The next greatest thing in technology isn’t a product, but a process where AI solves business problems. Artificial intelligence means many different things because its potential applications are so wide and varied. While we may think of it as m

How to Gain Business Integrity

Nov 7th, 2018

Business integrity is earned, not automatic. Have you ever come across these situations? A person says one thing and does another. Someone lies to obtain an advantage. A story is made up to protect yourself or put others in jeopardy. You may

Prepare Your Business for Voice Search

Oct 26th, 2018

Voice search is going mainstream. How often do you use your golden vocal chords to search the internet? Its estimated half of all internet searches will be done by voice two years from now. (Social Lens) Why? eMarketer projects the number of sm

When Radio Advertising Works for Business

Oct 3rd, 2018

Small business may be overlooking a marketing opportunity through radio advertising. The Nielsen Company estimates that 93% of all U.S. adults listen to radio weekly. Your business customer or prospect is probably one of them. It’s true that mo

What’s the Trade War End Game?

Sep 10th, 2018

In the game of poker, deception is often more powerful than the cards you hold. Could we be seeing much the same thing play out in a trade war between the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, and other countries around the world? For the vast

A Small Business Healthcare Cost Victory?

Aug 15th, 2018

Small business owners with less than 50 employees are calling their healthcare consultants for advice and feasibility studies on a potential opportunity to reduce their employee healthcare costs. They’re responding to a recent Trump administrat

Why Prepare to Lose Employees?

Aug 1st, 2018

If you’re a business owner, do you prepare to lose employees? It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a better time in the last 17 years for quitting a job than now. In some parts of the country there are more jobs available than workers. Less

The Value of Servant Customer Service

Jul 3rd, 2018

When you go back to the same restaurant, salon, store, or business regularly, chances are you do so because you receive servant customer service. Those serving you know you by name, recognize your interests, or meet your needs in an exceptional

Risk a Business Move, Expansion or Stay Put?

Jun 13th, 2018

Does a good economy have you thinking about making a business move or expanding? In May this year the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 3.8%. It was 49 years ago, 1969, that the annual unemployment rate average was below 4%. So this indicator s

Filling Jobs for Business Starts in 5th Grade

May 9th, 2018

There are more jobs in the Midwest today than there are workers. Business is filling jobs by recruiting from other states and dipping into the ranks of high school students. But that’s not enough. Recruiting and developing workers is a comprehe

How Biases Stunt Small Business Growth

Apr 19th, 2018

Have you ever considered whether your own biases and how you view other people’s biases may stunt your small business growth? “When you’re only focused on the product and not on the culture and not on your community, that’s when you can have a

7 Things to Know About Sexual Harassment

Mar 28th, 2018

Sexual harassment wasn’t much of an issue until 1986 when the Supreme Court declared it to be a form of discrimination under Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But there has been a parade of prominent men in entertainment, sports, and pol

How Volunteers and Business Go Together

Feb 23rd, 2018

Benjamin Franklin is considered the father of volunteerism. He recruited volunteers to sweep the streets of Philadelphia, man a fire department, and a militia. Today it’s clear that community service is good for business. People of all ages val

Lessons For-Profits Can Learn From Non-Profit Businesses

Feb 7th, 2018

During this year’s Super Bowl several commercials aired with messages focused on community, equality, equal opportunity and how business products serve the common good. These for-profit companies – Toyota, Verizon, Fiat-Chrysler for RAM Trucks,

Small Business Marketing Tactics You Want To Ignore

Jan 26th, 2018

After looking at a myriad of predictions and trends for 2018 from followers, prognosticators, and marketers, I’ve identified five small business marketing tactics worth attention. Some are easier to endorse and implement than others. Each requi

How to Improve Your LinkedIn Visibility

Jan 17th, 2018

If you actively use social media for B2B lead generation, to find a job, or advance your career, think about how to improve your LinkedIn visibility. This professional network recently changed its algorithm, so status updates may not achieve th

Best Business Practices for Small Business

Dec 21st, 2017

I’ve received some great insights and ideas on best business practices for small business in 2017. Tap into excerpts from several successful business owners and entrepreneurs here on strategy, business culture, managing employees, marketing, so

Is Your Business Worth Buying?

Dec 13th, 2017

Business owners often have an inflated view of their enterprise when it comes to answering the question, is my business worth buying now or sometime in the future? Truforte Business Group, a Florida business broker and consultant, says there ar

How to Create a Business Growth Bonfire

Nov 15th, 2017

If you’re searching for business growth, you might run through a checklist of growth starters that lit the flame of growth for Everything But the House, an online estate sale auction marketplace. At one time, this was a quiet local business in

Why Treat Employees Like Owners?

Nov 8th, 2017

There really isn’t much difference between what business owners and employees want to get out of work. Fundamentally they both want what they earn to help them provide for themselves and their families. So why shouldn’t owners or business leade

How Do You Manage Superstar Employees?

Oct 11th, 2017

We label popular athletes as superstars. Ditto using the same expression for entertainers. Yet in every business there are superstar employees, those who drive the growth of the company. For a CEO the question is – how do you manage them? The t

How to Find Unfindable Employees

Oct 4th, 2017

The volume of job openings in the U.S. is high, about 6.2 million. The unemployment rate is low, 4.4% in August. These statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that it’s hard to find unfindable employees. Some companies like McDon

Why Manufacture in China?

Sep 20th, 2017

China may be a communist country politically, but capitalism is thriving there. In fact, it is the world’s largest producer of manufactured goods. It’s been the ideal place for Rich Heidrich, President/CEO of Designs Direct and his two partners

Turning Customer Relations Into An Advantage

Aug 30th, 2017

If you’re like many people, you may have a car that is at least 12 years old. If it’s been that long since you have bought one, you might be surprised that your next car buying experience may be shorter and more pleasurable. That’s because cust

Why Use an Advertising Agency?

Aug 24th, 2017

Here’s a question that crosses the mind of many small business owners. Should I work with an advertising agency for marketing my business? The answer is in your response to these questions. Are my marketing activities working for me or not?