Small Business Toolbox

A library of business management info


Leadership Development Are you investing time in your own development? Just like you train a cashier, receptionist or other front-line employee, you also should devote time to improving your own and your managers' leadership skills.
  • Seven Steps for Developing Your Negotiating Skills
    06/12/2008
    Nearly everyone engages in negotiations at work and at home on a daily basis. We negotiate with children over what they wear to school. Managers negotiate with vendors. Workers negotiate vacation schedules. Performance evaluation, counseling and problem-solving usually require some form of negotiation. Indeed, it's characteristic of effective managers that they are persuasive negotiators who obtain commitment rather than simple obedience from their employees.
  • Becoming a Mentor
    03/13/2008
    Entrepreneurship isn't as easy -- or as entertaining -- as it might seem. Despite the glamour of making your own schedule, being your own boss and owning your own business, numerous startups have trouble staying in the black during the first few months of business. That's why many new entrepreneurs turn to seasoned business owners to learn the ropes of their industry before putting a business plan in place. Not sure if you have what it takes to be a good mentor? Follow these tips and you'll be ready in no time.
  • Keeping Yourself Accountable
    02/05/2008
    While it's easy to get a task done when someone else imposes structure and deadlines on you, true success is more often achieved by being able to follow through on your own. For entrepreneurs in particular, personal accountability takes on a whole new significance since there's no boss checking to make sure you do what you say you're going to do. For that reason, it's important to identify whether you have a problem following through and if so, to create a surefire way to hold yourself accountable.
  • Out With the Old
    12/28/2007
    Just as in your personal life, making New Year's resolutions is a great way to get a fresh start in your business. Making new habits for the new year is always a good idea, but sometimes breaking old ones can be just as beneficial.
  • Keeping "Generation Y" on the Job
    11/16/2007
    The younger generation of employees--dubbed Gen Y--is arriving to the workforce in droves. And these 20-something employees, many freshly sprung from college, are causing some consternation for employers who, alarmed by their reputation for flightiness, are trying to figure out ways to keep them on the job for longer than a year or two. It may not be as challenging as feared-but only if businesses are willing to adjust their corporate cultures and take a more flexible approach in the way work gets done.
  • Instilling Leadership Qualities in Non-Leaders
    11/14/2007
    The best run businesses have good leadership not just at the top but throughout the employee ranks. While there may be only one boss, employees can use leadership qualities when training new staff, interacting with colleagues or even managing their own workflow. Some employees are natural-born leaders, but others may prefer to stand on the sidelines. Here are some ways to get your more reticent employees to step up into a leadership role.
  • What Motivates Workers? Look to What Motivates You
    08/31/2007
    It's no secret that employee motivation is a constant concern of many managers. In considering what might motivate their employees to perform willingly and productively, some managers have assumed, usually erroneously, that the people who work for them are motivated primarily by economic motives, that is, by pay and benefits, while they themselves -- the managers -- are motivated mostly by needs of a higher order such as job satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
  • Classes That Build Business Savvy
    08/22/2007
    One of the advantages of a liberal arts education is that you're required to study subjects across various disciplines, though this may not always seem like an advantage to you. As a student and entrepreneur, you might sometimes feel spread too thin and wish you could narrow your focus. But what if you could use those general education credits to become a better-rounded business owner? Below are some classes from many different departments that can teach you useful skills to carry over into your professional life.
  • The ABCs of Surviving Change
    07/17/2007
    Change is rapid and, so often, bewildering, but with the right skills, you can survive it, learn to embrace it, even profit from it. Here are the ABCs of surviving change: 21 skills and ideas you can use to make change work for you.
  • Personality Traits of Small-Business Owners
    06/27/2007
    How would your best friends describe you? If they use words like friendly, loyal and kind, not only will you do well in your personal relationships but also in the business world. Your personality traits will go a long way in determining how successful a small-business owner you'll be. If you come up short in any of the following areas, don't despair. While we often think of personality traits as innate, they can be cultivated like anything else.
  • Crash Course for Campus CEOs
    05/22/2007
    Randal Pinkett is best known for surviving Donald Trump's scathing boardroom criticism on season four of NBC's "The Apprentice" and impressing the billionaire real-estate mogul enough to hire him. But before that, Pinkett was known around his college campus at Rutgers as a student entrepreneur who juggled business classes with running a thriving CD business out of his dorm.
  • Encouraging Your Mission and Values in the Workplace
    04/06/2007
    If you're an established business, you probably have a mission statement written somewhere in your business plan. You may even have your mission statement emblazoned on the front of every employee handbook or framed in the lobby of your office. But when is the last time your employees actually talked about your company's mission statement?
  • Getting Everyone in Your Company on the Same Page
    03/20/2007
    The term "getting everyone on the same page" is bantered around quite a bit these days. But what does it really mean, and how can a company use the concept to unite and focus employees?
  • Overcoming Barriers to Effective Delegation
    03/13/2007
    No other management practice receives as much verbal tribute and as little conscientious practice as delegation. Few managers will admit to weaknesses in this critical area; many firmly believe they delegate regularly. Yet many who believe they delegate well fall short of using this vital process to its full potential.
  • Top 10 Traits of "User-Friendly" Leaders
    01/26/2007
    These days, "user-friendliness" is a valued commodity. User-friendly appliances, computers, customer service and information help save time and increase comfort.
  • Motivating Employees and Raising Morale in Your Workplace
    10/24/2006
    Ever wonder what you could do to boost the sagging morale of a group of workers? Or how you could help them become more motivated? Wrestling with these questions requires differentiating between morale and motivation and recognizing the factors that influence each.
  • Empowering Employees: Bringing Out the Magic in Your Staff
    10/17/2006
    "Empowerment" is one of the hottest buzzwords in business these days. You hear the term everywhere. Virtually any business leader would agree that empowerment is a good thing, but when you get right down to it, what does empowerment really mean? And more importantly, how does a leader or manager actually empower people on a day-to-day basis?
  • Employee Coaching Cuts Job Incompetence
    08/25/2006
    A wise individual once said: People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be--not what you nag them to be. That simple sentence summarizes the primary purpose of employee coaching.
  • Quiz: Are You a Corporate Magnet?
    05/30/2006
    Many employees are leaving corporate America in disillusionment, leaving smaller companies with the chance to snag the best and brightest hires. Does your small business stand out to star employees looking to make the leap from Wall Street to Main Street? Take this quiz to see how you stack up to corporate employees looking to make a change.
  • Why Consider Succession Planning?
    04/12/2006
    Succession planning refers to the ongoing development of potential successors to ensure a smooth transition and minimum loss of efficiency when management vacancies occur. Why consider succession planning? Often, the reasons for doing so are evident whenever a management position remains open for a few weeks or months.
  • Cultivate Customer Satisfaction by Putting Employees First
    04/05/2006
    Ever encountered a clerk or cashier who muttered “Have a nice day” in a way that showed that he or she couldn’t care less what kind of day you had? You may have walked away feeling that the person who served you didn’t like his or her job, and that “serving” you was one small step toward quitting time. You might also have left with an unfavorable impression of the business, and if you encountered this behavior on your second or third visit, you might have taken your business elsewhere.
  • Business Ethics Programs Encourage Loyalty, Teamwork and Honesty
    03/01/2006
    With the almost universal awareness of the need for ethical behavior in today’s business environment, establishing a formal business ethics program benefits a small company in many ways. You can state such a program in a written document attesting to your company’s dedication to honesty, fair play and ethical behavior in all aspects of business.
  • Mentoring: Worthwhile Activity or Hollow Exercise?
    11/10/2005
  • Workplace Hierarchy Kills Office Communication
    10/13/2005
    If your workplace is set up in a hierarchical fashion, you may be stifling communication. According to a study in the June issue of the Journal of Group Dynamics, employees at the bottom of the hierarchy are less likely to share openly during group meetings and other interactive settings.
  • What is a Business Incubator?
    04/25/2005
    I have heard about an organization in my area called a "business incubator" but don't know much more. What is a business incubator?
