Monday - March 02, 2009
When growth stalls, how do you find out what caused it and what do you have to do to turn the trend around? Steve McKee joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to know when your small business stalls and what to do about it.
It's okay to be honest about concerns and challenges we're facing in 2009. Jim Blasingame talks about how to have honest conversations with friends, colleagues and customers that lead to building trust and improved working relationships.
Do you need to get more business but can't increase your marketing budget? Joyce Weiss joins Jim Blasingame about how to grow your business organically, with what you already have and who you already know.
What do you need to know about Web 2.0 and how will it help your business? Peter Meyer talks with Jim Blasingame about the philosophy and applications of the future of online strategies, including how customers want to be reached, what they want to hear, and how they want to be heard.
Tuesday - March 03, 2009
What are some of the key strategies that small businesses will need to employ as we move our operations forward? Art Kleiner talks with Jim Blasingame some of the best practices in our future, which are actually available right now.
What are the proper global business perspectives that small businesses should have, even during a global recession? Andrew Sherman talks with Jim Blasingame about why we should be thinking about our global future while planning for survival.
In a recent survey of small business market thought-leaders, John Dini discovered some key recession survival information and he joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what he learned.
What are some of the key financial management and tax planning steps small businesses should take? Doug Stives talks with Jim Blasingame about the important financial best practices and tax planning tips to use to improve your changes of surviving and thriving in 2009.
Wednesday - March 04, 2009
Are you a courageous small business owner? Would you like to be more courageous? How is courage used in the marketplace? Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to answer these courage questions.
For the future of your small business, you need look no farther than what's you hand everyday. It's the cell phone and Alan Freedman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the new and future applications of mobile computing.
Are you communicating effectively on the social media sites? Do you have a social media strategy? Debra Fine talks with Jim Blasingame about a few social media strategy ideas, including a few things not to do.
What's the key to increasing sales revenue? Skip Miller joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the three key sales strategies that you must use, including disqualifying and making better "touches."
Thursday - March 05, 2009
High unemployment is a classic engine for new small business creation. But what do you have to do to make that leap? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the key small business start-up principles.
Is President Obama trying to channel FDR and his New Deal policies? Dr. Burton Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to compare the economic challenges and proposed solutions of President Obama with those of President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s.
Jim Ostroff and Jim Blasingame talk about current events as covered in this week's <i>Kiplinger Letter</i>.
Friday - March 06, 2009
You're good at spending money, but how are you at saving? Penelope Tzougros joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to take more responsibility for financial future, plus she talks about some of tools and strategies.
Is this a good time to start a small business? Bill Topaz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about this issue first and then move on to discuss the challenges of managing employees during a tough economic time.
Innovations are launching and paradigms are shifting all around us. How is your small business handling all this change? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame with insight into what the future holds, including new pavement and energy storaage innovations.
Are we seeing the end of capitalism? Will entrepreneurs be able to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again? Stephen Moore joins Jim Blasingame to talk about our economic problems and the new ones the government is creating in the name of stimulus.
Monday - March 09, 2009
Are you managing your business successfully? Robert Fritz and Jim Blasingame talk about some things small business owners should be doing to improve management skills.
Why is it even more critical to deliver extreme customer care in 2009? Mark Mayberry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some customer care stories he's witnesses and what we can learn from them.
How do you market your small business during a recession? Paula Lovell talks with Jim Blasingame about why marketing must continue, even during a slow economy, by spending more time and energy on those areas that cost little or nothing, like networking, spending more time with customers, and maximizing public relations opportunities.
How is your negotiating strategy connected to your small business strategic planning process? Peter Johnston talks with Jim Blasingame about how to tie these two critical management tasks together to become a better negotiator with your customers.
Tuesday - March 10, 2009
Recession or not, if you're going to survive, you have to acquire new customers and keep existing ones. Charlie Fewell talks with Jim Blasingame about the steps you have to take and the attitude you have to have in order to get business when the economy is down.
Just because there are layoffs doesn't mean their work doesn't still have to be done. Jim Blasingame talks about how to handle this "ghost" work within your organization and as it affects survivor employees who are taking on these new responsibilities.
What are business managers seeing in the economy? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the recent month's Tatum Survey of economic conditions, which are mixed. They also talk about the dangers of the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, which is legislation that promotes unionism.
More and more, we will do business through cloud computing, which is buying and creating services delivered over the Internet. Cherie Carter-Scott joins Jim Blasingame discuss how she has created an international coaching business using this concept and cloud computing.
Wednesday - March 11, 2009
Selling in a recession is more about what customers need than what you have to sell? John Patterson and Chip Bell talk with Jim Blasingame about how to have the courage to focus more on finding out what customers need than on what you need to sell today.
