As the holiday season arrives literally in a couple of weeks, many employers nationwide are likely faced with the task of getting their employees through the bump and grind of the holidays.

No matter what the reason for celebration, many employees find themselves getting sidetracked with the holiday rush, therefore leading them and their employers to see a decrease in the company’s return on investment (ROI).

The leaves are falling. You’re buying your Thanksgiving turkey and planning your holiday vacation schedule. And, as we all know, none of this does much for productivity around the office. So, how do you counter the effects of the holidays and keep your employees motivated? Here are 5 tips on how to keep your employees on track (and on task) during the holidays, provided by Wasp Barcode Technologies (www.waspbarcode.com), a leader in small business productivity solutions.

Building success especially as an internet entrepreneur is something that typically starts from 'within' you as an individual! Sure there are plenty of business models to choose from that will enable you to become successful online but they all require you taking action! Many people have great difficulty however actually engaging in any actions that will help them build a business online due to a lack of confidence! Here are 3 ways to avoid letting this same thing keep you from taking action thereby allowing you to become successful working on the internet!

Below are Reznick’s Top Ten Tips for growth-oriented companies and entrepreneurs seeking to not just weather the current storm, but flourish in today’s challenging business environment. 

10.   Check Your Ego – You know your business, but that doesn’t make you an expert at running it. Smart people know what they don’t know and surround themselves with experts and advisors and then listen to them. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and then, take it.

It just takes that one negative review for the entire world to see and next thing you know, your company is fighting the public relations battle of its life.

For many companies, this scenario will actually become a reality at some point and time; it is how they handle it that will determine whether or not there is any negative fallout for the business.

Did you ever think that your business sales have come to a stand still? No matter what kind of sales you are, if you do not make use of the internet, you are already missing out on all the benefits to your business sales that the internet can offer.

Business sales are all about moving forward and making use of every possible option, and if you do not take advantage from the internet, your business are missing out a lot of potential growth.

When starting up a business or expanding an existing one there are many key factors that we need to take into consideration. Of course we all realize the obvious need for a cash flow, capital expenditure, the need for a proper infrastructure and of course a dedicated work force. This is an over simplification of the actual process for there is a lot that needs to be considered and looked into in order for a business to be successful.

Editor Note: As a rule, all Idea Cafe grant winners provide monthly reports on how their business is doing since winning Idea Cafe's Grant. Here is the first update from Laura Ray, the owner of Horsepower Inc. Enjoy reading, and don't miss out on the opportunity to be inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit and business wisdom.

One hour north of Ely, MN, off a gravel road called Echo Trail, Little Indian Sioux River meanders through lily-pad waters and past beaver houses to meet Loon Lake.  It’s but a tiny part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a vast chain of lakes and rivers that divide Canada and the United States. 

Although my company (Goldstar) isn’t in the daily deal business, we live in an adjacent neighborhood. It’s a less crowded place, and the neighbors aren’t as likely to be in foreclosure on their houses or  dodging collection phone calls. And because we only sell tickets to live entertainment, the block parties are a lot more fun. They’re less about oil changes, laser hair removal, 2 hot dogs for $4, and botox.