Tuesday - September 01, 2009
There are a number of free resources available to small business owners, and none more important than SCORE. CEO, Ken Yancey is back to talk with Jim Blasingame about his organization, including how to connect with SCORE and some of the 21st century resources they're making available.
How does the valuation process work when buying or selling a small business. Andrew Sherman talks to Jim Blasingame about the uptick in mergers and acquisitions, whether now is a good time to buy or to sell, and how a buyer will evaluate a prospective business to buy.
Being a micropreneur does not have to mean "small" revenue. Working solo expert, Terri Lonier, joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the landscape has changed for those who want to stay small business while growing revenue, by using contract relationships.
Want more sales for your small business, do more prospecting. Skip Miller joins Jim Blasingame to discuss proven tips and best practices for prospecting effectively, including a contest among the sales staff for the best "jerk" story at the end of the week.
Wednesday - September 02, 2009
Now you can shop and contribute to a favorite charity at the same time. JJ Ramberg talks with Jim Blasingame about how GoodSearch.com helps you do good while doing business. They also talk about current small business issues, such as health care and social media.
If you're a freelancer, whether you know it or not, you're a small business owner. Ilisen Benun talks about the world of freelancing with Jim Blasingame, including all the different freelancing professions, and why you should think of yourself as a business owner.
Just because we're technically out of the recession, doesn't mean that small businesses aren't going to have maintain tight management practices. Bill Conerly talks about this with Jim Blasingame, including how the next expansion will look different from the last one.
What is the best computer structure for your small business? Should you be peer-to-peer or server-based? Jim Blasingame talks about these two systems and helps you determine which one is best for you. He also reveals some new technology that makes going server-based easy for small business.
Thursday - September 03, 2009
Think you've done all you can to find all of the prospects you can? Jeff Zbar says think again, as he joins Jim Blasingame to offer some tips and best practices on how to uncover old relationships by looking back through your email files for people who might have said "no" in the past.
Does the U.S. have an innovation challenge? Ken Krosin joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that there is a decrease in patent applications in the U.S. as a result of the economy causing companies to cut back on R&D. They also discuss the competitive dangers this poses for the U.S.
Get your small business team more focused on the customer. Kristin Arnold talks with Jim Blasingame about how to get your team revitalized by focusing on the customer. They also talk about some important best practices for delivering more successful presentations.
You can help Arnold Palmer celebrate his birthday. It's true! John Bozard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how you can write The King a birthday note and and make a donation in support of his beloved hospitals that bear his name.
Friday - September 04, 2009
What do you do when your city needs to reinvent itself? Suzanne Mulvehill is part of a group that is re-designing and re-branding their city, as she tells Jim Blasingame. With the help of a consulting firm, Lake Worth, FL is creating an entrepreneurial environment for the arts.
Is leadership different during a slow economy? Mary Key joins Jim Blasingame to explain how leaders have to become even better communicators when things are slow and tough decisions have to be made.
Having the right marketing message is critica, bvt you also have to make sure you're delivering it to the right people. Paul Casey joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to identify your message to your profile customer, whether consumer or business.
What can American small business owners learn from their Irish brothers and sisters? John Stanton joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what he learned as he worked with Irish small businesses to compete with Big Box companies.
Monday - September 07, 2009
On his 12th live Labor Day broadcast, Jim Blasingame reveals the origins of this holiday and wonders why there isn't a similar day to recognize those who make it possible for employees to have a paid day off.
When the good that politicians do is applied against the damage they often cause, the remainder isn't always positive. Historian, Burt Folsom, joins Jim Blasingame reveal some important historical examples that can be applied to contemporary policy proposals.
How do you keep employees engaged during a recession? Leigh Branham reminds Jim Blasingame and his audience that keeping employees encouraged during tough times isn't all that difficult, and he offers a few tips.
What were the original issues that gave rise to Labor Day and are those still relevant in modern times? Jim Blasingame welcomes Ken Davis back to discuss the history of Labor Day and whether it still means as much as it once did.
