By Kelly Kilpatrick

When things start to go wrong with the economy, many people start making cutbacks right away as a proactive measure.  This can be quite frustrating as a business owner, but it is an understandable reaction.  There are a few things that are within your power that you can do to ensure that your customers continue to patronize your business during tough times; stay positive, employ these tactics, and watch your customers return.

Know Your Customers

Meeting your customers’ needs is an integral part of any successful business, so make sure that you know who your typical customer is.  If this has changed over the years, it’s time to do some market research.  This will be easier to do if you own a small business where you interact with your client base on a regular basis and slightly more challenging if you have a larger business that doesn’t require regular customer interaction.

Survey Your Customers

This is a great tool that will help you to understand your customers and see if you are truly meeting their needs.  Survey customers can be as simple as posting a survey on your web page or having a suggestion box on site at your place of business.  See if you can find any common threads among suggestions and make sure to pay special attention to your frequent visitors.

Make Changes to Meet Demands

If there are some areas you can improve upon based on customer suggestions and surveys, do your best to make them in a timely fashion.  This shows your commitment to your clients and your willingness to adapt in the face of challenges.  More than likely, positive word of mouth about your attentiveness to people’s needs will help you earn more clients.

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Although this is common sense, the cornerstone of any business is its customer base.  You must show through your actions that you care about them and want them to return to your place of business.  It is not enough to simply bring them in; you must make them want to come back to do business with you again.  Excellent service will separate you from your competitors, especially if you personalize the experience.

Continue to Keep Your Promise

As a business owner, you started out with an idea of what you wanted to achieve, and what kind of goods or services you intended to offer your clientele.  Many customers look at this as an implied promise that you will to your best to continue to meet this goal over time.  They see spending their money with you as a relationship and each time they do business with you, they feel they are investing in you and your promise.  Keep this promise to your customers and watch them come back once the dust settles a bit.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

By Kelly Kilpatrick

Human Resources is one of the most complicated areas of business. Essentially, it’s the glue that keeps all employees working together. When people go to business schools and study HR, professors will give students information pretty much by the book. However, in the real business world, there are many more situations that you will encounter that may not have a textbook answer. With that being said, here are 10 HR lessons that your business professor never taught you. If after this list, you don’t feel more confident about HR, then you might want to consider getting out of HR.

1. It’s all about the people – Human Resources is a people-driven area of business. In order to do anything in HR, be it conflict resolution, or simply evaluating new hires, you have to focus on the people. Knowing that employees have many stresses and have many challenges in the workplace is quintessential to success in Human Resources. While it is important to follow company procedures in everything, having a personal touch is always valuable in HR. Sometimes HR persons have to carry out some of the most difficult tasks in business, such as downsizing. Having people skills can make these challenging tasks much more manageable.

2. Communication is essential – Communication is probably one of the most important skill sets any person in human resources has. Being able to communicate ideas successfully with other members of the company, as well as work on resolving any issues employees may have makes the entire process much simpler. For example, when confronted with a human resources violation, it is important to know how to say things in order to maintain neutrality, and not putting the company at risk. If you overhear employees entering into dangerous territory (like political discussions), knowing a cordial way to suggest a change of subject can be quite helpful.

3. Organization is the key to success – Some of the more negative people in business say that human resources is largely about paperwork. While this outlook is a bit harsh, it is important to have organization when completing HR paperwork. I’ve known people in HR who didn’t have developed organizational skills, and therefore had a hard time managing the demands placed upon them. If you are in charge of managing new hires, having organized files can make filtering through people much easier. Keeping things neat and organized can come in very handy when it comes time to bring up a specific incident report or employee file.

4. You aren’t the enemy – If you were to ask Michael Scott from The Office about HR professionals, he’d probably have some pretty mean things to say. It’s a stereotype that many people who haven’t had true business experience throw around. Human resources is not the enemy. Thinking negatively about your profession, or thinking that other people in the company view your role in a less-positive light is a recipe for disaster. The best suggestion is to realize that human recourses is there to help employees and make sure that everyone works together to help the company become more successful.

5. Always remain neutral – This is a tip that some HR professionals have had issues with. If there is a conflict, or a company policy violation, remaining neutral is of the utmost importance. Even if you may have had personal experience with the situation, keeping a level head and looking at things from an objective, company concerned point of view will make things go much more smoothly. If the HR representative cannot remain neutral, then the conflict will become much more complicated and could even lead to larger problems within the company.

6. If you can’t be neutral, ask for help – If you think neutrality will be an issue, then you should immediately seek a co-workers aid. Report the facts as you see them, and let someone else take the lead on resolving the conflict or reporting the violation. There’s no shame in removing yourself form a situation in which you feel you cannot be entirely impartial.

7. Stick to the facts – Human resources is concerned with facts. Gathering as much information as possible about every incident will ensure smoother and faster resolutions. Less successful persons in HR won’t “go the extra mile” in order to fact-check and interview all employees who may have been involved, or knew what happened. There’s nothing worse than submitting a review to your boss, only to have extremely important facts resurface sometime later. Being thorough with the essential elements of any incident can help you make sure you’re doing the best possible job.

8. Don’t jump to conclusions – It’s only natural for any human to come to their own conclusions on certain events. However, making a conclusion before a final report is released, or all the facts have been carefully analyzed is not a good idea. Depending on your company policy, you may have leeway to include some of your own opinions in an incident report. Keep in mind, though, that if you are going to take the risk in putting your opinion down on paper, you better have thought it through and analyzed all possibilities. There’s nothing more embarrassing than drawing a hasty conclusion that turns out to be woefully inaccurate.

9. It’s okay to be a stickler for rules – Some people think employees in human resources can sometimes be sticklers for rules. It’s okay to stick to company policy on everything. Adding a personal, genuine, human touch to certain situations can help, but your main focus should be doing things by the book. You want to be sensitive to the needs of employees, but you also want to follow policies faithfully.

10. Be aware of the “fishbowl” – If you are in human resources, you will unfortunately be held to a higher standard than other employees. If your job is to investigate violations, hire new employees, and resolve conflicts, then you shouldn’t have any company blemishes. For example, it would make it much more difficult to have employees take an HR representative seriously in a conversation about sexual harassment if the HR representative was often heard making crude jokes at the water cooler. Being in HR places you in a position to be seen differently by many people in the company. Being aware of your actions can ensure that when you do have to be the stickler for rules, no one can accuse you of double standards.

Human Resources is one of the most challenging areas of business to be in. You have to be a leader, know the rules, and deal with employees of all different backgrounds, who all have many different experiences. Once again, HR is essentially the glue that keeps employees together, and working smoothly. HR professors are great when it comes to teaching students the basics, but there’s a large amount of HR that simply cannot be learned in the classroom. Hopefully, with these tips in hand, you’ll be able to avoid some of the rookie mistakes other HR professionals make.
 

