Ralph Coker
March is National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month which is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I would like to discuss the importance of making informed food choices by developing sound eating habits and through physical activity. Texas has been helpful in promoting good nutrition for our citizens. Since Texas has a diverse…
Read MoreUS Labor Department Independent Contractor Rule
In 2022 the US Labor Department (DOL) issued a new proposed rule for Independent Contractors. The comment period ended in November 2022 and it is anticipated the DOL will issue the final rule in the first quarter of 2023. If your business is a member of your trade association, it should have kept you informed…
Read MoreNational Glaucoma Awareness Month
The month of January is recognized as National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Currently, more than 3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with glaucoma. Furthermore, The National Eye Institute projects that this number will increase to 4.2 million by 2030. Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as “the sneak thief of sight” since there…
Read MoreDo the China protest demonstrations mean the end of communist rule?
There are more than 10,000 demonstrations in China each year. They are allowed if they don’t criticize the Party or Government. They usually are about local issues. The current demonstrations are different and more significant. They are nationwide and are about President XI Jinping’s zero-tolerance lock down of entire cities and provinces for COVID-19. President…
Read MoreRecession
Once again, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) commonly called “The Fed,” is turning the mild recession during the first two quarters of 2022 into a deep two-year recession by raising interest rates too high and keeping them high for too long to control inflation. The Fed’s track record is deplorable. In the last 60…
Read MoreLong Term Effect of the Russia-Ukraine War
Sometimes in human history, wars between two countries have caused permanent, dramatic changes in the beliefs and attitudes of the world’s people. I believe the Russia-Ukraine war is one. It has caused world fossil fuel prices for oil to rise from about $60 per barrel to $100 plus per barrel. World natural gas prices went…
Read MoreWhat I Learned “Not to Do” From My 500 Plus SCORE Clients
I have learned what works to create successful businesses from my SCORE clients. Equally important I have learned what does not work. 1. All markets are not the same. If a product or service sells well in one market, that does not guarantee it will sell well in your market. The one exception may be…
Read MoreNational Parks and Recreation Month
This year, the month of July has been designated as National Parks & Recreation Month. It is important to recognize the importance of parks and recreation in establishing and maintaining quality of life and in contributing to the physical, economic, and environmental well-being of communities. In the United States, the month of July has been…
Read MoreCustomer Service in 2022
It seems good customer service has almost disappeared from the business world. All businesses compete on price, quality, and service. It is not possible to excel in all three. Businesses need to decide which their customers value most and focus on that. If I were starting a business now, I would focus on customer service…
Read MoreHow the Other 7 billion People in the World Really Live
My most recent non-fiction book was “Factfulness” by Dr. Hans Rosling who is a professor of world health in a university in Sweden. When the author speaks to audiences in high-income countries, he begins with a 13-question, multiple choice test about the living conditions of the world’s 7 billion people. He has been amazed that…
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