Tuesday - September 08, 2009
Trust research, not your gut when investing, according to David Adler, who joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why you be more deliberate, patient and thoughtful when making investment decisions.
The economy is improving, according to the recent Tatum Survey. Sam Norwood is back to talk with Jim Blasingame about this month's Tatum survey, which has more arrows pointing up than down.
Where we're going will be different from where we've been. Norm Brodsky and Jim Blasingame discuss how the next era in the marketplace will change and what small businesses will have to do to be competitive in this environment.
Adjusting to the power and challenges of new technologies is increasingly part of modern management. Alan Freedman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how customers are adopting mobile technologies and what that will require of businesses that want to reach them.
Wednesday - September 09, 2009
Is having goals counter-intuitive to happiness? Nancy Rosanoff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the potential conflict that goal setting can have to happiness and how to eliminate that tension.
What role does personality play in how happy you are? Pierce Howard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how an individual's personality will define and why managers need to understand this as they manage different personalities.
Communicating as an expert is the key to your success, according to Diane DiResta, who joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why public speaking will become an increasingly important way to connect with customers.
How confident are you about your social media strategy? Chuck Martin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss recent research about how confident managers are about their companies' social media strategy. The news is not good.
Thursday - September 10, 2009
Are you capable of initiating a negotiation? Roger Volkema talks to Jim Blasingame about why you should attempt to initiate a negotiation whenever possible and how to do it. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want - the worst that can happen is they say no.
Can you learn to be a leader? Are there essential leadership skills that you can learn? Jim Canterucci says yes, as he explains with Jim Blasingame several essential leadership skills, including resilience and others.
How much of a problem will commercial real estate defaults be for the economy in the coming months? This issue and others are covered by Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame, including health care reform, 401K changes, tax increases, etc.
Friday - September 11, 2009
On the 8th anniversary of the attack, Jim Blasingame reflects on the day Americans should never forget, beginning with his poem "I just keep shaking my head," and other thoughts.
Reporting on the August NFIB Small Business Economic Survey, Bill Dunkelberg updates Jim Blasingame on the fact that some economic factors are up, some are down, and none are where we want them to be.
On the eight anniversary, Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to commemorate the events that took place on September 11, 2001 and remind us that we can never forget that we were attacked and that there are still people who want to hurt us merely because of who we are and what we stand for.
How are women business owners fairing in the current economic conditions? Nell Merlino returns to discuss this issue with Jim Blasingame, including a report on how her organization is helping women entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on the 8th anniversary of 9-11, Jim Blasingame reveals what he calls ten things he believes to be true about the war on terrorism.
Monday - September 14, 2009
Are you prepared to use the multiple media options available to connect with customers and build online communities? Christina Cavanagh joins Jim Blasingame how to talk about the evolving electronic communications environment and how to navigate it.
What does President Obama's health care reform speech really mean for small businesses? Paul Howard joins Jim Blasingame to review the points and omission of Obama's address to Congress on health care reform.
Take charge of your small business by taking action, according to Beverly Inman-Ebel, who joins Jim Blasingame to reveal three action steps that will help you get your business plans in motion.
After 2009, what will the "new normal" look like for small business? Robert Levin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the new marketplace landscape that is unfolding in front of our eyes and what small businesses must to do take advantage of these changes.
Tuesday - September 15, 2009
How does the U.S. stack up against the world as a benefactor? Carol Adelman joins Jim Blasingame to report on how much foreign aid the U.S. government delivers each year, and the fact that private citizens and organizations give almost twice as much.
Free small business resources are everywhere in the U.S., according to Charles Nagel and Jim Blasingame, who discuss the many sources where you can gain knowledge on how to start and run a small business successfully.
Saying "thank you" is one of the small business keys to success. Jim Blasingame talks about one of the priceless and price less things you can do to encourage our precious customers to come back again.
