Tuesday - February 01, 2011
Could video become the next killer app for your small business. Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the cutting-edge technology of business video, how it is different from social video, and how it can be used to connect with customers and prospects.
Should you produce a values video for your website? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame offers tips to produce online videos that both instruct and help prospects understand the values of your business.
Are your resources aligned with your strategy? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of reviewing internal projects to ensure they are aligned with your mid and long-term company direction.
Are you budgeting time for strategic thinking? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame with tips to audit your business to determine if you're budgeting the right ratio between execution and strategic thinking.
Schedule priorities, not prioritize your schedule. Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of long-term strategy when planning internal projects, plus tips to help you keep strategy planning on your mind.
Do you think economics is a science? Sanford Kahn joins Jim Blasingame to dispel the myth that economics is a science instead of human behavior, plus the myth of why you're in business.
How much control do we have over the business cycle? Sanford Kahn joins Jim Blasingame to dispel the myth that the business cycle can be eliminated, plus a dire prediction of the future if the U.S. deficit isn’t drastically reduced.
Is your family business prepared for the next generation? Stephen Baum joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what is required for a family business to make the transition to the next generation.
Stephen Baum joins Jim Blasingame with his own family business story and the strategic reasons why it didn’t transition to the next generation, plus important questions to address for family business continuity.
Fall in love with what you do, not with how you do it. Stephen Baum joins Jim Blasingame with examples of family businesses that successfully transitioned through generations by modifying and adapting their strategy and execution.
Wednesday - February 02, 2011
Will the Tea Party become a third party or be more effective as a political aggravator? Charles Wheelan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the State of the Union and GOP and Tea Party responses, plus whether the Tea Party will become the driving force to reduce the deficit.
Did the State of the Union and follow up speeches allay the concerns of small business? Charles Wheelan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why small business fiscal uncertainty will extend through 2011 and the continuing division in Washington.
Did the events in Tunisia and Egypt catch the Obama Administration off guard? Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to report on the domino effect of the recent events in Tunisia into Egypt, and why the U.S. has strange bedfellows across the globe.
What is the cascade potential of the events in Tunisia and Egypt into other Middle Eastern countries? Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the domestic policies that contributed to the dissidence in Tunisia and Egypt and the lessons for other countries in the Middle East.
What could Obama learn from Reagan’s policies? Nicole Gelinas joins Jim Blasingame to discuss Reagan’s policies on inflation and what could be learned that would improve the financial crisis, plus the impact of political rhetoric on the population’s attitudes.
Are all men predators? Lenore Skenazy joins Jim Blasingame to discuss her article, "Eek! A Male!," which questions why society treats all men as potentials predators, despite the fact crimes against children are going down.
Would you let your 9 year old ride the subway alone? Lenore Skenazy joins Jim Blasingame to talk about free-range parenting and believing kids are more capable than the rest of the world thinks.
Are you part of the Entrepreneurship Organization (EO)? Alison Diboll joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the Entrepreneurship Organization, what it is and how it can benefit you as a small business owner.
Do you outsource your work to contractors? Alison Diboll joins Jim Blasingame to discuss surviving and thriving after a downturn by outsourcing and using contractors in place of some full time employees.
What are some other ways to operate more efficiently? Alison Diboll joins Jim Blasingame to talk about maximizing your resources in the cloud by having documents available and keeping track of your work, etc.
Thursday - February 03, 2011
Do you know what your customers want and how they want to be contacted? Scott Swedenburg joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the customer is now in complete control of your relationship with them.
Are you a business law warrior? Attorney Marjorie Jobe joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of being a warrior for your small business so that you stay out of the court room.
What can you learn from EEOC lawsuits? Attorney Marjorie Jobe joins Jim Blasingame to provide examples of EEOC lawsuits, plus she gives insight into ways to guard your small business from a similar lawsuit.
Do your company policies protect both you and your employees? Attorney Marjorie Jobe joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of having current and contemporary employee policies that protect not only your employees, but your company, as well.
Should there be more gender consciousness in the workplace? Judith Glaser joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the key issues that men and women deal with as they find their way in the workplace and the marketplace.
Why is there so much sensitivity in the gender realm at work? Judith Glaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss a list of risks and how they are perceived differently for men and women, plus estrogen versus testosterone.
When should your bring an attorney into your small business? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to discuss when to bring in an attorney and looking for one that will be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
How does a small business owner choose and work with an attorney? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to reveal several tips and best practices on how a small business owner finds, chooses and works successfully with an attorney.
How do you structure and budget for a small business attorney? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on managing fees with a small business attorney and the importance of budgeting monthly to prepare.
Friday - February 04, 2011
Do you want to start a business but have no sales training? Tom Anastasi joins Jim Blasingame to talk about selling fundamentals that work whether you have formal sales training and experience or not, including extensive use of non-directive questions.
