Business

(ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.) — Hellman’s mayonnaise maker Unilever says that it has withdrawn its lawsuit against the maker of “Just Mayo.”

Unilever had filed suit against Hampton Creek earlier this year claiming false advertising for Just Mayo, an eggless product.

Unilever argued that “Just Mayo” has no eggs and therefore doesn’t meet the definition of mayonnaise. Unilever had said that the word mayo implies that the product is mayonnaise, and that Just Mayo was stealing market share from Hellman’s.

Unilever said Thursday that it decided to withdraw the lawsuit so that Hampton Creek can address its label directly with industry groups and regulatory authorities.

Hampton Creek says it marketed its product as “mayo” to meet labeling regulations.

The rally marked the biggest two-day increase for the Dow Jones index in three years

U.S. stock indexes surged Thursday, with the Dow rallying over 400 points, driven higher by reassurances from the Federal Reserve that it won’t imminently raise interest rates.

The broad S&P 500 index posted its biggest jump in nearly two years, extending a Fed-fueled rally from the previous day, as tech shares gained after stronger-than-expected results from business software giant Oracle.

The Dow Industrials also posted big gains following a rally in the prior trading session, marking the biggest two-session percent increase for blue-chip index since November 2011, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed the day up 421 points, or 2.4%, while the S&P 500 gained 48 points, or 2.4%, and the Nasdaq composite added 104 points, or 2.2%.

Stock indexes rallied as investors continued to find good cheer in the Federal Reserve’s accommodative approach to monetary policy. On Wednesday, the Fed said it would be patient about the timing of its first rate hike, suggesting its expected increases will be slow and steady.

—Reuters contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fortune.com

"There was no pitching. People just got it."

Just don't even

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.

Most business owners think about creating a “start doing” list, with its endless recitations of things they could be doing more of in order for the company to be bigger, better or more profitable.

But there’s just as much value in asking yourself, “What needs to go on my ‘stop doing’ list?” When you create such a list, you detach yourself from the tasks that take up time without improving your bottom line.

For busy entrepreneurs, here are the top four habits that need to go on your “stop doing” list if you want to see more productivity, innovation and success:

Related: The Only 2 Good Reasons to Work for Free

1. Working for free.

It all adds up — those little favors, those “quick” phone calls with a potential client who wants to “pick your brain” without hiring you. Pick and choose when you give of your time, without forgetting that for every item you complete when you say yes to someone else, you’re saying “no” to yourself and your business.

2. Comparing.

The energy that’s taken up by looking at what other businesses are doing and worrying about why your business isn’t further along could be better spent innovating and exploring the issues not being addressed in your industry and how you could provide solutions for them.

3. Letting administrative tasks slide.

Are you forgetting to invoice clients, letting clients to pay late, restocking supplies at the last minute or not answering emails? When these administrative tasks pile up, you’re less likely to want to do them.

Decide on systems that can handle these tasks, outsource them entirely or determine that you’re going to find a way to run your business that doesn’t require them. For example, perhaps you’ll start using auto-delivery from Amazon Prime for critical office supplies or you’ll finally create that frequently asked questions (or FAQ) page that will reduce the number of emails you need to respond to.

Related: How Busy Entrepreneurs Deal With Mundane Tasks

4. Rushing.

When you book sessions back to back or overload your day with things to do, you end up multitasking, becoming sloppy and not putting enough time into self-care. It’s impossible to effectively run a business when you’re rushing. What’s most embarrassing is when the harried nature of your business starts to become noticeable to clients and colleagues.

When a company owner decides what he or she is going to stop doing, the results quickly become apparent. There’s more time and energy for the things that grow the business and inspire workers and leaders and less time spent on those things that are old, stagnant habits. Start with just one thing that you’re going to stop doing and work your way from there to create an even better business in the new year.

Related: Learning to Say No to Interruptions to Foster Creativity in Business

Go beyond good manners to make an incredible first—and lasting—impression

This post is in partnership with Inc., which offers useful advice, resources and insights to entrepreneurs and business owners. The article below was originally published at Inc.com.

