Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again.

The holiday spirit fills the air. Colorful greeting cards arrive in the mail. And excited shoppers begin pulling out their laptops, iPads and smartphones to get the best possible deals on holiday gifts.

According to The Associated Press, this week marked the busiest week ever in online holiday shopping, with a record $6.3 billion click-to-pay online transactions documented. More impressively, shoppers have spent almost $32 billion online for the current holiday season to date – a healthy 15% increase from just one year ago. Read more

As we enter the very last month of 2011, I would like to share a metaphorical tale that holds true for every business owner.

The international flight is embarking on the last leg of its long journey. Throughout the airplane, weary passengers begin buckling their seatbelts while harried stewardesses prepare for landing.

Suddenly, the cockpit door opens and out walks the pilot with a smile on his face. He finds an empty seat in the first-class cabin, picks up a copy of the in-flight magazine, crosses his legs and starts to read. Read more

These days, BlackBerry users have a good excuse for not answering emails sent by their friends or business associates – because chances are, they never got it.

According to MSNBC, a system-wide failure has left millions of frustrated BlackBerry users on five continents without email, instant messaging and browsing.

A class-action lawsuit was filed this week in both the USA and Canada on behalf of affected BlackBerry users. Messages left with RIM, BlackBerry’s parent company, by MSNBC seeking comment were not returned. Read more

Like many other corporations across America who benefit daily from the technology that he helped create, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs.

As a foremost visionary, he led a mobile computer revolution with the creation of popular devices such as the iMac computer, iPod portable music player, the iPhone and the iPad tablet – all of which changed how digital content is consumed.

But in addition to teaching us better ways on how to use and implement modern technology, Steve Jobs will be remembered for teaching the world some hard-hitting lessons about the realities of life.

He Wasn’t Afraid Of Rejection Read more

We often take things for granted.

Things like our loving families. Our good health. And our customers.

More often than not, we only realize the true value of these things when we no longer have them. Some people, however, have always recognized that appreciating the things you have at hand can provide you with a better perspective on how to keep them. Read more

Did you hear?

The newest way of traveling around in style isn’t with a Cadillac or Lexus anymore – it’s with a bus!

According to recent news reports, the Secret Service commissioned two new coach buses from a Tennessee bus manufacturer to chauffeur President Obama – and possibly future presidential candidates – across the United States on political tours.

Read more

With time running out for America’s debt crisis, the showdown between Democrats and Republicans in Washington over the nation’s finances could cause disastrous consequences for the United States if officials cannot reach an agreement before next week.

While most politicians have spent the week blaming each other and pointing fingers, those of us in the world of business are watching the events unfold with a bit of apprehension – and tremendous disbelief.

After all, one of the basic tenets of business is the art of understanding how to reach an agreement. Read more

The temperature is steadily rinsing, things are getting really sweaty and you’re about to boil over.

You might think I’m talking to the hot weather we’re currently experiencing-but I’m not.

In actuality, I’m referring to the stresses caused by working in a cluttered, messy office environment that can really affect your productivity, sanity… and most importantly, your bottom line. Read more