Monday - January 01, 2007
On New Year's day, Jim talks about his 2007 predictions. There are 14.
The key do resolutions is to be resolute about the things you believe are important, and Gene joins Jim to talk about what Abraham Lincoln thought about being resolute.
Wealth is a mercurial state that, for most of us, requires a number steps to be taken, and Todd joins Jim to talk about how to take those wealth creating steps.
Recently there were three famous deaths: A godfather (James Brown), and two presidents, one good (Gerald Ford) and one evil (Saddam Hussein). Rich joins Jim to talk about the lives and influence of all three.
Tuesday - January 02, 2007
Illegal immigration is one of the political hot buttons and one of the America's seriously unsolved problems, and Tamar joins Jim to talk about what she thinks will and should happen in 2007 concerning this challenge.
What are the things women business owners need to do to have the maximum opportunity to be successful? Janet talks with Jim about how to address the unique challenges women business owners have.
Small business partnerships are difficult to pull off successfully, and David talks with Jim about what to do when things go south in a business partnership.
Retirement planning is not easy for small business owners, because there are always other needs for our capital that preempts the retirement accounts. But Mary Beth talks with Jim about some retirement plan ideas that will help small business owners capitalize their business AND plan for retirement.
Wednesday - January 03, 2007
Jim says franchising is entrepreneurial coloring inside the lines, and he and Joel talk about how to determine if you're a good fit to own a franchise.
How do you manage your brand image in a world where there are cell phone cameras and a website called Youtube? Jane and Jean join Jim to talk about how to make sure your brand stand for what you intend.
Differentiation is one of the keys to 21st century success for small businesses, and Jim talk about what it takes to accomplish this.
Are you a complainer or do you take responsibility for your life? Debra joins Jim to talk about the people who fit these two profiles and how to deal with them. Don't be surprised if you see yourself in some of their examples.
Thursday - January 04, 2007
Business planning includes doing the right research before starting a business, and Beverly talks with Jim about an example of what happens when the research isn't done properly.
Preparation is the most important part of having a successful meeting, and Karen joins Jim to talk about how to make sure your meetings come off without a hitch.
Joan and Jim talk about some of the issues that Kiplinger -- and Jim -- have to say about what's likely to happen in 2007 in a number of areas. They also cover some of the brand new demographic research that Kiplinger has recently published, which is important to know as we plan our marketing strategies for the new year.
Friday - January 05, 2007
It's not net-eating, or net-sleeping, it's networking, and Dean joins Jim to talk about how to get the most out of the relationships we create.
Someone once said, the first virtue is courage and without it, the others aren't possible. In the marketplace, one of the virtues is leadership, which also would not exist without courage, and Bill talks with Jim about how to have and give courage.
Does your company live up to its brand promise or do you just give lip service? Christine joins Jim to talk about what it means for a business to have a "purpose," and why it's important to be true to it.
First there was the Industrial Age, then the Information Age, and now we have the Digital Age. Your business doesn't have to be leading the Digital Age charge, but it had better be moving in the right direction, and Glenn and Jim talk about how why and how to do that.
Monday - January 08, 2007
We should never underestimate where our next great idea can come from, and Frans talks with Jim about how to put yourself in a position to take advantage of new thinking.
What if you build it -- but nobody comes? This is the Small Business Field of Dreams question Rick talks about with Jim and identifies how to use it as a critical element in the development of any new idea, strategy or product.
It's so difficult for small business owners to eat and exercise the way we should, and Tom joins Jim to provide some ideas on how we can be better stewards of our bodies.
Difficult customers are often a problem for our small businesses, but how often are we part of that problem? Dave talks with Jim about why it's good business to invest a little extra in these unique prospects and customers.
Tuesday - January 09, 2007
We're not in the 20th century anymore, and Robin and Jim talk about how to make sure you're not running your business like you were.
Our customers are 21st century shoppers, and JoAnna and Jim talk about how to make sure we're taking care of this very savvy and very important group of people.
