Tuesday - July 01, 2008
John Fox talks with Jim Blasingame about the truth about which group pays the most in taxes, which is required if we're to have honest debates over future tax policy. John's information may surprise you.
Are you experiencing information overload? Jim Ballard talks with Jim Blasingame about what this looks like and how to avoid it so that it doesn't result in failure.
Are you fearless? Do you operate your small business with courage? Steve Chandler and Jim Blasingame talk about how to use courage in your business decisions, especially when you need to say, "no."
What is an accidental brand? David Vinjamuri talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the brands he's studied that came about accidentally, but after that, were grown with great intention.
Wednesday - July 02, 2008
What are the three most important things in successful management? Bob Kustka joins Jim Blasingame with the answer, which he says is communication, communication, communication. Any questions? Listen in as these two provide some valuable communication tips and tools, like what Jim calls, "the magic question."
What's the best way to reach prospects and customers, direct mail marketing or email marketing? Jeff Dobkin talks with Jim Blasingame about how to balance these two valuable marketing tools to your advantage.
What does it take for men and women to do business together? Mary Cantando talks with Jim Blasingame about this and they come up with some pretty important and effective points that actually work. You won't be surprised that having a sense of humor helps.
Is it time for your small business to begin offering a retirement plan? Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to first talk about some economy issues, and then to talk about three great advantages available to small business owners by the passage of the Pension Protection Act.
Thursday - July 03, 2008
Are you using your technology or is it using you? Jeff Zbar talks about this with Jim Blasingame, small business expert and host of The Small Business Advocate Show.
As you grow your business, are you balancing execution and vision? Peter Meyer talks with Jim Blasingame about how to make sure that you're focus on executing your business model doesn't preclude seeing where the business should be going in the future.
Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about a number of issues, including the price of oil and the lack of effective an energy policy. They also talk about the expansion of the Americans for Disabilities Act, fights among unions, the increase in the IRS mileage rate, how the Fed will look in the next administration, and other issues.
Friday - July 04, 2008
Dr. Burton Folsom joins Jim Blasingame on America's Independence Day to talk about what the founders would think about 2008 America.
Dennis Pogue talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the events that happen at Mount Vernon, especially on July 4th, plus some of the new things that are being offered, including an authentic blacksmith operation.
On this Independence Day in America, Jim Blasingame makes the connection between the origins and evolution of the English Common Law to the very existence of modern-day entrepreneurs.
Monday - July 07, 2008
What does it take to get employees to say "thank you" to customers. Prioleau Alexander and Jim Blasingame talk about why managers have to be specific and intentional in training employees how to express proper verbal gratitude to customers for their business.
How is the fight to hold down taxes going? Pete Sepp joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the tax increase implications for the rest of the current Congress, including alternative minimum tax, estate tax, cap-and-trade, plus what is at stake with the upcoming presidential election.
What are the most common mistakes computer users make with regard to security? Chip Reaves talks with Jim Blasingame about these mistakes, like not having all of the security software layers, and other important tips we need to keep our computers working for us and not against us.
How can mediation benefit small business owners? Judge William Huss talks with Jim Blasingame about how mediation works at many different levels, how to use it to solve business conflicts, and how to incorporate it into contracts before there is a conflict.
Tuesday - July 08, 2008
Do you ever babble? Bob Matha and Jim Blasingame talk about how to make sure you're communicating and not babbling. They offer some specific tips on how to connect more and babble less.
Are you in retail, or do you want to be? James Dion talks with Jim Blasingame about how to be successful in the retail sector, having a clear and accurate understanding of how you fit into the marketplace, avoiding the price and commodity war, and incorporating technology into your retail business model.
How are you managing this challenging year in your small business? Brian Moran talks with Jim Blasingame about making sure that beyond having faith in your future, you're actually dealing with the reality of your present.
How are business managers seeing the current economic conditions? Sam Norwood talks with Jim Blasingame about the current survey he has conducted with hundreds of his partners and the news is not great. Tune in as they talk about sales, credit, hiring and other issues.
