Friday - June 01, 2012
Do you have to try hard to be happy? Kita Szpak joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how business owners can find happiness by learning how to celebrate small successes.
Does your happiness change with the seasons? Kita Szpak joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how seasons impact happiness, plus how sunshine, nature and water promote happiness.
How have we benefited from the Management Century? Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the birth and growth of the discipline of business management in the past 150 years.
What caused the progressive era of the Management Century? Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the progressive elements that occurred during the middle portion of the Management Century.
The final analysis on the Management Century. Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the positives and negatives that manifest today as a result of the Management Century.
How one single mother turned adversity into entrepreneurial opportunity. Collette Liantonio joins Jim Blasingame to share her entrepreneurial success story that was born out of family challenges.
Did you ever want to sell something on an infomercial? Collette Liantonio joins Jim Blasingame to explain how infomercials work and what is required to make it happen.
Your business performance depends upon your health. Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why business owners should maintain a focus on living and eating healthier.
The best path to healthy living is to make practical adjustments. Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his path to healthier living and some of the practical steps he is taking.
Live healthier with better choices. Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about impact your food choices have on your health and physical performance at work.
Monday - June 04, 2012
Your future customers will find you on mobile devices. Deltina Hay joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips and best practices on why and how to get started developing a mobile Internet strategy, including whether you need an app or a mobile site.
How mobile relevance trumps being competitive. Deltina Hay joins Jim Blasingame to reveal three priorities for achieving mobile site prominence, plus how customers use their smart phones to find and connect with your business.
What one entrepreneur learned about success from her mother. Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how her mother's life and lessons helped her find personal and professional success.
How do courage and integrity work together for success? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how courage plays a role in your success, plus a multi-faceted approach to integrity, including to thine own self.
Combining the power of resilience, persistence and adaptability. Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how being persistently resilient and always adaptable combine to deliver success.
How raising minimum wage hurts unskilled workers. Michael Saltsman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how the minimum wage is contributing to the high unemployment rate for unskilled workers.
Incredibly, with unemployment at record levels, some want to increase minimum wage. Michael Saltsman joins Jim Blasingame to report that some in Congress want to raise minimum wage again.
The United Nations continues to covet control of the Internet. Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the continued efforts by the UN to gain control of Internet governance and what is being done to prevent this.
How could FTC disclosure regs impact your small business? Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how the Federal Trade Commission imposes disclosure regulations and how that works for online advertising.
Could the FTC be the enemy of Facebook and Twitter? Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how Federal Trace Commission regs could hamper online advertising, especially mobile increases in adoption by consumers.
Tuesday - June 05, 2012
Your users are the new class of prospects. Jim Blasingame talks about how the Facebook business model can teach small businesses about the difference between users and customers
Your users are different from Facebook's users. Jim Blasingame to reveal how small businesses have to treat their users differently than Facebook, so they will pay you money, not just a visit.
Do you really know how your team feels about proposed changes? Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the dangers of presuming you know how your team will respond to change.
How do you know where your team is on proposed changes? Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal four questions that will help you learn how successful your team will be with proposed changes.
Does your team trust leadership to lead change? Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how small businesses can identify any concerns about the ability of leadership to manage proposed changes.
How much are you using the Cloud? Jim Blasingame talks why web-based, or Cloud resources are helping small businesses compete on a higher level, plus grow quicker and create more profits.
Don't worry about America; worry about Europe. Jim Blasingame talks about why he is not as worried about the future of America as he is about the future of the Euro-zone, and what that means for small business.
How is private capital changing? Bill Diffenderffer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the current issues around raising investment capital in a privately held business.
Do you know how to prepare for a meeting with investor prospects? Bill Diffenderffer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the preparation and practice that is necessary to have a successful first meeting with investor prospects.
How private equity is changing capitalism. Bill Diffenderffer joins Jim Blasingame to talk reveal why private equity is changing how businesses access growth capital, but will not replace Wall Street.
Wednesday - June 06, 2012
It hurts when you lose a customer. Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the ways to handle the emotional impact of losing a customer and how to turn it into an opportunity.
When a customer leaves, how do you handle the goodbye? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips for how to handle the end of a customer relationship in order to keep the door open for the future.
Is the economy impacting your leadership ability? Michael Stallard joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the impact of economic and environmental stress on our ability to lead effectively, and how to deal with it.
