Monday - August 06, 2007
How are the younger generation entrepreneurs -- Generation X and Y -- different from their older counterparts? Donna and Jim talk about how these young folks look at starting a business and staying in business.
Is this a great time for small business owners to focus on differentiating themselves from competitors? Tom and Jim think it is, and they talk about why and how to do it.
What are you doing to help your customers provide you with referrals? Joanne and Jim talk about how to train customers how to listen for referral clues for you and how to then turn those clues into business for you.
Tuesday - August 07, 2007
Are you keeping up with technology in your small business marketing effort? Gary talks with Jim about how he is using some cutting edge technology -- including video -- to grow his wine company, and he's doing nothing you can't do with a budget of under $1,000.
How much is Sarbanes-Oxley costing small business? It's a lot, and John Berlau talks with Jim Blasingame about this impact on small businesses that want to remain small as well as those that want to go public on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show.
Is the lack of marketing results for your small business frustrating you? Ilise talks with Jim about this frustration and her ideas on how to turn those feelings into performance.
The U.S. economy is a mixed bag of good and bad indicators, and Ray joins Jim to talk about the various indicators and what they mean to our small businesses. They also talk about the impact of politics and policy on the market, plus what the Fed will do with rates this week.
Wednesday - August 08, 2007
Anyone can start a small business, but do you have what it takes to be a successful business owner? Joel and Jim talk about what it takes to be able start, run and grow a successful business.
After he talks about what he found during his recent trip to Turkey, Sam reports on how the national economy is shaping up through the rest of the third quarter, including credit availability, order backlogs and capital spending.
Does your small business have employee handbooks? Teresa talks with Jim about why employee handbooks are important and what elements should be included.
What is your attitude about wealth? Steve talks with Jim about how we feel about wealth can often determine whether we actually create wealth.
Thursday - August 09, 2007
More and more people are locating their businesses in old neighborhoods and homes, and Bev and Jim talk about some of the dynamics of this trend.
The rules of power and influence have changed in the 21st century, and Bob joins Jim to talk about how to understand these new rules and claim your own power and influence.
After a general discussion of the current economy, including housing, energy, credit and global business, Joan and Jim also talk about the antiquated air traffic control system, regulatory compliance help for small businesses, the presidential election campaigns, and venture capital trends.
Friday - August 10, 2007
What is the absolute worst marketing mistake small business owners make? Michael and Jim discuss this and explain how to stop doing it.
Can you make any sense of the current presidential campaigns? Rich joins Jim to help sort out the part of the presidential process that we should care about at this stage.
How much does fear control how you behave as a small business owner? Joe talks with Jim about this and how to minimize the potential for fear to prevent you from accomplishing your entrepreneurial dreams.
What's new with regard to small business taxes? Barbara talks with Jim about some of the things we need to know about taxes right now, as well as a few that we need to be preparing for.
Monday - August 13, 2007
Have you learned how to temper your entrepreneurial enthusiasm with objectivity? Elizabeth talks with Jim about why objectivity is more than important, it's essential to small business survival.
Jim talks about some of the key elements required to truly be able to look at the plans you're making for your business objectively.
How is the small office - home office (SOHO) environment these days? Terri and Jim compare notes on where this sector of the marketplace has come from, what it looks like currently, and what is required to be a successful SOHO practitioner.
Two years after Katrina, Bay St. Louis, MS, where the eye of the hurricane came ashore, is still recovering, and Tish joins Jim with an update on their progress, including their attempt to get the national flood insurance expanded to include wind and water.
Tuesday - August 14, 2007
Judge Huss joins Jim to talk about what to look for in the homeowners' association documents before buying a condo, townhouse, or even in a subdivision. They go on to talk about Jim's belief that small businesses need tort reform in the U.S.
What do small business owners need to know about leadership? Tim talks with Jim about how effective leadership can be a real competitive advantage.
How does personality impact performance in small business? Pierce and Jane talk with Jim about how to determine what projects and tasks to give to which employees, based on their personality.
