Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

A number of factors have resulted in Jevic Transportation having to close its doors after 27 years of operations. The company said they would finish all current freight deliveries within its system before shutting it all down. It isn't accepting any more pickup requests.

David H. Gorman, president and CEO, said in a letter:

"I regret to inform you that Jevic Transportation Inc. will be discontinuing operations. The current high fuel costs, economic downturn, increasing insurance costs, and tightening credit markets have made this decision necessary. Jevic will stop providing pickup service effective Monday 5/19/08. However, we will continue operating to deliver all freight within our system prior to closing."

Other factors not mentioned was they paid their workers very high wages, as well as offered a strong benefit package. The combination of all that ended the business.

Herb Kelleher was an Expert at Managing Growth

One of the more negative impacts on workers in a business is layoffs. Those executives that know best how to manage growth will find their people positive and working with a lack of fear over concerns they could lose their jobs because of outside forces.

Those that manage their company's growth the best will have the best defense against forces outside the company; like economic downturns.

Kelleher was an expert at this, as he never would hire beyond stretching his existing people, which is one of the major problems connected to laying people off. If there were times when some circumstance arose which demanded more attention, he would allow those who wanted to to work extra hours do so over a period of time, rather than hire new people to take care of it.

Where Warren Buffett gets capitalism wrong.

Warren Buffett was asked one time about the strengths and weaknesses of capitalism. His response to the weaknesses of capitalism show me that in the macroeconomic view, Buffett has it wrong.

One example he uses is in reference to a textile mill he used to own. Eventually he had to shut it down because it couldn't compete with other businesses internationally. He looked at this as a shortcoming of capitalism, when in reality it was a shortcoming in Buffett himself for not figuring out a way to run the company profitably, or buying into an industry that was declining in the U.S. because of international competition.

Buffett goes on to say that a marketplace implies losers, but I have to disagree. It may imply losers as far as someone running their business better and more efficiently, but it doesn't imply losers to those they're serving.

"Many of the doubts about the iPhone are being conjured by Apple’s adversaries."

This was the comment of one writer when talking about the iPhone in its early days.

Here's what Steve Jobs had to say about the innuendo floating around about his and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) newest product at the time: “The usual suspects will try to copy the [iPhone] hardware, and it will take them some time, and maybe they will and maybe they won’t be able to,” he said. “But the software is at least five years ahead of anything we’ve seen out there. And it’s really hard to do.”

This is a good example on how to fight the competition when they attempt to cast doubt on our new products or services we offer.

While most marketers know that creating controversy can be a great way to market, there are definitely dangers involved when you get close to crossing the line. Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) may have done that with their new logo, which shows a woman with her legs spread on the cup.

Stories cite what is called a "fringe" Christian group as those that protest the image on the cup, but that has no relevancy to the issue.

Does that mean that all women and men who think this is an outrage are on the fringes of society? Do all men and women think it's a good thing to present a woman with her legs spread on a cup as representative of women?

Today McDonalds (NYSE:MCD) and Dunkin' Donuts are giving away some free products for their customers to enjoy. There's significant buzz around the Internet from these simple marketing tactics.

McDonalds is giving away a free biscuit or chicken sandwich, while Dunkin' Donuts is giving away their annual 16 oz. iced coffee.

Giving away something free is always a powerful way to not only delight your customers, but generate a lot of press and coverage. People just love talking about and letting people know about free stuff. Part of the psychology is the desire for people to share good news with others; making them happy.

For managers, this will always work to give you some quick business and goodwill to the surrounding community, or over the Internet.

The introduction of the Smart ForTwo car in the United States has generated more interest from a safety standpoint than whether it'll save a little on gas. To that end, a couple of recent crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), have been conducted to see how the diminutive vehicle performed.

In the NHTSA crash tests for the front and back, the car received four stars for frontal protection and three for the passenger. In their side test it received five stars, but with the caveat that the driver door unlatched and opened, which would be a significant risk in being ejected.

For the IIHS test, which is far more stringent, a report today says the ForTwo received the highest ratings of Good, for botht he frontal-offset, as well as side-impact tests. Even so, the driver door performed the same in this test, with it also unlatching and opening on impact, reinforcing a significant driver ejection threat.

In one of the most self-serving votes I've seen in a long time, the Senate passed legislation that could end up forcing the Bush administration to stop filling the nation's strategic petroleum reserve.

The vote, which was an overwhelming 92 to 6, with 46 Republicans breaking rank with the Bush Administration, shows that the major purpose they serve is themselves, and getting reelected. Nothing new there, of course. But...

Was there other reasoning behind this vote besides getting reelected? Yes! It was also the admission that there is nothing the government can do about oil prices. The reason the vote went this way was because there has to be the illusion maintained that the government is able to do something, because the conclusion would eventually dawn on citizens that the government is, and should remain ... limited.

In a radio interview with CBS News, President Bush said the continual rise in gasoline prices have been one of the major hindrances to the economy growing strongly.

While he confirmed the economy was growing, he reiterated that gasoline prices have held it back. "It's growing (the economy), don't get me wrong, but it could be a lot better with lower gasoline prices," he said.

He also mentioned the housing problems as another big drag on economic growth. "It's just too darn bad because this economy was doing fine and then we had the housing issue and then this gasoline issue is making it even harder for the economy to recover," Bush commented.

At home, he was affectionate and understanding. He gave love by being interested, involved, and always there for his family and friends.

While there are obvious strengths and benefits to what was mentioned above about Walt Disney personally, I want to apply it to business, because I believe how Disney lived his life at home, was what motivated and inspired him in the workplace.

When you watch the many Disney films from the early years, you see in them much of that affection and understanding displayed by Walt at home.

As his daughter Diane Miller said one time:
 
"Daddy never missed a father's function no matter how I discounted it. I'd say,'Oh, Daddy, you don't need to come. It's just some stupid thing.' But he'd always be there, on time."