I majored in economics in college, where I learned all about the beauty of free markets. As a management consultant for the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work with small companies as they apply those lessons. Companies compete, grow, and evolve. Sometimes the growth comes at a (non-economic) cost but seemingly things improve. The mantra is always pure – let the company serve the shareholders, so they in turn can take care of the employees, the community, and the world around. It generally works, kind of, sort of. Productive employees (usually) benefit and capital moves throughout the economy. Read the full story

How can you make the color of your portfolio match the color of your cash? Chances are, if your small business has weathered the storm of its first few years in action and has unstuck itself from the mire of unprofitable operation, you’re taking good care of all of the money that comes in as profit. But here’s a fact that may surprise you: the most profitable thing to do right now with that money may be to invest it. And the best place to invest right now is in the new green economy. Read the full story