December, 2009

How to Play the Win-Win Game in Life

Well, what the heck other games are you GOING to play?
Gee, talking about win-win seems so twentieth century!
Haven't we got the idea?

Don't we realize that, unless a situation is a win for both (or all) parties involved, it's not a win at all - because the loser will figure out that he/she is the loser, and probably do something to mess things up?

Nah, we don't realize that. I know this for a fact because I coach people to help them sell. And I can tell you that win-lose is alive and well!

7 Days Left to Cast Your Vote and Support Your Small Business Idol

Well, the clock is always ticking in our biz/lives. This week there is an important countdown you may want to note. You have only a week until next Wednesday (December 9th) to vote for grant winner, if you haven't already done so.

Eight Key Budgeting Tips

Most companies don’t use budgets to help them meet profit goals. Why? Well, most owners and CEOs reason that the effort required to learn how to build and use workable budgets is just too much. They seem to feel that learning how to budget is more frustrating than just hoping the numbers will all work out—if they only sell enough widgets or services or whatever.

Monthly update from Go Green Go: Challenges, Goals, Accomplishments!

What are the challenges, goals and accomplishments that a new business like Go Green Go faces? Sometimes the challenges, goals and accomplishments are all the same thing! Example - Decision Making! Last month I wrote about the decision making process that I went through while developing the company. The longer that I continue to develop the company, I realize that decision making will always be a part of the process. The challenge is to make decisions, the goal is to make decisions and the accomplishment is that decisions were made. Then we start all over again with a new set of circumstances. I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know! One of the decisions that I committed to early on in the development of the company was that this was going to be a “Grassroots” type of company.

New Year’s Resolutions for Better Revenue

The past year has certainly had a profound effect on nearly everyone. Revenue may have slipped, cutbacks were made, and clients were lost, but there’s no better time to start fresh than the New Year. Steve Fretzin, President of Sales Results, Inc., says to use this time of the year as an extra motivation to make new goals and new efforts to better your business.

Yellow Mouse Cars, The Flintstones and Unique Selling Propositions

Twenty years ago, my girlfriend and I vacationed in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We had a wonderful time, and saw some amazing tourist attractions. But believe it or not, it's not the traditional tourist attractions like "Ocean World" or "The Museum of Science and Discovery and Imax Theater" I think about when I recall our trip to Fort Lauderdale.

It's the amazing Unique Selling Propositions (USP's) of some of the businesses we encountered down there.

Is Search Engine Advertising Worth It For Small Businesses?

Over this past year I have noticed a huge resistance between small businesses and online advertising. Business owners feel that online advertising is no place for their brick and mortar business and the cost to do so would be more than they could afford. That couldn't be farther from the truth.

Moth Attack is the Winner of the Idea Cafe’s Eighth Small Business Grant

We take pleasure in announcing that Megan Dean, the owner of Moth Attack, is the recipient of the current Small Business Grant. With her impressive enthusiasm and love for building and designing custom steel bicycles and components, she instantly grabbed the hearts of our regulars and stood out amongst hundreds of other small business owners. Congratulations!