Monday - February 01, 2010
How are you managing your execution numbers? Ed Abel and Jim Blasingame talk about some of the non-financial elements of small business success that also require tracking, including marketing strategy and sales activity. This is the first in a series on this topic Jim is conducting with Ed.
How to grow Main Street trust in the rest of the marketplace. Judith Glaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the 5 barriers to trust and how to overcome them. Jim also points out that the world would be well-served to take a lesson on trust from Main Street small businesses.
Using Internet tools is a 21st century requirement for effective sales performance for business-to-business activity. Sam Richter and Jim Blasingame discuss how to blend the old fundamentals and the new tools to make sure you meet your sales goals.
How is the Las Vegas economy holding up? Las Vegas resident and Libertarian, Wayne Root, reports on the economic condition and real estate challenges of this major market.
What is the future of Libertarianism in American politics? What's the difference between a Libertarian and a conservative? Wayne Allyn Root joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how national politics will shape up over the next three years as a result of the recent elections.
Will Obama's plans actually grow small business jobs? Libertarian Wayne Allyn Root joins Jim Blasingame with his opinion about whether President Obama's plans to grow jobs will work.
Tuesday - February 02, 2010
Don't let a maxim cause you to lie to yourself. Jim Blasingame says the maxim, "it's lonely at the top," becomes a dangerous lie small business owners tell themselves when they don't seek outside counsel. He goes on to identify several valuable consulting and networking resources that are available for little or no budget.
Reporting on the recent presidential election in Ukraine, Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his trip to the Ukraine as a member of the Official Observers' Mission to observe the election process.
Protect your assets by backing them up in the clouds. David Friend and Jim Blasingame discuss the new "cloud" technologies that are available for small businesses to use to back up their electronic assets. These resources are relatively inexpensive, work automatically, are easy to use and are secure.
It's International Networking Week 2010, and Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to report on the networking events happening around the world and to discuss how to incorporate face-to-face networking with the social media platforms.
Face-to-face is the original social media. Jim Blasingame makes this point as he talks about how to blend our "embarrassment of riches" in communication technology in appropriate ways with the always valuable in-person contact.
What impact will Obama's state of the union speech have on civility? Rich Galen and Jim Blasingame talk about the president's chastising of the Supreme Court in his speech and what kind of a "defining deviancy down" precedent that could set.
How will independents change the face of politics? Rich Galen and Jim Blasingame talk about how the concept of being a "registered independent" could result in a significant paradigm shift for both the Republicans and the Democrats and change the way we govern for the better.
Wednesday - February 03, 2010
What do a business start-up and a teacher have in common? How about loving your job and thriving on little money? Danny Kofke joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to manage the money you have more effectively.
Retirement is more than just how much will I have to live on, according to Mary Lloyd, as she talks with Jim Blasingame about retirement as being more about what you're going to do next.
What are the top 10 reasons small business start-ups fail? Tim Berry joins Jim Blasingame to report on his top 10 list of start-up mistakes, including poor cash management, failure to plan, not developing an effective team, etc.
Thursday - February 04, 2010
Are you capable of appreciating the "Ah-ha" moments in small business? Nancy Rosanoff joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what these moments look like, what they mean and why you should care.
How did Wall Street get at cross-purposes with small business? Scott Patterson talks with Jim Blasingame about the damage the "Quants" have put the world economy in peril over the past 25 years, and may still be able to do it again. Don't miss this interview.
Reporting on the 1-31-10 Kiplinger Letter, Joan Pryde and Jim Blasingame discuss the financial travails of the state governments, the construction industry, Medicare cuts and the impact of campaign reform on small business.
Will more money in community banks create more small business jobs? Mike Menzies and Jim Blasingame discuss how community banks will respond to Obama's plan to give them access to $30 billion to lend to small businesses. Mike says it may help create jobs, Jim disagrees.
