Updates about the coronavirus are everywhere, even though much remains unknown. Workplaces are scrambling to gather information and make decisions. Leaders responsible for communicating about coronavirus have a major challenge. Tell your stakeholders...

Bitcoin’s large price swings during the last five years provided some investors with astronomical returns and others with similar losses. A recent study suggests this dramatic price fluctuation might have been intentional and caused by the manipulative...

How do companies such as Eli Lilly and Co. or Chick-fil-A continue to be successful?  Budgeting is a major piece of the work they put in to know where they are going.  A budget is a thoughtful process for what the business wants to achieve financially.

While international organizations have called for the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, including the G20, the International Energy Agency, and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the US has actually increased its...

The headlines about coronavirus tell the macro-level business story. Apple is cautiously opening its plants in China to restart production. Shipping giant Maersk cancelled 50 sailings last week. China’s Hubei province officials are asking firms to not...

Everyone acknowledges that sooner or later, the economy has to cool off. With a slowing somewhere in our future, Indiana’s ability to attract and retain jobs and investment right now is critical. Growing an economic base made of up of good jobs across...

As someone who studied personal finance in college, graduated, and began a career in financial planning, one might assume that my financial situation is in “mint” condition. Wrong! I am one of approximately 43 million Americans carrying federal student...

Manufacturing – long-recognized alongside agriculture as the backbone of Indiana’s economy – is enjoying a resurgence powered by demand and innovation. Just recently, Governor Eric Holcomb began his 2019 State of the State address with news of...

The landscaping contractor had a nice-looking pickup truck and well-kept trailer. He had invested some money in an attractive door sign. But a little detail probably cost him more business than he ever realized.

Nobody likes a grammar snob. It’s exhausting to come under the watchful eye of someone who likes to jump at every opportunity to say, “Well, actually…” before correcting your writing. And if my experience as a naïve English student taught me anything...

Justice, it’s often said, should be blind.  But as a matter of fiscal policy, it’s increasingly difficult to turn a blind eye to the costs of criminal justice and corrections as practiced in Indiana. As county jail populations have skyrocketed across...

2019 was a solid year for the stock market. The first three weeks of 2020 started much the same way until the threat of the Wuhan coronavirus sent markets tumbling. While the impact at this time seems temporary and relatively mild (at least compared to...

February is a time to cherish your sweetheart, but this year, it’s important to prioritize your heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a coronary event happens every 25 seconds in the United States. Beginning in...

I just returned from a tour of 16 Tech near downtown Indianapolis, and I can tell you that this is a project that all of us should start paying a lot more attention to. Tracing its roots all the way back to 2011, the development is nestled into the...

Grab a handful of darts, close your eyes, and let them fly across the room. You’ve just demonstrated the marketing strategy far too many companies use. I’m not saying those companies are run by stupid people. In fact, they’re usually remarkably...

The last year was among the most memorable in the freight forwarding business. We kicked off 2019 with the frigid Polar Vortex, recovered and spent the year navigating tariffs. While we can never predict exactly what will happen in a New Year, we are...

The stock market has basically risen for the past decade. Are you concerned that a correction could negatively impact your retirement accounts?  One way to hedge the traditional investments in your portfolio (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) is by...

Do you know where your 20% rests?  The year 2020 has provoked dozens of comments and articles relating to 20/20 vision and the importance of having that same clear vision and focused direction for the future.  No doubt, vision and strategic planning...

Sometimes it begins with “borrowing” a small amount of money, as a temporary loan from an employer. He or she may be thinking, “I really need this money and I’ll put it back when I get my paycheck,” or “I just can’t afford to lose everything...

They each had failure after failure in their lives. It was a time of major conflict, both emotional and physical. A certain type of leadership was necessary in order to achieve success. The ones who were losing, ended up winning. The winners ended up...

If money grew on trees, we would rake it up every autumn and be in business. But we all know that making and using money wisely is not a natural act. For example, small business owners looking to expand may find their growth plan...

While the U.S. stock market has repeatedly made new all-time highs, it is essential to remember that stocks don’t go up in a straight line forever. Perhaps the relentless climb of stock prices has caused many investors to forget about the importance of...

Over the last several years, California has experienced deadly and damaging wildfires, many sparked by electrical lines blown into contact with each other by the annual Santa Ana winds, creating sparks that cause underlying vegetation to ignite. 

For most internet users, website accessibility is expected. For example, if someone goes to Target’s website, they will expect to be able to see products, compare prices, and order online. For people living with disabilities, this expectation is...

For a decade, the hiring process has been consistent. A job candidate submits their resume, a phone interview is scheduled that potentially leads to an in-person interview and then the most qualified candidate gets the job. While the general equation...

President Trump’s commitment to improving the economy and the engine that drives it – small businesses – has been undeterred. And, when he approved the federal government’s fiscal year budget in late December, he secured the future of America’s...

Imagine this: It’s your lucky day. You catch every green light on the commute home from a tough day at the office, so you stop by a gas station to purchase a scratch-off. You win $10,000! What’s your next move?

Last year I gave birth to my fourth child and thanks to my company’s generous maternity leave, I was able to take paid leave in order to help my family adjust to our new bundle of joy. It was during my time out of the office and with a concentrated...

Twenty years ago, a chemical discharge in Anderson contaminated the White River and killed millions of fish -- an unforgettable site of environmental devastation that impacted miles of river ecosystem all the way to Indianapolis. Much progress has been...

With high school seniors starting to be accepted into colleges, now is the optimal time for them to consider which school is right for them. This means they need to consider whether or not their college of choice has a curriculum that will...

In a recent meeting about a company’s differentiators, the discussion landed fully on mediocre options. Yes, your people are always wonderful. Yes, your culture is top notch. The main challenge with this is that lots of companies can say this, too, and...

