How Spanx’s Sara Blakely made a billion

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Description: After failing to get into law school and overcoming criticism, Spanx founder Sara Blakely built an underwear empire. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 26, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/07/26/n-spanx-sara-blakely-billionaire-profile.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What does failure have to do with successful entrepreneurs? How significant do you think Oprah was in this venture?

Startup Hubs Don’t Spring Up Overnight

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Description: There’s a seemingly endless fascination with the notion of startup hubs, particularly in smaller cities like Des Moines or Boulder, Colo., that aren’t always thought of as industrial centers. There’s good reason for the interest: A growing strain of economic research has highlighted the importance of fast-growth tech firms as engines of job creation…. Read more »

Why We’ll Be Better Off if the Walmart Protests Fail

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Description: Employees of the big box store are planning a national day of protest for higher wages. Economist Richard Vedder on why we’ll all be in trouble if they get their way. Source: Thedailybeast.com Date: Sep 05, 2013 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/05/why-we-ll-be-better-off-if-the-walmart-protests-fail.html Questions for Discussions: How would a jump in minimum wage to $12/hour affect companies now… Read more »

Post-Ballmer, Microsoft Must Focus on Products to Avoid Extinction

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Description: Whip out the elegant, light, superthin Asus (2357:TT) Zenbook on an airplane, and you’re sure to attract stares. The PC stands out even more with Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows 8 software, its touchscreen full of colorful tiles promising a glimpse of the future. But that view starts to get foggy when Windows 8 tries to work with… Read more »

A PUSH FOR HARMONY AMONG WORKERS, YOUNG AND OLD

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Description: There’s a sense of urgency to the quest for workplace harmony, as baby boomers delay retirement and work side-by-side with people young enough to be their children — or grandchildren. Source: AP.com Date: August 13, 2013 Link: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/push-harmony-among-workers-young-and-old Questions for Discussions: What are the fundamental work-related problems for firms with employees from different age groups? Describe… Read more »

Novel Ways to Solve Exporting Riddles for Small Businesses

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Description: About two-thirds of small businesses that don’t export goods or services would like to start selling overseas, according to a June study (PDF) from the National Small Business Association (NSBA). Almost half of those businesses said a main barrier is that they’re “not sure where to start.” Given President Barack Obama’s promise in 2010… Read more »

Rhea Lana’s Unpaid Moms ‘Don’t Care About Making Minimum Wage’

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Description: Rhea Lana Riner is on a mission to get government off her back. As chief executive and founder of Rhea Lana’s, a children’s consignment franchise business based in Conway, Ark., Riner has been investigated twice in the past two years for labor violations, first by the Arkansas Department of Labor and then by the… Read more »

Where cell phones go to die

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Description: Much of the world’s electronic waste ends up in Guiyu, China, where old parts are recycled but chemicals like mercury leak into the water. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 31, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/05/31/t-china-electronic-waste.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Who should be held responsible for e-waste? Explain why the e-waste recycling business is centralized in… Read more »

Rinse, Repeat: P&G Brings Back Former CEO

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Description: Regrouping at P&G under former CEO may not solve long term problems. Source: WSJ.com – video report Date: May 24, 2013 Link: http://on.wsj.com/19afA0s Questions for Discussions: Why do you think the company brought back the former CEO at this time? What does this decision say about the company’s management and vision for the future?… Read more »