Jonathan Sweet

Labor laws changing under Trump

Whether you think the impact of the Trump administration has been good or bad, what we can’t deny is that it’s a very different administration when it comes to labor laws and business regulations. As a business owner, it’s important to keep up with all of these changes. Here are some of the key revisions to various rules and regulations ...

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How are you protecting your digital assets?

On Wednesday, the latest large cybersecurity issue reared its head with a phishing scam aimed at Google Docs/Gmail users. In this case, the scam tricked users into granting access to their Google account through a fake Google Docs link. It could then use that access to email others in the users’ address books to spread itself. While this one seems ...

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Millennials better educated, but making less

Another report is out that points to the difficulty of growing boating to younger buyers. Per the Washington Post’s Wonkblog: Over the past four decades, young American workers saw their average incomes decline by 5.5 percent after adjusting for inflation, according to new figures published Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. In 1975, workers aged 25 to 34 had a median personal income of ...

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Watch out for your stupid gene

We all have our blindspots that get in the way of getting things done. Or as Ben Speciale says, we’ve all got those places where our “stupid gene” kicks in. If you’ve ever spent much time talking to the president of Yamaha Marine Group, you know he’s passionate about the topic of workforce development and training — and a pretty ...

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5 common mistakes companies make in hiring

In our April issue, we’ll have an in-depth look at the workforce crisis and how companies are finding creative solutions to the labor shortage in the boating industry. As part of that article, I talked to Neal Harrell, the president of Brooks Marine Group, an executive and management recruiting firm for the marine industry. One of the biggest problems for ...

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What’s business friendly depends on your business

When President Trump signed an executive order last week rolling back some clean water rules it was alternatively praised and criticized. Fishing and hunting groups and businesses warned of potential damage to the nation’s ecosystem. Others including farmers and home builders cheered the change. I often hear from people working in the industry that they want to see more “business ...

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Where trade changes could have the most impact

So I found this series of maps fascinating. There’s been plenty of talk lately about imports, exports, tariffs and possible trade wars as the new administration lays out its approach to trade. Depending what side of the political spectrum we’re hearing from, it’s either bold action to save U.S. jobs or the fast lane to economic devastation. Regardless, this analysis ...

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In the age of Trump, think before you post

So I understand that while I was in Dusseldorf, there was a controversy of some sort around the new president? With that in mind, it brings to mind something I’ve written about for years, but is worth repeating again. If anything, it is more important than ever before: think long and hard about your social media policy these days. I ...

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A final dispatch from Dusseldorf

Boot Dusseldorf continues through January 29, but Monday was my last day as I’ll begin my 14-hour journey back home Tuesday. The biggest takeaway from the show is the scope and organization of the show. It was a huge undertaking, with more than 1,800 exhibitors spread across 2.3 million square feet. I managed to at least walk through all 16 ...

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Boot 2017: Water sports take center stage

It’s been another packed day here at Boot Dusseldorf. The halls were even busier today (Sunday) than yesterday as it seems to be the family day here at the show — lots of people with kids today. That’s always good news. Just like back home in the States, Europe is facing the same problem of getting younger people into boating. ...

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