Main Street Mindset

True Leadership Is Revealed When No One Is Watching

More often than not, it’s what you don’t say that shows what kind of leader you are.

May 19 • Alan Bass

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Tim Cook’s Tenure at Apple Has Much to Teach Small Business Owners

Most small businesses have nothing in common with a Fortune 500 company. But Apple’s longtime leader has many lessons for Main Street.

May 5 • Alan Bass

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April 2026

What the Allbirds Fiasco and AI Bubble Can Teach Small Business Leaders

The hottest fad is often exciting. But if you chase it, you will often be lead astray

Apr 28 • Alan Bass

Someone Always Beats the Market — That Doesn’t Mean They’re Right

Don’t be fooled by someone’s success, especially when it is statistically inevitable.

Apr 14 • Alan Bass

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March 2026

Why Almost Winning Feels Better Than Losing (and Why That’s Dangerous)

There’s a reason casinos tend to make a lot of money.

Mar 31 • Alan Bass

Why Stubborn Ideas Outlive Failed Results

Failure is a teaching tool, but a wrong premise misleads.

Mar 17 • Alan Bass

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Why Hiring Feels Impossible (Even When You’re Doing Everything Right)

Domestic migration has quietly reshaped the labor market and small businesses are paying the price.

Mar 3 • Alan Bass

February 2026

The Supreme Court’s Opinion on Tariffs Leaves a Major Question Unanswered

The Court struck down the policy, but the money is still missing

Feb 21 • Alan Bass

What Small Businesses Miss About Disney’s Staying Power

Behind the parks and characters is a company built for reuse, resilience, and survival

Feb 17 • Alan Bass

How AI is Distorting Our View of the Economy

AI may be driving real growth. But it’s also making it harder to see where growth isn’t happening

Feb 3 • Alan Bass

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January 2026

Why Good Leadership Often Feels Unsatisfying

Life isn’t a movie or a TV show. Good leadership happens over time, not in big, climactic moments.

Jan 20 • Alan Bass

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The Quiet Collapse of the Small Business Advantage

The data show a growing gap between Main Street and corporate America – and it’s unlikely small businesses can keep up.

Jan 7 • Alan Bass

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