Contributors Opinion Bold predictions forcount, 2015 Make your vote Maybe a Pollyanna, A newI’m year affords more Business Briefs like for not-so-bold repeats it’s time a change but news mostly good a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
PPAGE age 22 22
I admit I tend to view the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty. Presented with a pile of horse manure, I’m the guy looking for the pony. I guess I’d rather just count my blessings — cognizant circumstances could be worse and grateful they’re not. It’s an approach applies to of alland sorts, in A new year almost always brings an that opportunity foroutlooks a fresh start particular economic ones. It’s convenient because indicators renewed ambition to do things better. all boils pointdown in theto same direction at the same time. In business, thatrarely usually providing customers better products I can’t disagree with assessment offered and services faster and atConsquently, lower cost than competitors. Part the of the process must at the Western Coloradowhat Economic Summitneed the news for Mesa include listening to customers to determine they actually and then County thanthe bad. Forand thatgreatest matter, the meeting that need. After all,isit generally does littlemore goodgood to offer latest if business journal you’re reading at this very moment reports nobody actually wants what you’re selling. news good bad.to I hope, of course, you’llJunction read all Area about it. Just like the businesses thatand belong the group, the Grand But invariably for the sake of brevity, Chamber of Commerce starts out the here new are yearsome with highlights: a reassessment of n itAprovides combnation higher and large the services and resources and of how well prices they match with commercial members transactions have pushed the dollar volume of real estate sales needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, Phil Castle to record heights. what he considers his role for the coming personifies this approach in describing n Tax collections, a measure salesthose activity, continue year: listen to members, determine their needs and thenofmeet needs. It’s a to increase in Mesa County. Throughasthe first three quarters of 2021, county sales role with which Franklin is familiar market president of Bank of Colorado. and use collections were 21.5 percent over the same 2020. Keep in Thetax process will take onup a more structured approach in span whatinthe chamber mind year-to-date collections have increased in each of the last five years. plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the n Still, Colorado business leadersinare less upbeat heading into the barriers end of to program, business owners participate in-depth interviews to identify the year according to the latest results of a quarterly survey. The Leeds Business growth and other problems they encounter. Confidence 11.2 points thethe fourth quarter, but at 56.1 still The newIndex year dropped offers a good time tofor join proverbial club. reflected positive negative responses. As anmore advertiser or than reader, what do you need from the Business Times? n The business Small Business Index based monthly While journalsOptimism traditionally gather andonreport the surveys relevant of news to members of the National Federation of Independent Business retreated a point readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially truetoas 99.1 September. Web in sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever. In addition to real estate sales,intax collections andrespond survey to results, still of Good publications don’t exist a vacuum. They the needs other indicators constitute encouraging news.needed. Chief among the opening of new advertisers and readers. They provide what’s businesses and So what dothe youexpansion need? of operations. I’m not so hopelessly naive to believe eveything’s hunky-dory or we’re all Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about going to sing “Kumbaya” as we hand-in-hand the bank to make another local business developments? Areskip there features thattowould be interesting or hefty deposit. useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier? On the contary, the COVID-19 pandemic and its reperccusions poseto It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need. With limited time challenges not seen in decades, if ever. I’m even more horrified by the produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be divisiveness to have spread like a contagion through this country. better devotedthat to seems something else? It’s almost fashionable, as if spite wereWhat the new black What’sbecome good? What isn’t? What’s needed? isn’t? ILet remain optistic, based most of allonline on theon capacity of the human us know. Sendthough, us an e-mail. Comment the Business Times Web spirit to do well and to do good. If I’ve learned anything over more than 20letter years site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned to as editor of a business journal, it’s that entrepreneurs are an especially adaptive the editor if you’d like. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is valued and and lot. Over the long run, they’re going to succeed. will resilient be carefully considered. There are lots of reasons viewofthenot glass empty or perhaps Good publications are thetoresult onlyhas thehalf efforts of their staffs, even but also less. I chooseefforts to viewinvolving the glassadvertisers as half full.and readers. collaborative Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out Phil is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or whatCastle they need and then meet those needs. phil@thebusinesstimes.com. It’s a new year. Please help us to do so. F ✦
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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. © 2021 — All rights reserved.
