Client Markets

This story from Crain's Detroit Business shows how companies find other ways to succeed during difficult times. If your company provides a service and the economy forces a rate cut, what do you do? Reliance One doubled its sales in 2007 and expects to up them by 56 percent this year.

Forbes and Wall Street Journal recognize the importance of women in business as both resources have added a focus on women.

And the articles on finding savings in the medical field keep rolling in. The latest from The Wall Street Journal discusses hospitals recycling medical devices. Medical devices previously identified as single-use tools now go through the rounds to help another patient.

With rising gas and grocery costs among other issues affecting homeowners, many now manage their own lawns and gardens instead of using landscaping businesses to save money.

Two businesses felt the pain of the economic downturn, but didn't let that stop them from finding ways around it.

Gasoline's rising prices not only affect us drivers, but they also affect those working hard to pretty up our yards and gardens. Landscapers rely on gasoline for lawn mowers as well as blow-packs.

The Wall Street Journal reports that over 200 nursing schools plan to add doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) programs that prepare graduates for a role similar to those of primary care physicians.

Such a program runs for two years with one year of it spent in a residency. These programs aim to train students "to have more focus than doctors on coordinating care among many specialists and health-care settings."

Medical staff needs more money for patient care.

Finance needs to cut the budget.

Where's the middle ground? Healthcare organizations are finding success in using technology to lower contract labor costs and turnover. Though the situation involves making an initial investment in technology, these organizations save millions.

I talk to many people in the nurse staffing trade and over the years have found out that the "keys to success" in that trade are quite standard. Rather than relying on my empirical experience (I talk to them only with regards to providing working capital to support their growth), I interviewed Dr.

Last week I had the opportunity of talking to Susan (not hear real name) in Florida. She was a registered nurse who - as so many others - got tired of making money for others. She opened her own company and started employing her co-workers until she eventually got about 30 nurses working for her. It was not that difficult for her to get contracts with health providers. Hospitals, prisons were delighted to switch to her and give her long term contracts because her punctuality, thoroughness and follow-up were excellent and well known in the area.