Posted in Business Skills -- No Comments

By Jessica Merritt

Travel is an important part of business these days, but it’s often hard to stay productive when you’re away from the office. That’s why we’ve found compiled a list of 50 of the best web based and mobile device tools for productivity on the go. Use these tools, and you’ll be able to work wherever and whenever you need to.

Communication

The ability to stay in touch is one of the most important things to keep when you’re away from a traditional office. Put these tools to work and you’ll always be in the loop.

1. Skype: With Skype, you can keep the same telephone number wherever you are and save on long distance charges.
2. Earth Class Mail: This mail service will allow you to receive snail mail no matter where you are in the world. You’ll get a PO box, scanned images of the envelopes you receive, and the ability to open or trash whatever you receive.
3. MyQuire: This online collaboration tool includes lots of great features, all for free.
4. LiveMeeting: Using this hosted web conferencing service, you can conduct online meetings and events wherever you are.
5. Meebo: Stay in touch with multiple IM clients in this web based tool.
6. Highrise: Highrise allows you to handle your contacts in a shared setting, so you and your colleages will always know the status of important contacts.
7. Grand Central: Grand Central will give you one number that will ring on all of your phones and use one central box for voicemail.
8. SugarCRM: With SugarCRM, you’ll be able to stay on top of your customer relations online.

Storage

When you’re away from your office, you may not have all of the files you need available. Using these services, you can get access to the important information you need using only an internet connection.

9. Flickr: Flickr is one of the most popular and useful photo storage and sharing sites available, so it’s a great choice if you want to be able to access your images on the go.
10. GoToMyPC: GoToMyPC offers a way to remotely and securely access your PC from anywhere, and even control it remotely.
11. Jungle Disk: Powered by Amazon’s data centers, Jungle Disk has reliable and affordable online data storage.

Documents

For many workers, productivity means being able to work on documents, spreadsheets and office files. These tools will allow you to do just that in an online setting.

12. Zoho: Zoho’s suite of office tools offer a way to work on presenations, documents, spreadsheets, and more.
13. Google Docs: Google Docs allows you to upload and save files to your desktop, allow online collaboration and access, and share changes in real time online.
14. Open Office: In this open source productivity suite, you’ll be able to work on documents that are fully compatible with other major office suites.
15. Webnote: Webnote allows you to take notes using your web browser and save them online, so you can access your notes anywhere there’s an internet connection.

Organization

While you’re away from a traditional office, it’s easy to lose papers, sticky notes, and important thoughts, but with these tools you can keep everything safely stored and organized online.

16. I Want Sandy: Sandy will be your personal online assistant, sending you useful reminders and to dos for your day.
17. Basecamp: Make use of Basecamp, and you’ll be able to post and share documents, communicate, and stay on top of your to do lists.
18. Jott: Jott allows you to email yourself notes using just a phone call. The service is integrated with lots of other great tools, including I Want Sandy.
19. HTTrack: If you’ll be working offline, but need to use web pages, download them with HTTrack.
20. Google Calendar: Google’s online shareable calendar service is a great way to stay on top of your schedule while you’re out.
21. Toodledo: Toodledo offers an easy way to stay on top of your tasks in a really organized manner.
22. Remember the Milk: With Remember The Milk’s online to do list and task management, you can keep your tasks organized and easily at hand online and off.
23. Backpack: The Backpack tool will help you organize your business information and share it with your colleagues.

Finance

Keep tabs on your money while you’re away using these finance tools.

24. Mint: Keep all of your accounts in one easy to access space online using Mint’s service.
25. Paypal: This popular online payment system will allow you to pay and be paid using a credit card or checking account no matter where you are.
26. Wesabe: Keep your money under control with this online tool, and you’ll be able to take advantage of social finance as well.

Media

Use these tools to stay up to date with your media and news while you’re on the road.

27. Picnik: With Picnick’s online photo editing, you can fine tune your photos wherever you are.
28. Google Reader: Stay up to date with news, friends, and more using RSS feeds on Google Reader.

Travel & Navigation

Get around the easy way with these travel and navigation tools.

29. Google Maps: Google Maps makes it easy to find out how to get just about anywhere, and it integrates with a number of online and mobile tools.
30. TripIt: Use this online trip planner and itinerary website to get your travel organized from the web.

Device

It’s not always ideal to use a full featured computer when you’re away from the office, so make use of these tools that will help you use your mobile device to be productive.

31. WordBook: Using WordBook’s mobile dictionary, you can look up definitions from your smart phone, even inside of apps.
32. WorldMate: The WorldMate travel software makes it easy to stay on top of weather, currency, and other travel needs.
33. Mobipocket Reader: Mobipocket Reader will allow you to read news, ebooks, and more on your smart phone.
34. VOIP Buster: Use VOIP Buster to get free, high quality voice communications all over the world.
35. Mobile Wikipedia: Keep an encyclopedia in your pocket with the mobile version of the Wikipedia.
36. Fizz Traveler: Fizz Traveler is a great solution for staying on top of all your travel information and more.
37. Text Marks: Make your text messaging capabilities even better with the TextMarks service.
38. IR Remote: This tool will turn your phone into a universal remote control that can operate audio and video equipment.
39. PocketWeather: PocketWeather will make it easy for you to stay updated on weather reports wherever you are.
40. GeoPedia: GeoPedia offers the ability to find Wikipedia articles based on your geographic location.
41. RDM+: Use RDM+ to get remote access to your PC.
42. Orb: Using Orb, you can broadcast from your home PC.
43. Keep Track: Keep Track will help you with organized expense tracking, financial transactions, and accounts, so you’ll have your finances organized when you get back.
44. Evernote: Using Evernote, you can take notes that will sync with your desktop.
45. GooSync: Synchronize your mobile calendar and Google Calendar using GooSync.
46. 1 Calc: 1 Calc will put your installed calculator to shame with its currency converter, graphing, scientific calculations, and more.
47. Oxios: This to do list tool will sync with Microsoft Outlook on your desktop.
48. eOffice: Use eOffice, and you’ll be able to edit documents on your device and integrate with Google Docs.
49. Agenda One: Manage your time in a really organized way with Agenda One’s mobile time management solution.
50. ChatterEmail: ChatterEmail is a smartphone email tool that works with HTML and webmail clients.

Posted in Business Skills -- No Comments

10 Reasons Your Business Should Use Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the search company’s jump into the browser market. The web browser is directly aimed to compete with Internet Explorer, further intensifying the grudge between Microsoft and Google. However, what does Google Chrome mean for your business? It’s no secret that many other browsers have historically lacked in certain areas. For example, Safari and Firefox have their “Internet Explorer only” web site issues, and Internet Explorer has security and crash issues. Google Chrome is a new take on a web browser. It serves not only to be the gateway between you in the World Wide Web, but also to be the centerpiece of your interactions on your computer. Chrome offers many advantages. Here are 10 reasons your business should use Google Chrome.

1. Price – You can make the argument that Internet Explorer comes pre-loaded on all your company computers. However, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re indirectly paying for it. Google Chrome is free, and open source. One can download it, and theoretically put smart engineers to work customizing it and making it even better than before.

2. Google integration – Most companies that wish to have an online presence will probably have to deal with Google at some point. Paid Search campaigns and the like can be bolstered by utilizing Google Chrome. In the future, there will most likely even more synergy between business staples such as Google Analytics and Google Adwords.

3. Security – Security has been a major issue with many other browsers. Specifically, Chrome’s chief competitor, Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer has been known to allow malicious worms access to entire companies. Needless to say, such an event can turn out to be extremely costly for any business. Google Chrome periodically downloads updates on two blacklists. One of the lists is for malware while the other is for phishing. Much like Firefox, users will be warned before they attempt to visit a site that could be harmful.

4. Stability – Chrome goes after another weakness of Internet Explorer by offering increased stability. The way Chrome is designed, there’s a separate process for each site instance and plug-in. This mechanic successfully prevents different functions from interfering with one another. This is an excellent element to both stability and security. If you run a business that may require you to complete a variety of tasks within your browser, then Chrome is a clear winner. Chrome also has a process management utility that is called the “Task Manager.” This utility allows the user to see which sites are taking the most memory, and downloading the most bytes. For some businesses which have to deal with hundreds of workers going to demanding sites, it can help them control what sites to block if they are simply too demanding on the computers and/or internet connection.

5. Speed – I today’s high-octane business world, speed is paramount. Persons testing Chrome against all the other major competing browsers, including Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 7 and 8, and Safari, showed that Google Chrome indeed functioned faster, with more stability. This test utilized the SunSpider Javascript Benchmark in order to obtain the results. If you want people in your business getting their work done fast, then Chrome is clearly the way to go.

6.  It’s not Internet Explorer – There’s nothing more debilitating for a business then constant crashes. Internet Explorer has well known instances of crashing repeatedly, and this can cause significant losses of productivity, or even worse, important data. Chrome’s stability and speed offer a strong counter to a browser which, while used by many businesses, can be quite buggy at times.

7. Did I mention open source – Open source code is perfect for businesses for a variety of reasons. One reason is that when every person can edit the code, security updates, and routine glitch updates can happen much more frequently than if one is forced to wait for the company itself to research and fix issues.  Open source also provides businesses the opportunity to look at ways to make the browser more tailored to fit the needs of the business.

8. Your employees will love it – There are some pretty interesting and engaging elements to Google Chrome. The ability to have a look at the sites you’ve most recently visited right from opening the browser saves having to put bookmarks (which, as well all know was a very tiresome experience). The tabbing options give workers the opportunity to be on a variety of web sites with only one window open (sure other browsers have tabbed browsing, but Google’s looks cooler!). They also get to use a Google product, which has that Apple-ish “cool” factor.  Google Chrome Addons, of course, can make for a more personal experience for each employee, and could probably provide actual utility for productivity, depending on the add-on.

9. Competitive advantage – With extra speed, stability, open source code, integration and potential increased integration with other Google products, Chrome offers a company quite a bit in terms of a competitive advantage. In today’s business world, many corporations can have difficulty separating from the pack in their respective industries. Google Chrome can be one of those separating factors.

10. It never hurts to try – Yes, a lame excuse, but if you’re a small business company looking for a new browser, or just want to see how it will affect any aspect of your operations, then Google Chrome is worth the download. You can easily keep multiple browsers on corporate computers. If nothing else, give your employees some variety and choice in what they use.

Google Chrome isn’t perfect, and lacks many of the great add-ons that Mozilla Firefox has. However, if your business is looking for a free, fast, and simple browser, then Chrome should be strongly considered.

Posted in Business Advice -- No Comments

It’s an unfortunate part of the job universe. Sometimes people just have to get fired. Even if they are trying their hardest, it may just not be working out. Sometimes it gets even worse if you’re the one who has to do the firing, even though your boss is the one who wants it done. However, lamenting the pains of having to fire someone can be pretty boring. One way to spice things up (at least for yourself) is to come up with creative ways to fire someone. Most firings today are done with emotion and “concern” for the person being fired.  However, I feel that if the firing experience is unique, the now jobless former-employee may never forget it, and truly focus on being a better worker. At the very least, you can have a good laugh about your crazy antics with the other managers at the office. So without further adieu, here are 30 creative ways to fire someone.

1. The Geico Technique – Sure it’s been done in movies, but it would be even more hilarious in a real-life firing situation. Simply ask the person being fired into your office, and tell him that you’ve got bad news and good news. If they ask for the bad news first (which we hope they do), you can tell them they’re fired. If they then ask for the good news, you guessed it; “I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.” However, if they say what’s the good news you must use a different technique.

2. The Fake Promotion – If your about-to-be-canned employee asks for the good news first, you can say, “you’re getting a promotion!” Then be sure to add in a bunch of perks to the promotion, quote a new salary if you have to. If they ever ask “really?” or when you’ve decided enough’s enough, simply get a straight deadpan face and say, “just kidding, you’re actually fired.” Your employee’s face sure will be red!

3. The Yoda Technique – Speak normally, and tell them all the things wrong with their performance, etc. Just when you’re getting to the part where you tell them they are now jobless, switch into a Yoda voice and say “Fired, you are!” and then give them a complimentary DVD of the original Star Wars trilogy (don’t give them the new episodes, they’ve just been fired, remember!?).

4. The Unemployment Line – Ask the employee to go for a ride with you. Then, you drive them right to the unemployment offices. Be sure not to talk to them the whole time. Then, when you get there, throw them out of the car and drive off. They’ll get the message.

5. You’re Fired Candy Gram – Who doesn’t love candy grams!? Nothing says “you’re fired” like a nice box of chocolates delivered with a song to someone’s office/cubicle. Make sure the song mentions all the things that they have done wrong during their employment, or else they won’t get the message.

6. The Marty McFly Fax – In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly (the main character) gets fired by his boss via a fax that simply reads “YOU’RE FIRED.” This is a simple, brilliant idea. You could also change it to an e-mail if you were so inclined.

7. The Google Bomb Firing – Yes, Google Bombs are much harder (okay, near impossible) to do now. However, if you know someone is going to get fired months in advance. I suggest spending millions of dollars Google Bombing their name to bring up dictionary.com’s definition for “unemployed.” Won’t it be a laugh when they come in one day and you tell them to Google their name?

8. Fired During a Fire Drill, or Real Fire – I don’t think anyone has ever made the connection, but it’s such a great pun that you almost have to do it. Schedule a fire drill, or perhaps set a real fire (although I wouldn’t recommend it) in your office. As everyone is running around panicking (or calmly congregating outside, depending on your fire alarm method), get on a megaphone and say “This is a fire (drill) because [employee’s name] is FIRED!” Everyone will probably have such a hearty chuckle, it could be worth the thousands of dollars worth of damage.