Snazzy no? Well, It’s thatheadline, time of year whenit is to me. It’s a combination of two taglines dad resolutions and prognosticationsmy abound. used when running the board of education My favorite sayingfor applied to New Year’s in my hometown Monroe, Mich., about 50 resolutions is in of saying they’re basically a years One tagline Theweek other bunchago. of promises todidn’t breakwork. the first did. But I’m And not sure which was which. of January. while I won’t predict a I’m going to use whole lot, I can pretty much accurately this to tellthat without question nail column a few things every voterthe in Mesa will make news. You will see these are County to heed these pretty, well, predictable: words. All while ■ Prediction one: taking my cue from the There will be some Mesa Education sort ofValley weather event, Association (MVEA) natural disaster or in not endorsing, yet heinous occurrence endorsing, candidates. where someone will I’ve been here be interviewed and21 say years. When it comes the following: “I’ve to Craig Hall the board education never seenofanything and of Mesa County School like the thatperformance in my District 51, test scores lifetime.” It’s as if thisand improving our Craig schools, seem to be stuck in a rut Hall with the person iswe a required folks the MVEA attendee at everyactually news endorses (while trying to convince you it Iendorses no one). reporting event. While understand most And if you’re honest, its people’s perspective canwinning indeedcandidates be limited are making thingstheir worse by the year. by, actually or contained within, own personal This is where I’mmuch not endorsing experiences, it is too to ask toto keep doing way we’ve been doing consultthings somethe historical perspective before them oura schools. It’s this my hope you can sayingwith such thing? Yes, response can figure outsome by my not endorsing anyone in apply to events. But when it comes particular, who aren’t being endorsed to weatherthose and natural disasters, I’m pretty should have you voting opposite. sure this is simply history repeating itself. this might some SameI realize as it has forcolumn millions and upset millions of folks know important, who work in schools. years.I More theour planet made it! IWhat neverdidn’t take my writing especially were certainlightly, species. How’s when it could hurt the feelings of people I that for perspective? know. I’m nottwo: writing to hurt feelings. ■ But Prediction When it comes to a Hurt are a result of someone’s crimefeelings or something that occurs between reactions to what write. If attendee those feelings humans, the otherIrequired at all occur and you’re not asking me about news reporting events is the person who what I’m “They writingwe’re or why says this: justI’m thewriting, nicest I’m guessing two things. You people, and init’s noone wayofdid I see something don’t understand premise like this coming.”my Exactly. No(or oneyours) does or there’s guilt somewhere. most of the timethere when it comes toThere’s nothing I can do about that. People should neighbors and acquaintances. My premise is simple. There always be surprised at what goes on fromare time to people anyneighborhoods, vocation who just don’t do a time in in their towns and good job. And if you think your vocation is with people they know because people are immune, a vaccine for they you. shouldn’t In D51, good. AndI have for the times that the people not thepoliticians, job done are at be shocked —getting like with repeat the top. And the board and upper offenders andthat’s terrorists — where’s the administration. And “This unlessdoesn’t we replace folks interview that says, surprise at level, the next group at the methe in board the least.” top of■our administration will be as bad, Prediction three: Something goodor worse, than what we have now. So make will happen economically, and the your vote count, forfor a change. government will it’s taketime credit it. The most Inexample the spiritisof MVEA, herepeople are recent gastheprices, where my (and get to do for ask non-endorsements me why I won’t credit theI president them while saving a bunchisofsimple: money low gas prices. My answer while claiming I’mmakes not donating Government never the pricetooftheir campaigns or down laundering monies viacredit something go and simply takes the state news. version of pricing my association for good Gas is subject— to although for factors. full disclosure, I did many global Now there aregive $100 to other folks I’m not necessarily government answers to addressing some of endorsing here, even though I kinda them to keep prices stable for Americans, am) viagovernment highlightinghas candidates the in but our none of them MVEA is “helping” hasn’t place. The only thingsbecause it has initplace in the
ctOber 15-28, 14-27, 2015 2021 JOANUARY
