Sexual imagery, suggestive messaging, and physical attractiveness can grab attention and create emotional associations with a brand. That’s why companies in fashion, beauty, fitness, fragrance, and entertainment often use it in advertising. People may remember the attractive person or provocative image but forget the product. It can alienate customers who find the messaging inappropriate. It may undermine trust when the sexual appeal has little connection to what is being sold. The impact can vary significantly by audience, culture, product, and context. The bottom line: Sex may get attention, but attention isn't the same as sales. The most effective campaigns generally connect the emotional appeal to a product people actually want.

The IRS doesn't tax your business's revenue. It generally taxes your taxable profit. That's why smart business owners don't just focus on making more money—they understand the rules that determine how much of that money is actually taxable.

9/11 changed so many things and serves as a reminder that we can't predict everything. Things will happen beyond our control. We must work at remaining flexible so that we bend, not break, during difficult times. Learning to pivot can be the difference between failure and success. Never forget.

Whether you are organized as a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, S Corporation, or C Corporation affects how you'll be taxed. Below is a summary of the differences. Is your company structure the best one for you? Attached is a resource with more details about each type of structure.

A mission statement defines the What, How, Who, and Why your business makes sense. It should be short, powerful, and creates focus in daily operations. It can also provide a foundation for company culture. Large companies often spend millions in developing a mission statement, while many of us have never put thought to this. Amazon's original mission statement was: "to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.” Today their mission statement reads “Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work.” As companies evolve, often their mission evolves, as well. Even if you have been in business for years, it's helpful to revisit the Why periodically. The easy answer, of course, is to make money, but there are millions of ways to make money. It's helpful to know why your company exists. What is your Why?