Small business optimism index advances

A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners advanced in January, but owners remain less than upbeat in their plans to spend money on capital projects and hire employees. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Index of Small Business Optimism rose 1.5 points to 94.1. The index is based on the […]

What does six minutes a day cost you? More than you think

Let’s assume the average hand-written time card overstates the time actually worked by six minutes. An employee comes in at 8:03 a.m. and enters 8 a.m. on the time card, then takes an extra three minutes at lunch. No big deal, right? Unless you do some figuring and find that, at six minutes a day, […]

Marketing all about promoting a conversation

When I’m working with a client to create a marketing campaign, one of the questions that always comes up is how to best present the company so prospective clientele is ready to buy. I have pondered this question for quite awhile to really process the methods that are most effective. One of the biggest changes […]

Online and face-to-face networking offer best of both worlds

Professionals around the world know networking plays a crucial role in growing their businesses. It’s no longer a mystery that with the right connections, businesses can land the right deals and form stronger partnerships, in turn improving their bottom lines. Professionals everywhere are always looking for ways to optimize, streamline and otherwise improve their networking […]

Are you resisting change in your business?

Change occurs on a regular basis whether we want it to or not. The economy changes, business environments change, the weather changes, team dynamics change, relationships change and so on. Life is about change. And if we resist change, then we’re limiting the greatness of life in all that it has to offer us. Why, […]

It’d be just a game if it wasn’t so serious

“Get in the game” was the message to corporate CEOs and other members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a recent speech by President Barack Obama. After a series of platitudes and remarks intended to mend relations and make the president sound more business-friendly, Obama’s leftist tendencies sadly came through. Needless to say, I’m […]

What businesses owners want

The latest results of an annual membership survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business in Colorado offer some insights into what small business owners want when it comes to five select issues. The NFIB uses the survey results to determine its lobbying positions on state and national issues. Here’s what members said they […]

Economic development plan must tap business know-how

Who knows better than business owners and managers what opportunities exist for growth — and what challenges persist to hobble that growth? Fortunately, business owners and managers are expected to play a big role in writing an economic development plan for Mesa County both in terms of responding to an online survey and sharing their […]