Do women and men negotiate differently? Recent research indicates that they do, and Michell and Jim talk about why this is, and what women should do to improve their negotiating ability.
Wednesday - August 15, 2007
What do you do when a "big box" moves in next door to your small business? Norm joins Jim to talk about a real life David vs Goliath story and how you can not only survive, but thrive in such a competitive environment.
What should small business owners be doing in the face of so much global economic instability? Mike talks with Jim about some things to expect and some things to do to with regard to your banking relationships.
Should small business owners be blogging? Pam thinks they definitely should look into it to see if blogging can be a new method of reaching out to prospects and customers and she talks with Jim about how to do it.
What is the best way to find success as a small business? Phil says it's finding the right niche and sticking to it, and he and Jim talk about what you need to know to find your niche.
Thursday - August 16, 2007
When you travel are you able to continue your work and stay connected to your small business? Small business experts JeffZbar and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the technology that help make this possible, perhaps even without your customers knowing you're not in your office.
How's the national economy doing? Bill joins Jim to report that the economy is doing just fine, according to the thousands of small business owners he talks to each month, plus he reports on other important issues, such as credit availability, etc.
Why is the approval rating of our governmental organizations so low? Joan and Jim talk about this, plus what tax laws will be altered this year. They also discuss compliance with immigration laws, and how the economy is doing, among other things.
Friday - August 17, 2007
Are your people performing as well as you think they should? Bill talks with Jim about how to establish guidelines for performance and a pay structure that supports those guidelines.
Can truth impact performance? Robert Fritz thinks it does and he talks with Jim Blasingame about how to get more truth and accountability in your organization. But first, Robert talks about his recent trip to China and what he learned.
What is the impact of China on American businesses? Beverly and Jim discuss this issue, including how to communicate your intention or practice of outsourcing to China.
Do you know what viral marketing is? Jori Clarke talks with Jim Blasingame about what viral marketing is, why you should want it and how to get it for your Web site on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show.
Monday - August 20, 2007
What will it take for the U.S. to wean itself off of carbon fuels? Tom talks with Jim about this and provides his thoughts on our future with petroleum.
What do networking, expectation and words have in common? Jean and Jane join Jim to talk about this question and help you find the answer and more success in your small business.
When you launch a new program or product in your small business, are you doing the proper due diligence to make sure you're not infringing on someone else's property? Henry and Jim talk about why this is important and how to do it.
How is the economy handling all of the challenges it's facing? Bill and Jim talk about some of the key issues small business owners are facing, plus a little bit of politics.
Tuesday - August 21, 2007
Is your sales revenue as good as you want? Bill Byron joins Jim to talk about some of the counter-intuitive things you can do -- for your customers and yourself -- to grow sales.
Businesses owned by women are growing at the highest rate of all businesses, and Wilma joins Jim to talk about why this is happening and where there is help for these entrepreneurs.
If you're over 50, your "retirement" will look different than your parents' version, and Don talks with Jim about some of the options you might consider.
Are you ready to consider managing your customers and prospects with more precision? Geary talks with Jim about some research that shows what people want, plus the essential components you should look for when considering customer relationship management (CRM) software to help you.
Wednesday - August 22, 2007
Are you giving your prospects proposals? Josh and Jim talk about what a good proposal looks like and why you should be delivering more proposals.
What do you need to know about the youngest generation? Ken joins Jim to talk about what the future holds as Generation Y, the youngest generation, comes into the marketplace.
Are you getting the most out of your team? Mike joins Jim to talk about how to get your employees engaged and pulling in the same direction.
Is your web-strategy 1.0 or 2.0? Anita talks with Jim about what Web 2.0 looks like, why we need to do to get our Internet strategy moving in that direction, and how to do it.
Thursday - August 23, 2007
Do you call in sick sometimes as an employee? Bev and Jim talk about what you have to do when you're a business owner who gets sick. They also talk about prioritizing your resources when you're getting your home-based business set up.
Want to know the truth about the children's health care legislation that's being debated in Congress? Grace-Marie talks with Jim about why, even though it sounds warm and fuzzy, it's really a dangerous direction for our country to go in during her interview on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show.
Joan and Jim talk about what the Fed is doing to make a positive impact on the current credit crisis that's circling the globe. They also talk about the global and national economy, oil prices, mandatory arbitration, new immigration rules and clearing customers on a return from overseas.
Friday - August 24, 2007
What are you doing to make sure you keep your current customers? Tom talks with Jim about some of the things you can do to hang on to those most valuable of assets, the customers you already do business with.
We always have to think about cash flow, but we need to start focusing more on profitability, and Steve Martin and Jim Blasingametalk about some of the easy things you can do to put more profit on the bottom line on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show.
How are consumers going to behave this holiday season? Pam talks with Jim about what she sees over the horizon for consumer spending and it's a mixed bag.
Did you read your property and casualty policy when you signed it? How confident are you that your property and casualty insurance policy on your home and business real estate is adequate for the kinds of risks you could incur? Mark talks with Jim about how to talk with your insurance agent and ask the right kinds of questions so you can make a more informed decision.
Monday - August 27, 2007
What's the difference between selling and sales negotiations? Paul joins Jim to explain why you need to be able to make the distinction.
How will small business fair in the upcoming legislative session in Washington? Karen talks with Jim about what she expects Congress to do to small business, because she doesn't expect them to do much for us.
What cell phone should you buy if you're a business owner? Jen talks with Jim about cell phone technology, applications, contracts and what's coming in the future.
Are you hiring people who are smart or people who have executive intelligence. Justin talks with Jim about why we should be making the distinctions and how to do it.
Tuesday - August 28, 2007
Do you have the intangibles required to be a small business owner? Jim talks about these intangibles and why they're so important to your success as an entrepreneur.
China continues to be in the headlines, and Ted talks with Jim about some of the reasons that China will always be a controversial player in the global marketplace.
Is a strong economy good for franchises or bad? Joel answers this and other questions with Jim, as they discuss the current issues to consider if you're interested in franchising.
When is more actually less? David and Jim talk about how more ideas, more people and more words are not necessarily a good thing, and why this is good news for small business.
Wednesday - August 29, 2007
Adrian and Viviana join Jim to talk about some of the programs that are being developed to help our members of the military who have become disabled as a result of the duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What happens on Wall Street is not an indication of what's happening on Main Street, and Bill and Jim discuss why the Wall St. tail tries to wag the Main St. dog. They also talk about what small businesses should be doing to prepare for a possible slow-down in the economy.
What do the best small businesses know about retaining employees? Renee joins Jim to talk about what her company has learned about the best employee retention and motivation practices and how these practices convert directly to the bottom line.
How do you know if your advertising strategy is working? Lois tells Jim you have to test your strategy by having two different approaches and then determining which one "pulls" the best response from prospects.
Thursday - August 30, 2007
What's really needed to rebuild New Orleans? Nicole talks with Jim about that and her answer might surprise you.
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What's on the Congressional slate for -- or against -- small business in the next session? Giovanni talks with Jim about some of the issues he's tracking for us, what he thinks will happen and what we can do to contribute to the debate.
Joan and Jim begin with a discussion of current political news, and then move on to discuss some of the regulatory issues the Federal government will be working on. Next they discuss new regs on benefits for retiring workers, then move on to talk about what the Federal Reserve will do in regard to the credit sector challenges. Finally, they discuss issues merchants are facing with credit card security and card issuers.
Friday - August 31, 2007
Should your woman-owned business become certified? Mary talks with Jim about the potential opportunities of becoming certified and the criteria that should be considered before doing so.
What do you know about the history of Labor Day? Ken joins Jim to discuss this history and the legacy of the labor movement in the U.S.
Motivation is the low-hanging fruit of sales management success and Brad talks with Jim about how to make sure your sales people stay motivated.
After a brief discussion about why a networking organization is not possible in the communist environment of mainland China, Ivan and Jim make the direct connection between sales success and networking in the 21st century.
