A major transition is under way in America, and small business owners who fail to act could pay a huge price. United States credit card companies have set October for the national adoption of chip cards — also known as EMV cards. Businesses that haven’t integrated EMV technology to process chip cards will become financially […]
If you want your experience as a business owner to be more enjoyable and rewarding — and your company to be increasingly successful — it’s imperative you consistently work toward building and maintaining a dynamic and powerful team. Do you want to derive more joy from owning and running your business? Are you interested in […]
The buzz in performance management is no more performance evaluations. A national trend to eliminate annual performance reviews set by such companies as Accenture and General Electric has been followed by such other sizable firms as Gap, Medtronic and Microsoft. What does that mean to employers in the Grand Valley? It depends on what your […]
You’re ready to start or move your business, and your broker has found the right commercial location with rent you can afford. Now what? Read the lease. I know, it’s long, boring and confusing. But you need to know what it says. Check the terms, start and end dates, rent amount and rent escalations. Did […]
You’re leading at home, at work and in the community. You lead by example through the way you live your life. Your team members are watching. Your spouse, children, extended family, friends and people you don’t even know are watching you for guidance on how to navigate successfully through work and life. Effective leadership in […]
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Communities come together and, suddenly, everything is pink — the seemingly universal color of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons appear on the packaging of our favorite foods. Athletic teams sport pink socks, uniforms and headbands to show their support. It’s no surprise communities come together the way they do […]
If you’re in your late teens or early 20s, still living at home, comfortably back in school at the moment and don’t already have one, now would be a good time to start planning your job search. Note: I said job search, not career path. There’s plenty of time for the latter. Forces beyond your […]
There are so many physical activities that can improve our health, but walking offers one of the most beneficial ways to exercise. Nearly everyone at every fitness level and every age can walk. This simple exercise is filled with such benefits as improving heart health, enhancing mental well-being and maintaining body weight. Because of the […]
In the ever-changing investment markets, evaluating and monitoring your organization’s investment portfolio has become increasingly more challenging and important. Formal investment policies could be required when working with a third-party investment manager. But all organizations can benefit from establishing a written investment policy. Having a written policy forces management to identify the goals of the […]
The primary aim of any sound business should be to create raving fans out of its customers. If your customers like or, better yet, love your business, they’re going to give you their patronage and also happily share their glowing recommendations with others. But how does one go about creating raving fans out of their […]