Typical Reaction to Financial "Crisis"

It wasn't a question of "if", but "when." I knew that the problems with the sub-prime would result in typical government reaction in the extreme. There is no doubt that there was some poor decision making in the home financing market place and the companies that are guilty of such are taking a pounding today. The market place is naturally punishing these companies. Some are going bankrupt, others are being acquired by other mortgage companies, others still are voluntarily making significant reforms.

This, of course, isn't enough for the government. The government is demanding more regulations, some of which will make it difficult (if not impossible) for many people to ever be able to get a dream home. They are demanding another agency to provide more oversight, leading to more bureaucracy and cost, but not necessarily to better systems. It is typical government over reaction that leads to punishing, but not effective government. The kind of "reforms" that hurt the victims more than help. The type of programs that only hinder economic growth and prosperity.

I wish the government took more of a medical profession view of problems. Often, when a person is sick, the last thing a doctor wants to do is intervene because the cure is some times worse than the illness. Instead, the advise is "let it run its course." Letting the current situation run its course would allow government to take action after things have settled and then it would have some idea what steps need to be taken. Doing it now, is typical reaction, the kind known for causing damage.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Pelosi on Super Delegates

The Democrats unique voters in their primary process -- the Super Delgates -- are charged with protecting the interest of their party. It is doubtful they will fulfill that mandate as the race between Obama and Clinton continues to spiral. The "rules" about the Super Delegates are simple. These leaders in the party are expected to vote in a way they seem fit to meet the needs of the party as they perceive it.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now telling these delegates that they would be in error to support any candidate other than Obama, because they must reflect the opinion of the majority of Democratic voters. Clinton supporters are arguing that it is time for a reality check.

* There are no specific guidelines and Pelosi's demands are arbitrary

* The argument that Obama has more Democratic votes ignores that he is having a very difficult time winning truly Democratic states. He tends to win the states that Republicans are going to get in November.

* Most of those votes were cast before "Preacher Gate", in which Obama's Pastor showed a racist and even anti-American bent that is of concern to many Democrats. I doubt Obama will be able to carry Wright into November.

Currently, Pelosi is the most powerful woman in the US Government and has reached the highest elected position in our nation's history. I am sure she would like to maintain that role and many are wondering whether that passion is more important to her than the interests of her party.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Fox News Does It Again

Fox News and Rupert Murdoch clearly have the "Midas Touch" and is seen in the results of virtually all of their business decisions. The latest brilliant stroke is their daily America's Election Headquarters programming that dominates much of the news day.

Initially I had my doubts. It was beginning to look like an election cycle destined to drag rather than light up. Than the most historically important election in years became one of the most exciting, thanks to the dramatic struggle between Clinton and Obama with a primary that simply won't end. I'm sure the other networks will expand their coverage, but they will likely appear to be seen as merely trying to catch up.

This is typical of News Corp. They always seem to be significantly ahead of the curve and are often found in the role of defining it. Fox's ratings are significantly higher than any of its competitors. This is because of the fact that it enjoys personality driven media, a unique philosophical view not found in other media, and they seem to have a crystal ball that appears to show what's next. It will be interesting to watch the network continue to go and grow.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Today Show, Does More Mean Less?

For quite some time Matt Lauer and the rest of the Today Show team have discussed how the show is taking over much of NBC's broadcast day. In fact, some were beginning to call it the "All Day Show", beginning at 7 and ending at 11 AM. However, recent broadcasts are having me wonder if the Today Show is beginning to look like the "Recycling Show."

I say that, not because the show is only about environmental issues (it isn't), but because they show the same material over and over again. You get the impression that each hour is different, because they have several different hosts through out the day. Ann Curry is one of the few constants through out the show. But these hosts are reintroducing much of the same content through out the broadcast.

On today's program, Matt Lauer interviewed two families that were involved in a terrible car accident and the hospitals confused the child that lived with one of the children that died. A fascinating and heart wrenching story indeed. It was one of the longest interviews of the show (two or three segments) and they played it at least twice.

