Archive By Section - Business Columns
Erika Kauzlarich-Bird: Double-digit gains give plenty of encouragement
May marked the fourth consecutive month that pending home sales - a guide to future activity and where the market is headed - posted double-digit gains throughout California.
How to find the right managers for your HOA
Dr. HOA, After nearly seven years with our current management company, our HOA is in the process of looking for a new company. It seems like many of the companies offer the same services. Do you have any advice on what we should be looking for and how to differentiate one company from another? We want to make sure the selection process is thorough and comprehensive, so any advice you could give us would be ...
Ken Keller: Please, remind me again, why are you on my payroll?
Several years ago, I wrote a column that was a hit with many readers of The Signal. It was titled, "Why should I keep you on the payroll?"
Carl Kanowsky: It might be flawed, but it still works
The Supreme Court has given blog writers two gifts this week, with their decisions on health care and immigration law. We'll discuss immigration this week, health care next week.
Janice France-Pettit: Helping teens manage their money
Our nation's teens are on their way to becoming adults and, in a few short years, many will be off to college or on their own, so it is critical that they learn to manage money wisely and develop sound financial habits.
Kari Aaver: Make sure the WorkSource Center can work for you
The Santa Clarita WorkSource Center, nearly every day, talks to employers that are having a difficult time finding employees.
Jerry Citarella: There’s only one today
A definition of the word "procrastinate" is to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness. Even more to the point, is - to postpone or delay needlessly.
The French Strike Again
My more faithful readers (all three of you) will remember my column from last year about Pinotgate and Red Bicyclette. That was the story about how some French ne'er-do-wells sold wine labeled as Pinot Noir when it was actually either Syrah or Merlot. It was quite the scandal, as 18 million bottles of fake pinot (worth about $126,000,000) were sold to Gallo and the parent company of Mondavi. And, as I ...
The futures of you and your business can begin today
The anemic diet of bad economic information continues for business owners, many who are "working twice as hard for half the return."
Fraud will end up costing much more in the long run
So-called "liar's loans" were ubiquitous through the final years of the most recent real estate boom, meaning facts and numbers on a loan application were malleable, easily adjusted with an eraser and revised with a large dose of imagination.
Brad Watson: My HOA needs some help with its pool security
DR. HOA, On Memorial Day weekend, there was an incident at our community's pool: Two adult men who were blatantly intoxicated got into a fist fight, and the police had to be called to break it up. Our association's answer was to hire full-time security to harass residents who use the pool by checking identification to make sure we live in the community ...
Jerry Citarella: Socially responsible and faith-based investing
As we all know, everyone is entitled to their own opinions; or at least they should be. People should be able to like what they want, believe what they want and live the way they want - within reason.
Ken Keller: Make sure you question a company’s changing needs
One of the more influential thought leaders today is Verne Harnish. In his book "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits," he breaks down the demographics of business in America.
John Milburn: A look at the value of institutional knowledge
With the onset of baby boomer retirements looming over most businesses in California and the United States, many organizations face the potential loss of the "brain trust" that these experienced employees possess.
Jerry Citarella: Summer’s here and the stats are scary
Aah … summer fun. It's the time we enjoy ourselves and relax a bit. The kids are out of school and our vacations are planned. The evenings are beautiful and the barbecue is getting used regularly. Everyone looks healthy and happy. It's a pattern many are familiar with. We work hard and then look forward to our summer fun.
Articles by Section - Business Columns
Disaster recovery — is your business prepared?
Is your business prepared for a disaster? While it is not something any of us like to think about, businesses should have a disaster plan in place.
Joe Klocko: The conundrum: supply and demand, wages and the skills gap
Most people understand the basic economic principle of supply and demand and incorporate it into their daily decisions. They may not do it consciously, but economic decisions are made every day by each and every one of us.
Ken Keller: Learning from the Pumpkin Patch
Last week I provided the Pyramid of Business Success, a nine layered structure. Layer seven was the Growth Plan.
Bob Khalsa: State’s pending sales at four-year high, share of distressed sales drops
The recent rise of pending home sales to the highest level in nearly four years supports experts who believe California's home resale market will achieve full bloom this spring.
Ken Keller: The Pyramid of Business Success
I've long admired Coach John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success." In business, whatever blueprint, instructional manual or paint by number kit being used before the enterprise launches is quickly tossed aside once the doors open. After that, it becomes a freelance-thing or a free for all, for those lacking mentors, a Sherpa or the time to figure it out.
Peter Bellas: Now that we’ve been forecasted
Once again we are upon the season of forecasts. A quick perusal of any investment website will turn up some very rosy and optimistic forecasts for the coming year and a least a few doom and gloom predictions.
Ken Keller: Keeping yourself motivated
One challenge of being a business owner or holding a position of leadership is keeping motivated.
Bob Khalsa: Real Estate Talk
January is typically a dormant time of year for the residential real estate market in the Santa Clarita Valley, yet this market recovery is so unusual that no one was surprised when statistics showed January posted the highest sales total for the month in six years.
Buying distressed properties
Real estate development during the Great Recession has proven to be a very challenging endeavor. Even seasoned professionals have found themselves struggling to service debt on projects that are producing monthly net negative cash flows.
Ken Keller: Do the right thing, quickly
Last week I wrote about the 2012 Gallup Poll where only 21 percent of U.S. adults rated business executives with high or very high in honesty and ethics.
Ken Keller: What is it that you believe in?
In the course of working with business owners and leaders, I have observed that the organizations that are the most successful over the long run are the ones that have a strong focus.
