Author: Staff (Page 62 of 62)

      Tax credit for hiring might be coming soon

      October 8, 2009 /

      This was originally proposed in the first stimulus package but was then removed. It looks like there would be bi-partisan support, and given the terrible job market, it seems like a workable idea.

      The idea of a tax credit for companies that create new jobs, something the federal government has not tried since the 1970s, is gaining support among economists and Washington officials grappling with the highest unemployment in a generation.

      The proposal has some bipartisan appeal among politicians eager both to help their unemployed constituents and to encourage small-business development. Legislators on Capitol Hill and President Obama’s economic team have been quietly researching the policy for several weeks.

      “There is a lot of traction for this kind of idea,” said Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the Republican whip. “If the White House will take the lead on this, I’m fairly positive it would be welcomed in a bipartisan fashion.”

      The New York Times article does a good job of explaining the pros and cons. Hopefully some form of this will pass.

      Your Business, Your Career

      Stop multitasking – operation focus

      September 17, 2009 /

      This is the first of what will probably be many posts on the subject of multitasking. It must be stopped. I’ve read numerous books about improving performance, particularly job performance, and eliminating multitasking is the single best idea I’ve heard so far.

      Here’s a humorous and helpful article from A.J. Jacobs and his experiment called Operation Focus.

      Hence, I’ve decided to begin a little project I call Operation Focus. I pledge to go cold turkey from multitasking for a month in a quest to regain my brain and sanity. I’ll unitask―that is, perform one activity at a time. And just as important, I’ll stick with each thing for more than my average 30 seconds. I’ll be the most focused man in the world.

      It’s worth a read.

      Email is the perfect example. How many times a day do you check it? When you get bored or stuck on something, do you check it just to give yourself something else to do? Where does that lead you? I suspect you often end up wasting time on something completely unrelated to the task at hand.

      The goal with work is not to be busy. The goal is to get things done. There’s a huge different.

      As I said, we’ll be addressing this again, but try to work on tasks or projects in 90 minute spurts. Sit and your desk and focus on that task or project, and don’t do things like check your email or have the TV on in the background. You’ll be amazed at how much you accomplish.

      Your Career, Your Workplace

      Accidental entrepreneurs

      September 11, 2009 /

      Many people dream of starting their own business, but many Americans are now doing it out of necessity given the realities of the high unemployment rate.

      Call them accidental entrepreneurs, unintended entrepreneurs or forced entrepreneurs. A year and a half into the Great Recession, with the jobless rate hovering near double digits, corporate refugees like Lisa Marie Grillos of San Francisco are trying to fend for themselves.

      Along with her brother Hernan Barangan, Mrs. Grillos started Hambone Designs, after her full-time contract position with Williams-Sonoma as a production manager wasn’t renewed in January. The new company makes bicycle bags that hold things like keys, wallets and cellphones.

      “You have the time — why not focus your energy on something, rather than just trolling Craigslist and sitting and watching TV?” Mrs. Grillos says. “It’s really taking matters in my own hands.”

      The Times article goes on to describe this trend further, and cites data from LegalZoom.com regarding a 10% increase in new businesses formed using its service in the first half of 2009, which surprised the company’s executives.

      In many ways, a recession offers an ideal time to start a business. Many costs are lower, from rent to staff.

      Your Business

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