On November 3, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor announced that the availability of H-2B visas would be nearly doubled in the 2024 fiscal year. The announcement is anticipated to help American businesses faced with burdensome staff shortages as the “increase will help address the need for seasonal workers and reduce irregular … [More]
Their Take: Shop Small This Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25
As Arizona state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, I’m thankful for the Grand Canyon State’s small businesses. I’m thankful for their drive and stubbornness, their determination to keep the lights on and keep people working. Our neighborhood small business owners haven’t had it easy. Many barely scraped by through the pandemic only to face historic … [More]
Survey Shows Engineers Have Reached a Turning Point, Many Are Now Looking at What Comes Next
Engineers are at a turning point when it comes to navigating the design and supply chain disruptions of the last several years, according to findings from Avnet. The leading technology distributor released its third annual Avnet Insights survey, which has been keeping a pulse on engineers’ sentiments and strategies around existing industry and market conditions. The 2023 survey … [More]
Operating in Your Customer’s Time Zone
Customers love it when you treat their time like your own
I’m not talking about time zones on a map; I’m talking about the time zone in your customer’s mind. Their time, and how you can ensure they love you and love your company. Treat your customer’s time like it is your own and they might just love you forever. Why? In the past few years, we’ve been talking to customers about the issue of time. We’ve become acutely aware of … [More]
Lunch Breaks Are on the Decline, According to Second Annual Lunch Report
Report illustrates why skipping lunch is bad for business and how employers can use lunch breaks to motivate teams
Despite the surge in trends like "bare minimum Mondays" and the "four-day work week,” more people are working through lunch, according to new data released today from ezCater, the most trusted provider of corporate food solutions. The company’s second annual Lunch Report found that workers are 40% more likely to say they never take a lunch break than they were just a year ago. … [More]
Diagnosing Your Business Leader: Builder, Decorator, Remodeler, or Realtor?
Dan Adams is on a quest to reinvigorate corporate America. His goal? To put more Builders at the top—or, at least, to inspire those already at the top to behave more like the leaders who brought them to the party. “Your company—and every company you can think of—was founded by a Builder,” asserts Adams, author of Business Builders: How to Become an Admired & Trusted … [More]
Letting People Go: The Secret to a Peaceful Exit Lies in a Transparent Entrance
Firing an employee is the most dreaded of all leadership tasks
No one likes to lay people off. It’s upsetting, painful, and even traumatic—and not just for the person losing their job. In fact, studies have found that managers are almost twice as likely to suffer a heart attack in the week after they fire someone. Unfortunately, letting people go is part of being a leader—and, as many companies ramp up layoffs, it’s a task you might have … [More]
What Businesses Should Consider when Hiring Veterans
As the country honors the dedicated service of the U.S. armed forces this Veterans Day, it is worth noting many military personnel are currently transitioning into civilian life. These individuals are making this shift at an opportune moment. Traditionally an underutilized and frequently underestimated resource for business leaders, veterans bring a wealth of skills to the … [More]
VC Funding in Turbulent Times: Attracting Investors with Outsourcing
The state of venture capital (VC) funding in the US has seldom been in such dire straits. Feeling the pressure of the economic downturn, investors have been quick to tighten their purse strings. With the competition for funding consequently reaching a crescendo, startups looking to secure VC funding have been desperately searching for a unique differentiator. 1840 & … [More]
The Macroeconomy Has Impacted Small Business Owners and Their Access to Business Financing, Says Report
The last several years have left a considerable impact on business owners who need financing access to grow their business
Credibly, the data science-driven fintech lending platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) conducted a survey with over 100 small business owners in the U.S. to gain a deeper understanding of how the current macroeconomic environment is impacting their businesses. The survey found that only one-third of small business owners reported feeling optimistic about the … [More]
Ten Ways to Start Building Your Favor Bank (and Growing Your Network)
“Networking” is a misunderstood concept. We tend to think of it in terms of small talk, faked enthusiasm, and self-serving schmoozing. Great networkers, we assume, are aggressive movers and shakers with a knack for selling themselves. Actually, says Robert L. Dilenschneider, they are heartfelt helpers who understand how the favor bank works. “The most successful people I … [More]
Legacy Park Remains In Business after New Buyer Announced
Agreement Allows Iconic Mesa Sports Complex To Successfully Emerge From Bankruptcy
Legacy Park in Mesa will remain in business now that a buyer has stepped forward to operate the popular sports facility. Time was running out, but a come from behind victory in the form of a new owner will allow the Park to live on. Burke Operating Partners has agreed to purchase the facility, ensuring that fans will continue to enjoy the 320-acre sports complex that … [More]
2023 Pay Study: Doctors, Lawyers and Dentists to Lose $15 an Hour by 2033
New research has ranked the U.S.’ most populated industries and estimated what their pay could look like in 10 years (2033) in line with inflation, and the results are surprising. The research by TollFreeForwarding.com found registered nurses are expected to make $12.82 more per hour in 2033 than they do today, the highest increase of the 16 professions included in the … [More]
Buyer Beware: Is Your Financial Advisor Using AI to Make Investment Decisions?
Key considerations to discuss with your qualified professional
Just like all industries grappling with the breakneck pace at which artificial intelligence is permeating business as we know it — and how best to leverage it — it’s changing the game for financial advisors and their clients. Advisors must consider what AI does well — and doesn’t. Concurrently, clients must consider a new wave of security concerns as their detailed personal … [More]
Private Sector Addressing Arizona’s Homelessness Crisis with Arizona Housing Fund
Bank of America executive Howard Epstein established the Arizona Housing Fund (AZHF) in 2019 to provide a simple way for corporations, foundations, and individuals to fund more permanent, supportive, and affordable housing. After decades of serving on nonprofit boards working to address the growing issue of homelessness, it was clear government could not do it alone. It would … [More]
Rethinking Influence in the Age of AI: Five (Human) Strategies to Embrace Right Now
Whatever our profession, most of us want to grow our influence—even if we’ve never thought of it in those terms. After all, the ability to influence others is at the heart of success. It’s what makes us great leaders, persuasive communicators, and productive professionals. It’s what gets us noticed, listened to, taken seriously, hired, promoted, and generally respected. It … [More]
Four ‘Unmet Needs’ That Cause Us to Procrastinate (and How to Kick-Start Yourself into Action)
Most leaders are all too familiar with procrastination and how it manifests. Instead of tackling that tedious spreadsheet, writing that shareholder report, or instigating that tough performance conversation, we stall by answering the easy emails, cleaning out desk drawers, or (worse) falling down a social media rabbit hole. A harmless habit? Not at all. Workforce management … [More]
TikTok for B2B Marketers: Understanding the World’s Number-One Search Engine
TikTok, Gen Z’s go-to app for short-form video, became the world’s number-1 search engine in Dec. 2021 and hasn’t ceded its title. What does that mean for digital marketers, who for years calibrated their search marketing strategies for a world dominated by Google? Don’t bank on Google reclaiming the top spot while it deploys an “altogether new technology.” Developing a … [More]
