January 2022

Prelude: This article was inspired by a number of readers who wrote in to the website asking for advice on how to start a business from home. At first I thought that they were just doing some wishful thinking and really wanted jobs, but when I realized that most of them had been sending me requests for more than six months, I decided to have a look at what they were planning says Peter Decaprio. The ideas ranged from very simple ones like setting up an ice-cream parlor or a flower shop at home, to much more complex plans involving opening grocery stores and petrol bunks! When I analyzed their plans further it became apparent that there were many misconceptions about starting a business. Actually there are many misconceptions about this in Indian society, because parents who have worked hard to build their career want their children to follow the same path. They have seen how tough it is to make a living and feel that by starting a business they will be putting too… Read More »Peter Decaprio explains How to Start a Business from Home on an Extreme Budget

EVERYONE HAS A STORY: WHY CUSTOMERS BUY Everyone has a story and it may even be true. Why? Because we all have to make decisions on what we think is best for us, our needs and wants at any given time in our lives says Peter Decaprio. And our decision on whether or not to buy your product or service can be influenced by many factors such as past experiences, current situations, and future plans. Once you understand these influencing factors then you will be better equipped to sell them on buying the product or service that you offer. What’s more, once they understand why THEY buy your product or service, they become better equipped to sell others on their need and want of YOUR product or service because it helps them solve their problems. STORY 1: THE CARS WE BUY Put yourself in the following scenario on your next drive to work. You’re driving along and see a sign that reads “Huge Savings on All Cars.” You, of course, slow down three times to… Read More »Peter Decaprio: Why Customers Buy and How You Sell Them on Buying Your Product or Service

You want to network, but you don’t know-how. Or maybe you know a lot of people, but they’re all the same type of person and you feel there must be more out there for you. How do you find them? asks Peter Decaprio Here are some tips on expanding your circle – getting more out of business networking. 1) Go online first: The majority of my leads come from LinkedIn. If I’m not connected with someone through LinkedIn, then I won’t approach them unless we’ve met face-to-face at some point before the conversation starts. Many professionals simply aren’t connecting on social media sites like LinkedIn because they either think it’s too hard or they don’t fully understand how it works. In order to expand your network, you must first have a sizable list of connections on LinkedIn. 2) Get on Twitter: Twitter is another online resource that can give you access to an entirely new group of people who are not necessarily in your current circle. It’s free and easy to join, so set up… Read More »Peter Decaprio: Ten Tips on How to Get More Out of Your Business Networking

Imagine if your car’s engine blew up in the middle of a busy highway. Or you couldn’t pay for your child’s expensive medical treatments says Peter Decaprio. If either of these were to happen, most would agree that it would be an event that could potentially cause stress and financial ruin. For any company, processes are the engine that drives internal operations and ensures a significant aspect of company success. In the manufacturing industry, the process is how goods are created from start to finish with no room for error. For companies in this sector, having a Quality Management System (QMS) in place can be very important. Why? Because it helps ensure that products or services meet customer requirements and also that every business unit within an organization is operating according to quality standards. This is especially critical in terms of safety and compliance issues. Without QMSs, processes could be run incorrectly with errors going unnoticed—resulting in huge losses. The fact is that without QMSs, organizations come face-to-face with non-compliance challenges at some point because… Read More »Peter Decaprio: 4 Keys to Implementing Quality Management Systems in Your Organization

I was recently invited to share my thoughts about leadership practice in a new book called The CIO Leader: Realizing Your Executive Potential explains Peter Decaprio. The book is being written by Dr. Daniel Newman and two other executive coaches from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women, a research and leadership development center. As part of my contribution to the book, I was asked to provide a short list of attributes that I believe are characteristic of effective leadership in today’s organizations. Here is my attempt at the “5 things you need to know about being an effective CIO leader”.  While these ideas speak specifically about success in the role of CIO, I believe they are broadly applicable to leadership practice in any organization. 1. Strategic Intent – The most effective CIOs I work with all develop and communicate an overarching vision for technology within their organizations. They understand that technology touches every customer-facing business process, IT supports every internal business function, and the technology architecture is the binding framework for… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 4 Ways Effective Executive Leadership Contributes To Organizational Success

In this article we argue that the ease and intensity of ‘core’ inflation stabilization in a national economy is determined by: (a) The structure of unemployment, and (b) Government spending. We test these predictions using data for OECD countries during 1970–88. Our results support the hypotheses: 1) Excessive pre-recession inflation typically co-exists with greater structural unemployment than ‘core’ low inflation explains Peter Decaprio; 2) Lower overall unemployment rates associate with higher inflation stabilization success probabilities, all else equal; 3) Reduced government spending typically facilitates post-recession disinflation efforts. We discuss our findings in relation to current debates about the appropriate macroeconomic response to the economic and political challenges posed by globalization and European Monetary Union. Inflation is one of the most persistent problems for industrialized societies. In addition to the obvious social and political costs, inflation impedes economic growth by distorting relative price signals and reducing long-term investment. Thus, there have been a number of theoretical advancements that have focused on the cause of inflation and how it can be mitigated. One such theory puts forth… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explaining why some countries have experienced more severe recessions than others.

There are a few industries in an economy that can be more negatively affected by a business cycle explains Peter Decaprio. These industries would include the construction industry, the retail industry, and generally any industry that is heavily reliant on discretionary spending. The “business cycle” refers to periods of economic growth (recovery) and decline (recession). The length of the business cycle will vary from country to country but each one consists of periods where consumer confidence levels are high or low based on their perceptions towards current and future financial conditions. Industries such as construction and retail depend on people having disposable income and access to credit. During boom times when consumers perceive their current financial position to be good they will spend money; if only for necessities then also on discretionary items. When the economy goes into decline consumers will reduce their spending levels which means there is less demand for products and services in these types of industries. This effect trickles down to other industries as suppliers may be force to lay off… Read More »Peter Decaprio: Explaining why certain industries in an economy can be more negatively affected by a business cycle.

The business cycle refers to the fluctuations of a country’s GDP around its long-run trend explains Peter Decaprio. Developing countries have a higher probability of experiencing smaller economic growth that is more volatile than developed countries. Unemployment levels among industrialized countries are lower and less variable during a business cycle compared to developing ones. This article will show how this happens to unemployment rates in both types of economies through a comparative analysis between Japan and Argentina during their respective business cycles from 1960 until 2016. Analysis: An example of the volatility difference between industrialized vs. developing countries is shown in figure 1. Unemployment rates during the business cycle for Japan and Argentina are shown in comparison. From 1960 until 2003, unemployment was lower and less variable among industrialized countries compared to developing ones. However, after 2003 this trend did not hold true for Japan anymore since its unemployment rate became more volatile until 2010 where it started again to be less variable than Argentina’s. After 2014 it got even worse due to Abenomics that… Read More »Peter Decaprio: Explaining what happens to unemployment among industrialized countries compared to developing countries during a business cycle.

Since the G20 countries include almost 80% of global trade, their economic health is critical to the world economy says Peter Decaprio. This forum – which includes countries whose economies represent 85% of the world GDP – fosters international cooperation on key issues such as monetary and fiscal policy, financial markets regulation, trade, and investment. It also acts as a counterweight to powerful multinational institutions that are dominated by wealthy countries or groups of countries. The importance of the G20 cannot be overstated. The group has played an active role in addressing some of the most pressing issues confronting our global community: promoting sustainable development; ensuring environmental sustainability; combating climate change; overcoming poverty in Africa; strengthening financial regulation in Europe and elsewhere in response to the 2007-08 financial crisis; and promoting economic recovery following the crisis. It has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global collaboration, even in an environment of heightened security concerns that followed the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Its most recent meeting – held in Pittsburgh in September 2009 – marked… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explaining the role of G20 countries as it relates to impact on the global business cycle.

A lot of people say that they experience fear when learning about economic crashes and recessions explains Peter Decaprio. It is important to know that just because you are afraid it doesn’t mean that you need to ignore the signs or not take action. Instead, it is better to be prepared than caught by surprise. However, many people don’t know how to go about doing so. That is where this article comes in. We’ll explain some ways on how you can prepare for an economic recession before it occurs so that you can minimize your losses when the time comes. Put Your Money in Safe Place First things first: If a recession does occur, then there’s a huge chance that banks will close its doors while others may go belly up during the crisis. And since they are not open, you will not be able to make transactions and get your cash easily. For this reason, it’s best to keep all your money in a safe place such as under the mattress or inside a… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explaining how to prepare for a recession before it occurs.

Explaining how rules and regulations affect the business cycle is the goal of Christopher D. Carroll’s new book, “Business Cycles: Theories and Evidence” suggests Peter Decaprio. Professor at Johns Hopkins University (US) has also recently published another book on this topic called “Making Business Cycles.” His career focuses on macroeconomics research. He has studied labor markets’ behavior in the United States; he examined European economies for their similarities with America. Additionally, he is one of the few authors who collaborate with French economist Eric Maurin to study how unemployment benefits affect workers’ willingness to leave their jobs. Carroll presents his ideas in articles that are often published in American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, or Brookings Papers on Economic Activity among other magazines. This Colombian journalist interviewed him via email to talk about labor markets and their role in the business cycle. Q: How do labor markets work and what is the job supply? I study labor market institutions, such as unemployment insurance (UI), minimum wages, temporary agencies, unions, and immigration to see how… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explaining how rules and regulations affect the business cycle is

