A worker shortage might be excellent news for the economy! Maybe, just maybe, firms will awake and see workers’ substantial contribution to their success. Some CEOs take unconscionable sums and destroy their firm’s value, unlike many frontline workers who create value. During the pandemic, CEOs took vast sums as they laid-off workers. Some firms sought bankruptcy protection, but hat didn’t stop their greedy CEOs from snatching hefty bonuses.

We have a worker shortage and firms are scrambling to hire whomever is willing. Some firms, like McDonalds have paid signing bonuses. Canada’s Loblaw and its competitors paid a bonus to frontline workers when the pandemic began. They stopped it after three months in unison with their competitors. When government confronted them about this collusion, they claimed it happened independently. Go figure! It’s like you caught your three-year-old with her hand in the cookie jar and she said, Mom, “Cookie Monster did it!”

Worker Shortage Inevitable With Shoddy Treatment

Loblaw’s behavior disturbs me. During the bonus period, profits soared. Per se, that’s no problem. I favor firms making profits. To be sure, I am against government taxing profits. But paying workers the bonus during the pandemic shouldn’t hinge on profits. It was just right. Meanwhile, my wife and I shopped at a Loblaw store and workers continued their excellent service despite Loblaw’s slight.

Leaders must realize frontline workers are the firm’s foundation and treat them well, not as cogs turning out CEOs bonuses! When employers treat workers like machines, they disengage. Gallup said, over several decades, they and other researchers found a strong link between employees’ workplace engagement and the company’s overall performance. Yet employers refuse to accept this. But there is good news: surveys show some firms break the mold and treat workers with respect: Cisco, Apple, Accenture, IBM, FedEx are a few.

Next Quarter’s Earnings Drives Businesses

Companies see next quarter as the prize, so they exploit workers and fudge next quarter’s numbers. I repeat: I am against government taxing business. However, I favor the Biden Build Back Better provision to tax share buybacks that the House passed, and it is before the Senate, even if it might have only a modest effect on share buybacks. Companies shouldn’t be spending billions buying back shares while exploiting workers.

Firms should present to shareholder meetings options to use buyback funds. Choices might include effects of paying bonuses to frontline workers with buyback funds. Shareholders should hear about potential strategic investments, too. Another option is stopping buy-backs for five years after layoffs. Executives, too, shouldn’t get bonuses within five years of layoffs. We must get rid of worker exploitation that enhances CEO bonuses.

Can this be you?You’ve spent a ton of money on your marketing materials-your brochures, business cards, website. You want them to be just right. You fuss over every detail.You put all your energy into your products or services including the planning, the design, the execution, the packaging.And then, the big day comes. You’re ready to present them to the public, and you show up in unbecoming attire. Your shoes are kind of scruffy. You haven’t changed your hairstyle in over a decade. Or your hairstyle is up-to-date, but pretty far out there. You’re not wearing any makeup, or you’re wearing too much. Your fingernails are ragged from chewing on them.Your product is ready to be presented, but you aren’t.Big mistake! In fact, your personal image may be your most important presentation to the public. If you don’t look the part, you won’t have the credibility you need to get the client or the sale.Here are some things to think about before you go public:1) Know what looks good on you. If you’ve gotten feedback that you might need some work in this area, spend some time figuring it out. Or get help. Does blue-red or orange-red look more flattering on you? What about paisley vs. stripes? Are pleated pants, or flat front better for your body type? Do you know which jacket length is your best bet? The idea is to create a harmonious relationship between yourself and what you wear. A discordant relationship screeches just like fingernails on a blackboard.2) Be appropriate. Formal business wear isn’t always required, but, if you’re not sure what business casual dress is, find out. Business casual usually calls for at least a collar on your shirt, and is best in a woven fabric (what a dress shirt is made of) as opposed to a knit (what a t-shirt is made of), and something a step or two above jeans. Dress slacks are better than more casual khaki slacks. Leather shoes surpass the running variety.3) Be neat and well-groomed. This seems obvious to me, but from what I’ve observed in public, it isn’t obvious to everyone. So here are the basics. Keep a somewhat controlled hairstyle for work. No bed heads. No spiky hair styles or magenta streaks. No greasy locks. Keep the makeup moderate. Trim the nails and shaggy eyebrows. Remove the piercings and cover the tattoos. Keep your belly button covered too. Brush your teeth. Don’t spare the deodorant. Polish your shoes, and don’t wear them with rundown heels. Have clean, wrinkle-free clothes ready to go at all times. No seams coming undone. No missing buttons. No spots. No holes. No excuses.Being oblivious of how you appear to others can affect your bottom line.Think nobody will notice if you’re slightly sloppy? Convinced it won’t matter if you haven’t paid attention to detail? Don’t kid yourself. People DO notice the small things. And if you seem careless about your appearance, your clients can easily believe you’ll be careless in dealing with them, too.So plan, design, and package yourself as well as you have your products. Otherwise, all that effort you put into your business may have been in vain.

In any business it is wise to consider product branding before releasing your creation on the market. It doesn’t matter if your product is electronic, such as e-books or audio programs, goods like clothing, or even services. Once your product is on the market you need that product to be seen, recognized, and remembered.The world of marketing is big business, and it’s no wonder: marketing is the key to successful selling of any business and the products they sell. If your product can’t be seen it will not be sold. There are far too many products and services introduced to us every day. Your product needs a unique twist, and once you find that magical marketing idea you want to protect it.So the hard part is done, you’ve got your new product, or at least a prototype. Now we find ourselves at the step of product branding, finding that interesting but easy name that people will remember. You want your product seen, understood, and purchased. You want the repeat business. With product branding you can assure that your good name will be remembered.Branding will protect that good name you have masterminded. Anyone in marketing will agree that a good name is hard to find. Advertising agencies spend long hours researching and testing names and concepts to see how well they will be accepted by their target market group. Once you find a good name you will want to protect it so that others cannot take your ideas.There are several approaches to branding: Individual product branding gives a unique identity to a product, but does not link it to other products, therefore it is difficult to ride on the success of your previous products. Family branding gives you the umbrella of an already established brand.Another approach to product branding is called co-branding. This is the teaming of two companies to form a new venture. One example of co-branding is Visa and MasterCard. This concept works well to present a better product to both existing markets as well as attract new markets through the established names of each participant.Check with your local Small Business Administration office for assistance and information on product branding. It’s well worth your time to do your homework and understand the steps to creating and registering your product branding. The cost for product branding is low in comparison to the average ad campaign.Product branding, it’s the key to marketing success. Finding a powerful name or logo that will capture the attention of your target audience can catapult your new product into success. You have worked hard to start your business — now learn how to protect your product.