Even during “Fat-City” economic times, the age-old tradition of penny pinching never goes out of style. And while the hardest of hardcore frugality may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no question that everyone loves to get a good deal. After all, why pay full price when you know someone [...]

Leadership in life and business often requires you defy conventional wisdom and take a different path. In recent years, Apple Computer took this concept and made serious marketing hay with their tagline, “Think Different.” But they weren’t the first to put that concept to work. For example, here a similar thought [...]

Netflix recently released a documentary on Microsoft founder Bill Gates: “Inside Bill’s Brain – Decoding Bill Gates.” I won’t provide any spoilers, but as the trailer notes, Bill does have a unique ability to identify problems and come up with different approaches as solutions. Software’s only part of it – for [...]

Here’s three “spooky-goofy” factoids you may not have known about Halloween: 1. Jack-O-Lanterns Weren’t Always Pumpkins Back in the day, the term “jack-o-lantern” comes from an Irish legend of “Stingy Jack,” a rascal who managed to win a drinking bet with the devil… turning Old Scratch into a coin which he [...]

There’s a story about Lee Iacocca when he took over then struggling auto maker Chrysler way back in 1979. Iacocca spent the first week calling people into his office – managers, VPs, Directors, you name it. Once they arrived, he would them a piece of chalk and then tell them to [...]

It’s just about “the most wonderful time of the year…” No, I’m not talking about the holiday season and all the feasting, gifts, and celebrations that take place. I’m talking about “AUTO SHOW SEASON,” when the auto industry officially rolls out their new lines for the upcoming year.  (It’s a very special [...]

Well, here’s a marketing twist I never imagined… Remember the famous, “Finger Lickin’ Good” catchphrase used by KFC back when it went by Kentucky Friend Chicken? Well, they recently announced a totally new way to bring in more business… and no, it’s not a coupon and it’s not even a special [...]

Hey there, hope you’re having a great day! In fact – “Great” – is the topic of this message. It came to mind after checking out a best-selling book by Jim Collins: "From Good to Great - Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't." In it, Collins outlined a [...]

Well, the leaves are turning, the temperatures are falling, and the days grow shorter. Yes, it’s that time of year once again where critters and humans alike start heading South for the Winter. The “snowbird” instinct runs strong in many species, not just boomers with RVs. In fact, National Geographic magazine [...]

In my humble opinion, one of the greatest movies that still holds up as fun for all ages is the classic film, “Mary Poppins.” In a nutshell, it’s the tale of how absent father George Banks discovers the true value of family thanks to magical nanny Mary Poppins. One scene in [...]