This is happening on Today for several reasons. It cost a great deal of time and money to put together programming such as this. It makes sense to extend the day because the show is the highest rated in the morning. There is a theory (and a sensible one, at that), that the viewers change often between 7-11. I'm sure it is true, since most people have a life beyond TV. However, the sheer volume of reused content might be chasing the viewers away.

Back when the show ended at 10 AM, there was very little reused content. In fact, I would argue that the show had more original content back in those good old days. Because of this, those rare days that allowed me to stay from beginning to end, I typically stayed. Now, I often leave around nine because of my concern of reruns. I don't think the network intended for this when they expanded their broadcast day.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Raising Entrepreneurs

On a recent Houston Business Show I interviewed Troy Dunn, author of the best selling book, Young Bucks. This book is excellent and a must read for parents every where. Furthermore, Troy was an engaging guest. There are numerous reasons why I love the book. It is an easy read and are easily equally easy to apply. Here are a few excellent pointers.

Three Myths About Kids and Money

* A college education is key to success. I'm a big fan of formal education and credit being the first in my family to graduate as a great accomplishment. However, it isn't a guarantee for business accomplishment and often inhibits success by distorting a person's view of failure. Failure isn't disaster (like a "F" in school), but an indication that one should do things differently.

* A job with a good corporation will secure your financial future. This is one of the biggest myths of all. The more you make in such corporations, the more limited your expertise tends to be, and the more vulnerable you are to being displaced. Owning one's financial future is the best plan by working towards owning a business or becoming investors.

* Children should not have to "worry" about when they are young. There is plenty of time to worry about finances when they are adults. This may be the single most important issue that must be addressed. Demystifying money early and empowering your children to take hold of their financial future early are crucial in raising successful adults.

There is much more information, including a list of more than 50 businesses that a young person can start and strategies on getting them going, that makes this book a must read. The book is empowering and the difference it will make in a child's life and the life of the parents is huge. If you order the book through my bookstore, you will get it for less than $15. It may be the best money you spend on your children.

Hear the entirety of that interview here:

Part I: Troy Dunn, best selling author of Young Bucks

Part II: More with Troy Dunn, best selling author of Young Bucks

Part III: Host Kevin Price and Troy Dunn

Troy is a great interview and guest and his book is must reading.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

"That Was Easy"

Last week I received emails and calls from the people at Fleishman Hillard (a PR firm) about my blog posts regarding Staples and I wrote about the stir they were creating. Fleishman Hillard represents the office supply store.

Today, I received a Federal Express package at the studio. My producer said, "If you think it is going to blow, please take it to another studio" rather than the one adjacent to her room. Fortunately, it didn't blow, but it did contain one of the most important forms of technology of all time... a Smart Button (at least that is the impression one gets from the commercial).

I commend Vaness Astros of Fleishman Hillard for the innovative and energetic work they are doing and their ongoing efforts for Staples. I love creativity and hard work. As a result, they are in this blog again and I am mentioning again that they are, in fact, opening a store here in Houston this week. There will soon be no more waiting!

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Staples Reading BizPlusBlog

Today I received a call from a spokes person of Staple Office Supplies and she just wanted to mention that the box store is moving to Houston. I was delighted to be informed and have written about the company often in BizPlusBlog. Further, I wanted to compare them to the mainstay in Houston, Office Depot.

Vanessa Astros (of the Fleishman-Hillard Agency, which represents Staples) was quick to tell me that "I read your blog on March 13 about how there were no Staples stores in Houston, and I thought to myself...wow, this is perfect timing! Staples will open four stores this year, including the first store on Almeda-Genoa and I-45. It's a real neat story because, as you said, it brings competition and options for consumers." Yes, I am a big fan of competition and am looking forward to seeing a Staples in our area.

