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Need a little inspiration? Check the creative spark behind these socially conscious business models.A new generation of consumers, influencers, and entrepreneurs has come of age--and its outlook on doing business is revolutionary. Millions of children born between 1980 and 2000, commonly known as Generation Y, have matured into adulthood with a unique worldview that is firmly entrenched in the beliefs that anything is possible and anyone can make a difference. This is a generation that had front-row seats for the crumbling of "secure" institutions such as Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, people who saw firsthand how the greed-mongering practices of jerks like Bernie Madoff ruined the lives of thousands.Gen Y fundamentally knows that there is a better, more ethical way to do business--and its everyday behaviors reflect this mindset.From college dorm rooms to apartment "offices" across the country, Gen Y entrepreneurs are building new businesses with social responsibility infused directly into the DNA of their business model--as a forethought, not an afterthought.Thousands of these businesses launch every month--all with the goal of making a difference and a profit.5 That Inspire MeAs founder of Roozt.com, I sell products from some of the most inspiring social entrepreneurs across the country.

Think public relations is easy? We sure did. But before long we learned that PR is a grind. Here's the best advice we've found for getting press.We have a confession

A new survey of more than 6,000 small businesses determines which areas are most inviting for entrepreneurs.How business-friendly is your state? A new study offers some answers.In partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, Thumbtack.com conducted a survey of over 6,000 owners of small businesses (most with 5 or fewer employees) throughout the U.S..The survey focused on how small business owners viewed the economic climate and overall environment facing them in their specific regions. Business owners were asked to rate their cities and states across a number of different categories that affect the success of small businesses. Their responses were then converted into numerical scores and ultimately each region was assigned a grade--A+ through F--for each category in the survey.Best & Worst StatesWhen the results were in, it turned out that business owners ranked Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma and Utah as the friendliest states for small companies

Sometimes it's smarter to ditch the dream of finding something brand new. Try riding someone else's wave instead.You've probably heard of Foursquare, the location check-in app that manages to get a lot of interested users but not much money. But you might not be familiar with FearSquare.It's an app that lets Foursquare users know if they're in danger by checking the UK crime statistics for their current locations.This isn't a money-making venture.

If you aren't getting enough done in your day--and who is?--try this time management technique.Not all hours are created equal. Some hours produce more net value–for you, your customers and your firm–than others. As my old partner liked to say, "Some of my hours are priceless and some of them are worthless."In looking at the most effective executives, leaders and business owners I know, I notice many of them are very careful with their time. This includes the appointments they set or take, the meetings they have, organizations to which they belong and the activities they fill their day with.Look at your appointment calendar from last week.

A look at the latest batch of winners--and promising ideas--from Harvard University's storied business plan competition.Harvard Business School hosts one of the most influential business plan contests in the country. Previous finalists have gone on to build great businesses, including some you’ve probably heard of: Rent the Runway, Birchbox, and CloudFlare, to name a few. Others’ ventures eventually IPO or get acquired for millions of dollars. Many of them create jobs and help transform industries. In short, the companies coming out of this competition are ones to watch.