In an organization whose size does not exceed 100 to 150 employees, chances are most employees see the “boss” on a daily basis. Leadership and ethics are tightly entwined in a small organization. The credibility with employees, vendors and customers is at stake on a daily basis and often rests on split-second decisions.

Like many business owners, I became complacent. I relied on my regular customers to keep me in business. It wasn’t that I did a bad job. I opened the store, presented my product reasonably well and tried to treat my customers in a fair and honest manner. For many years, it was good enough to keep the doors open. But now, it seems good isn’t good enough.

It’s probably no surprise here, but the largest sector in the Business Source region is manufacturing, containing 22 percent of all nonfarm payroll jobs.

With the subprime crisis mushrooming into a global recession, all eyes are on Washington, D.C., in anticipation of the federal government’s unprecedented $825 billion fiscal recovery plan designed to keep the nation from falling into another Great Depression.

“You see all these downed limbs, John? The ice has removed the weaker limbs and that’s exactly what this recession is doing to business.”

We get hundreds of submissions via e-mail and a few more by mail or in person every day. The ones that are the easiest to digest are those that are simple and concise — with the most important information at the beginning of the press release.
Always keep this question in mind: “What is it that you really want us to know?”

There are new things to learn, whether inside a classroom or outside of it, and I intend to spend the rest of my life learning everything I can about the world around me. It is part of being an informed citizen, and it’s the best thing you can do to ensure against unemployment.

You need business. You need it now, and you need it next year. Without marketing to the people or businesses that are still buying, that’s pretty unlikely to happen.

While nonprofits are not traditionally thought of as a part of the local economy or business world, their impact is not only felt indirectly in the services provided, ones that the government or private sectors do not have to pick up, they also have a sizeable direct financial impact that is indeed measurable on the economy and shouldn’t be ignored.

If it can happen to me, it can happen to you. I cannot possibly say this enough to businesses: Back up your work!

Here are some recent updates in employment law that may impact your business.

Send your My Office nominations to steve.kozarovich@sibusinesssource.com

The pride of achieving a life’s dream of independence and security, and in many cases financial self-sufficiency, has driven those with the entrepreneurial spirit to survive tough times.

Each of us in some small way can open a door to community service. We first must respond to the knock and be willing to walk through. We can list our excuses, or see the needs and opportunities on the other side.