Selling an investment to create a tax-loss is generally a year-end strategy for reducing your tax burden. However, you don’t need to wait until the end of the year.  But, you do need to understand the rules.  If not, you could void the...

Indianapolis icon Madam C.J. Walker lived more than a century ago, when women didn’t have the opportunities they do today. Despite the obstacles she faced, Madam Walker created an innovative beauty product empire, employed thousands of women across...

One of today’s most effective marketing tools owes its existence to a century-old request from Winston Churchill. In the early 1920s, while grappling with a tough policy issue related to the Middle East, Churchill asked for a paper detailing the...

There is a myth that some businesses do not have enough data, or their data is too “dirty” to provide any real value. This false narrative is common among most industries, including manufacturing, home services, consumer goods, retail, and entertainment.

As a marketing and advertising agency, it makes sense that our primary contact at most clients is the individual who oversees marketing. But we usually find ourselves navigating around many masters.

The “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement” Act of 2019, better known as the SECURE Act, was approved by the Senate on December 19, 2019, and signed into law on December 20 by President Donald Trump. It made significant changes that...

If you’ve been keeping pace with the information security world, you’ve heard about the significant uptick in ransomware attacks. Most notably, the attack which Louisiana’s Office of Technology Services last November. Another crippling attack happened...

Simone Biles' recent unparalleled performance in gymnastics caused me great pause, how she balances on a narrow beam, flips multiple times in the air, glides from high to low bars, and jumps with style over a horse then…lands on her feet. I notice how...

A recent social media ad stated that said platform was "built to bring people closer together and build relationships."  However, today one must wonder if the “shadow side” of social media isn't responsible for much of the "division" that is touted...

“We not even talkin’ bout the game, the actual game, when it matters. We talkin’ bout practice.”  - Allen Iverson. Retired NBA basketball player Allen Iverson made this comment regarding why he missed practice.  Some would argue that practice or...

“Save more and spend less” has been one of the top five New Year’s resolutions every year.  So, it’s a safe bet one of yours for 2020 will be financial-related. Unfortunately, according to the research, only about 8 percent of those setting New Year's...

By now, everyone knows employee morale is vital for the success of a business - and that happy employees are 12% more productive than others. While generous benefits and a competitive salary are obvious choices when it comes to retention and...

There are many motivational quotes on the walls of e-commerce start-up Next Jump. One of the most popular ones, however, is the one that says “Better Me + Better You = Better Us”. In this day and age of cutthroat competition and warp speed innovations...

But for a handful of votes, the granddaddy of all bowl games might have been known as something quite different. Can you say the “Hoosier Tournament of Roses?”

Indiana’s fiscal policymakers got an early holiday present last week – a state revenue forecast bolstered by predictions of a more resilient economy and legislative action to expand our sales tax base.  The optimistic analysis is good news on its own...

Caregiving is a challenge any time of the year, but the holidays can be particularly difficult. It’s a busy season filled with family activities that can take a toll on your older loved ones, physically and mentally. I’d like to offer my perspective...

When you hear the words “Artificial Intelligence” (AI), the first things that pop into most people’s brains are Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri or maybe Tesla’s autopilot feature. These tools have really changed the life of their users, making things...

Some time ago, the philanthropic and business communities embraced an idea that, while it seems perfectly logical today, was radical at the time. “Nonprofit organizations,” they decided, “need to act more like businesses.”

Last week I saw firsthand the work your fellow Hoosiers do to help those who have fallen on hard times. In Indianapolis, I visited an American Jobs Center. These centers provide an integrated array of high-quality services so job seekers and businesses...

It’s that time of year again!  No, not the holidays. I’m talking about “open enrollment” for your group health insurance. If they haven’t already, your company’s benefits department will be reaching out to provide you with your plan choices for the...

A well-designed work environment can have a profound impact on the culture of the organization as well as the motivation of its employees. Unorganized office space can negatively affect your employees’ productivity. Whether your company has 10 or 500...

Now is the perfect time to give yourself the gift of an updated LinkedIn profile. Whether you are using the platform to network, build your personal brand, research companies or develop a strong digital footprint, you want to make sure it’s updated...

Why is there so much value to asking questions in the headlines of your ads, websites, and other marketing materials? The answer is pretty powerful.

Adding heat to a tinderbox, even a little bit, ignites a huge raging fire. As the holidays approach, this bears consideration as we gather with people who may have polar opposite viewpoints in our divided country. I’ve found myself wondering whether...

The holidays can be a wonderful time of year. You see family and friends and get caught up on each other’s lives. But the holidays can also be stressful and filled with awkward moments, particularly when it comes to money and family.

For the last several decades, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association and the Indiana Forest Alliance have disagreed and at times clashed over issues involving the management of our state forests, but recent joint meetings have revealed...

By now, nearly every business and organization has a website or online presence that advances the mission of their organizations or furthers their business. Most get that.  Today’s problem is not in having a website, but it’s rooted in the ease of...

Tony Dungy, the former Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts has said it is “the choice between what’s convenient and what’s right.” It is the one characteristic that  clearly identifies and separates true leaders from those who only pretend to lead.

The consistent rise in podcast listeners has led to a growing opportunity for high-quality, well-executed, impactful podcasts in the business space. But, even though the number of monthly podcast listeners is on track to reach 112 million by 2021...

It's very common for spouses to title property they own together as “joint with right of survivorship.” When one passes, the other owns the property outright. It’s simple, easy and automatic. But it can get messy when the other joint owner isn’t your...

Once upon a time, social media advertising meant creating a Facebook page and racking up as  many “likes” as possible. Brands could post and consumers would see it. In their infancy, web 2.0 and social media were all about the bells and whistles...

Selecting vendors and business partners are some of the most critical decisions a business leader can make. Especially for a growing company or one undergoing change, a business partnership can heavily influence your company direction, culture, and...

