Opinion

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The Business Times Contributors THE BUSINESS TIMES January 20-February 2, 2022JANUARY 15-28, 2015 Opinion Opinion Business BriefsA new year affords Business Peoplea new opportunity to meet local needs Almanac

A new year almost always brings an opportunity for a fresh start and renewed ambition to do things better.

In business, that usually boils down to providing customers better products and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then meeting that need. After all, it does little good to offer the latest and greatest if nobody actually wants what you’re selling.

Just like the businesses that belong to the group, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the coming year: listen to members, determine their needs and then meet those needs. It’s a role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado.

The process will take on a more structured approach in what the chamber plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the program, business owners participate in in-depth interviews to identify barriers to growth and other problems they encounter.

The new year offers a good time to join the proverbial club.

As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times?

While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially true as Web sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever.

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So what do you need?

Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier?

It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need. With limited time to produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be better devoted to something else?

What’s good? What isn’t? What’s needed? What isn’t?

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It’s a new year. Please help us to do so. ✦ THE BUSINESSTIMES 609 North Ave., Suite 2, Grand Junction, CO 81501

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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 — All rights reserved.

It’s that time of year when resolutions and prognostications abound. My favorite saying applied to New Year’s resolutions is in saying they’re basically a bunch of promises to break the first week of January. And while I won’t predict a whole lot, I can pretty much accurately nail a few things that without question will make the news. You will see these are pretty, well, predictable: ■ Prediction one: There will be some sort of weather event, natural disaster or heinous occurrence where someone will be interviewed and say the following: “I’ve never seen anything like that in my lifetime.” It’s as if this person is a required attendee at every news reporting event. While I understand most people’s perspective can indeed be limited by, or contained within, their own personal experiences, it is too much to ask to consult some historical perspective before saying such a thing? Yes, this response can apply to some events. But when it comes to weather and natural disasters, I’m pretty sure this is simply history repeating itself. Same as it has for millions and millions of years. More important, the planet made it! What didn’t were certain species. How’s that for perspective? ■ Prediction two: When it comes to a crime or something that occurs between humans, the other required attendee at all news reporting events is the person who says this: “They we’re just the nicest people, and in no way did I see something like this coming.” Exactly. No one does most of the time when it comes to neighbors and acquaintances. People should be surprised at what goes on from time to time in their neighborhoods, towns and with people they know because people are good. And for the times that they shouldn’t be shocked — like with politicians, repeat offenders and terrorists — where’s the interview that says, “This doesn’t surprise me in the least.” ■ Prediction three: Something good will happen economically, and the government will take credit for it. The most recent example is gas prices, where people ask me why I won’t credit the president for low gas prices. My answer is simple: Government never makes the price of something go down and simply takes credit for good news. Gas pricing is subject to many global factors. Now there are government answers to addressing some of them to keep prices stable for Americans, but our government has none of them in place. The only things it has in place in the

Bold predictions for 2015 more like not-so-bold repeats long run always hurt consumers. Another fact is that unemployment reaches a certain level based on the economy. And while the government might brag the number is low, it’s more than likely the government did something to cause that number being low — and not in a good way. Conversely, when business picks up, it’s because the people who need to buy widgets who were not buying widgets because the economy was contracting due to natural (or unnatural, government caused) reasons, decided we better buy some widgets. The government had nothing to do with this. ■ Prediction four: In keeping with things the government does, I predict the government will manipulate the numbers to make the claim the economy is getting better because of how hard it is working to help all of us “working Americans.” Now Craig Hall you might say, “Craig, you always say this about President Obama because you don’t like him.” You’re right in a sense. I don’t know the man, but what I know of him and his thinking, I don’t like it or him one iota. Before you go off, however, I didn’t like President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus and his abandoning the free market to save the free market. And I don’t know him either. What the government does, and the only thing it can do, is hurt the economy. Unless it does nothing or put criminals in jail instead of partnering with them, nothing the government does will help. Always look at it this way, whatever the government says it is doing, whatever the name of the law it is passing, or whatever the name or goal of the bureaucracy it is presenting to the people, expect the polar opposite to occur. I guess what I’m saying is that perhaps it’s time to get out of our own perspective. There’s plenty of history books and historical research out there to begin to understand that all of this has happened before. And it will again, whether the topic is people or government. The best recommendation is to find some books or try that whole Google thing. There’s a lot of information on the Great Depression. The truth is it wasn’t even a good one until the government got involved. There’s also plenty of research on the medieval warm period when the planet was much warmer than today with a whole lot less people (and warmer well before man was here at all). And yep, people have been killing other surprised people since history was first written. Maybe some research will help stop all of these trends. Otherwise, we’ll be saying we’ve never seen anything like it in our lives. And not in a good way. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 Copyright © 2022 — All rights reserved. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦

My mind works in mysterious ways. Otherwise, how could a casual conversation about car insurance take me back to one of the banes of my existence? Yet, somehow I end up at the National Football League and its instant replay rules.

