Ideas

Being an entrepreneur and business owner can be challenging, satisfying and sometimes scary. You are chief cook and bottle washer and the buck stops with you. You are faced with decisions on who to hire, when to hire and what they should be paid. You also need help managing your cash flow and inventories.

Question: "As the HR director at my company, I'm spending more time mediating conflicts between work areas. No...

When was the last time that someone in your organization told you the truth about your leadership? How often do you invite feedback? How safe do others feel about telling you the truth? What do you think you might learn by asking the question?

Although the U.S. economy is showing some signs of improvement, the national unemployment rate remains above 9 percent and few are worrying about a future labor shortage in the country.

While the financial services industry remains tumultuous, Milwaukee-based Quest Continuing Education has continued to grow throughout the recession, taking market share away from its competitors in the compliance training industry for financial services professionals.

The high number of people unemployed doesn't mean that finding the right candidate for the job in your company will be easier. In fact, Sarah Peiker, director of recruiting solutions for Manpower Business Solutions, a division of Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc., says it might be even more difficult to fill that position.

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, the Wisconsin Technical College System has seen a sharp increase in enrollment at area colleges as workers seek additional skills to compete in the tough job market.

There are a lot of indicators out there signaling that the economy is on its way back to solid ground. We know corporate profits are a bit healthier, people are again consuming with confidence, and we have opportunities now and then to celebrate a rally in the stock market.

You are always branding yourself. Everything you do and say as well as how you engage with others creates an impression and that impression, reinforced over time, becomes your personal brand (PB).

You've got a customer. In fact, it's a very profitable, long-standing customer that pays its bills and is just generally great to work with.