IN THE NEWS
For many years and counting, I have been featured by multiple reputable media outlets. Read all the news about me and my book Automate Your Busywork here.
In the News (2024)
October 1, 2024
It’s exciting to come up with a product or service that you think the world could use. Validating your idea is the process of determining if there’s a need for your product or service in your target market. In other words, it’s a way to gauge whether people will actually become paying customers.
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September 24, 2024
According to a survey from Deloitte, 77 percent of respondents said they’ve experienced burnout at their current job, to troubling repercussions: 91 percent report that having an unmanageable amount of stress negatively impacts their work quality, and 83 percent say it negatively impacts their personal relationships. While there are lots of factors that may have a hand in why you feel this way, there’s reason for hope: AI can actually keep burnout at bay.
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September 23, 2024
Looking back, I recognize how close friendships can be a lifeline for entrepreneurs, who embark on what tends to be a solo journey. Founders often fight the overwhelming demands of running a business by pairing down their lives and reducing energy spent on non-work activities. But successful entrepreneurship also requires balance. Here are three reasons why friendship is critical for all entrepreneurs and business leaders to embrace.
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September 19, 2024
Younger employees aren’t hardwired to do the bare minimum—a tumultuous professional landscape has disillusioned many of them. It falls on leaders to proactively work to understand Gen Z and in doing so, transform their impact on the workplace from minimal to meaningful. Here are some of the ways that Gen Z’s unique blend of traits can benefit their organizations.
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September 17, 2024
Fortunately for today’s aspiring entrepreneurs, the barriers to starting and planning a business have never been lower. Thanks to AI tools like ChatGPT, founders have efficient, relatively low-cost resources at their fingertips. Had ChatGPT been around nearly two decades ago, when I bootstrapped my online form business, I may have quit my day job sooner. Here are 9 ChatGPT prompts that today’s entrepreneurs can use to write a business plan.
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September 10, 2024
Great CEOs aren't born, they're made. But what separates a successful founder-turned-CEO from a failed one? As someone who remains the head of my company, Jotform, after founding it nearly 20 years ago, I've got some insight into what it takes to make the change.
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September 9, 2024
As AI changes the way we live and work, it’s worth revisiting Edison’s approach to tinkering. For organizations, this doesn’t just mean from the top down—as the head of a company, I believe teams themselves need to spend time establishing how these new tools can be most beneficial to their operations. I’m certainly not alone: According to one survey, 44 percent of company leaders believe their employees need to develop new skills to keep up with the AI-driven business environment.
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September 4, 2024
On a personal level, automation can help eliminate boring, tedious tasks and leave more time and mental energy for meaningful projects. ChatGPT is a great resource for incorporating the latest automation tools into your daily processes. Here are nine ChatGPT prompts to get you started.
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September 3, 2024
Leaders with inflated egos can cause irreparable harm to workers and companies. Less willing to entertain contradictory ideas, they stifle innovation and make poorer-quality decisions. Because their egos crave positive attention, they’re susceptible to manipulation. What’s worse, the traits of egocentric leaders often trickle down through an organization, potentially undermining its very fabric. That’s why it’s key for leaders to practice leaving their egos at the door. Here are five strategies for releasing your sense of self-importance and leading with less ego.
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September 3, 2024
Founders often don’t like to think of themselves as “owners.” Cars have owners, to return to the example above. Small corner stores have owners. Pets have owners. The term “owner” can feel minimized, too inconsequential for what a founder wants to achieve. And yet, the concept of ownership is key to our sense of satisfaction and wellbeing. Here’s why.
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August 30, 2024
With Gen Zers expected to surpass boomers in the full-time workplace this year, business leaders can’t afford to ignore their unique challenges and strengths. Understanding and addressing the newest generation of employees will not only help companies attract and retain Gen Z talent but also boost productivity across the board. At Jotform, which I founded in 2006, digital tools form an important part of our strategy for bridging generational gaps. Here’s a closer look at how.
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August 29, 2024
Hiring is an intensely personal process. That’s why I think AI is so well-suited to make it easier. Sound counterintuitive? Read on.
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August 27, 2024
That “wait and see” model may have been prudent for a social media platform, but AI is not that. Like the internet before it, AI is completely transforming how work is done. With the AI market predicted to reach a value of more than $500 billion in 2024, leaders who are not actively integrating its services into their businesses are at serious risk of falling behind. If you’re holding out for a new development or ideal moment to get started, consider Google, which by 2015 already had more than 2,700 AI projects underway. There’s no reason to wait until technology advances further before making the leap.
