A week ago today, I was set to write my daily blog post when, horror of horrors, I discovered my blog had been hacked! This made no sense; why would someone go after my little blog, which was only two weeks old? Then I learned that hundreds of blogs hosted on Network Solutions and at […]
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Ack! There was a hack, but now I’m back!
3 books every business owner should read
The three books I’m going to recommend that every business owner–actually, every business person–should read are books about grammar. That’s right, grammar.
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What don’t you know that could kill your business?
So what’s happening in your industry that is changing how things are done? What don’t you know that could come back to bite you? No matter how long you’ve been in business, continuous learning is still a must. To think you know it all is a recipe for disaster. New opportunities are always popping up, and your competitors are ready to take advantage of them. Don’t assume you already know everything you need to know. Because you probably don’t.
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HARO: A great publicity tool for small businesses
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a service where you can receive three daily e-mail feeds (Monday through Friday) with queries from media members who are looking for expert sources. The range of topics covered is quite amazing. And best of all it’s FREE!
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Is MLB going the Toyota route and, if so, what lessons it can teach us
As your small business pursues growth, do not lose sight of what makes your company special to its customers. Don’t be guilty, as MLB and Toyota have been, of slowly stripping away bits and pieces of what makes your company special. Little decisions can slowly add up over time, leaving your most loyal customers puzzled as to why the company they adored years ago no longer is that great. Don’t become Bud Selig. Know what your brand stands for and honor it, always.
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Collections 101: Getting paid
• Always follow up immediately if a bill goes overdue. If a client doesn’t pay within 30 days, on day 31, I send an e-mail gently reminding them that the bill is past due and asking when I can expect payment. I know from talking with colleagues that many people do not do this. They wait and wait, hoping they won’t have to actually confront the client about the overdue bill. Or they fear they will offend a client by reminding them that they need to pay.
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How entrepreneurial are you?
One of my clients, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, has just posted a very interesting article on entrepreneurship on its web site. Entitled “7 Ways to Make Students More Entrepreneurial,” it’s written by Andrew B. Hargadon, a professor of management and the faculty director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of California at Davis. In it, he highlights seven important lessons about entrepreneurship that students should learn. The article was originally published in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
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Have you annoyed your customers today?
This brings me to the question of whether you’ve done anything to annoy your customers today? Are you sure? Have you experienced your product or service the way a customer does?
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Self-employment: 3 tips for success
So if you think you aren’t cut out for self-employment because you aren’t always highly motivated in your current work, think again. Being on your own brings with it an entirely different mind-set, comparable to the mental transition that comes when you go from renting to owning a home. When it’s your own home, you are more apt to do whatever’s necessary to keep it in good shape. The same will be true of your own business. For those times when motivation flags, however, here are some things I’ve learned to do to get it back:
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Everything I know about business I’ve learned from my clients
Last October, I celebrated my 20th year of self-employment. Over the past two decades, I have often said I was earning an MBA from my clients. Just when I think I’m ready to graduate, along comes another great client who teaches me about a whole new business topic and I start learning all over again. […]
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Learn How to Succeed at Self-Employment
Author Jeanne Yocum, creator of SucceedinginSmallBusiness.com, has written an insightful guide to help you succeed at self-employment. Learn more about The Self-Employment Survival Guide: Proven Strategies to Succeed as Your Own Boss and download the first chapter for free.
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