Wednesday - July 09, 2008
In his life, Sir John Templeton made a difference to many. Gary Moore, a friend and disciple of Sir John, joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the life and legacy of a great American.
What are the colors of honesty? Steven Gaffney talks with Jim Blasingame about the shades of honesty, including when is withholding information appropriate and when is it not.
How much does the world have something to fear from China ripping off our intellectual property with counterfeit products? Kenneth Krosin talks with Jim Blasingame about this as he reports on his recent trip to China with a delegation to discuss international intellectual property standards and behavior.
Thursday - July 10, 2008
Are you ready for the eventuality of being out of your business for some period of time? Pat Weber talks with Jim Blasingame about the need for small business owners to think about how things would work if they had to handle an emergency or a longer-term situation, such as a personal or family illness.
What is at stake for the U.S. economy in the next 18 months? Doug Tatum has just returned from China and he talks with Jim Blasingame about what he saw and heard, plus they discuss the decisions -- in the marketplace and by the government -- that will have to be made to keep the U.S. economy competitive in the global marketplace.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the general condition of banks in the U.S., both large and small, plus they also talk about the economy, how employees are assuming more and more of the cost of health care insurance, what some states are doing to help small businesses afford to offer health care insurance, the estate tax debate, and the future spending on infrastructure, including by private ventures.
Friday - July 11, 2008
Does your small business have a successful online strategy? Kendra Bonnett talks with Jim Blasingame about how to deliver your expertise to customers though written and spoke word resources that are made available to customers on your website.
Is selling different in the 21st century? Rob Jolles talks with Jim Blasingame about what has changed and what has not changed in selling since the last century, including how to use the vast resources of information that are available today.
Does fear motivate or immobilize you as you run your small business? Jim Blasingame talks about how fear can take on many forms, and how to prepare yourself to manage the fear forms effectively.
Has your technology crossed the line from helpful to addictive? Do you have a Blackberry or a "crackberry?" Scott Eblin talks with Jim Blasingame about how to deal with technology, and other potential distracting elements, so that they help you get to the next level instead of holding you back.
Monday - July 14, 2008
How does a small business owner do financial planning and business planning? Brett Wilder talks with Jim Blasingame about how to combine these two important elements to take care of your business and have it help talk care of you.
How is the economy for small businesses? Dr. Bill Dunkleberg talks with Jim Blasingame about how small businesses are doing with regard to inflation and pricing power, sales growth, employment, capital expenditures, etc. Bill also talks about some of the larger economic factors that impact our small businesses.
What components should your online strategy include? Ross Johnston talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the critical elements your website and online strategy should offer to customers, including how to connect with and build customer communities, which is the new term Ross and Jim have decided should be used by businesses, instead of social networking.
What are some of the low-hanging fruit best practices that small business owners can use during a challenging economy? Rieva Lasonsky and Jim Blasingame talk about saying "thank you" to your customers, "well done" to your employees, and other high value practices that cost you nothing, but provide huge returns.
Tuesday - July 15, 2008
How do you survive and thrive during a slow economy? Jim Blasingame talks about how to understand the Small Business Odd Couple and their relationship with your small business. He also talks about what you have to do to actually take some time off.
Jim Blasingame talks about some of the key banking technology you should be using, and then he talks about building a successful relationship with your banker.
What is the best attitude that you should have about emerging technologies for your small business? Jack Uldrich talks with Jim Blasingame about how to get on the leading edge of technological innovations, while avoiding being behind the curve or on the bleeding edge.
Tim Berry and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the issues that are involved in successful business development, including some tips and examples of start-up opportunities on the small business radio program, The small Business Advocate Show.
Wednesday - July 16, 2008
How important is courage to entrepreneurs? Bill Treasurer talks with Jim Blasingame about whether we've defined courage down, plus some of the ways that courage manifests in small business.
Are you promoting personal brilliance among your staff? Jim Canterucci and Jim Blasingame talk about the importance of innovation and how empowering employees can cause it to flourish.
What can small businesses learn from the challenges banks are going though? Michael Chandler talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the bad press that banks are getting and how to overcome this by staying close to your customers.