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August 23, 2024
At Jotform, we’ve integrated AI into processes throughout every business function. It has transformed our team dynamics, improving communication and boosting productivity on tasks that matter. Here’s a closer look at how.
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August 22, 2024
81% of those who have integrated AI tools to automate certain tasks report increased productivity. So why the disconnect? Aytekin Tank, CEO and founder of Jotform, attributes this slow adoption of AI to leaders taking a cautious “wait and see” approach. He explains that AI is revolutionizing work processes across all demographics and requires a fundamental shift in thinking about daily tasks. "Unsure of the extent to which AI will transform the workplace, some leaders are hesitant to shift their approach toward AI," he says.
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August 22, 2024
Successful CEOs don’t develop overnight. But founders who make the transition can use many of the same skills that they used to build their companies to eventually lead them. Here’s why building a business is actually a masterclass in leadership.
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August 20, 2024
At Jotform, we aim to cultivate a collaborative culture for all employees, including the youngest hires, by understanding and respecting their values and leveraging their strengths. It’s helped us to attract and retain Gen Z talent, and keep them engaged. Compared to other generations, young millennials and Gen Z employees have experienced the biggest drop in engagement since the pandemic, according to a recent Gallup survey. Understanding young employees should be a top priority for leaders.
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August 20, 2024
While Sisyphus had no assistance to lighten the burden, we do: AI tools. They can’t push boulders (yet) or conjure up more hours in the day, but they can transform your approach to work by helping you manage your time more effectively and automate tasks that don’t require your full attention. They can change how you view your to-do list, from a source of stress to a strategic guide. Here are five ChatGPT prompts to help you master time management and conquer your workload once and for all.
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August 14, 2024
Tank adds: "Employees will need to build some slack into their schedules. But once employees set their automation machines in motion, automating more and more of their daily tasks, they'll recapture time for more meaningful tasks. And as I've seen with our employees at Jotform, when employees aren't drowning in busywork, they have more time and mental space for creative work."
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August 13, 2024
It doesn’t make for a catchy headline, but a side hustle is a reliable path to entrepreneurship—it’s the chosen route for about one in three Americans, according to a recent survey. It worked for me, too. Bootstrapping with a paycheck is not only less risky, it can also result in a stronger, more sustainable business. What’s more, nowadays, AI tools like ChatGPT make it easier and more cost effective than ever.
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August 12, 2024
As a business owner, I’m mindful that this time of year can be acutely stressful for employees. Here are some strategies we use to help employees avoid burnout throughout the dog days of summer.
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August 7, 2024
Carving out a good life using the traditional path is getting harder. Here's why being your own boss is the key to satisfaction.
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August 6, 2024
The concept of a “second brain”—a repository for all the information our primary brains lack the ability to hold—has been around for some time. Now, AI is revolutionizing the way we build these second, auxiliary brains. Here’s how it works.
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August 6, 2024
One of the biggest barriers to the widespread adoption of AI is leaders taking a “wait and see” approach, says Aytekin Tank, CEO and founder of Jotform, an online form builder.
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August 2, 2024
I am by no means saying that bootstrapping is easy. And many entrepreneurs are not in a financial position to use their own funds to start a business. But if you’re wondering whether to toss your hat in the startup ring, despite the state of VC funding, here are three reasons why bootstrapping can be an asset, not a liability, for your business.
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August 1, 2024
The AI train has already left the station but it’s not too late to get on board. My company Jotform has been using AI in its processes for the past 4 years. Here’s how we continue to integrate the latest AI and automation tools to help our employees do their best work.
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August 1, 2024
But for bootstrapped founders, learning is everything. In fact, I’d say bootstrapping and a growth mindset go hand-in-hand. Here’s how.
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July 30, 2024
Instead, leaders should be focusing on high-impact work, like driving the company’s strategic direction and figuring out where to allocate resources—in other words, the type of work that only they can do. Here’s how to make sure your limited, incredibly precious time is being used wisely.
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July 23, 2024
The AI takeover seems mostly unfounded. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report, 50% of organizations expect AI to drive job growth. That said, the most competitive professionals in the future will be those who possess uniquely human skills that AI cannot replicate. Here are some of those skills and how they can be applied.
