There is no doubt about it. Everyone is in holiday mode. Clients are busy trying to wrap up their year-end and are pressing with last minute requests before budgets disappear. There are extended vacations. There are stops and starts because Christmas and the New Year fall within the week. Let’s face it… it is a […]
Take Some “Think Time” This Holiday Season Read More »
The business plan. It has been the “must” for every would-be entrepreneur. When I first started out, I read all the books about how to create the perfect one before I ventured out to get funding. While everyone has their own twist on what to include, there are some typical components. They range from an
Rethink the Business Plan Read More »
For me, time is a precious resource and I know I am not alone. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and not take the time to connect with suppliers and customers. This week, in the midst of a grueling work schedule, I decided to show up at a trade show in Chicago (a three-hour drive from
Too Busy to Connect? Read More »
Ask any small business person about the challenges they face and at least one of them will be access to capital. In simple terms M-O-N-E-Y. Often no one wants to lend you money when you need it. When you don’t need it, everyone wants to lend you money. Another issue is the paperwork and complexity
Show Me the Money- Fintech Read More »
This past week I had two very different interactions that caused me to think about how my business interacts with customers. The two customers have some common characteristics. They are both successful organizations with dedicated staffs and competent CEOs. But there are big differences in the way they work with outside resources. Customer #1 is
Supplier or Advisor? Read More »
I grew up in a family business so as you might imagine business was personal. It was also pretty casual. There were no agreements in place. There were no job descriptions and no real understanding about how the partnership would work. It just did. Today business is much more complicated and would-be entrepreneurs are much
Get Personal When It Comes to Partnering Read More »
Sean Rudner, President & CEO, StockPKG A common goal amongst nearly all businesses is the desire to grow, yet many plateau and can’t seem to become bigger and better like they’d hoped. Why? It’s easy to become set in your ways and comfortable with current processes and procedures, but the difference between plateauing and growing is operating
4 Tips for Business Growth Read More »
Donna Cutting, Author, 501 Ways to Roll Out the Red Carpet for Your Customers Smart small business owners know that when you roll out the red carpet for your customers it means repeat business, and referrals. However, how can you give champagne-style service when you’ve got a beer budget. Delivering red carpet customer service does
Can Small Businesses Roll Out the Red Carpet for Customers? Read More »
John Oechsle, CEO of Swiftpage The year is coming to a close, which means it’s time to start looking at the exciting opportunities 2016 will have to offer your small business. You’re probably thinking, “If only I had more time today!” but what you should really be doing is focusing on areas you can improve
Small Business Optimization Tips for 2016 Read More »
Top talent is crucial to your company’s success. Without it, you’re not in business. That’s why no task on a CEO’s agenda is more important than recruiting and retaining top talent. In today’s employment market, that takes work. A recent survey from the society for Human Resource Management found that 59 percent of HR executives
Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent Read More »
