Temp- tation                                                                  March 2016 
In this issue
Unemployment Rate Still Higher than Before Recession

The U.S. unemployment rate for January was 4.9%,the lowest level since February of 2008, but still up from the pre-recession unemployment rate of 4.7% in November of 2007.  

 

In 2015, unemployment rates in just 14 states have returned to, or fallen below, their 2007 averages: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin.  


 

wsj.com

Temptation Trivia  
Originally pitched as "Tall Tales or True," this TV show (now in its 14th and final season) was rejected because it was too similar to another show already commissioned by the same network.  

The concept was refined so that rather than just telling the stories of these "tall tales," the show actually tested the key elements of the stories. 
 
What is the name of this truth-seeking TV show, and what are the names of the two hosts.      
   
  
If you know the answer, call or e-mail your local branch office by noon this Friday.  One winner in each branch will be chosen at random from those that answered correctly, and that person will get treats delivered!  
 
Last issue answer: Yosemite National Park was the first national park in America.  President Ulysses S Grant signed the law preserving the area.   

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Fun Facts  
The village of Ephraim is the only "dry" municipality in Wisconsin.  Since its founding in 1853 by the Reverend Andreas Iverson as a Moravian religious community, the village has prohibited alcohol sales or manufacture within the village.  There have been two referenda concerning the sale of liquor within the village, one in 1934 and another in 1992.  Both times the citizenry voted decisively to keep the village dry (with majorities of 59% and 74%, respectively).   

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Forecast: 31% Chance of Recession  
U.S. chief financial officers say there is a 31% chance that the 
U.S. economy will be in recession by the end of 2016, up from a 16% chance forecast nine months ago, according to a survey of CFOs by Duke University and CFO Global Business Outlook. The biggest risk factors are the slowdown in China (59%), political turmoil in the U.S. (53%), a stock market decline (50%), and the price of oil (40%). Still, 60% of firms expect to increase employment in 2016, with the increase averaging 2%. 

Employment growth will be strongest in services and consulting, technology, retail and wholesale, and construction. Energy firms will reduce their workforce by 9%, and manufacturing employment will shrink by 1%. CFOs listed the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified employees as one of their top three overall business concerns.
     
  
      Duke University School of Business
One Minute Ideas
Whether you dream of being the next Bill Gates, or you just want to help your current company grow, here is some advice from successful entrepreneurs.    
1. Don't be afraid to start up Sensible caution and careful planning never hurt anyone, but not pursuing their dreams most certainly did. 
2. You don't need a perfect business plan Market and customer research is essential, but so is a willingness to start despite imperfect information, and flexibility once you get going.
3. Don't be afraid to jump in with both feet Situations vary, of course, but limping along with half measures can slow your journey to success.     
4. Know when to change course Tenacity in the face of daily struggles is great, but business is full of failure.  Sometimes it's a far better to let go, learn from your mistakes, and move on to something more promising.
5. The customer isn't always right The customer is often confused and unaware of his or her true needs.  Saying no to some paying customers may actually help your business succeed.    
6. Think small While it's great to dream of changing the world or upending an industry, the truth is most businesses move incrementally, despite management clichés to the contrary.  
7. The idea and the execution are BOTH important A good idea that is poorly executed may still succeed, and a bad idea that's well executed will likely fail.  But a good idea well executed is a recipe for success!    
Recipe
Crock Pot Beef Stew 
 
Ingredients
2 pounds beef stew meat (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
6 ounces tomato paste
32 ounces beef broth
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 cups carrots, sliced
4-5 small red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn

1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup water
 
Directions:
Combine all ingredients EXCEPT the peas, corn, flour, and water in a 6 quart (or larger) crock pot.  Cook covered on low for 10 hours, or on high for 6-7 hours. 
 
About 30 minutes before serving, mix the flour and the water together in a small dish and pour into the crock pot. Mix until well combined. This will add a nice thickness to the stew. Next add in your frozen peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes.  
 

 

Inspirational Quote
 Success is a lousy teacher.  It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.   - Bill Gates