Your team can help you lead in challenging times. Michael Stallard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to reach out to your team and other stakeholders to allow them to under gird your leadership efforts in tough times.
Has recent marketplace disruptions impacted your leadership behavior? Michael Stallard joins Jim Blasingame to with tips on how to maintain effective leadership in a challenging environment.
Wall Street uses words and metaphors that seduce investors. Leo Haviland joins Jim Blasingame to discuss Wall Street uses words to seduce Main Street investors into the marketplace,often to their disadvantage.
Is Wall Street becoming the enemy of capitalism? Leo Haviland joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how Wall Street behavior has become disconnected from its founding and core principles of serving investors, not just banks and traders.
"When goods cross borders, armies don't," Frederick Bastiat. Mick Fleming joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the work chambers of commerce around the world are doing to bring trading partners together to promote business and peace.
Is there business opportunity in Brazil for small business? Mick Fleming joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the recent chamber of commerce coalition he took to Brazil to find business opportunities.
Are you a member of your local chamber of commerce? Mick Fleming joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the ways the local chamber of commerce cuts across all sector boundaries and promotes collaboration and success.
Thursday - June 07, 2012
Research shows great leaders learn character traits from their parents or influential mentors. David Lapin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how great leaders have a sense of higher purpose or destiny and see their work as a vehicle to achieve that purpose.
Albert Camus said, “Integrity has no need of rules.” David Lapin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the loss of integrity and over-lawyering of our society and what it will take to get back to valuing leadership based on character.
Governments need tax revenue to serve and protect its citizens. Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to discuss when a government's need for tax revenue to serve and protect its citizens crosses the line and starts diminishing liberty.
What do some states know about the balance between taxation and economic growth? Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why the states with the lowest tax rates have the highest economic growth performance.
Governments should take better care of its golden good, the private sector. Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to compare the private sector to the golden goose and how governments could take better care of it.
Make sure your compensation and incentive plans benefit everyone long term. Pat Sigmon joins Jim Blasingame to discuss creating compensation and incentive plans that don't become unsustainable over time.
Be aware that sometimes when you help an employee, it may backfire. Pat Sigmon joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the pitfalls of getting too close to employees, including loaning money.
Friday - June 08, 2012
No one like criticism, but can you take it? Steve Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to handle criticism in a way that allows you to benefit, even if you think the other person is wrong.
How well do you handle criticism delivered or received? Steve Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on how to give and receive criticism so that either way, something beneficial happens.
The U.S. economy seems to be slowing. Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with the Tatum Survey that indicates that, three years after the end of the recession, the economy is not producing any upward momentum.
Sales and capital expenditures are down. Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with the Tatum Survey that indicates sales confidence is down among managers, plus a drop in capital expenditure plans.
How is Europe and China impacting the U.S.? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame discuss how much of an impact the global economic slowdown is having on the U.S. economy.
How much does where you live impact your success? Enrico Moretti joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how and why certain parts of the U.S. create more individual opportunities while others do not.
Who or what is responsible for declining manufacturing jobs? Enrico Moretti joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the factors that are altering job creation and growth, especially regarding manufacturing.
Does your small business start-up have a banker? Jim Blasingame talks about how to patiently and effectively grow a relationship between your start-up small business and a local independent community bank.
What is a start-up's job one? Tory Johnson joins Jim Blasingame to reveal tips and best practices on what are the most critical first things to so, including the most important one - to sell.
Are women different from men during the start-up phase? Tory Johnson joins Jim Blasingame to explain the things that are advantage for women in the start-up phase, as well as their disadvantages.
Monday - June 11, 2012
Why don't managers just get out of their own way? Neil Smith joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why business managers do dumb things that impede success and how to avoid suffering the same fate.
Are you doing any of these dumb things? Neil Smith joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the dumb things managers do, most of which can be avoided by talking with employees and leading change.
The legacy of D-Day. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to report on his recent trip to Normandy to observe the commemoration of the anniversary of D-Day in 1944 and why it is still an emotional experience.
Is Wisconsin now in play as a swing state? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the circumstances of the failed Wisconsin recall could play out in the November election. Plus is Obama clueless about the economy?
Are Obama's policy chickens coming home to roost? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to report on whether the recent bad days for the Obama campaign are just politics or a result of unsuccessful policies and governing.