Economic crises are not something new. The first crisis which took place in the western world dates back to 1620, known as the “Mississipi Company Bubble” says Peter Decaprio. Since then numerous occurrences have taken place, some being global and others localized depending on the country. Greece is currently feeling the consequences of one of these crises. This economic turmoil has left its economy crippled with an estimated debt of €330 billion euros ($390 billion dollars) (Haugen Parr). It is currently undergoing a debate as to how it should be dealt with; however there is no conclusion as for now. As seen above, Greece’s main problem stems from its growing national debt; it now owes more money than it brings in through taxes and other means, such as the sale of state-owned assets (Haugen Parr). The debt limits government spending and Greece is looking to cut costs in many areas such as education, health care, and defense. This problem will not be resolved overnight; it requires time and effort on the part of leaders and… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explaining how different events can influence a country’s economy.

Here are the reasons why developing economies experience more frequent business cycles than advanced economies: Developing economies experience more frequent business cycles than advanced economies due to their young financial markets and greater dependence on external resources, as well as a higher dependency on the global economy explains Peter Decaprio. Developing countries have younger financial markets which are less stable and thus have greater volatility in comparison to those of developed nations. This contributes to the instability of their business cycles. In addition, developing countries lack self-sufficiency and rely significantly on foreign investment, trade, technology transfers and aid from other states. Due to their vulnerability to exogenous shocks such as changes in interest rates or political disputes with major trading partners, developing countries have a harder time weathering downturns in the world economy because they cannot reduce interest rates nor increase public spending. As a result, they are more prone to recession. The business cycle is the recurring expansion and contraction of an economy over time. This economic fluctuation occurs in a regular pattern, resulting… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explain why developing economies experience more frequent business cycles than advanced economies.

In economics, stagflation refers to a situation in which the inflation rate of an economy is high, economic growth stagnates and unemployment remains steadily high. Where inflation rises but economic growth slows down or stagnates and unemployment is high explains Peter Decaprio. Since these three factors – inflation, stagnation and unemployment – tend to move together at the same time it is often referred as “stagflation.” Stagflation can occur if: 1) The country’s productive capacity has not kept pace with demand causing over-utilization of production inputs such labor and raw materials; 2) A decrease in aggregate supply caused by reduced productivity; 3) Demand decreases due to tighter monetary policy (less money chasing fewer goods). The term was first coined during the 1973 oil crisis. In 1979, the UK had been suffering from stagnant growth combined with inflation that reached nearly 25 percent, which was close to five times higher than what the government deemed acceptable. Stagflation is typically caused by a combination of factors (i.e., not one specific factor). Stagflation can be either demand-pull or… Read More »Peter Decaprio- Explain what is meant by the term stagflation and how it relates to the business cycle.

Great leaders are everywhere around us! Have you ever noticed them? Every time I do, they remind me of the qualities that set them apart from others. As a coach, I have worked with many managers and entrepreneurs who have their own leadership styles explains Peter Decaprio. Let’s face it: being a leader is not an easy task! Being able to lead effectively is even harder – there are so many challenges on the way to developing one’s leadership skills that it might become discouraging at some point. If this sounds familiar to you – don’t despair! You can always progress towards becoming an exemplary leader if you learn more about yourself and what you are capable of. To help you on your way, ASAP has put together 10 things that great leaders have in common: We hope these insights will inspire you to develop into the leader that people want to work with. Or if you are already a leader, maybe this list will help you further refine your leadership skills by looking at… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 10 things Great Leaders have in common

Every one of us wants to become a great leader, but there is no shortcut way to it. It needs hard work and patience which will really take time says Peter Decaprio. But if you are also introspecting yourself that whether you can make a good leader or not, here we have listed some steps by which you can definitely become a great leader. (1) Plan for Success:   As a leader, you should always remain active and keep an eye on the things that are happening around you. You should know what your team is doing, how can they do better than this, etc. Planning for the success of your work is one of the most important things necessary to lead your team. (2) Listen Carefully:   You should always be attentive towards your team members and listen carefully to their proposals, views, etc. This will make you feel you are part of the organization and help them to share their problems with you which will definitely motivate them for work better. (3) Take… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 10 Things every Great Leader should do

Leadership is a rich and complex topic. In fact, there are so many leadership books on the market that it’s easy to become overwhelmed as a leader or as a potential leader says Peter Decaprio. But as you work through those books, keep in mind the following signs that indicate whether or not you might be better off staying out of an official leadership position. If you find yourself with these three qualities, then it may be in your best interest to leave the leadership position and sit back and others who do want that role or who can fill that role successfully. 1. Poor communication skills:   The most valuable quality a good leader can have is solid communication skills. A leader is not leading if they are not communicating their needs, expectations, and vision to everyone under them. If you are not good at this skill, learn it now. Leadership is pointless if your team does not know what they are working towards or how each individual fits into the overall picture. 2.… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 10 Signs that you are not cut out for a leadership role