Before all you absolute, boycotting crazies start in on me, please note I’m not an across-the-board, at-all-costs boycotter. In other words, if I don’t like something in particular, I might boycott that particular something that’s part of a larger whole. As far as the NFL goes, I’ll never go near many things certain players endorse and will always be against the idiot commissioner. But I’m not against the entire league.

It’s actually a sensible approach, and here’s why: It’s IMPOSSIBLE to go through life without engaging, doing business or associating with people who only think as you do. Occasionally, I get a call or email from someone telling me they can’t do business with, support a product or won’t have anything to do with someone who thinks like me. Otherwise, you and I interact with dozens of others who think completely differently than we do from the smallest topic to the biggest personal concerns.

The good news is my interactions tend to be with folks who aren’t part of the few who refuse to or attempt to never associate with others who think differently. Thank God, because that’s what’s special about freedom-loving people. The others? They’re just fooling themselves and represent the biggest danger to freedom. How do I know? Simple. They need a gun to impose their lust for everyone to think they way they do.

So just how did I get here? Well, it comes through a couple of recent experiences. The first was a conversation I had with someone I do business with whose many political and social leanings are 180 degrees opposite of mine. To all too many, this relationship shouldn’t occur. But I never desired to be one of the all too many. What stood out to me was his analogy about COVID-19 vaccines and car insurance. While it had some valid points, I think it missed on a few. The couple in particular I disagreed — politely — with were about how car insurance is about protecting the other guy and how I see car insurance working.

Car insurance is a good thing you decide to have to accompany your privilege to drive a motor vehicle. It protects you, your property, other people and other properties in cases where it’s needed. But it does these things first and foremost to protect you in an accident, at fault or not. The second important point is even if the

Survey results mixed bag for Colorado businesses other person involved — and for the point Insurance and instant replay: Thank God one of them works being made, let’s use the analogy of other

A quarterly survey of Colorado business leaders always yields interesting people being those on the planet we live results — offering not only a statistical snapshot of their collective mood, but also with — doesn’t have insurance, you’re an indication of their plans for hiring, capital expenditures and sales. still protected. Period.

The latest survey results also reflect the strange juxtaposition in which My thinking on my friend’s analogy business leaders find themselves these days. The COVID-19 pandemic, labor led my mind — naturally — to something shortages, supply chain disruptions and surging inflation all present unprecedented designed to work, make corrections challenges even as demand for products and services remains strong. mid-game and set wrongs right which all

A story in this issue details the Leeds Business Confidence Index. But to too often doesn’t work: And that’s instant recap here, the reading for overall expectations for the first quarter of the new year replay in the NFL. Worse, in all too many climbed 1.9 points to 58. Moreover, individual readings for each of six metrics cases (I’ll give Denver fans some good the index tracks also rose to levels above 50. That’s significant because readings red meat here) it does indeed give cause above 50 indicate more positive than negative responses. for rule changes and more league (read

The business research division at the Leeds School of Business at the government) intervention in the game. But University of Colorado at Boulder calculates the index based on the results of as we all know, those new rules (mandates) surveys of business leaders from across the state and various industry sectors. Confidence in the Colorado economy rose 2.5 points to 57.6 with nearly half Craig Hall come too late or aren’t good during the game. Think the “tuck rule,” low hits to of those who responded to the survey forecasting moderate or strong increases in the quarterback and every roughing the the state economy. Looking ahead to the second quarter, the reading moved even passer rule implemented over the past two higher to 59.4. That bodes well for the prospects of a sustained recovery. decades related to something that happened

There was more encouraging news in the readings for hiring and capital to Tom Brady which you —vehemently — expenditures — two metrics that reflect investment in the growth of businesses. disagreed with at the time. The reading for hiring rose 2.1 points to 63.7, while the reading for capital Folks might be surprised to learn I expenditures increased 2.9 points to 58.3. The reading for sales advanced 1.2 points to disagree with the “Brady rules.” When 60.2 with nearly 60 percent of respondents anticipating moderate or strong increases. I played football, we could actually hit

Asked to identify the reasons for their expectations, business leaders cited strong the other guy. But this goes further. How demand. But they also cited concerns — among them inflation, the pandemic, supply many replays do you watch where you chain issues and labor shortages. Fully 92 percent noted the effects of inflation on see what you see, yet the “officials” see their businesses ranging from some to extreme. A total of 68 percent of those who something different and either let the play responded don’t expect inflation to moderate until the second half of 2022 or even stand or change the outcome opposite 2023. The same proportion said they expect to increase wages as a result. to what you saw with your own eyes?

