Restaurants are one of the hardest businesses to start - saving a struggling one is even harder. With all problems, it’s about the evaluation, developing a comprehensive plan and then working through the plan.

With the restaurants that I deal with, often times the self-evaluation is not objective enough. You don’t have to go down with your ship. Use these tips and suggestions coming from my years of experience to plug the holes and get back to smooth sailing.

There is nothing like breaking away from the monotony of daily life and exploring what the world has to offer. If everyone’s bank account and boss would allow it, most would be out at the drop of a hat, laying on a beach in Mexico, tasting chocolate in Switzerland or exploring the streets of China. The time to travel is now, and if money is the only thing holding you back, it’s time we tackle that hurdle. 

The U.S. Travel Association reports that the cost to travel has been on the rise since 2010 and is projected to continue that steady climb through 2016. Travel spending in 2014 alone totaled 927.9 billion dollars. The biggest expenditures being foodservices at 220 billion, lodging at 181 billion and public and auto transportation combining for a whopping 337 billion.

The spending isn’t going to slow down, and neither will the number of travelers. Join the masses and start planning your next vacation using these thrifty, trendy, money saving travel tips!

If you want to avoid an employee break up, then focus on the engagement. According to a new Gallup study entitled “State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders,” 51% of managers were not engaged and 14% were actively disengaged. If this statistic isn’t staggering enough – Gallup estimates that this lack of engagement costs the U.S. economy between $319 billion and $398 billion annually! And managers aren’t the only ones unhappy – Gallup also found that approximately half of employees have left a job “to get away from a manager.”

The lack of engagement by managers, and thus their employees, is something that HR and business leaders are highly aware of, as Deloitte found that 87 percent of the 3,300 HR and business leaders from 106 countries surveyed say lack of employee engagement is a top concern.

Having been in sales for over 25 years with experience as both an entrepreneur and sales executive, I am intrigued by what people think makes a great salesperson. When I talk to salespeople and business owners about this, some tell me it’s having the ability to communicate persuasively, some emphasize personal charm and charisma, and for others it’s that special person who won’t take “no” for an answer.

Have you ever hit a giant, suspension-rattling pothole and wondered aloud why someone hasn’t done something about it? If that pothole is in your business parking lot, P3 can help you do something about it.

P3 is Pacific Pavement Protection and they know that curb appeal is an important factor for any business, as it is the first impression your customers will have of your company.