9. Give the Employee an Atomic Fireball During the Firing – Another pun with equally humorous results. When the employee comes into your office, offer them an atomic fireball. If they accept it, and enjoy it, ask them “do you like atomic fireballs?” When they respond, “yes”, you can then say “great because you’re fired!” and subsequently throw several more Atomic Fireballs at them.

10. Pig Latin Irefay – Fire the person in pig Latin. I’m not quite sure how it would go exactly, but the employee won’t be either. It would definitely be more effective to conduct the entire meeting in Pig Latin, ending with an emphatic, "Ou’reyay Iredfay!" Eventually they’ll figure it out though when their security clearance is revoked so they can’t come into work. Or you can just direct them to a pig latin translator.

11. Just Stop Paying Them – The Office Space technique can really work wonders. It avoids confrontation and is amusing to observe. Just stop paying your employee without ever telling them that they’re fired. Be sure to have payroll refer the employee to you and you refer the employee to payroll. Making office pools for how long it takes before the employee realizes he/she is fired is another positive outcome of this technique.

12. Have IT Change Their Password – You can be very creative by having IT change the employee’s computer password to “imfired” or “unemployed.” When they go to ask what the new password is, they’ll have quite the surprise on their hands!

13. Make Your Kids Fire Them – Who knew that bring your son/daughter to work day could actually have value for the company. Simply have your kids do all the firings for the day. The fired employees won’t feel so bad when they’re firing comes from an adorable child. Kids do say the darndest things!

14. Fired Fruit Basket – People usually send fruit baskets for appreciation. Why not change the entire meaning of a fruit basket by sending a fruit basket with a “You’re Fired” card? Even though the employee will still be upset, at least they get some fruit out of it.

15. Donald Trump Himself – Depending on your commitment to unique firings, you could decide to pay Donald Trump to come say “you’re fired” to the employee. Make sure Trump is hiding in a closet or under a desk to provide extra surprise.

16. Fake Murder Fired – Set up the meeting with the soon-to-be jobless employee. Then, make your office look like the spot of a violent murder. Sprawling out on the floor with loads of professional movie-quality makeup making it look like you’ve had your throat slashed or something horrid is a great idea. When your employee comes in, they may decide to scream or call for help. Be sure to then jump up and yell “just kidding, I’m not dead, but you sure are fired!”

17. Window Washer Drama – If the employee has a nice office with a window, simply give a nice piece of paper to the window washer that reads, “you’re fired!”

18. Fake Kidnapping Firing – Call your employee up and claim to have their loved ones. Spouse, child, or both is usually the most effective. Demand a ransom, and when they agree to it simply say “Just kidding, it’s me, and you can’t afford that ransom anyway, because you’re fired.”

19. Scoreboard Firing – Your company may have box seats to several venues. Invite the employee to come to a game. At the opportune time, have them look as the scoreboard flashes “You’re Fired!” over and over. Although, funnier things have been seen on scoreboards.

20. Hire Before Fire – Hire the employee’s replacement BEFORE they are fired. Be sure to give the replacement the former-employees office. When the old employee comes in and sees a new employee in his office/cubicle, hilarity is sure to ensue.

21. Arm Wrestle for the Job – Invite your employee into your office, then challenge them to an arm wrestling match. If they lose, they lose their job. However, if they win, they get a raise. Even if they lose, you can still fire them, which is funny because you just made them waste time and energy arm-wrestling you before the inevitable canning.

22. Make an Human Resources Employee Do It – On second thought, I think that’s a bit mean. No one should ever have to talk to HR.

23. The Tricky Business Birthday Cake – At the office, there will often be cakes when someone has a birthday. If someone who is going to be fired also has a birthday coming up, give them a “you’re fired” cake. Everyone can have a laugh, and the person being fired still gets a cake out of it.

24. Elaborate Office Musical Number – Shows like Family Guy often break out into musical numbers at random times. If you’re going to fire someone, what better time then to start singing? Getting the whole office involved is a great way to build a stronger team through ostracizing one of the former members via music!

25. The James Bond Theme Firing – When the employee enters your office, make sure some James Bond music is playing softly in the background. Also make sure you have a huge captains chair and you’re facing the window away from the office door (preferably smoking a Cigar). Spin around slowly and say “Well [employee’s name], I’ve been expecting you…” You can then go into the whole firing speech. A little theatrics can go a long way when firing someone.

26. The Show and Tell Surprise – Oftentimes kids have special “what my parents’ jobs are” show-and-tell days. Find out when your employee has such a day, and then surprise him or her at their children’s school. When they are giving the presentation about their job, be sure to jump in and inform them that they no longer have that job. Feel free to stick around and see what they say to the little wide-eyed children.

27. Massive E-Mail Oops – E-mail the employee informing them of the decision and the reasons behind it. Accidentally CC the entire company for added hilarity.

28. You’re Fired Tattoo – This idea is great because it could be used many times. Tattoo “You’re Fired” somewhere on your body. The more creative the body part that it is tattooed on, the more interesting every firing will be. Personally, I feel the buttocks would be the most amusing spot.

29. Silly String Canning – When the employee comes into your office, use a can of Silly String to cover them, and then spell “You’re Fired” out on one of the walls (assuming you have enough Silly String left over). If the person looks confused or asks what’s going on, you get to say “you’ve just been canned!” Just make sure Silly String isn’t banned in your town.

30. Have Their Car Impounded – Again, if you’re going for a lest controversial, yet equally hilarious firing, you can always have their car impounded. Be sure the tow truck operate knows why the car is getting impounded. How many people can actually say they were informed that they were jobless by a guy working at an impound yard? I’d venture to say not many!

So there you have it, 30 unique ways to fire someone. Firings don’t always have to be dull. Making the firing as devastating as possible is a great way to add some spice to the otherwise monotonous business world. Of course, if you’re actually planning on firing someone, I suggest you don’t follow any of these suggestions, since most people would probably get pretty upset.

Posted in Business Skills -- No Comments

When starting any business, there are certain intangibles one should have. Creativity, a solid work ethic, the ability to organize, modify, and stick with plans, and general business knowledge can all go an extremely long way when setting up a business. However, growing that business requires these skills and more. Open courseware is one of the greatest things to happen to education in recent memory. With open courseware, it is possible for persons to learn more and improve their careers. For business, courseware cam help you learn new ways to grow a specific business. While there are many instinctual elements to entrepreneurship, knowing theory, techniques, new innovations, and other solid business strategies can give a much needed edge over competition in whatever specific industry you may be in. With this idea in mind, there are a variety of options for free open courseware that can help you grow your business.

1. Economics Interactive Tutorials - This course is lead by Dr. Samuel L. Baker, at the University of South Carolina. This class concerns the basics of economics, which is something that is very essential to growing a business. If there’s no demand for your product, don’t over supply.

2. Introduction to Marketing – For the Entrepreneur who may not have had any marketing experience.

3. Economics Lecture Notes – Professor Brad DeLong, Berkeley University makes his in depth Economics 101 lecture notes available to all. They come in both .doc and HTML versions. DeLong also has a macroeconomics page.

4. Marketing Strategy – If you are trying to seriously grow a business, you need to think outside of the box. This course is strongly recommended for entrepreneur, and anyone who has goals to see their business expand.

5. Environmental and Natural Resources Economics - This course is taught by Steve Hackett, at Humboldt State University, Taking a look at trends, going green is a fantastic business decision. Learning about economics and natural resources, via lecture slides that go in depth on the topic.

6. Introduction to the Study of Language – The economy is global, and businesses wanting to have success can increase their reach by having knowledge of other languages. In fact, as countries become more diverse, this discipline will become even more important. Keeping that in mind, Professor Philippe Schlenker’s UCLA class would be a good choice.

7. Mandarin Chinese – If the market is Global, its heart is moving to China. If the Beijing 2008 games aren’t enough to convince you, consider the sheer growth of China’s economy year over year. Learning Mandarin Chinese via The Free Online Language portal would be a great decision for your business. If you want to grow, expanding into China is the next logical step. Knowing Mandarin Chinese can give you a leg up on the competition.

8. Business Law – You can’t expect to go far in your business if you don’t understand Law. If you’re trying to grow your business, you may have to do it via mergers or acquisitions. Understanding the law behind this can help you significantly.

9. Globalization, Migration, and International Relations – This is another course that can build off of the idea that expanding your business can be done internationally.

10. Economic Analysis of Law – Another business and law related course that can help you navigate the sometimes-complicated business laws that exist.

11. Computing, Audio, and Music – If you think you can’t expand a business without investing time in technologies. Being proficient at computing, as well as any alternative technologies can give you an edge over the competition.

12. Taxes and Business Strategy – Taxes are part of any business. You can always hire someone to help you, but knowing a little about taxes can also be extremely helpful. Business strategy is, once again, something solid to have a background in if you have lofty goals for your organization.

13. Language and Mind – Depending on how in-depth you wish to get in your language knowledge, this course can be very useful for further expanding your understanding of other languages. The goal in taking such a course would be top increase fluency to a point where it is quite the boost to your business.

14. Modern Technology – Offered by the University of Winnipeg, this is another technology class that can make sure you are always with the times when it comes to technology and your business.

15. Sociology – Some may wonder what sociology has to do with business. Sociology can be a tremendously useful when trying to reach customers with the end-goal of growing the business.

16. Principals of Microeconomics – A basic course that helps to give the foundation for Microeconomics.

17. Principals of Macroeconomics – Another basic course that helps to give the foundation for Macroeconomics.

18. Entrepreneurial Finance – Knowing the financial aspects from an entrepreneur context can really help your business. Business is a lot more than revenue minus expenses equals profit.

19. Business Analysis Using Financial Statements – Being able to analyze where your business has come from and where it’s going is one of the best things you can do. In order to grow your business you need to be able to assess what has worked, and what could be improved. Some people think analytics to be a lost art form. Get a leg up on the competition by proving them wrong.

20. Information Technology Essentials – Going off of other technology courses, learning IT can be quite the boon to one’s fledgling business. Discovering new ways to be organized, meet goals, make goals, and generally interact with your customers can certainly help your business grow by leaps and bounds.

Growing a business isn’t impossible. While it is an extremely daunting task, if you have the knowledge, it can be much, much easier to do. Taking some of these free open courseware classes can provide you with that essential knowledge. If one were to ask Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, or another highly successful business person what he could change about his path, he or she might mention wanting to have had more business-centric knowledge before embarking on risky business ventures. Get a leg up on the competition with superior knowledge, and you’ll find it was worth it to donate your time to free open courseware.
 

Posted in Business Skills, Online Education -- No Comments

By Christina Laun

The Internet is full of great resources for current and future CPAs to keep up with the latest in their industries and in the world of finance. With so much information at your fingertips, why not take advantage of it? You may just learn something new or find advice on topics you’ve been struggling with. Here are 50 great accounting blogs to check out to learn the ins and outs of accounting.

General

Give these blogs a read for great general coverage of topics in accounting.

1. A Passion for Business: Axiom CPA publishes this blog which gives advice and information on consulting and general issues in accounting.
2. Beancounter Magic: Both entrepreneurs and those looking to get started in business can get informed on this blog which offers opinions on accounting, taxes and business.
3. Number Insights: This accounting blog focuses on taxes, but also covers a wide range of other issues.
4. Periodic Ramblings of a CPA: Chad Bordeaux, a CPA, shares his thoughts on accounting issues in this blog as well as a host of other topics.
5. Skeptical CPA: This CPA from Texas covers news issues in his blog as well as providing his own life lessons for other CPAs to learn from.
6. Where Every Penny Matters: Written by a Florida CPA, in this blog you’ll find news about the latest in accounting, tax issues, and much more to help you learn the things you need to know about managing money.
7. Re: The Auditors: Those with an interest in business accounting, more specifically auditing, will find some valuable news and views in this blog.
8. The Solo Accountant Reporter: Check out this blog for some great managerial and forensic accounting tips and advice.
9. Understand Accounting: If you don’t have the attention span to read long blog entries, check out this site. It specializes in explaining accounting issues in "mercifully brief" form.
10. Accounting for What’s Next: Accounting firm Gainer, Donnelly & Desroches puts out this blog which covers important issues facing accountants all over the US.
11. Accountants Round Up: This blog from Golden Marketing brings together all kinds of news and commentaries to give accountants some interesting reading material.
12. Footnoted*org: If you have a special interest in the crazy things companies try to bury in their SEC filings, give this blog a read. You’ll find out some interesting business facts and learn what questionable accounting practices some businesses may be involved in.
13. Life and Times of Accounting: This accounting firm’s blog provides humorous commentary, raises issues about tax filings and much more.
14. The Accounting Blog: Vanilla Accounting posts entries on this blog which deal with everything from advice on selling a business to rules for independent contractors.

For Accountants By Accountants

Get some advice and insight from your fellow accountants on these blogs.

14. A Counting School: A young Canadian Chartered Account talks about his struggles to pass his exams and pursue a career thereafter in this blog.
15. AccMan: This blog is written by an accountant with over 30 years experience in IT finance. You’ll find advice on how to use new technologies to drive client value in your own accounting business.
16. Accountant Jokes and Fun: Accountant Mark Lee provides a little comic relief in this blog, filled with jokes and humorous anecdotes just for accountants.
17. Ambitious Accountants: Mark Lee and the Tax Advice Network put out this blog, which provides tax accountants with the information they need to efficiently and thoroughly complete their clients’ taxes.
18. Big4Guy: This Big 4 consultant shares his advice and experiences in an effort to help out other accountants and those interested in taking a variety of security certification examinations.
19. CPA Marketing Center Blog: Blogger David Rachford posts on this blog, designed to provide tax accountants with new ways they can build and market their businesses.
20. The EyeShade: Check out this blog by auditor Mark Ramos. It provides posts on the latest news in the finance world and aims to give accountants ideas to spark their imaginations.
21. Innovative Practice Management: Accountants can get advice and ideas on managing their practices from this helpful blog.

