Joe Takash: Why you need to seek common ground with bossy individuals
Most people spend their working lives following orders, whether they’re from a boss or a customer. They may not be military commands — your customer may ask you in the nicest way possible to reduce delivery time — but they still must be obeyed. This is just the way things are, whether you’re a junior […]
Playing on Columbus’ strengths: A focus on workforce is paying off in logistics, but more remains to be done
We ♥ (heart) logistics. The award-winning UPS ad campaign certainly strikes home for Columbus. The city is naturally attractive as a distribution and logistics hub for its geographic access to 46 percent of the U.S. population within a 10-hour drive, as well as strong supply chain talent and value. In fact, the logistics industry employs […]
How the Wage Payment Act can hold employers liable for executive pay
Businesses are familiar with the notion that written employment contracts can be a source of rights and liabilities in the event of a split with an executive employee. However, businesses are often not as familiar with other potential sources of employment liability in those situations, including the Wage Payment and Collections Act, sometimes called the Wage Payment Act. Smart Business spoke with John Haarlow Jr., […]
Edmunds.com gives unlimited vacation, but employees treat it with discipline and get their work done
If you work for Avi Steinlauf at Edmunds.com, you can take as much vacation as you want. It may seem like a slacker’s dream come true, but Steinlauf says employees have embraced the move with just the right mix of appreciation and discipline. “It’s something we piloted in 2011 with a few work teams and […]
Kathy Ireland: Strong relationships have the power to propel both you and your business to incredible heights
Technology provides today’s business owner more ways to connect with customers than ever before. But with all those channels available, it’s more critical than ever that you know what you stand for as you seek to build connections with the people you want to buy your product. You are your own brand. What kind of […]
How to stand out by engaging with consumers through crowdsourcing
Business owners have formally sounded off on consumer review sites like Yelp — and it appears the vast majority are listening, but don’t take reviews as seriously as consumers do. That’s just one finding of a recent Woodbury University study that explores the power of the consumer, and consumers en masse, to affect business behavior. Sponsored by ReviewInc and led by Kristen Schiele, Ph.D., […]
How to transition your family business to the next generation
Business succession is the one thing many companies fail to address for fear of relinquishing control, a lack of time, the feeling that successors aren’t ready or other reasons. But, it’s never too early to start succession planning. “Statistically, roughly only 30 percent of family-owned businesses are effectively transferred to the second generation and just 10 percent make […]
Kelly Borth: Smart SEO — How to optimize your website for search engines
If being online is a part of your business strategy, you need more than a quality, user-friendly website. You need smart SEO. When a person conducts an online search using words related to your business, SEO increases the likelihood that your website is listed at the top of the results. It allows you to reach […]
Perspectives — Women Who Excel: Creating a culture of Health can help you pull ahead
PANELISTS: Laura Bennett, Sheila Dunn, Kristen Morris and Lindsay Sims Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to sponsor the Perspectives 2014 Women Who Excel Conference, and over the past several years, the pace of change has certainly increased, especially in health care. In my 30 years in the industry, I’ve never experienced so […]
How preparation can make the audit process less disruptive
Year-end audits can be headaches for companies, as management takes time from busy schedules to gather information required by auditors. But a little preparation can make for a much smoother audit process. “The first quarter is as busy for management as it is for us,” says Kami Refa, a partner at Moss Adams LLP. “But if the right control processes are in place throughout […]