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As of this writing, the financial markets are in turmoil due to extremely high delinquencies on so-called sub-prime mortgages. These are the mortgages made in the last few years by aggressive mortgage banking companies that were able to "bundle" the risky debts into packages and then sell them to mu...

There is a great deal of talk today about our carbon footprint -- referring to greenhouse gas emissions caused by industry and/or consumers -- and how critical it is to our planet to reduce these emissions. Companies such as General Electric have begun to fully realize that reducing our carbon footp...

Many of us have thought of "locking up" a killer domain name or Web address. Then, all we'd have to do is find a buyer. Some people with whom I speak tell me that all of the good domain names have been registered. Personally, I think that an enterprising and savvy person can still make a big score i...

A survey done by the U.S. Commerce Department stated that of every 10 small businesses, seven will survive their first year, three will still be going after three years and only two will remain after five years. These are quite startling numbers and really beg the question: "Why do startups fail?" T...

Technology has finally made its impact on medical practices. In order to achieve greater efficiencies within their office and administrative staff, many physicians have now gone from paper to computer. Additionally, diagnoses and delivery of quality patient care are greatly enhanced with the assista...

Since Europe enacted the euro as its common currency, there has been increased discussion about whether or not the world would benefit from a single global currency. At this point, the proponents seem to have a substantial edge; but like anything else, there are proponents and there are detractors. ...

It is quite common for people affiliated with a startup to receive Rule 144 stock in lieu of cash or readily tradable stock. This type of stock is usually issued by a company that is either about to go public or has recently gone public. Rule 144 stock is often used as a form of reimbursement for se...

This past May, the country of Estonia was hit hard by what its authorities called a "virtual war." This war took the form of an attack on the country's computer infrastructure. Many governmental and commercial sites were hit. The attacks on the country's commerce seemed to focus on the country's med...

Since the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley in 2002, board members have become increasingly aware of potential liabilities to board service. Though much of this worry is unfounded, some things still should be watched closely. As a board member, you should be aware of at least some basic indications that the...

Social networking is the best-known use of the Web 2.0 -- just consider the popularity of MySpace and YouTube. Today, Web sites are so interactive and collaborative we now have a new way of communicating and staying in touch. Because of this, many have been wondering where the Web 2.0 -- the latest ...

The executive summary is rarely given the importance that it deserves. Too often, companies seeking to raise capital focus all of their attention on their business plan. The fact is, investment bankers and venture capitalists view literally thousands of executive summaries. For this reason, one must...

Every company wants to obtain the greatest possible yield from its marketing dollars. Corporations are constantly trying to determine better ways to direct their advertising dollars in order to more efficiently target potential customers. It now appears that there is a solution that will bring about...

Just when directors thought that no more could possibly be expected of them -- especially after the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley -- they are now confronted with a new acronym: ERM, or enterprise risk management. Directors are now expected to conduct oversight of their company's enterprise risk, when ...

Before YouTube and MySpace, the Web 2.0 was neither as widely used, nor as widely known. At that time, companies that needed online collaboration and file sharing were its main users. That all ended when YouTube and MySpace became so popular. Both sites have created a "gathering place" for younger p...

We all negotiate one thing or another almost on a daily basis. When you negotiate, you are trying to achieve a goal through discussion and compromise. Typically, both elements have to be present in order to arrive at a successful outcome. Therefore, you must be able to communicate and be willing to...

Traditionally, preparation for board meetings has involved an enormous amount of time, expense, and stress. There are always last-minute items that have to be incorporated into the board book -- that heavy package that goes to board members and their support staff before a meeting. A great deal of e...

We've all heard of YouTube and MySpace, but there's a new and exciting social networking site: itLinkz.com. What makes this site unique is that it will contain hundreds of sites that target specific market segments. The sites will allow you to choose and participate in a unique, virtual community. W...

Most of us are quite aware of a new, brewing scandal -- the stock option scandal. It has been revealed that some companies have "cooked the books" when it came to reporting dates of stock option grants. The purpose of misdating the stock option was to accommodate executives by giving them the possi...

As the Enron story gradually begins to fade from the news, one has to wonder if such an economic debacle could happen again. As a result of Enron, WorldCom and other corporate scandals, there are now former top executives from several major corporations who, since they probably won't live long enoug...

In the late 1990s, a new application appeared on the World Wide Web. It allowed people from different places and different time zones the opportunity to simultaneously view a slide show, commonly PowerPoint, and to hear a speaker explain the details behind each slide. The viewers also had the opport...