The Supreme Court on Wednesday wrapped up three days of arguments over President Obama's landmark health care law, and Vintage Vinyl co-owner Lew Prince is scared – that the legal challenge will work. If the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is overturned, "I'll be back in the crappy system I was in two years ago," says Prince, co-owner of the small St. Louis music store. "We'd go back to fighting for every inch of coverage every year." Such fears highlight the division of opinion among small business owners about the health care overhaul. (CBS News)
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Everyone likes a mild winter, but perhaps no one likes it more than President Obama. A recent Macro Musings newsletter from the respected forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisers suggested that warm weather in December, January, and February added 72,000 extra jobs to the U.S. economy. (Slate)
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Creativity killers don't have to be obvious or drastic. Simple, every day decisions that seem far less than momentous can sap your ability to think creatively, according to a thoughtful recent Fast Company piece by Emily Heyward.(Inc.)
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I once hired a McKinsey consultant into a country manager role in a developing region. Two years later, despite great success, he told me he wanted to find a job at another company in his home country. I could see he was motivated, and still eager to grow, so I pushed him to instead think about what larger global roles he could perform for his current employer. (Harvard Business Review)
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Asking candidates for social media passwords may soon be illegal in some states. In the meantime, here's how to say "no" gracefully. (Fortune)
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Forget expats. Western companies doing business in Asia are now looking to locals to fill the most important jobs in the region. Behind the switch, experts say, are several factors, including a leveled playing field in which Western companies must approach newly empowered Asian companies and consumers as equals and clients – not just manufacturing partners. (Wall Street Journal)
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In the course of Europe’s economic crisis, Germany has pushed its neighbors into a new fiscal treaty, demanded that other governments take tough austerity measures, forced losses on private investors who hold Greek bonds and helped shove uncooperative politicians out of office. (Washington Post)
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As a long-time entrepreneur, Ward Black is a firm believer that international exposure is a good thing in an MBA program. "It’s just a bad decision not to have international experience on your resumé," he says. "The fact is you will either be working with a company operating overseas or competing against them. So when I decided to go back to do an MBA, I wanted as much international exposure as possible." (Financial Post)
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The fastest-growing segment of bachelor’s degree holders applying to MBA programs is anathema to some top admissions officers: former business majors. Business undergraduates have long made up the largest portion of GMAT test takers, and that foothold has grown firmer. (Bloomberg/Businessweek)
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New York’s grittiness suits Kim Seymour just fine. "I was always a tell-it-like-it-is, straight, no-chaser type. That didn’t change. Actually, it probably blends in better up here than in the South!" Vice president of executive talent management and consumer card HR at American Express Co., Seymour was raised in a family that emphasized work ethic, education and achievement. (The Network Journal)
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In her black robe and strand of white pearls, Lucy Koh projects the serious, deliberate demeanor befitting a U.S. District Court judge. The Harvard-educated former federal prosecutor has served on the California state bench and as a partner in a Silicon Valley law firm, where she litigated technology patent lawsuits. For all her earnestness, Koh, 43, could not resist needling the lawyers skirmishing before her at a hearing last June in San Jose. "Last time you were here," the judge noted, "you said that you had a business relationship – I forget what the number was – $8 million, $8 billion?" (Bloomberg/Businessweek)
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The iPad’s super-speedy 4G LTE capabilities may be a no-go for some international users. New iPad owners in Australia and Europe are finding this out the hard way, highlighting the continued confusion about consumers’ understanding of 4G. (Wired)
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If you're running a tech startup, chances are you've heard of FoundersCard. It's essentially the "black card" for entrepreneurs, offering up perks, networking opportunities and something even more coveted: an aura of exclusivity. (CNN/Money)
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Whether it's trying to be great at everything or giving great service away for free, there are plenty of ways in which the best intentions spell business failure. (Fortune)
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You may have heard of "flash mobs," where a mass of people invade a public space to make a scene. Now the idea has been turned on its head by "cash mobs," where large crowds of consumers show up at small businesses to spend money. But it's not just about propping up the local economy. (NPR)
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Chicago is embarking on a $7 billion plan to transform the city’s infrastructure from the skies above to the pipes underground. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is planning to announce the initiative Thursday. It includes projects to expand the city’s largest airport and improve its streets, water system, schools, community colleges, parks and commuter rail network. The city estimates that these initiatives will create 30,000 jobs over the next three years. (The New York Times)
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Worried about a tax audit? Don't be a prime target. Here's what the IRS looks for and tips to help you avoid getting singled out. (CNN/Money)
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Bingo! The new 1099-K forms – just one of a number of tax-form changes this year – caught a PayPal seller. This young man, selling things from his home, did not think of himself as being in business, but he just received a Form 1099-K. It doesn’t take into account any of his charge-backs or refunds. This is exactly the kind of person they had in mind when they created the 1099-Ks. (MarketWatch)
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No one lives the "total market" – the term used to describe the blending of the general and multicultural markets – like Walmart. Last month Gisel Ruiz was elevated to exec VP-chief operating officer at Walmart, and Rosalind G. "Roz" Brewer was named president-CEO of Sam's Club, becoming the first woman and the first African-American to hold the CEO title at a Walmart unit. Ms. Brewer's successor as president of one of Walmart's three U.S. regions is Hispanic. (Ad Age)
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The record-setting $2.15 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to a group led by former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson and financier Mark Walter dropped the jaws of even the most bullish sports-industry veterans. (Wall Street Journal)
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Mitt Romney likes to jab President Barack Obama for embodying the values of the Ivy League. "I didn’t learn about the economy just reading about it or hearing about it at the faculty lounge at Harvard," he said in Illinois on March 18, in a not-so-veiled swipe at Obama. (Bloomberg/Businessweek)
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Since failing to win the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton has loyally served Barack Obama as secretary of state. We assess her record and ponder her plans. (The Economist)
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Olivia Fox Cabane, author of The Charisma Myth, talks with Fast Company about why charisma is so critical to business and how special Jedi mind tricks can help get you there. (Fast Company)
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A rough winter for the airline and hotel industries means a nice thaw for travelers: vacation deals late into the season. Even for those who haven't yet booked their summer destinations, now is an ideal time to get in on some bargains. (Portfolio)
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