In the tenting industry, safe digging and staking are more than just best practices; they’re non-negotiable. Improper staking can lead to serious injuries, costly damage or worse. That’s where the 811 Underground Service Alert program comes in. This free nationwide service marks underground utilities to help you avoid service outages, injuries and expensive property damage. [...]

A client recently asked me what seemed like a simple question: “How can I keep from getting sued? Aside from the obvious answer (which necessarily involves either a fortune or a gravestone), my answer, with some explanation, was: “Make yourself the least appealing target of what will likely be several potential defendants.” It’s helpful to know [...]

Everyone seems to want to figure out the younger kids, but what if you are a younger manager who is charged with leading a person born in the 60s and 70s? Not many instruction manuals out there for this cohort. Since I happen to be a member of this forgotten generation, I thought I would [...]

Photo courtesy of Julie Couture, Fiesta Tents. Coming from the cosmetics industry, I found the tent industry learning curve to be quite steep when I began my career!  During my eight years in this industry, I have certainly learned a lot, but as the industry continues to grow and evolve, there’s always more to learn.  [...]

Several months ago, I ran across a particularly interesting query in one of the LinkedIn groups I belong to: What are some basic questions warehouse managers ask? Rather than hit each topic in depth, I have decided to offer the most frequently mentioned areas for further self-study. This article is designed to help focus attention [...]

Traditional leadership philosophies focus on what it takes for a leader to have sway over a team, to drive toward an outcome and to create coordinated movement. These aspects of reaching a goal are critical components of leadership, but they are one-dimensional. Four-dimensional leadership asks leaders to enhance their abilities by developing additional leadership dimensions, [...]

Creativity comes from the confidence in one’s strengths and abilities. It may be a byproduct of your education. It may come from past work experience or even from on-the-job training in your current position. The point is that everyone has the innate ability to be creative based on past experiences, but they do not always [...]

Despite being deeply entrenched in the technical world, I quickly learned that being good at what you do isn’t the same as being good at marketing what you do. This is something that many small business owners grapple with, myself included. We excel in our trades but often find the intricacies of marketing, especially digital [...]

Every business at some point is forced to deal with difficult customers. Perhaps they are unhappy with the level of service, the product or a member of your team. Or maybe their expectations are just unrealistic. Understanding how to navigate challenging interactions, however, can turn a negative situation into a positive experience that builds stronger [...]

Employers face many challenges stemming from the diverse needs and expectations of their workforce’s four distinct generations. Rising health care costs, living expenses, and evolving needs mandate reevaluating traditional employee benefits offerings. By catering to each generation’s specific needs and preferences, employers can foster a culture of support and engagement that transcends age barriers and [...]