What does the private equity industry have in common with small business? Jim Blasingame compares the founding motivations of private equity firms with small businesses and says that creating jobs are a by-product of capitalism.
How should you choose a banking relationship? Jim Blasingame talks about why small businesses should diversify their banking relationships to include both independent community banks and larger banks.
Which candidate will Libertarians support in 2012? Wayne Allyn Root joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the Libertarian Party and the potential impact it will have on the 2012 presidential election.
Is President Obama anti-business? Wayne Allyn Root joins Jim Blasingame to share his view on why President Obama is anti-business and why that will hurt him in the upcoming election.
A Romney landslide in November? Wayne Allyn Root joins Jim Blasingame to predict that Governor Romney will defeat President Obama in a landslide, much in the order of Reagan over Carter in 1980.
Tuesday - June 12, 2012
Women compete differently than men do. Katherine Crowley joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that women are designed to be more collaborative with each other, which can be challenging in competitive situations.
Never mind high school, why are there mean girls at work? Katherine Crowley joins Jim Blasingame to explain why women find it difficult to maintain friendships when competition and management promotions are involved.
Managers are concerned about Europe and U.S. politics. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about a slowing economy due to managers' concerns about European problems and U.S. political direction.
Be proactive with marketing plans as the economy softens. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss things you can do to hold on to customers, even if they cut their budgets.
The best way to keep a customer is to become their partner. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to stay close to customers if the economy is softening, and find out how you can do more than serve them, but become a vendor partner.
How is manufacturing doing in Asia and Europe? Mitch Free joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how the downward economic trend in Europe is impacting manufacturing demand in China.
Is there a wave of U.S. "on-shoring" happening? Mitch Free joins Jim Blasingame to discuss trends in the American manufacturing sector that is creating a move to "on-shore" more work and we have technology to thank.
Sure, you're an entrepreneur, but can you manage what you built? Richard Hooker joins Jim Blasingame to explain that the entrepreneurial skills used to start a business isn't what you'll need to manage and grow it.
Do you have a management manual? Richard Hooker joins Jim Blasingame to explain how to begin building a management manual that will help you get on the right track and stay there.
Does your team understand your business' brand story? Richard Hooker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to create, document and train your team on how to tell your brand story to customers.
Wednesday - June 13, 2012
What are your emotions about dealing with the new normal for the marketplace? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what it looks like when small business owners feel the five stages of grief over the new normal?
Avoid grief by asking customers what they want. Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to encourage staying connected to customers and their expectations as a way to avoid the grief of business failure.
Wall Street behavior continues to be at cross-purposes with Main Street. Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss recent behavior, like the Facebook IPO fiasco, as examples of the wrong direction of Wall Street practices.
Can Main Street put pressure on Wall Street to reform itself? Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how grassroots pressure by demanding socially responsible investment products, can cause Wall Street to reform itself.
Would you know a socially responsible investment if you saw one? Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the elements that make an investment socially responsible.
The United States does not have a national energy policy. Paul Williamson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why, with all that is at stake economically and from a national security standpoint, the U.S. doesn't have a national energy policy.
If the U.S. had an energy policy, here are some of the components. Paul Williamson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the elements that should be included in a national, sustainable energy plan.
Why does planning take a hit when the future is so uncertain? Bill Conerly joins Jim Blasingame to make the case for the business planning discipline, even when the local national and global economic future is not encouraging.
Where do you look for planning opportunity when the economy is soft? Bill Conerly joins Jim Blasingame to suggest that internal efficiencies and staying customer focused are key to business planning opportunities during a slow economy.
Conduct planning during uncertain times like a baseball player stealing a base. Bill Conerly joins Jim Blasingame to recommend taking a base-stealing stance when planning in uncertain times by preparing the positive and the negative.
Thursday - June 14, 2012
What impact will the Wisconsin recall have on November? Democrat Bill Brandt joins Jim Blasingame to predict that the failed recall of Wisconsin's Gov. Walker will not move that state into the battleground category for November.
Does Bill Clinton's campaigning help or hurt President Obama? Democrat Bill Brandt joins Jim Blasingame to report that, regardless of how it looks, Bill Clinton's actions are part of a plan to help Obama.
Do independent contractors need different help from larger small firms? Steve Strauss joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how very small firms, with no employees are different from businesses with employees.