Our world is full of colors and shapes and Gwendolyn talks with Jim about how to use these to find efficiencies in our businesses.
Everyone has an opinion about Wal-Mart and Charles talks with Jim about some of the things he learned about this huge organization, including what small businesses need to know about them.
Wednesday - January 10, 2007
Courage comes first, then leadership, and Tom talks with Jim about how to simplify this transition.
Leveraging leadership within your team(s) is one of the quickest ways to success and Kristin talks with Jim about how to accomplish this.
Doing business and maintaining a strong spirit requires intention, and Christopher joins Jim to talk about how to be a fierce competitor and spiritual at the same time.
After providing a report on his recent trip to help South Africans start small businesses, Phil talks with Jim about the advantages of buying an existing business rather than starting one from scratch.
Thursday - January 11, 2007
Whether it's just the most economical way to start your business or your long-term plan, being home-based is a great option and Jeff Zbar talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the reasons.
If you're not calling on big customers you're missing a great opportunity, and Steve talks with Jim about why big businesses are actively seeking small businesses as their vendor-partners.
Joan and Jim begin their interview talking about President Bush's new Iraq agenda. They move on to discuss the Kiplinger and Blasingame economic forecasts for 2007, new postal increases, health care, minimum wage and what Congress will attempt to do this month.
Friday - January 12, 2007
Many great ideas have failed because the weren't communicated properly and Dan talks with Jim about how to make your great small business ideas stick so they have the maximum opportunity to be successful.
Don joins Jim to talk about President Bush's new plan for Iraq and the 110th Congresses new plan for America, and what that will mean for small business.
Does your profit picture stink? Well, Robert talks with Jim about three ways to make sure your profits not only smell good, but also abound.
What's important, the plan or the planning? Tim talks with Jim about why the plan isn't as important as the planning.
Monday - January 15, 2007
Some research shows that up to 90% of people resist change, and Alan and Jim talk about why, and how expensive the resistance to change can be.
Since he's having a tough time distinguishing between the Democrats and Republicans these days, Jim has a new term he used to address all of them, the 110th Congress, and he and Wayne talk about some of the things small businesses -- and our free market economy -- have in store for them with this group of politicians.
The incidence of business failures has increased by 20% over the past 5 years and Jim talks about this tragedy and the financial fundamentals that you must employ in order to stay out of the business obituaries.
Small business ownership is not for everyone, and Paul and Jim talk about how to determine if your ready for entrepreneurship.
Tuesday - January 16, 2007
Public speaking isn't just on a state; you do it every time you talk with your employees. And Jeanette talks with Jim about how to make sure you're putting your best foot forward every time you speak, and that you actually do speak every time you have the opportunity.
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Every inventor must decide who is going to take their invention to market, themselves or someone else. After helping you understand this process, Jim is joined by David to talk about an Inventor's Forum that IBM is sponsoring, and how you can participate.
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Continuing his Focus on the Fundamentals series, Jim talks more about financial fundamentals, including accounting software, inventory management, etc.
Having just returned from the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, Jonathan talks with Jim about some of the technological innovations he found there that will be of interest to small business owners.
Wednesday - January 17, 2007
Organic foods has become big business, and Myra talks with Jim about how she and her husband virtually invented the industry, and still flourish as a small business.
Some financial planners say that disability insurance is just as important for small businesses as life insurance, and Rick talks with Jim about why that is the case.
Benjamin Franklin was America's first entrepreneur, and Blaine joins Jim on Ben's 301st birthday to talk about the life of this remarkable Founder.
What would happen to your business if you were not able to be there for a few weeks -- especially if it were not planned. Ilise has recently experienced a planned absence, and she talks with Jim about how she made sure her business stayed in business while she was out.
Thursday - January 18, 2007
Even home-based businesses have to plan in order to turn their hard work into success, and Beverley joins Jim to talk about one such success story.
