Your two cents: readers weigh in about past lessons and hopes for the future.

• Author: Little, Candace M.
• Position: Feature - Quotation

With 2010 coming to a close, we asked some of Utah's business leaders across many industries to share their thoughts about the year. Dozens of top execs shared lessons learned from 2010, ideas for how to make Utah an even better place to do business, and concerns and hopes for the future. A few commonalities popped up in the responses, and one thing is for sure: looking back on 2010 goes hand-in-hand with looking ahead to 2011--Utah is anxious to move forward.

We invite you to read the complete survey responses and share your own thoughts on our bloq at utahbusiness.com/bloq.

What did you learn in 2010 and how has it impacted your business or you personally?

The growth in this industry and what Agel has experienced from inception through 2010 has taught me never to doubt, and I am no longer surprised at astounding successes when the odds are against you. I've become ever more optimistic.

Glen Jensen

CEO, Agel Enterprises

We learned that patience is a critical business virtue. Largely because of the recession, most businesses have been feeling the financial pinch of tighter credit and contracted asset valuations, with no concurrent reduction of required legal services. Those restrictions sometimes mean slower cash flow, longer paying accounts receivable and shorter tempers--even from some valued long-term clients. Our patience has been appreciated and the subject of numerous expressions of loyalty.

T.Richard Davis

President, Callister Nebeker & McCullough

This past year has reaffirmed our belief in putting the needs of our customers and communities first. By doing what's right for our customers and communities first, business results follow.

Greg Winegardner

Regional President for Utah, Wells Fargo

In 2010 we have really learned how to focus on selling VALUE. To be successful we must prove to our customers they are getting the most for their money when they buy from us.

Jim Olson

CEO & Chairman of the Board, Les Olson Company

Change is here; it is not a matter of when things will change back--they will not. We must instead reinvent ourselves and our company.

Thomas C. Mabey

CEO, Sahara, Inc.

A valuable lesson that was reinforced for me in 2010 is that "bigger is not necessarily better" and that "increased revenue does not always equate to increased profitability."

Jane Ann Craig

CEO, Total Dental Administrators, Inc.

2010 brought some hard lessons for many of us in the hospitality industry, both professionally and personally. The struggling economy caused my company to lose important contracts and taught me to take nothing for granted, to take advantage of every opportunity, no matter how small, and to keep in touch with a broad spectrum of contacts.

Thomas Scoville

President, Inns West Management, Inc.

Utah has been named one of the most business-friendly states, but what could make Utah an even better place to do business?

For Utah to become recognized as a business/financial hub, we have got to find incentives for acquired entities to remain headquartered in Utah.

Catherine M. Larson

Managing Shareholder, Strong & Hanni

Utah has been a very business-friendly state and we've witnessed this as we've worked with businesses in more than 40 other states. The other thing we've noticed is that we face a lot of pressure from surrounding states to change our perspective to practices that have not proven to be successful. Moving forward in 2011, I would like to see Utah be more proactive in terms of applying pressure on surrounding states to follow our example and adopt our proven method of doing business.

Rick Bartholomew

CEO, A Plus Benefits

At LANDesk we have been going through the spin-out process for the first three quarters of 2010. This made it a challenging time for everyone involved, with a lot of uncertainty. I have seen the effects of this on individuals in very...