Wednesday - September 01, 1999
Roger and Jim begin a series on becoming a better negotiator by defining negotiation, and moving on to discuss the various stages of negotiating, the different kinds of negotiators, and methods of dealing with each.
Phyllis talks to Jim about the Five Factors That Feed Your Failure, such as needless apologies, avoiding technology, weak words, provincial point-of-view, and naivete about the pervasiveness of government.
Thursday - September 02, 1999
Ilise talks with Jim about how to use email as a way to market our small businesses. The discussion includes understanding the terminology, and the challenges of making the email you are sending become a priority for the recipient. They also discuss the difference between an ezine and electronic newsletter.
Friday - September 03, 1999
Jonathan and Jim talk about the development and use of digital signatures. They move on to talk about free email services, voice recognition, voice synthesis, and money saving technology for small businesses.
Barry continues a series with Jim as they talk more about his Universal Laws Of Business, plus a discussion of Being Big, but Acting Small, and Being Small and Acting Big. I know it sound funny, but just listen, you'll see what we mean.
Monday - September 06, 1999
Burt joins Jim on Labor Day to talk about the history of Labor Day, and how it has changed over the years. They also talk about the importance of coordination and communication between the marketplace and our schools.
Tuesday - September 07, 1999
Russ and Jim continue their series on business valuation methods. During this visit they talk about how to "recast" or "reconstruct" the financial statement of the business being sold, and the tension between maximizing tax advantages while operating the business, and maximizing the value to a potential purchaser.
Doug and Jim continue their series on Estate Trusts, beginning with a brief review of past trust categories, and then moving on to cover the specifics of how to understand the Unified Credit and how it affects your estate planning. They then discuss the merits and disadvantages of a Charitable Remainder Trust.
Wednesday - September 08, 1999
Adam talks with Jim about how broadband telecommunications will affect our lives and businesses in the next century, including a definition of the subject. Often called "big pipes", Jim and Adam discuss the use of broadband applications such as distance learning, plus cultural issues, and public policy of this capability.
Beverley and Jim talk about the importance of home-based business owners having a working relationship with attorneys and accountants, and how to accomplish this successfully and inexpensively.
Thursday - September 09, 1999
Sarah and Jim talk about the issues surrounding purchasing and/or selling a small business, emphasizing that this process is different for every transaction, and is very much different from buying real estate.
Friday - September 10, 1999
Ivan joins Jim to talk about important and successful techniques of networking, including something Ivan calls a Memory Hook, how they are born, and how to use them.
John Fox and Ray Keating join Jim Blasingame for a lively discussion about their perspectives on income tax policies, specifically with regard to what to do with our alleged surplus: Does the government keep it, or do we give it back to taxpayers?
Monday - September 13, 1999
Paul and Jim talk about the fundamentals of successful prospecting, including the importance of having the spirit necessary for prospecting, and understanding the prospecting process and prospecting tools.
Chérie is the person who developed the Rules For Being Human that have been circulating since the 1970s. In her first visit with Jim, they discuss her new book based on these rules. This is a special visit with a special lady.
Tuesday - September 14, 1999
Phil and Jim talk about how to be successful in the marketplace as a "David" competing with the "Goliaths". They discuss the importance of identifying a niche in your marketplace that the "Big Box" companies can't fill, and developing a marketing strategy around that opportunity. Jim and Phil stress focusing on service and value, not price.
Knight joins Jim the week prior to Kiplinger's 76th anniversary, to discuss his and the Kiplinger organization's views on the national and global opportunities and threats that are ahead for us, as individuals and small business owners, as we approach the new millennium.
Wednesday - September 15, 1999
Roger and Jim continue their series on becoming a better negotiator by discussing numerous common negotiating tactics, plus countermeasures to use when these tactics are being used by the other party.
Jim welcomes Steve back to the show as they discuss the importance of mid-year reviews for your business, the components, and how to conduct them. Mid-year reviews, or interim reviews, as they can also be called, help you check your position with regard to your annual goals and objectives. You do have goals and objectives, don't you?
Thursday - September 16, 1999
Jim and Beverley initially discuss the affects of Hurricane Floyd, the importance of being prepared for various emergencies and unexpected disasters, such as lightning strikes, hurricanes, fires, floods, etc., and how to develop contingency plans for your home-based business. They then move on to talk about the importance of, and how to gain media attention and press coverage for your business in your community.
Joan is a weekly guest on the show, and she and Jim cover the most recent Kiplinger Washington Letter. In this interview, Jim and Joan spend most of the visit discussing telecommunications issues, plus a little bit on the stock market, and other topics.
Friday - September 17, 1999
Jonathan joins Jim to discuss various information technology issues, including software, hardware, applications, and public policy. This week Jonathan talks about the easing of encryption controls, which has significant international security and trade implications. They move on to talk about the debate over digital signatures, free email service, Internet connection from your cell phone, receiving customized information via email, and other issues.
Bill and Jim begin their discussion talking about violence in our society in general. They move on to focus on the tension that seems to be more prevalent in the workplace today, and methods and policies you can employ to make sure your employees are safe, and prevent unfortunate occurrences in your business.
Monday - September 20, 1999
Jack returns to the show to talk about one of Jim's favorite subjects, selling. Jim makes the statement that every member of every company is part of the sales team, from the CEO to the courier. Jim and Jack emphasize the importance of employee training as an investment in them and in the company. They move on to talk about some fundamental rules of selling, such as how to ask get the information you need from your customers and prospects.