Is social media maturing well? Steve Strauss joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the relevance of social media as it matures into more utility and less of a craze.
What is the "Slacker Mandate?" Avik Roy joins Jim Blasingame to explain the ObamaCare's "Slacker Mandate" and how it will be impacted with the Supreme Court's decision on this law.
What are the variable kinds of rulings that the Supreme Court could make on ObamaCare? Avik Roy joins Jim Blasingame to report on the different options for how the Supreme Court could rule as they consider the constitutionality of ObamaCare.
America should look to market solutions for health care reform. Jim Blasingame to explain why market solutions, not government, is best for health care reform, including the power of Health Savings Accounts.
Obamacare's greatest enemy is Health Savings Accounts. Jim Blasingame to explain why Health Savings Accounts are the greatest enemy of ObamaCare, because it helps Americans become health care consumers, not just patients.
Are you cut out to be an entrepreneur? Jim Blasingame reveals the difference between an entrepreneur and a small business owner, and why the distinction matters.
Friday - June 15, 2012
Are you familiar with the dangers of success? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why successful business owners have to recognize and prepare for the challenges of success.
Can your team execute the growth you're planning? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to make sure your organization is ready to execute the growth steps you're planning.
Promoting peace through education and entrepreneurship. Terry Neese and Charlene Lake join Jim Blasingame to discuss this year's International Women's Economic Education Summit for women and why it matters.
How women are promoting global peace. Terry Neese and Charlene Lake join Jim Blasingame to talk about how ATT and IEEW are helping women become entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Ruwanda.
How do you define sustainability? Terry Neese and Charlene Lank join Jim Blasingame to define sustainability and why this concept should be in the plans of all corporate citizens, large and small, around the globe.
What does the "ding" in your branding sound like to customers? Jim Blasingame to talk about the customer half of your brand effort, including the different ways customers hear the "ding" in your branding.
The world is having a gut-check about which way to go: socialism or capitalism. Jim Blasingame to talk about why we must ask those who want more entitlements and socialism and less capitalism, "where is the money going to come from?"
Will Facebook survive social media's evolution? Rick Mathieson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the future of social media, including whether Facebook and the other popular platforms will survive the evolution of this new marketing discipline.
Facebook and small businesses have to monetize users. Rick Mathieson joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what small businesses can learn from Facebook's attempt to monetize users.
What are your plans to integrate mobile in your marketing plans? Rick Mathieson joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the impact of mobile computing as a unique force that must be part of your plans for the future.
Monday - June 18, 2012
Write notes - get more business. Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to encourage you to look for reasons to periodically send hand-written notes to customers, including ideas on how to pull this off.
Are you touching your business customers in personal ways? Mary Cantando joins Jim Blasingame to offer ideas on how to connect with business prospects and customers in ways that touch them on a personal values level.
Will Europe's financial crisis hurt America's small businesses? Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the ways the financial and fiscal problems in Europe will impact small businesses in the U.S/
Why is small business optimism still lagging? Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on the NFIB Small Business Index which indicates Main Street is still feeling uncertain about the future on sales, hiring and investment.
Independent community banks are being assaulted by Wall Street and Washington. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on the growing pressure community banks are feeling from Washington and Wall Street and why that matters for small business.
What do Apple stores have that your small business doesn't? Carmine Gallo joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the reasons Apple stores are successful when other technology retailers are going out of business?
Follow Apple's five steps to sales success. Carmine Gallo joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the 5 steps of customer service used in Apple stores and why you should adopt them in your small business.
What does Facebook's botched IPO say about it's future? Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to propose that what happened to Facebook's IPO launch should not detract from the fact that it's community building platform works in attracting customers.
Facebook is teaching small businesses about the power of users. Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to explain why the Facebook community building platform provides small businesses with a prospect development platform for converting users into customers.
Should a B2B small business focus on Facebook? Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why Facebook is probably a better business-to-consumer prospecting platform than it is for business-to-business companies.
Tuesday - June 19, 2012
Should you focus on mobile more that social media? Jim Blasingame talks about his belief that, while a social media strategy is important for your small business, a mobile strategy is even more important.
A mobile strategy is not optional, it's imperative. Ramon Ray joins Jim Blasingame to talk about developing a mobile strategy, including the debate about whether you need a mobile app or a mobile site.
The Obama administration has declared war on coal. Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why the Obama administration's war on the coal industry will hurt small businesses directly with higher electricity bills.
The employer mandate should also be repealed from Obamacare. Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to report on a coalition that is promoting market-based healthecare reform, including repealing the employer mandate of Obamacare.
The government needs to provide more wireless broadband spectrum. Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to encourage Congress to get to work on allowing for more auctions of wireless Internet spectrum, and why that's good for small business.
Public unions should be abolished. Jim Blasingame talks about why he thinks the failed recall of Gov. Walker in Wisconsin was a repudiation of public unions and should become a national movement.
It's not easy being a father. Jim Blasingame to talk about his thoughts on how a father's love is not greater than a mother's love, but it's the harder job.
Is there a connection between entrepreneurship and philanthropy? Zoltan Acs joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how philanthropy was spawned from the millions of success stories of American entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship and philanthropy were invented by Americans. Zoltan Acs joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the history of philanthropy as a product of American entrepreneurship.
Wednesday - June 20, 2012
Can the spending addiction of Americans be cured? Gary Sirak joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how America got into this financial and debt crisis and how to solve it at the personal level.
Will Americans learn to live within their means? Gary Sirak joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on how to make better decision about living within your means, especially with large purchases.
What is the connection between the E.U.'s financial crisis and the one in the U.S. Richard DeKaser join Jim Blasingame to talk about Europe's financial crisis and how it will impact the U.S. and what we can learn from it.
Where is the U.S. real estate market? Richard DeKaser join Jim Blasingame to report that, generally speaking, the U.S. real estate market has bottomed out and is slowly on its way back up,
Is Main Street banking in jeopardy? Richard DeKaser join small business expert, Jim Blasingame to talk about the consolidation and regulatory challenges facing the ability of independent community banks to serve Main Street small businesses.
Your marketing strategy must be multi-faceted. Sarah Petty joins Jim Blasingame to offer a multi-faceted approach to a small business marketing strategy, including traditional and new media options.
What basis do you use to price your products? Sarah Petty joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips and best practices on how to price your products and services in a way that drives gross margins that will lead to the success of your small business.
Does the Fed have any significant tools left to stimulate the economy? Bob McTeer joins Jim Blasingame to say that the Fed's actions may not be growing the economy, but it has kept it from sinking lower.
Can the EU's problems be summarized in a poem? Bob McTeer joins Jim Blasingame with a poem and more about what caused the E.U.'s financial problems and how that situation will affect American small businesses.
Why are community bank numbers dropping? Bob McTeer joins Jim Blasingame to try to calm his fears that the drop in community bank numbers could put small businesses in jeopardy.
Thursday - June 21, 2012
Wouldn't you like to get all your photos out of your smart phone? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how transfer date and photos from your smart phone to your PC.
Should we back-up what we have on the Cloud? Jeff Zbar joins small business expert, Jim Blasingame about using the Cloud as a primary or back-up residence for data, but shouldn't we have a back-up plan for the Cloud too?
News of the death of American manufacturing is greatly exaggerated. Chad Moutray joins Jim Blasingame to report that there is a resurgence of manufacturing in America as more and more companies are "onsourcing."
How identifying manufacturing jobs in America has changed. Chad Moutray joins Jim Blasingame to explain how technology and productivity has changed the way we count manufacturing jobs in America.
Today's manufacturing jobs are not your father's jobs.
Chad Moutray joins Jim Blasingame to report that there is a crisis in America where manufacturers have jobs going unfilled because qualified workers cannot be found.
Women are the big users of Pinterest.com, but men use it too. Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to use Pinterest.com as a marketing and prospecting resource.
Pinterest isn't just for B2C. Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to explain how Pinterest can used for B2B by getting your message out, plus opening up your Pinterest audience by connecting your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
You can build an Internet-based business without becoming the next Facebook. Scott Fox joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to build a lifestyle type of business on the Internet and still make a good living.
Chickens? On the Internet? Are you kidding me? Scott Fox joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to make a living on the Internet, including how one man did this by using what he knows about chickens. Honest.
The Internet is still an entrepreneurial frontier waiting for you to explore and conquer. Scott Fox joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the still-untapped business leverage that you can find with an Internet business you start from home.
Friday - June 22, 2012
How to blend the traditional business practices with the new. Chris Bondhus joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on how to blend traditional marketing and management practices with the new world of the Cloud and social media.