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July 22, 2024
AI’s impact is already massive, rapidly transforming the workplace. But we’re still at the early stages, trying to strike a balance between harnessing AI without leaning too much on it and compromising quality. At my company Jotform, we have incorporated AI tools to automate tedious tasks, or as I call it, “busywork,” and free up employees to focus on the meaningful work that only humans can do.
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July 19, 2024
Being an introvert ultimately helped me grow my company. People may gravitate towards extroverts and view them as more charismatic, but true leadership depends on qualities like empathy and strong communication skills—traits that are more valuable than ever in the age of AI. The old dictator style of leadership is obsolete. Here’s a closer look at the qualities today’s leaders need.
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July 18, 2024
In the U.S., professionals already spend an average of two to three hours per day checking their work emails. To prevent emails from stealing more of your time, let ChatGPT do some of the heavy lifting.
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July 10, 2024
Leaders are responsible for establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life. In my experience as CEO and founder of Jotform, I'm convinced that maintaining a work-life balance and knowing when to step back can help you do your job better — and make your company even stronger. Here's why.
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July 9, 2024
It’s important to maintain a boundary between workspaces and living spaces, which becomes challenging when people are working from home. For this reason and others, I advocate for a full return to the office.
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July 9, 2024
If you’re launching a business or revamping your existing strategy, ChatGPT can be a valuable (and low-cost) tool in your arsenal. Here are some prompts to get started today.
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July 2, 2024
Just because many businesses fail doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try—especially if you have a great idea. What’s more, AI tools like ChatGPT are making it easier and less expensive than ever to start a business—even if you want to kick things off as a side hustle, as I did with my company nearly two decades ago. Had ChatGPT been around then, I probably would have quit my day job sooner. If you’re considering launching a startup, here are seven ChatGPT prompts to help you each step of the way.
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June 25, 2024
While ChatGPT can be an impressive imitator, it can never generate your unique voice and perspective. It can, however, be a powerful tool for improving your writing, whether you’re penning business articles or important emails. It all starts with the right prompts. Here are seven that you can use to level up your writing skills.
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June 21, 2024
I founded my company Jotform over 18 years ago. With no outside funding, it’s been a slow climb at times, but today, we have over 25 million users worldwide. I learned a lot about bootstrapping and how it creates the right mix of pressure, thrift, and creativity for developing great, profitable products. Here’s a closer look at why VC funding can cause startups to make bad products.
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June 20, 2024
Jotform CEO Aytekin Tank outlines a strategy for balancing collaboration with healthy competition.
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June 20, 2024
Discover the most effective (and cheapest) way for founders to learn team management, efficient decision-making and other essential leadership skills.
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June 18, 2024
For entrepreneurs, success is often defined by certain well-worn metrics—funding rounds, revenue growth, ROIs, IPOs, etc. But as a founder, I can promise you that fulfillment doesn’t happen by hitting some magic number or target. Here’s how to think about it instead.
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June 13, 2024
If you’ve ever studied a second language, you’ll probably agree: the more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. The process can be frustrating, like a spool of thread rolling out before you. But even if the road seems endless sometimes, it’s rewarding. The more language skills you acquire—vocabulary, grammar, slang—the richer the communication becomes. Learning to communicate with LLMs like ChatGPT is no different.
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June 12, 2024
The startup norm of "move fast and break things" is short-sighted. Here is why being patient will serve your business in the long run.
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June 12, 2024
In many ways, founding a company requires a different skill set than running it as a CEO. As your business grows, it’s important to do an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, and figure out two things: How you want to spend your time, and how you can be most beneficial to the company.
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June 7, 2024
As CEO of my company, I understand that with no strategy in place, transparency can interfere with our goals, causing more damage than good. Here are three tips for finding balance and practicing candor with your team.
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June 6, 2024
Seeing introversion as a career hurdle is more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than reality. Being an introvert can be as great of an asset as being an extrovert. It comes down to taking a page from the Delphic oracle—“knowing thyself”—and understanding how to maximize your efficacy using your unique strengths.
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June 4, 2024
I’ve always been a proponent of slow, deliberate growth. As the bootstrapped solo founder of Jotform, it comes with the territory. But between the growing power of online tools, including AI, and the increasing prevalence of contractors, there’s less reason than ever for entrepreneurs to take on a co-founder or rush into hiring. In fact, I’d argue that there’s never been a better time to be a solo founder. Here are some ways “invisible teams” are changing the way we work.
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May 29, 2024
I’m a proponent of automating your busywork and my team regularly uses ChatGPT to help us brainstorm our next big idea. It doesn’t do the work for us, but it offers additional possibilities to consider. If you’re looking for a profitable startup idea, here are some ChatGPT prompts to get the wheels turning.