Four stores is a pretty aggressive effort and I am looking forward to having one added in my area. Furthermore, she said that there would be a couple more added in 2009. The first one is having it's grand opening next week. It will be interesting to see how many Houstonians will press the "Smart Button."

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Wealth Gap

One of my sons sent me an interesting article from MSN about the wealth gap in the world. The article title cannot help but grab your attention: "Got $2,200? You're Rich on a Global Scale."

The artcle points out that the world's three richest people are worth more than the 48 poorest countries combined. That is a very serious gap, we are informed. Further, the article points out that the top 2% of the population makes more than half of the world's household wealth.

I believe that these articles are truthful in content, but often have an agenda beyond being informative. Often we come to moral conclusions about right and wrong when it comes to information such as this, without understanding the larger economic issues.

The question articles like this might want to address is, why are some countries wealthy and others are not?

Why is the United States the richest country in the world?

Why is Japan among the world's most affluent, yet it has virtually no natural resources of its own ("natural resources" is one of the excuses used by some to describe why some countries are affluent and others are not)

Why is Singapore, which is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, prosperous when Somalia (which has a density that is similar to the US) is one of the poorest countries in the world? We have been told that people cause poverty, but it isn't working in this and many other scenarios.

The answers to these questions are far more useful than the issuess offered in the article and the answers point to the power of free enterprise. The countries that are affluent and enjoy far more wealth, also have stronger committments to private property, lower government cost for doing business (fewer regulations, licensing laws, or taxes), and generally smaller (or at least more efficient) governments. Conversations on how the world's poorest countries could pursue such an agenda of their own, would make those countries far richer and would make for more interesting content.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Wall Street Hits Main Street at the Football Stadium

We have heard all the stories about how problems on Wall Street is having a negative effect on the neighborhoods we live in. Just today, that story hit a little close to home. There has been a great deal of local excitement about Team Texas of the All American Football League. Recently, I interviewed several of its players and it appeared they had developed a substantive league that could become quite successful.

It was going to have decent (but not outrageous) salaries (up to $100,000 a year). It included players you could be proud of -- you had to be a college graduate to play on a team. In many respects, it was like "graduate school" for college football. You know how successful college football has been.

On March 13th, the league released the following statement:

The All American Football League (AAFL) announced today the postponement of its inaugural season until 2009. The League will continue to build upon the foundation that has been established, and will continue to discuss opportunities with potential investors.

AAFL sponsors have committed to remain on board for the 2009 season. Currently, the League has corporate partnerships with New Balance, Baden Sports and Rogers Athletic. Also still in place for the 2009 season are a national radio partnership with Touchdown Radio & SportsDay Productions, and an Internet broadcast partnership with PlayOn! Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting.

"We are so very fortunate to have built partnerships with companies who are partners in the truest sense of the word," said Keenan Davis, AAFL VP of League Operations and COO. "We sincerely appreciate their support as we progress toward our new goal of a 2009 inaugural season."

This story came from the Canadian Press:

The league's chief executive officer, Marcus Katz, said economic conditions forced the decision to scrap plans for this year.

"I invested 29 million dollars in cash to roll out the operations of the league," Katz said, adding he was owed "a lot more money" by a student loan company.

"When I told the board I would subsidize the league, that was before the bond market collapsed," Katz said.

Wall Street has not hit our neighborhoods and Main Street, but even our local football stadium.

I liked the concept and hope it is able to make a come back.

Here is a recent interview I had with Mike Pede of the league.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Boomers and Retirement

I was reading the Houston Chronicle this morning and there was an article from the Associated Press about how Baby Boomers (the first in that group reaching 62 this year) being anxious to retire. Increasingly, the article states, Americans are forgoing the desire to retire because they simply can't afford to do so.

There is no doubt that Americans are terrible savers. Most are not placing enough aside for a rainy day, let alone for long term time off. Furthermore, the Social Security system is a shrinking and shaky long term source of retirement dollars. In spite of these realities, I believe the paper is misleading readers when it comes to the status of Boomers.