The economy seems to be humming along, as Sam reports to Jim in his monthly survey of his partners across the country as they tell Sam how they're finding the current economic conditions in their small businesses.
Joan joins Jim to talk about the issues covered in the most recent Kiplinger letter, including the national attention being given to the Massachusetts' Model for healthcare insurance reform. They also talk about the trend in crude oil prices, human resources, interest rates, the federal deficit and the actions of some of the dictators around the world.
Friday - January 19, 2007
Jury duty is something virtually every citizen will be asked to perform, and Bill talks with Jim about how our employees should be treated when they are called to be considered to sit on a jury.
All small businesses have brands, and these brands will be defined. The question is, who will define your brands, and Bill and Jim talk about how to make sure that you and your customers define your brands, not your competitors.
Continuing his series on financial fundamentals, Jim talks about what he considers to be THE most important thing he can tell a growing small business to keep them out of the business obituaries.
How do small businesses pay their executives and managers? Joe joins Jim to talk about the results of their small business executive compensation survey.
Monday - January 22, 2007
At the beginning of every year there are a number of things we need to do to update our business records, etc., and home-based business expert Jeff Zbar talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the ones to look at.
More and more baby boomers are starting small businesses these days, and Maria joins Jim to talk about some of the things these entrepreneurial late-bloomers should consider before talking the leap.
Continuing his series on focusing on small business fundamentals, Jim talks about some of the human resource fundamentals that small business owners should be constantly working on.
With her "Top 10 list," Paula identifies what she considers to be the ten most important things small business owners should do to get their new year off on the right marketing foot.
Tuesday - January 23, 2007
Providing health care coverage for employees is one of the most challenging issues facing small businesses and Grace-Marie joins Jim to talk about how President Bush will address this in his state of the union message.
Having the right people in the right jobs is critical to small business success and Chuck talks with Jim about how to accomplish that by understanding how to determine our strengths and weaknesses, and manage around them.
Continuing his series on focusing on the fundamentals, so you can stay out of the business obituaries, Jim talks about more human resources fundamentals, specifically in this segment, the importance of finding the right people, training them well, and getting rid of the dead wood.
When everything has a warning label on it, warning labels mean nothing, and Walter joins Jim to talk about how silly our warning label society has become. They also talk about how Sarbanes-Oxley has hurt U.S. competitiveness when it comes to initial public offerings.
Monday - January 29, 2007
Email is a great resource, but like all tools, must be used responsibly, and Christina joins Jim to talk about some of the issues businesses should focus on when allowing their employees to use email in the course of business.
The new ranking member of the House Small Business Committee talks with Jim about the work that he is going to be doing on behalf of small businesses in the coming year, including debates on minimum wage, health care, trade and regulations.
Just because you have a good idea doesn't mean it will work out, and David and Michael talk with Jim about how to make sure you ideas have the maximum opportunity to be successful.
The term "jointly and severally" is one that every adult should be familiar with, but especially those in business, and Matt talks with Jim about what it means, how you can be affected by it, and how to minimize any negative impact it might cause you.
Tuesday - January 30, 2007
Are you working toward something or running away from something? Tim and Jim talk about the three key career elements you should focus on for success.
Are you navigating with a map or a compass? Stephen talks with Jim about why it's a good idea to not have all of your life planned out.
Jim talks about two critical management fundamentals that will help you have the maximum opportunity to be successful.
Marsha and Jim talk about the strength of the U.S. economy, women business owners, and which generation of women have the most money right now.
Wednesday - January 31, 2007
Good customer care often simply requires common sense, and Mark Mayberry talks with Jim Blasingame about how to train for common sense.
The economy is doing well, just not overheating, and Bill and Jim talk about some of the economic elements that small businesses are facing today.
Jim continues his series on Management Fundamentals with more on staying out of the business obituaries by becoming an integrated partner with your customers.
Providing competitive benefits for employees is one of the top challenges small business owners face, and Renee and Jim A. talk with Jim B. about the best practices that one company is using to hire and keep good employees.
