Brown shoes or black? This destination or that one? More risk or greater security?

Every day, I make a lot of decisions, some big, some small. Naturally, I am always on the lookout for ways to improve decision-making. Regular readers know I'm not a fan of boiling difficult choices down...

You're probably aware that Oprah Winfrey signs off this week as the host of TV's top-rated daytime talk show. Over the years, Winfrey has taped 4,500 episodes and collected 35 Emmy Awards en route to building one of the most successful brands in business.

Her final show, slated for Wednesday,...

What do Mitt Romney, Big Oil and Nintendo have in common?

Each is trying to sell a story that few seem willing to buy.

Former Massachusetts governor Romney wants you to believe his universal healthcare program isn't like President Obama's. Big oil wants to convince you that

Do you have fireproof shoes?

If you work in the pharmaceuticals industry these days, you've probably thought about buying a pair. Rarely has there been a time when so many legal, demographic and scientific changes have occurred at once. Taken as a whole, they constitute a burning platform that the...

The economy is going gangbusters. The economy is poised for a fall.

Depending on the signals you tune into, you could see things going either way.

Take recent economic events. In late April, for example, the NASDAQ index topped a 10-year old mark while The Russell 2000 index of...

Do you have William and Kate fever?

The condition has already afflicted tens of millions around the world. Come April 29, when England's Prince William marries his fiancé, Kate Middleton, millions more are expected to succumb to its grip.

Why are so many people drawn to a fairy-tale celebration that...

Don't you hate it when you nick your finger on a sharp edge or skin your knee on a rough surface? Of course, scrapes and scratches are some of life's most frustrating annoyances. Fortunately, there are Band-Aids for such mishaps.

Each year, consumers buy more than 1 billion strip bandages,...

Here's a question sure to stump your dinner guests and water-cooler colleagues: when was the first automated teller machine (ATM) put into use? Hint: John F. Kennedy was in the White House and the price of gas was $0.31 per gallon.

For the record, the answer is 1961. Interestingly, the...

If you haven't achieved the success you thought you would by now, blame failure -- or, rather, the lack of it.

Confused? Don't be. The surprising truth about success is this: it often is the byproduct of repeated failures. Take NBA legend Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the best basketball...

Google the words "bunk beds" or "towels" and you'll see links for Amazon.com, WalMart, Macy's, Target and other popular companies. One name you won't see until wading through several screens, however, is Overstock.com -- and not by accident.

In February, the Sale Lake City-company was penalized by Google...

What's the greenest town in American? Hollywood, where recycling has literally become an art form.

The joke has more than a ring of truth given the film industry's dependence on sequels. In 2011, movie goers are likely to have plenty of déjà-vu moments when the latest installments of Mission: Impossible,...

Been to a Borders bookstore lately? If not, you better hurry. As part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing this week, the book and magazine retailer announced that it will close more than 200 superstores nationwide by mid-April.

On second thought, you probably don't have to rush just...

Question: What do Spiderman director Julie Taymor, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and entrepreneur Kenneth Cole have in common?

Answer: Each is being tested by a crisis of his or her own making.

Taymor is battling technical glitches and artistic miscues of a supernatural scale on Broadway. Mubarak, meanwhile,...

You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she dresses for a football game. The cheesehead? There's a guy who likes to have fun. The face painter? That's an independent spirit who goes his or her own way. My favorite fan is the one holding...

Tired of shoveling where you work? Maybe Punxsutawney Phil will lift your mood. On Feb. 2, the famed ground hog did not see his shadow when pulled from his lair, meaning winter's end is just around the corner.

But what if frustrations linger after spring comes? Then it may be...

Confused what to think about China? So are a lot of world and business leaders.

Consider Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent state visit to Washington. In a speech before American business executives, President Hu said China was a military threat to no nation. But his words came just one week...

This article is cross-posted in Forbes magazine

Turbulence is sometimes impossible to avoid in the air, but on the ground? You have to wonder after the recent dust up between American Airlines and several of its travel partners.

One can only wonder if a more satisfaction-oriented...

Here's a sobering thought for the new year: most business strategies are woefully incomplete.

So reveals a new survey from McKinsey Quarterly. The publication polled 2,135 executives about their business strategies to determine how many could pass a stress test of 10 questions. The survey asked about granularity,...

First it took phosphates out of detergents, now Proctor & Gamble is taking money out of soap operas.

What's the Cincinnati-based consumer products giant up to? It's simply keeping up with the times. This includes moving more of its strategic marketing dollars to social media from traditional broadcast and print...

Here's a headline you don't see everyday: "More U.S. Billionaires Pledge to Give Away Wealth."

While it may sound like another Miracle on 34th Street, the story is real. Nearly 60 wealthy individuals and their families have joined Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett...