There’s a lot of people talking about how bad the economy is, how bad the impact on business is and how there are a lot of similarities between today’s current environment and the Great Depression. It’s all really cheerful stuff. However, it does inspire reflection and in my case a bit of a history lesson. […]

photo by balakov Hard work is always going to be part of the equation for success for a business owner (or anyone else for that matter).  The picture above is a clever reproduction of a famous photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” from 1932.  I’m sure you’ve seen it before (see link) with a bunch of […]

Everyone needs an Elaine. Not Elaine Benes (from Seinfeld) – the Elaine I’m talking about came up in a discussion at the workshop I did this morning for the Overland Park Chamber on marketing to your existing customers. The discussion was on the importance of employees carrying out your key marketing differences to your customers […]

Picture by Prettywomen_1969  If you’re an established business (i.e. out of the start-up phase), there’s a pretty good chance that you’re making a major mistake that’s costing you a lot of money. You’re setting a goal to grow next year – maybe you’d be happy with a 10% top line growth.  With that in mind, […]

photo by ed ludwick  The following is a guest post by Mike Vande Brake, partner at Vande Brake and Baker CPAs. It’s nearly time to begin making those New Year’s resolutions, the wishful thoughts borne out of our guilt for the things we typically let slip. Lose weight. Exercise more. Eat fewer sweets. You get […]

photo by RandysonofRobert  I imagine I’m like a lot of people – I’m proud of being an American, I love this country and I strongly believe in the many things that makes the whole thing great. However I’m guilty of sometimes taking that for granted.  Which is made worse when you make the mistake of […]