In any marketplace, exceptional companies stand out in a good way when they deliver high-quality customer service experiences on a consistent basis. Consumers typically have a variety of businesses from which choose in purchasing a certain product or service and are increasingly discerning when looking to satisfy their wants and needs. Consequently, it’s more important […]
It’s been an honor and privilege serving the small business community over the last year as the U.S. Small Business Administration Region VIII administrator. I take pride in the fact I’ve traveled more than 10,000 miles visiting small business and community leaders in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The last 12 […]
As the first month of the new year gives way to the second, many New Year’s resolutions disappear. Why are we so eager and confident when we write down our goals, yet so easily and quickly revert to our old ways? One reason this happens is the version of our self that sets goals, the […]
Andrew Adams, an investment strategist with Raymond James, recently penned some New Year’s resolutions for investors. This column borrows heavily from his piece. Invest. Most people remain woefully underinvested, Adams noted. “No one looks back and says ‘I should have saved less money.’” Invest first in yourself, building skills and possibly in your own business. […]
Individual capability expands, contracts or remains static depending on whether or not it receives the stimulation needed to grow and develop. “I’m in a rut” is a phrase born of languishing potential. Owners, team members and companies get in ruts, too, and this must be overcome if they’re to expand their capabilities. The way out […]
There are an estimated 14.6 million working families with children under 6 years old in the United States. In 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 64 percent of mothers with children under 6 were in the labor force, as were 58 percent of mothers with infants under 1. By one estimate, more […]
You can learn a lot by watching videos of adorably tuxedoed penguins — and not just about how to dress for your next formal holiday party. If you watch closely, you’ll see their straight-backed, wide, flat-footed walking pattern offers a good model for how to move gracefully on snow and ice and in turn help […]
’Tis the season to be jolly, not broke. Many small retailers earn 25 percent or more of annual revenues during the Christmas shopping season. Consequently, stagnant holiday sales can trigger a death spiral in the coming year. The Small Business Administration has compiled a list of six hurdles small retailers face during the holiday shopping […]
No doubt you can recall some experiences as a consumer that left you with good, if not a great, feelings about a business. The value you received endeared you to the company, creating loyalty and repeat business. The money and time you spent was well worth it and you walked away with a positive, satisfied […]
Have you ever sent out a resume and never heard anything back? Have you ever wondered what recruiters consider and why they screen out some resumes? You’re not alone. There’s so much information out there on how to write resumes and the do’s and don’ts of style and word choice. But there isn’t very much […]