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GALESBURG, Posted Feb 28, 2009, Written by John R. Pulliam, The Register-Mail - Jason Paulsgrove is the embodiment of an entrepreneur. The owner of Midwest Uniform...

Victoria Police uniforms have undergone their first major upgrade in more than 30 years, and the result is a much darker shirt in "salute...

Albert Pujols wears one. So do children attending parochial schools, members of the armed forces, police officers and thousands upon thousands employees of fast...

 ALPHARETTA, Ga., -- Angelica Corporation ("Angelica" or the "Company"), the leader in healthcare linen and medical laundry services, today announced that it has entered into...

Most of us deal under some pressure much of the time. The demands of satisfying clients, given limited resources, causes stress. Most managers deal with problem-solving regularly. Resolving the simple problems or those with which you have had experience are rather easy and gratifying at the same time.

But what happens when there are persistent problems for which there are no obvious or quick solutions? Frustration builds. Relationships get tested and performance will probably suffer. It is the job of the leader and manager to step aside and re-analyze the situation from a fresh perspective. The key to knowing when to do this is when the old methods don't resolve the issues satisfactorily.

I used the cliché recently that "It's tough to remember that you were sent to drain the swamp when you're up to your butt in alligators." If you are in a messy or complicated conundrum, help is available but you have to be willing to change, learn and grow. In reviewing a valuable text, "Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership" by Bolman and Deal, I outlined some tips that are helpful to me. At Greco Apparel this past year we have gone through a major transition in refocusing the strategy of our business. Due to the recent changes in business climate, (the Recession) we have been forced to reduce costs while increasing categories of product offerings, foster growth and satisfy the needs of current clients. This was no small task and subsequently caused some internal organizational and relationship stresses.

Last week, my VP of Operations theorized that a group of our staff members were not confused, they just don't know what to do. While this seemed paradoxical I started to think about the intent. Turning to Bolman and Deal I was reminded that ‘managers are imprisoned only to the extent that their palette of ideas is impoverished." No one can resolve or think of all the solutions individually. Help is required from various sources including outside advisors, review of the business plan, interested co-workers, consultants and reference material that is the history of the trials and errors of others. Blending together the components required for a successful solution is artistry which the authors define as neither exact nor precise. Art is not a replacement for engineering but an enhancement. So what's a manager to focus upon?

Freds -- opening in Barney Greengrass' former fifth-floor space at Barneys Beverly Hills in early October -- has partnered with Band of Outsiders, one of...

"How to have your cake and eat it too" has been a goal of mine for a while. While it may not be fully possible there is a way to come closer by expanding the context of our thinking. There are three areas of knowledge: what we know, what we know we don't know and what we don't know that we don't know. It's the last piece that is most intriguing and can block our path to greater achievement and growth.

While cost control is always a management objective, sustainable growth derives from continued and additional profitable sales. There are still some fundamentals that apply. Charlie Munger, partner of Warren Buffet and VP of Berkshire Hathaway, noted in a speech to a graduation class that "You want to deliver to the world what you would buy if you were on the other end." Isn't this philosophy just a slight twist on the Golden Rule? Or as Dr. Tony Alessandro refined the concept to be the Platinum Rule: "Do unto others as they would like to be done unto." Tony has termed his sales strategy 'non-manipulative selling." This strategy recognizes that greater success comes from delivering goods or services based on the needs and timing of the buyer and not the goals of the seller.

This approach may take more time and require understanding and patience but in the long run your business will be built with happier clients. For example if you call on someone and they are content with their current supplier you can respect that and ask if you can follow up at a future time. No pressure or manipulation. Yes, if you are a persuasive sales person you can probably manipulate the buyer into a yes decision. But remember that adage that "a person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still." Tricky sales techniques don't support the integrity basis required for long term profitable relationships.

FOR the first time British Airways' has displayed its vast collection of cabin crew uniforms at a special catwalk show at London's Southbank Centre. The...

VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. All per share amounts...

This year will bring a new look for deputies at the Kendall County Sheriff's Office.Since July 3, deputies have been wearing new uniforms that...