25 Ways to Jump-Start Your Business

Linked is an interesting article from Inc.com that discuss 25 things that you can do in order to jump-start your business.  Here are why three of them stand out to me:

#2 Engage Your Employees-

By engaging your employees more in decision making and planning within your business, you can an added “advisory board” with an unique and fresh perspective on the direction of your business.  It also allows employees to feel more committed and involved in the organization, thus further motivating them.

#6 Shed Your Problem Customers-

This is true in any industry, we should not be so caught up in making a sale, closing a deal or signing a new client that we lose sight of what they might cost us in the long run (e.g. unrealistic demands on time, inability to be satisfied, consistent complaints about work product).  You are better served focusing on a few good clients.  Don’t let the bad ones distract your time from that.

#18 Find Some Amazing Interns-

As the article says, interns help to fill gaps within your business.  Take advantage of local colleges and university.  Work with career services offices to create new and unique ways of motivating quality interns to join your team.

 

For more ideas, check out the article-

 

http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/02/25-ways-jumpstart-business.html

Personal Identity and Business Identity

The difficulty that many business owners have is separating the personal identity from the business identity. This is increasingly difficult in the new world of social media and direct line communications. There are three considerations to keep in mind when working on identity and business branding.

1) Your Industry

Each industry presents its own unique challenges based on how business interact with one another and their clients.  When determining how to create your business identity and potentially separate that identity from any personal presence that you may have in the public arena, it is first important to evaluate what the industry standard are and how similarly situation business operate.  In some industries, it is necessary for a business owner to separate their personal information/identity from the brand they are created.  This can be due to professionalism concerns, confidentiality issues or similar situations.  In other industries, the individual and business identities can become more blended as a business owner my want to establish more personal relationship with clients/customers.

2) Your Market

Also, in issues of branding and identity, it is important that a business owner know what the expectations of their market are.  Some customers or clients expect certain relationships to exist between themselves and the business provider.  This is especially true when operating internationally.  Pay attention to the culture of the market that you are operating in as well as the people with whom you are interacting.

3) Your Privacy

The last consideration you will have when evaluating the overlap of professional and personal identities is personal privacy.  This is critical relative to home contact information as well as information about family members.  In many industries, it is better to keep as much of this information private so as to protect the interests of those around you.  What is important to  remember in this regard is that many times the information that is supplied over social media sources is not private unless you specifically make a effort to make is so.

Miami-Dade Mayor’s Microenterprise Workshop

The Mayor’s Micro-Enterprise Workshop
Thursday, March 25, 2010
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
University of Phoenix Learning Center
11410 Northwest 20th Street, Miami 33172
Meet and connect with governmental purchasing
professionals from Miami-Dade County departments,
other municipalities, and various economic
development agencies.
Learn more about:
• Alternative Financing
• Business and Financial Plan Preparation
• Community Based Programs & Other Technical Assistance
• Education in the Business World
• Financial Opportunities & Information
• How to Be Green & Be Profitable
• How to Do Business with Miami-Dade County
• How to Market Your Business
• Legal Requirements of Owning and Operating a Business
• Pre-Qualification/Technical Certification & Contracting Opportunities
• Small Business Certification & Contracting Opportunities
Registration is required & space is limited. RSVP before March 22, 2010
to Lawanda Wright-Robinson at wlawand@miamidade.gov.
For more information call (305) 375-3186

Should Small Businesses Be Allowed to Be Bigger?

Here is an interesting article about the SBA policies related to small businesses and thoughts related to adjustments that may need to be made in the definition of a small business.  Adjustments definitely have their benefits and disadvantages.  How much growth is too much?  Read and feel free to interject your opinion in a comment:

http://blog.entrepreneur.com/2009/11/should-small-businesses-be-allowed-to-be-bigger.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+entrepreneur/dailydose+(Daily+Dose)

Global Entrepreneurship Week in Miami-

Don't Miss GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK At the University of Miami's Toppel Career Center More than 50 Global Entrepreneurship Week events are planned at the University of Miami November 16-20, 2009 RSVP at www.thelaunchpad.org/GEW Global Entrepreneurship Week Highlights University of Miami Monday, November 16th 10 a.m.-noon: Entrepreneurship Fair, University Center 3:30 p.m.: Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, Maurice Gusman Concert Hall 7 p.m.: Six Degrees to Success: The Art of Networking, Storer Auditorium Tuesday, November 17th 10 a.m.: Laurie Silvers, co-founder of the Sci-Fi Network, School of Communications, Shoma Hall Noon-2 p.m.: Entrepreneurs of the Internet Panel, Contemporary Judaic Studies Auditorium 4 p.m.: Romero Britto, Storer Auditorium 6 p.m.-9 p.m.: An Evening with Fashion Entrepreneurs, including Donald J. Pliner; Storer Auditorium Wednesday, November 18th 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: Women in Entrepreneurship Day at Jungle Island; keynote speaker is Suzy Welch (panels are free; fee for luncheon) 3:30 p.m.: Watch first-round eliminations in Elevator Pitch contest, Toppel Library 5:30 p.m.: Leonard Abess, CEO, City National Bank, Storer Auditorium 6 p.m.-8 p.m.: Presentation of Ten9Eight and Q&A with filmmaker Mary Mazzio, Cosford Theater Thursday, November 19th 10:30 a.m.: Watch second round, Elevator Pitch contest, Toppel Library Noon to 6 p.m.: Social Entrepreneurship Summit, University Center Friday, November 20th 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Watch finale of Elevator Pitch contest, Toppel Library 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Gaming and Mobile Applications Fair and Summit with founders of AlienWare, Destructoid and GameRecruiter, University Center Miami Dade College Miami Dade College is hosting more than a dozen events on its campuses. Go to www.mdc.edu/business or call 305-237-0620 for a complete list. Here are a few: Wednesday, November 18th 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Can You Sell It? A competition, InterAmerican Campus, Flag Courtyard 9:15 a.m.: Kenneth Rader, founder and CEO of the Cereal Bowl, Wolfson Campus, Room 1264 10:30 a.m.: How a Reality Show Affected My Business, Wolfson Campus, Room 1264  For more information on all of The Launch Pad's events and to RSVP: www.thelaunchpad.org/gew-calendar thelaunchpad@miami.edu 305.284.2789

Is Offshore Business Right for you?

The link below is for an article that helps business owners navigate the pros and cons of offshore businesses.  The key to starting any new venture successfully is investigation, information and adaptation.  You need to learn about the industry and see if your skills fit the venture well.  Enjoy the read:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Offshore-Business-the-Right-Business-For-You?&id=3239608

Small Business Counselor Video Series: Business Entities

Learn more about business entities here:

Can States Save Their Small Businesses:

Entrepreneur.com has an interesting article about the things that states are doing in order to assist their small businesses.  Read here:

http://blog.entrepreneur.com/2009/10/can-states-save-their-small-businesses.php

Business Catalyst Networking Event

20 of the Best Resources to Get Your Startup Off the Ground

Here is an amazing resource for startups from Mashable.com.  A lot goes in to launching a new venture and one of the benefits of the internet is that it offers access to resources that allow people to educate themselves in the industry they are working in.  This article brings a lot of those resources together:

http://mashable.com/2009/11/05/resources-for-starting-your-startup/