The results of the Leeds survey correspond with the latest results of a Now apply that to the world and COVID. national survey of small business owners conducted by the National Federation There of thousands of studies (plays) that of Business. The Small Business Optimism Index rose a half point to 98.9 with contradict one another, yet only a handful increases in seven of 10 components from November to December. of “officials” have the final say as to the

But 25 percent of those who responded to the survey upon which the index result put into place. And if there’s gonna was based cited quality of labor as their single most important business problem. be a rule change, that’s always a year or Another 22 percent cited inflation. A net 48 percent of respondents reported more down the road. raising compensation, a record level. A net 32 percent said they expect to raise The simple fact is we’ve been told compensation in the next three months. since July of 2021 the vaccines no longer

The results of the Leeds and NFIB surveys produce a lot of numbers for prevent the catching or spreading of business leaders to consider. Statistical dot-to-dot pictures aren’t complete, of COVID. But the refs changed the call course. But it’s clear challenges will persist for as long as the pandemic persists. mid-game to “you won’t get as sick” if And higher wages likely will be required to attract and retain employees. you have a vaccination. Let me ask this:

But the numbers also offer encouragement for improving economic Would you get full-coverage insurance if conditions and strong demand. Add to that less tangible factors, and that’s it only covered a portion of your claim? the innovation business owner and managers bring to their endeavors and a That’s what’s at play here in the deterination to succeed regardless of the circumstances. United States. We can all see what’s F playing out around the world. Yet, when our officials look into their monitor, they don’t see what we see. And, just as many Bronco fans believe about Tom Brady and the refs, our COVID “head referee” is an idiot who’s been paid off. Almost forgot. The second reason? Some columnist mentioned me in another publication. Related to what? I don’t know. I’ve never had an in-depth conversation with him about the game of life — or anything, for that matter. But I doubt he sees in his monitor what I see in mine. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

Just what it does it take to endure uphill climbs? Tips from the death zone

Business owners and managers face fearsome challenges, particularly at the confluence of a pandemic, labor shortages and supply chain interruptions. I report about those challenges and the efforts to surmount them. In the process, I marvel at the hard work, perseverance and resilience owners and managers — their staffs, too, of course Phil Castle — bring to their endeavors. Faced with such uphill climbs, I can’t help but wonder what motivates them to keep going and what makes the difference in their ultimate success.

All this comes to mind after reading an account of uphill climbs of a different sort — 14 to be exact. While there are vast differences between scaling mountains and managing businesses, there are also similarities.

In his memoir titled “Project Possible,” Nims Purja recounts his quest to not only reach the summits of the 14 highest mountains in the world, but also do so in only six months. To comprehend just how audacious that goal was, consider the previous record for the feat was seven years.

Consider, too, those 14 peaks top 8,000 meters in elevation — more than 26,000 feet above sea level. Mount Everest, the highest peak of all, exceeds 29,000 feet. That’s more like the cruising altitude of a jetliner. The insufficient oxygen, frigid temperatures and other dangerous conditions have earned those areas above 8,000 meters the grim designation death zone. Tragically so, given the number of climbers who die there every year.

Scaling even one 8,000-meter peak constitutes a remarkable achievement. Less than 50 climbers have scaled all 14. Reinhold Messner, the Italian climber first to summit all of the 8,000-meter peaks, spent 16 years in the pursuit.

Incredibly, Purja completed his tour in Nepal, Pakistan and Tibet in just six months and six days. He reached the summits of Everest as well as nearby Lhotse and Makalu in one, 49-hour stretch.

What kind of a human is capable of that kind of performance? An athletically gifted one who gives new meaning to the term peak condition. But also a determined and disciplined one.

Purja grew up in Nepal and joined the British military with first the Nepalese Ghurkas and then the Special Boat Services. He developed his resolve to achieve ambitious goals in preparing for and enduring the brutal selection processes for those elite forces. His training regimen included 70-mile bike sessions in the gym and lengthy swims

While there are vast differences between scaling mountains and managing businesses, there are also similarities.

in the pool. He’d get up in the middle of the night for hikes with backpacks loaded with 75 pounds of weight. The physical testing for selection into the Special Boat Services included an 18-mile speed march followed by an additional march of 37 miles carrying a backpack loaded with 80 pounds of gear.

Purja completed his first ascent of Everest with the assistance of a single Sherpa and rescued an Indian climber on the descent. In 2017, Purja returned as part of a military expedition and climbed Everest twice as well as Lhotse and Makalu.

He had even loftier goals, though, and ended his 16-year military career to take on a personal mission he dubbed Project Possible — to climb all of the 8,000-meter peaks in quick succession. He completed his mission and endured in the process nearly lethal avalanches, treacherous climbing conditions and extreme weather.

The book includes an appendix with what Purja terms eight lessons from the death zone. While the circumstances are different, those lessons also apply to business: n Leadership means considering the needs of others and working together in ways to benefit everyone. n Taking care of little things makes a big difference. n Don’t underestimate challenges. Prepare and proceed confidently, but also with respect. n Hope and commitment are essential. n People’s true natures are revealed in stressful situations. n Strive to mentally turn bad situations into good ones and maintain a positive attitude. n Give 100 percent to the task at hand. n Never lie or make excuses.

I’ve bagged a couple of peaks. But the 14ers and 13ers I climbed in Colorado are half the elevation of 8,000-meter peaks. Similarly, I’ve long written about businesses, yet never managed one myself.

I remain amazed and inspired by uphill climbs of all sorts. That includes the fearsome challenges faced and overcome in businesses in the Grand Valley every day. Here’s hoping those involved come out on top.