Networking is not the easiest of tasks.  Networking situations can make anyone nervous, anxious and even downright shy. Luckily, with some fundamental factors in mind your coolness and comfort with networking tasks can shine through…and might even make you stand out from the pack. Always Be on the Lookout to Expand Your Social Contacts Be willing to reach outside of your business niche and your personal expertise.  The more unique types of people you connect [...]

When you think of the word “conversation” you tend to think of a two-way street.  It’s true, a conversation requires listening, processing and responding; however that does not mean a second person is always required. Take a few minutes today to have the following conversation with yourself and lock-in on your leadership perspective.  …You were saying?   Do I usually come from a positive or negative place? With some reflection you can determine if your [...]

Don’t just strive to make something better, strive to make it different- Entrepreneurship takes a great deal of self-motivation.  When you start to turn a profit, it’s easy to become set in your ways.  However, keep popular belief in mind: if you are getting complacent, you are getting stupid. Motivate yourself by continuing your education in your niche and committing to staying on top of industry trends.  You can do this by reading articles, tuning [...]

There are so many things to consider when embarking on your startup.  Each element can seem to take a painstakingly long time, and chances are you are eager to open your doors for business. Hopefully the statistic that 50% of startups fail within their first 5 years will tug your eager reins back just a little bit.  Enthusiasm is great, but patience is just as important.  Here are 3 crucial tips that you should work [...]

When comparing to big business it is suggested that small business owners focus on their strengths and advantages.  One example: market research.  While SB owners may not have the massive budgets, white lab coats and mad marketing scientists calculating their market’s every move, they do have something that arguably is just as powerful: a close customer base. As a SB owner you have the potential to tap into your customers and make some global assumptions [...]