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- John Deere, Stihl executives offer fall maintenance tips
Officials from John Deere and Stihl said outdoor power equipment should be maintained in the fall to make sure it will function well in the spring. Change the oil and spark plugs in gasoline-powered equipment, drain the fuel, and tighten all moving parts. "Anything that’s not quite right or broken, get it repaired," said Randy Scully, national service manager of Stihl. The Times (Shreveport, La.)
(11/20)     
| Industry Buzz | | |
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- Deere's fiscal ability attracts Warren Buffett
Deere & Co.'s fiscal performance and consensus outlooks for its performance next year could be two reasons Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway took a stake in the company, according to this article. "[I]ts high economic returns and steadily rising payouts to investors, and it meets many of the criteria Mr. Buffett has stressed in the past," Spencer Jakab writes. The Wall Street Journal
(11/20)
- Ride the wave of natural shoreline landscaping
Natural shoreline landscaping -- instead of the more traditional breakwater construction -- is a burgeoning trend in the Upper Midwest for those who live on inland lakes. This trend can offer a new source of revenue for landscapers, writes Neil Moran, a horticulturist based in Michigan. The use of native plants prevents erosion and discourages geese. Landscapers should let their clients know of the sustainable benefits of this landscaping -- and brace for the long permitting process, Bruce Snyder of Gull Lake Landscape Co. said. Lawn & Landscape
(11/20)
| Economic Indicators | | |
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- Housing gains continue, giving boost to overall economy
Positive movement in multiple housing-related markers, including October home sales, indicates continued recovery in the housing market, reports say. Deutsche Bank economist Joseph LaVorgna says housing improvement will boost jobs, including in construction, as well as consumer spending. He predicts that the housing recovery could fuel U.S. economic growth by a percentage point in 2013. Bloomberg Businessweek/The Associated Press
(11/19)
- U.S. deficit is decreasing at record speed
During the past three years, the U.S. government's deficit measured as a percentage of gross domestic product has declined at the fastest rate since World War II, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that, not counting budget cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, nondefense discretionary spending is on track to reach 2.7% of GDP, well below a 30-year average of 3.9%. Investor's Business Daily/Capital Hill blog
(11/20)
- Report warns of a jump in unemployment from "fiscal cliff"
The U.S. jobless rate could be pushed above 10% if President Barack Obama and Congress fail to reach a compromise to avert the "fiscal cliff," Fitch warns, although the ratings agency said it's optimistic that lawmakers can avoid such a scenario. Meanwhile, with or without a deal, some of the biggest U.S. companies say they're scaling back capital-expenditure plans in the biggest such pullback since the recession. Reuters
(11/19),  The Wall Street Journal
(11/19)
| Inside & Out | | |
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- 7 ways to modernize your lead generation strategy
Highly useful content and easy-to-navigate calls to action are essential lead generation tools, according to Nathan Yerian, as are A/B testing and other data analysis to assess the efficacy of your strategies. Remember the importance of building a connection with prospective clients and emphasize value in marketing messages, Yerian advises. B2C Marketing Insider
(11/19)
- How to get salespeople to take more risks
Some sales representatives may take a conservative approach to avoid failure, but the truth is that experiencing setbacks is a normal part of achieving success, writes Richard Ruff of Sales Horizons. Sales managers can get representatives to take more risks by adjusting their approach to dealing with failure, he writes. SalesTrainingConnection.com
(11/19)
| Policy Update | | |
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- JOBS Act mired in questions
Regulators have until Dec. 31 to finalize rules for the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, but several questions remain about the regulations for the crowdfunding effort for startups, experts say. Another problem is no deadline was set for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that must approve rules for crowdfunding portals, and that could further slow implementation, experts say. The Washington Post/Capital Business
(11/18)
| OPEI News | | |
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Outdoor Power Report: A quarterly update for OPEI members
OPEI's quarterly summary of issues and activities is now available. Read the report.
| Editor's Note | | |
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SmartBrief will not publish Thursday and Friday
In observance of Thanksgiving in the U.S., SmartBrief will not be published Thursday and Friday. Publication will resume Monday. Enjoy the holiday!
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 | If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you,' that would suffice."
--Meister Eckhart,
German theologian and philosopher
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