Occasionally, we meet a person who stands out in the best possible way. He might be remarkably charismatic. She might think remarkable thoughts. And remarkably giving people–they are impossible to ignore.

If you develop those traits, you won’t just be likable; those traits will make people want to work with you and do business with you.

That’s also why we love being around genuinely polite people. (Not fake polite–sincere polite.) They make us feel comfortable. They make us feel respected and valuable. We would love to be more like them.

And we love doing business with them.

Here’s how remarkably polite people do it:

1. They always step forward.

You’re at a party. A friend gestures to someone several steps away and says, “Let me introduce you to Bob.” Bob sees you coming.

And he stands there, waiting for you to come to him in some weird power move.

Remarkably polite people, no matter how great their perceived status, step forward, smile, tilt their head slightly downward (a sign of respect in every culture), and act as if they are the one honored by the introduction, not you.

(When I met Mark Cuban, that is exactly what he did. He heard I wanted to meet him and immediately walked across the room–where I was waiting to see if it would be OK–to say hello. The fact I remember how gracious he was tells you everything you need to know about the impression he made.)

In short, polite people never big-time you; instead, they always make you feel big time.

2. They keep using the name you used to introduce yourself.

You’re at an event. You introduce yourself to me as Jonathan. We talk. Within minutes, I’m calling you John. Or Johnny. Or Jack. Or the J-man.

Maybe your friends call you J-man, but we’re not friends (yet), and you definitely haven’t given me permission to go full diminutive on you, much less full nickname.

Remarkably polite people wait to be asked to use a different, more familiar name. They call you what you asked–or later ask–to be called because it’s your right to be addressed in the way you wish to be addressed.

Anything less would be uncivilized.

3. They don’t touch unless they are touched first.

(Handshakes excluded, of course.)

Polite people wait for the other person to establish the nonsexual touch guidelines.

While I know that sounds like no one will ever hug or pat a shoulder or forearm because no one can ever go first, don’t worry. Huggers hug. Patters pat. Backslappers slap. That’s what they do.

Remarkably polite people go a step further: They never pat or squeeze or slap (in a good way), even if they are patted or squeezed or slapped. Sure, they hug back, but they don’t reciprocate other forms of touch.

Why? Some people don’t even realize they’re touching you, but they definitely notice when you touch them. That makes them feel uncomfortable, and discomfort is the last way polite people want other people to feel.

4. They never let on they know more than they should.

Some people share incessantly on social media. And maybe you occasionally see what they’ve been up to.

But polite people don’t bring those things up. They talk about sports, they talk about the weather, they talk about how The Walking Dead is a metaphor for life in corporate America, but they only talk about personal subjects the other person actually discloses in person.

Maybe it seems like the person wants everyone to know about a personal subject, but in fact that’s rarely the case. So unless his or her social media broadcasts were specifically directed to you, always wait.

5. They never ignore the elephants.

An acquaintance’s mom died a few weeks ago. You see him, and you’re not sure whether to bring it up.

Remarkably polite people always bring it up. They keep it simple, like, “I was sorry to hear about your mother. I’ve been thinking about you and am hoping you’re doing OK.”

Awkward? Absolutely not. You’ve expressed your condolences (which you should), and now you can both move on: Your friend is no longer wondering if and when you might mention it, and you are no longer wondering whether you should.

Where relationships are concerned, the best elephant is a dead elephant.

6. They never gossip–or listen to gossip.

It’s hard to resist the inside scoop. Finding out the reasons behind someone’s decisions, the motivations behind someone’s actions, the skinny behind someone’s hidden agenda–much less whether Liam is really dating Jeannette from marketing–those conversations are hard to resist.

Remarkably polite people know gossiping about other people makes you wonder what they’re saying about you. In fact, when someone starts to talk about someone else, polite people excuse themselves and walk away. They don’t worry that they will lose a gossiper’s respect; anyone willing to gossip doesn’t respect other people anyway.

If you want to share the inside scoop, talk openly about your own thoughts or feelings–then you’re not gossiping, you’re being genuine. That’s what polite people do. But at the same time…

7. They never speak just to share the greater glory of themselves.

How can you tell? If you’re talking about something just because it feels really good to share it, and there’s no place for the other person to add value, you’re just patting yourself on the back.