Do you know the business-to-business selling fundamentals? Tom Anastasi joins Jim Blasingame with tips on selling to, and collecting from, business customers to maximize sales volume, profit, and cash flow.
Could Egypt's unrest impact the global economic recovery? David Adler joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the current unrest in Egypt, the U.S. response, and what impact these events will have on the global economy - including small businesses.
Did President Obama contribute to Egypt's problems? David Adler joins Jim Blasingame to discuss Pres. Obama’s Cairo speech and subsequent foreign policies and whether either contributed to the violence in Egypt.
Is there a disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street? David Adler joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that bonuses on Wall Street continue to rise after their bail-out, but the damage they caused on Main Street is still there.
What are the top performing companies doing differently? Sam Reese joins Jim Blasingame to discuss three best practices that top performing companies use, including having a well-defined and developed value proposition.
What strategies can we learn from top performing companies? Sam Reese joins Jim Blasingame to reveal two critical best practices used by top performing companies, including effective management teams and clear performance metrics.
Does China have a Potemkin economy, or is it real? Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to report on his recent trip to China and that the Chinese economy is low-tech and not very innovative, largely because it is not really a free country.
Could China become like Japan in 1990? Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to compare China's economic future to what happened to Japan 20 years ago, plus to report that Japan's economy has now recovered after a 20-year recession.
What has caused the emergence of South Korea's economy? Guy Sorman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss South Korea's investments in innovation, investment in high-tech infrastructure and why their recent success has happened because it has a true democracy.
Monday - February 07, 2011
Are you achieving maximum marketing exposure for your business? Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to offers tips on increasing exposure for your small business by using social media platforms to post events, press releases and other activity prospects want to know about you.
Don't get put in the social media time-out chair. Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to discuss rules and regulations - “terms of service” - for social media sites and the consequences if you violate them.
Do you know who your ideal customers are? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how small businesses have to focus marketing on prospects that fit their customer profile instead of the broad marketing practices of big business.
Do you know where your customers are hanging out? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why customers are now behaving more like the communities where they hang out and less like classic demographics.
Marketing should drive sales to the top line so you can drop profit to the bottom line. Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why your marketing plan should build credibility with prospects by showing up in many areas of the marketplace.
It’s not your customer’s job to think about you. Sarah Petty joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of a creating and maintaining a customer database to keep your sales pipeline full, month after month.
Do you know how to build and use a customer database? Sarah Petty joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to create a customer database by asking customers and prospects for contact information and permission to use it.
We all stand on the shoulders of our ancestors. Donald Hunter and Clara Villarosa join Jim Blasingame to celebrate Black History Month by voicing concern that young black Americans aren't as aware of their heritage.
Celebrating Black History Month, Donald Hunter and Clara Villarosa join Jim Blasingame to discuss helping young black Americans reject victimization, plus they rate the first black US President.
How can black entrepreneurship be promoted? Donald Hunter and Clara Villarosa join Jim Blasingame to discuss why black entrepreneurship is not growing and what has to be done to correct this trend.
Tuesday - February 08, 2011
At our core, humans are the all the same: lovingly intuitive. Nancy Rosanoff joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how intuition plays into our ability to address a particular situation with a benevolent solution.
Intelligence is black and white; intuition adds the color. Nancy Rosanoff joins Jim Blasingame to discuss when intuition is coupled with intellect, we then learn to trust our capacity to make the right decisions.
The U.S. economy has been through a lot in the past decade. Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to reflect on the impact of events over the last 10 years and how they have contributed to the current economic condition.
Business optimism is at its highest since May 2007. Tatum’s Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to report business optimism is up, along with capital expenditures and credit availability.
On the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birthday, Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame to reflect on Reagan's ability to inspire Americans, his legacy and whether he could be a successful in the current political environment.
Are you ready to compete for the affluent customer? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the status of the luxury shopper and what small businesses should do to attract and serve this type of consumer.
How many customers do you need in a year's time? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about focusing on customers who want more than just price and are willing to pay for the extra service that saves them time and delivers peace of mind.
Celebrating International Networking Week. Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame during International Networking Week to talk about the origin of networking, how it has developed internationally and what's happening this week around the world.
Can you educate yourself to be a better networker? Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the first core competency of networking, education, and why you should always be learning more about successful networking.
Here are two more networking core competencies. Ivan Misner joins Jim Blasingame to identify immersion and engagement as critical networking core competencies that you must work on for networking success.
Wednesday - February 09, 2011
Do you train your employees for customer service? Nancy Friedman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of customer service training and cardinal rules of customer service: paper will wait and don’t rush your customers.
Make sure your employees understand their behavior is important. Nancy Friedman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal more cardinal rules for excellent customer service, including don’t be too busy to be nice, don’t use jargon and never, ever say “No problem.”
