Thursday - January 01, 2009
Focusing on what he calls "positive reality," Jim Blasingame talks about what he thinks is in store for small businesses in 2009 - the good, the bad and the ugly.
How does the European economy compare to the U.S.? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame with a report on the EU economic challenges, plus some important advice on surviving the 2009 economic challenges.
What advice would President Lincoln offer small business owners about dealing with economic challenges? Gene Griessman joins Jim Blasingame to offer some Lincoln survival wisdom.
How does a small business owner balance the survival of the business with what really matters. Julie Lenzer Kirk joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to balance customers and family.
Judge Bill Huss was an outstanding member of Jim Blasingame's Brain Trust, who passed away November 2008. Leslie Kossoff was a long-time friend and admirer of Judge Huss and she joins Jim to celebrate the life of this great American jurist and thinker.
Friday - January 02, 2009
How creative does a small business need to be with its marketing in order to survive during a recession? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame with creative marketing tips, including how to avoid discounting.
What should you focus on in your small business? Rob Jolles gives Jim Blasingame some advice on being more practical with customers and less process and analytical oriented.
The world was introduced to the dramatic influence of paradigm shifts by futurist, Joel Barker, more than two decades ago. Now Barker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss shifts he sees taking place before us, and where the oportunity and danger will be found.
What lessons can small business owners learn from the experiences of McDonalds? Paul Facella gives Jim Blasingame explains what made McDonalds great, including courage, leadership and team-building.
Monday - January 05, 2009
As he has done for several years, Jim Blasingame looks into his Small Business Advocate Crystal Ball and reveals several of the things he predicts will happen in 2009.
How you make contact with your prospects and customers is critical. Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why, especially in a slow economy, we should be connecting with customers and prospects the old fashioned way - face-to-face.
What does a recession do to franchise opportunities? Nick Bibby talks the Jim Blasingame about how a recession impacts franchise creation as well as purchsing.
What are some of the key small business marketing strategies for 2009? Jeff Dobkin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the things small businesses can do to stay in front of prospects and customers in a recession.
Tuesday - January 06, 2009
What should small business owners be thinking about in 2009? Cliff Ennico and Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of humility and discipline in 2009.
How are the small business economic conditions trending? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with the Tatum Survey, which this month includes some green arrows, which is good news.
How does a small business establish an effective fee and pricing structure in a recession? Kate Kelly joins Jim Blasingame with tips on setting profitable fees and pricing when there is downward economic pressure.
What will the Obama administration and the 111th Congress have in store for small business? Karen Kerrigan provides a report in this interview with Jim Blasingame, including issues like taxes, health care, environment, etcc.
Wednesday - January 07, 2009
What is the next, next big technology thing for small businesses to look forward to? Bill Halal joins Jim Blasingame with a forecast of innovations that will be our reality very soon.
How will 2009 be for the smallest of small businesses? Terri Lonier and Jim Blasingame discuss some issues facing the largest marketplace sector, the solo business owner, or micropreneur.
What can small businesses learn from the results of a retail customer survey? Robert Gordman joins Jim Blasingame to report on a recent retail survey and what can be learned about what customers want.
Is it more important during a recession for a small business to communicate with prospects and customers in a recession? Alison Diboll joins Jim Blasingame to discuss this and to offer a communication strategies.
Thursday - January 08, 2009
Is there a ROI for a small business to pursue a social media strategy? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about social media options and how to maximize any investment we make in them.
How long with the recession last and how will it impact small businesses? Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the recession, what it will take to recover, and other current affairs.
What will Bush's legacy be and what will be Obama's opportunity? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this and other current political events and how they effect the world of small business.
Friday - January 09, 2009
Will intellectual property (IP)be impacted by the recession? Ken Krosin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this issue, including the creation of new innovations and the defense of existing IP.
How is the global recession impacting China and how will that impact small business? Ted Fishman joins Jim Blasingame with a report on what we should know about what's happening in China.
How can small business owners get their personal finances in order in 2009? Nicole Hall joins Jim Blasingame with ideas and tip on how to take control of your finances in 2009.
Jim Blasingame reveals the rest of his 2009 predictions, including how they will likely impact small businesses. See the previous Archive for Jim's other predictions.
Monday - January 12, 2009
What do customers want during a slow economy? Martin Lindstrom joins Jim Blasingame to say that small businesses should not discounting their brands, but rather find other ways to give customers a good deal.
Selling the product of the month won't work in a recession. Skip Miller joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what small businesses need to do in order to sell successfully in a recession.
Why is it important to think of your small business' health the way you do your personal health? Mark Richardson joins Jim Blasingame with tips about how to give your business a complete checkup.
