Lessons Learned

Publisher’s Note: Former Advanced Services For Pest Control CEO, Jeff Annis has been a mentor to many in the CSRA. He learned many lessons along the way about the importance of passing on his gifts. One such person he learned from is Tommy Smith, who retired a few days ago, after running Smith’s Chevron on Walton Way Extension and Wheeler Road since the 1980’s. Yesterday, he dropped off the following letter of thanks and drove his car to Smith’s Chevron one last time. Dear Mr. Smith: I don’t think I

For most of us, but particularly those of us in higher education, this is “Commencement Season.” During the month of May, institutions of higher education hold their primary graduation or commencement ceremonies for the academic year (Note: Some universities also hold such ceremonies in December and/or July at the end of their Fall and Summer terms.) As I conclude, my 25th year in academia as either faculty member and/or administrator, I have attended well over fifty such ceremonies, plus three others as a graduating student. Therefore, I have heard more

Working at Augusta National during the Masters Tournament is a unique and unforgettable experience. As a staff member at the main golf shop and bag check stand, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the excitement and energy of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. The main golf shop at Augusta National is a bustling hub of activity during the tournament, with thousands of patrons passing through every day. My primary role was to assist patrons with their purchases and provide exceptional customer service. This involved

One of the secrets to outstanding leadership is the ability to make really good speeches and briefings. Although trust and integrity are more important, speaking skills are high on any list of qualities of great leadership. The following are suggestions on how you might make your future speeches lead to “oh wows” and standing ovations from your audiences—large and small. This list contains many ideas on how to make a better speech. It also suggests areas which are not helpful or are counterproductive. When you introduce yourself, take no more

The latest research by IWG shows that both business leaders and employees are equally united in their concern for protecting the well-being of the planet – even at a time of almost unprecedented increases in the cost of living and conducting business. Climate change is a global problem, but the solution lies in the changes we can all make locally, which collectively add up to a more sustainable future for all. This means less commuting, sharing and utilizing resources better, making greener choices on the suppliers we choose, and taking

Leading workspace provider IWG plc explores the ever-shifting relationship between how and where people work, and its impact on the local communities where they live. Many local communities are juggling the challenges, opportunities, and success factors facing towns and suburbs as they seek to build and protect the thriving communities around their High Streets. As changing work patterns and an increase in working from home and closer to home reduce the dominance of the daily commute, leading workspace provider IWG explores how local communities can create a more dynamic and

Rory McIlroy has won four major championships and captured 23 victories on the PGA Tour. He has been ranked No. 1 in the world nine times during his career, most recently just two months ago. This weekend he is once again among the favorites to win the Masters and add an elusive green jacket to his wardrobe. At 33 years old, his career earnings stand at $68 million. It would be impossible to categorize him as a failure. Yet the cap, or jacket if you will, involves winning the Masters

I had the pleasure of attending the Drive, Chip, & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) this past Sunday. It was my first time back at the National since witnessing the Sunday round of Tiger’s win in 2019, except for a Tuesday practice round visit last year that was shortened by weather. During the almost six years that I have been writing columns in multiple publications in the CSRA, I have written a few about the ANGC and the Masters. However, what struck me most on Sunday,

With companies now having to compete aggressively to both attract and retain talent across the world and are having to find new and innovative ways to make their company stand out to prospective candidates. A significant factor in both attracting and retaining top talent is the availability of hybrid working. Thanks to providers like IWG, who are making hybrid working readily available through brands like Regus, Spaces, HQ Signature, and No.18 in thousands of locations worldwide, providing this attractive perk to employees has never been easier. Hybrid work – which

It has been almost two months since it was decided I would step down as Dean of Augusta University’s Hull College of Business and almost a month since my last day as Dean.  While I am approaching traditional retirement age, I was pretty sure I was not yet ready to retire.  I felt like I still had a good bit of “gas in the tank” but didn’t feel like the Dean position was the best way to use that fuel. While there were still rewarding aspects for me in that

A study by the International Workplace Group (IWG) reveals how CFOs see hybrid working as an essential cost-cutting measure. Over the last few years, companies around the world have increasingly been switching to a hybrid way of working, as the ability to free people from the dreaded commute became more important than ever. Now, with the help of IWG, millions of people are being empowered to work more effectively, efficiently, and happily, by splitting their working hours between their company headquarters, a local flexible workspace, and their home. But it

The last two-and-a-half years have created a significant opportunity for companies to reassess outdated working habits and bring in new long-term flexible strategies that are better for them, their employees, and the planet. What’s more, thanks to global flexplace provided by IWG brands including Regus and Spaces, and HQ, professionals have access to an unrivaled choice of locations to work, from both in Aiken and across the world. Hybrid work enables workers to divide their time between a company HQ, home, and a local flexible workspace and is now the

The last two-and-a-half years have created a significant opportunity for companies to reassess outdated working habits and bring in new long-term flexible strategies that are better for them, their employees, and the planet. What’s more, thanks to global flexplace provided by IWG brands including Regus and Spaces, and HQ, professionals have access to an unrivaled choice of locations to work, from both in Aiken and across the world. Hybrid work enables workers to divide their time between a company HQ, home, and a local flexible workspace and is now the

The last two-and-a-half years have created a significant opportunity for companies to reassess outdated working habits and bring in new long-term flexible strategies that are better for them, their employees, and the planet. What’s more, thanks to global flexplace provided by IWG brands including Regus and Spaces, and HQ, professionals have access to an unrivaled choice of locations to work, from both in Aiken and across the world. Hybrid work enables workers to divide their time between a company HQ, home, and a local flexible workspace and is now the

As many of you know by now, in less than two weeks, I will be stepping down after just over six years as the Dean of the James M. Hull College of Business (HCoB) at Augusta University (AU). Over the next five months, I will be preparing to return to full-time faculty for the first time in over seventeen years, by preparing to teach courses and dedicating more time to ongoing and new research. As in most major decisions like this, much goes into it; factors that are both personal

Regular readers of my columns, whether here in the Augusta Business Daily or other venues, know that I am no fan of the University of Georgia football team. I have a couple of pretty good reasons. First, I spent nearly seven years on the Georgia Tech (What’s the good word?) campus, as an Air Force ROTC instructor and then as a doctoral student. During that time, I learned much about the “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate” that characterizes the rivalry between the two schools. Second, the Bulldogs helped spoil my senior year

Twelve years ago, I opened Trendz Salon with a childhood dream, an encouraging husband and a clear answer to very specific prayers. At the time, I had many years of experience behind the chair but zero knowledge of what it took to run a successful business. Through trial and error, good ideas and bad, valleys and mountain tops, I slowly learned how to run a business. One key component of it was the team I was building. I continuously tried and sometimes failed to piece together a salon family –