Now my retort will be anecdotal, so I will warn you of such in advance. But I know very few in their early 60s who are even interested in retiring. When Social Security was established, very few Americans lived much longer than to 65. It was a system that would stay solvent because few would be on it very long. In the 1930s when the system was established. 65 was old.

That isn't the case any more. It is true, most people in their 60s want to do things that are different, but few are looking death and the face and few are even thinking about not working. What most are considering is a different type of work. They are thinking about retiring from one job and creating a new business. Or doing another job in addition to their primary vocation. But few are thinking about being through with work, in my experience. Baby Boomers are living longer and better than previous generations, retirement isn't an even common expression among this group.

Click the image above for a discussion from the Movers and Shakers segment of the HoustonManufacturers.com TV show on Baby Boomers.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Declaring a Recession to End a Recession

It appears that virtually every major player in politics and government are now declaring a recession. Republicans and Democrats, Members of Congress and senior Executive Branch officials, and now, senior leaders of the Federal Reserve. They are all declaring a recession.

The academic definition of a recession is economic decline over two quarters -- that's six months for those of us who don't like calendars -- of economic decline. We barely have had two months, but virtually everyone is surrendering to the "R" word.

So the question is why? Why are we so anxious to enter a recession? Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies and a regular feature on Fox Business and Fox News as well as the Houston Business Show, has said that although it may be too soon to declare a weaker economy, there are specific strategies we can take in event of such. It seems to me that we are pursuing such policies (e.g., pumping money into the economy to encourage growth) and it actually seems to be making matters worse. Payne agrees as do most sensible economic analysts. If we keep these inflationary policies up, we will be looking at the bad old 1970s again.

There seems to be a consensus that, if we declare a recession, that we can move on to greater economic heights. So far it isn't working and, if anything, it is actually making matters worse. We will have to wait and see whether the negative rhetoric produces economic growth.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Is Dr. Phil Now Good Television?

It is tough to come up with daily content for a show, be it radio or TV. Yes, there are plenty out there looking for their fifteen minutes fame, but most of them are unworthy of such a platform.

On my show, I find it challenging to get my listeners great guests and write several articles each week at BizPlusBlog.com and at HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Dr. Phil normally has guests on in some form of crisis. Pregnant too young, angry too often, drunk most of the time, etc. On these shows, McGraw works with these guests and helps them "sort through" their issues. Often, he will have additional experts on to throw in their opinions and provide opportunities for future assistance once they leave the show. However, there are only so many stories that can be done on issues such as these before they get old, regardless of how sick people are capable of being. Eventually, all the stories seem the same.

This leads to the new "Dr. Phil Now" segments, in which the psychologist has a different set, a different seating arrangement, and a different approach to the stories. On such segments, Dr. Phil takes a story pulled from the headlines of newspapers, (such as today's where he interviewed the girls that were "too cute" to fly on Southwest Airlines) and interviews the major players in the incident. Instead of the counseling approach he's noted for, it is more of a platform for social commentary.

The set lacks the crowd of the normal Dr. Phil show and has a decidedly different feel. The mob scene doesn't make sense for such a format. I'm not sure if it is to fill a content void or because he sees a need for a serious review of social issues. We will have to see how the show performs with this new platform.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: A Discussion on Saving Businesses on Health Care Costs

Recently on the Movers and Shakers segment of the Houston Manufacturers TV Show, I interviewed John Walet and Mike Alexander, both of ABM Insurance. On that program they discussed one of the most important issues facing business of every size -- the high cost of health care.

About ten years ago I got involved in the insurance industry and specialized in ancillary products. Those supplemental products grew in importance as a way to help people lower their costs through higher deductibles and other innovations. "Consumer Driven Health" became the buzz as companies tried to share medical costs with employees by making them pay more (in deductibles, doctor visits, etc.). That effort is continuing and, although there has been some progress in certain sectors, more needs to be done.

