Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 In promising to do everything, What’s ahead for 2022: A new year Business affords government Briefs accomplishesrepeats nothing more like not-so-bold Glass half full or half empty? a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
PPAGE age 22 22
I’m by nature a glass-half-full kind of guy. Locked in a room filled with horse poop, I’m the one digging for a pony. I’m not sure whether that makes me hopelessly naive or naively hopeless. I can’t argue against the value of recognizing the downside to situations. In some circumstances, youstart don’t know — A new year almost always brings an opportunity forwhat a fresh and or underestimate — will kill you. But there’s also a danger, renewed ambition to do things better. believe, boils in dwelling onproviding the negative if it prevents from In business, thatI usually down to customers betteryou products trying to achieve something positive. That’s not to mention and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process mustthe risk of self-fulfilling prophesy. You actually worry something include listening to customers to determine what they need andbad thenwill happen and, lo and behold, it does. meeting that need. After all, it does little good to offer the latest and greatest if It’s better acknowledge what’s wrong, try to fix it and nobody actually wants what you’retoselling. move on with hopeful expectations success. Just like the businesses that belong to the group, thefor Grand Junction Area This lengthy explanation serves as a prologue to my real Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of topic. Or, rather, question. What’s ahead forwith the second half the services and resources it provides and how well they match members Phil Castle of 2022? Will the proverbial glass be half full, half empty or needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, something completely personifies this approach in describing whatdifferent? he considers his role for the coming As with all economic considerations, the answer remains essentially year: listen to members, determine their needs and then meet those needs. It’s a the same. It depends. It depends on who you ask as well as the of a role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bankeffects of Colorado. combination of factors known unknown. The process will take on aand more structured approach in what the chamber survey asks Coloradoaptly business leaders whattothey think, and thethe plansAasquarterly the resumption of a program called Listening Business. Under latest results are grim. The Leeds Business Confidence Index fell 12.8 points toto program, business owners participate in in-depth interviews to identify barriers 41.1 for the third quarter, the fifth-lowest reading in the history of the index. growth and other problems they encounter. By the below 50 reflect than positive Theway, newreadings year offers a good time tomore join negative the proverbial club. responses. There was more bad news. Individual readings for each of six metrics the index As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times? tracks also slipped below 50. While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to Asked to provide theisn’t reasons for their responses, 60 percent of businesstrue as readers, communication necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially leaders cited inflation and 27 percent cited interest rates. Only 6 percent cited Web sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever. recession. 23 percent of those who responded saidrespond they believed the United Good Yet, publications don’t exist in a vacuum. They to the needs of States is already in recession 57 percent said they expect the economy to slip advertisers and readers. They and provide what’s needed. into So recession next what do youyear. need? But even as the index and its metrics expectations the economy, Is there additional news coverage thattracking would help keep you for informed about sales, profits, hiring and capital expenditures were down, other indicators offer local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or more encouragement. useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier? The labor market has rebounded from COVID-19 pandemic remains It’s equally important to ask what youthe don’t need. With limitedand time to strong. Nonfarm payrolls in Colorado have increased 1.2 percent above the produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be pre-pandemic even as theelse? monthly jobless rate has dropped to 3.5 percent. better devotedpeak to something In Mesa County, payrolls increased 3,382 over theWhat past isn’t? year — a gain of 4.7 percent What’s good? What isn’t? What’s needed? — asLet theus seasonally unadjusted joblessComment rate dropped 2.5 points 3.3 percent. know. Send us an e-mail. online on thetoBusiness Times Web Tax collections, a measure of retail sales and lodging activity, continue to increase. site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to I’m noifeconomist. don’tfeedback, even playboth onepositive on TV. I’m an observer whoand the editor you’d like. IYour andjust negative, is valued reports facts. Just the facts. And maybe I am too optimistic by nature. will be the carefully considered. But I hold out hope for the the result secondofhalf 2022. theofglass, Good publications are notof only theThat efforts theirespecially staffs, buthere also in the Grand Valley, remainadvertisers at least halfand full. If nothing else, I’m grateful to still collaborative efforts will involving readers. haveLike a glass. any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs. Phil It’s Castle is editor of the Business a new year. Please help us toTimes. do so. Reach him at 424-5133 or phil@thebusinesstimes.com. ✦ F
THE BUSINESS TIMES
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Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall
Editor: Phil Castle
Reach advertising at: publisher@thebusinesstimes.com Reach the editor at: phil@thebusinesstimes.com.
