Business Mentors

Last year, Stephen Moore wrote an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled “We’ve Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers.” His point was that America had morphed from a nation that manufactured things to a nation of government workers. In 2011, the U.S. had about twice as many people working for government (22.5 […]

It’s not often that small businesses look favorably upon the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically, the entrepreneurs of Main Street respond to any IRS directive with fearful uncertainty. Such was the reaction displayed upon learning that the nation’s tax collector had issued a new costly and time-consuming paperwork requirement.  It began as a new line

“Having the most talented people in each of our businesses is the most important thing. If we don’t, we lose.”  — Jack Welch while CEO of GE   “If you don’t invest the time to do it correctly today, you will spend more time and money in repairing mistakes tomorrow.”  — Don Paullin   Would you

Everybody hates Congress and its work. And, its sleazy, out-of-touch, and corrupt politicians.  Here is a remedy: increase the size of Congress— dramatically. Both houses. You know the politicians are out of touch. They treat themselves as royalty. Most are millionaires. Most know only politics their entire careers. Their votes are bought by big money

Nearly nine months ago, USA Today reported that about three quarters of the nation’s small- and mid-sized business leaders indicated they were anticipating higher revenues in the year ahead, and nearly 60 percent expected rising profits. Among those who expressed confidence in their future, 54 percent expected to hire more employees, and 50 percent were

“I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don’t know.”   —Mark Twain   There are less than 9 months before the 2012 presidential election. For the past six months, and the next nine, the answers to questions asked of the candidates will continue to be rhetorical and nebulous, at best.

On Feb. 3, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its monthly employment report, which was greeted as good news. The numbers showed a net increase of 243,000 jobs, 108,000 above the consensus forecast. As a consequence, the unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent. The BLS also revised its November and

Do you want to think positive today? Do you want to feel good about this country’s economic prospects? All right. Let’s go for it. Are you ready? Let’s think oil and gas. Little Wow? Hey — I suggest you think Big Wow. And here is why. Whether you like it or not, energy rules. When

Listen carefully, quiet, shh … did you hear? New York State is  approaching bankruptcy.  And Gov. Cuomo, with the cooperation of the state Senate, the Assembly and every New York State resident is attempting to avert a Greece-like collapse of the state’s credit status and governmental system of providing necessary services in a fiscally responsible

The Federal Financial Institutions examination Council (FFIEC) — a group of federal financial regulators empowered to issue uniform standards for most of the financial institutions in the United States — issued new guidelines to the nation’s federal credit unions, banks, and other financial institutions. It notified them that they will have to comply with new