November 27th, 2008 by Jean Ann
It is incredibly easy to let your schedule rule your life when you are a small business owner. Knowing that there really is no one else to do the things that need to be done can cause you to spend way too many hours a day working. If you find yourself typing away, madly answering […]
November 26th, 2008 by Jean Ann
It has been said that up to 80% of communication is non-verbal. That means that while our mouths are moving, our bodies are talking…and if they aren’t saying the same things, the recipient of the message is going to get crossed signals.
Body language conveys the message behind the message, maybe conveying things you weren’t aware […]
November 25th, 2008 by Jean Ann
Though the holidays can be a wonderful time, both for consumer and retailer, companies selling services often have a harder time finding customers. This year will certainly be no exception. In fact, all indicators point to a tough sell for everyone.
Nonetheless, there are steps you can take to market your services more effectively and build […]
November 24th, 2008 by Jean Ann
One of my favorite ways to give back to my community is through mentorship. It can take many forms, and can serve many different kinds of people. But the key is sharing what you know to help others grow and build on your experiences.
There are formal and informal mentoring relationships. I have often found that […]
November 21st, 2008 by Jean Ann
It may seem like this is the time to throw the lifeboats overboard and shout “Every one for themselves”! But, I would caution that in so doing, we are making a bad situation worse.
Yes, times are tough, and yes, you should stop watching so much CNN. The media have us focused on all the […]
November 20th, 2008 by Jean Ann
There are many ways to define a good leader, and probably many qualities that could be identified as being essential to leadership. However, we are in what is arguably the most challenging economic times we have seen in decades. Not to mention, we are in two wars, amidst a leadership change and a whole host […]
November 19th, 2008 by Jean Ann
Business networking is something that we all know we have to do….but do we know how to do it? Often, visions of large groups of people mingling, handing out cards comes to mind. But those chamber after hours are only one way to connect with potential clients.
Start thinking about networking as something that you do […]
November 18th, 2008 by Jean Ann
Right now is a time of tightening the financial belt…shoring up our reserves to get ourselves through this tough market. But, there are places where cutting spending can actually cut resources and reduce income. Here are some places where skimping just doesn’t make sense:
Employee pay and benefits…yes, this is likely your greatest expense, and there […]
November 17th, 2008 by Lauren Candito
One big topic the news is talking about lately is the possibility of another automobile bailout. With times being hard right now, many automobile companies are petitioning congress to appropriate $25 billion in low cost loans authorized in last December’s energy bill. On top of that, three key players in the industry are petitioning for […]
November 14th, 2008 by Lauren Candito
A common question that I receive from small business owners is “how can I market my business the most the effectively?” The answer to that question, is that unfortunately there is no standard answer. Instead, you must learn what will work for your business & industry, and what your target audience responds to. Although there […]