Fred Smith founded FedEx in 1971 with a bold vision to create a reliable overnight delivery service using a centralized hub-and-spoke model and a dedicated fleet of aircraft. Despite early financial struggles—including a now-famous trip to Las Vegas to keep the company afloat—Smith’s leadership and commitment to innovation helped FedEx become a global logistics powerhouse. His people-first philosophy, technological foresight, and customer-centric brand strategy revolutionized the shipping industry. Today, FedEx is a cornerstone of global commerce, and Smith’s journey offers powerful lessons in resilience, operational excellence, and visionary leadership for business and media professionals alike.

We have all heard about the Great Resignation. The notion that many people are leaving their job or not returning to work has been a persistent theme of 2021 and 2022. There are any number of theories as to the cause of this trend: Pay scales were too low. Government benefits were too high creating a disincentive to work. People were fearful of getting sick and/or bringing the virus home to members of their family.

As a sales manager, it’s important that you continually take new courses of action to help your team generate more sales. Here are six practical methods you should consider. 1. One-on-One Coaching By helping your sales representatives to become more skilled and confident in their approaches, regular coaching is crucial. Yes, as a sales manager you’re sure to have a busy schedule, so finding the time to coach your team to assist them in their skills and confidence levels may be difficult. But don’t lose sight of the end goal.

The person you hired wants to be successful, even if they don’t yet know what that means. This new member of your team wants to do good work and succeed. As a sales leader, you must fill in the blanks for the people in your charge. If you don’t set the standards that ensure success, then no one knows what success means, nor will they know what to do and how to win deals.

Industry Press Highlights, Media, Retail, Advertising and the Economy

With the reality of change fatigue, mental health issues, collaboration overload and the demands of leading in a hybrid environment, today’s leader needs strategies to renew energy and avoid burnout. Here are four simple steps with strategies to take immediately. Before age 61 adults need a minimum of 7 hours sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep has been compared to alcohol impairment, with 24 hours wakefulness to be compared to a blood alcohol level at 0.10%.

Temporary staffing services hold a whopping 89% share of the US staffing industry. [Source: 2024, pgcgroup.com]. Despite initial conservative predictions, the market is expected to experience 5% growth in 2024, reaching a value of $185.6 billion. The ongoing shortage of skilled workers creates a prime opportunity for temp services to connect businesses with qualified talent.

Hiring the next generation of local media sellers requires a shift from legacy experience to candidates who are digitally curious, data-literate, and self-motivated to win. Top performers are organized, goal-driven, and possess a natural competitive spirit that fuels consistent follow-through and client success. Strong hires also demonstrate consultative selling skills, storytelling ability, and a passion for helping local businesses thrive. Managers should watch for red flags like tech aversion, disorganization, and a transactional mindset, which often signal underperformance. By focusing on mindset, adaptability, and strategic thinking, local media companies can build sales teams equipped to lead in a hybrid, AI-enhanced marketplace.

Liquid content—dynamic storytelling that adapts its shape across formats, platforms, and user contexts—is rapidly redefining how local media engage audiences and deliver advertiser value. It transforms a single idea into multiple tailored outputs, from short form video to audio briefings to personalized alerts, ensuring relevance in every consumer moment. For local retailers, this fluid approach expands reach, boosts engagement, and connects their message to customers in the right place and right format without added production burden. For local media companies, liquid content becomes a competitive advantage—turning one piece of reporting into many monetizable touchpoints and strengthening their role as essential partners in community driven retail growth.

Kick off the week strong with these must-run co-op campaigns your customers will be excited to promote!
• CFMOTO Rev Ride Sales Event! — Fuel the thrill of adventure with high-performance powersports vehicles and limited-time savings that get riders moving.
• Cub Cadet Ultimate Sales Event! — Help customers tackle spring yardwork with confidence using durable equipment and unbeatable seasonal offers.
• Strut N’ Save With Remington! — Step into savings with trusted outdoor gear and hunting essentials built for performance and reliability.
• Carrier’s Spring Cool Cash Rebates! — Keep homes cool and comfortable while unlocking major savings with energy-efficient HVAC solutions.
• Buick S(YOU)V Sales Event! — Elevate the drive with stylish, versatile SUVs designed to fit every lifestyle—plus exclusive event incentives.
• Daiwa’s Free Shirt With Purchase Promo! — Reel in excitement with premium fishing gear and a bonus offer customers won’t want to miss.

These are examples of objections we often hear in the middle to the end of the sales cycle. One thing that hasn’t changed in the wake of COVID-19 is the necessity of sales professionals to respond effectively to buyer objections. Objections are explicit communications from a prospect that they are resisting or not planning to move forward with a purchase, which become a barrier to advancing and closing the sale.

Companies are recognizing listening’s impact on retention, productivity, and culture by installing macro-organizational listening strategies. Strategies include designating a chief listening officer, hiring listening consulting firms and employing organization-wide listening mechanisms like engagement surveys; pulse-taking during exit, onboarding, and post-merger interviews; crowdsourcing methods like suggestion boxes or polling on specific topics.

Weekly Newsletter December 22, 2025

Mary Wells Lawrence, the first woman to found and lead a major advertising agency, revolutionized Madison Avenue by blending theatrical flair with emotional storytelling. Her agency, Wells Rich Greene, created iconic campaigns like “I ♥ NY ” and “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz,” turning brands into cultural touchstones. She believed advertising should feel like cinema—bold, visual, and deeply human—and used style as both strategy and statement. Despite facing industry sexism, health challenges, and the eventual closure of her agency, she remained a mentor, a visionary, and a relentless advocate for reinvention. Her legacy lives on in every ad that dares to be bold and every woman who dares to lead with both brilliance and elegance.

In a challenging economy, newspapers and their websites remain one of the most trusted and effective platforms for reaching engaged, optimistic, and influential consumers. According to The Media Audit, newspapers reach over 40% of adults daily, with readers spending more than an hour each day with content and showing 10% higher financial optimism than the general public. For advertisers, staying visible in this trusted, community-rooted medium is not just smart—it’s essential for maintaining relevance, credibility, and market share.