Where would you like to work?: CoverMyMeds puts its money where its mouth is to attract and retain the best people
A personal chef who makes lunch every day. Paying for employee parking. No formal policy about paid time off. Having a space that includes a pool table, video games and events like office Olympics with chair racing, Nerf gun fighting, a Nintendo biathlon and more. When CoverMyMeds’ customers, who are usually larger companies, visit for […]
Cloud-based accounting systems benefit franchisees, franchisors
When franchisees stray from franchisor-established accounting practices, serious problems arise. Franchisees who find their business performing below expectations often turn to the franchisor for answers. Franchisors find it difficult to offer support, however, when financial data is either inaccurate or difficult to access. “In the absence of quality information, it’s impossible for the franchisor to evaluate and provide recommendations to the franchisee as to how they […]
Kelly Borth: Simon says — Knowing ‘why you do what you do’ is often a game changer
Do you know why you get out of bed every day? Do you walk through your office door with a dance in your step? Do your employees know why they go to work every day? Do they execute with purpose and enthusiasm? Does your team know why your business exists and why it matters? If […]
As BloomNation changes the floral industry, it also gives the local business community new life
David Daneshgar doesn’t shy away from the fact that he loves playing poker. It’s a passion for him and the card game delivered one of the best moments of his life when he won the 2008 World Series of Poker. But Daneshgar didn’t want poker to be the only thing that defined his life. “I […]
Janet E. Jackson: Embracing uncertainty — Solving complex problems with a collective impact approach
In both the business and nonprofit worlds, getting concrete results is the key to success. In business, shareholders and customers demand results. For nonprofits, our donors, advocates and volunteers are motivated and energized by improving lives. Helping people build pathways out of poverty and strengthening our community are the results they demand — and rightly […]
Having real people working your customer service line will pay off
Business is more competitive today than ever. There are few people who would disagree with that statement. Today, trying to reach the goals of additional sales or a greater market share is challenging since customers have so many options as to how they spend their resources. If you want to keep customers loyal to your […]
How thinking critically needs to be a team sport for leaders
Leadership and critical thinking are intimately connected. If you look at virtually any business problem, it goes back to one simple thing — poor, unethical leadership. “Decisions are often based upon woefully incomplete levels of thinking. If we can teach people how to think more critically, more creatively and more ethically, how to think at a deeper level, we won’t get caught in this […]
Rick Ruffolo: Why your imagination is one of your most valuable tools
One of the most important things my career has taught me is that growth is never linear, in life or in business. My wife and I have seen our fair share of “growth spurts” where clothes that fit our five children the week before suddenly look two sizes too small. Every organization desires growth, and […]
Craig Vodnik: Be passionate about your work without being the first one in and the last one out the door
You’ve probably heard a friend say or have seen a job description contain the phrase “passionate employee.” But what does that really mean? I mean I’m passionate about avoiding work. Does that make me passionate? Obviously it does not qualify as passionate, but what does that phrase mean and when should you hire passion from […]
How a company's identity can drive productivity and affect the bottom line
A strong company culture can not only attract employees, it can boost the bottom line, says Stephanie Martinez, PHR, Director of HR Services at Benefitdecisions, Inc. “Disney and Google have very successful businesses and much of that success is due to their culture and how they on-board their employees. Other companies are trying to emulate them to see if it will impact their bottom […]