Everyone is talking about an upcoming economic recession!  Do you agree with the economists?  Understanding the data they use may help you better anticipate the impact a recession could potentially have on your financial wellbeing.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, certain companies doing business in California will have to comply with what is now the nation's strictest data privacy law – the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The CCPA is an extraordinary piece of legislation...

I’ve worked in a diverse mix of industries, and often times I hear the same concerns as it relates to bridging the worlds of education and business. Many business leaders see the value their organizations can provide to students and know the paths to...

The employee handbook: It’s a document most companies have, but it’s not one employees are likely coming back to review time and time again. This is largely due to the fact that most employee handbooks are unhelpful and painfully boring. They include pages upon pages of non-specific, drag-and-dropped content about employee conduct and guidelines while leaving out the interesting information: a company’s unique values and attributes. When done well...

In January, fifty new mayors will take office across Indiana.  From Aurora on the banks of the Ohio River to Gary on the shores of Lake Michigan – and dozens of cities and towns in between – they’ll start turning campaign promises into governing priorities. But some will confront tougher choices and tighter budgets, and widely varying degrees of taxing and spending flexibility. Their circumstances go beyond issues inherited from their predecessors; Indian...

So, you’ve traveled “over the river and through the woods” to your parent’s or grandparent’s house for Thanksgiving only to discover that your loved one needs assistance. You’d rather watch the football game and eat a slice of pumpkin pie, but...

“Now more than ever, our state needs to ramp up efforts to prepare Hoosiers for the jobs available today—and for the one million more we expect to have open by 2025.”  These words, spoken by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, underscore the importance of...

Many of the decisions made in the interest of protecting people are knee-jerk reactions that follow horrifying incidents. Each incident forms the basis for physical changes to facilities that would prevent a recurrence of the incident.

The Indiana unemployment rate fell to 3.2 percent in September, the lowest rate the state has seen in nearly 20 years, as employers throughout the state continue to see workers leaving their organizations at staggering rates.

Open Enrollment is upon consumers again and there are likely questions on what they should do in terms of health care coverage for 2020. Options for coverage can be overwhelming, but consumers can choose a plan that fits them best through education on open enrollment, understanding what’s new in terms of health plans and learning of any changes going into 2020.

Good chance YOU have been a victim of a cyber security attack!  When a company gets hacked, you and other customers become the “victims” of the breach. That puts your identity at risk!  The FTC estimates 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year!  What’s the greatest potential for identity theft?  On-line shopping! Yikes!

Are we there yet?  It’s an often-voiced quote that we’ve all come to appreciate. The origin may have been with the kids in the back seat, but as adults, the sentiment applies as well. Consider the fact that successful professionals never “arrive,” but are always in search of that next destination. In fact, adults who feel they always have more to learn, have inherent qualities that some “drivers” lack, and from which those...

The long war against drug addiction continues to rage, with the opioid crisis representing the latest front of the battle. As with any long fight, our strategy must change as the forces of death and destruction find new ways to attack those most vulnerable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 68% of the 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid – six times higher than in 1999.

Gallup recently reported the results of a large study. Only 30% of employees in the U.S. are actually engaged at work. Over the last 12 years that percentage has not changed. Gallup goes on to suggest it is the managers who account for a 70% variance in employee engagement at work.

Robert Smith became one of most talked about individuals on social media over the summer. Why? He told the Morehouse 2019 graduating class that he would pay off their student loans. Many donors have done the same but never so publicly. Most commencement speakers give the students the typical talk about striving for greatness and following your passion, but Mr. Smith went a step further. His gift is not just monetary, he’s changed the direction of those...

It’s that time of year!  If you have a student entering or returning to college in the fall of 2020, now’s the time to start the financial aid process.  An hour of your time could mean thousands of dollars for tuition and expenses.  Don’t make the mistake of assuming you don’t qualify. It’s worth your time to check! If there are thousands of dollars at stake, you would expect most parents and students to be anxious to apply. Unfortunately,...

Congratulations—you’ve decided to open a business or franchise, or maybe you are expanding your business to a new location. Indianapolis is a fantastic market to do this—a metropolitan area where retail leasing is still financially feasible for small businesses. According to CBRE’s Indianapolis Retail Outlook report, retail sales for Indianapolis are expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next five years.

It’s projected that by 2025, the United States will have 3.5 million new STEM jobs, yet 2 million of those jobs will go unfilled because of the lack of highly-skilled candidates. The careers of the future call for rich STEM experience, yet our students aren’t being equipped with the skills they need for success, and many aren’t exposed to STEM careers in a way that sparks interest for the future. As a community, we must get creative to solve this STEM shortage by inc...

Even though Westfield is miles from the nearest Red Line stop, I’m rooting for the success of Indianapolis’ new bus rapid transit service. This is important to “my little city” because if the Red Line does well, the sooner this service will extend to Westfield as originally planned.   My enthusiasm isn’t just about getting the Red Line to Westfield. It is also about metro Indy’s ability to compete with other areas for...

Ready or not, your business now operates in the digital age. For many companies, that means ever-increasing reliance on cloud-based subscription software which is also known as software-as-a-service or SaaS. And the SaaS industry is booming; it’s projected to be worth more than $100 billion in 2020, according to technology analyst Gartner. One reason this industry continues on a steep growth trajectory is the increasing purchase and use of SaaS by businesses of all sizes.

How would you like to give $10,000 to your favorite school to fund a financial aid scholarship, while spending as little as $2,000 of your own money? This may sound too good to be true, but thanks to Indiana’s School Scholarship Tax Credit program, it’s possible. And it’s making some Indiana students’ dreams of a private education a reality! SGOs and Indiana’s Tax Credits Indiana’s tax credit is available to individuals or corporations that donate...