Professors and Students

Whether you’re in school or just want an academic perspective, these blogs can provide helpful reading material.

23. Tick Marks: Dan Meyer, accounting faculty in Tennessee, writes this blog filled with information on accounting, taxation and personal finance for CPAs and non-CPAs alike.
24. Tax Prof Blog: Charles Hartsock, law professor at the University of Cincinnati, writes this blog which focuses on the legal issues surrounding tax matters.
25. CPA Pledge: Accounting student Jim chronicles his experience working to become an accountant in this blog.
26. Exam Cram Blog: Students studying for their CPA exam can find loads of tips from Priscilla Jenkins, a student currently working towards taking and passing the exam.
27. The Journey to Success: This blog covers a range of issues including personal finance and accounting, but also offers tips for students trying to pass the CPA exam.
28. Accounting Coach: Maintained by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater professor Harold Averkamp, this blog provides loads of information that can be helpful to students and professional accountants alike.

Associations and Professional Literature

These professional organizations’ blogs for accountants can provide some great information.

29. Alex Malley: This blog is put out by the president of CPA Australia and offers information on conferences, general accounting issues and more.
30. CPA Success: Check out this blog from the Maryland Association of CPAs. You’ll get tips on managing your own finances and building your accounting business.
31. NYSSCPA Blog: The New York State Society of CPAs provides numerous articles and tips on a wide range of accounting issues in this blog.
32. TSCPA Governmental Affairs Blog: Keep up with what’s going on in the news related to accounting and finance in this blog from the Texas Society of CPAs.
33. AGA Weblog: If government accountability is your area of interest, check out this blog from the AGA. You’ll get insightful commentary on the latest issues.
34. The AAO Weblog: While you’ll need a subscription to read all of the content on this site, the Accounting Observer puts out loads of articles that can be of great interest to those in the accounting field.

Taxes

Taxes can be the bread and butter of many accountants’ businesses and you’ll find tips and information about them in these great blogs.

35. Tax Tips Blog: CPA Gina Gwodz provides little tips that can help you improve the amount you get back on tax returns.
36. Tax Guru: Kerry M. Kerstetter, CPA, provides news tidbits and his own commentary to help business owners get the most back from their taxes.
37. Our Taxing Times: This blog deals with tax laws, US taxes and tax preparation.
38. Taxable Talk: Russ Fox of Clayton Financial and Tax uses this blog to give advice and insight on the current state of taxes in the US.
39. TaxMama’s TaxQuips: You’ll find daily audio clips and other tips on this site dedicated to helping small businesses with their taxes.
40. Tax Update Blog: Firm Roth and Company puts out this blog which updates accountants about the latest news in tax accounting.

Niche Accounting

Whether it’s technology or bankruptcy, these blogs focus on special areas of accounting.

41. InsolvencyAccounting: Chris Laughton of Mercer & Hole writes this blog which deals with numerous issues in bankruptcy accounting in the UK.
42. Business Valuation Blog: Blogger and CPA Eva Lang posts valuable sites, comments and news articles on this blog to help businesses determine just how much they’re worth.
43. Accounting Thoughts: If your interests lie in forensic accounting and fraud investigation check out this blog by Joel Ungar.
44. Islamic Finance Blog: Price Waterhouse Coopers provides this blog which delves into the latest financial issues facing Islamic countries in the Middle East and beyond.
45. Abacus: Get loads of tips on using computer programs to track and manage accounting information in this blog.
46. Energized Accounting: Learn how to get the most out of the software you’re using to do your accounting with a little help from the advice in this blog.
47. Financial Systems and Business Intelligence: Get some insight into the most common financial systems and ways you can use them more effectively in this blog.
48. The Tech Gap: Explore the areas where technology and accounting intersect in this blog written by CPA and tech expert Gregory LaFollette.
49. From Greg’s Head: Greg Price of PKF Texas writes this blog which follows the latest in accounting and technology trends.
50. CPA Firm Technology Blog: CPA and technology advisor, Brian Tankersley gives you some ideas on how to use technology better in your accounting practice.

Posted in Business Majors, Business Skills -- No Comments

LinkedIn is a fantastic business resource. Maintaining your profile can open up many career opportunities, and be helpful in ways you may have never even thought of. Every person in business, and every student in business should have a LinkedIn profile. If you think you don’t, hopefully your views will change by the end of this post. So, without further introduction, here are 10 ways you can use LinkedIn that you may not have considered.

1. Learn more about your employer’s work ethic – With resumes and references, employers always get to go into potential employee’s lives and learn more. With LinkedIn YOU can actually learn about your employer. Any job is a mutual relationship, and so while they evalute you, you should evaluate them. LinkedIn allows this to occur.

2. Market yourself to potential employers – To be honest you probably knew LinkedIn could help you with this. Updating your LinkedIn profile is essential to helping you get more job opportunities. The best thing you can do is make sure your profile is clean and presents you in the best light possible

3. Introduce yourself to new people in your industry – Every industry is different. Someone is not just in business. You are in marketing, finance, accounting, etc.  Linked in can help connect you with other people in your area. Wether you meet someone new who can set up a meeting with a potential employer, or if you just make a new connection that can be helpful if you need advice, LinkedIn can help connect you to your industry in a way you never thought of.

4. Join industry groups to meet new people and help potential employers find you – On LinkedIn, you can further imbed yourself in your industry by joining industry groups. This is another great way LinkedIn can help you meet other professionals who have new experiences and insight to offer. Additionally, recruiters often go through groups to seek out talent. You certainly want to be there.

5. Let people know what you look like – Some people like to have a face to the person they are looking to potentially hire. Linked in allows you to post a picture of yourself on your profile. Be sure to pick a flattering, professional picture, because recruiters WILL look at it.

6. Rekindle old friendships, and old connections – The sheer amount of people on LinkedIn is staggering. If you lose contact with someone, chances are you might be able to meet them again on LinkedIn. The ability to reconnect with your peers is one of the greatest features of LinkedIn. Some people even think LinkedIn can be used as an espionage tool!

7. Meet members of the opposite sex – Okay so LinkedIn isn’t INTENDED for you to meet a potential love interest, but you could use it that way. There are thousands upon thousands of profiles, and it would be a good way to make sure you meet someone who has at least similar work interests. Or, perhaps, if you have a particular affinty for one profession, you could use LinkedIn to achieve that end.

8. Find out who at your workplace went to a rival school – When gameday approaches, it’s nice to know who will be rooting against your team, so you can gloat to them at the office the next day. Using LinkedIn, you can find out if your quiet coworker went to your schools chief rival. For example, if you are an Ohio State grad, finding all the Michigan grads is a great way to have good watercooler conversations the Monday after a win.

