With a recently adverted financial Armageddon in the rear view mirror people are looking around the ruins to see if there are any money making opportunities, and that’s where commercial real estate investing courses come in. These courses and others like them are exploding in popularity as people are wanting to diversify their investments, find a new line of more secure work or replenish their now pitiful 401Ks. Just like any other money making opportunity commercial real estate investing courses run the gambit from the awesome to the useless. So how can you separate the garbage from the gold? Come grasshopper, let me show you.Unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who have seized on the increased desire and need of people find alternative sources of income. Many of these so called gurus and experts are great marketers of themselves and their systems but lack true in-depth knowledge of the market. Some have that knowledge but don’t want to pull back the curtain 100%. They would rather throw some pictures, tables and basic information together and let you bang your head against the wall thinking you’re a failure because you can’t follow their “easy path to riches”.The first step in evaluating one of the commercial real estate investing courses you are looking at is by looking at the source of information. Can you independently verify what they are saying? Do they have a good reputation amongst investors? What does Google have to say about them? Here’s a good litmus test; if you’re being bombarded with pictures of their mansions, hot cars and even hotter women then you’re better off just dousing a pile of cash in lighter fluid and setting it ablaze. Are they giving you the hard sell? Do you have a limited time frame to decide? Then, again, just walk away friend.Start by doing some basic research on commercial real estate or the specific subject of the commercial real estate investing courses you are considering. Get a handle on the information and see for yourself if they are just talking in circles or know what’s really going on. Join or sit in on a real estate investment club and ask around about what they studied to get where they are now.
Commercial Real Estate Investing Courses – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Is a Lack of Management Confidence Hurting Your Business Performance?
Recently when I was talking to someone about management confidence they asked What difference does confidence make to business performance? Good question. In this article I’m going to answer that question and highlight why management confidence is a critical issue – not just for the business owner or manager, but for the businessLet’s begin with what confident managers actually do. In short, confident managers take actionThey use a planned and structured approach to doing things like;
• Identifying, writing and agreeing performance objectives
• Discussing how the objectives contribute to the business goals
• Monitoring and measuring performance so that they can provide ongoing, regular and specific feedback on performance
• Identifying and acknowledging outstanding performance, and taking action to deal with areas for improvement
• Discussing the employee’s development aspirations and objectives
• Discussing the employee’s job satisfactionBecause confident managers take action, confident managers get resultsSo how does this confidence and action impact business performance? There’s a whole body of research that tells us that employees who are effectively managed are more productive, and teams that are effectively managed are more profitable. Research also shows us that one of the key reasons for lost productivity – and one comprehensive piece of research suggests that in the UK and US at least 18% of time spent at work is unproductive – is because of poor employee supervision. And of course this is not taking into account the negative impact that a lack of effective management has on employee satisfaction and engagement. In short confident managers take action to manage effectively and effective management positively impacts business resultsOf course confidence also impacts the manager themselves
So how does this confidence impact the manager? Let me ask you a question. As a manager, who would you prefer to work with and manage:A) A group of people who are clear on what’s expected of them, who get the feedback they want and need and who are consequently willing and motivated to perform wellOrB) A group of people who don’t know what’s expected of them, who don’t know if they are performing well or not and who consequently just don’t care?I know it’s a stupid question, but I want to illustrate the importance of the management role because effective management of people is both a critical commercial issue – because it’s about the business results – and a satisfaction issue, for both the employee and the manager So, how do managers get to be confident? In any field, in any area, the way we build confidence is by taking action and getting results, reviewing those results and then taking action again. By way of illustration I’d like you to think of something you are confident in. It might be that you’re a confident driver, tap dancer, parent, it may be that you are confident in the technical aspects of your job, for example you might be a confident auditor. Now I would like you to think about how you became confident in that areaI’ll bet my bottom dollar that you built that level of confidence by taking action, by reviewing what you did and then by taking action againAnd of course it’s by taking action that managers sky rocket their management confidence
The Role of Transportation in Economic Development
Transportation is more than just getting from point A to point B—it’s the backbone of a thriving economy. From moving goods to connecting workers with jobs, transportation systems drive productivity and growth.
How Transportation Fuels the Economy
Trade and Logistics: Efficient roadways, ports, and rail networks make it easier to move goods quickly and affordably.
Labor Mobility: Public and private transport systems allow people to access more job opportunities.
Tourism Growth: Airports, cruise ports, and transit systems are vital to attracting tourists and generating revenue.
Urban Development: Transportation infrastructure encourages investment in housing, retail, and business sectors.
Key Sectors Impacted by Transportation
Manufacturing: Just-in-time delivery depends on reliable freight transport.
Retail and E-commerce: Fast shipping relies on logistics networks.
Agriculture: Farmers need efficient routes to bring produce to market.
Construction: Materials and labor must move swiftly to job sites.
Challenges to Economic Transportation
Infrastructure Maintenance: Aging bridges, highways, and rail systems can slow progress.
Traffic Congestion: Delays hurt productivity and increase costs.
Inequity: Poor transportation access can isolate communities and limit job access.
Investing in the Future
Governments and businesses are now focusing on:
Smart Infrastructure: Tech-enabled systems for real-time traffic, tolling, and maintenance.
Sustainable Modes: Expanding electric and non-motorized transport.
Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration to fund and operate major projects.
Conclusion
A strong transportation network is a key driver of economic success. As the world grows more connected, investments in efficient, inclusive, and sustainable transportation will determine which regions thrive in the global economy.