Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 Insurance and instant replay: Survey results mixed bag A new year Business affords Thank Briefs Godnot-so-bold one of them works more like repeats for Colorado businesses a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
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A quarterly survey of Colorado business leaders always yields interesting results — offering not only a statistical snapshot of their collective mood, but also an indication of their plans for hiring, capital expenditures and sales. The latest survey results also reflect the strange juxtaposition in which business leaders find themselves these an days. The COVID-19 pandemic, labor A new year almost always brings opportunity for a fresh start and shortages, supply chain and surging inflation all present unprecedented renewed ambition to do disruptions things better. challenges even as demand products services remains strong. In business, that usuallyfor boils down and to providing customers better products A story in this issue details the Leeds Business Confidence Index. But must to and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process recap here, the reading for overall expectations forthey the actually first quarter the then new year include listening to customers to determine what needofand climbed to 58. all, Moreover, individual readings forlatest each and of six metricsif meeting 1.9 thatpoints need. After it does little good to offer the greatest the indexactually tracks also rose to levels 50. That’s significant because readings nobody wants what you’reabove selling. above 50like indicate more positive than negative responses. Just the businesses that belong to the group, the Grand Junction Area The business research division at the Leeds School Business at the Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new yearofwith a reassessment of University Colorado at Boulder calculates index the members results of the servicesofand resources it provides and howthe well theybased matchonwith surveys of business acrossofthe and various industry sectors. needs. Jeff Franklin,leaders the newfrom chairman thestate chamber board of directors, Confidence in the Colorado economy rose points his to 57.6 nearly half personifies this approach in describing what he 2.5 considers role with for the coming of those who the survey forecasting strong increases year: listen toresponded members, to determine their needs andmoderate then meetorthose needs. It’s a in the Looking ahead toasthe second quarter,of theBank reading moved even rolestate witheconomy. which Franklin is familiar market president of Colorado. higher toprocess 59.4. That well for the prospectsapproach of a sustained recovery. The willbodes take on a more structured in what the chamber more encouraging newsaptly in the readings for hiring and capital plansThere as thewas resumption of a program called Listening to Business. Under the expenditures — twoowners metricsparticipate that reflectininvestment in the growth of businesses. program, business in-depth interviews to identify barriers to The reading for hiring rose 2.1 points to 63.7, while the reading for capital growth and other problems they encounter. expenditures increased 2.9 points to 58.3. for salesclub. advanced 1.2 points to The new year offers a good time to The join reading the proverbial 60.2 As withannearly 60 percent of respondents anticipating moderate or strong increases. advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times? Asked identifyjournals the reasons for their expectations, business strong While to business traditionally gather and report the leaders relevantcited news to demand. But they also cited concerns — among them inflation, the pandemic, readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especiallysupply true as chain issues ande-mail labor make shortages. Fully 92 percent noted the effects of inflation on Web sites and the dialogue more convenient than ever. their Good businesses ranging don’t from some A total 68 percent of those publications exist to in extreme. a vacuum. Theyofrespond to the needswho of responded expect inflation to moderate the second half of 2022 or even advertisersdon’t and readers. They provide what’suntil needed. 2023.SoThe same what doproportion you need?said they expect to increase wages as a result. The results of the Leeds survey correspond latest of aabout Is there additional news coverage that wouldwith helpthe keep youresults informed national survey of small business owners conducted by the National Federation local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or of Business. Theadvice Smallthat Business a half point to 98.9 with useful? Is there wouldOptimism make yourIndex jobs arose little easier? increases in seven of 10 components November December. It’s equally important to ask whatfrom you don’t need. to With limited time to But content 25 percent those who to publish the survey upon which thespace indexbe produce andoflimited spaceresponded in which to it, would time and was citedtoquality of labor betterbased devoted something else?as their single most important business problem. Another 22 percent citedisn’t? inflation. A net 48 percent respondents reported What’s good? What What’s needed? Whatofisn’t? raising record level. Comment A net 32 percent saidthe they expectTimes to raise Letcompensation, us know. Sendaus an e-mail. online on Business Web compensation in the next three months. site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to The results oflike. the Leeds and NFIBboth surveys produce a lot of numbers the editor if you’d Your feedback, positive and negative, is valuedforand business leaders to consider. Statistical dot-to-dot pictures aren’t complete, of will be carefully considered. course. But it’s clear challenges will persist for as long as the pandemic persists. Good publications are the result of not only the efforts of their staffs, but also And higher wages will be required to attract and retain employees. collaborative effortslikely involving advertisers and readers. But alsobusiness, offer encouragement for improving economic Likethe anynumbers other good we want to listen to our customers, find out conditions and strong demand. Add to that less tangible factors, and that’s what they need and then meet those needs. the innovation business owner managers It’s a new year. Please helpand us to do so. bring to their endeavors and a deterination to succeed regardless of the✦ circumstances. F
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Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall
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Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers. Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2022 — All rights reserved.