Should you be concerned about your bank? Richard DeKaser and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the myths, rumors and misinformation that is being distributed today about the banking industry and how to determine what is the truth. Richard also provides his thoughts on the economy for the rest of the year.
Thursday - July 17, 2008
Have you ever taken your business on the road? Jeff Zbar is doing exactly that, which he calls "Home Office Highway," and he joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the technology that he's using to take time off and still stay connected.
Grace-Marie Turner and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the key health care policy issues including whether individuals or the government should be in charge of health care decisions on the small business radio program, The Small Business Show.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what Kiplinger reports on this week, including what Senator Obama will find during his visit to Iraq in the next few days, some of the legislation that will and will not be done in this session, some help reservists and national guard members are getting from the government when they are on active duty, problems with advanced airlines reservations, which party will have the longest coattails during the election, and finally, some news on solar energy innovations.
Friday - July 18, 2008
Do your employees think you care about their lives? Jim Blasingame talks about how to let your employees know you're interested in them, without being nosy.
What do you know about how to maintain bank deposits within the insured limits? Eva Rosenberg talks with Jim Blasingame about the different ways to maintain high levels of deposits in the same bank with all of them insured.
US tax code and human resources policies that were created in the early part of the 20th century must be scrapped altogether, or changed to conform to 21st century reality. Terry Neese talks with Jim Blasingame about five critical "family-friendly" policies that our government must address right away.
What do you need to know about doing business with an independent community bank? Terry Jorde and Paul Merski talk with Jim Blasingame about why an independent community bank in your market continues to be an excellent banking option for your small business.
Monday - July 21, 2008
Are you ready to do business online? Cliff Ennico talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the things you need to know to start and run an online business.
Andrew Sherman talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the factors that are creating a challenging economy, including the facts that are in evidence and the myths and misinformation that are perpetuated by the media.
How do we discuss controversial issues successfully? Debra Fine talks with Jim Blasingame about how to have a conversation by asking questions first , and then stating your opinion later.
How much does regulatory compliance cost small businesses? Wayne Crews joins Jim Blasingame to report on the sad news that regulatory compliance is continuing its steady increase, including what it is costing small businesses per employee per year.
Tuesday - July 22, 2008
What is the connection between intuition and leadership? Nancy Rosanoff and Jim Blasingame talk about how to become aware of your own intuition and apply it to your business.
How is branding different during a slow economy? Tom Asacker talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the things we need to do to make sure our brands remain vital and relevant to customers during economically challenging times.
Do you have life goals? Darren Hardy talks with Jim Blasingame about picking and using mentors, plus other tools and technology that will help you develop and execute your life goals.
What does it take to be a successful small golf company in a marketplace of aggressive big golf companies? Jesse Ortiz talks with Jim Blasingame about learning from his father, making mistakes and living to fight another day, the importance of seeking excellence, taking care of customers, the valuable concept of co-branding, and knowing your limitations. Oh, and they also talk a little bit about the clubs.
Wednesday - July 23, 2008
Why is the price of oil coming down? Max Schultz talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the reasons that oil has been so high, why it is coming down, and what has to be done to get it to go lower.
What are some of the important tax issues you should be attending to in your small business? Barbara Weltman talks with Jim Blasingame about some important tax planning tips and deadlines.
Is there something more important for small business owners than attaining life balance? Stew Friedman talks with Jim Blasingame about this and he says it's called "total leadership," and he explains what this is.
What's the difference between franchising and licensing? Cherie Carter-Scott talks with Jim Blasingame about her global licensing activity, how it's different from franchising, and what has to be paid attention to if you're going to do business globally.
Thursday - July 24, 2008
Is there a wrong way to start a small business? Beverley Williams and Jim Blasingame talk about how NOT to start a business, especially if it's because you got mad at your boss.
How do you effectively communicate difficult news? Karen Cortell-Reisman talks with Jim Blasingame about four critical things to think about before delivering bad news to customers, employees, vendors, and even family.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the volatility of the stock market, reasons for the decline in oil prices, when the Fed will adjust interest rates, the globalization of unionism, a new push by the IRS to close the tax gap, and other current issues.
