I recently attended a meeting of the White House Rural Council focusing on a coordinated response to historic drought conditions affecting communities across rural America. Our goal at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and across the administration is to make sure hard-hit communities have the tools and resources they need to recover from these […]
Learning to balance life, with calmness and positive thinking is what yoga is all about. Yoga means “to join or yoke together” the body and mind into one experience. Practicing Yoga dates back over 5,000 years. It combines three main areas: breathing, exercise and meditation. Breathing techniques are […]
It’s all about jobs. Job growth in the Grand Valley has been trending in a negative direction since the 4th quarter of 2008. We see an anemic commercial and residential real estate market because job growth has left the area. Obviously, it’s business or government that creates projects that hire […]
Before you make any extra mortgage payments, consider some factors. Should you own your home free and clear before you retire? At first glance, the answer would seem to be “absolutely, if at all possible.” Retiring with less debt—isn’t that a good thing? Why not make a few extra […]
You have probably heard the saying, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” In truth, there are wealthy and successful entrepreneurs that don’t love what they do, and those who are doing what they love and not experiencing financial abundance. The converse is also true. However, the […]
It’s difficult to find bright spots in the current economic environment, as many of the macro indicators continue to meander below mediocre levels, and none have shown any persistent trend toward either recovery or further economic doom. To further complicate the scenario, this is an election year, which traditionally means both the government and the […]
Do differences in socio-economic status have an effect on employee success in the workplace? Does organizational culture affect those who were raised in poverty or wealth? What’s the effect of this aspect of diversity on businesses overall? The answers to these questions might surprise you — as well as inspire you to pay attention to […]
Employees are our most important asset. They fuel our businesses, serve our customers and give us advantages over competitors. Nonetheless, managing and strengthening this asset is often overlooked. Having a method to regularly monitor, evaluate and communicate employee performance is a crucial step for improving productivity. Here are five ways employers can improve business as […]
The 2012 Summer Olympics are upon us. It’s a time when the country comes together to watch and cheer for the athletes. It’s natural, too, to be inspired by their dedication to their sports, their talents and their competitive spirits. Watching these athletes can be motivating for each of us, whether in competitive sports or […]
The commercial real estate market is a little like the story of Goldilocks and the three bears. Some properties are a little too big; some are a little too small; and finally you get your questions answered, your due diligence completed and you find a property that’s just right to open up your new business. […]