It’s a New Year

I’ve heard many people say that they will be glad when this year is over; well, it pretty much is and, I agree, it’s been a tough one. But before we sigh in relief, let’s remember some of what we’ve learned in 2009: We learned that we are a lot tougher than we thought we…

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5 Things That Will Create Jobs

Here are some things that can be done to help create jobs: 1. Stop extending unemployment benefits and reduce them back to the short-term bridge they were meant to be. 2. Forgive the Title XII loans that the states have had to take from the Treasury to cover unemployment extensions and are now paying back…

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Gaining or Retaining

It takes six times as much effort and investment to gain a new customer than it does to retain and expand an existing customer. So why is most of our effort focused on new sales (important) and not customer satisfaction (vital)?

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A Patriot’s Thanksgiving

While we all gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that each of you and all of you are blessed beyond measure and that you enjoy a sense of joy, love, and peace. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for many reasons. One reason is that I love history, especially American history. When…

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What’s Good for the Goose…

On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn that would require all Members and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan. It took me less than a minute to sign up to require our congressmen and senators to drink at the…

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A Smart Move by Amazon: PC Kindle

Realizing that the delivery platform was less important than the product delivered, Amazon showed again their business savvy with the beta launch of “Kindle for Your PC.” Instead of having to purchase the Kindle reading device (which I have and love), Amazon now offers the same basic experience and content on the PC you already…

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Making Costs Variable

The recovery is weak at best and may, in fact, not be a recovery at all once the 3Q numbers are revised (as they always are). How do small companies respond? One way is to make as much cost variable as possible rather than fixed. Getting out of leases and debt helps. Renting instead of…

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Veterans

Tom Brokaw called WWII vets “the greatest generation.” It’s bigger than that. Until very recently the majority of Americans believed in what is known as “exceptionalism”–the belief that there was a special purpose (divine if you will) for our country. A symbol. A city set on a hill. A beacon of faith and liberty for…

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