My mind works in mysterious ways. Otherwise, could a casual It’s thathow time of year whenconversation about car insurance take me back toabound. one of resolutions and prognostications the of my existence? somehow Mybanes favorite saying appliedYet, to New Year’sI end up at theisNational Football anda resolutions in saying they’reLeague basically its instant replay rules. bunch of promises to break the first week Before And all you of January. while I won’t predict a absolute, whole lot,boycotting I can pretty much accurately crazies startthings in on that me, without question nail a few please notethe I’mnews. not You will see these are will make an across-the-board, pretty, well, predictable: at-all-costs boycotter. ■ Prediction one: In otherwill words, if I There be some don’t something sort oflike weather event, in particular, I might natural disaster or boycott particular heinous that occurrence something that’swill part where someone of larger whole. be ainterviewed andAssay Craig Hall far the NFL “I’ve goes, the as following: I’ll never near many things certain never seengoanything players like thatendorse in my and will always be against the idiot commissioner. lifetime.” It’s as if this But I’m not against Craig Hall the entire person is aleague. required It’s actually sensible approach, and attendee at everya news here’s why: It’s IMPOSSIBLE to go through reporting event. While I understand most life without engaging,can doing business or people’s perspective indeed be limited associating with people as by, or contained within,who theironly ownthink personal you do. Occasionally, I get a to callask or to email experiences, it is too much from someone telling meperspective they can’t do consult some historical before business with, supportYes, a product or won’tcan saying such a thing? this response have do with someone applyanything to some to events. But when itwho comes thinks like me. you andI’m I interact to weather andOtherwise, natural disasters, pretty with dozens of others who think completely sure this is simply history repeating itself. differently we millions do from the Same as it than has for andsmallest millions of topic the biggest personal concerns. years.toMore important, the planet made it! goodwere news is my species. interactions tend WhatThe didn’t certain How’s to befor with folks who aren’t part of the few that perspective? who ■ refuse to or attempt to never associate Prediction two: When it comes to a with who think differently. Thank crimeothers or something that occurs between God, because that’srequired what’s special about humans, the other attendee at all freedom-loving people.isThe news reporting events the others? person They’re who just themselves andthe represent saysfooling this: “They we’re just nicest the biggest to freedom. do I know? people, danger and in no way did IHow see something Simple. needExactly. a gun toNo impose their lust like this They coming.” one does for everyone to think way they most of the time whenthey it comes to do. So justand howacquaintances. did I get here?People Well, should neighbors it through a couple becomes surprised at what goesof onrecent from time to experiences. first was a conversation time in their The neighborhoods, towns and I had someone I do business whose withwith people they know becausewith people are many leanings 180 good. political And for and the social times that theyare shouldn’t degrees opposite of mine. To all too many, be shocked — like with politicians, repeat this relationship shouldn’t—occur. Butthe I never offenders and terrorists where’s desired to be of the all too many. What interview thatone says, “This doesn’t surprise stood me was his analogy about me inout thetoleast.” COVID-19 vaccines and Something car insurance. ■ Prediction three: good While it had economically, some valid points, think it will happen and Ithe missed on a few. in particular I government will The takecouple credit for it. The most disagreed — politely with were how recent example is gas— prices, whereabout people car aboutcredit protecting the otherfor ask insurance me why Iiswon’t the president guy how I see insurance working. low and gas prices. Mycar answer is simple: Car insurance is a good Government never makes thething price you of decide to have to accompany your privilege something go down and simply takes credit to motorGas vehicle. It protects fordrive goodanews. pricing is subjectyou, to your other people and are other manyproperty, global factors. Now there properties cases where it’s needed. Butof governmentinanswers to addressing some it doestothese and to them keep things prices first stable forforemost Americans, protect in an accident, at of fault or not. but our you government has none them in The important is even place.second The only things itpoint has in placeifinthe the
January J20-F ebruary 2, 2015 2022 ANUARY 15-28,
other person involved — and for the point being made, let’shurt useconsumers. the analogyAnother of other long run always people being those on the planet live fact is that unemployment reacheswe a certain with doesn’t have insurance, level — based on the economy. And you’re while the still protected. Period. government might brag the number is low, My thinking onthe mygovernment friend’s analogy it’s more than likely did led my mind naturally — to something something to — cause that number being low designed make — and nottoinwork, a good way.corrections Conversely, when mid-game and up, set wrongs rightthe which all business picks it’s because people too work: And whooften needdoesn’t to buy widgets whothat’s wereinstant not replay the NFL. Worse, all too many buyinginwidgets because theineconomy was cases (I’ll give fans good contracting dueDenver to natural (orsome unnatural, red meat here) it doesreasons, indeed decided give cause government caused) we for rulebuy changes and moreThe league (read better some widgets. government government) had nothing tointervention do with this.in the game. But as we■all know, those rules (mandates) Prediction four:new In keeping with come or aren’tdoes, good Iduring thingstoo the late government predictthe the game. Thinkwill the manipulate “tuck rule,”the lownumbers hits to to government the quarterback andeconomy every roughing the make the claim the is getting passer rule implemented over past two better because of how hard it isthe working to decades related to something that happened help all of us “working Americans.” Now to Tom Brady you might say,which “Craig,you you—vehemently always say this— disagreed with atObama the time. about President because you don’t FolksYou’re might right be surprised to Ilearn like him.” in a sense. don’tI disagree rules.”ofWhen know thewith man,the but“Brady what I know him and Ihis played football, welike could thinking, I don’t it oractually him onehit iota. the other guy. this goes Ifurther. How Before you go But off, however, didn’t like many replays you where you President Bushdo and hiswatch bailouts, stimulus see you see, yet and what his abandoning thethe free“officials” market tosee save something different either lethim the play the free market. And and I don’t know stand change the outcomedoes, opposite either.or What the government and the to what you sawdo, with own eyes? only thing it can is your hurt the economy. Now thatnothing to the or world and COVID. Unlessapply it does put criminals in There of thousands of studies (plays) that jail instead of partnering with them, nothing contradict one another, only a handful the government does willyet help. Always look of have the the finalgovernment say as to the at it“officials” this way, whatever says result put into place.the And if there’s it is doing, whatever name of the gonna law it be a rule change, that’sthe always is passing, or whatever nameaoryear goalorof more down the road. the bureaucracy it is presenting to the Theexpect simplethefact is we’ve been told people, polar opposite to occur. sinceI July 2021I’m thesaying vaccines no longer guessofwhat is that prevent or out spreading of perhaps the it’s catching time to get of our own COVID. ButThere’s the refsplenty changed the call perspective. of history mid-game “you won’t get as sick” books and to historical research out thereif to you a vaccination. methis askhas this: beginhave to understand that Let all of Would youbefore. get full-coverage if happened And it will insurance again, it only covered a portion of or your claim? whether the topic is people government. That’s what’s at play here in The best recommendation is the to find United States. see what’s some books orWe try can thatall whole Google playing out around world. Yet, when thing. There’s a lot the of information on the our officials look into they Great Depression. Thetheir truthmonitor, is it wasn’t don’t what weuntil see.the And, just as many even asee good one government got Bronco fans believe about Tom and involved. There’s also plenty of Brady research the refs,medieval our COVID “head referee” is an on the warm period when the idiot been paid off. than today with planetwho’s was much warmer Almost forgot. The (and second reason? a whole lot less people warmer well Some mentioned inyep, beforecolumnist man was here at all).me And another publication. Related to surprised what? I people have been killing other don’t never had an written. in-depth peopleknow. sinceI’ve history was first conversation with research him about thehelp game of Maybe some will stop life —these or anything, for that matter. all of trends. Otherwise, we’ll be Butwe’ve I doubt he sees his monitor saying never seeninanything like it in what I seeAnd in mine. our lives. not in a good way. Craig Craig Hall Hall isis owner ownerand andpublisher publisherofofthe the Business Business Times. Times. Reach Reachhim himatat424-5133 424-5133or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