Marc and Jim talk about how to live a visionary life. They begin by talking about how to define success in the healthiest way, which is to say, not just about stuff, and how to blend this attitude into our business pursuits. Marc shares how his mentors helped him to be successful without being consumed by his business.
Tuesday - September 21, 1999
Russell and Jim discuss how to structure a successful business sale. The guys walk you through the steps of organizing the sale after the Letter Of Intent is in place, the due diligence is done, and you are in the final negotiations that will determine exactly how the sale is to be structured, including the price, terms, and contract documents.
Jim and Marguerite continue their discussion of Marguerite's "Commandments". They begin with a discussion of how businesses get into trouble by not paying the proper taxes, especially payroll withholding. They move on to talk about how to expect the unexpected, and how to identify what Marguerite calls, "The Green Zone, The Yellow Zone, and the dread Red Zone.
Wednesday - September 22, 1999
Dr. Frankenberg joins Jim to talk about the extra degree of difficulty that is added to a small business operation when family members are directly involved. One of the tools Ellen offers is to follow the "straight line" method of communicating, which is to deal directly with the person involved, rather than relying on a third individual to relay information. They move on to talk about "family norms".
Sarah talks with Jim about a topic she calls, "Employees - A help or a hindrance". They discuss some of the things you should look for when interviewing a prospective employee, including how to identify whether a prospect is a good candidate to work in a small business. They move on to talk about the proper documentation you need, and other legal and practical issues involved in finding, interviewing, hiring, employing, and terminating employees. Sarah is good - don't miss this one.
Sarah talks with Jim about a topic she calls, "Employees - A help or a hindrance". They discuss some of the things you should look for when interviewing a prospective employee, including how to identify whether a prospect is a good candidate to work in a small business. They move on to talk about the proper documentation you need, and other legal and practical issues involved in finding, interviewing, hiring, employing, and terminating employees. Sarah is good - don't miss this one.
Thursday - September 23, 1999
One of our most dedicated and valuable Brain Trust Members, Beverley joins Jim in this visit to talk about how to put your home-based business plan in writing. Beverley and Jim talk you through seven easy steps to complete what Beverley calls "A Plan Of Business", and it includes a contingency plan for what you are going to do if your business activity is interrupted for whatever reason. This is not about writing an epistle. It's about how to get a helpful plan on paper that will help you have the maximum opportunity to be successful in your home-based business.
Joan and Jim review the most recent Kiplinger Letter, beginning with Merger Mania and how that affects small business, including how to benefit from all of the consolidation, instead of being harmed. They move on to talk about other topics including on-line opportunities to purchase cars that are in the works. They also talk about import/export issues related to the exchange relationship between the dollar and the Japanese Yen. Another topic they discuss is new developments in drugs that will help Alzheimer's patients. Finally, they discuss spam, and a little bit about politics.
Friday - September 24, 1999
Nattalia is one of our Internet experts, and in this visit, she and Jim discuss the survey she conducted for her new book about the lives, loves, and interests of computer users. This information is not only informative, but it's also entertaining. Jim finds some of this information a little too close to home for comfort. If you are a geek, a computer widow or widower, or a ludite (someone who doesn't use a computer) check it out to see if you find yourself in the interesting facts Nattalia found.
Monday - September 27, 1999
Steve and Jim talk about how small businesses can find opportunity instead of problems when the Big Boxes come to town. Big Boxes have a lot of stuff, but they don't have everything. They don't even have the really good stuff that is easy for small business, like customization, technical help, convenience, (your idea here). The guys wrap up by talking about the untapped resource, referrals.
Gary always has an uplifting message to help us "reintegrate" spiritual and ethical thinking into our market activities. Gary says one of our challenges is how to sort through all of the information that is available today and find the wisdom. One of the things Gary shares with Jim is how to put our national debt ($5 trillion) in perspective with our national assets ($50 Trillion).
Tuesday - September 28, 1999
Jan joins Jim for the first time to talk about time management. But not just regular, everyday time management. This visit is about "creative" time management. As Jan calls it, "Having a balanced life. An ordered life." The value of creative time management is to help small business owners effectively separate their business from the other parts of their lives. This is good stuff!
Noah joins Jim for another visit to discuss Success Anorexia (a condition that Noah identified), what it is, how it affects us, and how to cure ourselves of it. Noah agrees with Jim when he says that EVERYONE has Success Anorexia at least a little. They also talk about three simple facts about success that almost everyone ignores.
Wednesday - September 29, 1999
Roger joins Jim again to continue their discussion on negotiating. The guys point out that when you negotiate, it is often with people you will be doing business with many times. Therefore, it's important to deal in good faith, and how to identify what that looks like. They discuss ways to be a tough negotiator without being unethical. They also discuss what downsized former corporate employees need to know about negotiating protocols and standards as they enter the small business marketplace
As you might imagine, John and Jim talk about tax issues. This visit focuses on the wrestling match between Congress and the Clinton Administration concerning tax proposals. They move on to talk about the argument of whether to pay down the federal debt with the surplus, or cut taxes.
Thursday - September 30, 1999
Beverley and Jim have another discussion on home-based business issues. This visit is about the importance and practice of networking. Jim and Beverley agree that this may be the most important component of any home-based business.
Joan joins Jim to talk about a number of issues, including the "alleged" federal budget surplus. They move on to talk about a bill in Congress that allows satellite TV broadcasters to be able to carry local stations. Jim gets on his soap box about a proposed minimum wage hike. Another topic of discussion is bankruptcy trends, and what Congress is working on to change bankruptcy laws. Joan reports that Kiplinger predicts the Internet will be a big player in Campaign 2000, including what that will look like.