The oldest members of Generation Z will turn 22 this year. Will they follow their millennial counterparts' lead in changing jobs every two years? It may be too early to tell, but with the unemployment rate remaining at record lows, businesses will soon be competing for this young talent. Much discussion has been had about how to prepare members of Gen Z for the workplace. But perhaps we should instead be asking ourselves, “how can we prepare our workplaces for Gen Z?”

The idea of seeing "Made in Poland" on a garment label may sound far-fetched, but in the current global economic climate, it could become a reality. Tariff duty rates recently imposed on goods imported into the United States from China are adding up for some businesses. The bottom line is this: there are alternatives for companies looking to manage their long-term supply chain costs.

The gig economy has been around ever since workers began looking for supplemental income, but, it has recently evolved with the introduction of technology. Companies emerging like Uber, Lyft and GrubHub, are changing the gig economy landscape of the workforce. The gig economy has attracted millennials and Gen Zers because of the flexibility and autonomy to work from anywhere, at any time.

Creating a digital persona means using data, machine learning and networked devices so a business can tailor messages and experiences to specific kinds of buyers and users. It sounds like a marketing unicorn, but it’s closer than you might suspect, thanks to the potential of digital personas. The ultimate goal of a digital persona is to achieve the marketer’s dream: a segment of one.

Americans are in the age of reducing waste. There’s a big push to purchase sustainable products, reduce our usage of plastics, and recycle. But has this trend carried over to our personal finances?  Not really.  In a study by The Ascent, the financial expertise arm of The Motley Fool, more than 60 percent of respondents felt they have wasteful financial tendencies. Why is that?

"Problems cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them," is attributed to Einstein over 75 years ago. This still holds true, particularly in challenging communications. Many people address conflict at the level it was created by rehashing and building more evidence for their ‘side’ of an argument. Repeating a position tends to intensify the separation of people.

Everyone knows that keeping the consumer happy is the first priority. The importance of considering the customer’s experience in all areas of engaging with your business, not just customer service is becoming even more clear. I’m seeing an increasing number of my peers in the marketing world take ownership of the customer experience with their brands. As a result, we’re all learning how to borrow and...

Indiana is the most manufacturing intensive state in the country and more than a third of the state’s GDP comes from the industry. The health and wellness of Indiana’s economy is dependent on the state’s manufacturing industry. But Hoosiers face a challenge: it is expected that nearly a quarter of the current manufacturing workforce will be of retirement age in the next 10 years and we lack the generational workforce to make up that gap.

Time is the one resource in your life that is neither replenishable nor renewable. Regardless of how you spin it, everyone starts each day on an equal playing field with 24 hours in the time bank. And while people often yearn for more time, what they really need is better time management. Understanding where your time goes, when you are most productive, and why you should protect yourself against distractions are the keys to achieving your max productivity.

Back in July when we first discussed WeWork, this fast-growing but money-losing venture was one of the most talked-about IPOs in years. At that time, we noted that it was too early to say what would happen, but “it should be very interesting to watch it all play out.” Turns out, that was a massive understatement!

This is sobering. A local business broker in Indianapolis reports nine out of 10 business owners who want to sell are turned away. Of the one in 10 that does make it past the first analysis to sell, over half of those company owners don’t get the sale price they hope for or believe the business is worth. Bottom line, hope is not a plan if you want to sell your business.

For businesses looking to relocate or residents pining for a Sunday drive, Indiana drivers will find open roads with nary a pothole in sight. According to CNBC’s yearly tab of “America’s Top States for Business,” Indiana regularly nabs first place for its well-maintained infrastructure. But accolades and acclaim may soon sour if the Hoosier State invites larger, heavier trucks onto its roads.

Engineers play a key role in society, influencing some of the world’s most impressive – and life-changing – innovations. From electricity and highways to digital electronics and health care equipment, engineers have made a huge impact on every aspect of modern life. As the world continues to evolve, engineers will play an increasingly important part in developing solutions to tomorrow’s challenges – and the world needs more of these skilled workers.

Just as each new generation believes it’s the first to discover the wonders of sex, those who have stumbled upon the power of storytelling mistakenly believe they’ve unearthed an extraordinary innovation. In fact, these well-meaning folks are simply learning what generations of their predecessors already knew and employed with great success. As I explained what I do to feed myself to a pair of business owners at a recent networking event, one noted it seemed that more...

If you have a mortgage on your house, what happens when you die?  What about a car lease or credit card debt?  Are your heirs required to pay off what you owe? What is the financial legacy that you will leave behind?  Your legacy could be the bequest of property or money, but it could also mean inheriting debt. It’s not uncommon for spouses or others to get bombarded with collection calls from creditors asking to pay the bills of a family member who has died.

Advocates of allowing government appointees to set certain drug prices are ignoring some potentially serious unintended consequences that could harm Indiana seniors and our state’s robust life sciences industry. As the president of a multi-generational manufacturing company within Indiana’s life sciences sector, I’ve seen firsthand the significant impact pharmaceutical research and development can have on both patients and our state’s...

Everyone recognizes that social media has changed our culture. Not only do we communicate in radically different ways since we learned to post, share, YouTube and Tweet, but we also have accepted new ways to gather information, buy and sell products, make travel plans, do business and more. As life-altering as those innovations have been, however, it seems that they still rely on a decidedly old-school element for success: our natural desire for community.

Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, and Barack Obama have this one quality in common. Besides being able to lead a large corporation or the United States of America, each of these leaders exhibit this one quality.

It’s a great feeling to win a new customer. It’s equally frustrating to lose a customer your company has spent time, energy and money to acquire. Especially when that customer leaves before they even become profitable. While companies often have robust ways to support getting new customers, they often don’t apply the same dedication to keeping their customers after the triumph of acquisition. On some level, it’s understandable when companies...

Currency exchange rates around the globe are constantly fluctuating, including our U.S. dollar. At present, the U.S. dollar is “strong.” And that’s good, right? Not necessarily. Let’s take a basic, top-level look at what determines the strength of a currency and the effect it has on consumer spending and the economy in general.

