Coffee Break

🎆 Celebrating Independent Thinking Around the World 🌍🚀

Discussion

This season is filled with moments that celebrate independence, creativity, and new beginnings—from Canada Day 🇨🇦 (July 1) and Independence Day in the US 🇺🇸 (July 4), to Marine Day in Japan 🇯🇵, UK summer traditions like Wimbledon 🎾 and community festivals 🇬🇧, and upcoming milestones like Independence Day in India 🇮🇳 and National Day in Singapore 🇸🇬 🌟

Across regions—from Germany 🇩🇪 to Australia 🇦🇺—one thing connects us all: the spirit of building, creating, and growing something of our own 💡✨

Every entrepreneur, creator, and innovator in our community is shaping their own path—and that’s worth celebrating 🙌

💬 We’d love to hear your story:
What are you building or working on this month?
What’s one idea, project, or milestone you’re proud of right now?

👇 Share your story in the comments and inspire fellow business owners across the globe 💼🌱

🔥 Your journey could spark someone else’s next big idea—don’t hold back!

View 2 more replies
Toby Cummings

I'm working on selling a bunch of my old tech that is just sitting around.

Stephen

Working on some organizational stuff for a personal projects

G
·Lenovo Community User

Lets Go Portugal

Event

That is all

Regrettably I have never visited Portugal. I had a layover in an airport there once. From what I understand they have a lot of unique architecture. Even historically, the only thing I know about them is they had a catastrophic earthquake once, and this is via reading Candide.

G
·Securing fifth place

Structuring your work for the day

Discussion

As I get older, I begin to think more seriously about efficiency hacks, in particular how to self-structure my day so I get the most out of myself. I have heard different things about whether to do rote work early or late, similarly for work that requires research or problem solving. I have even seen hacks that concern the order in which one reviews material over the course of a week for purposes of optimizing memory. Who here has had success with anything like this? It's time I stopped taking the brute force approach for granted.

6
View 1 more replies

My "hack" was a time hack -- rescheduling my day around productive energy time. Working at home afford me great flexibility, so it's easier. Early mornings work best for me. I'm least productive in late afternoons (so I like to eat early) and later evenings (so I go to bed early too).

The most routine, daily work I do right away -- before sun-up with tea & breakfast at my desk -- and finish it all around 9 or 10 AM. That leaves the rest of the morning & afternoon for troubleshooting or structuring new projects or whatnot. And there's always whatnot to do. Around dinnertime or just after, I set up for tomorrow.

My advice is to learn your own rhythms and build your day around it as much as possible -- when/how you work best, when/how you don't, and what gives you a feeling of accomplishing anything by end of day.

I think this is just one of those things that's going to take some trial and error because everyone's most efficient schedule is going to be different. For me, getting the repetitive stuff out of the way early, and letting the pressure of a looming deadline force me to finish the complicated stuff later works best.

G

Looking Back

Discussion

During your schooling, what one or two classes would have been most beneficial for you in your career? Whether is was secondary or post-secondary education,, I find many people wish they had taken X or Y instead of something that seemed interesting at the time.

For me, it's an odd coupling of accounting/budgeting/finance to help me read & understand & act on much of the financials in my work. Another would be, philosophy, in order to better guage the signs of the times and anticipate directions for acquiring books we publish.

What are yours?

1
G
Parfutura9797

¿”…

@Parfutura9797 says,

if your talking about rain then rainproof ponchos and if your talking about snow then your going to need…

Goggles and Helmets

High-quality goggles protect against glare, wind, and snow, while helmets ensure safety. Look for anti-fog lenses, wide field of vision, and compatibility with your jacket hood GearLab. Helmets with adjustable fit and ventilation improve comfort during long sessions.

Accessories

  • Gloves and mittens: Insulated, waterproof, and flexible for dexterity.

  • Socks: Merino wool or synthetic blends for warmth and moisture management

  • Base layers: Moisture-wicking and thermal layers to maintain body heat.

  • Backpacks and cargo boxes: For carrying gear safely and efficiently

ALSO you could either provide them with or encourage them to buy boots 🥾 or more heavy duty footwear.

