Add a pinch of change to the mix
By Laura Cook NewmanFeatured Articles & Columns
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A recipe for efficiency
Getting shown the ropes those first days, I tend to notice a dozen procedures that strike me as odd. I chalk it up to my ...
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All in the family
Our family has had the good fortune of owning and operating our business – McGuckin Hardware in Boulder – since 1955. We are well into ...
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Best of CoBiz: Selling to birds of a feather
We are fortunate in Colorado to have a highly entrepreneurial population. It is these companies and individuals that are going to lead our future growth ...
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Marketing gurus—inside or outsource?
I don’t know where along this spectrum your company falls, but CEOs and their marketing leaders are faced with a dazzling array of ...
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What puts the ape in apricot?
Presiders are most often hired guns with large salaries who don’t have the chutzpah, passion or confidence to take courageous action. They continue ...
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Do-it-yourself investing
DIY investors often do not have a written, well-defined investment plan. A good investment plan includes strategies for both bull and bear markets. ...
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Paying for health care
Recent media stories illuminating the wide variation in hospital rates for the same service points to a well-known problem in the health care industry. ...
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Avoiding interview blunders
Interviewing is one of the most important steps in the recruiting proces. It allows the employer to see you in action and ask additional questions ...
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When failure is the best option
I strongly believe that there are times you should call it quits on a business. Not everything works. And — even after trying incredibly hard, ...
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Is the market over-valued?
There are thousands of opinions on this. Most fall under two camps: bullish or bearish. Some of the more famous bears, like Robert Schiller, with ...
Most Popular Stories
- Best of CoBiz: Powerful words inspire powerful change
- Best of CoBiz: Selling to birds of a feather
- Best of CoBiz: High-performance selling
- Best of CoBiz: Five ways to avoid blowing up your new job
- Avoiding interview blunders
- Leading by lying
- Getting better at doing good
- Executive wheels: The wow! factor meets tech overload
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Tips from the folks behind McGuckin Hardware
By Barry & Vicki Hight
Best of CoBiz: Selling to birds of a feather
They flock together -- and buy the same stuff
By Neil McKenzie
Marketing gurus—inside or outsource?
Here are some pros and cons
By Christopher J. Ryan
Best of CoBiz: Powerful words inspire powerful change
Here are three steps to finding them
By Julie Hansen
Here are some tools you'll need to DIY
By Wayne Farlow
There is a better way
By Bob Smith
You've made it this far -- don't blow it!
By Shawna Simcik
When failure is the best option
Sometimes it makes sense to call it quits
By Brad Feld
I'm cautiously optimistic
By Ron Phillips
Best of CoBiz: Five ways to avoid blowing up your new job
Walk softly and keep your big mouth shut
By John Heckers
Even a miss lands you amidst the stars
By Teri Karjala
Executive wheels: The wow! factor meets tech overload
BMW's bizarre bells and whistles
By Jeff RundlesReaders Respond
Thanks for being a Boulder foundation through the years. Great job on branding and integrity through all the years.
By Malachi O'Neill on 2013 05 24
Laura, as a student of Industrial Management I would have been having sleepless nights about these small things.
Galbreath and his "Cheaper by the dozen" did time and motion studies many years ago and Even Tennessee Ernie Ford had hit song "16 Tons" about the efficiencies of everyday work.
Keep after the efficiencies---they always make work flow better, make happier workers who really understand their efficient movements.
By Bill Burd on 2013 05 24
What is this 'article' about? Is it an ad? It can't be about STARTING a company since it was written by someone who inherited one. So is the point "try to have a dad who starts a good company, then try not to screw it up?" Okay. It's probably an ad made to look like an article.
By Sam S on 2013 05 24
McGuckins is by far my absolute favorite store in the world - and I have been a loyal customer for the past 32 years....often there several times every weekend. The best and knowledgeable staff....extremely helpful and many on a first name basis. The Hight family knows how to treat their employees as many have made lifelong careers of working at McGuckins.
The hardware department alone deserves an award for the wide-variety of all types of fasteners....even metric!
EXTREMELY Dog-Friendly, having every type of food, toy or leash available, there is always a treat for your four-footed friend - available from any member of staff.
Has to be one of the best small family-owner businesses in the country - a true model for a well-run concern,
Best wishes for another 4 generations!
Norm Klapper
Niwot, Colorado
By Norm Klapper on 2013 05 24
Great point, TC! Behind most successful leaders there are a few significant failures which leads us to another great trait, resilience! Cheers Todd
By Todd Ordal on 2013 05 24
Surveys show people are becoming increasingly less trusting, and this is being compounded with a luck of trust for politicians, bankers etc. At work the lack of trust from society somehow has to be overcome by employers to ensure that employees are engaged and delivering their best by trusting the company and it's managers.
The D Day landing was about a bigger mission - although winning the beaches was an important tactical activity, maintaining a free world was the overall vision and strategy.
If leaders can create a great vision that is compelling and they bring their teams along with them they too will be able to overcome the challenges that get in the way without having to lie. I fear it is those leaders that do not have the support of their people that may need to resort to this approach.
By Frazer Rendell on 2013 05 24
Loved the cowardly lion quote. What a great icon he is for courage. Like you, I have found courage is a differentiator of business leaders (and others) who become great. In fact, the courage to fail in order to create great success is one of the characteristics of all whom become great in their fields.
By TC North on 2013 05 23
Lida, I've seen the Rockies outfit! Classic example. Thanks for your thoughtful response.
By Shawna Simcik on 2013 05 22
AJ, you are right too! How you approach others in the office to find out more information is so important. Don't cross the line to creepy or desperate but a nice level of persistence and tenacity will go a long way! Also, it demonstrates that you are really interested in the company, culture and position; that is, if you take the time to do your research. “Oh, you also talked to Bob to learn more about expectations and the role.” “No one else took the time to do that” . . . this extra effort could possibly put your name to the top of the pile. It also helps you craft your answers more effectively to really hit home how you would be a great fit within their company, culture and can immediately help them solve problems they are facing.
Thanks for the comment!
By Shawna Simcik on 2013 05 22
D Louis - Jeff is right! You can obtain more information about the interviewer or hiring manager by exploring LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media sites. Additionally, if you have champions within the organization, ask them for 10-15 minutes to chat. Ask about the interviewer’s personality and "hot buttons" - what are they looking for and what will get you removed immediately.
Thanks for the question and comments!
By Shawna Simcik on 2013 05 22
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