Maintaining Good Financial Habits in a Time of COVID-19
April 20, 2020
By South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis It’s no secret that money has a significant influence on our lives. While this is frequently made obvious in our daily routines, nothing underscores…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, banking-and-finance, education, on-the-move
Hard times challenge us to innovate
April 16, 2020
By Jerry Bellune A friend of ours was looking for a birthday gift for her teenage daughter. Amazon was backed up in deliveries. She found what she was looking…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, technology
What’s ‘the Buzz’ with SC Business?
April 14, 2020
By Burnie Maybank Nexsen Pruet Today’s dominating business buzzwords are a little different than what we might have thought they’d be a few months ago. “Uncertain times;” “a new…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, media
Don’t Waste This Crisis – How to Prepare to Pivot Your Business
April 10, 2020
By Bill Edmonds The onslaught of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has sent businesses scrambling to find their footing in this new environment. These days, many small businesses are struggling simply to stay…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, on-the-move
How to survive in trying times
April 8, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Sure, covid-19 is a challenge. Most of us have been through this before. Our friend Scott Channell reminds us that when the economy contracts, we get…
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Local news and covid-19
April 6, 2020
By Jerry Bellune An urgent note to our readers and visitors: In trying times, truth matters more than ever. The more accurate local news gets out to our community,…
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Online tutoring for SC students
March 31, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Do you have a child or grandchild who’s out of school? The South Carolina State Library wants to help. The library is giving students, parents, and…
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Watching Working Parents – and Learning A Lot
March 30, 2020
By Sarah Robinson NP Strategy This ‘new normal’ is unlike anything any of us have ever experienced – forcing us to adjust and evolve our day-to-day routines. As our…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move
Need A Cure For Your Current Business Crisis?
March 30, 2020
By Bill Edmonds Owner of TAB Columbia and Northstar Leadership Solutions Have you ever experienced a crisis in your business? I have. Early in my career in the investment business,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz Category: advice, on-the-move
Aging and Eldercare – What’s Your Plan?
March 27, 2020
By Molly Thomas FPQP® at Abacus Planning Group Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “When you fail to plan you are planning to fail”. Many of us and most of our parents…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, business-services, health-care, insurance, on-the-move
Making the most of workplace distance
March 27, 2020
By Liz Ashley These are strange times for all of us, and for those now working from home, there are benefits to collaboration and productivity when working remotely. However, it…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc Category: advice, on-the-move
Never let a crisis go to waste
March 25, 2020
By Jerry Bellune President Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel famously said in 2008, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. I mean, it’s an opportunity…
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After Uncertainty Comes Opportunity
March 24, 2020
By Bryan Stange Director of Business Development, Mashburn Construction If you’ve spoken with a real estate developer over this past year, just about every one of them will have…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, construction, on-the-move
Work safer from home
March 24, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Are you or a loved one working from home? Covid-19 has moved many industries into unfamiliar territory — telecommuting. This puts many businesses at risk for…
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You know what the good news is?
March 23, 2020
By Taylor Kearns NP Strategy When I was a kid, my mom would ask us that question immediately following what – at the time – seemed like a soul-crushing…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Coronavirus: Facts You Should Know
March 23, 2020
By Mike DuBose A fast-spreading illness called COVID-19 is sweeping across the world, bringing with it waves of fear and misinformation. Despite dire warnings from doctors in areas first…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, health-care, life
Are your employees working from home? Here’s how to keep your network safe
March 19, 2020Rob Cheng CEO and Founder, PC Matic COVID-19 has changed the way business operations are taking place in an incredibly short time, and the duration of these changes remains unclear. …
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, hi-tech-information-tech, on-the-move
Don’t eat your seed corn
March 18, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Country folks know about seed corn. That’s the part of the crop you save to plant the following year. Without it, you won’t have anything to…
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Don’t fall for Corona virus scams
March 17, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Worried about the Corona virus? Even if you’re only stressed about the toilet paper hoarders, fear of world events can make you vulnerable, according to the…
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Effectively Communicating in Uncertain Times
March 17, 2020
By Heather Matthews NP Strategy Silence fuels fear in a crisis, especially when the crisis is changing by the day and is something few people have experienced before. Over…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, headlines, health-care, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Terminix Warns About Increased Termite Activity Due to Warm, Wet Winter
March 12, 2020
Termites thrive in warm, wet environments. Unfortunately many homeowners in the southeast, including those in Columbia can expect to see higher termite activity than normal due to the above-average temperatures…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, commercial-real-estate, environmental, on-the-move, residential-real-estate
Officials target telecom companies
March 11, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Spam phone calls and Do Not Call List registrations hit records last year. Safehome.org, an organization that investigates and evaluates home and personal safety products and…
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Reward your winners, ditch your losers
March 11, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Which unprofitable products, services and procedures do you and your people put up with? Who are your least productive people and what do they do to…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
The Ultimate Gift: A Road Map for Funeral Wishes
March 9, 2020
By Laird W. Green CFP® from Abacus Planning Group “Facing death with a sense of practicality, equanimity, and clarity is the ultimate gift you can leave your children, friends, and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
Need to upgrade your cell phone?
