The latest results of an analysis of the economic effects of Mesa State College confirm what’s long been obvious, and that’s the growing contributions of the college to the economy in Western Colorado. Based on numbers from the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, Mesa State injected $176 million in direct contributions to the economy through […]
It’s been aptly said that government is best which governs least. Add to that another truism: that government is best which intrudes least into the private sector. The controversy over the operation of a grill at a city owned golf course in Grand Junction has renewed the age-old debate over what services government should — […]
Procrastination. It’s a term with which I’m all too familiar. Take this column, for example: I’m a day past my deadline. I’ve had weeks to prepare, but here I am again writing at the last minute. I’m not alone in this syndrome of self-inflicted worry. Although there are many areas of life one can “put […]
As the Mesa County economy has slowed from the torrid pace of 2007 and 2008 to the snail’s pace of 2009 and 2010, there’s been a great deal of talk about the positives and negatives of the oil and gas component of the local economy. Some in the media, including members of the Denver Post […]
Have you ever experienced the awkward silence that often ensues after first meeting a fellow business person in the networking arena? The conversation usually goes something like this: Fellow Networker: “So what do you do?” You: “I work with property investors in maintaining their portfolios.” Fellow Networker: “Wow, that sounds fun, I’m a web designer.” […]
If you want to be happier and more successful in business, it’s imperative that you, as the leader, consistently work toward building a dynamic and powerful team. This is accomplished by putting motivated and skilled individuals in place and then working with them to use more of their tremendous potential on a consistent basis. This […]
Proper tax planning and good tax strategy will help reduce your current tax bill and gain a little more control over your financial destiny. While many people don’t think about their taxes until March or April, it’s a good idea to start now. The recently enacted 2010 Tax Relief Act gives 95 percent of working […]
A new year offer a time to reflect on the past year, but evaluating investment performance can be complicated. What questions should investors ask of their investment managers? A systematic evaluation clears up the misperception that it doesn’t matter how they invest the money. Money might not be earning what it should, particularly for the […]
It’s natural for small business owners and managers to take a moment to reflect on both the results of the past year and the prospects for the new year. For some owners, such reflection could cause a twinge of concern or perhaps even apprehension, especially if revenues are down and the business seems stale. Here […]
A new year has brought a renewed sense of confidence among consumers, in turn bolstering hope for a more robust economic recovery. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose more than seven points in January to 60.6. That’s the highest level since the index hit 62.7 in May 2010. Measures of […]