9. Get recommended by peers – Recommendations are one of the best parts of LinkedIn. You can get reccomennded by peers which looks great in the eyes of potential employers, and potential customers depending on what type of business or field you are in. I talked to someone who once was recommended on both a blog and in his LinkedIn profile. Talk about great exposure!

10. Keep yourself occupied at work – While LinkedIn is supposed to be for improving your career, you can also use it to procrastinate. Updating your profile while you are at work is not the best idea if your boss is around, but if you have significant downtime between projects, then there’s no problem in making sure your profile makes you look like the hardest, most dillligent worker.

LinkedIn is a very valuebale resource for any professional, but especially those in the business sphere. A lot of business is purely about connections. LinkedIn is the ultimate place to get connected. You can find people who you havent seen or worked with in years, and meet new peoiple who can help you advance your career. LinkedIn can be a fantastic resource, if you use it correctly. However, you may not have thought of some of these interesting ways you can use it. In fact, there are even LinkedIn applications that allow you to check it from places other than your computer. You don’t want to be the person who doesn’t get hired because you didn’t have connections. So if you haven’t already, go make your profile, and start connecting in ways you never thought possible. If these aren’t enough ways to use LinkedIn for you, there are others who have come up with more great ways to use LinkedIn.
 

Posted in Business Skills -- No Comments

Everybody knows that getting any college degree can drastically increase your earning potential. Someone who has an MBA can earn substantially more than someone with just an undergraduate degree. However, there are plenty of people out there who think that only traditional Brick and Mortar education programs are worthwhile. The fact is, there are quite a few myths concerning getting an online education, especially about a degree as prestigious as a Masters in Business Administration. With that being said, I am here to debunk 12 of those myths about online MBA degrees.

1. An online degree isn’t as respected as a traditional degree – The next time someone tells you this, you ought to laugh in their face. Online MBA degrees are very respected by many businesses around the world. Just because you didn’t physically attend class doesn’t mean you didn’t attend class. Online degrees cannot be obtained without doing coursework and studying. Most online institutions are fully accredited and recognized as legitimate. This logic also loses weight when one considers that there are schools, which offer both on-campus, and online degrees. The degree would hold the same weight regardless of where it was earned. Contrary to popular belief, many traditional schools are embracing the online atmosphere. Some even have MBA blogs now.

2. Online MBA schools are all scams – This is another one of the outrageous claims detractors will try to cite as fact. This myth is believed by many because of people’s inherent distrust of many things on the internet. While it is true you need to be careful to see if the school is accredited, what others say about it, etc. It is not true that any online schooling is a scam. If a school was handing out bogus degrees, and no graduates were getting jobs, they wouldn’t be in business very long. You should always research the school before enrolling, but don’t let horror stories keep you from pursuing all options.

3. Professors who teach online classes are not as educated as professors in traditional settings – This myth loses weight right at the start. Many professors who teach online classes ALSO teach in traditional classroom settings. Online professors have just as much education as professors in brick and mortar institutions. You will find that they know just as much about their subjects as any other specialized professor. Some may wonder why a professor would choose to teach online. The answer is simple. Some professors may like being able to conduct classes from home. Others may like being able to teach a class when they have a semester off in a traditional university.

4. You won’t learn as much in an online setting – That’s like saying you won’t be as interested in the Superbowl with your home team in it if you aren’t actually there. The game will still be exciting, and you’ll still want your team to win. Online classes and universities make every effort to make learning engaging for students. While you miss out on actually being in the room with the professor, many classes offer video feeds so you can watch the professor talk (if you are a more visual learner). Depending on the program, there may be a wide variety of exercises designed to generate discussion and thought.

5. Online degrees cost more than traditional degrees – I’m not quite sure how this myth got started, as it goes against a huge benefit of online education. Online degrees are typically much cheaper than a traditional degree. This is great for persons who may have had misgivings about pursuing an MBA because of the financial implications (not everyone is fortunate enough to have their company pay for their MBA). Also, you won’t have to worry about living close to campus. This will make your college housing decisions much easier.

6. Companies won’t pay for an online MBA – Every company is different, but it’s a myth to say that a company won’t reimburse you if you’re getting your education online. One of my friends recently obtained his MBA online, and it was paid for by his company. If you think about the benefits, it makes perfect sense that a company would be willing to pay. An online education gives you the flexibility to still be able to work almost full time, while also learning new things that increases your usefulness to the company. Also, with online degrees often being substantially cheaper than a traditional degree, it makes perfect sense for them to be open to the idea.

7. You won’t be able to interact with your peers in an online setting – This is just another unfounded myth propelled by people who have never taken an online class. Most online classes make extra efforts to be interactive because of the absence of a physical presence. Many MBA degree programs online offer chat rooms, message boards, and other means for students to ask questions and exchange ideas. Much of business is about effective communication, and this can be accomplished in online settings.

8. Tests are easier online – While to some this may seem like a myth that shouldn’t be debunked, alas, I must. While tests can be perceived as easier because you can have greater access to certain materials, many classes may limit this, or off-set it by having more opinion-based essay tests and the like. Online programs may also lock you into a timed test which can limit your ability to look things up.

9. Online classes are unreliable because of internet and electricity issues – While technology can sometimes let people down, it would be a rare event indeed if it resulted in issues for an online class. One of the benefits online MBA programs offer is flexibility. If you have a power outage, you may not have a specific class time, so you can easily log-on later, or at the very least find another computer to use, or place to go.

10. You cannot specialize as much with an online MBA – Quite contrary to what some people might say, you can certainly specialize in a wide variety of areas with an online MBA. In many cases, the variety of degree focus is much higher in online institutions. If you are interested in a particular area of business, and do not want just a generic degree, then getting your education online is a good idea.

11. There will never be any hands-on experiences if you get your degree online – While there are some programs that will be entirely online, a large amount of MBA online programs require at least a bit of on-site learning. Some programs require students to do presentations or projects in a traditional classroom setting as part of their final grade. Others have on-site requirements in order to graduate. Whatever the case may be, there are many opportunities available for real, hands-on, experience, even if it’s an online class.

12. If you get an online MBA, you won’t be as successful as someone who got an MBA from a highly ranked university – Success is something all people strive for, and so it seems natural that someone wanting you to not take an online class would cite a lack of success. The truth is, that getting an MBA in and of itself is a success. Whether it’s done online or in the classroom makes no difference. People can be just as successful with educations that aren’t ranked in the US News and World report as people who are at ranked schools.

Too many people listen to negative opinions rather than taking the time to research things for themselves. If you decide to pursue an online MBA degree, chances are, you’ll hear at least one of these myths. If that happens, you can debunk it right in front of the person who said it. An Online MBA Degree is a great, practical decision that many people can make. No matter where you go, getting an MBA is a great choice and can drastically increase your earning potential and help your career.
 

Posted in Online Education -- No Comments

By Alisa Miller

Many of the best and the brightest in the field of business can be found teaching at universities around the world. Besides enrolling in one of these schools, you can reap the benefits of their knowledge by visiting their blogs where they discuss the topics that they know best. From management to marketing and everything in between, these blogs by business professors offer a wealth of information for anyone to take just by stopping by for a read.

