July 2012 Features

  • Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?

    July 30, 2012

    Looking back in the last twenty to thirty years, most kids had no idea what an entrepreneur was. Fast forward to today - a recent study now shows a whopping 46% of kids who know an entrepreneur are more interested in becoming one themselves. We look at some ways to teach and encourage kids the entrepreneurial spirit.

  • The Rules of Employee Engagement

    July 27, 2012

    Employees are singing a familiar song in the latest Global Workforce Study by Towers Watson. The study found almost two-thirds of U.S. workers are not fully engaged in their work, with just 37 percent of U.S. workers are highly engaged

  • Renovation Planned at Valdosta La Quinta

    July 25, 2012

    In August, the La Quinta Inn & Suites on Club House Drive will begin a $1.3 million renovation of the property, which opened in 1988 and was last remodeled six years ago. The project includes an update of décor in guest rooms as well as a remodel of the front lobby, breakfast area and other common areas.

  • Ways to Succeed When Starting Up in a New Region

    July 23, 2012

    Entrepreneurs usually sprout ideas from what they know best—current occupations, lifetime hobbies, subjects they’ve unknowingly studied for so long before starting up. Most of the time, they know who their target audience is. Which is why they feel so comfortable when taking such a big risk in order to serve them with something new.

  • Undeveloped Potential: Listen To Who’s On Your Team

    July 20, 2012

    Whether it’s 10% of your brain or 10% of your potential or no known percentage at all, most of us live without tapping into everything that we have. And for the independent minded small business owner that usually means there’s a team that could help us pursue a new project or develop a new portion of the business — if we knew how to tap into them.

  • Business is Taking Off at Valdosta Regional Airport

    July 18, 2012

    Activity at Valdosta Regional Airport – defined as takeoffs and landings – is up considerably in 2012 over 2011, but remains below peak levels set in 2009 and 2010. Private planes carrying business executives into the area comprise the majority of the air traffic.

  • Taking the Risk Out of Your Retirement Distributions

    July 16, 2012

    Retiring at last. You have earned it by every measure. But now, you face an important transition in your personal financial plan. You have finished accumulating retirement assets and are now beginning to distribute them as income to support your retirement lifestyle. The choices you make now can certainly impact your long-term financial situation. Valdosta New York Life Agent Lee McArthur shares some ways to help you transition.

  • Keep Your Employees Motivated This Summer

    July 13, 2012

    Summer’s here in full force and, no matter where your business is located, chances are your employees have caught summer fever. How can you keep employees motivated, engaged and present when beautiful summer days are calling them away?

  • Voters to Decide T-SPLOST Referendum

    July 11, 2012

    On July 31, Georgia voters will decide if investments in the transportation infrastructure within their region of the state justify a new one-cent sales tax. The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as T-SPLOST, would be used to fund a defined list of projects in each of 12 regions and provide discretionary funds to local governments for transportation purposes including maintenance, operations or other capital projects.

  • Small Businesses Pay More For Health Care Coverage

    July 09, 2012

    In a 2009 study by the White House, small businesses pay 18% more in premiums for health coverage than their big box competitors per employee. As a small business owner are you surprised by this statistic? Of course you’re not. Small business owners have been living the health benefit nightmare for many years now, perpetually caught between a rock and health coverage.

  • The Number One Reason Employees Stay in a Small Business, According to Employers

    July 03, 2012

    If you’re like most small business owners, you’ve invested a sizable chunk of your company’s time and money into recruiting, onboarding, and training employees. But the question on the minds of small business owners like me is, what exactly does it take to attract and retain good employees today? And can small employers compete with large employers able to offer bigger financial packages?

  • It’s Half-Time!

    July 02, 2012

    Congratulations. You’ve made it through the first half of 2012 and I’m sure you are more than 50% complete on all the goals you set for 2012…right? If you are like me you might be surprised to find out that the year is half way done! Curt Fowler examines some ways for you to help see your goals through the rest of 2012.