When remarkably polite people want to talk about themselves, they ask for advice–but not humblebrag advice like, “I notice you keep your car really clean; what wax do you recommend for a Porsche?”

Ask a question that shows you truly value the other person’s expertise or knowledge. The person will feel good, because you implicitly show you trust his or her opinion; you actually get input you can use. Win-win.

And totally polite.

8. They never push their opinions.

We all know things. Cool things. Great things.

Just make sure you share those things in the right settings. If you’re a mentor, share away. If you’re a coach or a leader, share away. If you’re the guy who just started a paleo diet, don’t tell us all what to order unless we ask.

Remarkably polite people know that what is right for them might not be right for others–and even if it is right, it is not their place to decide that for you.

Like most things in life, offering helpful advice is all about picking the right spot–and polite people know the right spot is always after you are asked.

They never judge.

They don’t judge the person they are speaking to. They don’t judge other people. They don’t judge other cultures or countries or, well, anything.

Why? Remarkably polite people realize they aren’t perfect either.

9. They’re masters of the art of social jiujitsu.

You meet someone, talk for 30 minutes, and walk away thinking, “Wow, we just had a great conversation. She is awesome.”

Of course, when you think about it later, you realize you didn’t learn a thing about the other person.

Remarkably polite people are masters at social jiujitsu, the ancient art of getting you to talk about yourself without you ever knowing it happened. SJ masters are fascinated by your every career step, your every journey of personal transformation, your every clever maneuver on your climb to the top of your social ladder…

They find you fascinating–and that gives you permission to find yourself fascinating. (That’s an authorization we all enjoy.)

Social jiujitsu is easy. Just ask the right questions. Stay open-ended, and allow room for description and introspection. Ask how or why or who.

As soon as you learn a little about someone, ask how she did it. Or why she did it. Or what she liked about it, or what she learned from it, or what you should do if you’re in a similar situation.

And don’t think you’re being manipulative, because you’re not. Showing a sincere interest in people isn’t manipulative. It’s fun–for you and for them. They get to talk about things they’re passionate about, and you get to enjoy their enthusiasm and excitement and passion.

And if that’s not enough, think of it this way: No one receives too much respect. Asking other people about themselves implicitly shows you respect them.

Respect is the mother of polite.

10. They never stop being polite.

They don’t just turn on the charm the first time you meet. They don’t use it and lose it.

Remarkably polite people keep on being polite: partly because they know no other way to be, but also because they know there is no other way to be.

You have to think about one thing—and one thing only—from the start

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.

Some people go their entire lives without earning a million dollars, so it sounds crazy that some businesses might be able to achieve this milestone within their first year. But it is possible. Plenty of businesses have achieved this goal, and you can too!

Pay attention to the following tips and use them to help power up your revenue growth:

1. Find a growing market

One of the easiest ways to build a million-dollar company in such a short period of time is to find a growing trend and ride it to the top. Take the example of Micah Adler, CEO of mobile app developer Fiksu, which grew from less than $1 million to $100 million in just three and a half years — with only $17.6 million in venture capital — following its 2010 launch.

Related: Looking for Stable Business Ideas? Here Are 12 Types of Companies With Healthy Cash Flow.

Certainly, Adler’s success comes in part from building great products, but it also comes from his timing. In 2012, just two years after Fiksu’s launch, mobile-app development represented $19 billion in revenue and was experiencing annual growth of more than 60 percent a year. Finding a growing market of your own like this can put you on the fast track to massive revenue growth.

2. Think monetization from the start

It seems strange to think about objectively, but some startups start without any obvious monetization strategies. Twitter is one example of this phenomenon, but there are countless other companies out there building up their free user bases, hoping that inspiration — and, consequently, financial stability — will strike along the way.

If you want to grow a million-dollar company in your first year, you can’t afford to think that way!

Most profitable companies operate from one of two models: either they sell a lot of inexpensive products to a lot of people or they sell a few big-ticket items to a more limited buyer list. Neither model is easier or inherently better than the other. What’s more important than choosing is having a defined plan for monetization. Knowing how you’ll make money from the start will prevent wasted time spent hoping that something profitable will come together for you.

3. Be the best

There are plenty of mediocre products out there, but the odds are good that these companies aren’t making a million dollars or more during their first years. If you want to hit these big potential profits, you’ve got to bring something to the table that wows customers and generates buzz within your marketplace.

Related: Field a Team of ‘A’ Players at Your Startup

How can you tell if you’ve got a “best in breed” product? Look to your current customers. If you aren’t getting rave reviews online or positive comments sent to your inbox, chances are your clients aren’t as ecstatic about your product as they need to be to hit your target sales. Ask your existing customers what you can do to make your product better and then put their recommendations into place. They’ll appreciate your efforts and will go on to refer further sales to you in the future.

4. Hire all-stars

Hitting $1 million in revenue during your first year is no small feat, and you certainly aren’t going to achieve this goal with a team of underperformers. Yes, hiring these people will be cheaper and easier, but you’ll pay for this convenience when your end-of-the-year sales numbers come up short.

Instead, you need to hire all-stars, and the fastest way to do this is to ask around for referrals. Pay particular attention to the sales hires you make, as these key employees stand to make the biggest difference in your business’s bottom line. Get them on the bus and then encourage them to do whatever is necessary to close deals (pro tip: a good series of incentives won’t hurt!).

5. Consume data

Finally, if you want to shoot for the revenue moon, you need to be absolutely militant about gathering data and acting on it. When I approach a new marketing project, I prefer to work in short sprints of a few weeks or less where we’ll try something new, check the statistics to see how the changes impacted revenue and then either commit the changes or try a new test.

Do the same with your growing company. You have a veritable gold mine of information just hanging out in your Google Analytics account, so put it to good use by identifying your company’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and running tests designed to push these metrics even higher. If you aren’t able to carry out these tests on your own, bring on a rock-star analyst who can help you make sense of your numbers. When every penny counts towards reaching your $1-million-a-year goal, you’ll find these employees to be worth their weight in gold.

Growing a company to $1 million in revenue in your first year isn’t easy, but it is possible. Stick to the tips above and be ruthless about profitability — even if you don’t hit this particular goal, you’ll earn the strongest sales results possible for your unique company.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Metrics for Business Leaders

New data shows you how

How much of the email you send gets deleted unread? A lot of it, if you’re like most of us in corporate America. But if you switch up the times and days when you send out messages, you can improve the chances that they’ll be read and replied to.

Email tracking company Yesware analyzed more than half a million sales emails to find out when recipients are more likely to open and reply. Their main finding: Send out email when there’s less competition if you want to grab a recipient’s attention. “When there’s little else being emailed, your emails are more likely to stand out and get noticed,” the company says in a blog post.

On weekdays, about two-thirds of emails are opened, but on weekends, that figure rises to about three-quarters. Weekend days only get about one-tenth the email traffic of weekdays, which means your message has a better shot of landing at the top of your recipient’s inbox. You’re also likelier to get a reply when you send email on the weekend, but you might have to be patient. A slightly higher percentage of weekday emails get same-day responses, but roughly 46% of messages sent on weekends are returned, compared to 39% of weekday emails. Contrary to popular belief, Yesware says, there’s no inherent advantage in sending emails on Monday versus any other weekday.

The time of day when you send messages matters, too. Yesware finds that although email traffic is highest during the workday and peaks during lunchtime, reply rates are highest when traffic is lightest. For the best results, Yesware’s findings suggest that you should send emails around 6 or 7 a.m., or around 8 p.m. During these hours, 45% — nearly half — of all emails sent receive a reply.

Previous research into Yesware’s data trove finds that another good way to boost your email reply rate is to copy additional recipients. An analysis of some 500,000 sales emails shows that messages sent to two people — one on the main “to” line, one on the “cc” line — were opened around 84% of the time, and replied to in more than six out of 10 instances. Copying a second recipient rather than sending it outright to both is the key, Yesware says in a blog post. If your recipients see that multiple people are included in the message, they figure somebody else will go to the effort of responding. “When a task is placed in front of a group of people, individuals are more likely to assume that someone else will take responsibility for it,” the company says. “So, no one does.”