Friday - February 05, 2010
Economic recovery is waiting on leadership, not policies. That's the information David Rock delivers in his visit with Jim Blasingame. He reveals that we are less productive when we're fearful and uncertain about the future, and that we will respond more positively to a hopeful message than a new policy.
The simple pause is a valuable utility infielder in small business, according to Nance Guilmartin, as she talks with Jim Blasingame about how the pause can be used productively and effectively for offense, defense or even when you're sitting on the bench.
In order for America to claim the 21st century, futurist, Joel Barker, tells Jim Blasingame, it should recognize its world-leading strengths and take them to the next level, instead of worrying about the competition.
The truth about small business access to capital isn't what you hear on television or from Washington. Tracy Eden and Jim Blasingame talk about the why main stream media and President Obama are completely wrong when they say small businesses can't get loans, and identify a number of Main Street loan sources that never stopped working with small businesses.
More loans won't cause small businesses to hire more people. That's the message Tracy Eden and Jim Blasingame have to the question about lending to small businesses. The problem isn't more loans, it's minimizing fear and uncertainty.
How have technological innovations impacted us for the past 10 year and the next 10? Futurist, Joel Barker talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the key technologies, including convergences, that we should watch.
Monday - February 08, 2010
How are you connecting with customers? How do you deliver proposals? How much in-person contact do you make? Diane DiResta and Jim Blasingame discuss knowing what connecting tool or practice to use with customers so you don't spend too much time in the virtual world.
Is the thing that makes the Internet free in danger? Steve DelBianco reports with Jim Blasingame that the default opt-in relationship between visitors and websites allows advertising to pay for your free access. Will the intentions of some in government to change this relationship hurt the success of the Internet?
What does a small business that does both importing and exporting look like? Kesha Alexander talks to Jim Blasingame about the business of introducing the world to the wonders of the cocoa bean as a business plan. They also talk about the one-sidedness of Valentines Day. Okay, Jim talks about that.
What do managers need to know about how humans are motivated? Dan Pink is back to talk with Jim Blasingame about why the old "carrot and stick" approach is not as effective in the 21st century and what managers should know about Motivation 3.0. His new book is called "Drive."
Tuesday - February 09, 2010
Is America falling behind in the innovation marketplace? That's the question Kenneth Krosin poses as he joins Jim Blasingame to reveal startling statistics on the difference between China's innovation record and that of the U.S.
What does America have to do to regain our global leadership in the marketplace of things and the marketplace of ideas? Jim Blasingame says America can't keep living off of what we accomplished in the 20th century. The 21st century is a brand new place, and we have to demand more of ourselves and those we allow to represent us.
Are you doing the work that you are wired for? That's the question Kathy Kolbe asks as she talks with Jim Blasingame about whether the human instincts that are who you are match with the job you're doing. If not, especially if you're a business owner, you're level of success and happiness will be limited.
What's love got to do with it? Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the rules of love in life and in the marketplace, including how similar the rules are for both.
Jim Blasingame says this recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, and he talks about the attitude we must have and the things we must do to be able to finish this economic recovery race successfully.
We may be in the mother of all jobless recoveries, says Jim Blasingame, as he explains why slow jobs growth may cause this recovery to take longer to mature than we want and what this will mean for small businesses.
Wednesday - February 10, 2010
Reporting on the 2-10 Tatum Survey of Business Conditions, Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the realities of a slow economic recovery, including poor jobs growth, slow sales and a difficult credit environment.
There are many challenges in the process of planning for the transfer of ownership of a private business. Dr. David Gage and Jim Blasingame talk about these challenges, what causes them, how to deal with them and produce an orderly transition of ownership.
How do you teach your organization to think of customer complaints as opportunities? Barbara Burke talks with Jim Blasingame about how to teach practices and instill attitudes that make customers want you to help them when they need it.
How do you build a complementary team? Stephen Covey joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the make-up of a 21st century organization, including an environment that fosters creativity, risk-taking, redemption for mistakes and servant-leadership by management.
Thursday - February 11, 2010
Reporting on the new Google Buzz social media aggregator, Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what Buzz does, how it works, why you should care and if this is the next weapon in Google's plan to take over the world.