Finding efficiencies and security in the Cloud. Chris Bondhus joins Jim Blasingame to offers tips on how to use cloud resources that will help you be more productive, efficient and secure.
Why the credit rating of large banks was downgraded. Mike Menzies joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the credit downgrading of some of the U.S.'s largest banks and why the concept of "too big to fail" ultimately hurts the banking industry.
Regulating big banks should not be the same as regulating community banks. Mike Menzies joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the damage that is done when regulators look at community banks through the same lens as the big banks.
Independent community banks are declining in numbers. Mike Menzies joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why independent banks are declining in numbers and why that is not good for small businesses and therefore, not good for America.
How small business branding has evolved. Catherine Kaputa joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the impact of the Internet and social media on how small businesses leverage their brands to connect with prospects and customers.
All employees are growth agents for your small business. Catherine Kaputa joins Jim Blasingame with tips and best practices on how to develop an internal brand strategy with your employees.
What small business can learn from big business PR mistakes. Bob Dilenschneider joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what small business owners can learn from the PR blunders of Jamie Dimon and Barack Obama.
The best way to deal with a public relations challenge is by demonstrating leadership. Bob Dilenschneider joins Jim Blasingame to explain that owning up, taking responsibility and demonstrating leadership is the key to recovering from a negative PR event.
Change isn't different, but the velocity of change is. Bob Dilenschneider joins Jim Blasingame to explain that technology has sped things up and it's up to us to prioritize the information we digest, plus will the economy experience resurgence in 2013?
Monday - June 25, 2012
Can Main Street really take back America from Washington's political class? Ned Ryun joins Jim Blasingame to report on how his and other organizations are helping Main Street citizens reform our government and take back America.
What has to be done in order to reclaim America from Washington and Wall Street. Ned Ryun joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the training of people to run for office and influence politicians based on the will of the people, not the political class.
How do you value a small business for sale? Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the most critical fundamental when it comes to arriving at a value for your small business.
find a business' value by discounting risks to earnings. Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to value a business by discounting future earnings against potential risks that could derail them.
Future earnings should not be part of a business' value? Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to explain how to consider future earnings as part of the valuation process of buying a small business.
Is there such a thing as ethical lobbying? Stephanie Vance joins Jim Blasingame to report on her work helping organizations learn how to effectively and ethically lobby politicians.
Teaching lobbying organizations about ethical lobbying. Stephanie Vance joins Jim Blasingame to report that unethical lobbying actually doesn't work, plus steps on how to influence the political process with ethical behavior..
Why is sustainability more appropriate than "green?" Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to that more large companies are focusing on sustainability instead of a "green' agenda, and how this will impact small business vendor contractors.
How can big business customers and small business vendors find common ground on sustainability? Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to report how big businesses and small businesses are working together to accomplish sustainability goals.
What can small businesses do to help big business customers impact sustainability? Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how innovation is the best way for small businesses to serve their customers and get the best margins.
Tuesday - June 26, 2012
What causes a small business to lose a customer? Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the reasons customers don't come back to your small business, and they're all self-imposed.
Do your customers know all the things your business offers? Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to talk about staying top-of-mind with customers by making sure they know all the products and services you offer.
Why do small businesses make customer service so difficult? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why too many small businesses actually think they're really good at customer service - but that's not what their customers would say.
What is the best way to express appreciation to customers? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the specific ways to train employees - and owners - how to properly and effectively express and show gratitude to customers for their business.
Do you think about customer service in transaction terms? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the only way to deliver excellent customer service is to think about the solution in terms of a relationship with the customer, not a transaction.
Can small businesses learn from Costco without becoming discounters? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how small businesses can learn from the way Costco focuses on what it does best and sticks with that.
Have you ever considered a marketing audit? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to suggest, if you're marketing plan isn't working, you might need to have it looked at by another pair of eyes, like a professional marketing auditor.
Can you handle an aggressive audience member when you're the speaker? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to handle an aggressive audience member when you're delivering a speech or training.
What do you do when a member of the audience tries to take over your speech? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to identify what he calls a "sniper" who disrupts your presentation and several professional ways to handle them.
When a sniper in the audience tries to derail your speech, how do you keep the audience on your side? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to turn the tables on a sniper who disrupts your speech and get the audience on your side.
