Friday - February 01, 2008
Is it dangerous to listen to the mainstream media? Dan thinks so and Jim agrees, as they discuss the dangers of availability cascade.
How is branding changing in the 21st century? Jean and Jane talks with Jim about how branding is morphing in the 21st century and how to be prepared for the changes.
What does failure have to do with success? Plenty, according to Barry, and he and Jim talk about important relationship between success and failure.
How do you find out when your customers move the goalposts? Bob talks with Jim about what he calls a "future audit" which is based on talking with your customers and employees about what customers want.
Monday - February 04, 2008
What do you really know about entrepreneurship? Scott talks with Jim about some of the myths of being a small business owner and why we need to know the truth.
Is your website safe from hackers? Anita and Jim begin their visit talking about the proposed merger between Microsoft and Yahoo and Google's response to it. They move on to talk about what can happen if a hacker takes control of your website, like one did to Anita recently.
How do you prepare your team for a slower economy? Quint talks with Jim about how to communicate effectively with your staff to make sure they are dealing with real challenges and not the myths that are often perpetuated by the media.
International Networking Week is the week that extra emphasis and awareness is given to this 21st century skill that is critical for small business owners to have. Ivan talks with Jim about this week and some of the things that are happening around the world in recognition it.
Tuesday - February 05, 2008
When you network, what are your motivations? Pat talks with Jim about how to make sure that your networking motivations will produce long term success for your small business.
Right message, wrong messenger. Rick Maurer talks with Jim Blasingame about this unfortunate combination, how it can be a problem and how to make sure your information is delivered effectively.
What are the prospects for small business in 21st century Europe? Leslie joins Jim from Paris with a report on the challenges much of Europe has in promoting entrepreneurship.
Ever see a television screen fold up? Joel talks with Jim about some of the newest developments coming at us from the future, including screens that fold up, gas from grass, paper instead of plastic, and eating dirt to get well.
Wednesday - February 06, 2008
What is the value of ethics to your small business? Vince talks with Jim about ethical behavior as a best practice and what can happen when you employ this practice.
What's happening in China in 2008. Ted has just returned from China and he talks with Jim about what he found, including the building boom in Beijing in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics. Ted also introduces the connect of a "Red Entrepreneur,": which Jim says is the equivalent of a marketplace duckbill platypus.
Do you know what your small business' corporate culture look like? Pam and Jim talk about how to make sure that the culture you represent in your internal and marketing material is the actual culture that your customers experience.
Is the government stimulus package going to be good for your small business? Congressman Chabot talks with Jim about the results of Super Tuesday's primaries, and then they discuss some of the details of the stimulus package, which Jim is opposed to.
Thursday - February 07, 2008
Are you a "nester?" Or a caveman?" During International Networking week, Jeff and Jim talk about how important networking is for small business owners and a few networking tips.
How is the economy looking? Sam joins Jim with a report on what his national partners are saying the economy look like to them and it's not pretty. Tatum now puts the chance of at least one negative growth quarter at 75%.
Jim O talks with Jim B about the impact of the U.S. economy on those of other countries and the overall global economy. They also discuss some important technology transfer news, plus digital coupons and an airline passenger bill of rights.
Friday - February 08, 2008
How do paradoxes impact the performance of our small businesses? Kelle Olwyler talks with Jim Blasingame about paradoxes and what we need to know about them, both within and without.
Who're the nominees going to be? Rich Galen talks with Jim Blasingame about the recent presidential primary events and outcomes and they predict what is coming in the future.
What do women entrepreneurs want in a presidential candidate? Lisa and Laura talk with Jim Blasingame about a recent survey of women entrepreneurs that showed that health care is their number one concern.
What has Steve Forbes learned about presidential politics? Steve and Jim Blasingame talk about the winners and losers in the presidential primary campaigns and what is likely to happen in the future. They also talk about how the economy is doing, plus whether the government stimulus package is the right thing to do.
Monday - February 11, 2008
What are consumers doing about the challenges in the economy? Pam Danziger talks with Jim Blasingame about what her research is showing about the spending behavior of consumers at different economic levels.
What do you need to know about how your brain works during a business day? Pierce Howard talks with Jim Blasingame about the impact of caffeine, light and sleep have on your productivity.
What are the keys to employee engagement for small businesses? Mary Key and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the key steps that you can take to help employees become more engaged in their work.
You're probably planning for an economic slowdown, but are you also planning for an upturn? Bill Conerly and Jim Blasingame discuss some of the things you should be doing to make sure you're ready for a slower economy, but they also talk about not being surprised when your economy starts getting better.
Tuesday - February 12, 2008
How important is having a family spirit in your business? Michael Stallard talks with Jim Blasingame about how a family spirit culture in your business improves employee engagement and becomes contagious with customers, too.
Grace-Marie Turner and Jim Blasingame talk about the contracts between government controlled heathcare and market-based healthcare solutions and which one is more suited for the 21st century marketplace on the small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show
Do you know the difference between a referral and a testimonial? Ilise Benun talks with Jim Blasingame about the difference and how to get and use testimonials in your small business marketing plan.
How did President Lincoln deal with adversity? Abraham Lincoln (Gene Greissman) joins Jim to talk about what small business owners can learn from him about dealing with failure and adversity, and surrounding yourself with smart people.
Wednesday - February 13, 2008
How much quiet do you have in your day? Jennifer Hawthorne joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to use quiet time to listen to what's really going on inside of you and make sure you're headed in the right direction for you.
How's the economy REALLY doing? Bill Dunkleberg talks with Jim Blasingame about his most recent survey of small businesses and what they told him about the economy they're experiencing.
Do you know what your purpose it and are you living it? Jim Manton joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to find out what you're real purpose in life is and how to get there.
Should your small business marketing strategy change during a slow economy? John Jantsch talks with Jim Blasingame about the marketing strategy you should be developing and executing, and why this is even more important during a slow economy.
Thursday - February 14, 2008
Do you know what your local laws and covenants are concerning home-based businesses? Beverley Williams talks with Jim Blasingame about some disturbing news concerning zoning laws for home-based businesses, plus what you need to do to find out what the laws are in your area.
What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Brian Moran and Jim Blasingame discuss some of the key elements of successful entrepreneurship, including faith, courage, vision and of course, a good plan.
After discussing the recent presidential primaries in Virginia, Maryland and D.C., Jim Ostroff and Jim Blasingame review topics in the most recent Kiplinger Letter, including how much the business community will support John McCain, the availability of credit, recent practices by credit card companies, the value of "going green," and other tropics.
Friday - February 15, 2008
What does it take to reach your business' 10 year anniversary? Trudy Evans and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the elements of endurance that are required for long-term success in small business.
Are we endanger of having capitalism becoming criminalized? Nicole Gelinas talks with Jim Blasingame about the dangers of the courts and our government responding to every lapse in ethics and flair-up of greed with new regulations, laws and lawsuits, and how all of this could result in the slow death of capitalism.
How much control does fear have over your life? Joe Bailey and Jim Blasingame discuss the various manifestations of fear in our lives, including when it's holds us back as well as when it's giving us good information.
What do you know about your own courage quotient? Bill Treasurer talks with Jim Blasingame about what he calls the "three buckets of courage" and how to determine where we stand with these three. Bill also demonstrates the courage to talk about his recent prostate cancer, and how that tested his courage.
Monday - February 18, 2008
What do the Mount Vernon folks think about Washington's Birthday becoming President's Day? Dennis talks with Jim Blasingame about this and you might be surprised as the answer. They also talk about what you will find when you visit Mt. Vernon, including period animals, the distillery, and live reenactments.
What does Hillary have to do to win the Democrat nomination? Bill Brandt is a well-connected Democrat adviser and he talks with Jim Blasingame about the current party competition and the challenge ahead of Hilary. They also talk about Bill's new responsibility in helping to preserve and grow jobs in Illinois.
How does a politician, or any leader, for that matter, practice honesty in the 21st century? Steven Gaffney talks with Jim Blasingame about honesty, integrity and trust as a best practice in all endeavors.
Who were the great presidents and who were the failures? Burt Folsom talks with Jim Blasingame about this list and the impact these men -- on both lists -- had on America.
Tuesday - February 19, 2008
Do you really know how to price your products and services? Reed Holden talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the key elements that are required for a small business to price what you sell so that you can be profitable and grow successfully.
Do you have a global marketplace perspective? Kirk Cheyfitz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his thoughts on the global marketplace, the problems and opportunities, and what all of this means for small business.
What does the economic future hold for the United States? Gerald Celente talks with Jim Blasingame about what he sees in the future for the U.S. economy, and what small businesses should be focusing on.
How does trust provide a return on investment for your small business? Stephen M.R. Covey talks with Jim Blasingame about how to take trust to a new level of execution, beyond what is merely expected, and turn it into a best practice with an ROI that can be measured.
Wednesday - February 20, 2008
Do you know how your small business will be impacted by the government's economic stimulus package? Jim Blasingame talks about why he things this program is a bad one that will have more bad consequences than good ones.
Do you know what a cyber-squatter is? Steve DelBianco talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the problems these bad actors create and what you can do when they impact you. They also talk about -- incredibly -- the Hanna Montana craze and what it means to your ability to do business online.
What does the future of small business look like? Catherine Harrell talks with Jim Blasingame about the findings of the most recent Intuit Future of Small Business Report and what it uncovered about what small businesses should be doing today to be successful, and also what they will look like in the future.
How are small businesses doing in the current economic conditions. Chuck Martin talks with Jim Blasingame about a recent survey his firm conducted on the differences between how small business leaders feel about their business in the current economy, compared to what their big business counterparts think.
Thursday - February 21, 2008
What are you doing about getting new business this year? Jeff Zbar talks about this with Jim Blasingame, small business expert and host of The Small Business Advocate Show.
When should you operate your small business with conventional practices and when should you be unconventional? Jim Blasingame talks about what you have to do in a slow economy to be successful, including when to follow the rules and when to be outrageous.
Jim Ostroff and Jim Blasingame begin their visit talking about the successful shoot-down of a U.S. spy satellite by the U.S. Navy. They move on to discuss whether the consumer age is over, employment, alternative energy, health care and other issues.
Friday - February 22, 2008
What does the 21st century employee privacy landscape look like? Bill Hubbartt and Jim Blasingame talk about how employee privacy and employer practices have changed over the past 10 years.
How has the global credit crisis affected small businesses' relationships with their bankers? Mike Menzies talks with Jim Blasingame about the current state of affairs in the economy as well as what small business owners should know about their banking relationships this year.
How do we get our employees to take empowerment and turn it into engagement? Chip Conley talks with Jim Blasingame about how to make employee engagement turn into customer loyalty and how to turn those two relationships into a perpetual success engine.
In the 21st century, small business owners must be experts at managing cash flow. Raymond Joabar talks with Jim Blasingame about how to structure all of the 21st century credit options and instruments available, both for accounts payable as well as accounts receivable, the value of a dynamic cash flow statement, and also how to achieve as much as 59 days of float.
Monday - February 25, 2008
Will the government's stimulus package help small business owners? Bill Rys talks with Jim Blasingame about the specifics of the stimulus package with regard to small businesses.
Is globalization good or bad? Don Boudreaux talks with Jim Blasingame about the history of globalization and the impact of the 21st century version of this phenomenon. And of course, these two can't have a visit without invoking the timeless wisdom of Bastiat.
What extra help do women business owners need to help them to find success in the marketplace? Janet Christy and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the things that hold women back that are self-imposed.
How is the credit supply and demand for small business? Tom Markel talks with Jim Blasingame about what he's seeing in the marketplace with regard to the need for borrowed capital as well as the credit environment small businesses are finding.
Tuesday - February 26, 2008
Why aren't women better negotiators? Linda Babcock talks with Jim Blasingame about the unique challenges women face in the marketplace when negotiating for what they want.
Why have small business obituaries increased by 20% in recent years? Jim Blasingame identifies the reason -- lack of understanding of financial fundamentals -- and the steps to take to obtain and use these fundamentals.
Do you know the difference between marketing and public relations? Ken Hagihara talks with Jim Blasingame about this difference and how to make sure you're making the most out of your PR opportunities.
Do you need help developing and executing an export strategy for your small business? Doug Barry talks with Jim Blasingame about what the U.S. Commercial Service is doing about working with partners that can contribute various support elements, such as shipping and financing.
Wednesday - February 27, 2008
How closely are you monitoring your accounts receivable? Bob Bernstein talks with Jim Blasingame about how to make sure when you make a sale, that you're not just making a loan.
How is the media treating the presidential candidates? Amy Menefee and Jim Blasingame talk about the different ways that the media treat the candidates, including their tendency to focus on personalities, rather than the issues.
How much of your success in life can you attribute to what you learned from your mother? Scott Swedenburg and Jim Blasingame talk about the business wisdom that most of us learned from our moms.
Are you paying attention to the operating fundamentals more this year? Paul Casey talks with Jim Blasingame about why this year it's imperative that you focus on the fundamentals of operating a small business, and they provide examples.
Thursday - February 28, 2008
Are you involved in the political process affecting small business? Bev and Jim talk about some of the reasons why small business owners must get involved in the debate on the laws and regulations that politicians at all levels are creating. Rest assured that most of these laws will automatically be friendly to us.
What do you know about the laws and regulations Congress is working on today and the rest of the year? Karen Kerrigan and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the specific issues, including tax policy and trade agreements, that are important to small businesses, and how we can participate in this debate.
Jim Ostroff and Jim Blasingame talk about the various first-year issues the next president will face, including taxes, global warming and immigration. They go on to talk about the current presidential campaigns, including how the next election will impact the party balance of power in Congress.
Friday - February 29, 2008
Do you know how to get quality sales referrals? Jim Blasingame talks about the value of sales referrals and how to get more of them.
What's the best healthcare model for the U.S. in the 21st century? Regina Herzlinger talks with Jim Blasingame about the importance of market-based healthcare solutions and why the so-called "universal healthcare" system will be a disaster.
What's in store for the economy in the future? Patrick Byrne joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the current economic conditions and what we can expect in the future. Buckle up, because Patrick is not a optimistic about the long-term economic situation as Jim is.
How much do small businesses need to know about the social networking sites? John Warrillow tells Jim Blasingame that every small business should include social networking in their marketing strategy, including being available in online communities such as FaceBook and Linkedin.com. John and Jim also talk about the critical relationship between small businesses and big businesses that is becoming more and more symbiotic.
