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Is Your Personality Killing Business? Is your personality killing your business? We all know someone who seems to chronically get in their own way. Short-tempered and short-sighted, they don't realize that these personality traits are getting in the way of greater business and personal success. . . . keep reading When Your Enthusiasm Fails Kelly Livesay Many small business owners are feeling emotionally kicked around after the last two years, worried about the economy, their own customer base and pending health care changes. Doubt can start to creep in and your enthusiasm of operating your own business can wane. Here's help... . . . keep reading Are You Neglecting Your "Offline" Networking? Steven Schlagel Building online relationships via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other sites has taken the spotlight off of the old school way of networking with potential customers and partners. Building real, in-person relationships is as important, if not more so, than it ever was. . . . keep reading Making Time for Time Off Steven Schlagel People are not meant to function at an extreme pace year round, but many small owners forget this. They are in "survival" mode, not realizing this can create more problems than it solves. To thrive instead of just surviving financially, you must schedule routine time off. . . . keep reading Make a Daily Marketing Habit Kelly Livesay Marketing can slip to the back burner when you are trying to manage a business. But small business owners must move it to the front or there might not be a business to manage! I understand, though, that working with staff, customers and product can suck a lot of time and energy from the guy or gal who runs it all. But despite understanding, I can't encourage you enough to make a habit of marketing. . . . keep reading More

How to's for Interviewing Job Applicants Kelly Livesay When you have completed reviewing applicants and have talked to them by phone, there are some things to consider and prepare for in an interview. This How-to guide offers some pointers to make the process more successful. . . . keep reading How to Review Applications and Resumes Kelly Livesay When you are sorting through a pile of applications and resumes there are some key things to look for. This How-to guide will provide you with guidance to choose who you want to consider for your open position. . . . keep reading How to Pre-Interview a Job Applicant by Phone Kelly Livesay Learn why talking to job applicants by phone is crucial before bringing them and the three things you are looking for when you talk to them. . . . keep reading The Steps You Need to Follow to Incorporate Steven Schlagel A corporation can be a great planning and protection tool. Discover the steps you need to follow to incorporate your business, the related paperwork to file, and what you must do on an ongoing basis to stay in compliance. . . . keep reading How to do Organizational Meeting Minutes Steven Schlagel Organizational meeting minutes are what officially get your corporation up and going after doing your articles of organization. In this video you will learn just what needs to be included in those minutes. So let's get started . . . keep reading More

How-To Build a Facebook Fan Page Facebook is the king of social networking. In truth, there are no close competitors. If you have a small business, it is imperative that you create (and use) a Facebook fan page to interact with the thousands of potential customers in your area or across the world! We'll show you how to get started. . . . keep reading Write the Executive Summary (Guide 10 of 10 in the Business Plan series) Steven Schlagel Often individuals, including investors, will read an Executive Summary first, even though you wrote it last. It is a strong summary of the rest of the plan and a snapshot of your company, your vision and your financial goals and needs. Don't skimp on this piece as it may be all your readers actually look at. . . . keep reading Gather Your Financial Information for Your Business Plan (Guide 9 of 10 in the Business Plan series) Steven Schlagel This is the core of your proposal if you are writing a business plan to secure funding for growth. This is also where it may get a little complicated. If this isn't your area of expertise, consider asking a CPA for help with accurate financial projections. . . . keep reading Your Overall Business Strategy (Guide 8 of 10 in the Business Plan series) Steven Schlagel Your overall business strategy is important to your investors. This strategy dictates why you do what you do. Your short-term strategy is achieving your objectives. Your long-term strategy is meeting your goals. . . . keep reading Incorporating Advertising into Your Business Plan (Guide 7 of 10 in the Business Plan series) Steven Schlagel If consumers of your products or services do not know you exist, your business will fail. Advertising, in conjunction with your marketing plan, is a key component to building a successful business. As part of your business plan, your readers and investors will want to know how you intend to attract customers. A well thought out plan is key. . . . keep reading More