Monday - February 02, 2009
Focus on operating fundamentals to make sure you're small business survives, as Ed Abel and Jim Blasingame discuss, while simultaneously looking around for new opportunities so your business can thrive.
Will the so-called economic stimulus bill be good for small business? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this bill, the "Card Check" union bill, and the new Republic National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele.
Is your social networking strategy working? Are you keeping up with the latest social media best practices? Jennifer Abelson joins Jim Blasingame talk about how to integrate social media into your traditional marketing strategy.
It's International Networking Week and Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to help small businesses celebrate with a positive discussion on how networking can help your business thrive, even during a recession.
Tuesday - February 03, 2009
Can small business teams get stronger, even in a recession? Even when there have been lay-offs?
Kristin Arnold joins Jim Blasingame to explain how to maintain high-functioning teams, even in a down economy and even if there has been employee reductions.
There are many ways to cut costs and find operating efficiencies besides cutting jobs. Bill Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to talk about small businesses tips and best practices for cutting costs without losing your talent pool.
Jim Blasingame describes two different attitudes he thinks small business owners should assume in 2009: the "Small Business Survival Attitude" and the "Somebody is buying something from someone somewhere right now, it might as well be you" attitude.
Does the Federal government talk out of both sides of its mouth when it claims to want to help small businesses? Chris Gunn joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the truth about government support for small business and what changes must take place.
Can small business owners learn survival lessons by observing the simple cherry? Jim Blasingame thinks so as he talks about what he calls the Blasingame Cherry Principle as a way to deal with challenges and opportunities.
Wednesday - February 04, 2009
What kind of performance reward system do you have in place for your employees? Steve Kerr joins Jim Blasingame to discuss his three-part system: defining performance in actionable terms, devising comprehensive metrics, and creating reward systems that work.
Can being organized help you survive and thrive in a recession?
Steve Strauss joins Jim Blasingame with some organization tips and opportunity seeking best practices.
How do you survive and thrive as a freelance professional? Michelle Goodman and Jim Blasingame discuss tips and best practices for starting a freelance career or becoming an independent contractor as a way of starting a new small business.
Can a small business assume a bullish attitude during an economic downturn? Gayle Lantz shares with Jim Blasingame about several ways to take charge of your business' future by meeting the world at least half-way.
Thursday - February 05, 2009
Resilience, versatility and adaptability are the keys to small business success in 2009. Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to be competitive and actually grow sales in the middle of a recession.
As he has done for more than 11 years, Jim Blasingame discusses several public policy issues being debated that directly impact small businesses, like the dangers of universal health care, protectionism and unionism.
Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame talk about small business issues covered in the <i>Kiplinger Letter</i>, including saving the banking industry, economic stimulus, a "buy American' movement and why small businesses must be more adaptable in 2009.
Friday - February 06, 2009
How one small business is thriving in the recession. Chantal Boxer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how her concierge business is expanding despite the turbulent economy by continuing to add value to customer relationships.
Every small business has trade secrets. The question is how are you leveraging and protecting them? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this important small business intellectual property issue.
Could a well-developed and nurtured network help your small business avert a disaster? Amit Mukherjee joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his "Spider Strategy" which will help companies create networks to avert crisis, create change and seize opportunities.
What innovations are coming at you that could create profit or peril for you small business? Futurist, Joel Barker talks with Jim Blasingame about a number of "innovations at the verge" that small businesses should know about.
Monday - February 09, 2009
The so-called Stimulus Bill has too much in it for Medicaid and not enough to help small business keep and hire more employees. Paul Howard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why more money for Medicaid isn't good and no money for small business is worse.
Love conquers all the saying goes, but in a struggling economy, will this prove to be true for small businesses this Valentine's Day? Gail Goodman talks with Jim Blasingame about the results of Constant Contact's Valentine's Day outlook survey.
How do you get a small business start-up off the ground during a recession? Paul Tobey and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the key steps that must be taken in order to get your new business started successfully.
What management and marketing lessons can small business learn from watching the Grammy Awards show? Tom Becka talks with Jim Blasingame about several marketing promotion lessons the Grammy Awards can teach us.
Tuesday - February 10, 2009
How does the economy look for the next 60 days according to small business managers polled on the Tatum Survey? Sam Norwood and Jim Blasingame go over economic conditions found in this month's Tatum Survey. It's not all bad - there are some bright spots.
What does it take for a small business to blend their traditional marketing strategy with the new social media elements? Gene Marks joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to pull this off.
An educated person without character is dangerous. This is one of the concepts Len Marrella shares with Jim Blasingame as they talk about how critical it is for our society to have what Len calls, "Devotion to the unenforceable."
What are the most important marketing steps you can take in your small business in 2009? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to lay out some of the steps, especially the ones that get you closest to customers.
Wednesday - February 11, 2009
How can protectionism hurt your small business? Tom Travis joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the growing trend among countries to impose protectionist policies and why that would be a big mistake.
What is your mission and purpose of your small business? After he reports on his most recent trip to Russia, and what he found there, Jim Camp talks with Jim Blasingame about why your mission and purpose is important.
Your ability to survive and grow this year will require doing things differently than last year.
That's the advice Tom Asacker and Jim Blasingame offer as they talk about the new reality of the marketplace.
What do you have, as a small business owner, that big business CEOs envy? Jim Blasingame talks about some of the advantages small businesses have that they should be leveraging everyday. He also talks about building better banking relationships.
Thursday - February 12, 2009
In tough times, one of the most important things to focus on is the concept of personal character. Tim Irwin talks with Jim Blasingame about how to define character and why it matters so much.
What leadership lessons can small business owners learn from the life and hard times of President Lincoln? Gene Griessman joins Jim Blasingame on Lincoln's 200th birthday to talk about the enduring character of our 16th president.
What does the stimulus package have for small business? Joan Pryde, with the Kiplinger Editors, and Jim Blasingame, talk about the stimulus package and other current events, including the economy in China and the U.S., laws concerrn layoffs, and other topics.
On the occasion of his 200th birthday, President Abraham Lincoln once again joins Jim Blasingame to share some of the wisdom that continues to inspire, and no group more than small business owners.
Friday - February 13, 2009
When the economy is off, do you cut back on marketing and advertising? Stephanie Hobbs joins Jim Blasingame with research that shows why marketing is critical to survival, especially in a recession.
How do paradoxes impact the performance of our small businesses, especially in a recession? Kelle Olwyler talks with Jim Blasingame about how to identify paradoxes and actually take advantage of them.
Relationships are even more critical to business success in a recession. Andrea Nierenberg talks with Jim Blasingame about several networking tips and best practices that will help you recession-proof your small business.
How are independent community banks handling the banking industry challenges and the recession? Incoming ICBA Chairman, Mike Menzies, talks with Jim Blasingame about the health of this sector of the banking industry and their ties to American communities and small businesses.
Monday - February 16, 2009
What can small business learn from watching Google, including their visionary approach to the 21st century, their successes and their mistakes. Jeff Jarvis joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the specific lessons Google is teaching everyday.
How can small businesses export successfully in a global economic downturn? Doug Barry talks with Jim Blasingame about a number of small business exporting tips and tools, including a new book on experting for small business.
How will proposed healthcare reforms affect small businesses? Bob Graboyes joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the impact of some healthcare reform options, including private portable solutins and universal coverage by the government.
With so much fear in the marketplace, how can your small business be fearless? Steve Chandler and Jim Blasingame talk about attitudes and tools that you can employ to fight your fears and a slow economy successfully.
Tuesday - February 17, 2009
What is the social media strategy for your small business? Are you using Twitter? Joel Comm joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the business advantages of Twitter and other social media. Joel also evaluates Jim's social media performance - it ain't pretty.
Where do you want your small business to be in three years? What will you think of your current performance when you look back in three years? These are two motivating ideas Jim Blasingame poses in this one-on-one with you in order to help you avoid letting fear create inaction.
What are the keys to successful small business leadership? Mary Key and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the critical leadership steps to take, especially when marketplace conditions create fear in the workplace.
When it comes to trust, the world could do worse than emulating the values of main street small businesses, according to Arky Ciancutti and Jim Blasingame, who discuss this idea, plus why trust can't be legislated, it must be earned.
Wednesday - February 18, 2009
Will current stimulus attempts by the government actually help the economy? Bob McTeer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the dangers of violating moral hazard principles, plus his thoughts on economic recovery.
Would you like to go after larger customers? Tom Searcy talks with Jim Blasingame talk about how small businesses can find and sell larger customers, including several tried and proven tips, tools and best practices.
Could government intervention into executive pay become an unfortunate precedent to set? Will the so-called stimulus plan actually stimulate the economy in time? Julia Seymour talks with Jim Blasingame about these matters, including how the press is covering them.
How important is a first impression? Dianne Legro explains to Jim Blasingame why a good first impression is critical and offers several tips and tools that will help you put your best foot forward when you meet someone for the first time. They also talk about the business benefits of doing public speaking.
Thursday - February 19, 2009
Being versatile in your thinking about serving customers is the key to survival and success in 2009, according to Jeff Zbar as he and Jim Blasingame share their thoughts and experience on how to to stay relevant to customers in a recession.
The January report on business activity for small business is mixed, as they deal with challenging economic realities while taking advantage of every they can find. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to review the NFIB Small Business Report, plus their thoughts on economic stimulus and the mortgage bailout plan.