If they are going to be outside and somewhat stationary while working I think the company should those secure canopies that can stand up to severe weather conditions and strong wind gusts 💨 …”?

i work in fast food so we just get a little slower but we sell ice-cream so it balances out :)

G
Robert Arrow
·CMO at Start2Finish Technologies, Inc.

What early skills actually helped your career?

Discussion

What skills did you learn early on that ended up helping you in your career?

In high school, we spent part of class running through a typing program every day. It didn't feel important at the time, but it's something I'm constantly thankful for now. Public speaking is another one - I absolutely hated it back then, but being forced to do it regularly ended up helping with meetings, explaining ideas clearly and client communication.

Curious what others would include. Sometimes the smallest or most random skills end up being the ones you rely on the most later in life.

20
View 21 more replies

My high school English teacher my freshman year went heavy on the grammar lessons. I'm talking dissecting sentences for noun, verb, adverb, prepositional phrases, and such. It has been such a huge benefit now that I write everyday. I did not enjoy it then, but I am forever grateful.

S J

Critical thinking and the ability to converse with people.

G

SMB Grant is closing in 3 hours—don’t miss out! 🚨

Discussion

Hurry—submissions are closing soon! We only have 3 hours left, so if you haven’t applied yet, be sure to submit your application now!

Small Business Month Grant | Lenovo Pro Community

[Japanese]
まもなく締め切りです!あと3時間しかありませんので、まだご応募されていない方は、ぜひ今すぐお申し込みください!

[German]
Beeilen Sie sich – die Bewerbungsfrist endet bald! Wir haben nur noch 3 Stunden, also bewerben Sie sich jetzt, wenn Sie es noch nicht getan haben!

8
Richie Solomon

Good luck to everyone who entered! I'm looking forward to seeing who receives the grants and how they use them.

G
·Lenovo Community User

Entry Level Laptops - Changes post Neo Disruption

Discussion

A few months ago, the MacBook Neo hit the market with quite a splash, given that it offered an attractive, premium-feeling design for quite a low price, compared to its often cheaper-looking entry-level PC competitors. While prices have risen on it now, presumably due to Apple running out of binned A18 Pro chips, it absolutely had most other companies scrambling to make some kind of response, especially since the <$700 laptop segment is about 40% of the notebook market.

It does have tradeoffs that make it non-ideal for being a daily driver for businesses, but it is certainly a capable enough model for travel, which might threaten the niches of companies making ultralights (it certainly isn't as powerful as say, the Thinkpad X1 Carbon, but is that power necessarily needed? It depends on the application one is using it for - your standard business traveler might not need something so mighty, if they're mostly keeping in touch with the office).

So I suppose my question is: what other changes / consequences do we anticipate coming up in the next year or so either in the entry-level market segment or the upper-end as a result of the Neo shock? Do you foresee further disruptions across product offerings in the Industry?

G

Take a little time for yourself!

Discussion

Sometimes we get so engrossed in making our business grow and expand that we wear ourselves out, or worse, get burned out. Not only will the business suffer, but your health as well. It is important that you keep not only your body healthy but your attitude and mind, too. It will help keep the morale of the employees up and create a positive atmosphere for them which in turn may result in sales growth. Take time to rest and recharge your batteries and it will have a refreshing effect not only for yourself, but for the company, too!

11
View 10 more replies

100%

It's too easy in any business culture to get so absorbed as to forget the value of diet, exercise, and good mental health.

Spencer

Wonder if there should be laws about this to keep people from burning themselves out and to keep people from taking an unfair advantage. You know, how car dealerships are all closed on Sundays.

G
Jason P.
·Founder, Lickstream.com

Where have you found helpful guidance in your business pursuits?

Discussion

I was fortunate to have had an entrepreneurial family member growing up I could learn from, and then helpful managers later in life who would mentor me and discuss aspects of business with me. Beyond that, I've read and watched several biographical books and movies of people I thought were successful or inspirational to understand how they achieved their goals and overcame obstacles. Where have you found business guidance?

4

A former boss was a great mentor as I learned the editing ropes, early on in my current role. He still reaches out to me from time to time and is full of wit and wisdom. He's retired for some years now but still insightful on the current state of the business.