What are the conflicts between Main Street and Wall Street? Gary Moore talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the ways that these two sectors are at cross-purposes, and how we can fix that problem.
Tuesday - January 13, 2009
What are the prospects for success of Obama's infrastructure plan? Steve Malanga joins Jim Blasingame to explain what the President Elect's plan is and some of the challenges he will have in executing it.
How do we get our customers to be honest about who makes the buying decisions? Steven Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame with some valuable tips on how to do a better job of communicating with our customers and prospects.
Jonathan attended this year's Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas and he joins Jim to talk about some of the exciting new developments that we should be seeing in the stores this year.
What's the best attitude to have in 2009? Jim Blasingame talks about critical 2009 attitudes, like "positive reality," discretion is the better part of valor" and "winning by surviving."
Wednesday - January 14, 2009
The economy continues to take a toll on the attitude and assets of small businesses, according to Bill Dunkelberg's monthly NFIB report, as he joins Jim Blasingame to discuss these issues and the economy in general.
With so much fear and uncertainty in the marketplace, how do we rise above all of it. Joe Bailey joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the many faces of fear and how to manage it effectively.
Steve Forbes offers his thoughts on the economy, with Jim Blasingame, including government's attempts to help, as well as advice on how small businesses can survive through this recession.
What are the prime characteristics of a leader? Barry Conchie joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to be a great leader and how to get people to follow you.
Thursday - January 15, 2009
How much impact will womam-owned small businesses have on the economic recovery? Nell Merlino talks with Jim Blasingame about this and a program that will help called, Make-Mine-a-Million RACE.
How does your personality affect performance when dealing with stressful situations? Pierce and Jane Howard join Jim Blasingame to explain how to deal with stess and anxiety to improve performance and health.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to discuss issues in this week's <i>Kiplinger Letter</i>, including investment options, economic conditions, the government transition, including the new SBA administrator, and other current topics.
Friday - January 16, 2009
There are forces that want to take control of the Internet away from the current successful operators. Steve Delbianco joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the debate over who should control ICANN and why small business owners should care.
What caused the financial meltdown and is the government helping. Chuck Kadlec joins Jim Blasingame to discuss when and how things went wrong and the potential dangers of government intervention.
If you don't operate with financial fundamentals, you won't survive in 2009. Jim Blasingame talks about some of the things small businesses must do on to stay afloat during this recession.
What is one of the primary reasons small businesses fail? They don't ask questions when they don't know something, and Nora Klaver talks with Jim Blasingame about why this this kind of attitude could cause a business to fail.
Following the interview with Steve DelBianco on Internet governance, Jim Blasingame talks about the future of the Internet using a current United Nations analogy. It isn't pretty. Small business owners must get involved in this debate.
Monday - January 19, 2009
Can you survive in 2009 by connecting with customers instead of just marketing to them? Charlie Fewell joins Jim Blasingame to talk about making sure customers know we appreciate their business and that our employees are trained to do the same thing.
What are the first steps President Obama will take with regard to health care reform? Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the SCHIP program and why it's the "down payment" toward universal healthcare by the government.
Do you know who your most ideal customer prospect is? Chad and Jeff Koser talk with Jim Blasingame about these customer, which they call "Zebras," how to find them efficiently and stay focused on them.
Is your business struggling? Herb Kay joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the ugly reality of the current economic environment and they also offer survival tips and best practices.
Tuesday - January 20, 2009
The top 10 Small Business survival steps to take in 2009, as explained by Jim Blasingame. Jim talks about cash management, bank relationships, and several other critical steps that will contribute to your survival in 2009.
John Berlau and Jim Blasingame talk about how Obama's choice for Treasury Secretary looks to small business owners.
How do you blend planning for the future while dealing with a clear and presently dangerous economy?Tim Berry and Jim Blasingame discuss how to prepare for survival while planning for the future.
How does tax policy impact the exploration, development and innovation of energy supply today and for the future? Gilbert Metcalf discusses this with Jim Blasingame and how it will impact our businesses.
On the day Barack Obama is being inaugurated as the 44th President of the Unites States, Tim Berry and Jim Blasingame reflect on the excitement and hope, but also the reality of the responsibility that we all must assume.
Wednesday - January 21, 2009
How does a small business balance the desire to make a profit and the imperative of maintaining positive cash flow? Steve Martin talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the things you can do to create a healthy balance between profit and cash.
When the attitude is often one of concern for the economy, how does a small business maintain close relationships with employees, customers and vendors?
Jack Mitchell talks with Jim Blasingame about how to "hug" these groups, even in a recession.
Aaron Belya had figured out how to get more customers in a recession. He joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how.
Jorian Clarke went to the Consumer Electronics Show and tells Jim Blasingame how she was able to participate.
Thursday - January 22, 2009
Are there unique issues in this recession regarding buying or selling a small business? Russell Brown joins Jim Blasingame to explain how this downturn changes the way a small business sale is financed. They also answer the question, is this a good time to try to sell your business?
How does the recession impact the really small small businesses? Jeff Zbar and Jim Blasingame talk about how micro and home-based businesses can survive by watching expenses and talking to customers about being their partner in surviving the recession.
How will the TARP funds help various industries and how will small businesses be treated in Obama's stimulus plans? Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame talk about these topics and other from this week's <i>Kiplinger Letter</i>
Friday - January 23, 2009
What should the Obama administration do to help small businesses during the recession?Barry Moltz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the specific things the government should do to support - not bail-out - small businesses this years.
Jim Blasingame talks about some of the dangers that could result from government bail-out programs,and how could federal government help small businesses, like cutting taxes, increasing access to capital through bank loans and promoting health savings accounts.
How can your small business expect to survive if your team isn't being held accountable for performance. Rick Lepsinger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about operating a small business during a recession, including how to hold employees accountable. They also talk about how managers can improve their delegating skills.
At a time when cash management is the key to survival, how does a small business balance this requirement with their prime directive, producing profits? John Dini joins Jim Blasingame to give offer tips and best practices on how to achieve this balance.
Monday - January 26, 2009
Small business resolutions don't always work, but how about breaking goals into more bit-size pieces? Stephanie Winston talks with Jim Blasingame about being more creatively organized.
How can a small business survive in a recesssion while preparing for the next economic expansion?Bob Kustka joins Jim Blasingame with advice on how to practice survival tactics while simultaneously watching for the opportunities that always happen in an economic downturn.
How can a small business owner stay positive with so much negative news everywhere? Jane Pollak joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to find success by focusing on the positive aspects of our businesses and our lives.
Can you actually grow sales in a recession? Joanne Black says yes, and she talks about how with Jim Blasingame, including how to get more referrals and creative ways to help existing customers do more business with you.
Tuesday - January 27, 2009
What do men and women need to know about the other gender in order to communicate successfully. Barbara Annis joins Jim Blasingame to explain how the sexes communicate differently not only by what they say, but how they say it and why one of the sexes cares more about this stuff than the other one does.
Do you need to give yourself permission to succeed? Noah St. John joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the secret code of success which includes taking your foot off of the brake of your personal and professional life.
How can a home-based business find success during a recession? Beverley Williams joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why home-based businesses should focus on green products and services as a marketing strategy.
How has the credit market improved for small business and what should President Obama do to help? Tom Markel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about both of these issues, including Tom's proposal to the new president.
Wednesday - January 28, 2009
How much good will the new government stimulus help, and how much impact can the Fed make? Ray Keating and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the details of the proposed stimulus package and why they think it won't work. They also agree that the Fed has run out of bullets.
Can small business owners benefit from a business coach, even during a recession? Rich Allen joins Jim Blasingame to explain the value of a business coach and why investing in one could be the difference between survival and, well, you know.
What's the most important thing to remember when talking to customers - especially in a recession? Mike Stewart says it's discovery as he talks with Jim Blasingame about classic sales practices that are also important survival strategies.
How can a small business use e-learning strategy to train employees and build better customer relationships? Anita Rosen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to develop an e-learning program and strategy.
Thursday - January 29, 2009
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this week's <i>Kiplinger Letter</i>
The so-called "stimulus bill" is mostly pork but not much for small businesses, according to Jim Blasingame, who compared this behavior to what happened after 9-11. That Congress piled a lot of pork onto legislation that was titled national security. This one is doing the same thing in the name of economic stimulus.
How do you grow a local business into a national one, without leaving home? Andrew Field joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how he accomplished this, plus his thoughts on how to help small businesses during this recession.
Friday - January 30, 2009
Is the government's approach to stimulating the economy really going to do that and will it be good for small business? Tony Paradiso and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the details and explain why the bill is more pork barrel spending than stimulus.
How do small business retailers deal with the challenges of this recession? James Dion and Jim Blasingame talk about tips an best practices that will help a retailer not only survive but actually thrive this year.
What is your small business doing to reach prospects over the new media? Gordon Plutsky joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how small businesses should be adding social media tools and applications to the company's overall marketing strategy.
What is REALLY in the stimulus package for small businesses?Giovanni Coratolo talks with Jim Blasingame about the good the bad and the ugly part of this legislation for small business. Unfortunately, it's mostly bad.