"More" is exactly what ABM Insurance is doing by offering seminars to companies on the importance of healthy living in order to achieve a healthier financial bottom line. That is the focus of this important footage from a recent show. Simply click the photo and then click "Movers and Shakers" to see the entire interview.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Staples vs. Office Depot

The Fox Business Channel is blowing and going, and challenging the way people think about "business news." Recently I wrote praises for their new segment "America's Greatest Business Rivals Challenge" in which the first two competitors were Wal-mart versus Target. Such programming is more than mere news, but practical information on how businesses think and work.

Recently, Fox put two other mega box stores up against each other, and this time the stores focus is on mainly business customers. Office Depot takes on Staples for number one. One of the new tools that Fox provides is a financial analysis and business background for each company provided by Funding Universe. On Staples you will find the contact information, statistics, company perspectives (values, missions, etc.), key dates in the company's history, and more. There you will also find similar information on Office Depot.

I'm a pretty big fan of Office Depot and unfortunately, there are no Staples in my area (Houston) that I am aware of. I have said in this blog that I like Staples "Smart Button" much better than the short lived "creepy hand" (I discussed this in an earlier post), but advertising is only one dimension of the show. Over all, I think Office Depot is great in providing informed and helpful service.

As I said before, I like this kind of programming on business television, but I think Fox Business could improve on this great segment by having the results and video footage at the page on the subject at Fox Business web site. That would only increase the value of the segment and the web site. However, I am sure that will happen over time and will be a part of the growing pains of the station.

For more information, check out Money for Breakfast each week on the Fox Business Channel.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Welcome to Hulu!

Virtually every day I see another story about the media lines blurring. TV on the web. The web on TV. Radio everywhere. It is an incredibly exciting time to monitor media today. The latest addition to this change is a website called Hulu. I heard about it on the Today Show (and Hulu was created by its parent company, GE and News Corp, what a surprise).

Don't be fooled by the name, it has nothing to do with Hawaii or dancing (oh, that's hula), but it has a great deal to do about how people will get entertained. The site is a huge TV and movie treasure chest with full episodes of shows you typically can't find on TV. This includes Time Tunnel, Welcome Back Kotter, Dragnet, and more. I think I might be spending some time on it. The movie section is not nearly as interesting and is largely dominated by "B" flicks. However, on a slow TV night, some will watch them.

Many -- if not most -- of the the TV episodes and Movies are in their entirety, although there are also numerous clips. My gut tells me few will go for the clips because they can find much more at YouTube and Google video, but I do believe the site will be a hit. It is, again, one more example of how media is changing forever.

The site will be a work in progress and starting with a strange name like "Hulu" will do nothing to attract traffic in my opinion. But I think this site will likely be another benchmark in the move away from traditional media.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Does Your Marketing Work?

Most businesses have marketing today that, simply, doesn't work. There has been a massive paradigm shift in the world of business and most have been lost by viewing the symptoms of it (e.g., the dramatic rise of the Internet), but are largely unaware of the larger issues that are going to devastate businesses if they fail to be aware of those trends.

* There is a reason why businesses are placing their brand in actual programs (e.g., "The Old Spice Half Time Report)

* There is a reason why major media is moving their programming online and are desperately trying to get you to see the adds before you see the programs

* Businesses are buying air time on the radio and TV and are not merely "slicing, dicing, or chopping", but actually providing valuable information to become life long clients

* They are not limiting themselves to one or two outlets of information, but are taking a complete multimedia approach to reach potential audiences

The bottom line is that today's consumers are more savvy and cynical than in any time in media history. They are savvy and no longer do people merely wait for the answer when watching a TV show that tries to keep them on with a trivia question. Instead, most find it during the commercial break and often don't come back to the show because they are lost in another web search. They are cynical, because they know when they are being sold in the messages they see and hear and many are no longer standing (or sitting) for it.