On August 14-15, the second annual Indiana Water Summit was held with a targeted goal in mind: to propose solutions for water quality and availability issues facing Indiana. Hosted by the White River Alliance, the leading organization for regional water resource protection in Indiana, the event brought together a variety of dynamic speakers and experts from across the country to build upon the important conversations that started at last year’s statewide...

In the days following violent incidents such as school shootings or workplace violence, there’s a lot of analysis. Most often, it’s built around trying to find a cause or an explanation for whatever happened. Invariably, as law enforcement investigates and media interviews people who had been around the perpetrator, patterns begin to emerge.

The Business Roundtable’s recent proclamation about stakeholders and shareholders might not be as revolutionary as first reported. Led by executives of the nation’s largest corporations, the Business Roundtable announced that the key purpose of private sector companies transcends profits for shareholders to also include the interests of all stakeholders including employees, customers, and the community at-large. Reaction to the announcement was mixed.

If your family includes a pet or two, you'd probably do anything to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. But what if your pet was diagnosed with a treatable cancer? Would it be a medically unnecessary death sentence or a $10,000 drain on your family’s finances? Pet insurance could eliminate your need to choose between these two undesirable options. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), today approximately 70 million households include pets. Cats and dogs...

Having a highly engaged and energized workforce is a major key to success for businesses. Energy and engagement have a direct effect on productivity, performance, and the entire company's profitability. According to Gallup, businesses with highly engaged workers see a 17 percent increase in productivity and 21 percent greater profitability. Creating an environment with a highly engaged workforce also has the ability to impact and improve recruiting and retention efforts.

If you’re nearing retirement age, health insurance and Medicare are probably on your mind as well. Do you understand how Medicare works and how the monthly premium is determined? You need to be in the know to avoid making costly mistakes. Here are some tips for potentially lowering your Medicare premiums.

As the epicenter of the nation’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, Indiana has a compelling story to tell about how Hoosier companies make and move the goods people depend on every day. Our goal is to ensure everyone hears these stories – many of which share a common theme focused on cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the way products are made and moved around the world and the people who use them. Conexus Indiana launched an...

I spend a lot of time talking with people about what makes writing good. Depending on who you ask, good writing might be exciting and illustrative. It might be simple and efficient. If you ask someone who works in marketing, good writing translates to whatever helps a marketing strategy generate more leads, or more sales, or more of whatever a business is looking to gain. Though I fully respect and agree with this results-oriented perspective on content, in practice it can be...

The future economy will be driven by data, powered by robotics and heavily invested in the building blocks of nature – biotech and genetic engineering. That’s true of the economy nationwide, and it’s especially true here in Indianapolis, where dominant pharmaceutical and biotech companies are putting us at the cutting edge of the science-based economy. It all sounds larger than life. But the facilities that will house these industries will always be...

The internet broke down geographic barriers for businesses, making it possible to find lower-cost suppliers around the world. But if companies lack the knowledge and skills to manage those suppliers properly, they may end up spending far more than expected. We’ve worked with companies all over the globe to help our clients meet their advertising and marketing objectives while protecting their budgets. While most of those working relationships have been positive, we’ve had...

With little mountain-climbing experience under any of our belts, a few friends and I decided to take on Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest mountain. While regular climbers may not consider this “Gentle Giant” a tall task, it was for us inexperienced climbers.  Is investing your “tall task”? If so, you can learn a lot from our experiences. And you won’t have to climb a mountain to do it!

Like all schools in Indiana, we were disheartened at the ILEARN results for school year 2018. We would like to raise several questions concerning this test as it relates to college and career readiness for our students. The annual Indiana Statewide Assessment (this year’s ILEARN) has been developed to evaluate college and career readiness at all levels tested. We are very troubled by our lack of understanding of what indicators in the test evaluate...

As the healthcare reform debate heats up, employers of all sizes are asking how they can provide meaningful health benefits to attract and retain talented employees as statistics show 88% of employees consider health insurance benefits when choosing a job. However, with the cost of employer-sponsored health care benefits expected to approach $15,000 per employee in 2019, employers are desperately seeking innovative and alternative ways to control...

A successful company culture can be defined as having shared values, goals, attitudes and practices that characterize the organization. In other words, think of your brand’s personality, values and work environment – is it inclusive, positive and supportive? All of these elements matter, especially when recruiting new talent.

For the past few years, I have been beating the drum on how important “male allyship” is to real progress in closing the gender gap and accelerating the advancement of female talent. Yes, it’s been a consistent message of mine and one that I am trying to live out loud in leading Integrating Women Leaders (IWL). Over the last 12 months, I have had a few humbling experiences related to allyship causing me to pause and reflect on my own privilege and the opportunity...

Have you been asked to serve as the trustee of a trust for a family member or friend? Or, are you in the process of determining who would be the best person to act as your trustee? Either way, it’s an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Here are the facts you should know.

Do you feel trapped in your business or leadership role? Do you feel, at times, that there is no “way out” or that there’s no one else who can help you? There’s a name for this (business imprisonment) and it’s curable. Here’s what we often hear. Someone started a business or took a leadership role years ago. The business has been built over several years to become what it is today. It’s successful. Now where does it go?...

This week, in the time it took to cut a ribbon, Indianapolis became a different city. Before the scissors sliced those ceremonial bands, we were a city with a transit system that was inadequate to meet the needs of a public demanding more and more transportation options. Suddenly, we are a city on the path to a real 21st century transit system. OK: “Suddenly” is not quite accurate. By opening the Red Line, this week’s celebrations and ribbon-cutting ceremony...

Los Angeles Lakers standout LeBron James could easily be deemed a success, in every sense of the word. He has fame and he certainly made a fortune in his seventeen years as a superstar in the National Basketball Association. Yet, there is still one thing that has eluded him for his entire career.

