Plan ahead for the successful sale of your business

For an entrepreneur in mid-career or just starting out, planning for the next generation of ownership is likely to be pretty far down the list of things to do. But starting early makes the chance of success that much higher.

The law of attraction in business: How to make or break your company

I am an entrepreneur who owns 50 small loan stores in five states. I also teach empowerment seminars — and I am a big believer in the law of attraction. Thoughts are powerful. Whether positive or negative, they can impact your business and make or break your company. I started my company about 18 years […]

How the devil is in the details — in contracts

Buried within the standard terms and conditions of most contracts are pitfalls which, if not carefully reviewed, will trap the unwary. When contracting, parties spend most of their efforts negotiating price

The importance of leadership and appreciation

You’ve probably heard the old cheerleader routine that starts out, “2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate?” I’ve never quite understood this. First, what’s with the even numbers? But alas, I digress. When we talk about appreciation at Assurance, it’s really a far-reaching concept. We appreciate our clients, our business partners, our community, as […]

Can millennials foster a better workplace?

Millennials, who comprise nearly two-thirds of our employees across our Americas Area, are eager to learn from other generations represented at EY, while simultaneously challenging traditional views about what’s important. Work/life integration and professional development are two key aspects of our firm’s culture that have been enriched by the lessons we can take away from […]

It’s all about the people and how to retain them

Whether revised parental leave policies or developing new or enhanced employee reward/incentive programs, allowing today’s employees the opportunity to live a full life at work and at home will only establish a more engaged, productive workforce in Northeast Ohio.

Global brands’ most common mistakes

When team members all feel they have something to contribute, where they feel confident and their ideas are met with empathy, the group does better. This is just as relevant in global marketing. What data will show in the end is that facilitating human sociability and empathy is the most powerful strategy of all. Understanding human culture in all its “messiness” is more important to success than pure efficiency-led approaches.