Some years ago, my manager, who was the Chief Technology Officer at a global professional business services company challenged an “exceptional rating” that I gave to one of my project managers who happened to be an introvert. An exceptional rating was rare in the firm, awarded to less than 10% of employees. This particular employee did not fit the profile of a typical project … [More]
17 Black-Owned Businesses to Support in Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is home to an array of Black-owned businesses, many of which are institutions in Phoenix’s cultural fabric. Here are 17 you can support: Straw and Wool Ali Nervis (left) and Henry Dickerson (right) are co-owners of Straw and Wool hat store in Downtown Phoenix. Hats off to these awesome Phoenicians. Straw and Wool brings a sense of style, … [More]
The Secrets of Visionary Thinkers: How to Ensure New Ideas Get Real Consideration
When you think of famous visionary leaders, you often think that they have something, know something, or do something that the rest of us don't have, don't know, or can't do. The truth is, they don't. The only thing they have is an intuitive understanding of how to open their minds and consider new ideas. When you’re thinking about new ideas, you’re often thinking of the … [More]
Crafting a Compelling Brand Narrative for 2024
In the digital age, storytelling is not a one-time effort but an ongoing conversation. By infusing modern elements into your brand narrative, you can captivate your audience and keep them engaged with your evolving story. Emphasize your unique journey. Origin stories resonate, but also focus on specific moments that shaped your journey. Share recent milestones, … [More]
Using LinkedIn for Demand and Lead Generation
“Work smarter, not harder” is the overriding mandate in the marketing world ― once sage advice, now a universal corporate edict. Budgets are smaller. Tactics that guarantee measurable results are the new default. The need to maximize every minute of your time and dollar of your spending allotment is paramount. Against this backdrop, the fundamentals of digital marketing still … [More]
The 9 Steps for Successful Marketing Automation in 2024
Thanks to marketing automation, the days of manually typing out your company’s next ad and hitting "send" are a thing of the past. Software has turned email marketing and other ad blasts into highly coordinated, fine-tuned work, unleashed to the public on a tight schedule. If you’re a large, consumer-facing company with a multi-million dollar advertising budget, you probably … [More]
Relaxed Mortgage Rates Mean Serious Savings for Buyers
Buyers are getting some much-needed relief, and more homeowners appear to be breaking free of "rate lock," according to the latest monthly report from Zillow®. Yet despite improvements in inventory, competition for homes is still relatively stiff. The share of homeowners considering selling is trending up, according to Zillow. "Buyers found significant … [More]
89% of People with Mortgages Have an Interest Rate Below 6%, Down from a Record 93% in 2022
Nationwide, 88.5% of U.S. homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate below 6%, down from a record high of 92.8% in mid-2022, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That means more than 88.5% of homeowners with mortgages have a rate below the current weekly average of 6.66%, prompting many to stay put instead of selling and … [More]
Brand Personalities of Top Four U.S. Airlines Revealed in Study
Phoenix-based Zion & Zion, a full-service, global marketing agency, released part six of its multi-part study that explores the relative brand personalities of 45 top U.S. brands. In the sixth study, the Zion & Zion research team explored brand personalities of the top four U.S. airlines and the impact of those personalities on performance. In a prior study the Zion … [More]
New Report Finds Growth of Women Business Owners Outpaces the Market, Metro Phoenix a Top Area
Women-owned businesses continue to fuel the economy, representing 39.1% of all businesses – over 14 million – employing 12.2 million workers, and generating $2.7 trillion in revenue. According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, in partnership with Ventureneer, CoreWoman, and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the number of women-owned businesses … [More]
2024 Predictions on AI, Cybersecurity, and Email Authentication
As the commentaries that follow detail, in 2024, we can expect to see a dramatic escalation in AI-fueled disinformation and sophisticated cyber threats, especially during the U.S. election year! With disinformation spreading more rapidly due to advanced AI tools, email authentication will become critical to safeguard against false narratives. The election season will likely … [More]
Business Leaders Split on Recession Forecasts as Economic Outlooks Moderate, Says Survey
Performance expectations remain high despite labor and inflation challenges
Following a year marked by banking industry disruption, geopolitical risks and sustained macroeconomic challenges, small and midsize business leaders are sharing a more balanced outlook heading into 2024, while pulling back from previous predictions of a near-term recession, according to JPMorgan Chase’s 2024 Business Leaders Outlook survey released today. Expectations for a … [More]
Their Take: NFIB State Director Discusses New Reporting Requirements for Small Business Owners
In a conversation with ABC 15’s Ben Brown, NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich discussed new beneficial ownership reporting requirements for small business owners, which took effect January 1, 2024. Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), more than 32 million businesses will be required to report information about their business and business owners to a new federal database … [More]
Give Quiet a Chance in 2024 (It’s the Small Change That Changes EVERYTHING for Professionals)
Another year is winding down, and, sadly, your job is STILL making you miserable. You’re stressed, burned out, and overwhelmed. Even when you manage to get things done, your work is at best unfulfilling and at worst totally meaningless. And at the end of the day, you’re too exhausted to enjoy your friends and family. The worst part is, you’re not exactly sure why you feel … [More]
IRS Announces Limited-Time Repayment Program for Faulty Employee Retention Credit Applications
The Internal Revenue Service has just published Announcement 2023-3 which allows companies to repay Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) funds that they received from the federal government based on a defective application. The Service is offering this program to mitigate the impact on businesses who were the victims of unscrupulous promoters of ERC applications. The limited … [More]
Embracing the Future: Phoenix’s Small Business Landscape in 2024
A glimpse into the projected trends that promise to shape the Greater Phoenix small business community in the coming year
As we stand on the cusp of 2024, the entrepreneurial spirit in Phoenix is palpable, with the region’s economy showing robust momentum over recent months with new business growth exceeding the national average. But with a global economic downturn looming and new technological and societal trends emerging every day, businesses in Phoenix need to adapt if they want to thrive in … [More]
Are You Directing Most of Your Resources to Market-Facing Innovation? Here’s Why You MUST
Once upon a time, your company’s founder was laser-focused on delivering superior, differentiated value to customers. Those customers had specific needs, and the company set out to fulfill them better than anyone else. But as the years passed and the business grew, that intense focus, well…drifted. Leaders got caught up in other priorities—say, tweaking productivity or quality, … [More]
Navigating the Path to Tax Season Success
Essential end-of-year strategies for Arizona business leaders
As 2023 draws to a close, business owners in Arizona gear up for the inevitable task of tax preparation. While end-of-year accounting can often feel like drudgery, when done right, the significance of proper planning to drive long-term success cannot be overstated. From leveraging tax law changes to buttoning up charitable contributions and large purchases, ensuring your … [More]
