Once upon a time, the sole purpose of a business was to make the owner rich. Today, it’s considered “mainstream” for a company to also have a more humane purpose. If done authentically, doing so will make the owner even more wealthy. Purpose is motivation, and motivation is a competitive advantage. A corporate purpose explains how its team makes a difference in the world. It also gives your employees meaning and gets them to dive into projects with more energy and enthusiasm. Purpose attracts and inspires employees. You can’t invent a corporate purpose. It already exists, and you need to…
Insights & Advice
Berkshire Business Confidence Index
Great Barrington Declaration bad for the economy
Dalton, Mass. — You know it. You probably hate it (most seem to). It’s the Great Barrington Declaration. This column is not a platform for me to opine on things I know nothing about, like how to best address a pandemic. Economists and investors should stay in their lane when it comes to things like that. However, given that the GBD was signed by more than 10,000 scientists, 27,000 medical professionals, and 500,000 citizens, it makes sense to explore how this strategy could affect our money. The Great Barrington Declaration is the product of the American Institute for Economic Research, a…
Why is my competition always one step ahead of me?
Business is good, but it could be better. It’s not so much the economy or consumer demand that could make it better. The problem is that your competition is eating your lunch. You need an advantage. Advantages can come in the form of marketing prowess, planning, financial strength, product differentiation and the way we use technology. These are all important, but the most untapped competitive edge is organizational health — aka teamwork. Unlike good teamwork, all the others are easy to access. You can hire a consultant to design a strategic plan. The technologies of those disrupting your industry are…
Berkshire Business Confidence Index, Issue 8
SUMMER 2019 RESULTS FROM THE BERKSHIRE BUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX SPONSORED BY BERKSHIRE MONEY MANAGEMENT AND 10,001 HOURS. The Berkshire Business Confidence Index (BCI), sponsored and analyzed by Berkshire Money Management, indicates that there is a high level of optimism among Berkshire County businesses, as well as non-profit organizations that are responsible for business decisions. We mailed out 4,000 surveys countywide and received responses from the full spectrum of Berkshire industries, such as hospitality, manufacturing, retail, finance, real estate, and construction. Each brings their own voice to this survey. CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL PDF ARTICLE WHAT WE HAVE GLEANED FROM…
Berkshire Business Confidence Index, Issue 7
The Berkshire Business Confidence Index (BCI), sponsored and analyzed by Berkshire Money Management, indicates that there is a high level of optimism among Berkshire County businesses, as well as non-profit organizations that are responsible for business decisions. We mailed out 4,000 surveys countywide, and received responses from the full spectrum of Berkshire industries—non-profits, retail, manufacturing, finance, lodging, real estate, construction, and more. Each brings their own voice to this survey.
Berkshire Business Confidence Index, Issue 6
Summer 2018 results from the Berkshire Business Confidence Index, sponsored by Berkshire Money Management Download PDF Version The Berkshire Business Confidence Index (BCI), sponsored and analyzed by Berkshire Money Management, indicates that there is a high level of optimism among Berkshire County businesses, as well as non-profit organizations that must make business decisions. We mailed out 4,000 surveys countywide, and received responses from the full spectrum of Berkshire industries—non-profits, retail, manufacturing, finance, lodging, real estate, construction. Each brings their own voice to this survey. What we have gleaned from this month’s results: From the last survey (April 2018) to this…
Berkshire Business Confidence Index, Issue 5
Spring 2018 Results from the Berkshire Business Confidence Index, sponsored by Berkshire Money Management Download PDF Version The Berkshire Business Confidence Index (BCI), sponsored and analyzed by Berkshire Money Management, indicates that there is a cautious level of optimism among Berkshire County businesses, as well as non-profit organizations that must make business decisions. We mailed out 4,000 surveys countywide, and received responses from the full spectrum of Berkshire industries—non-profits, retail, manufacturing, finance, lodging, real estate. Each brings their own voice to this survey. What we have gleaned from this month’s results: From the last survey (January 2018) to this survey,…