can be tough to figure out. Yet it is the most important step to capturing your audience.

Think about what appeals to you. What would make you click on an article? What entices you to keep reading? 

We outlined ways to write the best blog title ever. Check it out to see how to brainstorm engaging headlines.

After reading through those, if you're still stuck, Kim Garst provides some sample headlines, using the info above, that are effective and unique.

What is the number one thing that gets clicks to your blog? Headlines. What is the written content that pops up when your blog gets posted on social media? Headlines.

You get the point. Headlines matter!

According to CopyBlogger, “8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest."

One of people's biggest complaints about content marketing is that often times the content is confusing. To avoid this negative reaction, write your content as you would a press release. Make sure your purpose is clear, and arrange your content in a logical, simple manner.

And, be sure your headline entices the reader to open the email. Subject lines seem like a small part of your job, but in actuality, they matter more than anything else!

Read on to learn how to create winning subject and headlines.

Patience has never been my virtue. I tap my feet waiting in line, traffic is a nightmare and “take the long way home” never made sense to me.

In business, I never thought this was an issue. Getting the task done as quickly as possible was always something I was praised for, when I was someone else’s employee.

Now that I’m managing people, this lack of patience may be my downfall.

Without even realizing it, most leaders do and say things that create ineffective employees. Christine Comaford, author of SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together says even good leaders unconsciously strike fear in the hearts of their work force.

“From time to time, we all say or do things that spark unconscious fears in our employees,” says Comaford. “The primitive ‘fight, flight or freeze’ part of the brain takes control. When that happens, when people are stuck in what I call the Critter State, all they can focus on is their own survival.”

Just like the garden, no one wants critters. But, I get the feeling my lack of patience is creating this mental state.

Continue to reading to learn how to practice patience and put people first.