  • Do Your Part During National Volunteer Week and Beyond
    04/14/2005
    As a small-business owner, you realize more than most the importance of community. You build a relationship with the people of the community – they become your customers and your support system. What better way to return their kindness than to give back to the community by volunteering, and with National Volunteer Week right around the corner (April 17-23), there’s no better time to pick a project than now.
  • Mixing Friendship With Business Is a Mixed Blessing
    03/07/2005
    Most of us have formed friendships with people we have met through work. But when those friends are also your customers, the work-friendship mix can become toxic.
  • Management: Traits of Successful Business Leaders
    02/07/2005
    The renowned business consultant Peter Drucker said, "The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say 'I.' They think 'We.' They think 'Team.' They understand their job is to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but 'We' gets the credit…This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done."
  • Defining an Exceptional Business
    01/24/2005
    Every large, Fortune 500 company once was a small business. So what did they do differently that allowed them to grow and profit so well? Maybe more appropriately, the question should be, what does it really take to create an exceptional business that prospers?
  • Give Something Back to Your Community by Volunteering
    01/03/2005
    Many business people want to "give something back" to their community, so they decide to volunteer. Volunteering is good for you and your business -- as long as it is the right fit.
  • If You Can't Delegate, Your Company Can't Grow: The Seven Essentials
    12/23/2004
    Many entrepreneurs who have started their own small companies are "hands-on" bosses. During the start-up phase they do everything themselves—from securing financing to designing and setting up the marketing to handling the company's day-to-day operations. While this hands-on attitude is great for a small start-up, sooner or later it becomes impossible for a single individual to do everything required.
  • Can You Make the Transition from Entrepreneur to Operating Manager?
    12/14/2004
    There are vast differences between the entrepreneurial environment and the operating environment, and the individual who flourishes in one may not survive in the other.
  • Help Your Community and Your Business Through Civic Service
    12/08/2004
    If your small business has not found a way to give back to the community through community service, you're not only missing out on a chance to help others, but you're losing an opportunity to boost your business's bottom line as well.
  • Creating Purpose: Have a Passion, Not Just a Job
    08/16/2004
    While starting a business is enough to bring pride to most entrepreneurs, developing a personal purpose that is not tied to making money can help business owners turn their businesses into something really meaningful.
  • Do You Have What It Takes?
    08/09/2004
    Not all businesses are successful – it takes a little something extra to make a something really shine. And you’ll find that extra element in the heart and soul of the small-business owner. It’s that extra edge, that pure determination that sets the accomplished entrepreneur – and business – apart from the rest.
  • Preparing for the Big Meeting: Making Sure You Remember Everything You Need
    08/05/2004
    Have a big presentation coming up? You want to make sure everything goes smoothly, off without a hitch. The key to success: long-term planning. You need to make sure you don’t forget things, that you’re prepared if you do and that you can cater to the needs of clients and co-workers on the spot. Even the slightest slip in your level of preparedness could have serious consequences.
  • Five Characteristics of a Successful Business Owner
    06/21/2004
    Have you been thinking about going into business for yourself? If so, you must possess the following characteristics to be successful at running your own company.
  • Do You Have What it Takes?
    04/26/2004
    Do you ever wonder why some small-business owners are successful, and others fail? Some people have the key entrepreneurial qualities it takes to start a business, while others simply don't.
  • Answers to Tough Questions
    03/12/2004
    Barbed questions demand careful, thoughtful responses, but it's hard to be logical when you're under fire.
  • Boss vs. Buddy
    03/12/2004
    It's human nature to want people to like you, but separating the roles of boss and buddy can help head off management headaches.
  • Checklist for Self-Development
    03/12/2004
    Ways to improve business skills, attitude and self-confidence
  • Finding a Mentor
    03/01/2004
    Whether you are an established business owner or a new entrepreneur, it is important to have a business mentor.
  • Don't Interrupt
    02/17/2004
    Tips for keeping meeting and conversation interruptions to a minimum.
  • What a Small Business Can Learn from ISO Certification
    02/16/2004
    Any small company can benefit from understanding what the ISO certification involves.
  • Are Common Myths About Success Holding You Back?
    02/09/2004
    By understanding some of the myths surrounding money and success, we can learn about ourselves and focus on overcoming obstacles that are holding us back from success.
  • Delegating for Small-Business Growth
    01/13/2004
    Many say that the ultimate success of most small businesses depends on the founder's ability to delegate key projects.
  • Being the Bearer of Bad News
    01/06/2004
    Whether you are the owner of a company or the sales manager, sometimes you have to deliver bad news to your employees.
  • Be Your Most Constructive Critic
    01/05/2004
    Criticizing yourself is not necessarily going to improve or change the situation.
  • Making a Presentation? Avoid These Four Classic Errors
    01/02/2004
    Anyone who has occasion to give a presentation should avoid the four fundamental errors that can obscure the message.
  • Proofing Important Documents
    12/30/2003
    To avoid mistakes or omissions in your important business documents, it's always best to have several people proof the material. The more eyes the better.
  • Make Time for Time Management
    12/11/2003
    Instead of feeling overwhelmed and defeated, complete your tasks by employing the following time management techniques.
  • Protect Your Business With an Email Policy
    11/18/2003
    An increasing number of companies are establishing e-mail policies in order to maintain professional electronic communication.
  • Keep Yourself at Peak Performance Throughout the Day
    11/13/2003
    If you're working longer hours than ever (and who isn't?), maintaining peak performance throughout the day is the key to success.
  • Negotiating Win-Win Situations
    11/04/2003
    Any negotiations expert would tell you that a successful negotiation is one that becomes a win-win situation.
  • Setting and Pursuing Sound Objectives
    10/28/2003
    Many of the so-called objectives we set and perhaps encourage employees to set are incomplete and thus inadequate.
  • What's Your Weakness?
    10/28/2003
    Success in the long term depends on improving the strengths while eliminating -- or at least minimizing -- the weaknesses.
  • Benefit From an Outside Consultant
    10/14/2003
    While successful small business owners are often knowledgeable in a variety of crucial business areas, no single person can be a true expert in every field.
  • Get Together
    10/03/2003
    Small business owners can learn a lot from their peers.
  • Don't Let Routine Work Rule Your Day
    09/29/2003
    Even though you cannot avoid doing these routine tasks, by following some proven tips you can perform them more simply and efficiently.
  • Decision Time
    09/05/2003
    No matter how big or small the decision may seem, making the decision is the easy part, while following through is always harder.
  • The Key to Meeting Deadlines
    08/22/2003
    So that no task goes unfinished, it is important o set specific deadlines and follow up regularly with employees to make sure they're on track.
  • Optimism: A Key To Small Business Success
    06/09/2003
    So is your glass half-empty or half-full? LetÆs examine the different ways optimists and pessimists view the world.
  • Cost Saving Measures for Tough Times
    06/03/2003
    In today's economic climate, the little things count. Staying vigilant about keeping costs down will help you survive the lean times. Here are some places to start.
  • Worst-Case Scenarios
    05/29/2003
    How to handle the unexpected in your small business.
  • Streamlining the Five Key Areas of Internal Operations
    05/16/2003
    By focusing specifically on each, your business operations likely can become more streamlined, more profitable and less stressful.
  • Handling Telemarketers
    04/21/2003
    The following suggestions will help you deal with sales calls you have not requested and get off the phone quickly.
  • Selling Your Business
    04/17/2003
    Here are ten questions that you should ask yourself before taking any action.
  • Working With Women
    04/14/2003
    The number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms, and most of these are small businesses.
  • 10 Rules for Bouncing Back
    04/14/2003
    Together these books contain dozens of lists of steps, habits, guidelines and principles for reaching business and personal goals.
  • Simple Business Philosophies Are Not Always Best
    04/11/2003
    Perhaps you have a catch-phrase that sums up your business philosophy, one you instill in employees and customers alike. However, sometimes it's best not to adhere too closely to these.
  • Where Are You Going?
    04/08/2003
    It's not enough to simply say you want your business to grow 20 percent over three years.
  • Get Inspired!
    04/07/2003
    Keeping your creative and productive juices flowing is key to leadership in a small business.
  • Flexibility Pays
    03/21/2003
    An economic downturn isn't only discouraging to you, the business owner--it's discouraging to your sales and marketing staff as well.
  • Building the Foundations of Success
    03/07/2003
    Analyze successful projects to determine the dynamics that created the success.
  • My 'Won't Do' List
    02/24/2003
    The long-term economics of your small business should influence how you parcel out your own energy supplies.
  • Avoiding Unethical Business Practices
    02/21/2003
    As we learned from the corporate scandals of the last few years, unethical business practices catch up with an organization sooner or later.
  • Don't Toss Your Confidential Files
    02/20/2003
    In today's litigious society, companies must render their discarded information unreadable.
  • Creating Forms Can Simplify Your Business
    02/20/2003
    Is your workspace littered with Post-it notes and scraps of papers containing employee vacation requests and other important information?
  • Introducing a New Product or Service
    02/10/2003
    There are a few important questions to ask before adding a new product or service to your mix.
  • Protecting Confidential Information
    02/06/2003
    Mishandling of confidential information may be more common than you think.
  • The ABCs of ESOPs
    02/03/2003
    Have You Already Hired Your Company's Next Owner?
  • Principles of Effective Leadership
    01/29/2003
    Whether you know it or not, as a small business owner, you are also a leader.
  • Tips for Public Speaking Success
    01/20/2003
    As a small business owner, you will probably be invited to speak before a group in your community if you haven't already.
  • Using Dictation Can Help Productivity
    01/15/2003
    If you are spending too much time each day typing letters, memos and other documents, consider using dictation methods instead.
  • Problem People
    01/08/2003
    As a business owner, you come into contact with many types of people, not all of whom are pleasant.
  • Resolutions for Small Business Owners
    01/02/2003
    Almost everyone makes New Year's resolutions of one kind or another. Here are a few that small business owners may want to consider making in 2003.
  • Competing With the Big Guys
    12/27/2002
    Strategies must be created and put into use to overcome the lower prices and greater selection that large retailers provide.
  • Storing Files Efficiently
    12/17/2002
    Here is some advice on how to create a storage system that will grow as your business does.
  • Famously Successful
    12/04/2002
    Examining the companies of former athletes, current movie stars and models, it became clear that those who are successful in the business world have much in common with our readers.
  • Is Your Email Out of Control?
    11/21/2002
    No modern business technology is more misused and abused than email.
  • Dealing With Change
    10/30/2002
    Change is a positive step. But what to change?
  • Hand Off
    10/23/2002
    Have you carefully considered how you will pass your family-owned business to your kids?
  • Keeping Good Records
    10/17/2002
    As a small business owner, there are many people counting on you to keep good records.
  • Are You Depriving Yourself of a Vacation?
    10/04/2002
    Consider the following benefits that outweigh short-term financial and scheduling concerns.
  • Running a Tight Ship
    10/02/2002
    Use a former Naval officer's tips to steer clear of personnel problems.
  • Ownership/Management Boundary
    10/01/2002
    This boundary recognizes that simply because someone owns something does not mean he has to run it, should run it or even has to know how to run it.
  • The Family/Business Boundary
    10/01/2002
    The family/business boundary is a day-in, day-out necessity. It is about preventing interference between the two worlds in which family-business people live.
  • DonÆt Let Routine Work Rule Your Day
    09/20/2002
    Routine daily tasks such as paying bills, answering email and ordering supplies can eat up the time of all but the most organized small business owner.
  • How to Be an Effective Negotiator
    09/19/2002
    Every coach has a strategy before a big game--think of this when itÆs time to negotiate your next big deal.
  • Get Organized--and Stay That Way!
    09/11/2002
    How much time do you waste tracking down that scrap of paper on which you scribbled a new contact's phone number? Or shuffling through the piles of paper on your desk to find that memo you've been meaning to read?
  • Use Your Intuition to Grow Your Business
    09/05/2002
    Many businesspeople daily rely on their intuition, and attribute their success in part to the use of their instincts.
