India's Global Roadshow

India launched a global roadshow to encourage foreign energy firms to prospect and drill there. Source: WSJ

Black Bird Epidemic

Crackle epidemics in Texas feed all day in rural pastures. The black birds ruin crops, car paint and are pests. They have a 2-foot wingspan and are noisy. High tech sgtrobe lights draw the birds in around dusk, until the hunters open fire. Source:WSJ

Nine basic defense mechanisms of managers:

In their treatise on interpersonal communication, Looking Out, Looking In, Ronald Adler and Neil Towne identify nine basic defense mechanisms in managers: verbal aggression, sarcasm, rationalization, compensation, regression, avoidance, repression, apathy, and displacement.

Non-instrumental ethics:

Non-instrumental ethics means there is no strategic purpose or hidden agenda tied to a behavior or decision.

Why women start their own businesses:

Women start their own businesses to get control over their own schedule and hours, according to Fortune Small Business.

Number one method to motivate employees:

Cash remains the number one method of rewarding and motivating employees.

Whose firms are growing faster – men or women?

Over the past seven years women’s firms have grown faster than men’s, according to Fortune Small Business.

America’s fastest growing small company:

American Healthways (AMHC) ranked as America’s fastest growing small company with a total return to investors of 84% for 2004, according to Fortune Small Business. The company, based in Nashville, helps more than one million patients manage diabetes at home.

Important trends in airline industry:

Major airlines are betting on the hub and spoke model in the U.S. and purchasing faster, more fuel-efficient planes from Boeing, while European Airlines are betting on the longer-flying A300 Airbus for transatlantic flights.

Little known tax tip:

Health savings accounts can be funded yearly with employee tax-deductible contributions.

Wineries go high tech high in the sky

Napa Valley wineries are using high tech cameras in airplanes to grow uniform vines while controlling grape maturity, irrigation, and nutrients.

Small Business Owners Income and Job Satisfaction

According to the December issue of Inc. Magazine, small busines owners earned an average of 112k compared to 58k for independent contractors and 45k for employees. They are also more satisfied with their work allowing them to control their schedules, develop new skills, and be creative.

941s and Quarterly Tax Payments

There are two basic ways you can work for yourself: as an employee or independent contractor. Remember that if you get paid with 1099s like most of us, it's reported to IRS on 1099/Misc. and we have to pay 15.3% for SS and Medicare (7.65% x 2). Remember to make your estimated quarterly tax payments to Uncle Sam or you may be caught April 15th with a whopping tax bite. Even though I'm incorporated I elect to treat myself as an employee and pay into unemployment in case I cannot find work (unlikely). At least I can get six months of unemployment insurance. I make quarterly tax payments using a 941 and include my salary and tax contributions each month to the IRS. You have a 15 day grace period to pay your federal w/h and ss/mc payments. This does not stop you from making additional quarterly payments to the IRS, if you elect to pay yourself a salary plus distributions.

Magazine for Small Business Owners

What "Inc." is to the big start-ups, "FSB" for Fortune Small Business is to the little guys and gals. This is a great magazine for home businesses on how to set up and manage your business. Besides the usual success stories, there are practical management tips on how to secure funding, manage, and grow your business. The latest issue has articles on Babies, Inc., Digital Printing, Search Engines, and the MBA "showdown", a contest for entrepreneurial types.