Tuesday - August 01, 2006
David and Jim talk about some of the key management pitfalls that we all face and what to do about them.
Just back from the World Taxpayers Conference in Europe, John talks with Jim about what he saw there. They go on to talk about some of the current tax issues being debated in Congress.
Jerry and Jim talk about how to identify the danger zone in your growing business and how to avoid falling into that abyss.
Judith begins her visit talking about the state of entrepreneurship in Europe and then move on to talk about the new Kauffman Web site designed to help growing small businesses deal with the issues they face as they transition to the next level of growth.
Wednesday - August 02, 2006
Tom talks with Jim about the research he's conducted on the impact friendships in the workplace have on the ultimate success of the people and the organization.
Steve joins Jim to talk about the current debate about keeping ICANN out of the hands of the U.N. This is a serious situation with potentially dire consequences if the UN has its way.
Mike and Jim talk about the benefits of getting your Gen X employees connected to the mission of the organization.
Steve talks with Jim about how many of us are telling our story as a lie, and how to identify our "real" story and tell it successfully.
Thursday - August 03, 2006
Jim talks about why minimum wage has always been a political football and not based on altruism or economic fundamentals, why this is still true over 70 years since it came into existence and why it still is just about politics.
Ruth and Jim talk about lessons they've learned about being better managers.
Joan joins Jim to talk about the issue of cyber-security and its impact on e-business. They go on to talk about the economy, global trade talks, pension reforms, and the possibilities of a minimum wage increase.
Friday - August 04, 2006
Scott and Jim talk about what small business managers need to know about handling self-doubt, communication, burnout, etc. They also talk about what small business owners can learn from big business managers.
Larry talks with Jim about how venture capitalists work and whether you should try to use this method of capitalizing your business.
Tony joins Jim to talk about some of the critical things to pay attention to in your small business as the economy cools off a little.
Gary talks with Jim about the significant changes the travel agency industry has gone through over the past decade, the best ways to work with a 21st century travel agency, and what you can learn from the transition this industry has made.
Monday - August 07, 2006
Jo and Jim talk about the value of a mastermind group, how to start one and identify the best participants.
Ted talks with Jim about some of the newest developments regarding China, including their reaction to an outbreak of rabies, which speaks to how the Chinese think about their relationship with nature. They also talk about the wage scale in China compares to that in the U.S. (hint -- it doesn't). They wrap up talking about how critical future planning for U.S. infrastructure is to our ability to be competitive globally.
Nick joins Jim to talk about how franchising and entrepreneurship fit together. They also talk about how to determine if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
Wilma joins Jim to talk a little bit about the new SBA Administrator, Steven Preston. They move on to talk about how the marketplace environment looks for women who own businesses as well as those who want to start a business.
Tuesday - August 08, 2006
Georgia joins Jim to talk about appropriate attire for the summer. Jim could use a little help in this regard.
Rich and Jim talk about whether the Democrat primary in Connecticut is a bellwether for how the national Democrat Party will go. They go on to talk about what's happening in the Middle East, including how to deal with Iran.
Steve talks with Jim about what it takes to manage great salespeople.
Richard provides a report on the condition of the U.S. economy and what he thinks the Fed will do with interest rates. They also talk about how small businesses are disproportionately harmed by rising rates that are targeting consumers.
Wednesday - August 09, 2006
Jordan talks with Jim about some of the most current financial resources that consumers and small business owners can benefit from, including a new kind of mortgage and an exciting way to cut your healthcare costs.
Suzanne reports on her recent trip to Europe as she and Jim continue their series on how important it is for small business owners -- and those who want to be -- to understand the concept of emotional endurance.
Ralph joins Jim for the first time to talk about how to use technology to get the most relaxation out of your vacation, rather than letting technology ruin your vacation.
Arky and Jim talk about how to eliminate toxic gossip and complaining by creating policies and opportunities where concerns can be brought up and dealt with productively instead of negatively.
Thursday - August 10, 2006
Debra talks with Jim about her concern that telecommunications advances may actually be the end of the art of conversation. What could that mean to your relationships with customers?
Sam talks with Jim about his recent survey of business professionals who provide a mixed bag of indicators about the U.S. economy for the current month and the next two. Listen in to see what Sam says about the potential for a recession.
