Tired of the rat race?

In today's rapidly changing world, executives are finding it harder and harder to balance the time required for business success with finding the time to pursue their own dreams. But, some executives are refusing to accept the conventional wisdom that you can't have a successful professional and personal life without sacrificing one for the other. I read a great article from hiVelocity about executives who have escaped the rat race in Ohio's work-life climate. Here's an excerpt from the article.

If you've ever awakened at an obscenely early hour to make a more-than-one-hour drive to work in heavy traffic -- possibly missing important meetings before even arriving due to delays on the way, and feeling like you've put in full day just getting the kids off to school and yourself into the office -- then you know how important balance between work and life can be.

For stressed-out business professionals who want to step off the treadmill and get their lives back, we've got the answer: "Welcome to Ohio."

Our state offers the best of both worlds -- success at work and in your personal life -- by giving businesspeople cities without clogged highways, and small, livable communities within easy driving distance of major universities and cultural centers -- not to mention excellent schools and a reasonable cost of living.

Source: hiVelocity
Author: Val Prevish

Ohio Ranks No. 10 in the Inc. 5000

This week Inc. Magazine released the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies. Ohio ranked No. 10 in the U.S. with 186 Ohio companies featured - such as InsuranceAgents.com, Triplefin, Mission Essential Personnel and Quality Electrodynamics to name a few.

The fact that Ohio continues to be recognized by some of the nation’s leading business publications is evidence that our economic development strategies for creating a healthy business development climate in the state are working. This further proves that Ohio should be on every CEO’s list of location options.

When executives grow their business in Ohio they not only find a nurturing business environment, but are also able to profit from the bottom-line benefits of better work-life balance for their employees. Ohio’s low-cost, low-stress communities and combination of micropolitan and metropolitan cities and short commutes provides executives and employees the resources and time to make any ambition achievable. Ohio truly is the state of perfect balance.

Click here to find out more about Ohio’s business environment and benefits of work-life balance.

Best States for Business: Low Taxes Help Entreprenuers Keep Their Profits…in Ohio

Ohio's Enterprise Appalachia offers entrepreneurs one of the lowest tax rates in the nation, according to a new analysis of state tax law.

Did you know that Ohio is one of only two states with no general tax on either corporate profits or personal property used in business?

And...Ohio's personal income tax rates are now 16.8 percent lower than they were just five years ago.

Small businesses pay no corporate income tax, a flat $150 fee on the first $1 million in gross receipts, no tax on out-of-state transactions and no personal property tax on business inventory, machinery or equipment.

Ohio's unique state tax structure encourages small business profitability and wealth creation. Consider these examples:

• Companies with sales between $150,000 and $1 million to Ohio customers pay only a $150 fee, while companies with the same income in surrounding states pay between $2,650 and $8,048 in taxes.
• A company that grows to achieve $5 million in sales, half to clients outside the state, would pay $4,050 in Ohio taxes. In other Midwest states, the same company would pay between $13,425 and $28,676.

With no tangible personal property tax, Ohio encourages entrepreneurs to invest in inventory, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and other assets needed to spur business growth. And, because only business activity that takes place in Ohio is taxed by the state, entrepreneurs have an incentive to serve customers across the country and around the world.

So what are you waiting for? Find your Perfect Balance and keep your profits...in Ohio.

Ohio Ranks Number One For Fourth Consecutive Year

It's not surprising to executives who live and work in Ohio that Site Selection magazine has awarded Ohio with the annual Governor's Cup Award for the fourth year in a row.

The Governor's Cup Award is based on the number of private capital investments for new or expanded facilities that involved an investment of at least $1 million, created a minimum of 50 new jobs or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Ohio came in first place with 381 projects. Texas ranks second in the nation with 374 projects, followed by Michigan (371), Pennsylvania (333) and Tennessee (234).

There are many reasons why Ohio continues to be the ideal place to establish or grow a business but three key reasons include the purposeful redesign of Ohio's business climate, the state's world-class assets in advanced design, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing; and focused academic support that enables business success.

Read more about the award and why Ohio continues to beat out all the other states in the nation in the race for new business.

BusinessWeek survey shows satisfaction at home and work are closely tied

Ohio continues to offer the work-life balance critical to the overall satisfaction professionals have with their lives.

BusinessWeek recently conducted a survey of more than 3,000 educated professionals (men and women) to determine what drives contentment in a “frenetic and distraction-packed life.”

The survey administrators expressed surprise that “there is an incredibly high correlation between people’s happiness and meaning at work and home.” In other words, the ability to be successful in both areas of one’s life is the key to overall happiness.

These findings shouldn’t surprise anyone who lives in Ohio, where executives and their employees have the opportunity and tools to achieve success in both their professional and their personal lives.

The authors of the article spotted several patterns in how survey respondents spend their time and how they feel. A couple of important takeaways included spending time exercising and with people you love and feeling challenged, which is linked to overall satisfaction.

Ohio is known as the State of Perfect Balance, where one has the opportunity to achieve professional success without having to sacrifice personal aspirations. Individuals in Ohio have more time to spend with their loved ones or on leisure activities due to things like shorter commutes and a plethora of options for fun. An engaged and supportive business community allows entrepreneurs and executives alike to take their business in whatever direction they desire.

It’s no wonder companies want to come here and employees want to stay here.
Read more about the BusinessWeek study.