Bonds are on people’s minds now—and for good reason. You may have seen Bedel Financial Consulting’s recent article about negative interest rates or you may have read about the inverted yield curve.  Review the bonds in your portfolio to determine the risk associated with each. Not sure what to look for? In this article we’ll highlight the more common risks with bonds and how they can impact your portfolio.

Throughout my sales career I have learned that you are either selling a widget, a concept or more importantly selling yourself every second, every minute, and every day of your life. My books, “Everyday Sales Wisdom for Your Life & Career” and “Bigger Than Sales How Humility and Relationships Build Career Success” explore what it takes to be successful not just in sales but in any career. Let’s see "What’s Bigger Than Sales?"

"I’m just posting it on social media, so the usual rules don’t apply, right?" He was making a major announcement about his company and assumed he didn’t have to be concerned with grammar and style. I told him he didn’t have to worry about those things, unless he wanted to be taken seriously. It’s an increasingly common question, as more of our messages and conversations find their way to social media and newer platforms.

Evidence is mounting that the longest (albeit one of the slowest) economic recovery in U.S. history is nearly at its end – including slumping sales for recreational vehicles made in Elkhart, Indiana. Last week, fears of a downturn pushed enough investors towards long-term treasuries to flash the dreaded ‘inverted yield curve.’  But as the lure of the open road diminishes as economic uncertainty grows, the RV market has joined the bond market as a reliable...

Any nurse can tell you that their career is more than a job. Every day, these professionals face challenges unlike any other by providing comfort and care to their patients during some of their deepest struggles. But for every challenge, there are meaningful personal and professional rewards. Today, however, the nursing field faces a new challenge – especially in the state of Indiana. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, registered nurse is the most...

By now, most students have already headed for college. They’re busy with orientation, new curriculums, and figuring out how to navigate life away from home. If you’re the parent of a college student, you probably think your job’s done—at least for a few months. But do you have legal medical documents for your child? You should! Here’s why.

It may sound like a marketer’s dream scenario: efforts have proven to be so successful it appears a company has completely saturated their target audience. While it may be a good problem to have, it still may be a problem. Hitting a marketing plateau is an opportunity for companies in any industry to reevaluate, re-energize and come to the table with new ideas for better understanding existing customers and engaging new audiences.

The worlds of work and learning are merging in powerful ways, driven by the exponential growth in human knowledge. This means the abilities needed in the workplace go beyond simple “job skills” that can be learned quickly through a short-term training program. I was with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock when he released the newest National Governors Association report, “Governor’s Action Guide to Achieving Good Jobs for All Americans,” at the opening session...

Many leaders who are looking to increase overall productivity at their company are implementing collaborative team environments. This growing trend is backed up by a recent study that states collaborative work environments lead to an increase in overall profitability. However, teams are only effective if built correctly. Don’t expect a group of employees to work well together if you throw them in a room without cultivating any sort of trust or team building.

There is no shortage of literature on how to run a nonprofit and what the board of directors should be doing. Do a quick search for “grant writing advice” or “board meeting agenda” and you will easily find hundreds of resources. But if there is so much helpful information around, why is serving on a nonprofit board sometimes so draining? After founding two nonprofits, Musical Family Tree and the Speak Easy, as well as serving on several nonprofit boards...

Here we go again! On Wednesday, August 14th, we watched the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) drop over 800 points.  The previous Monday the Dow ended down over 700 points. But what you may have missed is the sharp downward move in interest rates that has intensified with the recent stock market volatility. What does this mean for your portfolio?

Every time there’s a shooting at a school or a workplace, the arguments begin. We need more police officers stationed in the buildings. We need to arm teachers or encourage employees to carry handguns. We should invest in smokescreen systems or bulletproof partitions. Everyone should hide from the shooter. Everyone should run from the shooter. Everyone should confront the shooter. It’s healthy that we’re discussing safety, but unfortunately, we’re talking...

Construction remains a major contributor to the U.S. economy, employing over 7 million workers and creating nearly $1.3 trillion worth of new structures each year. The industry spending notched its 7th consecutive year of growth in 2018 and in Indiana, construction contributed $13.4 billion of the state’s GDP of $352.3 billion. Furthermore, revenue for the commercial construction industry has grown substantially over the past five years. In an effort to provide better...

In late July, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Indy Chamber unveiled a roadmap that repositions how Indianapolis uses economic development incentive programs to encourage the types of inclusive outcomes sought for our community.  This important initiative helps strengthen the position for Indianapolis as a place to be for companies and citizens alike.

As the client reviewed our estimate for their new website, they had no problem with the numbers for the design, the hosting, or the programming. But they didn’t understand why we recommended they should pay for writing. Couldn’t they just do that part themselves? Well, yes, they could. But we didn’t think they should. It’s a conversation we’ve had with many clients over the years about many different types of projects. We believe bringing a professional...

August is here and before long students will be off to college. If you have a college-bound student, you’ve already marked a lot of financial steps off your list, things like completing the financial aid forms, calculating the impact of any scholarship awards, and opening joint parent/student bank accounts. But have you investigated tax credits? You just might be able to recoup part of the cost of college. Tax credits are often overlooked amid the scads of other items you need...

If I use a certain word in referencing a friend’s membership organization, I know to expect a negative reaction.  However, that word holds the key to survival for most all membership associations these days.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word’s primary meaning relates to “having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand,” So do you have the word?

When a customer’s experience is underwhelming, they're more likely to leave a company. That’s pretty obvious, right? Customer turnover costs a company money. But focusing on churn alone can lead companies to underestimate the negative impact of a lackluster customer experience. Turnover isn’t the only way a customer’s experience influences revenue. Here’s an example: Recently, I was giving a talk about the value of long-term customer retention.

