Business Mentors

Attracting and retaining top talent for the manufacturing industry is more challenging than ever. Employment is up, the U.S. unemployment rate is near historic lows, and Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age and exiting the workforce.  The global supply of high-skill workers is not keeping up with demand, and, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, […]

I recently] spoke at the City of Ithaca’s Planning Board meeting, at its second of two public hearings (so far), in support of Cornell’s North Campus residential expansion project. Because speakers were limited to 90 seconds (due to the high number of speakers anticipated), I had to submit most of my comments to the board in writing. 

So much these days is written about entrepreneurship, but perhaps too little is written about the entrepreneur. What is an entrepreneur exactly? In fact the word itself has seen dramatically increasing popularity in recent years, probably due in large part to colleges adopting entrepreneurship programs of study. But how do we define entrepreneur in dictionary

In business, the adage “it starts at the top” can prompt an uncomfortable question: “Can the boss finish what he or she started?” Many CEOs and entrepreneurs wrestle with this challenge, with both short- and long-term implications. Meanwhile, a disconnect develops between the CEO’s initial big-picture vision for the company and its seemingly sporadic execution

Just eight years ago American Express created Small Business Saturday, a day that encourages consumers across the country to shop small. Since becoming a co-sponsor of the event in 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has seen the impressive impact Small Business Saturday has on small businesses and their local economies nationwide. According to

Some popular products seem to sell themselves, but the reality is the success began with a process. The same is true in the business of professional sports, a $60 billion a year industry where some franchises grow into monster brands.  Sales managers in many industries sometimes use sports themes in their coaching — competitiveness, dedication, and

A key part of any CEO’s or entrepreneur’s role is to make the “right” decisions, and then ensure they are enacted to advance the business. Yet their decisions and actions often miss the mark, frustrating the achievement of their aspirations. It’s the voice in their head and other invisible factors at work.  All CEOs and

Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, tech, marketing, HR, and career tips. SBA @SBAgovLearn the benefits of a Call to Action (CTA) on your #smallbusiness website — http://ow.ly/X7Mj30mtoJA WBDC @WBDC#SmallBiz owners: help policymakers understand current business conditions by taking #SmallBizCredit survey: https://frb.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3mhPesBmhBlL9l3?orgid=WomensBDC&parentid=&reserve_bank=CHI … SCORE Mentors @SCOREMentors3 technologies

Most everyone has figured out that performance expectations keep going up. To put it bluntly, we face the challenge of doing more in less time. And that’s not about to change anytime soon.  In the past, those with lots of experience fared well. But not today. Experience can hold us back, like running against a

“This survival of the fittest implies multiplication of the fittest.” — Herbert Spencer If I told you that virtually every Federal and state government Funding source is evaluating and monitoring the fiscal health and financial viability of your nonprofit organization, would you believe me? If I asked the question above just five years ago, the answer would