Summer a season for fun and fitness

We wait all year, it seems, for summer to arrive. Now it’s finally here. When most of us think about summer, we think about outdoor fun, vacations and a chance to kick back. Summer offers many opportunities for staying active.  Be aware, however: Changing schedules also could present challenges to keeping your fitness routine on […]

How smoothly would your business run without you?

Most business owners start their ventures to create greater wealth, freedom and happiness — to control their own destinies. They dream of achieving financial, professional and personal independence and use this to travel, relax, give back and enjoy their lives as much as possible. Many owners never fully realize their dreams even if their businesses […]

Energetic efforts pay off for small businesses

According to the Department of Energy, small businesses in the United States spend a combined $60 billion a year on energy. But small businesses that invest strategically can cut utility costs 10 percent to 30 percent without sacrificing service, quality, style or comfort — all while making significant contributions to a cleaner environment. By becoming […]

Renovations bring new faces to old places

What is it about Colorado that attracts the masses? Is it that we are a progressive state, setting examples for other states to follow? Is it the skyline that takes your breath away? Is it the thrilling rivers, endless hiking and biking trails, wildflowers, wildlife or four seasons that offer countless outdoor activities to enjoy? […]

Common strategies apply to marketing and job hunts

Business is personal. The same strategies businesses apply to marketing also work for new graduates looking for jobs. That’s why passion and curiosity, uniquely individual traits, constitute key components of a business plan as well as a job hunt. At an organizational level, a marketing plan should identify the key benefits to buying your service or […]

Do personal issues sabotage customer service?

Chances are, you’ve endured an unsavory experience as a consumer. You’ve been treated poorly during the course of a business transaction and likely more than once. Now consider: Did these experiences interrupt the pleasant flow of your day? Did you receive the value you were looking for? How did they make you feel? Were you […]

Peddling pedaling: Bike to work

June is everyone’s favorite month here at the Mesa County Health Department. Why? June is  Colorado Bike Month. Colorado has designated June as Bike Month to promote bicycling for transportation, fun and health. This is part of a nationwide effort to encourage everyone from novices to experts to ride their bikes to work, on errands […]

Let’s get engaged: Three-pronged approach brings results

There’s a plethora of literature out there about employee engagement: what is it, how to measure it, how to improve it and more. With all the publications and working papers on the topic, it can feel a bit intimidating. It doesn’t have to be. There’s a simple, three-pronged approach to employee engagement that will show […]

Master disaster: Take six steps to prepare for the worst-case scenario

One of this region’s most expensive disasters unfolded the night of Sept. 9, 2013, when more than 10 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period and flooding inundated Boulder and other communities, damaging nearly 20,000 homes and hundreds of small businesses. Unfortunately, our region is prone to a variety of natural disasters — flooding, […]

Are you hiring top performers in your business?

Every business I work with has at some point experienced challenging and unpleasant issues with its team members. A reality for every business is the potential for individuals to interrupt the smooth and effective operation of the company and harm the work environment. Team members of this caliber typically don’t handle themselves or their positions […]