Conerly Consulting LLC

06/24/2025

"Essential AI Strategy: Invest Employee Time Before Expecting ROI" is my latest Forbes article, which highlights Workday Inc.'s lessons on raising employee productivity with artificial intelligence tools.

The Workday experience provides lessons for businesses trying to increase productivity through an AI strategy. Employees need to spend time before they can save time.

06/19/2025

"Business Leadership Development in an Uncertain Economy," my latest Forbes article, emphasizes that contingency plans for economic risks (and other risks) should be developed not just by the CEO but with managers as well.

It’s not enough for the top executive to think through risks and challenges. The people at the company who will implement contingency plans need to participate.

06/18/2025

I was interviewed on the Association Insights Podcast about the economy: how it affects associations and their members. Much of what we talked about, though, is relevant to businesses.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MOw8UFyQjJjvXRlD4z2gn
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-the-signs-recession-resilience-whats-ahead/id1739260875?i=1000713390418
YouTube Podcasts: https://youtu.be/dOd8o8J5cHg
Our Website: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/theassociation100podcast/episodes/Reading-the-Signs-Recession--Resilience--Whats-Ahead-for-Associations-e34dfa5

05/19/2025

Small business labor productivity, retention and recruiting were the topics of my interview on the KeyHire Small Business Podcast, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvC2k3Iu0bI.

Key point: the current decade has the lowest growth of the working-age population since the Civil War!

04/29/2025

"Hiring And Retention Difficulty: Is It The Economy Or The Manager?" is my latest Forbes article. Presents my view that demographics are huge, quotes Rudy Miick on poor management, and cites Dick Finnegan's experience that first-level supervisors are key to retention.

Demographics of low growth of the working age population make hiring and retention of employees difficult, but poor management contributes to the problem.

02/19/2025

"Recession Watch: Trump Layoffs, Other Acts, And The Economic Forecast" is my latest Forbes article, about immigration and tariffs as well as layoffs.

to read full text, search "Conerly Forbes Recession Watch"

02/11/2025

"DeepSeek's Cost Cutting: The New Economics Of AI" is my latest article on Forbes, emphasizing that the Chinese AI is just part of the falling-cost trend that will drive increased usage in the coming years.

The cost revolution does not surprise us who have followed technology trends for years. Look for lower costs, few hallucinations and greater productivity.

02/06/2025

"2025-26 Construction Forecast: Chips And Data Centers Lead, Others Lag" is my latest Forbes article. Most parts of non-residential construction will move up slowly or not at all. Two sectors will account for almost all of the aggregate gains. Tariffs make budgets for projects uncertain.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2025/02/06/2025-26-construction-forecast-chips-and-data-centers-lead-others-lag/

10/29/2024

"Beyond Girl Scout Dues: What Every Business Can Learn From A 160% Price Increase" is my latest Forbes article.

Businesses struggle to maintain profitability while keeping their products affordable to consumers. Nonprofits offer valuable lessons for all organizations.

10/22/2024

"From Boeing To Beyond: Understanding The Recent Surge In Union Militancy" is my latest Forbes article.

Labor union militancy has increased, partly because non-union companies quickly responded to tight hiring conditions, leaving unionized workers behind.

10/17/2024

"AI Can Cure Baumol’s Cost Disease—But Only If We Want It To" is my latest Forbes article.

Some sectors of the economy have costs that rise faster than in other sectors, primarily in services. Artificial intelligence can help us overcome the problem.

10/10/2024

"The Fed And Federal Budget Extravagance: Interest Rates Cuts At Risk" is my latest Forbes article.

Contingency planning for possibility of rising inflation and interest rates will help businesses respond to changes fast and calmly—better than dithering or panicking.