Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

A Forecast of Shadows

By MARK RIFFEY - Warning: I’m about to discuss some technology things (yes, again), with good reason. IT affects every business niche, including yours. This isn’t about IT. It’s about everything.... more

Organizing Gift Cards in a Binder

By ERIN TURNER - I love gift cards, but I hate when I unexpectedly find myself in a restaurant and realize I've left the gift card for that restaurant at home in the drawer. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The coaching change in the Florida Gators men's basketball inspires two trivia related to UM Athletics.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 25

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Mowing the Grass to Make Some Lettuce

BY BOB WIRE- My son, Rusty is trying to get a part-time job for the summer. Rather than donating plasma or sperm, I suggested he try his hand at lawn mowing.... more

Can You Predict Future Revenue?

By MARK RIFFEY - What would you be able to focus on if you weren’t running about the place trying to chase down enough sales to make next week’s payroll?... more

Quest for Land: My Advice for Permies and Homesteaders Part 2 of 3

By PAUL WHEATON - When it came to picking a piece of land, I have a powerful bias. I just love Missoula, Montana. Someday I want to be able to say that I grow a lemon tree, outdoors, in Montana.... more

Is Your Family Ready For Wildfire Season?

By NICK HOLLOWAY - The Missoula Office of Emergency Management reminds us: May is National Wildfire Awareness month. Is your family’s ready should a wildfire threaten your property?... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | May 18

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- In September of 1993 the Griz debuted a new radio play-by-play voice, Mick Holien, and a new furry Mascot, Monte and the program really took off. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 18

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Rage Quit? Throw a Fit? You Might Regret it.

By CHERY SABOL - A RESOUNDING RESIGNATION, afire with sturm und drang, can be momentarily satisfying, but damaging for years to come. ... more

Motivational Words for the Boys of Summer

BY BOB WIRE- To inspire my fellow denizens of the diamond, I’ve prepared a motivational speech that I’ll break out as soon as we hit our first slump. ... more

Robots, Rural Small Business and China

By MARK RIFFEY - Would robotics address rural small business challenges like it does in China?... more

2 Rivers + 2 Hours = Missoula Fun

By JASON SHREDER - Many towns, such as Boise, Asheville, and Bend boast great river opportunities in or close to town--but here's why Missoula trumps them all when it comes to river fun.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | May 11

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Former UM head coach Bobby Huack had hoped to be back at the helm of the Grizzlies this season, but at least he will get a chance to see the Griz on film.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 11

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Quest for Land: My Advice for Permies and Homesteaders Part 1 of 3

By PAUL WHEATON -Decades ago I was obsessed with gardening and outgrew my urban lot. I needed more space. Not only for my horticultural endeavors, but I needed to expand into all sorts of animals.... more

This Man’s Job is Breathtaking

BY BOB WIRE- I recently went in for a pulmonary function test. I’ve been having trouble breathing since, oh, 2008, and this spring it got pretty bad.... more

Habitat for Humanity is Volunteer Missoula’s Organization of the Month!

By JENNIFER PEPPROCK-Volunteer Missoula is excited to feature Habitat for Humanity as our organization of the Month! Habitat has been "Making it Matter" in Missoula for over 20 years. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 4

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- With their second win this season the MSU Bobcat football team will have won 54 games during the Presidency of Baraack Obama more than any other president in Bobcat history.... more

Recipes to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

By ERIN TURNER - Despite not having a drop of Mexican heritage in my blood, I still love celebrating Cinco De Mayo. Here are 5 of my favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | May 4

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 4

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Pro Tips to Avoid Pain at Your Desk

By Clay Springmeyer - The human body wasn’t designed to sit hunched over a computer behind a desk all day. Here are a few tips that can help eliminate pains from a long day at the desk.... more

AARP’s RealPad vs. the iPad: My Senior Moment

BY BOB WIRE- My Aunt Byrdona emailed me the other day. "I want to get this tablet," she wrote. "What do you think?” I clicked the link and there it was, AARP's RealPad, a tablet for seniors.... more

What Your Customers Don’t Know

By MARK RIFFEY - What you think they know, what they really know, what they've forgotten. Why Messaging is so important in marketing your business.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 27

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 27

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Bee All You Can Bee

BY BOB WIRE- I was recently featured in a video called "Buggin' Out for the Butterfly House". In this follow-up blog I'll disccuss the green screen, lip synching, and flashing my grapes to the cast and crew.... more

Winning Against the Chain Store

By MARK RIFFEY - Yesterday, I sat down in a store that’s part of a Montana-based coffee shop chain. I drove past a national coffee chain to reach this place. Why should I drive past them to vist you?... more

Frugal and Delicious: Homemade Refried Beans

By ERIN TURNER - With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, why not some try my recipe for simple, delicious, homemade refried beans. ... more

Liz Marchi: Manners, the Masters and Equal Pay

By LIZ MARCHI - Be on notice, hitting on women is unwelcome and exhibits the worst in manners. Sexist comments and jokes are NOT funny.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 20

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 20

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Buggin’ Out for the Butterfly House

BY BOB WIRE- When a friend from the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium asked me if I'd be interested in helping them with a fund raising project, I said yes, on one condition....... more

The Hardest Part of Helping A Business

By MARK RIFFEY - There are a lot of rewards that come with helping businesses improve beyond what they expected.... more

Prepare for the Fair: Workshops Available for the April 21 Career Fair

Western Montana’s Largest Career Fair happens only once a year. With close to 100 employers looking for workers, it’s worth it to prepare now for the April 21 event.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 13

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 13

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Don’t Ignore the Small Stuff

By Clay Springmeyer - We've been trained as a society to tough out minor injuries. But ignoring seemingly minor injuries can mean trouble. Instead, consider physical therapy.... more

Liz Marchi: Give Me Patience for Parents

By LIZ MARCHI - I am flying back to Bozeman after spending two weeks with my Mom and Dad and family in Alabama. I am so conflicted about them these days. ... more

Monte Dolack: Color, Light and Landscape

By MONTE DOLACK-After many years of painting with both oils and acrylics I find myself viewing the world and especially the landscape in descriptive terms of the colors on my painting palette.... more

Plumbing? Let Me Get My Snorkel

BY BOB WIRE- Recently I decided to investigate our wobbly, leaky kitchen faucet, but not because I wanted to stop the leak that was soaking everything under the sink. ... more

Sales That Hide From You

By MARK RIFFEY - How do you find hidden sales in your prospect list? How do you know when lead is no longer interested in buying? How do you know when they are ready to buy? ... more

How To Save Money While Stocking Your Pantry

By ERIN TURNER - People ask us all the time for advice on how to stock up on essential pantry items. They assume we have a Costco membership and buy everything in bulk.... more

You’re a Stand Up Person: You Deserve a Stand Up Desk

By CLAY SPRINGMEYER- Regular exercise and eating right isn’t enough to abolish the detrimental health effects of prolonged butt-resting. If your job requires a lot of sitting, consider getting a standup desk.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 6

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 6

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more