In hindsight, 2020 offers business lessons

If you want to become overwhelmed by an online search, type “business lessons from 2020.” The list of results is lengthy, to say the least. I combed through an assortment of entries and found four offering value: Trust. Writing in the St. Louis Business Journal, Scott Scully, chief executive officer of Abstrakt Marketing Group, cited […]

Minimum wage mandates cause more harm than good

What’s a wage? A fixed, regular payment by an employer to an employee, especially to a manual or unskilled worker. The wage represents the value an employee brings to the job. What’s minimum wage? The minimum amount per hour the government requires employers to pay employees. So what’s the problem?  First, government should never mandate […]

Resolved to improve? What you don’t do could make a bigger difference

And now for something completely different … . Those familiar with “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” will recognize the line from the old British TV show. The line served as the frequent transition between one absurd situation and something not only completely different, but also more absurd. A dead parrot and murderous cars. A cross-dressing lumberjack […]

Bring masks — and patience — for travel in a pandemic world

How has business and leisure travel changed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic? Here are a few observations from a recent trip to Maryland. The Grand Junction Regional Airport was nearly empty on a Monday morning with no lines at security. The Transportation Security Administration Pre-Check line no longer crossed over the regular line […]

Questions and answers about COVID vaccines

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine distribution in Mesa County: What distribution phase are we in and when will the next phase begin? Mesa County Public Health continues to prioritize vaccinations for the highest risk health care workers in phase 1A. Vaccines will be offered for […]

Position your team members to succeed in 2021

Competency and confidence expands, contracts or remains static depending on whether people receive the stimulation they need to develop — or not. The phrase, “I’m in a rut” is born of an individual’s languishing potential.  According to GoHR.com, fully 40 percent of employees who receive poor job training leave their positions within the first year. […]

Putting people first provides payoffs

Think about the companies you’ve worked for during your career. Chances are, you’ve heard some of these responses from managers: “Hey, at least you have a job.” “How do I know if you’re working if I can’t see you?” “Oh, that’s been a problem for years. Not much we can do about it.” “We’ve tried […]

Survey: Small business owners shaken, not stirred

A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has dropped on less upbeat expectations for the economy, sales and hiring. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell 5.5 points to 95.9 in December. With the loss, the index fell below the nearly 50-year average of 98. “This month’s […]