David’s small service business had done fairly well since it was started almost eight years ago. He had taken it beyond the start-up phase, but because of increased competition, he clearly saw sales leveling off, a familiar refrain for many businesses. The increased pressure felt by David and his business probably wasn’t just because of increased competition. There were many moving pieces that had developed over time as his company went from the start-up trials and...

“Big data” has become a staple in today’s corporate world. In recent years, “the more data the better” has become a popular ethos. The question is, what if data isn’t enough? The last decade has proven that the challenge, as well as the opportunity, lies in turning data into action. Knowing what to do with information already gathered is the new currency in business. The rise in advanced learning techniques and artificial intelligence is proving...

Surprise! A recent agreement was reached between Congress and the White House regarding the federal government’s budget and borrowing limits. In this period of hyper-polarization between the two major political parties, this bipartisan compromise sidesteps a near-term fiscal crisis and a potential government shutdown. But does it have long-term merit and impose a ceiling on future debt, or is it just a stop-gap measure that rolls back the sunroof and lets the sky be the limit...

I was leafing through the newsletter from a favorite organization when I saw they had committed an illegal act. On page three, they reprinted a brief item from Reader’s Digest. It was related to their mission, and they did include a credit line. But all the same, they broke the law. Which law? Copyright law. Unless they obtained specific permission from the publishers of the magazine, reprinting the item violated both U.S. and global copyright provisions.

The construction industry in Central Indiana is booming. Everywhere you go, there are new projects underway as business expands, municipalities invest in modern infrastructure, and our area becomes a better place to work and to live. With so much activity, how can the owners of these projects—and the taxpayers funding them— ensure they’re getting the quality they need at a fair market value? The answer: Qualified Owner Representation.

If you are like Rose-Hulman Ventures, your summer interns are in the final weeks of their internships before returning to colleges this fall. What have you done to ensure it has been a great experience for them and you? At Ventures we employ dozens of student interns each year to work closely with our external clients on product development and innovation. Our business model has provided insights into working with interns and understanding what it takes to make an internship a...

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law ensuring the equal rights of individuals with disabilities, celebrated its 29th anniversary July 26. Focusing on the ADA is a great starting point for businesses who want to build more disability inclusion into their company culture. What better time to start than in the year leading up to the 30th anniversary of the ADA?

Have you ever considered purchasing travel insurance but weren’t sure how it works or if it would even be worth it? Fear not!  Determining whether you need coverage and obtaining it if you do is simply a matter of knowing the answers to three questions. Travel insurance can be beneficial in many scenarios. For example, what if: You have a medical emergency a few weeks prior to your trip? Your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged? Your flight is canceled and you...

The economic divide in large cities continues to expand. Despite a financial resurgence following the 2007-2009 recession, the system wasn’t fixing itself. Enter Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ), a program included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 designed to boost development in economically distressed communities. In exchange for new investments in these communities, investors receive preferential tax treatment. As traditional as it sounds, the QOZ program is...

The Consul General of Israel to the Midwest is relocating to Indianapolis this week for a Pop-up Consulate, highlighting and strengthening the unbreakable bond between Israel and Indiana. In a conversation with my good friend and fellow basketball enthusiast, Gov. Eric Holcomb, I told him we would move the Consulate General of Israel to The Midwest, located in Chicago, to Indiana when the U.S. Embassy will be moved to Jerusalem. Last year, the first condition was fulfilled so I had to...

Two weeks ago, Indiana closed the books on fiscal year 2019.  The biggest news is that surging revenues left Indiana with a historic budget surplus – the state collected nearly $267 million more than anticipated for FY2019, pushing budget reserves to $2.27 billion. That’s a surplus approaching 14% of annual spending (compared to a 50-state average around 8%), with only modest unfunded liabilities. We’re left with a bigger umbrella against the...

As ever-changing technology and workforce needs continue to outpace advances in the classroom, the skills gap has become a widely discussed topic in the business community. Do we have the talent to fill these jobs of the future? While dialogue is important, the skills gap challenge requires real action and collaboration – most importantly, between the education and business communities. By equipping students with the skills that will be valuable to them in the future workforce...

How would you like the opportunity to invest in a company whose revenues grew 105 percent last year? Sound pretty good? But would you be so quick to invest if I told you the company’s losses grew 104 percent? That complicates the picture a bit, doesn’t it? This is the dilemma potential investors in WeWork face as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering in the near future. What WeWork Does WeWork, recently rebranded as The We Company, provides...

When is the last time that you as a business owner truly stopped for 30 minutes or an hour and truly took some quiet time to reflect on your business? Like most owners, it’s probably been quite some time. We all get busy doing things, working hard, taking care of customers, running the business. But if we don’t take some time each day, week, month or quarter to slow down, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Business leaders and owners need the time to slow down to...

Because I run a background screening company, you might be surprised when I confess that there’s a huge inherent flaw in background screening. The flaw isn’t in our services or our people, both of which are remarkably thorough. The problem is that a background screening captures a moment in time. Whether you screen someone as part of the pre-employment process or check on their background a decade after you’ve hired them, even the most effective background screening...

There are currently 78 million baby boomers in the U.S., making up 25% of the population and controlling 67% ($28 trillion) of the country’s wealth, according to the Living In Place Institute. AARP says 90% of people surveyed want to remain as long as possible in their homes. The majority of those 65 and older remodel their home to make it safer and accessible. In fact, 45% of all remodeling work is being done for people over the age of 65. With this amount of data supporting...

If your nonprofit has an external audit, a dedicated audit committee can promote better financial reporting, lead to fewer fraud incidents, and help create a smoother audit process. For example, take the recent headlines regarding the Key Worldwide Foundation. It served as a front for the bribery scandal admitting children of wealthy parents into elite universities. Appropriate oversight might have identified the fraudulent activity early on, rather than from a tipster six years later...

