As the old adage goes, the three keys to success in business are location, location and location. Washington Restaurant Association President and CEO Anthony Anton says that, for restaurateurs statewide, the biggest issues right now are minimum wage, minimum wage and minimum wage.

Fired. Laid off. Let go. Downsized. The words reek of loss. But losing a job can also be the catalyst for gaining a new career. It can be the push that propels people to stretch and grow. It can be the spark that starts an entrepreneurial fire. For some, a job loss is an opportunity to become the boss.

As concerned citizens crowd into meeting rooms to debate whether the Sprague-Appleway couplet should be converted to two-way streets, buildings are being restored along those avenues.

If you’re a small-business owner, the following scenario may sound familiar to you: Mary is an architect who owns a 50 percent interest in a small, private architectural firm. She also owns part of the building in which her office is located. She would like to retire in three to five years, but she isn’t sure how to turn her business assets into liquid assets that can generate retirement income.

Winter sports enthusiasts have been watching and waiting patiently for several seasons now. The signs are all here: a $32 million upgrade to Flowery Trail Road, 16 kilometers of new Nordic trails and a new quad chair installed for the 2007-08 season. It’s clear: 49 Degrees North is undergoing a transformation. The ski area’s owner, John Eminger, has been working hard to expand his snowy getaway into a city on a mountaintop.