Slow growth better than no growth at all

Everyone tired of the well-worn phrase “challenging economic times” probably won’t like much better the latest description of growth in business revenues and hiring that’s, in a word, “slow.” But that’s the adjective that keeps coming up when economists and business owners talk about the economy. It’s little wonder the recovery doesn’t feel like much […]

With internal controls, ignorance dangerous

The English poet Thomas Gray wrote, “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.” Over the years, this quote has been abbreviated to the more simplistic “ignorance is bliss.” Many times in our lives we believe that saying holds merit —the number of calories in that chocolate truffle you just ate or how much […]

Jobs and strong economy aid commercial real estate market

What does commercial real estate have to do with jobs? Good question. But it might be more appropriate to ask what comes first, a strong real estate economy (both residential and commercial) or jobs that require builders and contractors to construct homes and buildings to house workers and businesses? Its the jobs. Obviously, it’s business […]

Options abound for obtaining fitness information

There are so many different ways to obtain information about fitness these days. From Facebook to gaming systems and fitness videos to personal trainers, there’s a flood of new information seemingly every day. As a consumer, it can be difficult to decide where to turn for information that will be most beneficial to you while […]

Train your brain to focus on referral needs

In my last column I suggested 10 ways to build your business network. As a reminder, those 10 areas are active listening to telephone conversations, never eating alone, using staff meetings, working your network, joining service organizations, educating yourself, offering special thanks to referral sources, using social media, effective conversation and proper planning. Active listening […]

Despite so-called debt crisis, U.S. economy improving

Several people have asked me why the media circus du jour concerns about the U.S. debt crisis don’t seem to bother me as much as the Washington, D.C., policy wonks think it should. First, the market doesn’t seem to care much about the latest attempt at political grandstanding. If the market were worried about the […]

Are you in the business of creating happiness?

There’s a common perception that success in business is about selling as many products and services as possible, at the highest prices possible to make as much money as possible. I suggest that a truly successful business is one that strives to create as much happiness as possible for customers, team members and business owners […]

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