Small towns, Business, Two-lane Travel, Rural life & Humor
Does your joy show through? We’re not talking about “holiday spirit” here. And no amount of tinsel and trappings can save you if you’ve lost or misplaced it. “Joy” is a big part of what directs our choices to start a business, live in a particular location, or help in our communities. Granted, the other part... Continue Reading →
Does your entryway invite passersby to enter, or does it blend in with the landscape? “You have to grab them in the first four seconds while they are approaching,” writes Robert J. Gibbs in his book, Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development. According to Gibbs, “It takes eight seconds to walk by a typical... Continue Reading →
I just came back from a whirlwind trip through parts of California (I grew up there). Most of my jaunts out there are like that -- have to squeeze them in between calves and crops, you know! While I was there I treated myself to a morning stop in Lincoln. This gem is +/- about... Continue Reading →
What’s so special about Lovelock? It’s a little town of about 2,500 people in the Nevada desert. Smack-dab between the “metropolis” of Fernley -- pop. 19,193, and Winnemucca, pop. 8,002, where travelers turn north to Twin Falls, Idaho. Reno/Sparks, the closest "big city," is about 90 miles west. Let me tell you -- travelers who... Continue Reading →
When we were kids, my dad always stressed the importance about shopping our local neighborhoods. He grew up in Roseville, California when it was still considered a small town. All the merchants knew most everybody in town, and they also knew what all the neighboring stores carried. He always said it was Okay to... Continue Reading →
If not, why not? The Labor Day holiday weekend is the traditional time for a last bash of summer. People seek fun wherever they can find it — lakes, campgrounds, attractions, visits with nearby family or friends, day trips, overnights, or the full three-day weekend. Every business and community that sells items and/or... Continue Reading →
The “Shop Local” movement is wonderful. It has done so much and brought tons of awareness and added sales for so many businesses and communities, especially small & rural towns. Having lived and traveled all over this great big United States, I have spent more than a little time in very small towns. Over the... Continue Reading →
What is the value of networking? It’s not easy to put a price tag on networking, as good will, brainstorming, mentoring, lessons learned, and all the too-many-to-name benefits are freely given. (Bean counters hate that — they’re much happier with goods and services that easily translate into numbers on spreadsheets.) So — if not in... Continue Reading →
There are a multitude of reasons WHY a community should have teenagers participating on the boards and councils. ~ But I will limit my self to just a few! 1) According to a University of Nebraska national survey of rural youths, 50% (that’s right folks! FIFTY PERCENT) WANT to return to their communities in the... Continue Reading →
A PROFESSIONAL is someone who earns his or her living doing something – real estate, medicine, law, plumbing, electrical, and, yes, consulting. A professional should have solid general knowledge, and be capable of serving his or her clients’ needs. An EXPERT is someone who is highly skilled in one or more specific topic areas, in... Continue Reading →