learned meaning of the wordAnother long runthe always hurt consumers. endorsement. Apparently, the members fact is that unemployment reaches a certain of thebased MVEA theirwhile ownthe level on are the victims economy.ofAnd educational shortcomings. Then again, our government might brag the number is low, superintendent jokesthe about a teacherdid who it’s more than likely government asked her what the that wordnumber vag-uebeing meant something to cause low in her presentation, because that teacher — and not in a good way. Conversely, when didn’t understand it was the word vague. business picks up, it’s because the people Iwho bet need that teacher still haswho a job. Sadly, to buy widgets were not so does ourwidgets superintendent. buying because the economy was So here’s who I can’t endorse. I can’t contracting due to natural (or unnatural, endorse someone whoreasons, marchesdecided with Black government caused) we Lives and widgets. denies it;The associates with better Matter buy some government radical groupstoand had nothing do promotes with this. them on social media; who lectured thekeeping currentwith board ■ and Prediction four: In on all of the race issues the current board things the government does, I predict the has refused towill address — and the thennumbers wipes to government manipulate (like, a cloth? Hillary lovers) his makewith the claim thefor economy is getting social history clean toithide all of to better media because of how hard is working these actions to the day he announced help all of usup “working Americans.” Now his candidacy. I can’t endorse someone you might say, “Craig, you always say this who schools should be used aboutbelieves President Obama because youtodon’t educate kids on health politics; like him.” You’re rightcare in a and sense. I don’t elements critical (CRT) while know theof man, but race whattheory I know of him and using the lyingI don’t excuselike D51 is not his thinking, it or himteaching one iota. the CRTyou college course in schools (to like get Before go off, however, I didn’t around accusations) though he knows President Bush and even his bailouts, stimulus absolutely elements are taught and and his abandoning thebeing free market to save forced our kids; andI don’t thinksknow these him are things the freeonmarket. And needed to be added to the curriculum D51 either. What the government does, and theis already woefully on versus the pitiful only thing it can behind do, is hurt the economy. state averages. I simply endorsein Unless it does And nothing or putcan’t criminals any candidate attaches herself to nothing the jail instead of who partnering with them, aforementioned because she feels the government candidates does will help. Always look slighted already part of the at it thisand way,who’s whatever thebeen government says bad we’re onthe as name a district. it is direction doing, whatever of the law it Finally, never endorse is passing, orI’ll whatever the nameany or goal of candidate the MVEA and stateto teacher’s the bureaucracy it is presenting the union andpolar fund.opposite I must ask: Why people,endorse expect the to occur. is theI MVEA still backing candidates guess what I’m saying is that who continue to underpay, dangerous perhaps it’s time to getprovide out of our own and inhospitable working perspective. There’s plentyconditions of history and push sizes that don’tout allow forto books andclass historical research there effective education? that It’s almost likehas the begin to understand all of this MVEA doesn’t have best again, interests of happened before. Andthe it will its payingthe members ourorchildren) at whether topic is (and people government. the forefront. me to help:isIttodoesn’t. The best Allow recommendation find final note on being “for theGoogle children.” someAbooks or try that whole Every on information this. It’s just that thing. candidate There’s aruns lot of on the some to help kids and others want to Greatwant Depression. The truth is it wasn’t mold I can’t thegovernment molders (use got any even kids. a good onesupport until the definition want also here).plenty The only candidates involved.you There’s of research Ion want become board are those thetomedieval warmmembers period when the driven to give my children the best opportunity planet was much warmer than today with and environment learn, And can’t do a whole lot less to people (andyou warmer well that by simply building to get before man was here monstrosities at all). And yep, your name on been a plaque. It comes getting people have killing otherfrom surprised back to conservative education. people since historybasics was in first written. Conservative basics arewill what Andrea Maybe some research help stop Haitz, Will Jones Angela Lema all of these trends.and Otherwise, we’ll want be FOR kids.never So make vote count, sayingour we’ve seenyour anything like it in it’s a change. our time lives.for 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 Reach him him at at 424-5133 424-5133 Business Times. or or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
