2020 has become a reset for many people. Millions of newly unemployed workers are rethinking their career paths, and many business owners are resetting their business plans. College seniors are also adjusting to cancelled starting positions or new careers. Resets and change can be difficult, but they do give us an opportunity for fresh starts. Zacchaeus had a reset of […]

Many women reach a crossroads when they begin having children. The question that is often asked is whether to stay at home, or, continue working outside the home? Although some would disagree on both sides of the issue, neither is right or wrong. Instead, I believe God has a calling and purpose for each woman that can be unique to […]

Every Saturday, I pick up our son, Jeremy, from his group home to go to lunch. In March, after picking up Jeremy one Saturday morning, I learned that Jeremy’s house had been quarantined. The group home decided not to allow Jeremy to return to the house. Since Jeremy’s job was also cancelled, we found ourselves with a dilemma. How would […]

It’s fascinating how two people can see and experience the same situation and come away with completely different perspectives. As I’ve been discussing the impact of the coronavirus with business leaders, I frequently hear a surprising, but optimistic, view! Some business leaders look at problems with positive attitudes, looking for opportunities amid the trials in life. Others, however, only see […]

As I write this broadcast, crude oil prices went negative for the first time ever. Sellers of oil are paying others to take their oil rather than find a place to store it. This is an unintended consequence of the stay-at-home orders of the coronavirus. Gas demand has plummeted, and the oil companies have more oil than they can possibly […]

According to a thesis written by retired nurse, Susan Berry, called Politics and Pandemic in 1918 Kansas City, the Spanish Flu struck Kansas City in September 1918 beginning a battle of profit over people. Kansas City leadership wrestled for months over how much economic pain to withstand versus preventing additional deaths. Due to political pressure, the leadership pursued profits and […]

When the Coronavirus first became public, I was in Costco visiting with a store manager. He said, “What a day. We had a run on toilet paper!” “Why are people hoarding toilet paper?” I asked. “This virus doesn’t impact the stomach.” His only explanation was that panic had swept our country. Panic means a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without […]

At 25 years old I foolishly started a car rental agency during the most challenging economic time in my lifetime. Within a year I had closed the business, feeling like a failure. That fostered a fear of failure that almost prevented me from launching what today is Unconventional Business Network. In retrospect, I learned my failure had better prepared me […]

As somewhat of an optimistic visionary, I create chaos at times as I push forward a new idea before its time, sometimes leaving important projects undone. This can cause frustration for those around me as they fight fires rather than working a methodical plan. Although I’m still not as good at putting order to my chaos as I’d like, what […]

Roger, a new friend of mine, recently shared with me about how his company handled the economic downturn in 2009. Their business was significantly impacted and needed to slash payroll. But, leadership chose to look beyond the conventional employee layoffs. After much thought, leadership chose to retain all employees by cutting wages. The highest paid workers took the biggest pay […]