Justice In Action

During the 1980 presidential campaign, candidate Ronald Reagan vowed, if elected, to appoint the first woman to the United States Supreme Court. Six months after his inauguration, President Reagan kept his promise ? nominating a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals. The Senate soon confirmed her by a vote of 99-0.

Recently, Sandra Day O'Connor sent a short letter to the current Chief Executive announcing her retirement: "It has been a great privilege, indeed, to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms. I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure."

President Reagan made history by appointing a woman to the Supreme Court. Justice O'Connor made her own history by casting the deciding vote on 136 cases, including some highly emotional issues. The willingness of both the president and the justice to take risks helped change the country.

Success Handler Action: Robert F. Kennedy said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly ever achieve greatly." As an entrepreneur, you took a leap of faith by starting your small business. If you've been at it for a while, are you still willing to take big risks, or do you often find yourself deadlocked on difficult decisions? After you finish reading this E-Newsletter, use these questions to determine if you're becoming more or less of a risk-taker:

~ Where are the innovative ideas in your industry, and are you ahead or behind the curve?

~ When was the last time you introduced a new product/service or bought new equipment?

~ Who do you turn to for guidance, and how often do you consult with them?

~ What is your reaction when you hear other business owners talk about their latest initiatives?

~ How often do you read magazines like "Fast Company" or visit leading-edge Websites?

One of the biggest reasons people take less risk as they get more successful is the fear of losing what they worked so hard to gain. When you had nothing, there was nothing to have taken away. However, if you're not continuing to pursue the edge in your small business ? "placing enough interesting, freakish, long shot, weirdo bets," in the words of management guru Tom Peters ? then you are creating a weakness that your competition can exploit.

Success Handler Action: With your team, discuss the opportunities awaiting you in the second half of the year. Seek their input on some of the decisions you've been avoiding because you're concerned about the risk. Also, encourage your team members to take their own risks, so they can grow. Here are five ways to help them start acting like risk-takers:

1. Explain the importance of change, and assure them it's normal to fear new approaches.

2. Coach team members on how to think like an entrepreneur and take ownership of their individual roles.

3. Give them more responsibility, grooming them as leaders.

4. Challenge them to look for new and better ways to do things.

5. Allow them to fail occasionally?and support them when they do.

Growing up on her grandfather's 200,000 acre cattle ranch in Arizona, Sandra Day O'Connor learned the importance of hard work and discipline. Upon graduating third in her class from Stanford law school in 1952, she couldn't get a job in Arizona, because no private firm would take the risk of hiring a woman. She credits these experiences as shaping her later judicial opinions.

Justice O'Connor said, "Slaying the dragon of delay is no sport for the short-winded." While you most likely will never serve on the Supreme Court, the people you serve every day in your small business are counting on you to keep moving forward and being innovative. Commit once again to being the entrepreneur you are, and start being the risk-taker you once were.

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he's been there ? as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.

detailed home cleaning Lake Forest ..

In The News:

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.

Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.

Joe A. from Shelton, Connecticut, lost $228,000 to a ZAP Solutions cryptocurrency investment scam after his divorce, highlighting rising online fraud.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Waabi and Volvo target U.S. freight driver shortage with Level 4 self-driving technology and NVIDIA computing platform integration.

Survive flight disruptions with expert travel tips: Book early morning flights, download airline apps and know your refund rights during service cuts.

Apple's iOS 26.1 update delivers major security fixes, performance boosts and enhanced privacy controls for your iPhone. Discover why updating now protects your data.

Russian hackers use fake CAPTCHA tests to spread dangerous malware targeting governments and journalists. Learn how to protect yourself from these deceptive attacks.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Miami-Dade debuts America's first autonomous police SUV with AI cameras, drone deployment and real-time crime detection in groundbreaking law enforcement pilot.

Bank impostor scams cost Americans $2.9 billion as criminals use AI voices and caller ID spoofing to steal life savings. Learn nine essential fraud protection tips.

Foreign-owned apps secretly harvest personal data from seniors, making them prime targets for scams. Learn how to protect your privacy and stop data brokers today.

Justice In Action

Small Business