
Over the years, I have been pitched a number of big ideas from potential entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, too many of these entrepreneurs had failed to “count the costs” of truly executing on their ideas. A “get rich quick” philosophy will not get you very far in life. The successful leaders I know understand the value of [...] [...]
A couple of years back, an article in Business Week caught my attention by stating that older Americans -those identified as 55 and over, are filing for bankruptcy at a faster rate than the general population today. Even more surprising in this category would be the inclusion of those raised during the Depression and World [...] [...]

America is blessed with abundant energy resources, a strong energy infrastructure and people skilled to deliver affordable, reliable energy. To lead our nation to great energy security, President Obama has nominated a man of deep qualification, seasoned experience and proven leadership ability. Ernest J. Moniz graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in physics [...] [...]
A graduate student managed to ruin my last day of spring break. It all had to do with my last lecture before the break and a Census Bureau report that she forwarded to me and which caused me to reach for my calculator. The story, written by Hope Yen of the Associated Press and appearing [...] [...]

In a recent conversation with John Scott, tax partner and board member for HORNE LLP, we talked about some of the changes that are on the horizon for Mississippi businesses of all sizes in the coming months and years. As Mississippi’s largest CPA firm, HORNE has offices in Mississippi (headquarters), Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas. [...] [...]
Next stop, 15,000? As the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at a new all-time high of 14,253.77 on March 5, the psychological lift on Wall Street was undeniable — the market was finally back to where it was in 2007. Or was it? 1 For many, the Dow “is” the stock market, and the stock [...] [...]

People often think of effective leaders as “talkers.” While the ability to communicate is certainly important and leaders need to be able to share their vision with others, I believe it is equally important for leaders to be great “listeners.” I have heard it said, “We have two ears and only one mouth for a [...] [...]

In my work with growth-oriented companies, it is always a huge milestone when a business can go from successfully operating in one location to two. When the owner is “hands on” in the business, this can be particularly challenging. I see this frequently in retail and restaurant businesses. Many just don’t have the foundations in [...] [...]

The secret for making big money in Corporate America is to infuse your brand name into everyday life. That brand has to be part of the discussion at the kitchen dinner table, in the break room at work, church parking lots after service, and the logo has to be visible everywhere you turn. Consumers are [...] [...]
Here we go again. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is on stage once more. This time a case emanating from Shelby County, Ala., serves as the vehicle for challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. This section requires that any change in any aspect of voting procedures of a jurisdiction [...] [...]