Marketing has changed people in business dramatically and the savvy (and even cynical) marketer is going to know how to respond to that challenge. It begins by thinking like the very people they are trying to reach.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Elliot Spitzer Learns Tough Lesson

Governor Elliot Spitzer (D-NY) had a reputation as "Mister Clean" when he went after New York investment firms for behaving badly. He used his "get tough" approach for dealing with greedy businesses as a spring board to get elected governor. Now Spitzer finds himself under a highly unwelcome microscope.

In a short statement (see video above also), Spitzer said:

"For the past nine years, eight years as attorney general, and one as governor, I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics that would rebuild New York and create opportunity for all. We sought to bring real change to New York and that will continue.

"Today I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong. I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.

"I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good, and doing what is best for the state of New York. But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.

"I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order. Thank you very much."

This is, of course, just enough blood to make the media sharks swarm. This is the beginning of a great deal of trouble for the liberal governor. Interestingly, the media said that the "governor apologized" but "did not resign." That's pretty tough and is an indicator of what the governor can expect. The Governor placed a very high standard on others, I'm not surprised that he is being held to it.

I strongly disagree with his statement "that politics in the long run is not about individuals." This is the typical double talk used by politicians who are caught with their hands in the cookie jar. "Personal integrity doesn't matter in public policy." Both arenas require trust. The person who is untrustworthy in one arena is likely to be untrustworthy in the other. We will have to see how quickly the Governor gets this incident behind him, if at all.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Sneak Peek of This Week's Show

I'm not much for brash commercialism in this blog, but there are several guests coming up this week on the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) that you might want to be aware of.




On Tuesday, Floyd Brown, who is a nationally known economist and Washington, DC political consultant will discuss why McCain will likely be our next President. Sound improbable? The current Democrat opponents are actually perfect competition for the Arizona Senator, according to Brown.


Also on Tuesday, Troy Dunn, author of Young Bucks (a phenomenal book on raising successful kids), will be on to discuss his unique philosophy on building future business leaders. I receive many more books than I could ever read from potential guests, but Troy's book is must reading and you can order it here. You can either raise financially successful adults or perennially dependent adult children. This book can help you in pointing your child in the right direction.


Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig and Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies, two regulars from Fox Business and Fox News, will both be on Wednesday to discuss what is going on in the volatile stock market. They always provide great answers to the complex business environment of today. Hear recent interviews by Jonathan and Charles from the Houston Business Show archive.


Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Kent Batman of Hardin Fuels

With the stock market often looking like a bad roller coaster ride, people are looking for a sound alternative. No, people shouldn't get out of the market entirely. In fact, this is bargain basement time for stock buyers. On the other hand, it also makes sense to make sure you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

One investment area that is exploding is alternative fuels and an area that is leading the pack in Texas is biodiesel. The climate in Texas is excellent for numerous agriculture products and there is a growing interest among companies with a fleet of trucks in having their own resource to keep their vehicles rolling.

Kent Batman, President of Hardin Fuels and a frequent contributor to the Houston Business Show was recently on my show discussing how companies with a demand for diesel, or an interest in an attractive investment, or want to see their investments fight the war on terror (since every aspect of biodiesel is made by and benefits the USA). It was an interesting interview that you might like to hear. Also, click the image above to see a Movers and Shakers video featuring Batman and Robert Martin. The possibilities for such a business seem unlimited.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Bush Begins Celebrating Early

President Bush has begun celebrating early. Why? Because his days are numbered as President of the United States and he's beginning to think that someone in his party might continue at his job after he leaves in less than 12 months. Every President wants to leave a legacy. One of the most important parts of a legacy a President wants to leave is a member of his party staying in office.

Why the new sense of confidence? The people of Ohio and Texas gave Hillary Clinton a new lease on life instead of a knock out blow. If she had crashed and burned earlier this week, Democrats would be sending their money to one candidate instead of two and all of that money would be pointed to their collective enemy and not one another.

