Heartbroken

Linda LaitalaBusiness, Management, SalesLeave a Comment

  This is a word I hardly ever use and one I don’t hear others use often either.  It’s a powerful word, defined as “suffering from intense grief – crushed by grief”.   

What you hear when you actually listen

Linda LaitalaBusiness, ManagementLeave a Comment

  I was in St. Louis a couple weeks ago attending a conference.  As I waited in line for a lunch table I listened to the conversations around me.  What I heard made me realize that we live in a world of divergence.  People seemed to either totally agree on a topic or totally disagree.  There wasn’t much discussion or

Shrink-wrapped cars & other amusing things

Linda LaitalaBusiness, ManagementLeave a Comment

I was on my way to my father’s home in Boyceville, WI last week and stopped in Amery to pick up a few groceries.  As I pulled into the parking lot I saw something I have never seen before – an SUV wrapped in shrink wrap.  Someone clearly was playing a joke.   

Better technology isn’t the answer

Linda LaitalaBusiness, ManagementLeave a Comment

This is a true story. Imagine you’re 93 years old and living in a nursing home.  Your days run one into another with little diversion.  As you sit in your chair, stories of your life play through your mind: your favorite song, your first kiss, your wedding day, your bowling team, the tragic death of your daughter and on and

Sometimes it Pays to Pester

Linda LaitalaBusiness, Management, SalesLeave a Comment

In the early years of our business, my husband did the sales.  He was pretty good at selling but he absolutely hated it.  He was tremendously relieved when I came on-board at Raven Machine & Tool and took over the sales and marketing.   

Can you also walk on water?

Linda LaitalaBusiness, ManagementLeave a Comment

In a previous life I was a headhunter.  I scoured the region looking for just the right people to fill jobs.  Applicants were screened and tested and interviewed.  Only the best two or three got “live” interviews.  The role I played was mostly detective; the higher the position, the deeper I dug.  It was pretty easy to ferret out the

Mistakes were made Lessons were learned

Linda LaitalaBusiness, ManagementLeave a Comment

I had lunch recently with Sam (not his real name) who owns a property development business.  He company purchases land all over the country, usually close to college campuses.  Their specialty is building apartments for student housing.  They would own and manage the properties for a few years and then sell them.  Life was good for a long time —