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.
Think about it. Is there an easier way to doIt’s nothing thanof promise every voter you that time year when lust after you’ll everything for abound. them? resolutions and do prognostications Well, you don’t My favorite saying applied to New Year’s actually do is nothing. resolutions in saying they’re basically a Ibunch mean,ofgovernment promises to break the first week has to do something. of January. And while I won’t predict a Like wholehold lot, aI hearing, can pretty much accurately write sternly worded nail a afew things that without question letter, throw will make themoney news. You will see these are at a problem or set pretty, well, predictable: up a ■ public relations Prediction one: event show they’re There to will be some taking type of sort of some weather event, action. that or action Craig Hall natural Yet, disaster is the opposite (or end heinous occurrence result) of doing something that caused the where someone will problem in the first place. Worse, every be interviewed and say action helps the“I’ve insiders and hurts the the following: everyday like you and me. never seenpeople anything Lookinno like that myfurther than the Biden administration myriad examples. But lifetime.” It’s asfor if this Hall of I’ll try to keep it to few highlights person is a requiredjust aCraig the most at obvious. attendee every news Let’s start with the most vulnerablemost reporting event. While I understand among No, this isn’t about abortion. people’sus.perspective can indeed be limited It’s baby formula. government by, about or contained within,This theiris own personal at its most obvious at screwing experiences, it is too much toup aska problem to it created. Regulations have left the United consult some historical perspective before States a handful formula sayingwith suchonly a thing? Yes,of this response can producers. Thenevents. the fedsBut shutwhen downitthe apply to some comes largest plantand in the country becauseI’m a few to weather natural disasters, pretty babies gotissick. Seriously. then took itself. sure this simply historyIt repeating its sweet COVID” doing of Same as time it has“due for to millions andinmillions inspections the plant asthe it was shutmade downit! years. Moreatimportant, planet to get itdidn’t back up andcertain running — overHow’s six What were species. months. Yet, the government didn’t foresee a that for perspective? shortage. For the record, the company ■ Prediction two: When it comes(which to a knows a hell of a lot more about safety and crime or something that occurs between making than bureaucrats) found no humans,formula the other required attendee at all link its events formulaisand illnesses. newsbetween reporting thethe person who here we are today thenicest greatest says So this: “They we’re justinthe nation people,ever andthat’s in nostepped way didupI to seeevery something challenge in its history IMPORTING formula like this coming.” Exactly. No one does from (yes,when the same continent most Europe of the time it comes to we’ve saved multiple and continue to provide neighbors and times acquaintances. People should protection for) on Air Force cargo planes. be surprised at what goes on from time to By formula doesn’t meetand our timethe inway, theirthat neighborhoods, towns standards —standards ironically, by the with people they knowset, because people are feds. plantthat is closed due to good.Now Andthat for same the times they shouldn’t real contamination andrepeat the be shocked — likefrom withflooding, politicians, problem goes on. What do the feds want offenders and terrorists — where’s the to do? Look into “monopoly” of formula interview that the says, “This doesn’t surprise makers so least.” it has even more control over me in the creating formula shortages. Why do you ■ Prediction three: Something good think the supply chain is stilland broken? will happen economically, the It affects thiswill as much anything. government take as credit for it. The most If example one contrasts formula emergency recent is gasthe prices, where people with thewhy tensI of thousands of illnesses ask me won’t credit the presidentand for Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System low gas prices. My answer is simple: claims from vaccines versus mandate Government never makes the the price of monopolies our governments, one credit can something goofdown and simply takes only conclude they want for good news.it’s Gasexactly pricinghow is subject to it and global it’s notfactors. about health. Plus,are we know many Now there how most Democrats about babies. government answers tofeel addressing some of we talk about inflation and themCan to keep prices stable for Americans, gasoline prices? Youhas know but our government nonethey’re of themNOT in temporary because Ol’it Joe so and place. The only things has said in place in the
July15-28, 7-20, 2015 2022 JANUARY
