What’s important to you?

You’re witnessing the U.S. take drastic measures to borrow billions in an attempt to stimulate a worsening economy. You can pretty much count on the U.S. to carefully reconsider why they should continue to send the same level of financial assistance to the CNMI.

The CNMI has spent itself into a position of dependence on outside support, and Saipan does not have billions, or even millions to attempt to bolster its economy. The best that this government can do is to rob Peter to pay Paul and use smoke and mirrors to create the illusion that they have everything under control. The government’s credit is shot, the retirement program is on a 1,000-day meltdown, and the same recycled politicians are beginning to jockey for position in the next elections so they can have their shot at maintaining the status quo. So don’t count on the U.S. or CNMI government to pull us out of this financial quagmire.

The backbone of the economy is and always will be independently-operated businesses because they create jobs, bring in needed goods and services, serve tourists, pay taxes to keep the government afloat, and provide ongoing opportunities for economic advancement. We believe that the only viable, long-term solution to fix this ailing economy will come from dedicated entrepreneurs and workers who have a positive mindset about the future of the CNMI.

With all the talk about the doom and gloom we’re facing, it can be difficult to have a rosy outlook for the future. However, if the people who own and operate local businesses lose hope or feel there is no future for their business on Saipan, it begins a self-perpetuating downward spiral that is difficult to change.

We want to be a positive force for change by providing some resources that will give business owners, managers, and other professionals hope that they will not only survive, but that their business can eventually prosper. For the past 11 years, we have written 383 articles in four different publications on Saipan alone. The number of words would fill about 1,000 pages if all our articles were printed in a book. Our topics have centered on how to improve your business operations, management, customer service, sales, and profits—with a few current issue articles thrown in occasionally. Our goal was, and still is, to provide timely and accurate information that can help you make better decisions and improve your business performance, productivity, and profits.

In writing these articles, we do a lot of research online and offline. We probably have the most comprehensive business library of books, and audio and videotapes on island. We talk to experts in their field to get their input, and continue to spend thousands of dollars for online training programs to help us stay up to date on the latest business developments.

Why we’re mentioning this is because we need a favor from you. Even with a lot of resources at our disposal, we can’t accomplish our goal to write more incisive articles on topics that are most important to you, without your assistance. We’d like you to share your two biggest concerns as a business owner or manager. If you could have a private conversation with us, what two questions would you like to ask us?

We want to take your input so we can develop an outline of topics that would be most important for you at this time. It is our sincere desire to make a contribution to your business through a series of articles that are aimed to make improvements in your business, which will then help stimulate and improve the overall economy.

Businesspeople have told us that they make copies of certain articles and give it to their staff, or they use them in their regular meetings to discuss a specific topic. The articles can be used as a point of discussion to trigger ideas that could be developed to improve productivity, services, or methods of operating the business. New products or distribution channels might be explored, or additional sources of revenue might be developed. Simple changes or improvements could make marginal gains that accumulate to give your business a boost in sales and repeat business.

It doesn’t take a breakthrough idea or thousands of dollars to make a positive shift in the direction of your business. Also, don’t discount the ideas that can come from the lowest paid individuals in an organization. They are often the ones on the frontline that hear the complaints or experience the frustrations of your customers.

Send us at least two questions that you would like to ask us, or topics that you would like to see addressed by contacting us at biz_results@yahoo.com. We’ll use your input to research and share the best ideas we can find on each topic. With enough good ideas that are implemented into your business, you will see changes and experience the hope it takes to lift your business and our ailing economy.