Top Story

• Expert: Maintenance extends life span of lawn equipment
  Maintenance helps extend the lifespan of outdoor power equipment, writes Sarah Browning, an extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. This includes fall cleaning of the equipment, changing the oil and replacing the spark plug. Tools that would be used in winter such as chainsaws should be fueled with a winter-blend gasoline, she notes. Lincoln Journal Star (Neb.) (tiered subscription model) (11/3)     

Industry Buzz

• 3 things to consider in removal of storm-damaged branches
  Safe removal of storm-damaged branches and trees requires the right tool and cutting method, and an awareness of gravity, according to this article. Use the thickness of the branch as a basis to choose the tool for the job and make the cut outside the collar. Try to cut branches from above and use a rope to help lower them if they could damage branches -- or your ladder -- below. The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) (11/3)     

• How to use lawn mowers and leaf blowers for fall cleanup
  Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and rakes can be used to take care of fallen leaves, writes David Robson, a specialist at the University of Illinois Extension. Lawn mowers can shred fallen leaves or capture them in a bagger attachment. And a blower or rake can move them to a spot where you can the pick them up. It's easiest to deal with the leaves when they are dry, Robson adds. The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Ill.) (11/2)     

• Other News

• A whole-yard garden adds variety, requires maintenance
  Bradenton Herald (Fla.) (11/2)     

Economic Indicators

• Factory orders climbed 4.8% in September
  Orders for manufactured goods in the U.S. increased 4.8% in September, largely because of higher demand for commercial aircraft. The gain nearly reversed August's 5.1% decline. MarketWatch (11/2)     

• Analysis: Companies' cash hoarding contributes to stagnation
  Corporations worldwide might be contributing to economic stagnation by hoarding cash, rather than using the money for expansion, according to The Economist. "Investment has steadily risen since the recession ended, but not as vigorously as profits," the magazine notes. "In America, for example, nominal capital expenditure this year (on an annualised basis) has risen by 6% compared with 2007; internal cash flow is up by 32%." The Economist (11/3)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by OPEI SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Small-engine fuel could end ethanol problems for lawn equipment (EquipmentWorld.com)

• Husqvarna could alter the way you change mower blades (ConsumerReports.org)

• Toro unveils 3 models of compact, 2-stage snow throwers (Consumer Reports)

• Wis. manufacturers begin to dispatch storm-recovery equipment (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

• Husqvarna said dry spell affected third-quarter sales (The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Inside & Out

• Diagnose and diffuse your workplace stress
  Leaders face stress they put upon themselves and stress from outside sources, but all of it can be mitigated through a sustained three-step process, Christina Haxton writes. Be aware of your stress and examine it, determine your options, then pick one, she advises. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (11/1)     

• 4 elements of a productive quarterly sales review
  Many companies don't perform quarterly sales reviews, and the ones that do don't necessarily get much out of them, writes Jim Keenan. However, when done right, a sales review can create accountability and help you determine the likelihood of meeting your revenue goals. Keep in mind that "the QSR agenda needs to be simple, easy to follow and repeatable," Keenan advises. A Sales Guy blog (10/31)     

Policy Update

• Low-wage employers turn to part-timers to avoid health care law
  Several retail, hotel and restaurant businesses are looking at the possibility of circumventing the federal health law's requirements by shifting from full-time to part-time workers, and some are already making the change. Workers who are employed less than 30 hours a week aren't covered by the requirement that their employers provide them with a minimum level of health insurance. The Wall Street Journal (11/4)     

• "Fiscal cliff" could add $3,700 to 26 million households' tax bill
  Millions of middle-class U.S. taxpayers will face an average $3,700 tax increase from the alternative minimum tax if the "fiscal cliff" is not averted. Because the 26 million middle-income households affected have never had to pay this tax, most are unaware of its likely effect on them when they pay their federal income taxes, Lori Montgomery writes. The Washington Post (11/4)     

SmartQuote

Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible." --George Orwell, British novelist and journalist