Joan and Jim begin their visit talking about the recent terrorist plot to blow up airlines. They move on to talk about economic conditions around the globe and how they will affect the U.S. economy. Next they discuss the Fed and interest rates, followed by what's happening in the auto industry. They wrap up by talking about the new FICA wage base, the future of labor unions, the dropping prices on computers and the future of Cuba.
Friday - August 11, 2006
Stephanie talks with Jim about how to get organized after the summer months are over.
Stephen joins Jim to report on the 2006 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and what he has learned about what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
Jim talks about the Top 10 Things He Believes to be True about the Global War on Terror.
Pierce and Jim begin their visit talking about how the brain of a terrorist works. They move on to talk about what Pierce has learned about what we can do to improve our own brain power.
Monday - August 14, 2006
Randy joins Jim to talk about the recent "living wage" debate currently in Chicago and other cities, and how it is impacting corporate planning decisions.
Ray and Jim talk about a number of small business public policy issues, including minimum wage, estate tax, eminent domain, etc. They also talk about the upcoming Congressional elections in the fall.
Karen joins Jim to talk about what she calls the naked truth about selling, specifically how our baggage sometimes holds us back and how to get rid of it, or at least minimize it.
Bill and Jim talk about some of the current economic issues, including what the current cooling off of the economy is going to look like and what small business owners should be doing about it. They wrap up by talking about their thoughts on the fall Congressional elections.
Tuesday - August 15, 2006
Judith and Jim talk about the DNA of leadership, including what they call the "3 Cs" of caring, courage and candor.
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Doug joins Jim to talk about his recent trip to Thailand and expert opportunities there, followed by how the U.S. Commercial Services can help U.S. small businesses sell abroad on the Internet.
Steven talks with Jim about the important role that communication plays in growing a small business.
Mark Mayberry and Jim Blasingame talk about how small businesses can compete with the Big Box competitors by thinking big about little things.
Wednesday - August 16, 2006
Steve joins Jim live at the ACCE convention in Cleveland, OH to talk about COSE and how important it is for small businesses to join their local Chamber of Commerce.
Jim and Mick talk about reaching out globally through your local chamber of commerce during the ACCE convention in Cleveland, OH.
Abby joins Jim during the 2006 ACCE convention in Cleveland, OH to explain what the Arts Network does and how it helps independent artists. They also discuss how important networking is to small businesses.
Steven, the new administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, joins Jim for the first time to talk about what the SBA is doing for small businesses and what it's like to be the new leader of the SBA. Administrator Preston ends the interview with a message to small businesses.
Thursday - August 17, 2006
Celia joins Jim during the 2006 ACCE Convention in Cleveland, OH to talk about how her company has grown and how her chamber of commerce has helped in that process. She also tells Jim how important it is to listen to clients and build relationships with them.
Gary explains to Jim what it's like being a small plastics manufacturer and why joining a Chamber of Commerce has helped his company survive.
Jim and Kathy talk about how her father started their indoor recreation business. Kathy also talks about how they incorporated an online sales strategy to further their success.
Sandra joins Jim live at the ACCE Convention in Cleveland, OH to discuss the challenges her organization faced in growing the regional chamber. They go on to talk about how important it is for local chambers of commerce to network on a national level.
Friday - August 18, 2006
Tim joins Jim to talk about the Milwaukee chamber and their small business initiatives.
Charlie talks with Jim about the upcoming bi-centennial celebration of the Meadville Chamber in 2007. They also talk about what his chamber is doing to help small businesses in northwest Pennsylvania.
Matt joins Jim first to talk about how things are going in California with Governor Arnold. They go on to talk about the economy in the central valley and what his organization is doing to help small businesses. Later Matt and Jim are joined by Jeff Mosely of Houston and the three begin their visit talking about how to handle the immigration challenge. Jeff also talks about the Houston economy and his plans to grow the job base there by 60,000 jobs per year for 10 years.
Monday - August 21, 2006
Michael talks with Jim about how small business owners can work less and make more. It's not magic, but it works.
Phyllis and Jim continue their series on word choices and verbal mistakes that we make.
Steven joins Jim to talk about being honest with our customers and employees.
Sean talks with Jim about how small business owners can make sure their customers trust them after they find out if they do.
