Success is leveraged by our connections, but relationships take thought, focus, effort and time to develop. Have you ever experienced what you thought was a great connection with a potential customer or client that resulted in zip, nada, nothing? All too often, I hear business owners talk about strong leads that never seem to roll around. So what gives? How do you keep the conversation going and capitalize on all those great leads you initially felt were a good fit? While first impressions are … [Read more...] about Using Connection Strategies
Columnists
Protecting Rural Infrastructure
Shortly after the economy began its downward spiral in 2008, our state and local economies felt the impact almost immediately. Families cut back on spending, forcing businesses and organizations to slash staff. Unemployment soared, the housing and construction markets faltered and skyrocketing fuel costs caused motorists to drive less and some vehicles went unregistered. That proved detrimental to the state’s Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), which relies on fuel taxes at the pump, motor … [Read more...] about Protecting Rural Infrastructure
Vision Correction Options
If you have ever thought about how nice it would be to see clearly without being constantly dependent on glasses or contact lenses, you have probably heard of LASIK. But do you know that since this vision correction procedure was first introduced, advances in technology have made it even safer and more effective? And do you know that LASIK is not your only option for achieving your best possible vision? Beyond LASIK, another option, called an implantable contact lens, or ICL, is also available. … [Read more...] about Vision Correction Options
Reconsidering Genetically Modified Foods
“Try to make things better for someone / sometimes you end up making it a thousand times worse.” From Bob Dylan’s “Sugar Baby” The law of unintended consequences describes the situation we are facing with genetically modified foods. Proponents claim that the motivation was and is to help farmers increase their crop yields and make it less expensive for them to get their product to market and to help grow more nutritious, drought-resistant food to feed the world’s starving masses. … [Read more...] about Reconsidering Genetically Modified Foods
Experiencing Peru – Part 1
I have been to Peru three times now and just love this fascinating country. And what an incredible experience the Inca Trail is – made up of steep trails, “paved” with flat stones by the Incas 500 years ago! This area is rich with fascinating history. At one time, the Inca Empire had a longer road network than the Roman Empire. With each step up the Inca Trail, the stresses of our every day lives fall further away until we just get lost in the rhythm of our steps and breath and we begin to … [Read more...] about Experiencing Peru – Part 1
Life-Threatening Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is a medical term used to describe any abnormality in the regular, predictable rhythm of the heartbeat. Arrhythmias can range in seriousness from almost immediately deadly to simply a minor inconvenience. The most common arrhythmia is called atrial fibrillation, or Afib. It is estimated that over 2.2 million people in the United States have this arrhythmia. The incidence of Afib increases with age and with the aging U.S. population; it is estimated that over 12 million people will … [Read more...] about Life-Threatening Arrhythmia
Flagstaff’s Regional Plan
What is the Regional Plan and why should you care? The plan is supposed to be a blueprint of sorts for Flagstaff’s growth over the next 10 years. Most people have never heard of it (we have one now). But it can bite you or help you in ways you never expected. The plan is being drafted now by a committee. Whether the committee represents a fair balance of all community interests has been an issue lately. By the end of the year, the committee will have a draft to present to the City Council and … [Read more...] about Flagstaff’s Regional Plan
The Latest in Animal Rescue
Kat Ross and her husband love cats, but her allergy to them made having one impossible. Then one day, the couple and their four-year-old daughter found an unexpected joy in Fergus, a gray and white kitty. While shopping at the Flagstaff Mall, they met a volunteer from Rescue Me! Pet Adoption Center who was carrying Fergus. The family stopped to pet him and Ross soon realized she was not having an allergic reaction. So the family returned to Rescue Me!, spent an hour falling in love with Fergus, … [Read more...] about The Latest in Animal Rescue
Make the Most of Massage
Do you partake in a therapeutic massage every now and then and wonder how you can really make the most of each session? How you can reach the ultimate stage of relaxation and stress relief? How to make the benefits of each massage last even longer and ease nagging pain? We’ve put together some helpful tips to help you experience the best massage possible and reap the lasting effects. Don’t forget, it’s important to set the stage for relaxing before you even arrive to your appointment. … [Read more...] about Make the Most of Massage
Legal Dangers of Slips and Falls
El Nino is back and the weather forecasters are predicting above average precipitation for Northern Arizona. What does that mean for us? It means the possibility of a snowy winter, which may be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. If you’re a skier or a snowboarder, you can’t wait to hit the slopes. If you’re a business owner, it translates to increased revenue as more Phoenicians come up for the weekend to play in the snow. Before you break out the snowboard and skis, you should … [Read more...] about Legal Dangers of Slips and Falls