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May 23, 2024
If you’re using a “wait and see” approach to integrating AI into your company, you’re doing your team a disservice. Here are some simple ways to get your team to capitalize on today’s latest AI tools.
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May 22, 2024
Self-reflection is important. Self-awareness is an important trait in a leader. But rumination — which the APA defines as obsessional thinking involving excessive, repetitive thoughts or themes that interfere with other forms of mental activity — doesn't serve you as an individual or your organization, as its leader. Entrepreneurs are often obsessed with their businesses down to the last detail, and perfectionists are more likely to ruminate. If you're caught in negative thinking patterns, here are some strategies to help break the cycle.
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May 21, 2024
Bootstrapping affords you a crash course in growing a business. Receiving VC funding, on the other hand, is like starting a computer game from level three before learning how to complete levels one and two. Slow growth is smart growth.
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May 15, 2024
Teamwork can have a multiplier effect, cross-pollinating team members’ skills and knowledge. But before you begin corralling employees into distinct units, remember that collaboration can come at a cost. Teams don’t always work out, according to J. Richard Hackman, the late Harvard organizational psychology professor and leading expert on teams. Hackman’s research demonstrated the surprising ways that teamwork can hurt productivity. That said, certain strategies have been shown to improve the efficacy of teams. Here are some tips for strategically creating teams that boost organizational productivity and innovation—rather than chip away at it.
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May 14, 2024
Spending quality time alone is crucial for deep work, but you have to know how to manage your mind. Here's how to do it.
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May 8, 2024
Some leaders fear that employees are unwilling to return to the office. Others cite productivity bumps of WFH. Others point to eliminated costs of rent and office equipment. But those reasons may be shortsighted. If you’re focused on sustainable, long-term growth, there are strong arguments for returning to the office.
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May 1, 2024
Three out of four workers say they have experienced shift shock. Here are some strategies to help prevent it.
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April 30, 2024
I want to posit something here: Failure doesn’t exist. Setbacks? Absolutely. But total, irrevocable failure? Not a thing. Allow me to explain.
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April 22, 2024
New research and company practices challenge the following productivity myths, showing the complexity and nuance behind long working hours and well-being.
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April 16, 2024
Here are some simple strategies to stop ruminating and start living—thinking, engaging, and creating—in the present.
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April 12, 2024
Honing and trusting one's intuition can lead to quicker, more effective decision-making. Here's how to harness the power of listening to your gut to make the best choices.
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April 9, 2024
When we think about great leaders, we often imagine individuals who gravitate toward the spotlight. But as it turns out, some of the best leaders dedicate themselves to helping others shine.
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April 8, 2024
If adulthood and work routines tend to dampen curiosity, games can help to restore it. Here, the benefits of incorporating some play into the office, and some strategies that have worked for me and my team at Jotform.
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April 5, 2024
The utility of ChatGPT begins with the prompt, which has become a craft itself. For founders, the right prompt can empower AI to handle more tedious tasks and free them to focus on more meaningful tasks, ultimately boosting the type of productivity that matters.
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March 27, 2024
Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform, discusses how in order to engage and motivate employees, leaders need to adapt to Gen Z.
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March 26, 2024
Wellness has entered the workplace. The pandemic was a catalyst for reconsidering how organizations fare in terms of supporting their employees’ mental health. At the same time, the dialogue surrounding wellbeing at work often focuses on what individuals can do to make sure they’re in a good headspace...
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March 18, 2024
Why Today’s Employees Crave More Authentic Leadership
For leaders, being authentic is even more crucial than being charismatic. Not only that—if you are a leader, showing your true self might even boost your personal wellbeing.
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March 6, 2024
Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform, shares three tricks that can help you work more efficiently.
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February 28, 2024
Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform, explains how leaders can use specific strategies to encourage employees to explore and take risks.
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February 8, 2024
Small interruptions have an outsized impact on productivity and creativity, often measured in hours each work day.
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February 7, 2024
Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform explains how to keep your team motivated—without burning anyone out.
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February 1, 2024
Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform, argues that when it comes to employee development, entrepreneurs can’t afford to ignore soft skills.
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January 25, 2024
How I adapted my company to AI: 5 key insights
Jotform CEO Aytekin Tank explains how he successfully embraced and deployed AI.
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January 3, 2024
Time is short. Here are the creative benefits of becoming an obsessive planner.
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