Creative Finance

Beware the Independent Contractor Trap

By Gary Honig Tuesday Feb 23, 2010

You may not have noticed in the news, but the use of independent contractors by companies looking to lower labor costs is becoming a hot item. This is where a company foregoes payroll tax payments and just hopes the non-employee will pay his own way.

Open Mic

A Slow Recovery: The 5-Year Outlook for Small Business

By Roger Martin-Fagg Tuesday Feb 23, 2010

For most of the last decade, the western world gorged on abundant cheap credit. The pricing of manufactured goods by the Chinese and the movement of labor from poor to rich economies prevented generalized inflation, but commercial and residential property values soared. 

Workforce Trends

A Case Study for Why Small Business Needs Twitter

By Ira Wolfe Tuesday Feb 23, 2010

Inevitably, when I mention Twitter to clients and audiences, a large majority tell me “I don’t get it.”

Bizmore Beat

Introducing The Bizzies -- Bizmore’s First-Ever Small Business Awards

Tuesday Feb 23, 2010

Whether you own or manage a small or mid-sized business or are bootstrapping your way as an entrepreneur, Bizmore is dedicated to providing you with everything you need to grow your company and succeed in your career.

Vistage CEO Solutions

New CEO Trend: The Apology Video

By Paul Diamond Monday Feb 22, 2010

The new trend in public apologies for CEOs is via YouTube video. The blog AttentionDigital has complied six such videos, which includes these apology hits:

Must Read

Today in Marketing: Turn Your Enemies Into Frienemies

By Eric Reyes Monday Feb 22, 2010

In today's Must-Read in marketing stories from around the web, find out why most small business blogs fail, how to target women with social media and why identifying your enemies makes for better marketing — and more:

Power Performance

Why Annual Reviews and Big Company Events Don't Work

By Jay Forte Monday Feb 22, 2010

I have been one of the loudest voices in the ether reminding managements across the planet of the power of “constant contact” — a constant dialogue with employees about meaningful things. Both words in the phrase are critically important. “Contact” is what many do — “constant” is the part that most do not do.

Workforce Trends

The Hypocrisy Behind Gen Y Criticism

By Ira Wolfe Monday Feb 22, 2010

Entitlement has become a dirty word these days, especially when you pit a Baby Boomer with a Gen Y. When I asked my audience recently what words first comes to mind to describe Gen Y (born between 1980 and 2000), a Baby Boomer (born between 1946 and 1954) shouted out “entitled!” “I’ve worked hard every single day since I graduated high school,” she said angrily. “And these damn kids expect to get everything handed to them today.”

Open Mic

Gini Dietrich: 9 Ways to Get a Head Start on Social Media

By Gini Dietrich Monday Feb 22, 2010

I spend a lot of time of time on the road speaking to Vistage groups, doing keynotes, providing workshops, and sitting on panels. The topic?  Social media for executives. The one thing all of my audiences have in common is they all are business leaders and they don’t understand how to translate social media to their companies.

Smart IT

Is Your IT in Compliance With Government Rules?

By Kevin Beaver Monday Feb 22, 2010

With all the government and industry regulations out there addressing electronic information you've got to stay on top of things if you want to keep your business practices in line. Here are some compliance pieces I've written over the past several months that can help you get rolling: