What’s more important: trust, respect, or being liked in business.
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant That's my question of the day: which is most important for the growth and prosperity of your business: being trusted, respected or liked. Does it differ if you are talking about a potential employee or a partner? This conversation started for me a couple of years ago at a...
StartupNation Elevator Pitch Contest helps you build your dream business
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant Here at StartupNation, we are gearing up for the second Elevator Pitch Contest which hits the airwaves on November 4th. This time, the prize will be The Ultimate Hook-Up: A chance for the winner to fly in to StartupNation headquarters for coaching and to meet with real investors. If...
Can you overstep the line to cut through the clutter and market your product?
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant This weekend, I came across two marketing concepts that made me ask the question WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING?!?!?!. The first was in an article in the Detroit Free Press and it talked about a new energy drink called "Cocaine". The spokesperson for the company said, "It's a fun...
It’s Generation Boomers
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant I’m sitting here thinking of funny slang words and sayings baby boomers will remember. Boss really made me laugh. But if you remember dingbat, bad trip, radical, 4-F, and flower child, I’ll bet you are a baby boomer. Peace, Man! Today, boomers rule the roost and now that the...
Starting a business may be a trait we pass on to our children
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant My father is celebrating his 80th birthday this week. So I will try out my toast to him on you. First a little background: When my parents married, they had two children in two years, but they didn't (as they like to say) have two nickels to rub together....
Predicting how successful a new technology will be
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant What if you could tell what technology was going to be adopted in the future. If you could find an equation to identify the market needs and strengths of a new idea, you could start a business, or invest in one that would make you rich, Rich, RICH! Pip...
What is your time worth when you aren’t managing your small business?
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant I painted my son's bedroom. Four coats later I was asking myself why I didn't hire a painter to do the job. Deciding to farm out a job--whether it's outsourcing for your business, or hiring a painter-- depends on more than the money involved. It really depends on how...
What is the best small business elevator pitch in the pitch-off? You tell us!
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant A signature feature on StartupNation Radio is The Elevator Pitch . Participants have one minute to verbally hook the interest of a potential investor on a virtual elevator ride. We are having the first ever “StartupNation Radio Pitch-Off” on StartupNation Radio and here in the community forums at StartupNation.com....
StartupNation forums offer home-based business owners new opportunities for friendship
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant StartupNation is more than a place to read articles about how to run our businesses. It's a place for us to find confidants (and according to this recent survey we need them more than ever), a place to share ideas, get constructive criticism, and to help one another make...
This blog is not about slogging, clogging or flogging or logging
From Joan Isabella, StartupNation Radio consultant I believe in cosmic communication. This is why I want you to know that I have been blogging to you in my mind-- sending out bits and pieces of uncompleted thoughts telepathically that may interest you (just kidding!). Of course, I figured out along the way that you are...
Commencement message made to order for small business owners
They say youth is wasted on the young, but I think good commencement speeches may be too. Last year, my favorite speech was the address given by Steve Jobs at Stanford. This year, most of the press was about speakers who got in hot water for the things they choose to say or where they...
Vacation may lead to a new small business opportunity
I almost didn't come back from my vacation in North Carolina. Not only was the weather perfect, the ocean water warm and the rental house amazing, I saw business opportunities on every corner. I was so enthralled with the idea that I might start a business on the beach and spend the remainder of my...
Grassroots marketing strategies can really payoff
"Hitch your wagon to the littlest star" could be the name of the marketing strategy used by the owners of Belly Maternity, a Denver boutique that sells maternity and baby clothes. They sent Angelina Jolie a "thank-you gift" for her humanitarian work. They also sent gifts to other pregnant stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer...
Marketing your small business: Choose your words carefully
When you write an advertisement, whether it's for the newspaper, radio, or internet, you may want to tell people that your product is of high quality; that it's a great value. You want them to know you have integrity. You are devoted to customer service, and you care about them deeply. Right? Wrong! According to...
When starting a business, make yours one that gets the job done with one phone call
You know the weekend is over when your spouse heads out the door to the office and hands you a plunger while giving you a kiss goodbye. I don't know about you, but something in the universe made time run double fast for me in the past few days. I did many things, but can't...
Ten Steps to opening a lemonade stand
We are trying to teach our 6 year old the value of work. We are hopeful to raise a young man with a strong work ethic and desire to succeed. It's much easier said than done. So when I offered him the job of cleaning up some lawn debris for cash that he could use...
Small business owners are contestants in the real American Idol
I never watched American Idol. But I'm sure many of you have. I want to know if the show has anything to teach us about running our businesses and our lives. Without ever watching, here are a couple of things that I surmised from the media hype: 1) Bullies get a lot of attention. They...
Small Business exemplifies old business adage: Do one thing really well.
There are lots of sayings, theories and clichés about how to run a successful business. One I've heard many times is “Do one thing and do it well.” While heading out of my hotel to a nearby Starbucks on Saturday morning in Chicago, I saw a line that I was relieved to find out was...
Lessons from Enron: Are ethics part of your business plan?
Do you recycle all of your bottles and cans? You know you should. Do you cheat on your taxes--inflate those entertainment expenses just a tad? You know you shouldn't. Do you know someone who you think may be breaking some law, but you're not sure, and you really don't want to find out? These are...
Even a great small business idea faces hurdles in the traditional marketplace
Clothes that fit real women. You'd think that would be a no-brainer for a successful start up. Women everywhere complain that ready-to-wear clothes are made for tall thin women, but changing the way department stores buy and display clothes is a challenge for the companies that designed a new system for creating clothes that fit...