If you look at personal or small business success, in retrospect, it all started with a goal. And depending on the size of a goal, there can be a wide spectrum between that goal and what can be defined as “success.” So how can that gap be bridged so it is manageable and your goal […]
What Whitney Houston Can Teach Us All About Business
Over the last few days the world has been reeling over the untimely death of pop icon Whitney Houston. As a teenager I grew up on a steady diet the late singer’s hits. My favorites among them are Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You, I Have Nothing and I Will Always […]
When You’ve Done All You Can, Get Up!
There comes a time in every entrepreneur’s life when you just catch a bad break. You work really hard on a deal. You thought it was yours. Then at the last minute, after nearly a year-long sales process, you loose the contract. This especially stings when you’ve spent hours studying the customer and cultivating an […]
How to Communicate Your Business Vision
As a business leader, it’s your job to craft a vision for your business. Once you know what that is, you need to be able to communicate it to a wide audience including your customers and your employees. Even the interns need to know. Why? Because your need to share a vision that everyone understands, […]
Are You Doing Your #1 Job as an Entrepreneur
Your skills as an entrepreneur can make the difference between a booming enterprise and closing your doors far too soon. Your #1 job as a small business owner is to sell. Your job is to motivate, inspire and convince customers, potential investors, and often family that your business idea is worthwhile. It typically requires passion […]
Smallbizchat Celebrates 3 Years of Helping Thousands of Entrepreneurs
Today marks the third anniversary of my Twitter talk show #Smallbizchat. We launched the weekly #Smallbizchat, in April of 2009, as a peer-to-peer mentoring program to help early stage entrepreneurs get answers to their small business questions. The goal was to provide information to help end small business failure. With 82% of small businesses going […]
7 Businesses to Start For Under $500
When you see a friend’s kitchen clutter, do you dive right in to bring order it? Are you the go-to girl for hair and makeup advice? Are you “that guy” who can fix anything technical or mechanical? If you’ve ever considered becoming your own boss, this could be the right time to turn your talent […]
Are You Focused on the What’s New Part of Your Business?
The ads have been run, the banners placed (either at your brick-and mortar store or online), the emails have been sent and the tweets have been written, it’s now time to launch your business. All the months of preparation, anxiety, and expectations have coalesced around this pivotal point – creating an enterprise to sell something. […]
Help SmallBizlady: How do you Find Time to Start a Business if you are a Wife, Mother and Full-time Worker?
In order for a working mother to be successful in business they have to have a great support team behind them, particularly if the children are under 5 years old. It takes teamwork to make the dream work is not a cliché, it’s really the truth. The team should start with your spouse. You need […]
3 Words to Remove From Your Business Strategy
It’s exhilarating to start a business. You’ve dreamed about how you’ll help others and look forward to being your own boss. You’re excited to sell the product or service you’ve been so diligently perfecting. People are starting to ask you when you plan to open your doors. The hype is intoxicating. But there are times […]