  • Lemons Into Lemonade? Proven Tips for Making the Most of a Crisis
    08/23/2002
    There are so many different types of critical business situations that it is almost inevitable a small company will encounter one or more during its lifetime.
  • Tips on E-mail Etiquette
    08/22/2002
    Most people think it's a snap to quickly crank out an email, but too many business owners and sales managers send messages that are confusing, unprofessional or inappropriate.
  • Seven Tips for Better Time Management
    08/16/2002
    Business owners face a serious problem every day: how to use their time wisely and efficiently.
  • Do You Need A Coach?
    08/05/2002
    Since business coaching is a relatively new profession, potential "coachees" need to know what they can expect from a coach and the coaching process.
  • How to Have Good Meetings
    07/24/2002
    Meetings need to be quick, interesting and leave your employees feeling recharged. Here are some fundamentals to keep in mind.
  • What to Do When a Deadline Can't Be Met
    07/05/2002
    A conscientious small business owner meets most deadlines. But even with the best intentions, responsible planning, overtime and lost sleep, some deadlines will be missed.
  • Make No Mistake
    06/24/2002
    How to avoid the five mistakes that could sink your family business.
  • Get Back Your Life
    06/19/2002
    Three ways to improve your business by getting a life.
  • Be Flexible or Fold
    06/04/2002
    When sticking to your business plan is a bad idea.
  • Technology Outsourcing Opens Up a World of Expertise
    05/30/2002
    The outsourcing of information technology services has become more and more prevalent in recent years, and it is expected to continue to grow in popularity.
  • Determining Your Least Favorite Tasks Can Help Your Business
    05/23/2002
    After a company is up and running, the owner is faced with an almost endless array of new and often critical tasks, some of which are enjoyable, some of which are not.
  • Points to Arrange With Employees Who Telecommute
    05/10/2002
    When a small business allows employees to telecommute, many details need to be worked out, such as defining schedules, tasks, goals and timelines.
  • Why a Crisis Plan Is Crucial
    04/12/2002
    Developing a crisis communication plan is probably on the bottom of most small business owners' "To Do" lists. But having one could save your business should disaster occur.
  • The New Rules for Economic Survival
    04/11/2002
    Given the unpredictable nature of today's economy, here are five defensive measures you can take now to keep your assets safe.
  • Start Planning Employee Vacation Schedules Now
    04/09/2002
    Small business owners sometimes don't realize how vehemently employees will guard their planned vacation time, especially when conflicts in scheduling arise.
  • Watching the Competition
    04/09/2002
    Although many people think monitoring the competition must involve illegal espionage practices, you can get the information you need to stay current in your market legally and ethically.
  • Investigate Vendors First to Save Yourself From Hassle Later
    04/09/2002
    Far too often, small business owners contract with financial and business vendors based on the meetings they have with a single sales rep.
  • The Language of Business
    04/09/2002
    If you're targeting customers outside the U.S., at some point you'll need to translate your materials into another language. Here, we give you the scoop on translation options for a small business.
  • More Managing Help
    04/09/2002
    GTF Systems Inc. offers a Web-based employee handbook with federal and state-mandated human resource policies.
  • Delivering News of a No-bonus Year
    04/09/2002
    December usually brings year-end bonuses, but this year's tough economic climate has forced many small businesses to rethink bonuses or perks.
  • Handling Argumentative Questions During a Meeting: How to Come Out Ahead
    04/09/2002
    When you enter a meeting, there will always be the possibility of people having agendas that are brought to the surface as loaded questions intended to undermine or embarrass you.
  • How to Set Employee Internet and Email Policies Without Becoming "Big Brother," Part II
    04/09/2002
    Last week's Workshop discussed various liabilities employers may have regarding abuse of employee email. Today's, we offer proven suggestions for encouraging employees to avoid such abuse.
  • Assume Nothing When Planning a Major Event
    04/09/2002
    When coordinating an important event, you can never assume that everyone will complete their tasks accurately and on time. Today's Workshop explains how to make sure things get done--without ruffling feathers.