March 4, 2020
By Katie Ritchie How long does technology last? Last week I answered part of reader Linda Sinclair’s question. When do you need to upgrade your cell? If you listened…
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Your advertising can change your results
March 4, 2020
By Jerry Bellune 40 years ago, ace copywriter Denny Hatch heard Dorothy Kerr of US News & World Report say, “If you want to be successful in direct mail,…
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Avoid Being the Cobbler with Bad Shoes
March 3, 2020
By Amanda Loveday NP Strategy For many of us, our day-to-day activities are dictated by the services we provide to our customers – so much so, that we too…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move
How to cut your customer acquisition cost
February 26, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Why don’t your customers refer? Here are 7 reasons from our friend Ruth King: 1. You have no active, non-pressure program so they don’t think about…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Is it time to upgrade your computer?
February 25, 2020
By Katie Ritchie How long should you keep your cell phone or computer before it’s time for an upgrade? One of our readers, Linda Sinclair, emailed to ask. There…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, technology
A Roadmap to Your Savings Journey
February 24, 2020
By Curtis Loftis South Carolina State Treasurer Saving money can be like driving a car. Your desired destination may be near or far, the direction you choose might change,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, education, on-the-move
Your book can change your life
February 19, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Could writing and publishing your book take your success in life to a higher level? It has in mine. 15 years ago, I was struggling to…
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Check scam targets Generation Z
February 18, 2020
By Katie Ritchie A new scam is taking advantage of 20-somethings. The Federal Trade Commission said consumers in their twenties have been hardest hit by fake check scams. Median…
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DNA scam hits Lexington County
February 12, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Have you gotten a suspicious call offering you “free” or “Medicare-funded” testing? Chronicle reader Paul Donahue recently got a suspicious call. He reached out to me…
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Your advantage is always in jeopardy
February 12, 2020
By Jerry Bellune You don’t have to be a football fan to appreciate 3 lessons from the Super Bowl. You may recall the year the Atlanta Falcons ran all…
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Cutting-Edge Direct Primary Care and On-Site Clinics Can Save You Money
February 11, 2020
By Brian Morris President, Fulcrum Risk Solutions Whether you are an employer trying to manage healthcare costs, or an employee trying to stay healthy, it’s important to stay…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Windows Defender malfunctioning?
February 5, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Tech-Savvy Chronicle reader Elizabeth Lindler called me last week. She got to the Windows Update screen from the 1/23 column and was able to install the…
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Don’t ruin your reputation online
February 5, 2020
By Katie Ritchie and Jerry Bellune Business owners know the importance of a strong online presence, says our ace Tech Talk columnist Katie Ritchie. Even if you don’t sell…
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Top reasons to embrace an education in the trades
February 2, 2020
By Earl McLeod Executive Director Building Industry Association of SC If you know a student that is seeking a path that will lead to personal fulfillment, a career and technical…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, construction, education, employment, on-the-move
Give customers memorable experiences
January 29, 2020
by Jerry Bellune Here’s a competitive strategy: Create memorable experiences your customers can share with friends and have everyone talking about you and your products. The Wall Street Journal…
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Beware new package delivery scam
January 29, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Are you expecting a package? If you get a text on your phone asking to set delivery preferences, you’ve been targeted by a new scam. Here’s…
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Going the extra mile for clients: A guide
January 28, 2020
By Jean Cecil Frick NP Strategy For those of us in the professional services industry, clients are our bread and butter. We are constantly looking for ways to…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
The results of being an extra miler
January 22, 2020
By Jerry Bellune You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate this story and the important business lesson you will discover in it. Joe Burrow transferred from…
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‘Critical issue’ requires update
January 21, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Do you use Windows 10? You may need to update your computer. The NSA alerted Microsoft to a vulnerability. The software giant released a patch to…
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Your 2020 whats, hows and whys
January 15, 2020
By Jerry Bellune We met with our Congressman earlier this month to talk about his 2020 agenda. He is a busy man whose district covers a lot of territory…
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Is your phone eavesdropping?
January 14, 2020
By Katie Ritchie The secret is out: our smartphones and assistants are listening in. The default settings on devices allow our voices to be recorded. The recordings are collected,…
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The Importance of Brand Reputation in a Crisis
January 13, 2020
By Erin Sanders Senior Communications Advisor with NP Strategy When a crisis hits your organization – and it will – it’s important to have a solid crisis management plan…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Don’t forget your medicine
January 8, 2020
By Katie Ritchie The weeks after the New Year are usually dedicated to creating new habits. Many folks want to get to the gym or eat better. The habit…
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Do you have a future on YouTube?
January 8, 2020
By Jerry Bellune What can you learn from an 8-year-old entrepreneur? How to sell lemonade? It’s far simpler than that. What has made Ryan Kaji highly successful is that…
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3 Steps to Improve your Public Engagement In 2020
January 6, 2020
By Jesica Johnson Mackey NP Strategy 2020 is here, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to identify some New Year’s resolutions for your company or organization.…
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Foreign spies use your chat app
January 2, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Many of us are wary of the way companies and apps use and misuse our private information. Facebook and Twitter are common offenders. Last week the…
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