Mark Scott: Why the role of a coach could be a great way to give your team a boost
In the last two issues of Smart Business Chicago, we’ve featured two CEOs who pursued the dream of being a professional athlete. Chris Clawson, the president of Life Fitness, wanted to be a professional baseball player. He spent three years playing for farm teams of the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros before injuries forced him […]
The Toasted Oat closer to going national, thanks to $25,000 Ohio Chamber prize
Erika Boll, founder and president of The Toasted Oat and winner of the 2014 Ohio Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, was in disbelief when she was told in April that she had won the honor. “I was like, ‘No way!’” says Boll. “I couldn’t believe it. I think I said, ‘Really? I can’t […]
Customer-centric / ‘Hoby’ Hanna looks for core values when Howard Hanna Real Estate Services pursues M&A's
When Howard Hanna Real Estate Services acquired Realty One in 2008 it was a deal that made Howard Hanna the fourth largest real estate company in the nation — and it also presented some daunting tasks.
Dennis Seeds: University Circle has survived the test of time – and it’s been no accident
If it weren’t for a Euclid Avenue streetcar turnaround at East 107th Street that was known as University Circle, the medical-educational-arts neighborhood in Cleveland with that name might have been known as something more mundane. It was, by all accounts, a beautiful area, and much of it was the former estate of Western Union magnate […]
Eric Lofquist: What’s good for your customer should be good for you, too
By Eric Lofquist If you consult Merriam-Webster online for the definition of “perfect,” you’ll see “obsolete” mentioned three times. By this they mean mature, certain or contented. But if you look up “obsolete,” you get “no longer useful.” The dictionary is on to something. It’s time to recognize perfection for what it really is — […]
Katie Spotz: Rowing solo across the Atlantic provided a valuable lesson on the strength of the human spirit
By Katie Spotz It was Day 36 of my 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean, and I found myself filled with doubt. I was at the halfway mark, which just happened to be one of the most remote places on Earth. What should have been a celebratory moment was instead filled with great uncertainty. I […]
Jerry Frantz: Relationships may often be the difference between winning or missing great results
By Jerry Frantz Relationships are everything. You’re only as good as your network. It’s not what you know — it’s who you know. What do these sayings have in common? They all describe the networking-focused nature of the business world, where your connections and contacts are stepping stones that can link you to success. For […]
Matthew Figgie and Rick Solon: While inexpensive oil may be on the horizon, the reality is that costs are rising
By Matthew Figgie and Rick Solon In the United States, we still reminisce about the days of cheap oil, where filling up our cars cost less than $5. People still dream of cheap oil. While there is a boom in shale oil, energy independence based on it is not yet on the horizon. Media accounts […]
For business success, blend technical, specialized and development training
Creating the right mix of professional development for your employees — and yourself.
No business is too small to be immune to cyberattacks
Too many small businesses aren’t taking the proper steps to protect themselves from cyberthreats both large and small.