Many people aspire to become great leaders. And while there are plenty of books on the topic, I think it’s worth repeating that leadership is ultimately about the quality of individual relationships says Peter Decaprio. After all, without followers who trust and respect you enough to buy into your vision, where would you be? It may sound simple enough—but actually putting these principles into practice can be quite difficult no matter how skilled you are at managing others or motivated you are to lead your team. The following ten foundational skills will help get you started on the right track. Practice them diligently and keep in mind that every leader has something to learn from good ole trial by fire! 1) Be consistent. Too often individuals become inconsistent in their roles as leaders. They make promises they fail to keep or start showing up late for work without notice. This breeds frustration among team members who are uncertain about what’s expected of them, and it can cause employees to question your credibility—something you definitely don’t… Read More »Peter Decaprio: 10 Most Important Leadership Skills

Here are 8 Tips to improve your leadership skills: 1. Increase your self-awareness Leadership is not just about taking initiative, but also about understanding your own actions and knowing what you want to achieve with these actions says Peter Decaprio. Being aware of your decision-making process, what drives you and why you react the way you do in a certain situation will help you become a better leader. It will also provide opportunities for others to call out areas where they think you could be more effective as a leader. Reflecting on these insights can help build trust within your team and strengthen relationships. 2. Don’t always wait for someone else’s advice or approval before moving forward You don’t have to constantly consult other people or teams when making decisions, even it might seem like the safest thing to do. There are many cases where you are the only one who has all of the information needed to make a decision. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or acting on incomplete information, because either way,… Read More »Peter Decaprio: 8 Tips to improve your leadership skills

There are a lot of them in the world. And when you’re leading, you’re going to be dealing with some or all of them says Peter Decaprio. It’s what makes leadership such a rewarding and challenging career path: it’s not just about doing things that no one else wants to do. It’s also about motivating other people that no one might want to motivate either! Whether you’re leading colleagues, friends or strangers into battle, there are five key things that can make this difficult for anyone who leads. Let’s explore these reasons why people don’t follow your leadership. 1) They Don’t Care You’d think this would be obvious, but you’d be amazed how often this simple fact is forgotten. If people don’t care about what you’re doing, they are unlikely to get excited or develop a passion for it. No matter what your specific assignment may be in any given situation, it’s your job as the leader to inspire others–to get them excited enough to want to follow you into whatever battle may await. 2)… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 8 reasons why people don’t follow your leadership

People who are competent and nice can make great employees, but when it comes to leadership roles most of the time these people fail says Peter Decaprio. Why is this? What’s missing in most ‘good’ people that make them unsuccessful leaders? While not all good people make bad leaders, most do. Here is why: 1. They’re too predictable  If you want to be a successful leader, at some point you will have to come off as mean even if it’s something you don’t like doing. You may not like yelling or scaring your team into getting their work done by any means necessary, but oftentimes the only way they ever learn is through tough love. Good people don’t always challenge their teams so, therefore, aren’t seen as effective leaders.  2. They are indecisive The best-laid plans can get thrown off track when it comes time to make decisions, so being able to think on your feet is necessary for you to be a great leader. However, most good people are afraid of making mistakes so… Read More »Peter Decaprio shares 6 Reasons why good people are not good leaders

I love programming, I love leading great software development projects and I love coding in general says Peter Decaprio. However, there are many people who can write better code than me, but I consider myself a good leader. The leadership aspect is what separates the men from the boys (or girls). It’s not how much you know or how good you are at certain technical topics that make you a great leader. More importantly, it’s your ability to influence other developers to work as part of an efficient team towards achieving common goals. This article is intended for those lucky enough to have both passions – development and leadership – so therefore it will focus on advice related specifically to people who want to improve their abilities as leaders of software developers. Of course, not all of the devices are limited to specifically being used in this part of your work. I have not come up with these tips by myself, they are simply lessons that I have learned over the years both from my… Read More »Peter Decaprio- 5 Tips for Developers who want to become better Leaders

Are you a leader? Do you plan to be one someday? If you are, then these 10 qualities of good leaders will help guide your way Peter Decaprio. Keep in mind that there is more than this, but if you possess these 10 qualities of good leaders, then your leadership skills will already be on their way up. Just remember that being a great leader is not all about gaining power or status. It’s about respecting the people who follow you and giving them opportunities for growth as well. Here are 10 Qualities of a Good Leader: 1 – A Good Leader Sees His People as More Than an Asset Some people think that they can just see their employees as assets with which they’re going to achieve success with its people rather than just seeing them as assets. They don’t care about their employees; they just see them as numbers. That’s not a good attitude to have in the workplace! If you’re going to be a leader, then respect your people and value their… Read More »Peter Decaprio shares 10 Qualities of a Good Leader