Keep customers by becoming an integrated partner, says Jim Sirbasku, who joins Jim Blasingame to discuss tips and best practices that will help your small business become irreplaceable to your customers.
"No problem" is a problem for small businesses, according to Jim Blasingame, who reveals what he says is an insidious mistake small business are making as they serve customers. You won't get these insights from anybody but Jim.
Thursday - September 17, 2009
With so many new technologies and applications being created each year, how do you choose the best technology adoption plan for your business? Jeff Zbar talks with Jim Blasingame about how to made this decision and remind you that, as always, your customers have many of the answers.
Who are America's most promising small businesses? Forbes Managing Editor, Carl Lavin, joins Jim Blasingame to announce the Forbes list of America's Most Promising Companies, what they do, where the are and what can be learned from these 20 small businesses.
Reporting on the 9-11-09 Kiplinger Letter, Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame talk about the future impact of China, leading economic indicators, age discrimination laws, energy news and other issues.
Friday - September 18, 2009
How do you know when to merely make adjust and when to completely reinvent? Jane Pollak talks to Jim Blasingame about the need to constantly check your competitive position in the marketplace to know when to adjust and when to reinvent.
Seek excellence in "we", not the perfection of "I", according to Judith Glaser, who joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the best practices that help small businesses do a better job of leveraging their staff, working with customers and collaborating with others.
Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame following her recent trip to the middle east with a report on the health of entrepreneurship in Israel and Palestine in the face of regional strife.
How do small businesses bridge the gap between the excitement of online technologies and the traditional way of doing business face-to-face? Jonathan Treiber joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his personal and professional quest to get this combination right.
Reporting on current small business policy issues, Karen Kerrigan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the elements of the proposed health care reform legislation, like co-ops. They also talk about protectionist concerns over President Obama's tariff on tires from China.
Monday - September 21, 2009
How do you combine customer care practices with social media technology? Chip Bell and John Patterson join Jim Blasingame to discuss how to put these two activities together so that they are effective and seamless.
How can tax reform be the best way to reform health care? John Fox joins Jim Blasingame to discus how the current health care reform debate could be solved with a closer look at tax policy.
Email marketing has always been a great social media tool, reminds Eric Groves, as he joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the important ways to connect with customers using email, including online surveys.
When a state law is passed to regulate the Internet, it creates many unintended consequences. Steve DelBianco talks to Jim Blasingame about the lawsuit his organization brought against the state of Maine over its Predatory Marketing Law.
Net Neutrality is one of the most complicated issues being debated today and the resolution of this debate has far-reaching implications for any company that does business online. Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to try to simplify this issue and help small business owners understand it better.
Tuesday - September 22, 2009
What is at stake if the government takes over our health care system? Jim Blasingame talks about the absurdity of politicians taking only a few months to pass a law that would ultimately give government control over our health care industry, which is one sixth of the U.S. economy.
What was going on in the minds of the first people who built the first commercial Internet network. Jim Blasingame welcomes Allan Weis to the show to talk about his ideas and vision way back in 1990. Don't miss this important report by someone who made history.
How does a small business conduct more effective meetings? Mike Song joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on how to have quicker and more efficient meetings, but also why it's important to have regular meetings with your team.
What kind of economic recovery is in store for us? Chuck Kadlec is back to have a spirited discussion with Jim Blasingame about the current state of the U.S. economy and what the recovery will look like over the next 18 months.
Wednesday - September 23, 2009
A dry crack is a happy crack. That's the tag line of Bob Kodner's company, The Crack Team - honest. Bob is back to talk with Jim Blasingame about how his company has grown and evolved since his last visit on the show, including how they have adjusted to economic realities.
Selling is both art and science, but unfortunately, too many sm4 joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to track your sale activity using customer relationship software and produce measurements that will help you close more sales.