Talking with random strangers while waiting in checkout, and other lines. It's a way go get different point of view.

G

Keyboard

Giveaway/Deal

Is the keyboard on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition the same as the Yoga?

G

AI benefits for small businesses?

Discussion

What is one way that AI can help improve your business? or ruin it.

7
View 1 more replies

I am just learning from everyone

Jason P.

Rob's reply is a good one. Any area where AI can help automate repetitive or mundane tasks is helpful, but oversight of the technology is necessary. I think it's useful for spoken/written language translation, especially in near real-time. Using AI for face detection, monitoring health status, location tracking, etc. could be construed as violations of personal privacy, etc., and might defy laws and regulations resulting in fines.

G
·Lenovo Community User

USPS lowers Ground Advantage rates for 3–5 lb shipments

Discussion

For those in the US who ship, the USPS has lowered rates for 3-5lb packages. Interestingly, this now means there are situations where it can be cheaper to ship a 3lb package than an 8oz (0.5lb) package.

We checked rates from our Newark, NJ distribution center to California:

12-15.99oz: $8.12

1lb: $9.34

3lb: $7.95

So now it's literally ~$1-$2 cheaper to to send a heavier package in some situations. This is very huge for us as we sell some of our items in the USA at extremely low margins and a $1-$2 savings will translate to a ~10% gross margin increase. I've read in other forums like eBay's that some sellers are planning on adding sand or rocks to their package! I guess good news at a time where so many costs for businesses are rising.

What has your experience with shipping been?

20
View 22 more replies
S J

Well all I can say is it's about time, USPS has been socking it to us with prices for quite awhile now. Every year the prices go up higher and higher. Holiday season is bad.

I have noticed shipping prices suddenly seemed less for heavier packages, but here's the catch for those of us small business owners who ship lighter weight packages this won't positively affect us. The change only directly impacts the heavier 3-5# packages.

You can get a bit of a price reduction by using a shipping company such as pirateship. The rates are usually a little bit lower than Ebay or Amazon rates but pretty equivalent on Etsy.

That is some great news, business is going to get at least a little cheaper for a while.

G

I am entering giveaway 10 years Why does it is so hard for me to win ?

Discussion

I am entering giveaway 10 years Why does it is so hard for me to win ? Any opinions are welcome

18
View 24 more replies
Richie Solomon

Just like they say, "Many will enter, few will win..." Statistically speaking, you're probably never going to win. But if you don't enter, I can guarantee you'll never win.

I feel that, I've never won either. But, you just gotta hope you have amazing luck lol

G

I love Lenovo products

Giveaway/Deal

Thank you for making such outstanding products.

26
View 26 more replies

I cant find Alex to reply

I agree because my Thinkpad is so awesome.

G
·Lenovo Community User

Marketing & Promotion

Discussion

What marketing and/or promotion strategies do you find most effective for your work?

9
View 10 more replies

Our publishing company does a variety of marketing -- direct mail, online presence via website/blogs/socials, industry conferences & conventions, "influencers" on social media, sponsorships, etc. We've a small team that works incredibly hard and is amazingly effective for as small as we are.

Jason P.

I've promoted my businesses and projects in magazines, newspapers, on radio, company Web sites, social media, T-Shirts, pins, conference booths, etc., as well as receiving write-ups in several magazines. Two decades ago, I believe the magazine strategy was very effective. In the past decade, hosting business-specific accounts on Twitter (prior to X), YouTube, and SoundCloud was very effective. While I haven't done so yet, I think placing ads on podcasts, vlogs, and influencer streams would be successful in today's market. Hosting corporate Web sites for PR has always been effective.

G
Jason P.
·Founder, Lickstream.com

Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) extended from October 2026 to October 2027!

Blog/Article

Microsoft has chosen to extend the Windows 10 ESU program out an extra year. 👍 I was able to get a free invitation to the Win10 ESU program back in late 2025 when I was manually updating Win10 certificates for the June 2026 Secure Boot deadline. I think EU citizens get if for free also. If it's something you need, you may be able to find a way to get Win10 ESU for free by searching online. Good luck! ✌😄

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-windows-10-esu-support-extension

10
View 10 more replies

It's very silly that in a time of extreme chip shortages, Microsoft is forcing people to toss out perfectly good computers. In practice, people will respond to this by buying more chromebooks and phones. That's kind of upsetting to me. The age of the personal computer is ending. I feel the same way about that as car enthusiasts do about threats against the normativity of driving.