promised to fix it. No, not by using America’s mighthurt andconsumers. work ethicAnother and long run always history of meeting challenges. Rather, fact is that unemployment reaches a certain by begging enemies for more oilwhile and the level based on the economy. And enriching bad people well as spending government might bragasthe number is low, more money ever did has it’s more thanthan likelygovernment the government in history, in history showing something to spite causeof that number being low overspending a root cause of inflation. — and not in aisgood way. Conversely, when Worse, they’re lying to us about and business picks up, it’s because the itpeople blaming —were and soon who needthe to oil buycompanies widgets who not will blame corporate greed for all of was it if buying widgets because the economy they haven’tdue begun in some already. contracting to natural (or areas unnatural, Inflationcaused) isn’t increasing 8 percent government reasons, decided weor so. That’s even close.The On the things we better buy not some widgets. government need to survive it’swith closer had nothing to do this.to 30 percent. And ■ that’s withoutfour: gas for the car, with which Prediction In keeping is worse. bunch of arrogant orificesthe things theAgovernment does, I predict who never gowill to the store or the fill numbers up their to government manipulate cars onlythe people on the makeare thethe claim economy is planet gettingwho can claim suchof a lie without from to better because how hard itaisbolt working the them. Yet they doNow this helpheavens all of ushitting “working Americans.” every day because theyyou know two say things: you might say, “Craig, always this Telling you whatObama you want to hear get about President because youwill don’t your vote,You’re and they never reality like him.” right in asuffer sense.the I don’t from theybut create. a payoff knowwhat the man, whatPlus, I know of himofand $1,200 a yearI keeps you itquiet towards his thinking, don’t like or him one iota. them, them against Beforeyet youfighting go off,for however, I didn’tthose like of us who know they’re crooked as can be. President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus Andabandoning speaking ofthe telling what to wesave and his free us market want to hear, you’re to hear lot about the free market. Andgoing I don’t knowa him student loan forgiveness as wedoes, approach either. What the government and the the it’s just onlycoming thing itelection. can do,At is this hurtpoint, the economy. words even President Unlessbecause it does nothing or put Biden-mycriminals in time knows of giving up thatwith kind them, of slavejail instead partnering nothing level leverage over people exchange the government does will in help. Alwaysfor look votes is away, bad idea. That the is, until it’s the last at it this whatever government says arrow in thewhatever quiver, which student loans still it is doing, the name of the law it could become. For now,the it’s name just a teaser is passing, or whatever or goalonof athe program whichitnever should have been bureaucracy is presenting to the implemented thepolar first place. people, expectinthe opposite to occur. Only government up with I guess what I’m could sayingcome is that aperhaps ploy to it’s get time unqualified citizens to take out to get out of our own loans they have no chance back perspective. There’s plentyofofpaying history for an item not worth the paper out it’s there printedto books and historical research on. And use taxpayers begin tothen understand that allasofguarantors. this has All studentbefore. loans did was universities happened And it make will again, richer while products of whether the making topic is the people or government. universities lose value — through, The best recommendation is of to find course, more or government promises for more some books try that whole Google factions of voters. thing. There’s a lot of information on the this sounds eerily familiar, GreatIf Depression. The truth is it it’s wasn’t because you don’t have to go too far back even a good one until the government got in history to see thealso mortgage mess brought involved. There’s plenty of research to government. about to occur onyou the by medieval warm It’s period when the again, different — unless planet just waswith much warmercauses than today with you countlotgovernment a whole less peopleinvolvement, (and warmerwhich well is always thewas main one.at all). And yep, before man here Everything is still on to people have beenabove killing othergoing surprised this daysince with history plans towas continue. Worse, it’s people first written. because that’s howresearch government wantsstop it. Maybe some will help Doing “everything” accomplishes all of these trends. Otherwise, we’ll be only government goals. whenlike doing saying we’ve never seenEven anything it in nothing. our lives. And not in a good way. Craig Craig Hall Hall is is owner owner and and publisher publisher of of the the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
