I’ve recently been brushing up on my market research of the Albany - Schenectady - Troy MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area).  It’s important to keep up on the markets in which you compete. Did you know that Albany is the #1 test market in the United States.  Correct-a-mundo. According to Acxiom’s  last published study in 2004, Albany, NY was the market …

Nobody’s perfect.  In fact, with all due respect to the philosophy behind Six Sigma management - nobody should even try to be.  At least not too quickly. The pursuit of perfection costs money…lots of money.  And the ROI on perfection is minuscule. I was listening to an interview with a psychiatrist specializing in neurotic behaviors when she began discussing “pack …

So a semi-thaw has begun in the frozen tundra that is economic activity. Some business owners have reported an increase in productive conversations with potential new clients.  New business is being booked.  There is a small semblance of a smile forming at the corners of their mouths. After many months (for some a couple of years) of absolutely no response …

Is there anything more frustrating than tech problems? You’re cranking out that report right on deadline…in the flow as it were.  Focusing on capturing your best work, you plow through until its done.  Then you lean back, satisfied.  One more look see for typos and spelling errors and then print and deliver. You hit print, enter and then….nothing.  Frozen.  It’s …

The current issue of BusinessWeek features a story on the pervasiveness of a flexible, temporary workforce. It’s not hard to understand why. The Great Recession has made everyone gun shy. Using temporary workers is a way to hedge your bet. Wait until you can be sure business is back before taking on the expense hiring full-time workers. 26% of America’s …