I seriously do not trust 😒 any updates ever!

G
·Lenovo Community User

Lenovo AIO Yoga 9 Won't Update BIOS

Discussion

I contacted Lenovo Premium Support, a service for which I paid for, 5 days ago because Lenovo Vantage would not update or install the latest BIOS version on my Yoga AIO 9.  I talked to 5 different agents for many hours none of which were able to offer a solution.  I was left hanging with the only option of  resetting my system to factory settings which I did and which did not resolve the problem.  After spending the entire day and evening on the phone with Lenovo and completely resetting my computer it was midnight.  The following day I called Lenovo Premium Support once again and asked for a supervisor.  I spoke to someone who said that they were a supervisor.  I was told that he would be taking ownership of my case and that he would get back to me within the day to set up an appointment for an onsite technician to repair of my system.  In further email contacts during that day the agent changed his tune.  He later told me that he had escalated my case to Lenovo's Level 2 Team and that they would resolve the issue.  Five days have passed since then.  I have not received any communication from Lenovo nor is Lenovo responding to my follow-up emails.  I am extremely concerned and disappointed in Lenovo's lack of support. 

9
View 7 more replies

Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with the Bios Update; and the LENOVO support. Tech of all kinds great, up until you have a glitch that you can't resolve. We've all been there. Maybe another user with the same device will be able to help you here.

Richie Solomon
G
Bgoldinc
·Owner at Golden Estate Sales, llc.

Yoga 9i bios

Discussion

Cant update. Any suggestions?

4
View 3 more replies
schnoodle

Is an error thrown?

I'd start with contacting support.

G
·Lenovo Community User

Just saying hi

Blog/Article

Hello all and i hope you ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY <3

8
View 10 more replies

Happy upcoming 4th of July!!!

Belated Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Hope it was a great day with family & friends.

G
·Lenovo Community User

sorry - Not sorry

Discussion

Amerioan football is my jam!

2
View 7 more replies
Jesus Rios

Well, good for you, I like anime.

I agree... But I am still watching a lot of the FIFA Playoff games. I think I am almost understanding what being offside means. lol

G
Spencer
·Lenovo Community User

Discussion of Probabilities from CGP Grey

Discussion

Hello LPCs!

Rajee Pandi posted a question about probabilities and reminded me of CGP Grey's great series on rock paper scissors. If you haven't played, definitely worth a shot!

You play along as the video plays, so I'll try to avoid auto-play by putting the videos below the show more.

Tell us in the comments how well you did!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWQmZXYd74

G
Jason P.
·Founder, Lickstream.com

Win10 & Win11 get new Secure Boot section in Windows Security app to help prepare for older certificate retirement in June 2026

Discussion

The Windows 11 and Windows 10 June 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates added a Secure Boot section to the Windows Security app. You can now use it to check that your Windows secure certificates are up-to-date.

13
View 8 more replies

Thanks for pointing this out. Glad it's getting more attention.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

G

How do you use AI in your work or day to day life

Discussion

I am wondering how much people have used AI to date so how do you use it?

11
View 21 more replies

I don't use AI (that I know of). Given the ethical & moral issues engulfing AI (including transparent use), I'd rather not be added to its popularity, which likely will be used to dismiss said issues under the guise of "everyone uses it" and "business sense"

Honestly, AI is quite a bother. The publisher I edit for has had to add another layer of editing review to insure books don't contain AI text and is entirely the work of the author.

And given that investors have invested hundreds of billions into AI, but scraped and stolen so much from authors and other creative people without permission or compensation, ought to be a major controversy of out time.

G
·Lenovo Community User

Sorry But I Hate AI

Event
14
View 25 more replies
Toby Cummings

To me it depends on what we're using it for, and at the moment it's mostly bad.

G

About

Take a brain break, browse the boards, sip your coffee and get to know other members while chatting away in this diverting group that includes everything but the actual coffee (or tea)!
439597 members
902 posts

Leaderboard