Imagine you owned a gourmet restaurant with a loyal following but the patrons only paid $15 for a meal that cost you $45 to produce. Hard to survive on that, right? That is the case with orchestras. To survive with lower-than-average COVID ticket sales, and fixed costs like venues and musicians, orchestras around the world need the support of their communities more than ever. Cities such as Paris, London, New York, San Francisco may be large enough to weather the various storms, but what … [Read more...] about Understanding the Business of Orchestras Like Arizona Philharmonic
business
Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses
Three experts from different backgrounds and organizations spoke on a panel called Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses in Your Community at the Arizona Association for Economic Development Fall Forum. Although panelists Alika Kumar, Carlos Velasco and Melody Lewis represented diverse communities, they shared a passion for empowering minority groups and minority-owned businesses. The panel discussion was part of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), a three-day conference at … [Read more...] about Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses
Imagining a World Beyond the Pandemic
Events like the COVID-19 pandemic can turn the world upside down. The immediate impact of this turmoil creates sometimes insurmountable challenges to small businesses. But it is nearly impossible to predict the long-term effects on those small businesses that have somehow managed to survive the initial blow. Small businesses may have a narrower margin with which to withstand the upheaval of a global pandemic, or an economic downturn, but these businesses do possess one advantage over the … [Read more...] about Imagining a World Beyond the Pandemic
Straight to the Table
The Prescott Chamber of Commerce Farm to Table Experience is being presented and organized by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, with Dignity Health as the main sponsor. Mortimer Farms, the host organization, speculates that this, the fifth year for the event, will be the largest and most successful yet. The experience is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Sep. 18, or Monday, Sept. 20, if it is rained out on Saturday. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sheri Heiney said this year will … [Read more...] about Straight to the Table
What Makes People Follow You?
Great leaders inspire others to follow them. Indeed, many characteristics define great leadership, but if you’re wondering what makes people follow you, here are the most critical factors you need to know. Trust Trust is the foundation of any well-developed relationship, including your relationship with your team. Your team needs to be able to trust you if they’re to follow your directives. Therefore, cultivating a high level of trust enables you to create a work culture that is highly … [Read more...] about What Makes People Follow You?
Boost Productivity, Save Time, Improve the Customer Experience
Microsoft 365 is like a treasure chest, full of delights waiting to be discovered. Most businesses get it just to access Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams. Then, they find out there are so many other apps included. Find the right ones and you can save time, increase productivity and motivation, and create a smoother workflow for everyone in your business. But finding the right apps to suit your business isn’t always easy. There are hundreds from which to choose. Here are the 10 Microsoft 365 … [Read more...] about Boost Productivity, Save Time, Improve the Customer Experience
Businesses, Individuals Honored for Workforce Efforts
Two businesses and four individuals from Yavapai County have been recognized for exceptional efforts in workforce and economic development by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors. The county collaborates with ARIZONA@WORK, a statewide workforce development network, as well as the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), which helps identify and create job opportunities. During an awards luncheon Thursday, Aug. 12, Mary Mallory, speaking on behalf of the supervisors, praised the … [Read more...] about Businesses, Individuals Honored for Workforce Efforts
Hissing is Never a Good Sound
I once had dinner with a rattlesnake. It was an uninvited guest, but nonetheless, it showed up at suppertime while I was grilling. I did what any courageous Arizonan should do who doesn’t have a long-handled shovel or a pair of snake tongs. I called the fire department – which I’ve heard is the No. 1 reason people make emergency calls to Scottsdale firefighters. I’ve also heard it’s the No. 1 call they hate. Knowing this, I called anyway. The dispatcher explained that this particular evening … [Read more...] about Hissing is Never a Good Sound
Restaurants Feeling Relief
Business is improving at restaurants in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona as we emerge from the pandemic, which has hit restaurants especially hard. In early May, Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran announced that the Small Business Administration’s $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund had begun accepting applications. Many restaurants in Central and Northern Arizona have either already received or applied for these funds. Priority for the first 21 days was given to restaurants owned … [Read more...] about Restaurants Feeling Relief
Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish
There’s a popular story told by many a motivational speaker that describes a person walking along a beach who was picking up starfish on the shore and tossing them back into the ocean. An observer told the starfish thrower that his efforts were basically pointless because there were so many starfish on that stretch of sand, so he couldn’t possibly save them all and what he was doing was not going to make a difference. Unphased by the discouraging comments, the starfish thrower kept walking … [Read more...] about Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish