Friday - April 01, 2011
Are you able to admit that you don't know everything? Diane Drewery joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the advantages of joining a peer group that helps its members with management issues that they can't solve on their own.
In a peer advisory group, leave your ego and pride at the door. Diane Drewery joins Jim Blasingame to talk about getting the most out of a peer advisory group, plus if there’s not one in your area, how to start your own group.
Paraphrasing Dirty Harry, “A business has to know its limitations.” SCORE's Ken Yancey joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of admitting when you need help with your small business and seeking advice from the myriad of free options available.
Do you have what it takes to be a volunteer SCORE counselor? Ken Yancey joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how you can become a volunteer SCORE counselor and some of SCORE’s famous success stories, plus SCORE’s new technology-based service.
SCORE offers more than just one-on-one counseling. Ken Yancey joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how SCORE can match resources to your specific challenges not only through their vast network of counselors, but also with other organizations.
Are your offerings aligned with your customer’s expectations? Adrian Ott joins Jim Blasingame to talk about social media as a new tool to connect with customers in the way, and at the times, they prefer.
In The Age of the Customer™, you must stay connected. Adrian Ott joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how you can collect information from customers and predict what they will need by developing relationships and connecting with them online.
Do you know what your business identity is? Tim Berry joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to determine your small business’ true identity and use that information strategically.
As a small business, the phone book is not your prospect list. Tim Berry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about getting your strategy back on track by profiling your ideal customer, what you can solve for them and how they will find you.
Being a small business means you have limited resources. Tim Berry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the critical role that focus has on how to accomplish every element of your strategic plan.
Monday - April 04, 2011
Do you know the what potential failure sounds like? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the dangerous things we say to ourselves that indicate we're not ready for small business prime time.
Are you ready to be a small business owner? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal one of his "Start-up Secrets," which is what you have to do to make sure you have prepared properly to start and lead your new endeavor..
How are unions causing more problems than solutions? Jim Copland joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the policies the labor unions have that are causing more problem and conflict than solution.
Unions are using their shareholder influence for political purposes. Jim Copland joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how union pension funds are using shareholder activism to influence political decisions.
Union activism is dangerous for 21st century America. Jim Copland joins Jim Blasingame to talk about watching the activity of all unions, public and private, and how their interests are not in the best interests of the future of America.
What should small businesses know about Groupon? Bob Phibbs joins Jim Blasingame to talk about Groupon and what it is and whether it can help your small business bring more customers in through consumer marketing.
What is Lemonade Day? Bob Phibbs joins Jim Blasingame to talk about Lemonade Day and how it teaches entrepreneurial skills to kids through setting goals, finding investors, marketing, and sales, plus charitable donations.
As an organization, know what you stand for and hire employees with like values. Howard Behar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why, more than what you sell, your company’s values, and how you demonstrate them, are increasingly more important to customers.
How are your personal values impacting your leadership performance? Howard Behar joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how your leadership performance is impacted by how those you lead observe your behavior as a person.
Practice serving those you lead. Howard Behar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why being a servant leader is increasingly a valuable management practice, with both employees and customers.
Tuesday - April 05, 2011
What separates successful entrepreneurs from the also-rans? Dr. Patricia Greene joins Jim Blasingame to reveal success factors demonstrated by break out entrepreneurs, including being collaborative and tech savvy, plus a discussion on gender.
What differentiates the small business success from just getting by? Dr. Patti Greene joins Jim Blasingame to continue talking about entrepreneurial success factors, such as future thinking and the role that curiosity plays in success.
What will happen with employees as the marketplace opens up? Steven Little joins Jim Blasingame to discuss a growing economy and a release of fear for employees who are unhappy with their job and looking elsewhere.
How can you get ready for new employee opportunities? Steven Little joins Jim Blasingame to talk about new employee opportunities and being sure they are smart and pleasant and then taking your time to hire.
How do you successfully grow your business through acquisition? Steven Little joins Jim Blasingame to explain that people are a key part of business growth, the importance of finding and keeping the best employees, plus providing meaning through work.
What are the funding sources for small businesses today? Jim Blasingame talks about what small business owners say about how they prefer to fund growth, whether from a large bank, independent bank, credit union or none of the above.
How are you connecting with customers online? Jim Blasingame talks about the adoption rate of small businesses with social media compared to the evolution and future of websites.
Do you have a mobile strategy? Chuck Martin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about research that demonstrates the compelling case about why your small business should be connecting with customers over mobile platforms and networks.
Do you know where your customers are going? Chuck Martin joins Jim Blasingame to reveal recent research about how people around the world use mobile capability, both for business and as consumers.
Where do you begin to execute a simple mobile strategy? Chuck Martin joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on executing a simple mobile strategy, beginning with texting, researching, then creating a website that is mobile-ready.
Wednesday - April 06, 2011
You are most like the 5 people you hang out with. Kita Szpak joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the keys to happiness, including periodically shut out distractions to determine what and who contribute to your happiness.
Are you capable of being happy? Kita Szpak joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how what you believe affects your happiness, plus the importance of re-evaluating your belief system when it no longer emulates your values.
Small businesses have too many hats and not enough heads. Johnny Laurent joins Jim Blasingame to explain ROEI - return on employee investment - and why small businesses should spend more time focusing on this.
Do you have an effective hiring process? Johnny Laurent joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to be more intentional and therefore, more successful, when making an employee acquisition investment.
Are you getting the most benefit from your employee investment? Johnny Laurent joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to create a more successful employment relationship between you and your employees.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18. Jerry Silberman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how the pride you have in your small business shouldn't be allowed to turn destructive when you need to ask for help.
Has your business debt become overwhelming? Jerry Silberman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why you should hire a professional before you let your debt problems take your business down.
Why is Congress unable to perform their main job? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the probability of a federal government shut-down because Congress is too busy playing politics instead of doing its job.
If the private sector did business like Congress we would go to jail. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the failure of Congress to do its job, plus the budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan to drastically reduce the federal deficit.
The United States of America is bankrupt. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the national gut-check Americans will have to make about the difficult choices necessary to overcome our impending bankruptcy.
Thursday - April 07, 2011
How is social media different from other crazes? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the end of the social media craze, as it becomes just another tool in our customer connection strategy.
What do customers want? They want it their way. Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why it's important to discover what your customers want, including how to connect, and give it to them that way.
Are you worried about the economy? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to discuss this month's Tatum Survey which indicates the economy is softening short term, but still growing in the long-term.
How does employment look in the near future? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to report that there is some optimism for employment, but the economy is still feeling the drag of a faltering real estate industry.
Are you outsourcing non-core competencies? Tatum's Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to encourage more outsourcing as a way to find efficiencies, plus a report on improved capital availability.
Is selling different in the 21st century? Rob Levin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the way selling has changed and provide tips on how to differentiate yourself from all the other options your prospects and customers have.
How has the selling process changed in the 21st century? Rob Levin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss several steps of the 21st century sales process, including some of the key elements of the new selling process.
Why was Reagan so successful as a leader? James Strock join Jim Blasingame to discuss Ronald Reagan's lifetime of leadership across many stages of his life, and how he lead with his values.
What would Reagan say to small business owners about leadership? James Strock joins Jim Blasingame to offer Ronald Reagan leadership principles, including vision, courage and how to learn from mistakes and move on.
What was Regan's management philosophy? James Strock joins Jim Blasingame to discuss Ronald Reagan's management philosophy, including how he valued trust, loyalty and getting the best people around you and holding them accountable.
Friday - April 08, 2011
Are you prepared for a harassment complaint? Dr. Leah Hollis joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to establish policies and training for managers and employees about preventing workplace harassment.
