Archive By Section - Business Columns
Maintaining communication in the workplace
There is a tremendous amount of space between the official mission statement and what NASA did leading up what took place in 1969. The gap is a competitive advantage that has stood for the last 39 years.
Beware career killers that can cost you your job
You're at your desk at 8 a.m. every morning, you wouldn't think of pocketing even one paper clip, and you haven't worn flip-flops to work since you were a lifeguard, but there's more to getting that promotion than reading the employee manual and hitting deadlines. There are some mistakes that can put you on the manager's hit list the next time layoffs roll around, so let's see what they are:
How to make it less likely that anyone will contest your will
Emotions can run high at the death of a family member. If a family member is unhappy with the amount received (or didn't receive) under a will, he or she may contest the will.
Framing your future while avoiding these 4 pitfalls
A lot has changed since you were a kid. Retirement has changed as well. The way you picture yourself in retirement is probably quite different from your parents' retirement. It is no longer about a few years of rest and relaxation. It is about pursuing your lifelong dreams, or discovering new ones.
Raising prices is a balancing act for businesses
As climbing energy and other underlying costs continue to erode the profit margins of many small businesses, owners are again considering whether they should raise prices. If you raise prices, you risk losing clients to competitors. If you don't, rising costs can capsize your company.
Lessons to be learned from American presidents
Just over four years ago, I wrote a column on leaders and leadership entitled, "14 Traits of Successful Leaders."
Disclosing your economic interests
You are a civic-minded person. You live here, you work here and perhaps you own a business here. You want to help make Santa Clarita a better place to live. So, when the opportunity to serve on a city commission, committee or advisory board comes along, you volunteer your talent and your precious time, all with the best of intentions.
Using the affordability index to determine if you are ready to retire
With the current economic problems and energy costs Americans are faced with currently and for the immediate future, it is making it harder than ever to make or continue retirement planning contributions.
What to do to reduce the chance of an IRS audit
This is the final part in a two- part series about being audited by the IRS. Last week, I presented information regarding your chances of being audited. For certain taxpayers, the odds are not getting better for you. So what can one do to reduce their chances of being audited?
What can be done to reduce interruptions at work
For many people working in a business, days are filled with activity. At the end of each day, however, it might be difficult to remember what, if anything was actually achieved.
Reasons why many companies incorporate in Delaware
How did Newhall Land and Farming Company - the renowned, 125-year-old California real estate owner - end up in a bankruptcy court in Delaware? In 2004, nationwide homebuilders Lennar and Lennar Property Corp. acquired it, then merged with some other major real estate concerns to form a business complex under the parentage of an entity called LandSource Communities, LLC, a limited liability company established under Delaware law.
Your retirement money and market volatility
Market volatility is a fact of life. Stock prices fluctuate from day to day, and markets move up and down over time along with the economy and business cycle. As a student of Jeremy Siegel of the School of Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, over time the market will return 8 to 9 percent over the cost of living.
IRS publication gives clues as to who gets audited
This is the first part in a two-part series about being audited by the IRS. I have had several of my tax clients call me recently, with fear and trembling, to tell me that they have received that dreaded notice from the IRS that their income tax return was being audited. I tried to tell them that this wasn't the end of the world and that they should come out of this OK. Well, there ...
What can be learned about business at a lemonade stand
Reading an article some time back I came across a philosophy of life. I don't remember who wrote the article and I am sure I can't remember all the parts of it, but one portion surfaced last Saturday. It was, "Whenever there is a lemonade stand, stop and buy some from the proprietor. That child is going to be running his or her own business some day and they need to be encouraged."
It takes timing to succeed with a home business
In last week's column, we talked about beating the recession by creating your own business from home.
Articles by Section - Business Columns
Ken Keller: Getting crystal clear about your business
There is a terrific exchange in the courtroom drama "A Few Good Men." Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicolson, turns from being a witness in a court martial to being the prosecutor when he asks Lieutenant Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise: "Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son?"
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.