Simply put, this Democratic contest could easily go to August and the next Democrat nominee be chosen in a smoke filled room. The candidate will come out significant weakened after being pounded by a fellow Democrat and by a Republican who is running now unchallenged in his party (although he certainly has some fence mending with the rank and file).

Floyd Brown, who is a political expert I've known for over 20 years and an old friend of mine will soon be on the Houston Business Show. He argues in a recent post in his blog that he shares with his wife (Mary Beth Brown) that neither Obama or Clinton look very strong against McCain and he provides persuasive arguments that the Arizona Senator might very well be the strongest candidate the Democrats can face.

Floyd will be on my show in the next week (for more information visit the Houston Business Show site ) and I will discuss his unique views then. Regardless of how one thinks, we must be more impressed with Republican chances in 2008 than we were just a few months ago.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Brett Farve Calls It a Career

I grew up in Michigan and was (and still am to a certain extent) a NFC Central (now North) fan. However, I never liked the Packers much, they were always difficult for my favorites (the Lions and the Bears) and I didn't like many of the personalities over the years. Brett Farve was one of the rare exceptions to that sentiment.

Brett Farve rarely spoke about how great he was, but he is one of the finest quarterbacks in the history of the game. He spoke with his strong intellect, unprecedented passion, and athletic ability and not with his mouth. During his career, Farve accumulated 3 MVPs, 8 seasons with 30 or more touchdown passes, 16 consecutive 3,000 yard passing seasons, 18 straight games with a touchdown pass in the playoffs, a record number of wins for a starting quarterback (160), 442 touchdown passes (a record), 5377 pass completions (an all time high), and many others. He was extraordinary.

For a while, because of injuries, Farve struggled with an addiction to pain killers. He didn't make excuses for the behavior, but owned it, went into recovery and put the problem behind him. He worked hard and never measured anyone by a double standard. He never expected anything from anyone, that he didn't expect for himself.

I believe we have yet to hear the end of Farve. I believe he will parlay his awesome career on the football field to a great career where ever he goes. Be it to the front office of a team, a career in coaching, or one in business. Farve's best years may very well be, yet to come.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal

Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal is an old friend of mine whom I have known for 20 years. When I first met him, he was with the Heritage Foundation and I was working with the National Center for Public Policy Research.

Over the years he wrote a book for an organization I was the President of, led the charge in getting a book I wrote (Empowerment to the People) excellent attention on the political landscape, and we have worked together on many endeavors. Stephen got Congressman Dick Armey (than House Republican Leader) to write an endorsement of my book and got a copy of it with Armey's recommendation, in the hands of every Republican Member of Congress.

He has been a frequent guest on my show(s) over the years. Not because of his relationship, but because he has one of the finest minds in economics today. He's sharp. optimistic, and passionate. You can get an example of his brilliance in the excerpt from an interview with him here on a recent Houston Business Show. Also, you can hear him tomorrow at 11 AM on the Houston Business Show.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Fox Business and the "Average Joe"

Media Bistro brought it's readers information about an interesting article in the Columbia Journalism Review by Liza Featherstone. The writer's focus was on the impact that the Fox Business Network was having and whether or not it had incorporated "Main Street" as well as "Wall Street."

From the article:

Liza Featherstone writes an in depth feature about Fox Business Network in this month's Columbia Journalism Review. Featherstone writes that, despite the fact that FBN "champions Main Street over Wall Street," the network is missing, "the actual perspective and experience of the average Joe."

Featherstone writes that FBN, "can be fun to watch," and describes examples of the unique way the channel has presented financial news. Still, "If FBN were to be intellectually honest in early 2008, some of that reporting would necessarily be less than upbeat," she writes. "We never even meet FBN's favorite protagonist: the consumer trying to make ends meet. We don't see the neighborhoods in Cleveland that have been devastated by the mortgage mess."

