The younger of my two daughters called this morning and told me about her excitement for the 2010 edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival to be held in April. According to their website, "...Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas....." Her husband's company handled the tech solutions … [Read more...]
Get over it! (…the fear of being your own boss, that is)
Lately I’ve been experiencing higher than normal anxiety, the fear that maybe it won’t all work out and heavy reliance on emotional support from friends and family. The reason for acting this way, and being totally uncool, is that I have finally decided to follow my dream of being my own boss. That’s right, after several years of working for others while wishing I was … [Read more...]
It’s a wide world of Business and Industry
They say to have the most enjoyment in deriving income is to either do what you love or do what you do best. In this difficult economy, however, that's easier said than done. Sometimes to make ends meet people are starting home businesses by finding a need and filling it. Some people are using what innate skills they have and building a small business out of that. I'm … [Read more...]
Maybe We Really Have Changed
I was very conscious of role changes yesterday. First, my husband and I needed to get some basics for our new home in Sonoma County California. We were running late and made a last stop at the closest Costco. The Super Bowl had started about ten minutes before and as Saints fans, we wanted to get home to cheer this special team to success. I stopped at the bank of … [Read more...]
The Small Business Underdog: How to go head to head with the big dogs of business.
The big corporations of the world seem to have endless resources to force smaller companies into submission. They have in-house marketing teams and hire advertising agencies to create marketing collateral, websites, messaging, advertising, direct mail, and email campaigns. They test and retest, conduct quantitative analysis to measure market share, develop new creative … [Read more...]
Consistency is one part of a healthy business
What stands as the infrastructure of your business? If you are a solo-preneur, a home-based business owner or even just a small business with a partner, then the infrastructure isn't an organizational structure, rather it's how you do your business. Something holds your business together and keeps it going. I posit that one of the underlying structures for tiny businesses is … [Read more...]
Top 10 US Cities to Capture Small Business Recovery Act Dollars
Uncle Sam wants small business entrepreneurs to lead the nation to economic recovery--and has billions of dollars to make it happen. Small business owners are in line to receive low-interest loans and government contracts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To secure your little corner of the recovery, you'll need to be at the right place with the right … [Read more...]
Five Great Ways to Earn Extra Money in 2010
In today's down economy, many people have suffered job losses, cutbacks in work hours, and underemployment, resulting in significant income cuts. But with a little creativity, you can create income streams to supplement or replace that lost income. Take Inventory of your skills and strengths, and pick an activity that suits you. Here are five things you can do to make some … [Read more...]
Is Speed of Service an Added Value?
Customer service sometimes means how we approach our business...how we "do" our business. For our businesses to be profitable, we need customers and clients so we devote much time and attention to promotion and advertising. Another big percentage of our business is our interaction with our customers and clients in the buying and selling or product and service interface. A … [Read more...]
It’s important to be your own best customer
If you have a business, are involved in commerce in any way, you have customers. Customers are the people who pay money for the products or services or combination of products and services that your business offers. [Even if you are involved in a barter-type commerce, each side of a barter or trade is the other's customer.] This is not news to any of us with small or … [Read more...]