Britney Spears as an Entrepreneur?
Yes, that is exactly the kind of conversation that goes on sometimes in the StartupNation community forums. And for good reason. It's often the wacky, off the wall, “bend your mind just a little bit”...
Startup Business Coaching
I'm going to Italy in September with my wife. I don't speak Italian. If I want to be able to get along in Italy by speaking the native language I have two choices. I can...
Bad Customer Service Goes a Long Way in the Wrong Direction
This happens only once in a great while, but when it does it really especially stands out – in a terribly bad way. I actually boldly announced in a small business establishment this past weekend...
Entrepreneurs are constantly project managing
Let's stay with my movie theme for blogging this week. I was having a strategy conversation with one of my StartupNation teammates, Chuck, this afternoon and I promptly (maybe a little too easily) shifted over...
Small businesses can learn from Netflix and Blockbuster
Suzanne and I gave each other a Christmas gift this year that we're really excited about – a Netflix subscription. Friends have been touting the internet based movie rental service for a few years and...
How to Ask for a Proper Website Critique
I never, never, ever ceased to be amazed by the intelligence that rises forth from a properly engaged community. The wisdom of crowds is a popular topic of intriguing evaluation these days and you can...
No limp handshakes allowed
On the heels of us featuring a recent article about business ethics in the newsletter, I was struck by a post from Seth Godin about the dreaded "wet fish" handshake. We deal with ethical dilemmas...
Small Business Internet Relationships
How tuned into this internet thing are you really? Ok, so just by being a blog reader you're at a certain level of internet savvy-ness (is that even a word?). But do you take it...
Entrepreneur Word of the Day: Energy
I woke up this morning after only 6 hours of sleep with the most energy I've had in years. Then I had a conversation with an entrepreneur in Las Vegas who manufactures kids energy drinks....
StartupNation Community Podcast Has Launched !!
Yee-Haw !!! Whoopee !! Whoa Nellie !! The brand new StartupNation Community Podcast is rockin' and it's a rollin'! It may have been a bit of a sneak attack, coming in under the cloak of...
Sara Blakely turned visible panty lines and uncomfortable g-strings into a booming business
The genesis of a new business idea can come from anywhere. You don't like visible panty lines on your rear end? Your g-strings just aren't all that comfy? Hmm - There ought to be a...
Win Prize Package in StartupNation ’10 Step Challenge’
We want to learn from the StartupNation community and we're giving away a prize package to one lucky winner this month, along with four 2nd prizes too. This contest is sponsored by Southwest Airlines, PrintingForLess.com,...
Wacky Idea to Grow Small Business Sales
I just took a walk at lunch. I had already eaten a sandwich at my desk (peanut butter & jelly). I just wanted a walk break. I walked by 2 movie theaters & thought how...
What’s OUT! What’s IN! The ‘Wayne Gretzky’ Small Business Trend Spotting Strategy
Out: heal-hurting leather-soled dress shoes Out: Clothes Out: Web 1.0 In: run-through-the-airport rubber-soled dress shoes In: Working from a home office via computer In: Web 2.0 Out: Tanning beds Out: Thinking out of the box...
Contest Winners Every Day from Dell and StartupNation
We launched a contest last week in partnership with Dell where you can enter every day between last Monday September 18 & November 16 to win. Pretty cool prizes too: you can instantly win a...
First Day of Autumn is the Perfect Time to Start Your Direct Marketing Campaign
I could tell you that it's because the kids have been back in school for a month or so and families are settling into a non-summer-vacation routine. I could tell you that the first day...
When Small Business Opportunity Knocks, Answer the Door!
You say you're not an entrepreneur? You look at Henry Ford & Ray Kroc and say, “Well, that was all fine & dandy for them, but I'm not even close to inventing the automobile assembly...
I Have the Best Franchise Idea Since McDonald’s
How many times have you heard that from your friends, relatives at Thanksgiving dinner or even someone you just met for the first time? You just gotta love their enthusiasm. The thing is, they just...
10 Steps to Grow Your Business
What can I introduce that's a “natural” addition based on what I already provide? This question is just one of those posed in the first half of Step 5 of StartupNation's brand new '10 Steps...
Web marketing 101: learn from website pet peeves
Having a website, whatever your business model, is elementarily critical for a successful small business. Since everyone has a website, yours needs to shine. One of the ways to ensure that yours does is to...