Is capitalism dead. Is capitalism evil? Julia Seymour and Jim Blasingame discuss the current debate over these issues and make the case that capitalism is neither evil or deal, especially on Main Street, where small businesses work.
What do the rest of us need to know about Generation Y?Donna Fenn joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what she has learned about this influential generation who are between 18 and 32 years old, as employees, customers and even as employers.
Thursday - September 24, 2009
Creating residual income - the work that keeps on giving is something Ruth King talks with Jim Blasingame about this, including several specific examples of how to set an income stream in place and just maintain it over time.
This is a classic story about finding a niche and capitalizing on it. Andy Dunn talks with Jim Blasingame about he and his partner discovered a niche in the fashion industry and set about filling that void successfully. They prove that new niches are being found every day.
What small businesses are doing to hold down health care insurance costs. Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame discuss this issue, plus the future of the post office and concerns about IRS penalties on your 401K. This is also Kiplinger's 86th anniversary.
Austin Kiplinger is a national treasure, a witness to a century one of Jim Blasingame's heroes. Listen as Jim interviews this 91 year-old journalist about keeping contemporary and opportunities challenges in perspective.
Friday - September 25, 2009
What really caused the financial crisis and The Great Recession? Nicole Gelinas talks to Jim Blasingame about precedents that creates an implied believe that the government would bail out big companies and there fore, too much risk was taken by managers and investors.
How do you turn underwear into an entrepreneurial success? Lida Orzeck joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how she and her co-founder turned a birthday gift into an idea to produce and sell women's intimate apparel. Jim likes saying the name of their company, Hanky Panky,
What can retailers expect from the upcoming holiday season? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what is likely to be in store for retailers as we close out the calendar year with the holidays.
Changing of the guard at the ASBDC is in place. Don Wilson's fine leadership of the Association of Small Business Development Centers is being handed to his replacement, Charles "Tee" Rowe, and they join Jim Blasingame to talk about where the organization is and where it's going.
Monday - September 28, 2009
How is women leadership different? Mary Cantando talks to Jim Blasingame about her work with women and what they need to grow their businesses. She also says leadership demonstrated by women is different from that by men.
Does 20th century style capitalism work with 21st century realities? Bill Halal joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some new ways of looking at capitalism, including a different set of priorities that puts the greater good ahead of profits.
What does American manufacturing look like in the global economy of the 21st century? Mitch Free talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the real issues and opportunities that are part of the manufacturing landscape for small businesses.
Dispelling the myths about American health care. Sally Pipes and Jim Blasingame examine the health care debate elements and dispel some of the myths, including the uninsured number and whether Americans will have longer waits for care under the Obama plan.
Tuesday - September 29, 2009
How can having a "hugging culture" with customers can help you survive and thrive during an economic downturn? Jack Mitchell joins Jim Blasingame to share how his customer care methods can help your small business.
There are a number of Important tax and retirement law dates and changes that you need to know and Barbara Weltman talks about these with Jim Blasingame, as you get ready for tax planning.
How does a small business incorporate online community development into its business plan? Tim Berry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about planning for more connection with customers in concert with marketing goals.
Since 1998, Jim Blasingame has been predicting that the 21st is the century of the entrepreneur and he talks about some of the reasons for this position, including technology, market shifts, social media, and of course, the pathological optimism of small business owners.
Wednesday - September 30, 2009
Do you know if you're an introvert, an ambivert or an extrovert? Small business owner, do you know this about your employees? Patricia Weber talks to Jim Blasingame about the difference between these three personalities and why you need to know.
How have books fared as a component of free speech? Ken Davis joins Jim Blasingame during Banned Book Week, to review the history of banned books and the future of free speech in print.
One of the key traits of a true leader is the ability to train and encourage others to be leaders. Gary Harpst and Jim Blasingame talk about how to make individual workers more responsible and to become "self leaders."
Reporting on the economic, political and societal trends, Bob Dilenschneider talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the issues his organization is tracking, including how we run our businesses, our governments and our lives.