American philosopher William James once said, “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” Have you ever stopped to think about the impact you want to have on the world? Each day—and every dollar—is an opportunity to make a difference. Not sure where to start? Here are several ideas to get you on your way!   Your Presence Is a Present Not every charitable-minded person is financially positioned to give money to favorite...

In a recent article, I described several large and looming regulatory issues that could affect employee compensation and how companies manage their total rewards programs. I wrote about the Paycheck Fairness Act (unlikely to be enacted anytime soon), bans on salary history questions (continuing to gain traction at state and local levels), and new rules concerning EEOC pay data collection (with a reporting deadline of September 30, 2019). Now let’s look at three more...

Among your company’s most important assets are the materials used in your marketing and promotional efforts. But do you know where they really are … or who they really belong to? Your website’s domain name, your product photographs, and those expensive demonstration videos are items you may assume that you own and can access easily. Don’t be so sure. In working with clients, we’ve encountered all sorts of pains in the assets.

Artificial Intelligence is improving and impacting industries, businesses and governments worldwide. For business leaders new to AI, there’s probably uncertainty about its ability to help their organization. Here are a few specific use cases that show the impact. Business professionals are talking about and beginning to implement Artificial Intelligence into their work place. Here are four great examples showing how AI benefits industry.

The workforce of 2019 looks vastly different from that of 1999, and by 2039, the change will undoubtedly be even more dramatic. For many students, the PreK-12 classroom experience isn’t keeping pace with shifting workforce needs. Preparing students for success in the future workforce is a community effort, supported not just by parents and educators, but also by local business leaders. Despite the changing demands of the workforce, U.S. classroom structure and focus have...

Amazingly, mortgage rates are once again at historical low levels. Last year the average rate on a 30-year mortgage was 4.54 percent. Now rates have dropped below 4 percent. A few mortgage providers are even offering 3.75 percent! If you’re a homeowner with a higher rate, should you refinance? Whenever mortgage rates drop, it’s always prudent to consider refinancing. However, the value of refinancing a mortgage differs with each homeowner’s situation. To make the...

Tommy Heinsohn, the former coach of the Boston Celtics, had a temper. At first, his players would react to his fits of rage and readily comply. Over time, however, they stopped listening, ceased reacting, and eventually ignored him. That was when he lost his ability to give advice. While Heinsohn’s style of giving advice was far more autocratic than reciprocal, it did not even come close to endearing players to him. In their landmark study on the art of giving and...

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business is one of the best business schools in the world.  As an undergraduate, I did not appreciate the I-Core (Integrated Core) that provided knowledge in each division of business.  I now know why I-Core is essential.   Each division is like a body part, one cannot function without the other.  Many accountants see the accounting function as its own entity.  Accounting is more than debits and credits or hitting a...

In the past, people’s work lives ended when they retired.  Today, that’s not always the case.  According to a 2018 Harris Poll study, 72 percent of today’s workers are looking forward to semi-retirement rather than leaving the workforce cold turkey. Why is semi-retirement so appealing? For some people, it means a smoother transition into retirement. For others, it’s a chance to pursue a different career or job, and often without a need for...

Though Indiana boasts the official state motto of “Crossroads of America”, the reality is more far-reaching. Our landlocked state is experiencing a big global impact and unprecedented international growth. Indianapolis recently celebrated a year of success with its nonstop flight to Paris; West Lafayette attracted investment from Swedish company Saab; the state as a whole is home to 950 foreign-owned businesses that create 190,000 jobs for Hoosiers. From travel, to...

Statistically speaking, most private-sector workers in Indiana got a raise last year, according to preliminary 2018 average wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The percentage of that annual raise varied from 0.15% for Jennings County in southeast Indiana to 27.8% for central Indiana’s Tipton County. Tipton County’s workers also enjoyed the largest dollar increase of $12,112.  Indiana’s 2018 average wage was $47,864, which was a 3.1% increase...

From Fortune 500 companies to local small businesses, a similar theme rings true. In this strong economy where unemployment is low and growth is high, companies are competing for top talent. In Indianapolis - according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics - unemployment is just 2.8 percent, and investment and job growth are on the rise. This is great news for Indianapolis-area residents looking for work or opportunities to advance their careers, but for businesses and...

Summertime is my favorite time of year, with all of the outdoor events, concerts and activities in and around Indianapolis. Summer is also a pivotal time of year for thousands of Indiana college graduates as they look forward to moving into the next phase of their adult lives. For many college graduates, the next step after graduation is starting a career. Many graduates from Indiana colleges and universities have also grown up in Indiana. Now they want a change. Perhaps the lure of...

Looking for an untraditional way to diversify your traditional stock and fixed-income portfolio? If so, try thinking outside the typical realm of investable assets. Don’t know where to start? How about going against the “grain” and investing in timber? Why Trees? Investing in timber can yield a number of benefits. The main draw of having timber in your portfolio is its low, long-term correlation to traditional investments such as stocks and bonds. Low correlation...

When responsibility for customer retention is dispersed throughout a company, you can end up with some unexpected – and negative – consequences. Not only can it impact revenue and relationships with existing customers, but it can also hurt sales efforts with new customers. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to combat these problems. As I chatted with someone at a recent event, they shared a story that crystallized the risk. The person, we’ll call her Morgan...

Whether or not you’re a fan, you are probably familiar with the most important car in the starting field of most any major race event.  It’s the one car at the beginning of the race, the pace car, that provides the most important lessons since it plays a vital role in leading the way and helping the race get off to the appropriate start. There’s a lot for leaders to learn from that role. Having led countless nonprofits and business teams, and now consulting...

We all know the traditional definition of a professional employer organization, or PEO. PEOs provide small and medium-sized businesses with numerous benefits - from comprehensive human resources management and employee benefits administration to reducing the number of administrative tasks, the list goes on. However, there is another type of PEO that can provide clients with even more benefits, a CPEO.  CPEO are IRS certified organizations who met various requirements in...