John McGeachie: Bringing the right technology into the work environment can make the difference
What a difference five years makes — especially in the technology landscape. Five years ago, the original Apple iPhone had only been out for a year and the app marketplace, which would grow to nearly 1 million apps, had just launched. Android first became available on smartphones nearly five years ago and adoption has grown […]
Umberto Fedeli: The Law of Reciprocity — A simple philosophy gives meaning to what life is all about
Sometimes when speaking on the power of relationships, I bring along some candy. Offering sweet treats elicits a lesson I want to impart on my audience — whether it’s 600 financial executives at a professional development seminar, a group of clients at EY or a Sales and Marketing Executives forum. It’s the law of reciprocity. […]
Have you looked at your on-boarding process lately?
An electronic on-boarding process can ease the HR burden while reinforcing to new hires that they chose the right employer. “It’s your first chance to really engage a new associate. You can create a lasting impression about your brand, commitment to your employees, and your company’s values and vision,” says Brian Donovan, managing director of […]
How to decipher hospital billing to better control health care costs
As the health care system becomes more transparent, it’s important for consumers to take more ownership of their health care costs. One way to start that shift is to closely scrutinize hospital bills. The way the system is structured, it’s too confusing and unclear, so patients don’t even take the time to try to figure […]
Ellen Burts-Cooper: Showing the heart of your business through philanthropy
Philanthropy has been defined in a broad sense as goodwill to fellow members of the human race in an active effort to promote overall human welfare. As it pertains to individuals and enterprises of all sizes, philanthropy is described as the practice of giving resources and time to help make life better for other people. […]
A look at how ERISA affects benefits today — and how a wrap product can help
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) was originally designed for the protection of individuals enrolled in pension plans. In fact, ERISA actually has a pretty interesting history. Back in the ’60s pension reform gained some momentum after the Studebaker Corporation (the automotive manufacturer) closed its plant and due to a poorly funded […]
Bill Treasurer: A good eye — Leadership coach pitches advice to the Pirates
At this year’s Pittsburgh Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla., I was asked to lead motivational leadership sessions for the baseball players and management. The invitation came after Manager Clint Hurdle read my latest book, “Leaders Open Doors.” But what I didn’t realize was that I would learn as much about leadership from the Pirates […]
Dennis Seeds: What happens when you share an idea or vision from your imagination
Sometimes when a dream occurs, it vanishes almost immediately, or it evolves into something more. What brings this to mind are recent efforts to update aspects of Cleveland’s Group Plan of 1903, an iconic vision that helped shape the heart of downtown Cleveland. While it took the next 30 years or more to see it […]
What you can do now to avoid outliving your retirement savings
America is facing a crisis, as the baby boomer generation heads into retirement and realizes — too late — it may not have set aside enough assets. Most Americans have an average savings of only $3,000 to $10,000, and the Social Security Administration says 34 percent of the workforce has no retirement savings. A reasonable […]
Phil Hoyt: Four reasons every company needs a mobile-responsive website
Once a term reserved for the most innovative of digital companies, “mobile friendly” has become an outdated way of thinking about mobile communication. Consider this: By the end of 2013, there were more mobile devices on Earth than people, according to a new report. With the universal adoption of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, […]