As FBN evolves on TV, its web counterpart has shot to success. Michael Learmonth writes on Silicon Alley Insider about Foxbusiness.com (1.01 million) surpassing CNBC.com (998,000) in unique viewers during January 2008 (CNNMoney.com beat both significantly, with 5.6 million). One caveat — all of Foxnews.com's business news traffic gets redirected to Foxbusiness.com.

The thesis of the article is simple: although Fox Business gives the viewer significantly more content on small and medium size businesses (versus pure Wall Street coverage), it is failing to address the needs of the "average joe." The consumer, home owner, or employee that are affect by businesses of all sizes. Here's the problem with that criticsm -- Fox never promised to reach that audience. It is, after all, a business channel.

What it set out to do is discuss the mega corporations and the average business on the street, and it has certainly made strides in that direction. I think that it has work to do in that front. Historically, small business is "boring", "parochial", or even "local." It doesn't have to be, but that is how it has been treated by the media. In the future, I believe all the networks will focus on small business (which is where the bulk of the job creation is in this country) and I expect Fox Business to be a leader in that drive.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Lines Between Media Blur

Gary Coleman, the once popular child star from the show "Different Strokes" has largely been famous for being famous for quite some time. That fact may be changing thanks to his involvement as a media personality for "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter." The margarine has developed a game show in which individuals take on Coleman with trivia questions ranging from pop culture from the 70s and 80s to questions about food. The winner can possibly win an $1 million annuity.

Another game show is no big deal, but there are elements to this program that are interesting, to say the least. Most importantly, the show is web based and not on TV.

This unique approach has the following advantages:

* It's cheaper than the traditional game show format, TV. This goes without saying and it allows for a worldwide audience and not merely a national one.

* It allows a level of branding on the show that is normally never done on TV. "I Can't Believe it is Not Butter" is plastered on every inch of the game show's campaign.

* A web personality has to be cheaper than a TV personality. Let's face it, Coleman has been desperate for a new career. His recent marriage has created a stir (she is much taller and younger than him), but he has largely been under the radar screen.

* It is leading to creative PR. Coleman is giving interviews all over the media about his new bride, but those exchanges appear predicated on him being allowed to promote the new game show.

* The program allows for people to win the opportunity to win $1 million. This is an annuity and not cash. This is more affordable than more game shows, but still has plenty of sizzle.

* This game can be played 24/7, because even when Gary isn't there, there are other competitors.

This is a big investment and move towards the Internet, and it should put fear in the heart of any media that are primarily locked in traditional models. The lines are blurred and Gary Coleman is exacting significant revenge on a media that has largely ignored him for years.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Neil Bush on His Unique Family and More

For a short time the Houston Business Show was at 7 AM and called "The Houston Business Hour." Fortunately for me, both the name and the time have changed. However, I did enjoy the opportunity to do a number of important and interesting interviews. One of my favorites was with Neil Bush, the younger brother of President George Bush and son of Bush 41.

What I enjoyed most about the interview is that Bush was an extremely "average" guy. He could be someone I would enjoy coffee with (and in fact have), go play golf, or simply hang out together. His up bringing and mine couldn't be more different. He came from a political dynasty that is one of the most famous in US history. Virtually everyone in his family went to and graduated from some of the nation's most prestigious universities and often got multiple degrees. I came from a very blue collar home with parents who simply hoped that each of their children would finish high school. I became the first in my family on either side to actually graduate from college. In my home, it was some what easy to be an over achiever and in his home, that was a virtual impossibility.

But again, he was a great guy and one of the most enjoyable interviews I have ever had. For those who missed it, I am displaying the first of the segments. Check them out and enjoy them. For those heard the show before, see the video. I hope you enjoy it as much I did. See all of my interviews with Neil Bush here. The program was produced and directed by Marketing Dynamics and Andy Valadez.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.