Wednesday - June 27, 2012
You want to grow your business, but is it ready for growth? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame with tips on how to help small business CEOs who wants to grow get their underlying business foundation ready for the growth steps.
What if your team is not properly aligned to accomplish successful growth? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to get your team and business goals aligned so that any growth steps you take will be successful.
There are many ways to reform health care without government take-over. Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the many ways health care can be reformed successfully without resorting to government takeover.
What are the key constitutional issues of Obamacare being ruled on by the Supreme Court. Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the four primary Obamacare components that may be deemed to be unconstitutional.
If the Obamacare individual mandate is unconstitutional, what happens to the rest of the law? Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the future of ObamaCare's individual mandate is found to be unconstitutional.
There is a direct connection between the well-being of community banks and the strength of small businesses. Jim Blasingame reveals a troubling trend in declining number of community banks and why that's not good news for small businesses.
Are you making consumer and business decisions based on anxiety about the presidential election? Jim Blasingame offers insight into the evidence that consumers and businesses are adjusting buying decisions based on anxiety about the upcoming presidential election.
Joe just returned from a business trip to England, Sweden and Spain,. Joe Knight joins Jim Blasingame to report on his recent trip to Europe, what he heard there about their issues and what it means for U.S. small businesses.
Does your business have project management customer relationships? Joe Knight joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to conduct project management contracts profitably and successfully.
Project management contracts have many moving parts, including the marginal elements. Joe Knight joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to manage the marginal elements of a project management contract.
Thursday - June 28, 2012
How can imagining your customers without their clothes help your marketing? Danny Iny joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the steps of Naked Marketing, which is seeing your customer expectations in their most basic, uncluttered form.
Small business marketing includes over-delivering. Danny Iny joins Jim Blasingame to reveal many different elements that can become part of a small business marketing strategy.
How effective is it for a president to blame his predecessor? Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how effectively past presidents have been able to blame his predecessor on current problems.
The 2008 financial crisis was 35 years in the making. Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to explain how the current economic challenges were created, more than anything, by bad policies passed into law by the political class.
Does the current economy belong to President Obama? Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to identify why President Obama's federal government stimulus programs haven't worked.
Do you know the elements of your small business brand? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that your small business brand is more about how you connect with and have a relationship with customers than about your messaging.
The success of your small business brand depends greatly on your people. Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to explain why it's critical to find, hire, train and lead people who can become an extension of your brand.
Will Obamacare influence health care innovation? Paul Howard joins Jim Blasingame to predict that Obamacare would have a negative impact on health care innovation, including examples.
Obamacare was designed to set back medical innovation. Paul Howard joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the several ways that medical innovation will be set back if Obamacare is allowed to stand as passed, including a tax on medical device revenue.
Who will benefit from the Supreme Court decision on Obamacare? Paul Howard joins Jim Blasingame to speculate on how the politics will play out based on the Supreme Court's decision on Obamacare.
Friday - June 29, 2012
The future of connecting with customers is telling stories. Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the power of stories as a way to cut through the advertising clutter and why small businesses have to become storytellers.
Will the next president be the best storyteller? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame with advice for Obama and Romney about why their chances of getting elected in November could rest upon their ability to tell stories.
The Supreme Court surprise. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the surprising decision by the Supreme Court on ObamaCare and what it means with regard to precedent setting.
How will the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare impact the upcoming election? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to he impact of the Supreme Court's decision on ObamaCare on politics, especially the presidential debate.
Is the Holder contempt suit justified? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the "smoking gun" behavior of the Justice Dept. that caused House Republicans and some Democrats to pursue contempt charges against Attorney General Holder.
How much will Obamacare cost small businesses? Steve Beaman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the regulatory and financial impact Obamacare will have on small businesses, regardless of size.
Profit is not a bad word on Main Street. Steve Beaman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the benevolent power of profit and why the world needs to have a higher regard for it and those who create it.
China is turning construction paradigms on their heads. Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how a company in China plans to build a 200 story building in 90 days by using modular, pre-fab methods.
Could aspirin ward off cancer? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about new research showing new benefits of a low-dose of aspirin for fighting cancer, plus new ways to use stem cells from your own body.
How would you like airplane windows to be bigger? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to reveal a new breakthrough in metallurgy where transparent aluminum has been created and will become available for many uses.
