Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!

Ronald Reagan

Happy Labor Day

Lessons From a Tree

Last year, Vistage Groups in the Upstate were privileged to hear speaker John O’Leary tell his remarkable story. John is a Phoenix, having literally risen from the ashes of a fire. When he was 9 years old John was burned on 100% of his body (over 85% second and third degree burns). Incredibly, he survived. In his recent blog post Lessons From a Tree, John uses the Giant Sequoia as a metaphor for not only his own journey, but also the one each one of us is taking, because we all have to survive our personal fires. Worth the read.

10 Ways to Keep Your Best People

Atlanta Vistage Chair Tim Fulton publishes an award-winning monthly newsletter, Small Business Matters.  In his August issue, Tim discusses the reality that as the economy improves and unemployment declines, quality people have more choices and can leave at a moment’s notice if they feel so inclined. Here are Tim’s 10 Ways to Keep Your Superstars… Before they leave you.

Mastering Difficult Conversations

We’ve all been there. Either entangled in a conversation we don’t want, or avoiding a conversation we have to have. Here are two handy guides: Conversations with Difficult People; and Difficult Conversations with Good People.

Econ Recon

Investment Blather: The only place I know that I can find more obtuse language than from an investment counselor is to read a wine snob talk about his favorite vino. Investment advisor Steve Bick clears things up in his blog post: Making Sense of What They Say.