Why is the government making tax planning so challenging? Barbara Weltman talks with Jim Blasingame about some of the difficulties small businesses are having with tax planning and why that's creating a negative affect on jobs creation. She also reports on key tax reporting dates.
Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff reports with Jim Blasingame on progress in the credit crisis, including some of the dynamics that will cause access to credit to improve in 2010. Jim Blasingame is less optimistic that these forces will cause small businesses to borrow more.
As more and more work is being conducted in the "cloud," what price does privacy and security pay? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the dark side of the very convenient, inexpensive and efficient resources available online in the clouds, including a likely loss of privacy and a potential loss of security.
Reporting on the the price trends of energy products, Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to identify the likely price levels for crude oil, gasoline, heating oil and natural gas, and electricity. They also speculate about the impact on prices by speculators.
Reporting on the true unemployment rate, Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff talks with Jim Blasingame about the difference between the way the unemployment rate is calculated and America's actual unemployment condition.
Reporting on the U.S. export strategy, Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the more productive efforts by the Obama administration to grow the economy and jobs by promoting global trade by small businesses.
Friday - February 12, 2010
How does a small business find relevance in The Age of the Customer™? Jim Blasingame identifies the markers of what he calls The Age of the Customer™, how this is changing the marketplace and what businesses have to do to compete in this new Age.
Celebrating his 201st birthday, President Abraham Lincoln joins Jim Blasingame to reflect on the current state of America and to encourage us to "appeal to our better angels." Thanks to Gene Griessman for arranging this visit.
How important is it to set goals? Kelle Olwyler tells Jim Blasingame setting goals is critical to success, and she offers several tips and best practices on how to write them down and stick to them. She also points out the paradoxes of goal setting.
How did the new American Tea Party get started? John O'Hara joins Jim Blasingame to report on how this grassroots political movement came to be and where it is likely to go from here, including whether there will be Tea Party candidates.
Could the marketplace use some "better angels"? Gene Griessman joins Jim Blasingame to invoke the wisdom of President Lincoln's quote, "appeal to our better angels" and to apply that wisdom to our behavior in the marketplace, especially with customers.
Monday - February 15, 2010
What PR lessons can small businesses learn from the Toyota product recall fiasco? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to offer several tips and best practices that you should apply when communicating with your customers, whether the news is good or bad.
Why is China such a fascinating and troubling place? Futurist, John Naisbitt, joins Jim Blasingame again to reveal why we're at once worried about China's impact on the global economy, environment and other worries, and yet we continue to be fascinated by this unique culture.
Expanding the concept of PR in your small business, Paula Lovell joins Jim Blasingame to suggest that you work with a peer business owner to do mystery shopping in each other's business as a way of improving PR with customers.
When acquiring a small business, should you buy stock or assets? Attorney, Cliff Ennico, joins Jim Blasingame to identify examples of when you should buy just the assets of a company and when you should buy the stock. He also talks about when to incorporate and when to use a limited liability company (LLC).
Beware of the emerging franchise. That's the advice of attorney, Cliff Ennico, as he talks with Jim Blasingame about low-cost franchise opportunities offered by new or untested franchises with very few other franchisees.
Tuesday - February 16, 2010
Jeffrey Dobkin joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on how to get your product in front of the specific people who use what you sell by focusing on where they live, work and play.
Are you innovating or are you becoming a commodity?Steve McKee joins Jim Blasingame to ask this question, and identifies why innovation is the key to 21st century success. He also points out that failing to be innovative moves your business in the direction of being a commodity and therefore, uncompetitive.
How do you build social media into your marketing strategy? Chuck Martin talks with Jim Blasingame about what was learned when real small business allowed social media practices to be incorporated in the everyday marketing activity of the business.
Every idea your business uses doesn't have to come from inside your four walls, consider "open innovation." That's the message Stephen Shapiro talks about with Jim Blasingame, including how to go outside of your organization to other individuals and teams to find solutions. Jim compares it to another level of outsourcing.
