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Brown shoes or black? This destination or that one? More risk or greater security? Every day, I make a lot of decisions, some big, some small. Naturally, I am always on the lookout for ways to improve decision-making. Regular readers know I’m not a fan of boiling difficult choices down to this or ...

You’re probably aware that Oprah Winfrey signs off this week as the host of TV’s top-rated daytime talk show. Over the years, Winfrey has taped 4,500 episodes and collected 35 Emmy Awards en route to building one of the most successful brands in business. Her final show, slated for Wednesday, ...

What do Mitt Romney, Big Oil and Nintendo have in common? Each is trying to sell a story that few seem willing to buy. Former Massachusetts governor Romney wants you to believe his universal healthcare program isn’t like President Obama’s. Big oil wants to convince you that government subsidies ...

Patent expiration, healthcare reform and other factors have created a burning platform in the pharmaceutical industry. But the nation’s largest drug distributors don't seem to be sweating bullets.

The economy is going gangbusters. The economy is poised for a fall. Depending on the signals you tune into, you could see things going either way. Take recent economic events. In late April, for example, the NASDAQ index topped a 10-year old mark while The Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks ...

Do you have William and Kate fever? The condition has already afflicted tens of millions around the world. Come April 29, when England’s Prince William marries his fiancé, Kate Middleton, millions more are expected to succumb to its grip. Why are so many people drawn to a fairy-tale celebration ...

Don’t you hate it when you nick your finger on a sharp edge or skin your knee on a rough surface? Of course, scrapes and scratches are some of life’s most frustrating annoyances. Fortunately, there are Band-Aids for such mishaps. Each year, consumers buy more than 1 billion strip bandages, ...

Here’s a question sure to stump your dinner guests and water-cooler colleagues: when was the first automated teller machine (ATM) put into use? Hint: John F. Kennedy was in the White House and the price of gas was $0.31 per gallon. For the record, the answer is 1961. Interestingly, the disruptive ...

If you haven’t achieved the success you thought you would by now, blame failure—or, rather, the lack of it. Confused? Don’t be. The surprising truth about success is this: it often is the byproduct of repeated failures. Take NBA legend Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the best ...

Google the words “bunk beds” or “towels” and you’ll see links for Amazon.com, WalMart, Macy’s, Target and other popular companies. One name you won’t see until wading through several screens, however, is Overstock.com—and not by accident. In February, the Sale Lake City-company was ...