April 13, 2026 Keeping it Real Why audiences don’t want polished presentations—they want someone who’s actually done the work In retirement, I’ve unexpectedly found myself being called upon as a speaker at national industry trade shows, conferences, and expos. No one is more surprised than I am. I never took Speech in high school, never performed in a play, never presented to a boardroom full of executives. The only meetings I led were daily production meetings at my company—and even those I eventually handed off to someone better at it than me. Yet now, I’m standing in front of 30, 40, sometimes 50 industry peers who’ve…
November 14, 2025 Consumer Power Use it intentionally. Ever had a meal so great you wanted to tell everyone — or an experience so awful you wished you could warn the world? Your reviews matter more than you think. Here’s how to use your consumer power wisely — and make sure your feedback actually helps. If you’re like me, you patronize all sorts of businesses — restaurants, shops, contractors, medical offices. And if you’re also like me, you’ve probably experienced the full range of customer service: from stellar to tragic. As consumers, we have more power than we realize to influence the level of service…
October 1, 2010 Is Busyness Hurting Your Business? All too often the “shoemaker’s kids have no shoes” effect takes place in businesses. Many business owners get so wrapped up in the day-to-day struggles of staying afloat that they forget to step back and look at the bigger picture as often as they should. Whether you are a small, independent business or not, you should have a marketing strategy that ensures your company is properly equipped and focused to move in the right direction. Sit down with a pencil, and write out your objectives; your long-term goals and vision; your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; and what you can…
