In 1952, advertising sage Leo Burnett proclaimed “what helps people, helps business.” This credo is at the core of socially-conscious companies that wisely include customers in promotions and marketing. Recently, I saw a commercial for Firehouse Subs, a national chain that wears its corporate culture on its sleeve. Their mission: a commitment to flavorful food, heartfelt service, and...Read More

Summer has arrived and July 4th falls on a Wednesday. This week I’ve heard business owners say, almost apologetically, “I’m taking vacation the week of July 4th  – it’s just four days off that way.” American entrepreneurs and business-owners use just 25% of their vacation days, and worse yet, 42% don’t take any vacation at all. Sadly, of those who take a...Read More

A quick tour of Instagram will reveal the power that influencers have in marketing products. These Influencers are using social platforms to reach thousands, if not millions, of followers for product endorsement. Manny the Frenchie, a French bulldog with 4 million followers, models Martha Stewart’s Petsmart products and appeared on Steve Harvey’s TV show. Since 2014, Manny has made millions for his owners...Read More

Watching The Oscars made me realize how many good movies I hadn’t seen this year. Of those I did see, they moved me. I believe what makes a movie memorable is a good story – capable of transporting me to a different time, place or mindset. A good film doesn’t need to be nominated for an Oscar or even...Read More