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Here are my predictions for 2014

Prediction: Five years after the end of the Great Recession, U.S. economic growth will average no more than 3% in 2014.

Prediction: Small businesses will benefit from the economic growth, but will continue to report optimism levels below the NFIB Index’s 40-year average of 100 points.

Prediction: Small businesses will continue reluctance to take growth risks, producing the sixth straight year of low levels of investment and bank loans.

Prediction: With uncertainty...

The Question:

How has the troubled roll-out of Obamacare this year, and uncertainty about healthcare coverage for next year impacted your holiday spending?

15% - It has had no impact at all. We’re not concerned about it.

38% - We’re somewhat concerned but haven’t adjusted our holiday spending.

31% - We’re concerned, and it has somewhat impacted our holiday spending.

16% - Our concerns about Obamcare have significantly lowered our holiday budget.

My Comments:

Well, less than half of our respondents,...

In this week's video I share by Christmas message while offering advice about dealing with the scrooges of the world.

There is a poem that has been popular on the Internet for several years which describes a visit by Santa to a soldier’s simple home. There are several versions with different names as authors, but here is the story of the original poem as told by its author, L Cpl James M. Schmidt, U.S. Marine Corps.

“While a Lance Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington DC, under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers [in 1986], Iwrote this poe...

Some say I’m a scrooge; they might be right. But here are three exhibits in my defense:

1. The early part of my career was spent in retail, which is tough on the holiday spirit. There’s a syndrome for everything else; why not one for retail survivors? Let’s call it PTHSS: Post-Traumatic Holiday Shock Syndrome.

2. Since I don’t wait until the holidays to give someone a gift, I just don’t get all worked up about holiday giving. Not that the ladies mind getting stuff all year (let’s not lose our h...

The Question:

What do you think is the impact of human behavior on the climate of the Earth?

11% - Climate change is real and dangerous, and humans are the cause

27% - Climate change is real, but humans are only part of the reason

48% - The climate was changing for millions of years before humans

14% - Climate change is a religion practiced by environmental zealots

My Comments:

As you can see, only 11% of our respondents think human behavior is causing climate change, while 63% think humans are not...

Several years ago, we added up all of the money we paid for fruit, nuts and candy holiday gift packages we sent to our customers - it was a lot. We decided that the world will be better served if, instead of sending holiday gifts, we made donations to those who have less in life and greater needs in honor of our customers.

After a while, we extended this practice to include at least some of the money we spent on adults during the holidays.

With all of this in mind, we’ve chosen to contribute to...

Let’s review my 2013 predictions, what happened and my score

Prediction:The political class will claim “fiscal cliff�� avoidance, but it’s more postponement than policy. Reality: The government was shut down again in October. Plus 1.

Prediction:The 2013 economy will be held back by two government-created headwinds: tax increases and Obamacare. Reality: Dozens of tax increases took billions out of consumers�� pockets and Obamacare is a recurring budgeting nightmare. Plus 1.

Prediction:Small busines...

In this week's video I explain how entrepreneurs see the world.

The Question:

Obamacare was launched October 1. Have you seen a difference in customer attitudes and sales since then?

59% - No, customers aren’t acting differently and sales are the same.

41% - Yes, customer activity and sales are down since Sept.

My Comments:

I asked this question last week because when I have asked small businesses recently about sales, I have gotten comments like, “We were having a decent year, but since the beginning of October, it’s like someone turned off a switch.�� So, I w...