Steve Marr.org

U.S. Census figures show the population center of America is shifting west, away from the traditional Midwest. You can read the story on My Way here: http://bit.ly/eaTHvm .

The fastest growth is in the mountain states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. This shift has been occurring over a very long time. In 1790 the population center was Kent County, Maryland. During the 1820’s the center shifted West Virginia. Indiana claimed the center spot between 1890 and 1940 while Missouri claimed the center spot since 1980. Texas County Missouri is expected to claim the spot after the 2010 census, still further west.

The reality is the population continues to shift for a variety of reasons. When making long-term business plans give this shift some thought. My state of Arizona is still among the fastest growing, this creates more business opportunities then states with declining or non-growing populations.

Zippo lighters, made famous with their cigarette lighters have experienced a 1/ 3 drop in lighter sales over the past 12 years. Logical given more people are quitting smoking. You can read the full Wall Street Journal story here:   http://on.wsj.com/goRTym .

Clearly, the company needs to change, or fade away, out of business. Scripture gives us an insight, the Prophet Joel wrote in approximately 835 BC: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears” (Joel 3:10 NIV) while the Prophet Isaiah in approximately 700 BC said: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4 NIV). The reality is, at different times, we will need to take completely actions to adjust to a changing marketplace.

In the past, Zippo tried to diversify with a tape measure, key holders and belt buckles, all of which failed. Today the company is launching Zippo Boutiques that will sell cologne, camping supplies, clothing and watches. They also produce a large line of sporting goods supplies, and a host of other, new products.

Last year, over 550,000 new business were started up, each month! Read the CNN story here: http://bit.ly/eASuXn .

Many of these business are starting because unemployed people can’t find jobs and figure it is better to try to start a business, even a side business, then have nothing coming in.  While many more new businesses are starting, many do not hire employees. When a new business is started with little capital, they can’t afford employees.

Planning is key for any new business start-up, from a 1 million dollar start up budget, to a shoestring operation. You can download my free business plan here: http://bit.ly/e3Yv7r  or you can order my book on starting a business on this link: http://bit.ly/ic0jAh .

I often use a GPS, especially when traveling in different cities. These can be great time savers. However, according to the Royal Academy of Engineering western nations have become over reliant on satellite navigation systems such as GPS, which could break down or be attacked with devastating results.

The Royal Academy of Engineering said the application of the technology was now so widely used, from car navigation systems to the time stamp on financial transactions, that without adequate backup, any disruption could have a major impact.

It cited a recent European Commission study showing that six to seven percent of economic growth in western countries -- about 800 billion euros ($1,100 billion) in the EU, and hundreds of billions more in the United States are already dependent on such navigation.

Vivian Schiller, CEO of National public Radio resigned today after a hidden video caught her remarks that NPR would be better off without Federal funding.  Given the precarious funding position from the current congress, this will not help in the NPR battle to keep 400 million in Federal funding in the wake of a scandal that has elevated the news organization's concerns about its future funding. Approximately 12 % of NPR funding comes from these grants. The full story is available on this link: http://on.wsj.com/hHysHG2 .

Most of us say things we wish we hadn’t. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teachings show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7-7 ESV).