Friday - July 25, 2008
How much does fear control the way you live and run your business? Joe Bailey talks with Jim Blasingame about how to control fear by doing a better job of managing information.
How would you like to search the Internet AND help your favorite charity at the same time? JJ Ramberg talks with Jim Blasingame about GoodSearch.com, which allows you to search just like any other search engine, but for every search, a donation of one penny is made to your favorite charity, church, etc.
How can you differentiate your small business from competitors? Jay Myers and Jim Blasingame talk about making connections with customers, not just doing business with them. They also talk about how the improvements in video-conferencing technology will change the way we travel.
When is the hard way better than the easy way? Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to talk about taking the hard way to approaching challenges and opportunities, instead of the easy way. They also talk about the future of space travel and aliens.
Monday - July 28, 2008
Who's going to pay for the bail-out of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Nicole Gelinas talks with Jim Blasingame about the magnitude of the exposure U.S. taxpayers have if these two mortgage backing organizations fail.
Is the government getting too involved in the marketplace? Jim Blasingame talks about the history of investment organization failures and how things are different in the 21st century regarding who pays for the failures.
Could you benefit from a business coach? Jim Donovan and Jim Blasingame talk about how another pair of eyes and ears that are not invested in the current business model can help any small business CEO.
How could your small business prevent fixed payroll expenses from getting out of hand? Gene Siciliano talks with Jim Blasingame about the concept of "pay for performance," including how to get this compensation strategy started and functioning.
Tuesday - July 29, 2008
Are you using your networking communities effectively? Andrea Nierenberg talks with Jim Blasingame about how to cultivate relationships with key influencers in your networking communities. But remember that successful networking requires you to give first and receive whenever.
What's happening inside the Washington Beltway? Don Lambro joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how Congress is spending your money, how the presidential campaigns are going, when will we know who the VP candidates are, and whether President Bush will call a special session of Congress to debate offshore oil drilling.
When you talk with your staff, do they get what you're telling them? Valerie Sokolosky talks with Jim Blasingame about three things to remember when you're trying to get your message across effectively.
If you get customers to come in, is your organization prepared to connect with them? Alan Maites talks with Jim Blasingame about how to make sure that all of your marketing and branding efforts, including face-to-face, emphasize the need to connect with prospects and customers.
Wednesday - July 30, 2008
Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame, small business expert and host of The Small Business Advocate Show, to talk about what he learned during three weeks on the road with his family, traveling in an RV, using technology to help him blend extended vacation with work obligations.
Are you a discerning consumer of information? Amy Menefee talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the misleading stories that have been offered by the mainstream media and 24/7 news organizations, and the damage that can result.
As the leader of your organization, are you spending more time executing than leading? Gary Harpst talks with Jim Blasingame about why CEOs at all levels must focus on building an organization that can execute so that leadership can actually lead.
Congressman Steve Chabot talks with Jim Blasingame about several issues that are before Congress that impact small businesses, including the debate over lifting the ban on drilling for oil in the U.S.
Thursday - July 31, 2008
Pittsburg Chamber is hosting the ACCE conference this year and the chamber president, Barbara McNees, talks with Jim Blasingame about the exciting things that are going on in Pittsburg and how chambers should operate in the 21st century.
Barbara McNees, president of the Pittsburg Chamber, site of the 2008 ACCE convention, talks with Raleigh Chamber president, Harvey Schmitt, where the 2009 event will be held, and Jim Blasingame, about what it takes to host this event, as well as how chambers are working together more than ever before, including through intercity visits.
Harvey Schmitt and Joan Mobley talk with Jim Blasingame about the value of intercity visits among chambers of commerce.
Joan Mobley, president of JTM Consulting, talks with Jim Blasingame about the conducting and the long-term benefit that intercity visits can have on the participating communities.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the multi-faceted economic impact of global climate change, and the way humans address it, on the economy. They also talk about consumer spending, global competition, energy issues and presidential politics.
