The Slump Will Continue

As a co-founder to the Viral Voice organization TheViralPublicity.com I have interviewed over 100 small business owners or managers. What is the consensus about the economy, slow growth while Obama remains in Office. An overwhelming majority of our guest at TheViralPublicity.com Small Business Mixers say that It's going to be difficult to hire people when the people are not buying the products or services that they should to increase business so that they can hire more people.

This is a vicious "Catch-22". Economy can't grow unless more products/services are bought. People aren't buying the products/services because they don't have jobs to support the spending; the jobs aren't there because small business doesn't have the sales to support hiring someone new.

And where are those jobs most likely to come from? Manufacturing. But are there going to be enough new manufacturing companies to support hiring 250,000 jobs for the next 2 years to get us out of this recession. NO!

Every American worker wants to be making $20, $30 or $40 per hour. Thats great. So lets say they're making coffee pots. Are you going to want to spend $300 on a coffee pot because it made in America by a Unions Worker? NO! You're going to buy one thats $60 and Made in China because thats what your budget allows and it probably made better. You do have a budget...right?

America won't get out of this slump ever unless a few economic policies are changed. What's one of hundreds that I can think of.
1. the US should tax imports like they tax American inheritance, at 55% in 2011. Think about the tax revenue that would generate.

We have a great country but just not smart people running it.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Top 5 disasters of the Health Care Bill. http://ow.ly/1qD0K

We are confirmed for our next PinkSlipMixer @ Aurora Lounge @LUXORLV, 4/7, 6p. Working on doubling the number of recruiters and HR People.

Toxic Employees

Have you been in a company where there is a employee that, most often, seems to be disruptive? This can be as simple as jokes that become offensive, mannerisms that are not professional, issues that are not supported by the company policy manual, and worst of all, insubordination. I have dealt with these circumstances in my 20 years in manufacturing and operations.

With Nevada being a right to work state, the easy solution might be to just terminate the employee. That would be in your right, but risky. A number of problems could occur in the aftermath that might become a bigger problem than before.

An excellent solution to most all problems in the workplace is to have an exceptional Employee Policy Manual. This manual would include every aspect of tasks and responsibilities from the time the employees arrives to the time they depart the workplace. Leaving out details only sets the employer up for avoidable stressful situations. So you make it look like a Senate Bill. So what? The manual is written to protect the employer. But written well, the employee will understand their rights as well.

The policy manual I co-wrote (for the company I co-owned) allowed us to avoid (and win) numerous claims of wrongful discharge and unemployment. Even lawyers and our Workers Comp provider were impressed with our employee manual.

Let's correspond so that I can help with your manual.

Marketing vs Production

Sales and Marketing are the core departments to any business, manufacturing or otherwise. Without them, the rest of the company need not exist. What would the rest do without products being developed and sold?

But once those products are marketed and sold they need to be manufactured well. And that's when the tables are turned. Without good manufacturing practices, producing a product worth buying, then Sale and Marketing my not have any reason to show up to work. Who is going to buy inferior products?

Without understanding some phase of the process within each department a project can quickly become off-task. For Marketing to set forth a product without previously understanding the manufacturing constraints can (and has)lead to mis-printed packaging. This major oversight delays the Product launch date, tarnishes reputations, and increase the cost of goods which diminishes the profit margin.

Companies can do well by hiring (or training) a skilled manager to oversee the total project. One who has experience in both departments and, possibly, others. One person that fits that criterion is a small business owner. This well rounded person has had the experience of developing new products, finding a way to market the product, being out in the field selling, coming back to the factory and making the product themselves. This hard working individual is who I am. Please visit my VisualCv and learn more about me.

Swine Flu

This new viral stain of influenza has worldwide attention. While the swine flu is named after pigs who are sick, eating the cooked meat cannot get you sick.

The spread of disease causing viruses and bacteria come from a likely source. The toilet bowl. Watch this link to see how that happens.



While it is very important to wash you hands by some means (soap & water or a sanitizer) cleaning your toilet bowl is also very important. I produced toilet bowl cleaners for 20 years and have knowledge to share. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Employee Relations

Having an open door policy means more than having the door open. It means to invite colleagues, employees, vendors in with a smile. It means to listen to their dialogue and show interest in the content. Then an intelligent and logical decision can be made to the conversation. Do not belittle people. That never serves a purpose and seems to undermine morale of the individual.