Joe Altieri, owner of FlexScreen, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, a growth and networking organization for business owners. Altieri was selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience, officials for FlexScreen say. Criteria for acceptance included a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as […]

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen different variations of the meme floating around the internet saying, “Another meeting that could have been an e-mail.” They’re usually followed by a hashtag acronym that stands for choice words of frustration. My recent partnership with Lori Greiner has made me more aware of the need for […]

I wonder how Jamie Siminoff, CEO of Doorbot, felt in 2013 when he appeared on Shark Tank, was rejected by four out of five Sharks, and offered a less than attractive deal from Kevin O’Leary, which he turned down. That kind of showing would seem to be a pretty reliable indicator that you may want […]

I’m not known for my patience. And my wife would attest that is an extreme understatement. Sometimes my impatience can lead me down some dangerous paths. Here’s an example of one of my riskiest (and potentially most foolish) business moves that happened because I was tired of waiting. Many people don’t realize that entrepreneurs who […]

Top 5 Stories of 2020 1: Thermal Windows and Doors Succumbs to Financial Effects of Coronavirus 2: Pella Slapped With $9 Million Lawsuit Claiming Fraudulent Inducement 3: Lawsuit Alleges Pella Architect Series Windows Were Defective 4: Masonite and Jeld-Wen Reach Settlement Agreements for Class-Action Suits 5: Abrupt Closure at Semco Leaves 141 Jobless As each […]

Make it a habit to ask yourself these questions: What problem am I solving? What am I making better? How am I helping? In light of those questions, regularly evaluate these things: Your product – because everyone wants a better mousetrap; Your job performance – because the person who solves the boss’s problem (especially before […]

Two things I believe: Work-life balance is a myth. We are all “cheating” something to make something else work; and Our businesses and professional lives will only rise—and sustainably thrive—to the level of our relationships. So, with those two things in mind, here’s a question: Does your family view your job/business as a mistress or […]

The window industry experienced a first this year, when a familiar face appeared on the ABC television network’s show Shark Tank. Aired January 5, Joe Altieri, president of FlexScreen, pitched his “first and only flexible window screen” to a panel of investors, walking away with a deal for $400,000 in upfront capital, plus a $400,000 […]

Confidence is tricky, because it so often blurs the line with arrogance. Strong belief in yourself, your mission, your products—when misunderstood, these are almost always perceived as arrogance. I read a quote by columnist Rhett Power that perfectly summed up the difference: “Confidence is grounded in experience and expertise, with a sense of respect and humility, […]

When Joe Altieri, inventor of FlexScreen, walked away with an investment deal for his flexible window screen, we knew there had to be some behind the scenes scoop. So I interviewed Altieri on Monday, fresh off the airing of his Sunday night segment on Shark Tank. Before we started, I told him I was a […]