  • How to Set Employee Internet and Email Policies Without Becoming "Big Brother," Part I
    04/09/2002
    Today's Workshop discusses various liabilities employers may have regarding employee e-mail.
  • Protect Your Business by Guarding Valuable Information
    04/09/2002
    Many unsuspecting business owners can find themselves the target of callers who extract valuable information by disguising themselves as curious customers or business associates.
  • How to Keep Your Business Information Confidential
    04/09/2002
    In today's interactive business world almost every type of company generates a great deal of information that should be considered confidential. Today's Workshop suggests common sense ways to keep this information private.
  • Establishing Project Accountability
    04/09/2002
    Today's article discusses ways to ensure that the proper individuals realize that they will be held accountable for specific aspects of a project.
  • Assigning Office Space to Employees
    04/09/2002
    Today's workshop offers a few suggestions for avoiding the potential bickering that may happen when you move into a new workplace and assign locations for employees.
  • Curb Your Ego for Success
    04/03/2002
    A mixture of extreme personal humility and intense professional will is the key to transforming a company from good to truly great.
  • Internal Office Organization Can Make or Break Your Business
    04/03/2002
    Have a system for the proper reception of incoming faxes, phone messages, letters and special deliveries. Even one missed opportunity can be significant for a small business.
  • Time Savers for Business
    04/03/2002
    Everyone has twenty-four hours. It just seems some people wring more productive time out of their days than others.
  • Make a Schedule for the Upcoming Day
    04/03/2002
    A highly successful real estate broker in San Diego, California, once told me, "If you don't make a schedule each night for what you're going to do the next day, you might as well go to the beach when you get up.
  • Is It Urgent?
    04/03/2002
    Time allocation is perhaps the most vital aspect of business effectiveness.
  • Tips for Running a Successful Meeting
    04/03/2002
    There may be many ongoing jokes about how much time is wasted in meetings, but the fact is that a well-run and purposeful meeting can accomplish a great deal for a small business.
  • Plan for Success Beyond the Millennium
    04/03/2002
    With the New Year just behind us, this is an excellent time to take stock of your business and make some long-range plans that could affect your income well into the next millennium.
  • Getting To Know Yourself
    04/01/2002
    here are many reasons you may want to start your own business, either full-or part time.
  • A Passion for Business
    04/01/2002
    Increasingly, successful businesses come from people turning passions into professions.
  • Silver Entrepreneurs
    04/01/2002
    Starting over or just starting up isn't only for the young, as these sterling silver-haired entrepreurs show.
  • Three Fundamental Aspects of Small Business Success
    04/01/2002
    Success is not often determined by a person's background or education. Vision and determination are rarely learned in graduate school.
  • Superheroes of Innovation
    03/29/2002
    Ever think of yourself as a superhero? When it comes to creativity, you should.
  • Managerial Makeovers
    03/29/2002
    An introspective operations review can help you spot numerous problems that rob your company's profitability, lower employee morale and "take the enjoyment out of being a small business owner.
  • Celebrity Entrepreneurs
    03/29/2002
    It takes more than a well-known name to make it as a business owner.
  • How to Overcome Personal Traits to Make a Successful Small Business, Part II
    03/28/2002
    The second of two Workshops discussing traits that may need to be overcome on the road to success.
  • How to Overcome Personal Traits to Make a Successful Small Business, Part I
    03/28/2002
    Today's and next week's Workshops list eight common traits that usually need to be overcome in order to achieve success.
  • Information is Power
    03/28/2002
    It may not be in the budget for a small business to send employees to seminars, so new business literature can be an inexpensive way to infuse knowledge into your day-to-day operations.
  • Are You Too Busy To Get Rich?
    03/28/2002
    Owners of small businesses tend to get so overwhelmed by the unrelenting details of their work that they have little time and energy left over for the large, important activities that can lead to maximum financial success.
  • Incorporate Excellence Into What You Do
    03/28/2002

    "The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing a thing exactly right," said Edward Simmons.
  • Corporate Culture and Creative Decision Making, Part I
    03/28/2002
    For an employee's advancement within a company, it's important to become known for making practical yet creative decisions that help the organization.
