- Q: What CMS tools are you using?
- Q: When is the best time to have an employee sign a non-compete agreement?
- Q: What are some challenges in starting a business?
- Q: Is 'free' ever an appropriate sales strategy?
- Q: How can I make Performance Reviews more impactful?
- Q: What's an important but simple security fix that small businesses often overlook?
- Q: Should small businesses upgrade to Windows 7?
- Q: How often should we change our advertising campaigns?
As Obama Attacks Insurers, Small Business Owners Yawn
by Bruce Phillips Friday Mar 12, 2010President Obama is jetting around the nation this week, turning up the heat on opponents of his proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system. Obama's strategy is to force legislation to a final vote before Congress recesses at the end of the month.
6 Ways to Lower Your FedEx and UPS Shipping Charges
by Paul Diamond Friday Mar 12, 2010In January UPS raised rates by an average of 4.9% and FedEx raised its rates by an average of 5.9%. Not included in the rate increases are new and increased surcharges and add-on charges. UPS has raised it “address correction” surcharge on air shipment from $10.00 to $11.00, and ground increased from $8.00 to $10.00. “There’s a big penalty to pay for getting an address wrong,” says Mark Taylor, retired CEO with more than 30 years of experience in the shipping industry and author of the blog Shipping Coach.
Collateral Is Key to Protecting Your Access to Credit
by Gary Honig Friday Mar 12, 2010Business owners who are operating revenue-driven companies often turn to outside sources of capital when looking to grow faster. Either a company can sell shares (and shared ownership) to raise capital or they can borrow against collateral. Collateral usually means some sort of tangible asset such as equipment or account receivables.
Today in Your Career: Get a Coach, Even if You Have a Job
by Eric Reyes Friday Mar 12, 2010In Friday's roundup of Must-Reads from around the web, find out who you need to know to get to the people you want to know, why taking a new job with the same title is a good thing, why you should never pooh-pooh non-profit work — and more:
What Michelangelo Teaches Us About Talent Management
by Jay Forte Thursday Mar 11, 2010It is not the same workplace. Gone are the industrial-age days of managers watching over and controlling employees’ performance. Today's intellectual and service workplace needs self-motivated, passionate, fired up and engaged employees constantly thinking, hunting for opportunities and wowing customers. To activate this requires a different management approach.
Your IT Security Is About More Than 'Anti-Virus' and 'Firewall'
by Kevin Beaver Thursday Mar 11, 2010I was speaking with an acquaintance who is the vice president of a small business over dinner the other night about the information security work I do. He asked me "What's the best security system out there?" I asked him to clarify why he meant and he said "What's the best software to keep our network and servers secure?" I told him that security wasn't possible with software but rather management supporting a system of policies and processes that are enforced — where possible — with the right security technologies, such as the software he was alluding to.
Today in Small Business: Why a Temp CEO Can Be Good for Your Business
by Eric Reyes Thursday Mar 11, 2010In today's roundup of Must-Reads from around the web, find out about the latest trend in low-cost offsite meetings, why interim CEOs can give your company a big boost, why an unusually large volume of calls to your company may actually be a bad thing — and more:
The Critical Difference Between Loyal and Satisfied Employees (and Customers)
by Jay Forte Wednesday Mar 10, 2010In a great Op-Ed piece titled,"The Emotion of Reform," NY Times columnist David Brooks writes that unless a political party is passionate about an issue, it just doesn’t advance the issue’s progress. Republicans seem dispassionate about health care reform; Democrats seem dispassionate about helping small businesses. What each is passionate about takes all their attention, time and focus. What they are dispassionate about never seems to go very far.
Today in Management: Go Ahead — Be a Boss from Hell
by Eric Reyes Wednesday Mar 10, 2010In today's Must-Reads in management stories from around the web, find out why managing like James Cameron would make you the best boss from hell, why your best management tool is a pencil, if you need special skills to manage projects effectively — and more:
Increase Health Benefits While Reducing Costs
by SBTV Wednesday Mar 10, 2010Increase employee wellness programs and education, and the health benefits will reduce costs to your small company, explain wellness consultants Dr. Jason Deitch and Dr. Bob Hoffman in this online video from Bizmore partner SBTV:
