With apologies to Leo Tolstoy, I’d argue that the current economic realities can best be stated by paraphrasing the opening of Anna Karenina. That is: all economic good times are alike; each downturn is unhappy in its own way.
In economic good times the industry has essentially traveled the same path, adding services, products, tastes and [...]

There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ve heard, seen and read of the tragedy in Haiti that jeopardizes the country. The recent estimates from the Red Cross are that 45,000 to 50,000 people have died, and those that remain face living conditions that we cannot begin to comprehend. Hospitals, government buildings, homes, orphanages, and [...]

Professor Marianne Jennings of Arizona State, a terrific writer and speaker on business ethics, says there is an easy test for culture in a company. In short, it’s what people do when no one is around watching. If you doubt the power of what she says, think about how differently you drive when you see [...]

If you reflect back on pre-holiday retail activity, there was a frenzy of price wars going on between a lot of the really big players in the industry (Wal-Mart and Amazon, and even grocers). Good for the consumer? Low prices certainly aren’t bad and they’re likely not complaining.
Pre-recession research would indicate that shoppers chose their [...]

Our Aisle7 office looks out to the Park Blocks. These blocks, full of giant trees, benches, basketball courts and playgrounds, were some of the original park properties in the Portland and they are truly gorgeous, peaceful. One night a couple weeks ago, I walked out of our office door into the frigid cold and heavy [...]