Since the beginning of the pandemic, over $5.2 trillion dollars have been pumped into the US Economy.   The stimulus was successful in preventing catastrophic economic consequences.  Unemployment is holding steady at 3.6%, wages are rising, and there are more jobs available than there are unemployed Americans.  Coupled with robust consumer spending since the great reopening, it is easy to see why consumer demand has outstripped supply.  Complicating the matter are continuing supply chain issues and the Russian-Ukraine war which in turn has resulted in rising inflation and higher interest rates.

Recently, at an outdoor yoga class, I noticed a carpenter bee. She was doing her thing, boring holes in the wood. But unfortunately, she was also making the entire class nervous.

We’ve all been there: Perhaps it’s your busy season at work, or you’ve just wrapped up an extended period of hosting house guests. As a result of your unusual busyness, things at home are in disarray.Your closets are busting at the seams after a period of neglect. For a while, you just keep shoving things in there with an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. But eventually, it becomes too much to ignore.

In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human.As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.

Mackey McNeill, Founder & CEO of MACKEY, The Prosperity People & Why Settle sits down with Kevin Edwards of the Real Leaders Podcast (https://real-leaders.com/podcast/#) to talk about impactful leadership, balancing profitability & purpose, arguing for your own limitations and more. Check it out.

It’s berry season, which means if you stop by to visit me at Red Sunflower Farm, you’ll likely be inundated with the smell of strawberry jam simmering on the stove, offered a helping of strawberry shortcake, or served up a fresh salad topped with ruby red fruit.

What if there was a system that allowed you to consistently price your projects and ensure profitability?Ding, ding, ding!Enter The Profitability Triangle, our foolproof process for perfectly profitable projects.

Julie Courtney and Jackie Roberto, Co-founders, friends, and partners at Madison Design go way back — like, first-drawing-class-in-college back.What started as a bond among two aspiring graphic designers at UC DAAP evolved over the years. Today Julie and Jackie have been business partners for over 20 years, serving clients big and small in brand-centric strategy and identity.

When your phone is ringing off the hook and sales are rolling in, it’s easy to bask in the glory of dollar bills and new customers, neglecting the nitty gritty of your business.Growth is good.But intentional growth is better.Here’s why:Growth isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe sales are soaring, but have your costs gone up, too? At the end of the day, who cares how much your top line is growing if your bottom line is stagnant (or worse, diminishing)?

I know it’s spring when the dandelions blossom. They are a treasure for the bees. And the bees are a treasure for me — pollinating my food.Mother Nature has much to teach us about giving and receiving in the flow of life. Spring is her Masterclass.Flowers bloom. Birds sing. Bees buzz. It’s an inspiring and uplifting time of year, one where many of us feel energized by the longer days and warmer evenings.

The US economy balances in an uncertain position entering the second quarter.  In certain respects, the economy is on solid footing; the consumer is in good shape.  The labor markets are tight with the unemployment rate, at 3.6%, close to historic lows.  Jobs are plentiful and wages are rising.  While households have burned through the COVID-stimulus cash, their savings rate continues to be elevated, currently at 6.3%, which adds a level of cushioning should the economy turn south.  On the Corporate front, profits recovered quickly and are now well above pre-pandemic levels.  Business investment is continuing to accelerate and, with a growing trend to bring business operations back to the US, implies US economic growth should continue.    

90% of American Businesses are family owned or controlled. On today's episode, Mackey McNeil shares practical advice and assessments you can do to avoid losing your temper, relatives, and business.

I recently traveled to Portugal with some of my dearest friends. These are women who have each played instrumental roles in my own process of self-discovery, so the opportunity to get away, pause, and soak in a new culture with them was an absolute gift.

Talk about a wild ride.If you’re a business owner or leader, you likely feel as if you’ve been put through the wringer. We certainly feel that way.The world came to a screeching halt on March 12, 2020. Everything changed with zero warning: ever since it’s been wave after wave after wave of difficult decisions to make.

Sally Ream and her sons are on a mission to make the world a little more beautiful, one outdoor space at a time.Families across Boston start every morning by stepping out into yards brilliantly designed by Sally, a trained horticulturist, and her son Marcus, a landscape architect. To some people, this might be considered a luxury. But to Sally, exquisite outdoor spaces are an essential part of life. 

My desire to support small businesses traces back to my father.A lover of animals, as a child, I always admired his unique ability to connect with cats and dogs — it was almost as if he could speak their language! He dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.

Like so many of you, we are consumed by the war and desolation happening in Ukraine.It is hard to wrap our minds around such loss — of life, of family, of home, of safety and normalcy. We know that we cannot understand what it is to be a Ukrainian right now.But we can use our own prosperity to support their needs.

As a second gen leader at MACKEY, I’m very aware that nepotism is alive and well in our world. It’s a word that makes many uncomfortable (including my mom, Mackey McNeill), and it’s for that very reason that it deserves some attention.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Magical elves visit our farm before our grandchildren’s weekly visit. First, they plant seeds in the soil at night. Then, you won’t believe what happens the following morning — up pops a Pez dispenser loaded with a couple of treats for each child!

Building a healthy work culture is hard. Especially in our current climate.Businesses around the world are struggling with culture for a variety of reasons:Hybrid and remote work models create communication challenges.The Great Resignation has created significant turnover.Scaling quickly leads to rushed onboarding.