Lane on … The Memorial Tournament’s 5 Things to Watch

May 29, 2013 by Jim Lane

So the 38th Memorial Tournament starts today with the ProAm.  Often cited as a favorite of the pros, the Memorial Tournament is a pretty good one from a spectator’s perspective as well.  It’s easy to see top golfers up close [...]

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Lane on… Housing Returning?

April 10, 2013 by Jim Lane

I was encouraged when Jan Hatsius, Goldman Sach’s Chief Economist, described the housing market in downright positive terms in this video from late last week.  First, let me say I don’t buy a lot of what Wall Street firms shovel [...]

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Lane on… Business Ownership: It’s Just Like Playing James Bond

April 5, 2013 by Jim Lane

This quote from Sean Connery captures how business owners often feel as they graduate from their businesses and become alumni… or maybe it should be how they feel.  I think Sean is pretty level headed in this interview. The interview takes [...]

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Lane on… Profitable Growth Headwind

March 25, 2013 by Jim Lane

You tell me what the impact of the Affordable Care Act will be; I can’t tell.  Experts, quoted recently in a Wall Street Journal article, were throwing around figures ranging between 25 and 50% cost increases.  That’s a large percentage [...]

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Lane on … Coolumbus First Day of Spring

March 22, 2013 by Jim Lane

OK, is it just me or did the subfreezing temperatures kind of take the fun out of the first day of spring?  I have the sense that everyone/everything is waiting like a filly at the gate during its first big race [...]

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Lane on… Customers Make Me Happy

March 19, 2013 by Jim Lane

This is a quick blog entry to call attention to the Columbus CEO Magazine Customer Service Awards.  While I don’t think that applying for an award is going to make your customers happier or improve your bottom line, I do [...]

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Lane on… Coolumbus, The Refectory

February 13, 2013 by Jim Lane

This is just a quick shout out to the excellent team at The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro.  Congratulations on your recent ZAGAT award for best service!  Chef Richard Blondin has shown once again that he has the chops… and delicious ones [...]

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Lane on … Coolumbus: Why I [Still] Love it Here

January 15, 2013 by Jim Lane

I’ve warned you before but you continue to read; so here I go again.  Now that all the figures are in for 2012, we can rest comfortably knowing the central Ohio market is the place to be for another year.  [...]

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Lane on… Cost of Customer Satisfaction

December 28, 2012 by Jim Lane

Satisfying customers is a costly process; some would say it costs everything.  That is, I have owners who tell me their entire business is configured around the idea of making customers happy!  Kudos to those men and women!  Diffusing customer [...]

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Lane on… A Hang Glider for the Fiscal Cliff

December 17, 2012 by Jim Lane

What are you building to weather the fiscal cliff?  Noah had his arc.  I suggest you build a hang glider.  While the fiscal looms large in media consciousness, for most people, it isn’t as clear how tall the cliff is [...]

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