How technology is changing your relationship with customers and how they are allowing you to reach them. Ramon Ray talks with Jim Blasingame talk about the push and pull of 21st century sales and marketing, including changes in culture and technology.
If change has always been with us, why aren't we humans better at it than we are? Rick Maurer talks with Jim Blasingame about some new ways of thinking about introducing and managing change.
Take everything you know about your sales force management and throw it out the window. Justin Roff-Marsh joins Jim Blasingame to talk about completely re-engineering your sales process with a more efficient appoach to selling and managing the sales process.
Thursday - March 12, 2009
What do you have to do to get your small business plugged into the pipeline that is going to deliver the government's economic stimulus money? Janet Christy talks with Jim Blasingame about how a small business gets access to this money.
How will the new banking policies by the Obama administration handle the toxic assets and get the banking industry going again?
Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame talk about this issue, plus the challenges of new European democracies, among other topics.
What got us into this mess, how is the government doing with its attempts to get us out, and what should small businesses be doing about it. Don Boudreaux joins Jim Blasingame to talk about these issues, including whether capitalism is in jeopardy.
Over 100 years ago, in a speech, our 26th president described a special type of person. Jim Blasingame recites this passage from President Theodore Roosevelt's speech and goes on to identify who he must have been talking about, as well as to name some of the dangers ahead of this group.
There are brand new rules and regulations for small businesses that have laid off employees, including a Sept 1, 2008 retroactive requirement. Joan Pryde explains the details of these new COBRA developments with Jim Blasingame.
Friday - March 13, 2009
Is 2009 a year that will stand alone? Will we learn anything in 2009 that will help us in 2010? Will we look back at 2009 as "the lost year?" Jim Blasingame talks about why he thinks about 2009, why this year is different and what that means for the operation of your small business.
What are some of the critical small business public policy issues currently being debated in Washington, D.C.? Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about these issues, including tax increases and unionization.
Should your approach to sales be different in a recession? Paul Cherry talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the ways to approach your sales strategy and customers that might be a little different in a challenging economy.a
What are the specific steps a small business should take to first survive and then thrive in 2009? Jim Sirbasku joins Jim Blasingame with several management tasks that will contribute to success this year and being ready to take advantage of the coming recovery.
Monday - March 16, 2009
Branding without connecting is just expensive noise. That's the message Jonathan Baskin and Jim Blasingame discuss as they explain how small businesses reach customers and build relationships in a period that could be described as "post-marketing."
Succession planning is a big part of the long-term planning for millions of small businesses. Tim Berry has studied this and actually done it successfully, and he talks with Jim Blasingame about his advice based on his experience.
How is one independent community bank fairing when the banking industry is under so much stress? Charles Antonucci explains why his bank has withdrawn its request for TARP funds, and how his bank plans to move forward in an era of increased bank oversight, and what all of this means for his small business customers.
Are America's small business being assaulted by government policies? Is there a class war being waged that could hurt small business? Steve Malanga joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the direct and indirect impact of certain governemnt policies on American entrepreneurs.
Tuesday - March 17, 2009
With all of the talk about how much help small business is getting the government, Jim Blasingame, reveals the good, the bad and the ugly reality of what happens when someone says, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."
How does a small business know when to change its peer-to-peer computer structure to the central structure of a server system? Caleb Barlow talks with Jim Blasingame about how server technology has changed, including the concept of a central operating "appliance" that makes this transition very easy and less expensive.
Can a non-performer become a performer? Can a performer turn into a non-performer. Should we focus on what people do well more than on what they don't do well? Chuck Martin answers these questions and others in this interview with Jim Blasingame.
How do we get our people and teams to reach their optimum potential? Steve Zaffron talks with Jim Blasingame about how to get people to talk about where they are profession all and where they think they're going, as opposed to where would like to go. Then show them how they have more control than they may think.
Wednesday - March 18, 2009
Small businesses report this month that the economic factors they face are mixed - some good some not so much. Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on this month's economic conditions, plus the impact of government policies on small business.
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid when trying to survive in a serious economic downturn? Dave Anderson talks with Jim Blasingame talk about several management missteps not to take.
What's the most effective way to leverage your small business in a recession? Steve Strauss and Jim Blasingame explain how using free and low-cost resources available on the Internet can be a great way to get new business and hold on to your existing customers.
Are you having difficulty transitioning from employment to ownership? Matthew talks with Jim Blasingame about the challenges people are having with all of the personal and professional transitions required these days, and how to handle them effectively.
Thursday - March 19, 2009
Operating a small business successfully is not a sprint, it's a marathon. The question is, do you have the entrepreneurial stamina to run this race? Jeff Zbar and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the gut-checks you have to endure to make it as a small business owner.