Wednesday - February 17, 2010
Delivering the Feb 2010 NFIB report on small business conditions, Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what Main Street business owners are saying about the economic conditions they are experiencing.
What's the best use of your time and resources when it comes to customer acquisition? Joseph Jaffe agrees with Jim Blasingame that we're in The Age of the Customer™, and he offers several tips and best practices on that will help you keep the customers you have so you have to spend less time finding brand new ones.
The employee re-engagement challenge for management is the focus of discussion between Leigh Branham and Jim Blasingame, as Leigh explains how managers treat employees is the single greatest key to sustained success.
How has the media handled the climate change debate?Julia Seymour joins Jim Blasingame to report on how fairly or unfairly the main stream media has reported the climate change science and debate.
Leigh Branham join Jim Blasingame to identify seven of the most important leadership principles that are appropriate for the realities of the 21st century marketplace.
Thursday - February 18, 2010
Dispelling some of the body language myths, Janine Driver joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the truth about body language and what you need to know about what you're saying to people without opening your mouth.
Are you prepared to take advantage of the next bear market? Bob Fischer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal specific practices you can use that will help you execute an investment plan to take advantage of the next bear market.
Reporting on how the global sovereign debt challenge is a threat to a fragile economic recovery, Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the domino effect that could happen, especially in the Euro Zone, if Greece defaults on its sovereign debt.
The economic recovery is spotty by industry and region, as Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff reports with Jim Blasingame. Recovery winners are heartland America and manufacturing, while losers are primarily the states nearest both coasts, plus the financial and publishing industries.
Reporting on the upcoming Congressional elections and the likely change of political balance, Kiplinger's Jim Ostroff joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the key issues that are at stake for both parties. They also talk about the need to replace partisanship with leadership in government.
Friday - February 19, 2010
Celebrating two heroes, Olympians and small business owners, Jim Blasingame talks about why he thinks these two groups are worthy of your admiration and why the world is a better place because of them.
Are you claiming the competitive intelligence advantage? Seena Sharp joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what competitive intelligence is and how to use it to make sure you're making the best decisions possible.
Celebrating Black History Month, Clara Villarosa and Donald Hunter join Jim Blasingame to talk about the contributions of Black Americans and how the progress that has been made should be used going forward. They also talked about the impact President Obama can have on Black America.
What are the key elements in the decision to buy an existing small business? Russel Brown and Jim Blasingame talk about several of the due diligence and valuation elements that you must perform before you buy a business.
Finding the right social media balance for your small business is an important task, according to Jim Blasingame, as he talks about making sure you don't let it consume you, nor should you neglect this powerful tool.
Monday - February 22, 2010
On the anniversary of the birthday of the father of the United States, Dennis Pogue joins Jim Blasingame to celebrate President George Washington's birthday, his legacy and the exciting things you can do at now-preserved home, Mount Vernon, near Washington, D.C.
Can there be bi-partisan health care reform in 2010? Jim Copland joins Jim Blasingame to discuss whether anything positive will come from the so-called bi-partisan meeting on heath care reform between President Obama and leaders of both parties?
Reporting on an office concept that can be very handy for small businesses, Steve Strauss joins Jim Blasingame to talk about using the services of an executive suite system as a way of up-sizing or down-sizing your small business office requirements.
Does the Australian marketplace encourage entrepreneurs? Reporting from the eastern coast of Australia, Peter Meyer talks to Jim Blasingame about the entrepreneurial environment in this country.
How does the trial bar block tort and therefore health care reform. Jim Copland joins Jim Blasingame to report on how the legal profession buys influence from the Democrat leadership in Congress and why that prevents tort reform legislation and consequently, meaningful health care reform.
Americans are demanding leadership, not partisanship, according to Jim Blasingame, who uses the words of George Washington to promote the idea that our pursuit of liberty must come with elected leaders who know they work for the people, not special interests.
