You’re excited about starting your new small business. You’ve got a can’t-miss idea, developed a business plan, created a prototype. You’ve even found a group of talented people to work with. There’s only one problem—you need money to make it all a reality. Money! You can’t start or run a business without it. Sure, it …
My Canon MAXIFY Contest Finalist Picks
A few months ago, Canon launched its “MAXIFY Mentors” campaign to help small businesses overcome some of the biggest hurdles of starting up. They unleashed the expertise of five small business authorities—I’m fortunate to be one of them—to engage with small business owners through social media. But as a MAXIFY Mentor, I also have the …
7 Small Business Marketing Tricks for Busy People
As a small business owner you have a lot on your plate — creating your product or delivering your service, managing your money, motivating your employees, ensuring operations run smoothly. Phew! How do you find time to actually attract customers? For an overwhelmed small business owner, how do you manage to take care of one …
Small Business Depends on Silicon Valley
What’s Silicon Valley cooking up now to help small businesses? I had a chance to find out when I arranged an “Insider’s Tour of Silicon Valley” to celebrate the 35th anniversary of America’s Small Business Development Center network (ASBDC). On Sept 9, I took approximately 70 small business consultants on a tour of three companies dramatically affecting …
5 Benefits of a Great Company Culture
Recently, I had lunch with a friend, I’ll call him Ryan, who’s launched a high-tech start-up. Most of us would envy Ryan’s success. He easily raised nearly two million dollars in funding. He’s attracted a small team of outstanding employees. He’s landed a couple of major customers. But he confided to me that his biggest …
Entrepreneurs Preventing the Next Katrina
When people envision entrepreneurs working to save the world, it’s not likely they picture someone like Sarah Mack, Ph.D. A fast-talking farm-raised gal who fishes and hunts (including alligators), Mack’s a whip-smart scientist determined to help save the Gulf Coast from the devastation of another hurricane like Katrina. Mack is one of the new breed of New Orleans-based …
Entrepreneurs Rebuild New Orleans
Ten years ago, the world watched as New Orleans nearly drowned. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina smashed into the Gulf Coast, levees failed, and 80% of this unique city was left underwater, devastated. It’s been a tough decade for the Big Easy, but helping lead its rebirth has been a vibrant, growing, and enthusiastic …
Get More Hours In Your Small Business Day
“I need more hours in the day!” That’s the lament of every small business owner. We all have so much to do, there never seems to be enough time to complete it all. Small business owners value their time. Like Jeff & Joy Schranghamer, owners of Schranghamer Design Group (SDG) in Boston, Massachusetts. I have …
7 Sure-fire Ways To Mess Up Your Startup
Now is a great time to follow your dream and launch your startup or small business. Startup “incubators” and “accelerators”—physical or virtual support organizations for budding entrepreneurs—are popping up in cities large and small, not just across the US but globally, to help you realize your dream. There’s more money available for financing, with crowdfunding, …