How are the younger generations, Gen X and Y, impacting the workplace and the small business economy? Mike Muetzel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the emergence of these generations is different from the past, including the challenges and opportunities being identied.
How long will it take for government stimulus programs to have a positive influence on the economy? Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame talk about this issue and others, including where some of the stimulus funds will be spent, among other topics.
Friday - March 20, 2009
What does it look like when a small business owner decides to take on investment capital, which also comes with the investors? Robert Levin recently went through this process and talks with Jim Blasingame about how it worked for him.
What would happen if you put a Twitter post up against traditional media campaign? Gary Vaynerchuck did just that and he joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how new media beat old media like a drum. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Gary Vee has everyone on the planet following him on Twitter.
What do we need to know about personality as we deal making difficult decisions in a bad economy? Pierce and Jane Howard talk with Jim Blasingame about some of the key personality issues to recognize when laying off employees and making other difficult decisions.
How do you know when your old computer needs to go? Ralph Bond joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to decide when your computer is out of date, including a few tips and resources to help you make that decision.
The fact that not many people are talking about our military these days is a tribute to their very success. Jim Blasigname talks a few minutes to salute our heroes in uniform who are standing a post, often in harm's way, wherever their country sends them.
Rob Levin and Jim Blasingame talk about the trends they see in the economy and both report seeing a slight improvement.
Monday - March 23, 2009
Many people are in transition these days, either by their own choice or other circumstances. Jim Manton joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to make a transition successfully in a way that is good for you and society.
How does a small business conduct tax planning with all of the new tax laws and the prospects of more laws? Barbara Weltman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about making the most out of 2008 tax filing and preparing for 2009 planning.
Is the government helping or hurting the economy, and how does it look for 2009 and beyond? Bill Conerly joins Jim Blasingame to talk about these issues including the role 2009 will play in getting us ready for 2010.
What hath the recession wrought for franchise prospects? Joel Libava joins Jim Blasingame to talk about franchise due diligence, including how to find the business opportunity that fits you more than it fits your circumstances.
Tuesday - March 24, 2009
How do you make sure that your business stands out instead of just blending in? Sam Horn joins Jim Blasingame with tips and best practices on how to start the creative process that will produce the perfect pitch, title and tagline for anything.
What challenges do small businesses face in this economy and how long before things turn around? Chad Moutray joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what small businesses can expect in terms of an end of the recession and what the recovery will look like.
If you need to hire, or retain, high-performing employees, perhaps the best way is through a deferred compensation plan. Brett Ellen talks with Jim Blasingame about how these plans work and why you should consider them as part of your company's long-term strategy.
Overcome fear, anxiety and the survivor attitude with the belief that you can become invincible. That's the advice of Jennifer Hawthorne as the talks with Jim Blasingame about how to take back your life and business from all of the negative energy that's out there.
Monday - March 30, 2009
Celebrating the significant impact women have had on history and the marketplace, Ken Davis joins Jim Blasingame to talk about women who helped shape American, including the significant growth in women-owned small businesses.
What are some of the issues of valuing a small business to buy or to sell that are unique to 2009?Russ Brown and Jim Blasingame talk about the challenges of accurate business valuation during the transition year of 2009.
Why is this woman-owned small business finding success in 2009? Rebecca Boenigk joins Jim Blasingame to explain that their 20 years of success, even in 2009, is due to their devotion to their niche, which means not trying to be all things to all people.
Innovation, not legislation, is the key to solving the global climate change issue. Jack Uldrich talks with Jim Blasingame about how encouraging emerging technologies will allow the United States to lead the world in alternative energy capability.
Tuesday - March 31, 2009
What do you do when your business needs more capital, or when you've outgrown your bank? Joseph Meuse talks with Jim Blasingame about the reverse merger approach to taking your company public, including how the current challenges of the capital markets have created increased demand for this vehicle.
When is the best time to conduct training in a small business? Brad Huesken says it's during a recession. Honest! He explains why with Jim Blasingame.
Can you still get top dollar for your business, even in a recession? Steve Kaplan joins Jim Blasingame to provide tips and best practices on how to structure a business sale so you get the maximum price, even in a challenging economy.
One of the by-products of chaos is opportunity. So if this recession has created unprecedented chaos, then it follows that there will be unprecedented opportunities, right? Jim Blasingame identifies some of the chaos elements in the current marketplace, plus some new ways to think about identifying and taking advantage of all those new opportunities.
When the Conficker worm is re-released, on April 1, 2009, it will be more aggressive because once it gets in, it won't need you to do anything. Jim Blasingame talks about some of the things you need to do to avoid being a Conficker victim.