How does a small business encourage innovation among employees? From Australia, Peter Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about using what customers need and want to foster the innovative activities of your organization.
Tuesday - February 23, 2010
What can start-ups learn from a marketplace veteran? G. Web Ross joins Jim Blasingame to offer advice on how to achieve the American dream of owning a business.
The Age of the Customer™ is good news for small business. This is the message Kirk Cheyfitz reports with Jim Blasingame, as they identify a number of examples of why small businesses have advantages over big businesses, especially when connecting with customers.
Men and women communicate differently? Well, duh! Barbara Annis joins Jim Blasingame to report that even though we all know women and men are different, we don't do enough to allow for those differences, especially when we're motivating and recognizing employee performance.
Small business owners report that this recovery doesn't exactly feel like one. Bill Soward joins Jim Blasingame to report on his company's recent quarterly economic conditions survey of business managers and what they said about the progress of the economy, including the future of jobs growth.
Wednesday - February 24, 2010
Will the meeting between President Obama and Congressional leaders from both parties be a bi-partisan health care summit where common ground is found, or a political trap set for the Republicans. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss this and agree that the Democrats are the better team at the game of politics.
What does a small business owner need to know before they purchase insurance products? Attorney, Matt Cartwright, joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why you should let your attorney look at the policies to make sure you get the right coverage that will stand up in court, if necessary.
The greatest enemies of economic progress are politicians. That's the message Guy Sorman delivers as he joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the Euro Zone and the United States are having so much trouble with economic recovery. The problem is not the economy, it's the incessant need by politicians for power.
What does America need to do to fix what's wrong?Richard Rawson joins Jim Blasingame to identify some of the key elements of what has made America a great country and what we need to do to emphasize those traits and get our country back on track.
Should tort reform be part of health care reform? Attorney, Matt Cartwright joins Jim Blasingame to argue that tort reform is not necessary to improve the current health care system, to which Jim pushes back and they have a lively discussion.
Can our health care system actually be fixed? Richard Rawson joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the ways the marketplace could fix health care if the politicians would allow it to happen.
Just how strong is China's economy? Economist, Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to report that China's economy is much more fundamentally fragile than many experts are saying and what that could mean over the next couple of years.
Thursday - February 25, 2010
How can you mine the gold that can be found in the contact information of the people you meet? Jeff Zbar and Jim Blasingame talk about specific tips and best practices you can use to leverage modern technology with an old practice: meeting people and finding out how to connect with them later.
How has public relations changed in the digital age? Bob Dilenschneider joins Jim Blasingame to report on a number of public relations lessons we can learn, plus how small businesses have a PR advantage because of all the new digital tools and resources.
Reporting on the impact of digital marketing, Kiplinger's Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to identify a number of ways that the digital age has changed, improved and sometimes upset the marketing world, and what this means for small businesses.
Several economic indicators are newsworthy and Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to report on some of them, including GDP, inflation, unemployment, oil prices and others.
Reporting on a number of business issues, Kiplinger's Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to discuss trade improvements with Canada, new union expectations, new COBRA changes, tax law proposals and new pension regulations.
Friday - February 26, 2010
How do you own your mistakes. Jane Pollak talks to Jim Blasingame about what do to when you fall short of customer expectations, including why you should own your shortcomings, do it quickly and fix it dramatically.
For B2B sales success, the customer experience is everything, according to Jim Blasingame, who reveals the way business-to-business selling must be conducted in The Age of the Customer™.
Did the Health Care Reform Summit accomplish anything? Grace-Marie Turner joins Jim Blasingame to this recent event, which side of the aisle claimed the day, whether any compromise was found and what the chances are of passage of the current legislation.
What are the unintended consequences of the new Credit Card Act? Pamela Villarreal joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why the new Credit Card Act is not as "consumer friendly" as claimed and how it could actually hurt small businesses.
For business to consumer sales success, the customer experience is everything, according to Jim Blasingame, who reveals the success components of B2C selling in The Age of the Customer™.