What happens after a harassment complaint? Dr. Leah Hollis joins Jim Blasingame to discuss workplace harassment and how to minimize the possibility of retaliation by the other party.
Why can't the federal government pass a budget? Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the budget disagreement in the government and the possibility of a government shut down.
Why was the 1099 provision part of ObamaCare at all? Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the 1099 provision of ObamaCare and whether the president will sign the repeal passed by Congress.
Can we prevent the EPA from hurting small business? Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the EPA's attempt to classify CO2 as a dangerous gas, and why that would hurt small business.
What is the connection between emotional intelligence and success? Mike Robbins joins Jim Blasingame to define emotional intelligence and discuss its role as a key element in success in life and business.
Let emotional intelligence help you face fear and stress. Mike Robbins joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to use emotional intelligence to prevent a fight or flight reaction, keep stress down and creativity flowing.
How is a manager different from an executive? Scott Eblin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why small business owners have to know how much time to spend as a manager and as their company's chief executive.
Are you focusing on the do-ables too much? Scott Eblin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to focus on what you want to accomplish - the deliverables - instead of the short-term "do-ables."
To be a better executive, you have to schedule "still points." Scott Eblin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about budgeting and committing to time for executive thinking, which he calls "still points."
Monday - April 11, 2011
The first step of an innovative organization is being open to innovation. Christine Perkett joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to foster a culture of innovation throughout the organization that encourages people to take risks through experimentation.
What is good an bad about social media? Christine Perkett joins Jim Blasingame to report that while social media is great at community-building , like all tools, there are negatives, and they discuss some of them.
Fall in love with what you do, but not with how you do it. Dan Burrus joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why you should learn how to "fail fast" as we move from a time of change to a time of transformation.
Don’t just compete, redefine the race. Dan Burrus joins Jim Blasingame with encouragement to not settle for letting others define your strategy, develop yours, own it, take it to market and let others follow you.
Change is inevitable, growth is optional. Dan Burrus joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to grow your small business through innovation and personal adaptability, plus the importance of being future adaptable.
Do you ever get frustrated with the progress of your business? Patrick Howie joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to identify the revolution opportunities can be found in the elements of your operation.
Would you know it if you had a revolutionary moment? Patrick Howie joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what a revolutionary moments is, how to recognize it, why you should be prepared for it and how to turn it into opportunity.
If you’re still in business, you’re a survivor. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to make the transition from surviving the recession to thriving in the coming expansion.
Could you survive the economic recovery, but not the expansion? Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to convert your operating and marketing strategies from survival defense to expansion offense.
How granular are you when looking for efficiencies? Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to examine every activity, product and customer to determine where your strategy can be adjusted to maximize profits.
Tuesday - April 12, 2011
Is email the best communication invention of the 21st century? Marsha Egan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to use email more efficiently and offers tips to gain control of your inbox so it doesn't control you.
What is your favorite way to connect electronically? Marsha Egan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how each generation uses different technologies to communicate, and how to know which one to use.
Leading a business requires balancing the old rules with the new tools. Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss leading a 21st century business by balancing new technologies with management fundamentals.
What has technology done to face-to-face communication? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of using all forms of communication, including face-to-face, in building business relationships across the generations.
Leadership and mentoring requires courage and time. Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why 21st century leadership requires you to be courageous enough to mentor the younger generations of reluctant mentorees.
Do you know how to build alliances? Jim Blasingame reveals why building strategic alliances can help you grow your business with the assets you have, and offers three types to consider.
The world has many problems that must be addressed with effective leadership. Jim Blasingame says finding the leaders to resolve 20th century expectations and 21st century reality is our number one global challenge.
Why is SEO important to your small business? Adam Audette joins Jim Blasingame to define search engine optimization (SEO) and offer tips on how to get your website optimized within your budget.
How does the latest Google algorithm update affect your small business? Adam Audette joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the latest Google algorithm update, called Panda Farmer, how it impacted thousands of websites and why you should care.
What's the most important thing you need to know about search engine optimization (SEO)? Adam Audette joins Jim Blasingame to offer the two most important things a small business needs to know about SEO, whether you're location specific or not.
Wednesday - April 13, 2011
Do you focus on the input of creativity or only on the output? Andy Stefanovich joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why you should maximize on the human side of innovation, by focusing on input first and output last.
Make your innovation strategy all about the customer. Andy Stefanovich joins Jim Blasingame to talk about customer-focused innovation by asking "why" as opposed to "what."
The day Tokyo went dark. Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his recent trip to Tokyo, two days after the earthquake, and the changes he saw there.
Can capitalism survive without liberty? Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to discuss China’s transition from socialism to capitalism and the government’s efforts to control their economy, workforce and emerging markets.
Following the U.S., the world is becoming consumer-oriented. Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to discuss emerging global markets and why U.S. small businesses must see themselves as members of a global economy.
Are online recommendations typically sincere? Mary Lou Quinlan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about word of mouth through social media and online recommendations, and whether it's legitimate user generated content (UGC).
Are women better at word of mouth online? Mary Lou Quinlan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss women's affinity for online word of mouth, positive or negative, and why women love Groupon and use it to their advantage.
Has your small business maintained the foundation of trust? Arky Ciancutti joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the hit trust took in the last 3 years, especially on Wall Street, and how Main Street has acquitted itself.
How do you address trust issues and hidden fears in your business? Arky Ciancutti joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why leadership should surface non-trust blind spots and fears by initiating that conversation and bringing closure.
How do you know if you have trust opportunities in your company? Arky Ciancutti joins Jim Blasingame to offer some signs to look for in your company to determine whether you have trust opportunities to address.
Thursday - April 14, 2011
What should be the correct motivations for starting a small business? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to say that the right reasons to start a small business should be less about following your passion and more about delivering what customers want.
Grow your business by staying in touch with customers. Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why as small businesses grow, they must stay connected with customers by continuing to ask them what they want.
How do small businesses benefit from Moore's Law? Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how computer processing doubling every 18 months has resulted in great advantages and competitive power for small business owners.
How can small business find success in the cloud? Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how cloud computing has produced a number of powerful applications that help small businesses to compete on a higher level without a lot of capital.
Could our commitment to cloud computing create future problems? Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to discuss potential issues arising out of our expanded use of cloud computing, including the loss of physical assets and potential for government control.
Empowering small business is good for the world. Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to discuss her recent trip to Amsterdam working with women business owners from all over the world, plus the importance of micro-loans to third world entrepreneurs.
Do you know why you are a small business owner? Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to recommend asking yourself if you remember why you became a business owner, plus why knowing the top three priorities of your top three customers is important.
Is the U.S. trending toward the European social model? Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the demonstrations in France and across Europe against diminished entitlements in the face of economic realities, and how the U.S. could be headed in that direction.
Liu Xiaobo is a living profile in courage. Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss Guy's friend, Liu Xiaobo, the imprisoned Chinese dissident and now Nobel Peace Prize winner, and his struggles to bring democracy to China. Plus how this story impacts business relationships.
Should we be worried about the devaluation of the U.S. dollar? Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the current low exchange rate of the U.S. dollar and whether it should be of concern. Plus whether the U.S. should return to the gold standard.
Friday - April 15, 2011
Why is it important to have a website? Bob Kustka joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why having a website is essential for every business and should reflect who you are, who you are trying to reach and what your purpose is.
Are you intimidated at the thought of working with a website developer? Bob Kustka joins Jim Blasingame to discuss tips for website specifications and working with a webmaster.
Are you a management leader or a driver? Michael Muetzel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about talk about some of the realities of getting the generations - Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y - to work together more effectively.
Are your Gen X and Y employees engaged? Michael Muetzel joins Jim Blasingame discuss tips to promote trust and engagement with your 20- and 30-something employees.
Michael Muetzel joins Jim Blasingame to continue their discussion engaging Gens X and Y, including involving them in business decisions, plus helping them understand how to communicate with their Baby Boomer bosses.
Should you innovate through imitation? Oded Shenkar joins Jim Blasingame talk about how smart companies use imitation to innovate and gain a strategic edge within your own niche
If you're a successful imitator, how do you prepare for being imitated? Oded Shenkar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the pace of change and imitation has accelerated, so you have to defend from other imitators.
How will your small business survive this recovery? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to offer some tips on attitude and change to survive and still be creative and innovative in this recovery.
Where should you cut back to survive this recovery? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to suggest eliminating non-essential costs while keeping your current customers, being referral-worthy and also telling the truth.
What have you learned in this recovery? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about specific things your small business can do to maintain company integrity: motivate customers and employees, plus renegotiate to survive.
Monday - April 18, 2011
Are you taking advantage of the "Attaboy" ROI? Jay Myers joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how to combine recognition and compensation as a success equation for keeping good people.
Do you have the right people working for you? Jay Myers joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how to hire the right people for your business, which begins with work ethic, personal compatibility, energy and intelligence. Notice that experience is not high on this list.
You’ve survived the recession but what about the recovery? Josh Costell joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the things you have to do to convert from survival to expansion mode.
Is your business indispensable to customers? Josh Costell joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to strengthen relationships with customers by becoming integrated in their operations instead of just selling them stuff.
How can you help your customers be successful? Josh Costell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss achieving sales success by becoming a customer advocate and finding ways to help your customers be successful.
Check the reality of being a business owner against your motivation. Carol Roth joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the realities and myths of being a business owner, including the truth about who works for whom, and the thing about getting rich.
What makes you think you're qualified to be a business owner? Carol Roth joins Jim Blasingame with startup advice on how critical industry experience is in the success of any new business.
Do you know for sure that your employees are thanking customers? Jim Blasingame talks about the power of saying “Thank you” to customers and why saying "No problem" is a big problem.
According to John Naisbitt, the more high tech we have, the more high touch we’ll want. Jim Blasingame talks about the power of the original social media, face-to-face, and why you should never make customers touch technology unless there's something in it for them.
What are the new challenges of the recovery? Jim Blasingame reports on some of the current challenges of the recovery, including slow economic growth, rising inflation and interest rates.
Tuesday - April 19, 2011
Do you push yourself outside your comfort zone? Mark Murphy joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the performance difference between "hard goals" and regular goals, and why its better to hire for temperament and motivation than experience.
Are you capable of extraordinary performance? Mark Murphy joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the secret behind reaching peak performance by focusing on the four steps of setting "HARD" goals: Heartfelt, Animated, Required, Difficult.
Are you cut out to be a franchisee? Joel Libava joins Jim Blasingame with questions you should ask yourself if you’re considering becoming a franchisee, plus a link to a free online quiz to determine if you’re franchisee material.
What franchisee business model fits your personality? Joel Libava joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that before you shop for a franchise, you should determine what type of business - retail, service, etc. - is best for your and your background.
Once you determine you want to be a franchisee, then what? Joel Libava joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how to find a franchise fit by doing the research, narrowing down the options and requesting information.
Where is the sense of shame in Washington? Jim Blasingame reveals how the shameless behavior of Washington's political class in dealing with the budget is ignominiously compared to a Japanese Kabuki dance and Bizarro World.
How many canaries have to die? Jim Blasingame reports on the latest warnings about the potential financial disaster awaiting the U.S. if it doesn't get its fiscal house in order soon.
How can quality help your financial plans? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how understanding the quality process can help you improve your strategic financial planning and relationships.
How much of your business's future is predictable? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to report that Deming said 97% of your future is predictable, and she explains how to use the quality process to prepare for the future.
How is the quality process important to customers? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how having a quality process increases your chances of competing against larger competitors.
Wednesday - April 20, 2011
Do you have a hard time making decisions? Peter Sims joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the strategy of making many small decisions - little bets - and failing fast, as a way to avoid big failures that can take you down.
Do you spend too much developing new ideas? Peter Sims joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of making what he calls "little bets" on new ideas that have yet to prove they deserve full capital commitment..
Where Washington and Wall Street meet, Main Street loses. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the blatant collusion between Washington and Wall Street and the utter disregard for Main Street small businesses.
Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on this month’s NFIB Small Business Optimism Index which indicates overall economic expectations have declined, especially in sales growth.
Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on the results of this month's NFIB Small Business Optimism Index which shows an increase in pricing power, but diminished profit levels.
Do you have a multimedia strategy? Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why you should be leveraging social media as a way to find and serve customers, and she identifies some of the tools to use.
You can influence how your business is presented online. Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame with tips on using Google Profiles to manage how Google presents your business and products in search results.
Doug Barry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how the U.S. Commercial Service helped a small business manufacturer increase sales by finding new export distribution opportunities.
Could Indonesia be your next new market? Doug Barry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about small business exporting opportunities in South Asia, plus the politics of international trade, trade agreements and security.
Have you ever met a freight forwarder? Doug Barry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how freight forwarders work, how they can contribute to your export strategy, and how to find one.
Thursday - April 21, 2011
Are some of your salespeople better at closing than prospecting? Tony Rutigliano joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to recognize and manage the strengths in your salespeople and help them stay focused on those attributes.
Do you think anyone can be a salesperson? Tony Rutigliano joins Jim Blasingame to debunk two myths of selling: Anyone can sell and there’s only one right way to sell, plus tips to make sure you don’t hire based on these myths.
Who is better at selling: Men or women? Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the differences between how men and women go about the selling process.
Are your salespeople asking for the business? Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that it's not a salesperson's job to withhold the opportunity for a prospect to buy - you must ask for the sale!
Where are all of the net new jobs coming from? Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to report on a recent WIPP survey which revealed 93% of new jobs are created by small businesses.
Do you have a hard time finding things when you need them? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips for creating your own organizational system to reduce frustration and make things run smoother in your small business.
Is your email working for you or against you? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to offer organizational tips for managing your email so you can be more productive and less frustrated.
There are new breakthroughs in solar technology. Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss new photovoltaic technology using an all-glass process that significantly increases electrical production with smaller and less expensive solar materials.
Could slimy, green algae be in your future? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the discovery of a hybrid algae that can simultaneously clean sewage and produce biodiesel in a very short amount of time.
How can we turn our consumption by-products into something useful? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss new approaches to turning waste disposal into products and unused space into production, like vertical farming.
Friday - April 22, 2011
Why are small businesses the most optimistic people? Leslie Grossman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why a Women’s Leadership Exchange study that showed small businesses are optimistic about the direction of their businesses.
Are women entrepreneurs like they are portrayed on reality TV? Leslie Grossman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the negative way reality TV portrays women entrepreneurs, plus the reality of the differences between men and women in the marketplace.
Do you think you're the only one with your type of problems? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the benefits of small business mastermind groups, where business peers come together to confidentially discuss and solve problems.
Could you benefit from a mastermind group? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to develop or join a business mastermind group, and what kind of benefit to expect from that experience.
Should you join a moderated mastermind group or one that is less formal? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame with ideas on the different kinds of mastermind groups, from Vistage and Tab Boards to industry groups to the local one you put together.
Are you conscious of profitability with every transaction? Patricia Sigmon joins Jim Blasingame to reveal simple ways to think about and track profitability every day, even without the benefit of a financial statement.
Are you breaking down the operating steps to be profitable? Patricia Sigmon joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips and best practices on how to make every task accountable to your profit goals.
Are you creating relationships or sales transactions? Brad Huisken joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why building relationships with customers instead of making a sale is the key to long-term success.
What is the key to lasting customer relationships? Brad Huisken joins Jim Blasingame to say building lasting customer relationships requires asking what you can do to help them and then do that, regardless of what they tell you.
Which comes first, the product or the company? Brad Huisken joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why it's more important to sell the idea of doing business with your company first, and product sales will follow.
Monday - April 25, 2011
How has the employee interview process changed? Beth Ross joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the employment landscape has changed in the past few years and how that has reset the rules and practices of interviewing prospective employees.
Are you hire-able in today’s marketplace? Beth Ross joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the profile of a competitive employee candidate from an employer’s perspective, including commitment, responsibility and flexibility.
Why is small business better at social media than big business? Joseph Jaffe joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why small businesses have an inherent advantage when it comes to building social media communities.
Social media is custom-made for building customer communities. Joseph Jaffe joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to use social media to gain a competitive advantage in connecting with customers and providing a good customer experience.
How do you avoid becoming irrelevant? Joseph Jaffe joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how it's not enough today to merely be competitive, you have to connect with customers on their terms or risk becoming irrelevant.
The best products and service won't overcome poor financial management. Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of regular financial statements and knowing how to understand what they tell you about the viability of your business.
Getting educated about financial statements. Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame with a tour of her new website, TurnOnMyFinancialLightbulb.com, an online training video resource on learning how to read and manage financial statements.
Are you taking advantage of all the deductions the tax code allows? Doug Stives joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the difference in evading taxes, which is illegal, and avoiding taxes, which is taking advantage of provisions in the tax code.
Do you have a separate retirement plan? Doug Stives joins Jim Blasingame to offer ideas on how to use the provisions in the tax code to help pay for education, training, travel, and your retirement planning.
What retirement plan is best for you and your small business? Doug Stives joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the steps to take to start a retirement plan, including a short overview of the IRA, the SEP and SIMPLE plans.
Tuesday - April 26, 2011
Moms are increasingly influencing the marketplace. Stacy DeBroff joins Jim Blasingame to report that moms spend 85% of the money and, consequently, are influencing everything from marketing to product development to social media communities.
In The Age of the Customer™, communities will control your marketing message. Stacy DeBroff joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the shift from targeting demographics to marketing inside of communities, many of which are heavily influenced by moms.
You can't grow the economy by printing money. Don Boudreaux joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the failure of the Fed’s monetary policy of trying to grow the economy by flooding the marketplace with paper money.
Prosperity is created by allowing the marketplace to work. Don Boudreaux joins Jim Blasingame with suggestions on how to improve the economy, including stop printing money, reduce the size of government and convert to a flat tax.
Should the Federal Reserve Board be abolished? Don Boudreaux joins Jim Blasingame about alternatives to the Fed, and how to create a long-term plan to return the dollar to the gold standard.
Do you have a retirement plan outside of your business? Jim Blasingame reveals results of a Small Business Advocate Poll on the challenges every small business owner faces trying to fund a separate retirement plan.
Are you familiar with the retirement options available? Jim Blasingame discusses some of the tax-deductible retirement plans for small businesses, including an IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), SEP and SIMPLE plans.
How do entrepreneurs around the globe feel about the economy? Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame with the results of a BNI global poll which revealed almost 70% think the economy is improving and over 50% said they had plans to hire in the next few months.
What do entrepreneurs around the globe have in common? Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame with the topics that are top-of-mind with entrepreneurs around the world, including government regulation, changing markets and capitalization.
What are global small business owners speaking out about? Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to reveal more issues of small businesses around the world, like the yo-yo economy, the effects of natural disasters, and creativity.
Wednesday - April 27, 2011
How far have administrative professionals come in the last decade? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to celebrate administrative professionals, who are practically on an executive level, plus using virtual assistants.
Do you need an assistant but don't want to hire in house? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to talk about hiring virtual assistants when you need them and utilizing them for certain projects and only when necessary.
Why do innovations create paradoxes? Bill Halal joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the paradox created by innovations as they become levers for some and disruptors, even destructors, for others.
What can a small business learn from Netflix and Blockbuster? Bill Halal joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how Netflix embraces the future of innovation and found success while Blockbuster didn't and found bankruptcy.
What can you learn about innovation opportunities from customers? Bill Halal joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how some companies identified niches and needs that let them to innovation and success.
What is an entrepreneur anyway? Terri Lonier joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the definition of an entrepreneur and the fact that there more than one kind of entrepreneur.
What can we learn from the early entrepreneurs? Terri Lonier joins Jim Blasingame to discuss entrepreneurs throughout history and how modern innovators can learn from them.
What will happen with the Fed today? Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the Fed Watch Meeting and define QE2, plus it's a great time for small businesses to borrow money, but nobody wants to, which is a bad sign.
Was QE2 a success or failure? Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame to discuss quantitative easing (QE2) and the fact Main Street didn't benefit, plus the funds created will be taken away, which may be negative as well.
Will China soon inch past the U.S.'s economy? Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prediction that China will pass the U.S. economy very soon and whether that is valid.
Thursday - April 28, 2011
Is your business totally dependent on you? John Warrillow joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to develop a business you can sell which, by definition, means it is not totally dependent on the owner.
Are you depending on your business for your retirement? John Warrillow joins Jim Blasingame with tips and best practices that will help you create recurring sales revenue and, therefore, make it more valuable to a buyer.
Why is Wall Street immune from market discipline? Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the circumstances that have caused Wall Street behavior to be detrimental to Main Street.
The collusion between Wall Street and Washington is becoming more and more blatant. Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how Washington incompetence, Wall Street greed, and collusion between the two are hurting America.
Has lack of leadership in Washington put America's future in jeopardy? Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the implications of the S&P announcement that the U.S. credit rating could be downgraded, plus how that situation could still be avoided.
What do women need to know about their command voice? Renee Grant-Williams joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how a woman can use her voice to emanate authority without sacrificing her femininity.
Can women actually learn something from men or is that just crazy talk? Renee Grant-Williams joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how women should consider emulating some of the traits of men.
Are the Yellow Pages obsolete? John Audette joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the power of local search, the best thing to happen to small business since the invention of the PC.
Why should every small business owner have a smart phone? John Audette joins Jim Blasingame to discuss online marketing channels, including the explosion of online local search because of the recent proliferation of smart phones.
Want to reach more Main Street customers? John Audette joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips and best practices on how to refine your Google Places profile with accurate and consistent information.
Friday - April 29, 2011
Women in business have come a long way, but ... Kim Lavine joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the historic progress of women business owners and the challenges that remain for them to be treated equally.
Women only receive 4% of private equity. Kim Lavine joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the challenges women face in accessing capital, including forces against them and getting out of their own way.
How long with national housing problems impact recovery? Richard DeKaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the impact of the housing on the economy and why GDP disappointed in the first quarter.
How precarious is America's economic condition? Richard DeKaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the cautions of S&P and the IMF that the U.S. may lose its AAA credit rating and position as an economic superpower.
America needs more 21st century leadership. Richard DeKaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why government services, like health care, should be economically driven, plus the search for 21st century thinkers.
Why don’t we teach our children about money? Karen McCall joins Jim Blasingame to discuss her personal story about how she had to fail financially in order to acquire a healthy relationship with money.
What are the first steps to personal financial recovery? Karen McCall joins Jim Blasingame with the steps to gain control over your financial future, including admit you have a problem and write down everything you spend.
How is marketing different in The Age of the Customer™? Alan Maites joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the 21st century model of marketing as customers continue to gain more control.
In The Age of the Customer™, the challenge is to not become irrelevant. Alan Maites joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the power of creating a customer-centric strategy, both offline and online, to stay relevant in The Age of the Customer™.
In the 21st century, marketing cannot be manipulative. Alan Maites joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the key to successful marketing in the 21st century is to focus on serving communities.
