Have a Nifty, Thrifty Holiday

With financial markets in turmoil, the reality of recession setting in and rising prices sucking up your disposable income, many Americans are worried about making ends meet this holiday season. America’s favorite tech expert Corey Greenberg has some smart “Thrifty Gift” ideas and strategies that will not only help you stretch your holiday budget this year, but also help you save money in the New Year.

 

 Corey Greenburg with Thrifty Gift Ideas [10:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Creating Your Own Elite Success

The Olympics are the gold standard for performance excellence. In sports, it’s easy to see what works and what doesn’t … it’s measured on the clock, in the score, by the kilo. It’s all in the numbers. In business and life, it can be more difficult to determine who wins.

Surprisingly, most Olympians attribute their success to unlocking their potential rather than to having talent that others don’t. Five former Olympians have started a training company to help “real people” unlock their potential in business and in life.

 

 Eli Bremer & Patricia Miranda of 5 Ring Insight [13:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Heart Smart Business

On a sunny June morning in 2005, Neita Wiese’s life changed in a moment. Her heart literally stopped beating. Her miraculous survival of a life-threatening heart attack is truly a testament to the quick action of co-workers, emergency responders and hospital staff.

What was ironic is that Neita had a career reciting the symptoms that she nearly ignored. She was a National Marketing Director for the American Heart Association (AHA) and she also sold cardiovascular pharmaceuticals. To say that this was a “wake-up” call in her life is an understatement.

 

 Neita Wiese of Neita's Charleston Vinaigrette [10:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Unstoppable, Rock Solid Growth

It was announced recently that a Kansas City, Kansas based Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was selected as part of the approval of legalized gaming in Kansas. This new Hard Rock location will be part of the Kansas Speedway complex.

While not everyone agrees with the strategy or the tactic of theoretically “state owned” gaming, this area will only continue its burgeoning growth as a very popular Midwest tourist and visitor destination.

The focus is on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. I truly believe that we “ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” I don’t think we can even fathom how great this will be for the Kansas region, for the Kansas City metro and for tourism. The market force of powerful brands is literally unstoppable.

Drilling To Bridge the Gap

Clarke Turner, Director of the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC), says his organization fills a niche in the research and development cycle for small and large companies inside the energy industry .

“We deal with a broad spectrum of industries and then try to apply their technology in the oil and gas industry,” Turner said.

This not-for-profit organization is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. Their facility is located north of Casper, Wyoming in the Teapot Dome Oil Field. RMOTC is committed to staying on the leading edge of oil field technologies.

 

 Clarke Turner of Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing [27:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Cream of the Crop

The Shatto Milk Company is a small, family owned dairy farm located just north of the Kansas City metro area. Known for “milk at its finest,” they recently released a brand new line of premium ice cream. The line has two flavors, vanilla and chocolate, but boasts itself as the only local super premium ice cream option from this area. What started out as a way for Leroy Shatto to keep his cows, now has led to a trophy room full of awards for product quality, small business accomplishments, tourism and even a picture of the President of the United States drinking his cow’s milk.

 

 Leroy Shatto of Shatto Milk Company: Play Now | Play in Popup

You’ll Scream For This Ice Cream

Are you Vanilla? Maybe Chocolate? Ever try Avocado, Pineapple and Habanero?

There’s a company in Omaha and on the Web that encourages you to express your inner Ice Cream Artist. (Without the messy clean-up.)

eCreamery is an traditional ice cream store front with a unique ability to satisfy cravings via the web.

 

 eCreamery Celebrities [1:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

A Prescription For Success

Highlights from the shows on June 26th, 2008 including Tom Holdsworth of SkillsUSA; Al Babich from the Manual Career & Technical Center, KCMO School District; Deb Reynolds of the KCK Area Technical School; Lane Bertram of Arrow Truck Sales and Driver Don Turkleson; Pete Joiner of Madeira Therapeutics; and Ken Sigman of Health and Benefit Systems, LLC.

 

 Tom Holdsworth of Skills USA [15:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Al Babbich & Deb Reynolds, Educators [12:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Lane Bertram of Arrow Truck Sales and Don Turkleson, Driver [15:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Pete Joiner of Madeira Therapeutics [22:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Ken Sigman of Health & Benefit Systems [25:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Is Your Company “Traveling 33 RPM in an iPod World?”

This is an “in your face” reminder to some of the more sleepy markets, cultures, managers and companies that we run across. It is also a wake-up call to many major corporations. An obvious comparison to aging marketing practices and stagnant product portfolios, with direct ties to decaying bottom-line growth and profits.

This is also a commentary on aging cultures and organizational structures. Are your employees actively engaged? Is your company awake or asleep?