Technology

These professors write about the impact of technology on business in these blogs that offer topics on sustainable technology, innovation, and more.

1. The Impact of Information Technology (IT) on Businesses and their Leaders. Written by Andrew McAfee, a professor at Harvard Business School, this blog features technology as it pertains to business.
2. Harga-Blog. Andrew Hargadon writes about technology innovation and management with an emphasis on sustainable technology. Recent topics include innovation and entrepreneurship, smart design, and a discussion of what makes a good idea.
3. Technology and Organizations. Terri Griffith, from Santa Clara University, takes a look at technology and its application in organizations in her blog.
4. Eric Goldman. This law professor writes about technology and marketing on his blog, which covers Internet law and news, copyright and technology, and more.
5. Open IT Strategies. Joel West writes about IT and business with a focus on creating business models.
6. Karim R. Lakhani’s Infrequent Musings. This Harvard professor blogs about technological innovation here.
7. billso.com. Read about "management, mobile computing, and information systems" in this Hawaii Pacific University professor’s blog. Recent posts have included Google apps, time management, and Scrabulous on Facebook.

Management

Whether managing individuals or managing the business of business, these professors’ blogs share their insight and knowledge on the field of management.

8. Random Rantings. Freek Vermeulen, from London Business School, writes on strategy, competition, and more as it pertains to management.
9. Robert Salomon. This professor from Stern School of Business features posts on corporate strategy, the economy, and more.
10. Tom Davenport The Next Big Thing. A professor at Babson College, Tom Davenport blogs about management innovations.
11. Gary Hamel. This professor has two landmark management books on the market and blogs about that topic here.
12. Bob Sutton: Work Matters. This writer and professor blogs about management and leadership.
13. Management Professor Notes II. Read Sandy Piderit’s posts about management and the workplace.
14. Work-Related Blogs and News. This lecturer at Heriot-Watt’s School of Management and Languages writes about the workplace and blogging. He also includes an impressive list of workplace blogs organized by profession.
15. Management R&D. This blog is co-written by two professors who look at management strategy, economics, and more.
16. The Business of America is Business. Starling David Hunter blogs about various topics as they relate to American business practices. Some recent posts have covered leadership retreats, Wal-Mart, divorce, gas, and farmer’s aid.

Economics and Finance

From the economy of sports to the impact of traffic on the economy, these blogs offer a wide range of information from some of the best professors in the field.

17. Grasping Reality with Both Hands: The Semi-Daily Journal Economist Brad DeLong. This popular blog, written by an economy professor from U.C. Berkeley, features posts about the economy with a heavy dose of politics.
18. Financial Literacy and Ignorance. Annamaria Lusardi at Dartmouth writes about personal finance and how much (or how little) most people know about it.
19. Pat Utomi’s Musings. Running for President of the African Democratic Congress, this professor at Lagos Business School-Pan African University writes about economics as well as discusses his platform.
20. Professor Andrade’s Comments on Business, Economics, and Finance. This professor discusses the trade deficit, tax cuts, and more on this blog.
21. ProfessorVC. This professor of entrepreneurial finance blogs about business and other interests.
22. Carpe Diem. Mark J. Perry writes about gas prices, real estate bubbles, and more on this popular blog.
23. Division of Labour. This collaborative blog is written by several professors and focuses on economics.
24. The Transportationist. David Levinson and the Nexus Research Group on Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems write about topics such as traffic congestion, economic impact of traffic improvements, and bridge safety.
25. Organizations and Markets. Four professors from America and Europe collaborate on this blog which touches on various aspects of economics.
26. Conservation Finance. The title says it all for this blog written by Lars Christian Smith.
27. CoreEconomics. Written by Melbourne Business School’s Joshua Gans, this blog looks at economics and a few other topics as well.
28. The Wages of Wins Journal. These three professors of economics look at the economics of sports in this blog, which is a companion piece to their book The Wages of Wins.
29. The Borjas Blog. Professor George Borjas specializes in labor economics and blogs about immigration and labor around the world.
30. Economist’s View. Mark Thoma writes such topics as economic growth, financial markets, speculation and bubbles, and more on his economy blog.

Marketing

From India to France to America, these marketing blogs focus on the effects of marketing on global business.

31. John Quelch Marketing KnowHow. This professor from Harvard Business School discusses global marketing.
32. Marketing Practice. This marketing professor in India blogs about Indian brands.
33. Dr. Neil Hair. This professor writes about marketing and the Internet and also has some lectures on his blog.
34. Cyberstrat. Polish up on your French before visiting this blog by Professor Jean-Claude Morand where he writes about marketing, and particularly how it pertains to and the Internet and technology.
35. Ping!. Yuping Liu teaches marketing at Old Dominion and uses this blog to discuss how marketing, technology, and consumer psychology work together.
36. Marketing Profs Daily Fix. This collaborative blog discusses topics that range from social media, to Starbucks to stevia.

Strategy, Leadership, and Innovation

Professors sharing their knowledge and ideas about strategy, leadership, and innovation in these blogs from professors at some of the top schools in the world.

37. Rita McGrath Dynamic Strategies. This professor from Columbia Business School looks at innovation and entrepreneurship on her blog.
38. John Sviokla The Near Futurist. Management and innovation feature highly in this blog by a professor from Kellogg School of Management.
39. Stew Friedman Better Leader, Richer Life. Leadership is the topic on this University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School professor’s blog.
40. Michael Watkins The Leading Edge. From IMD in Switzerland, this professor looks at leadership and strategy in his blog.
41. Professor Michael Roberto’s Blog. This professor from Bryant University focuses on leadership in his blog with topics such as global vs. local, airline services, and Anheuser Busch.
42. Ed Batista. This leadership coach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business writes about leadership and management with a good dose of technology.
43. Outlook for Change. Change management is the focus of this blog that takes a look at innovation among businesses and organizations.

Blogs on Various Topics

These blogs range from sustainable business to international subjects and all offer the wisdom and experience of the professors who write them.

44. BizDeans Talk. These deans of business school write about business school education in this collaborative blog.
45. Chris Knudsen on Life and Business. This adjunct instructor at Westminster College blogs on several aspects of business, as well as his family.
46. Kellogg Insight. This blog features the latest research of the professors at Kellogg School of Management.
47. sustainable business design. Written by N.E. Landrum, this blog approaches business from the perspective of sustainability and shows how this type of business makes good sense economically and socially.
48. B V Krishnamurthy Bangalore Calling. This professor from India discusses international business with a strong emphasis on India and the U.S. on this blog.
49. Santiago Iniguez. The dean at the international IE Business School blogs about the the school and education in this blog with posts in both English and Spanish.
50. Yoko Ishikura’s Blog. This professor in Japan writes about business in the global community. Her blog is in Japanese as well as English.

Posted in Business Majors, Business Skills -- No Comments