What does the government's economic stimulus include? Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the key elements of the stimulus program, including what - if anything - is in it for small business. They also talk about the mortgage bail-out plan.
What will you have to do in 2009 to first make sure your small business survives, and then what will it take for you to thrive? Jay Mincks joins Jim Blasingame to reveal his success formula for enthusiastically taking your company to market in a recession.
Friday - February 20, 2009
What are some of the best managers doing to withstand the current economic challenges? Stephen Baum talks with Jim Blasingame about how the best practices of the small business owners he works with use to survive and thrive during an economic downturn, including mental and fundamental.
The world needs small businesses to be its own stimulus, according to Jim Blasingame, who talks about his thoughts on the various stimulus plans being launched by the government and why his thinks true economic recovery will result more from what small businesses do, often in spite of the government.
What can small businesses learn from the online strategies of the Obama presidential campaign? Robert Skrob talks with Jim Blasingame about this successful online approach. It may not work for every business, but it might.
What can small business owners learn from big business about survival and growth in a tough economy? Richard Rawson joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what he sees and what his company is doing that can help our small businesses.
Monday - February 23, 2009
Video-conferencing technology and applications are available and ready to change your world, according to Ruth King, as she joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how this exciting capability can help you operate your small business more efficiently.
What are the new tax issues you need to know for your 2008 filing activity and your 2009 planning? Barbara Weltman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the latest tax news, including what was in the recent stimulus bill.
How will population changes impact global economies? Ken Grobach talks with Jim Blasingame about how birth rates and generational waves will influence the various economies around the globe in the future.
Is your business ready to take advantage of Web 2.0 opportunities, like social media resource? Kirk Cheyfitz talks with Jim Blasingame about how small businesses can increase their marketplace visibility by adding Web 2.0 tools to their marketing strategy.
Tuesday - February 24, 2009
The future of your business is in the clouds, according to Maia Sisk, who joins Jim Blasingame to talk about cloud computing, which is processing power that doesn't reside on your desktop but from the Internet, from the smallest cell phone applications to multiple participant collaborations.
What do home-based businesses have to do to survive 2009? Basically, what all business have to do, according to Beverley Williams, who joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the fundamental issue facing all businesses, large and small, which is staying relevant to your customers.
Why isn't more of the stimulus activity focused on small business? Wayne Crews joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the failure of the government to recognize the stimulus opportunities in supporting the efforts of America's small business sector.
Is Wall Street as we have known it for generations dead? And if so, why should small businesses and Main Street care? Dave Kansas joins Jim Blasingame to explain and also to answer the question, is capitalism in jeopardy?
Wednesday - February 25, 2009
How does a small business owner deal with the fear factor that is so prevalent in our economy this year? Jim Donovan talks with Jim Blasingame about how to deal with an increased level of fear in the marketplace in a healthy and productive way.
Are you aware that the Obama administration and Congress are making plans to take over the U.S. health care system? Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what anyone who thinks this is a dangerous direction must do to joins the debate.
Listen as this real, live small business owner talks about what he and his company are doing to survive and thrive in this recession. Jay Myers joins Jim Blasingame to talk explain his attitude and his organization's strategy going forward.
The day after President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech, Jim Blasingame delivers his State of Small Business Address. He talks about the difference between a worldview that seeks a government approach to solutions, and a worldview that seeks market-based solutions.
Thursday - February 26, 2009
Do you want - or need - to start a small business, but you're an introvert? Or maybe you're just not great at self-promotion? Pat Weber joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the things you need to think about to get your new business off the ground successfully.
What does this veteran reporter think about what our government is doing to try to stimulate our economy? Don Lambro joins Jim Blasingame to offer his expert reporting on the attempts of President Obama and Congress to get our economy going again.
Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the most recent Kiplinger Letter, including how to cut costs, use barter, the dangers to the sanctity of contracts and the lack of small business help in the stimulus packages.
Friday - February 27, 2009
Jim Blasingame predicted that President Obama wouldn't push his populist agenda in 2009 because of the weak economy. He now says he was wrong. Listen as Jim explains why raising taxes, regulating carbon and other Obama plans won't be good for your small business.
Can you make the changes necessary for your small business to survive? Debbe Kennedy reveals specific things to do, with Jim Blasingame.
William Ockham proposed that the simplest solution is usually the best. Lori Williams talks with Jim Blasingame about how to simplify your approach to solving business challenges and taking advantage of opportunities.
Your relevance to customers today only vaguely resembles that of last year. Sam Richter joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to make sure you're talking with customers about what they find valuable today, rather than presuming nothing has changed in the past 12 months.
