As 2024 concludes, a new report aimed to identify where the most hard-working Americans live, and it is not necessarily the richest or the poorest states. Utah ranked as the most entrepreneurial state, with Arizona and Texas following closely behind in second and third positions. On the other hand, Montana, South Dakota, and Alaska displayed the least enthusiasm in starting a … [More]
Dark Side of Success: How Loneliness and Sacrifice Impact the Lives of CEOs
In a society obsessed with stories of success and wealth, CEOs are often seen as superheroes. Major corporations' leaders manage billions of dollars, oversee thousands of employees, and enjoy seemingly enviable lifestyles. But what lies behind this image of power and success? The recent tragedy involving Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who was murdered in New York, … [More]
Helping Employees Find Balance and Avoid Burnout This Holiday Season: How Employers Can Support Mental Well-Being
The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy and celebration but, for many employees, it can become a source of stress and burnout. From longer work hours to the pressure of delivering on year-end goals, the festive season often exacerbates the challenges workers face year-round. Employers have a critical role to play in helping their teams find balance and avoid burnout … [More]
Investing in Arizona’s Workforce: Weatherization as a Business Opportunity
Arizona is at a crossroads of opportunity. As energy demands rise and sustainability becomes a priority, the Arizona Department of Housing’s (ADOH) longstanding Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) presents a unique avenue for workforce development and business growth. The WAP has been in play since 1977 and has been the driver for energy efficiency standards and practices … [More]
Financial Struggles Stop 40% of Arizona Residents from Pursuing Dream Job
Our survey uncovered that one in three Americans face economic barriers in pursuing their ideal careers, with 33% naming financial constraints as the top obstacle when chasing their dream. For many, the price tag attached to achieving their dream job – whether it's the cost of education, business startup costs, or unpaid opportunities – is too steep. But what else is holding … [More]
5 Lessons Learned for Online Business Growth
Growth is critical to drive business performance and attain long-term survival in the industry. It is a continuous process and it requires patience, hard work, and dedication. According to WebSuccessPortal.com (Success Study LLC), an established digital marketing agency that aims to provide innovative solutions, it is essential for businesses to constantly improve in … [More]
Next-Generation Datacenters Consume Zero Water for Cooling
This summer, we released our Datacenter Community Pledge, detailing our commitment to the local economies and communities in which we operate our datacenters. Protecting local watersheds is an important part of this pledge — especially in areas where water stress is growing. Beginning in August, Microsoft launched a new datacenter design that optimizes AI workloads and … [More]
2025 Top HR Priorities & Predictions
i4cp, the leading human capital think tank, released its much-anticipated annual deep dive into what’s next for Human Resources in its 2025 report, capturing the top initiatives of leading HR executives from the world’s most innovative and respected brands. Representing input from C-level HR executives who oversee critical human capital functions—CHRO/CPOs, as well as … [More]
Why Executive Leadership Coaching Is Broken and How to Fix It
Executive Coaching Conundrum: Key problems plaguing traditional leadership coaching approaches … and undermining client results
Middle market businesses face unique leadership challenges, positioned between the agility of startups and the resources of large corporations. Traditional executive coaching often fails to address these specific needs, leading to misaligned development efforts and unrealized potential. Unfortunately, there are a litany of fundamental flaws in current executive coaching … [More]
Smart Year-End Tax Strategies for Business Owners
For many businesses, the fourth quarter is about more than closing sales or hitting revenue targets—it’s also about leveraging tax benefits to reduce liabilities and plan for a prosperous year ahead. Making these small but effective tax-based changes can make a significant difference in a company's bottom line. Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a larger … [More]
5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Wait to Make Your Next Career Move during Uncertain Times
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my tenure as both employee and CEO, it’s that waiting for the “right time” in business can be a costly mistake. Whether in my journey as an entrepreneur or in facing serious health challenges, I’ve seen firsthand how uncertainty often creates the exact conditions for growth and success. Early in my career, I too hesitated at times — … [More]
The Pandemic-Led Rent Growth Boom Is Beginning to Fizzle, Metro Phoenix Sees No Change
CoreLogic®, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its latest Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI), which analyzes single-family rent price changes nationally and across major metropolitan areas. The report highlights the slowing growth in key rental metros which all experienced population spikes during the … [More]
Gen Z and Millennials to Small Businesses: Get Online or Get Left Behind
New GoDaddy survey shows 80% of young shoppers research businesses before buying
Maintaining an online presence is important to small businesses, but is it necessary? According to new data from GoDaddy, if a business's target audience is Gen Z or Millennials, not having one could seriously impact their bottom line. A majority (80%) of 1,000 Gen Z and Millennial U.S. consumers surveyed in September shared they research small businesses online before … [More]
SBA Arizona Reminds Us to Shop Locally for Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30
Please join our community in celebrating November 30, 2024, as Small Business Saturday. It is a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our communities. When our dollars stay in our community, we all help small businesses thrive and prosper.. We look forward to seeing small businesses engage in acts of celebration, sharing, and creating an even … [More]
How Self-Nurturing Therapy Can Make You a Better Leader: 7 Steps to Practice Now
Navigating leadership brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities. A young executive, Sarah, faced complaints from her team who described her as dismissive and devaluing. She was initially blindsided and defensive yet, as do excellent leaders, she focussed on improvement — learning that how leaders make people feel is essential to retention, culture and, ultimately, … [More]
Using Listening to Increase Presence and Evolve Your Leadership
Being present in today’s world is more difficult than it has ever been before. Everyone is constantly bombarded by emails, text messages, social media, news, advertisements, and all the other distractions of the modern world. A lack of presence, especially in leadership, can often lead to poor communication; a lack of rapport with those around you; and volatility, … [More]
Gearing Up for 2025? 10 Strategic Planning Pitfalls to Avoid
Common strategic planning traps—and how to sidestep them
As executives gear up for the 2025 strategic planning season, the process can feel like a balancing act. Developing a strategic plan that both drives meaningful change and satisfies stakeholders is a complex task, made even more challenging by the fast-evolving landscape of marketplace needs, industry trends, and technological advancements. However, many leaders unknowingly … [More]
Why the Job Market Is Cooling Down: Three Big Reasons
The U.S. job market is slowing down, and more people are finding themselves unemployed. This change is happening because of three main reasons: the election year, high interest rates and new technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Let’s break down these reasons to understand what’s going on. The Election Year When it’s an election year, like 2024, businesses … [More]