  • Keep Your Business Moving
    03/28/2002
    We spend a lot of time behind the wheel, and current technology enables us to continue business while away from the desk
  • Corporate Culture and Creative Decision Making, Part II
    03/28/2002
    Today's Workshop, by Jeffrey Moses, shows how to introduce innovative decisions or suggestions within conservative, risk-adverse organizations.
  • When You're Suddenly the CTO
    03/28/2002
    Advice from expert CTOs on being a CTO
  • Successful People are Not Afraid to Fail
    03/25/2002
    Practically every successful person has made a comment about the importance of overcoming the fear of failure.
  • Nice Guys Finish First
    03/25/2002
    Contrary to the old cliche, genuinely nice guys most often finish first or very near it.
  • Managing Your Future: Advice from Some of the World's Most Successful People
    03/25/2002
    This Workshop highlights seven success principles that are based on advice from individuals in a variety of fields.
  • When to Give Up Some Hats
    03/25/2002
    As your business grows, it's essential to hire the right management team to make your company successful. Learn how in today's workshop.
  • Are You Too Much of a Perfectionist?
    03/25/2002
    In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses discusses ways to determine if you're a perfectionist and offers a few suggestions to help you relax without compromising the quality of your work.
  • Persistence: The Essence of Success
    03/25/2002
    H. Ross Perot once said: "Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown." Today's Workshop shows why this quote is extremely applicable for small businesses.
  • Enjoying Your Work Leads to Greater Success
    03/25/2002
    In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses describes why enjoying the process can be just as important for long-term success as focusing only on goals.
  • Overcoming the Single Largest Obstacle to Your Success
    03/25/2002
    Do you feel uneasy presenting your products or services to potential customers? Do you sometimes feel that you need to pressure people to buy from you? Do you feel crushed when someone rejects your proposals and decides not to use your services?1
  • The Value of Reading Business Autobiographies
    03/25/2002
    Some of the greatest resources for acquiring advanced business acumen are autobiographies.
  • Overcoming Presentation Panic
    03/25/2002
    Presentation panic, or stage fright, happens to even the best salesperson, even to those who have no trouble making one-on-one presentations over breakfast or lunch.
  • Tips to Improve Public Speaking
    03/22/2002
    Speakers use certain strategies when writing and planning how to deliver their speeches for maximum impact.
  • Effective Presentation Skills
    03/22/2002
    Some people relish the thought of standing in front of a group of people and giving a speech, a presentation, or a demonstration. Others feel faint at the prospect.
  • Business Gifts Require Careful Consideration
    03/14/2002
    When you want (or need) to send a gift to a client or customer, don't be hasty.
  • Don't Show You're Hurting!
    03/14/2002
    Call it a slow down, a recession or a myth, but whatever you do, don't admit to it.
  • The Importance of Clearly Defining Your Office's Smoking Policy
    03/14/2002
    If the smoking policies of your office or workplace aren't clearly defined -- and told to employees when they're hired -- you might have a few difficult moments on your hands.
  • Designate One Employee to Be in Charge of Cost-Cutting
    03/14/2002
    While all employees needs to feel that they have some responsibility for maintaining cost awareness, it's absolutely vital that one person have the ultimate responsibility.
  • Are You a Good Boss -- or a Bad Boss?
    03/14/2002
    We've always heard people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, yet most of us spend our lives chunking rocks out of our glass dwelling toward someone else's
  • Secure Your Business by Securing Your Networks
    03/12/2002
    Imagine what a coordinated cyberattack could do to a business community utterly dependent on the Internet and computer networks.
  • Your Ship Has Come In...Now What Do You Do?
    03/12/2002
    Today's Workshop offers some suggestions that can help smooth your transition after your company signs that dream contract.
  • An Investment TIP for Unsure Times
    03/05/2002
    The economic instability brought on by the terrorist attacks is likely to be with us for some time. More than ever, keeping the overall safety of your assets should be a prime concern while the economy takes time to sort itself out.
  • Laughter is the Best Medicine for the Self Employed
    03/09/2001
    In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses shows some ways to get a little laughter back into your life.