Tuesday - August 22, 2006
Bob joins Jim to talk about what holds us back from creating wealth. They go on to talk about the advantages of being a real estate investor.
Don and Jim talk about world politics first, including the struggle between Israel and Hezbollah, and the challenges the world faces with Iran. They go on to talk about U.S. politics and what Don thinks will happen in the fall elections.
Tamar talks with Jim about the current state of the immigration debate. Jim offers his ideas for resolving this elephant in America's living room and Tamar tells us where the failure of political leadership lies.
Gwendolyn and Jim continue their series on the impact visualization can have -- positive and negative -- on our workplace, including some suggestions for making the impact positive for your workplace.
Wednesday - August 23, 2006
Jeffrey joins Jim to talk about why small businesses should create policies that cover security of electronic assets as well as Internet usage. They also talk about how far companies can go with workplace surveillance.
Rick talks with Jim about the different kinds of life insurance and the different ways like insurance can be used as financial tools.
Matthew and Jim talk about how to use student interns to benefit your business.
Michael and Jim talk about the realities of globalization and what small businesses should do to benefit from it instead of being a victim.
Thursday - August 24, 2006
Bev and Jim talk about how to balance seasonal family activities in your home-based business through planning.
Bev reports on her recent trip to Egypt for a women's conference and what she learned there. She and Jim also talk about the value of improving your public speaking skills as a way of conveying your vision to employees.
Joan and Jim talk about the political environment for incumbents in the upcoming fall mid-term elections. They also talk about new terrorism laws being proposed, the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on small businesses, the future of renting software over the Internet, and the general condition of the economy.
Friday - August 25, 2006
Bill and Jim talk about the issues and advantages of having employees who work from home as so called "teleworkers" or "telecommuters."
John Fox joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to solve two equally difficult but very diverse problems: 1) How to solve the minimum wage issue so that it helps those who need an increase in income without hurting small businesses; and 2) How to develop a "Marshall Plan" for Lebanon and Palestine.
Fred and Jim talk about how to make sure your creativity in marketing and branding actually produces bottomline results.
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Doug talks with Jim about how to use Section 1031 of the U.S. tax code to our advantage. Doug will identify one of the most unique provisions in the tax code in that it actually helps you avoid tax.
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Monday - August 28, 2006
Leigh joins Jim to talk about how to identify employees who might be only showing up for work and not actually engaged.
Don and Jim talk about how the Fed has been managing the economy, how the economy is doing, and Don's thoughts on his hometown of New Orleans one year after Katrina.
Ilise talks with Jim about why shyness is actually a form of selfishness and how it could be holding you back.
Tim and Jim talk about how to think about the projections element of your business plan, where to look for help and where not to look. They also identify a great way to minimize the truth that projections are always wrong.
Tuesday - August 29, 2006
Bob joins Jim to talk about how to identify your core customers -- the most profitable ones -- and how to grow new ones.
Matt talks with Jim about the development and use of non-compete agreements to have your employees sign and for you to enforce.
Marsha talks with Jim about the state of women business ownership around the world and also in the U.S. She says that while advances have been made for women, there are still some areas that need improving.
On the 1st anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Tish talks with Jim about how her community is doing after being the place where this hurricane came ashore and what you and I can do to help.
Wednesday - August 30, 2006
Paul and Jim talk about how to find out if your customers are satisfied or committed, and what to do when you find out that information.
Nicole joins Jim to talk about some of the systemic and decades old reasons for the problems that New Orleans is experiencing as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Chris talks with Jim about what he saw as he photographed the wake of distruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina.
Darby talks with Jim about how to think about using leverage and personal levers to accomplish the things you want to do in your life.
Thursday - August 31, 2006
Jeff and Jim talk about how to gain valuable public relations exposure by working with reporters and other journalists as an industry expert on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show
Alan talks with Jim about the new computer dual processor chip being delivered soon by Intell and what that can mean to us. They also talk about some of the new storage technology that will create significant changes in the way we think of using technology.
Joan and Jim talk about the impact of the slowing housing market on the overall national economy. They also talk about the prices of various energy products, especially gasoline. Next they talk about how to use Health Savings Accounts in your small business as a way to add value to employees. And finally, they discuss the impact of hurricanes, etc., on the price of insurance.
