The answer most often lies in managerial relationships. A recent national study by Dale Carnegie Training placed the number of "fully engaged" employees at 29%, and "disengaged" employees at 26% meaning nearly three-quarters of employees are not fully engaged (aka productive).

Imagine a day where no one in your office is allowed to use email and must communicate by phone or in person. If that thought scares you, perhaps you should give it a shot.

When Ken Wagner explains the genesis of moving 800 miles from his home in Michigan for a new business opportunity in Kansas, a lot had to do with the fact that his wife, Diane, hoped to one day return to the Kansas City area where she grew up. Wagner, who spent 13 years with John Deere as territory manager prior to joining wood-chipping manufacturer Morbark in Michigan, was ready to do something different when he heard from old friends at John Deere (including aftermarket manager and future partner Bill Kilgore) that a dealership in Ottawa, Kan., had been cancelled. Through Deere's market research, a pin (representing a new dealership) was about to be placed in the map in Baldwin City, Kan., 45 miles from his wife's hometown.

How many times each month do you get asked for a donation of money, products or services? Plenty, I'm sure. And, I'm also sure you give gladly. What if that donation could do more? What if the steer you bought at the 4-H auction could lead to increased revenues or smarter, happier employees? One expert says it can -- and should.

Driven by outstanding execution and stronger global demand, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) delivered record-breaking 2011 sales and revenues of $60.138 billion, an increase of 41 percent from $42.588 billion in 2010. Profit in 2011 was $4.928 billion, an increase of 83 percent from $2.700 billion in 2010. Profit per share of $7.40 was up 78 percent from $4.15 in 2010. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Bucyrus International, Inc. (Bucyrus), 2011 profit was $7.79 per share, up 88 percent from a year ago.

STIHL Inc. opened the doors to the new health and wellness center for its employees near the company's Virginia Beach campus.

The actions include indefinite layoffs at five locations that build agricultural equipment as well as an extended inventory adjustment shutdown at another factory. In addition, Deere said it has added new jobs at two locations that build construction and forestry equipment.

The constant cold weather is doing a number on our rural lifestyle plants and lawns.