By John F. McVea NOVEMBER 8, 2020 — 2:00PM Q: How do you know when it’s the right time to scale up and grow your business? A: One of the biggest challenges you face as an entrepreneur is growth. In the early years of a startup, an entrepreneur is often desperate for cash flow to make the…

Read more

As COVID-19 drags on, smaller businesses face different challenges now than when things began in the spring.  By Mike Porter Special to the Star Tribune OCTOBER 4, 2020 — 2:46PM Q: What can I do to be as successful as possible in leading my company through the pandemic? A: As COVID-19 drags on, smaller businesses face different challenges…

Read more

First, create an environment that is a psychologically safe space because establishing an atmosphere of trust is crucial.  By Jill Hauwiller Special to the Star Tribune OCTOBER 11, 2020 — 2:21PM Q: How can I facilitate better brainstorming from my team? A: The first step in facilitating a fruitful brainstorming session is to create an environment that is…

Read more

Once in the business, following the franchiser system becomes central to success.  By Mike Porter Special to the Star Tribune SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 — 6:33AM Q: What are some of the best practices of starting and building a franchise business? A: Franchising represents a specialized area of business. Many options exist for kinds of businesses to consider,…

Read more

Diversity in top ranks has grown just incrementally.  By Patrick Kennedy Star Tribune AUGUST 4, 2020 — 8:15AM Pledges for increased diversity in public companies have intensified since George Floyd’s death in 2020. Chief executives have not only given to community efforts but also said they are listening and know they need to do better in integrating staffs.…

Read more

Ultimately, culture can change as a result of leaders communicating their values frequently and widely.  By Rama Hart Special to the Star Tribune AUGUST 9, 2020 — 2:00PM Q: What is needed for organizational culture to stay strong in the new normal? A: While the new normal of our society going virtual has advantages and disadvantages, if an organization…

Read more

It is more about thinking about what we are really trying to achieve, who we are trying to become and how we can allow others to thrive.  By John F. McVea Special to the Star Tribune JULY 26, 2020 — 2:00PM Q: What is the best way to lead during turbulent times? A: Unprecedented economic conditions have caused…

Read more

What should employers do when they learn of unsavory activities outside of work? Social media use is sky-high. In 2019, We Are Social reported that there were almost 3.5 billion active social media users worldwide. According to GoodFirms, 98.55% of surveyed users access four or more social media platforms daily, while GlobalWebIndex cites people spending…

Read more

Leadership researcher Christine Porath looks at how workplace incivility damages productivity and employee retention. Watch this video for insights about the cost of incivility and how basic respect improve workplace culture.

Read more

Celebrity jeweler creates a loyal following through his jewels and his commitment to doing good. Let’s take a trip back in time to 1992, to the premiere of the movie Basic Instinct. An actress named Sharon Stone walked down the red carpet wearing jewelry made by relatively unknown jeweler Martin Katz. At the time, only…

Read more