When I started my first company, I made a vow to myself that no one would be able to “outwork” me. I believed that if I put more time into my business than my competition, it would make me successful. I became the worst workaholic you could imagine. I would actually leave church on Sunday–and […]
8 Tips to Become Your Own Boss
It’s more than a notion to launch your own business. Nowadays it’s common for folks to leave a job via layoff or early retirement and jump right into starting a small business.
On The Road To Oprah’s Own Network
Many of you may not know this but Oprah Winfrey is who inspired me to become an entrepreneur. When I was in college she opened Harpo Studios. That planted the seed and really gave me the confidence that one day I could own my own production company. I will never forget that time. I was […]
5 Common Myths About Starting a Small Business
Starting a small business is not a 9 to 5 job. In the beginning your business owns you—you do not own it or your time.
Winners of the $25,000 Entrepreneur’s Challenge
In celebration of her first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works (Adams Media, March 2010), Melinda Emerson is annoucning contest winners featuring a prize of weekly small-business coaching sessions. “The contest brought so many worthy applicants that I found it impossible to choose one winner,” […]
#SmallBizChat Celebrates 1 Year of Ending Small Business Failure
This week marks the one-year anniversary of #SmallBizChat. For the past year, every Wednesday at 8pm ET, I have had a standing appointment on Twitter with small business owners — to answer their small business questions. The focus of #Smallbizchat is to end small business failure by helping business owners with issues and challenges as […]
Magazines and Newspapers Every Small Business Owner Should Read
Every business owner should subscribe to at least one industry trade publication and local Business Journal newspapers to generate leads to stay connected with the regional business community. Recommended publications: American City Business Journals – Bizjournals is the new media division of American City Business Journals, the nation’s largest publisher of metropolitan business newspapers. It […]
Can You Afford to Become An Entrepreneur?
Everyone has good ideas. Some of them may even be million dollar ideas, but if you live from paycheck to paycheck or way beyond your means, you may never be able to quit your job and start a business. As the Smallbizlady, often I get emails, facebook messages and DM’s on Twitter from people asking me […]
What Health Care Reform Means for Your Small Business
Last night, Congress led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, succeeded in finally passing legislation that will empower 31 million people with a new right to health insurance and remake the nation’s health care system. Many of those people without healthcare are small business owners, who have been struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Just after […]
Working With The One You Love
When you are first starting out in business, you will need help. Good help is especially hard to find when you have very limited resources. Other than interns, you may be forced to look around your personal network to see if you have any friends or family that can jump in and help you build […]