Recent Articles from David Sneed
Time to start swinging
Think about today. Not the future. Not the past. But the now. Go ask that cutie out: she doesn’t know someone turned you down last week. And then go start your new business. Last year wasn’t the right time for eggplant ice cream, but your salmon cupcakes might just make it. Forget the failures and...
A closer look at the history of a famous tax
Some people like to say Americans have always hated taxes, and they give as proof the night of Dec. 16, 1773, when patriots threw some crates of tea into Boston harbor. Actually, though, at issue that night was a tax reduction, not a tax increase. Some hooded and shadowy figures rioted across the wharfs because […]
The value of silence
Now this seems simple and hardly worth mentioning – at first. But it’s really the bacon double genius-burger of customer-handling advice. Let them vent. Listen – but don’t try to fix anything. Maybe they just had a fight with their dry cleaner or got a traffic ticket on the way over to meet with y...
Following the leader
My future sandwich was just inches away, calling my nose in delizioso Italiano. The clock on the wall read 9:01. Dang it! But I checked my phone again as a precaution and saw it switch to 9 p.m. I knew I made in time—but it wasn’t looking good for yours truly. A vigorous debate followed, but thei...
I love a parade
Wheat Ridge used to be “The Carnation Capitol of the World.” Still is, as far as you know. Well, for nearly 50 years, Wheat-Ridgians have celebrated this honor with a Carnation Festival, kicked off with a parade down 38th Avenue. And not the modern, high-tech, fancy-float-night-lights kind of para...
The one secret most job-seekers don’t know
You have a résumé because you’re looking for a job, right? And you shaved this morning and have your best smile on. Join the club because so does your competition. Anyway, those are only pleasantries to get you in the door. To actually land the gig, you need to meet one of two requirements.
AOL’s epic HR fail
When someone needs punishment, it’s between you and them. As a society, we’re past the point of believing public flogging is actually a deterrent. Executing admirals doesn’t encourage the rest of them, no matter what Voltaire says.
The selfishness of stardom
The Trumps and Schwarzeneggers and Lance Armstrongs of the world have talent, and they worked hard, but no more so than a million other people. What sets them apart is something I don’t have. I’m not sure I want it.
Become your own boss in three easy steps
Some people look down on simple business. They’ll say ‘you just own your job’ as if it’s pitiful. Don’t let them get to you: it’s still better than not owning your job. I’d argue that hiring yourself out is the original capitalism and the very foundation of America. But for self-employment to work...
Get a clue, win the game
Across all industries, 25 percent of startups will fail in the first year. By the fourth year, it’s 50 percent. And the leading cause of failure? Incompetence. About 46 percent of firms go pear-shaped because leadership hasn’t a clue what they’re doing. More specifically, they suffer from at le...
Accidental excellence
My personal goal is to make everything easy. I don’t like problems—so I’ve built my business to achieve “simple” in three easy steps.The first key to trouble-free is being okay with leaving money on the table. I have a price I charge per foot for each style of fence, and it rarely changes.
The no-haggle edge
This is an old contractor trick. I know; I’ve done it myself. When we don’t want the job, we over-bid it. We can’t just say “We don’t want your business,” even though that’s what we mean. Instead, we offer a deal you can’t accept. And if it turns out you do accept, we grin-and-bear-it all the way...