What was Ronald Reagan's secret to success? Rich Galen and Bill Brandt join Jim Blasingame to discuss how President Reagan's ability to connect with everyone, regardless of politics or background, was the key to his success in life and politics.
How is history treating Ronald Reagan? Rich Galen and Bill Brandt join Jim Blasingame to discuss Reagan’s legacy as a transformative leader, but opinions differ on his domestic legacy, plus what Obama can learn from Reagan.
Has the next Ronald Reagan been born? Rich Galen and Bill Brandt join Jim Blasingame to debate whether there will be another Ronald Reagan, who appeared larger-than-life and inspired all Americans, plus a surprising prediction for Egypt.
Jim Blasingame reveals the results of a recent Small Business Advocate poll on small business concerns and why the biggest responses were, in this order, more sales, profitability, finding qualified employees and available credit.
Are humans responsible for climate change? Jim Blasingame discusses the results of the Small Business Advocate poll on climate change and whether it's naturally cyclical or influenced by mankind.
Why is Hispanic entrepreneurship growing? Hector Barreto joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the growth of Hispanic small businesses in the US and what other ethnic groups can learn from surge in Latino entrepreneurship.
Hector Barreto joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the 2011 America’s Small Business Summit, in partnership with the US Chamber, plus the continuation of the successful Business Matchmaking program.
How much do Hispanics influence politics? Hector Barreto joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why Hispanics typically register as Democrats, but vote as independents, plus the top three concerns of Hispanic voters - which does not include immigration.
Thursday - February 10, 2011
Are you capable of managing a teleworking relationship? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to manage teleworking as a temporary event due to weather, a temporary off-site requirement, or a permanent employee relationship.
Embrace technology to help you with teleworking. Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the tools that make teleworking possible, such as computer tablets like the iPad, plus the versatility of the tablets for ease of productivity while traveling.
Can you protect yourself from liability with independent contractors? Matthew Cartwright joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the legal issues involved to avoid liability exposure when using independent contractors.
Can you avoid liability when using independent contractors? Matthew Cartwright joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the two primary steps you have to take to help you avoid liability exposure when hiring an independent contractor - and neither one is in the contract.
How do you avoid liability when hiring independent contractors? Matthew Cartwright joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to protect your corporate and personal assets from liability when working with independent contractors.
Are your business model and capability compatible? Art Kleiner joins Jim Blasingame to talk about making sure that what you plan to do and what you're capable of doing are both in view as you look to the future and consider outside resources.
What is coherence in small business? Art Kleiner joins Jim Blasingame to define coherence as an important part of any small business plan in order to maximize capability and identify deficiencies.
How do you create a learning organization without a training department? Jim Canterucci joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to create an organization that is constantly learning without centralized formal instruction.
What role does trust play in your championship team? Jim Canterucci joins Jim Blasingame to talk about trust and the role it plays as you create a championship team that learns while it works.
How do you transfer knowledge without a training department? Jim Canterucci joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to create an environment of learning, where lessons, knowledge, and even mistakes are shared within the organization.
Friday - February 11, 2011
Are you checking your performance? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why every business owner must constantly check to make sure they understand why their business has performed as it has, whether good or bad.
Are you capable of getting out of your own way? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why you have to make sure that your own ideas aren't holding your company back.
Lincoln offers business advice. President Abraham Lincoln joins Jim Blasingame to celebrate his 202nd birthday with some advice to small business owners about being an innovator and doing what hasn't been done before.
What did Egypt look like a few months ago? Gene Griessman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss his recent trip to Egypt, what he found there, and whether there was a hint that a revolution was brewing.
Which way will the Egyptian revolution turn out? Gene Griessman joins Jim Blasingame to discuss whether the Egyptian revolution will be like French Revolution, or the American Revolution.
Are you ready for the virtual employment marketplace? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the variations of virtual employees and some of the management issues to consider when working with a virtual employee.
Could you benefit from a virtual employee? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to discuss different virtual employee scenarios, how to find them, how to manage them, and what they cost.
What are the potential paradigm shifts from the Egyptian revolution? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the status of current events in Egypt and the potential for paradigm shifts across that region, and the world.
Are consumers becoming the next great innovators? Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about Eric Von Hippel's research showing that consumers are becoming product innovators.
Replacing petroleum in plastics with bio matter. Joel Barker joins Jim Blasingame to talk about George Hooper's work in using sawdust and cornstalks (non-food bio matter) to make plastics.
Monday - February 14, 2011
Social media is a means to an end, not a way of life. Andrea Nierenberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss networking for Gen Y and the importance of combining technology with interpersonal skills to connect with each other and the older generations.
Successful networkers have a “pay it forward” attitude. Andrea Nierenberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why successful networkers listen, appreciate different personalities, take initiative, and realize connections are not all about them.
Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to report on the most recent NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism, which indicates the economy is trending up, but the recovery pace is still slow, with no job growth.
Does this recovery compare to the one in the late 1970s? NFIB's Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the challenges for the current recovery and how it compares to the one in the late 1970s.
What's in store for the economy for 2011? NFIB’s Bill Dunkelberg joins Jim Blasingame to explain why the rest of 2011 will see economic growth, but at a continued slow pace.
Can entrepreneurial skills be used for personal financial strategy? John Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to apply entrepreneurial skills to your personal financial plan, plus ways to fund your business while simultaneously securing your personal future.
John Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to discuss entrepreneurial characteristics that transfer to personal investing, including discipline and courage, plus an explanation of the awkward pair of faith and finance.
Over half of US electricity is generated by coal. Julia Seymour joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why the lack of a national energy policy makes demonizing the coal industry a bad economic strategy.
The U.S. still needs coal, even though it's not PC. Julia Seymour joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the EPA is revoking permits for coal mines without violations as an example of how the "Green" ideology actually can harm the U.S. economy.
You can’t love electricity and hate the energy industry. Julia Seymour joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how the media treats the coal industry; plus the long-term consequences and value of creating - or not creating - a U.S. energy policy.
Tuesday - February 15, 2011
Customers are now in control. Jim Blasingame reveals that the Age of the Seller is succumbing to The Age of the Customer™ and what small businesses have to do to avoid becoming irrelevant in the new Age.
How can you avoid becoming irrelevant in the Age of the Customer? Jim Blasingame talks about specific things small businesses must do to connect with customers successfully in The Age of the Customer™.
How positive are your leadership practices? JoAnna Brandi joins Jim Blasingame to explain how to use positive leadership methods, including creating positive meaning in your relationships with employees.
Have you created an environment where your employees can be successful? JoAnna Brandi joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to create positive relationships with employees, as well as a positive climate in the workplace.
Is your leadership communication positive? JoAnna Brandi joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to use frequent, regular and positive communication to accomplish higher engagement levels in employees.
Toxic talk in your business hurts customer relationships. Barbara Burke joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the negative effects externally - on customer relationships - when there is a breakdown in relationships internally, resulting in toxic talk.
Eliminate poor attitudes by focusing on trust. Barbara Burke joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the role that trust plays among peers and leaders in eliminating internal toxic talk and promoting customer loyalty.
Why has multiculturalism failed in Europe? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why multiculturalism is a failed philosophy, as is currently being demonstrated and admitted in Europe.
Do you have a vision FOR your business? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why you should have a vision FOR your business - something that is tangible and can actually be attained.
How closely aligned is your execution strategy with your vision? Leslie Kossoff joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to keep your short-term small business execution strategy aligned with your long-term vision.
Wednesday - February 16, 2011
What does the employment landscape look like? Dr. Beth Ross joins Jim Blasingame to discuss cyclical and structural unemployment in the U.S., finding qualified employees, plus the professional benefits of speaking a second language.
Is the current employment environment good news for small business? Dr. Beth Ross joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the current level of fear among employees working for big companies could be an employee acquisition opportunity for small businesses.
Why was ObamaCare built on the Medicaid platform? Douglas Holtz-Eakin joins Jim Blasingame to report that the new health care law was built on the Medicaid platform, even though it was already a failed policy.
Why doesn't ObamaCare create a better health care system? Douglas Holtz-Eakin joins Jim Blasingame to expose the fact that ObamaCare doesn't create a better health care system and is not based on a long-term funding plan.
Will ObamaCare survive financial and legal challenges? Douglas Holtz-Eakin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss three serious threats to ObamaCare, plus what will happen next in the budget battle between Congress and the Obama administration.
"Failure is the harness-mate of success." Barry Moltz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about using the successes and failures of great leaders, such as Washington and Lincoln, to establish your own resiliency to challenges.
Increase sales by focusing on your customer's pain. Barry Moltz joins Jim Blasingame to talk about building customer loyalty by helping your customers serve their customers.
Gen’s X and Y want a job with meaning, not necessarily lifelong employment. Tony Paradiso joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the generational differences in today’s workforce plus how they interact now is different than in the past.
How can Boomers help younger generations succeed in the marketplace? Tony Paradiso joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how Boomers can mentor Gen’s X and Y, but the youngsters should understand although they have technology skills, they lack experience and wisdom.
How do you get the most out of the different generations? Tony Paradiso joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the differences in working with Boomers and Gen’s X and Y and the lessons that can be learned.
Thursday - February 17, 2011
Do you know the risks involved when you surf the Internet? Chip Reaves joins Jim Blasingame to discuss security vs. privacy on the Internet, including the "white hat" aspects of information gathering by online marketers for your advantage.
Have you been to the dark side of the Internet? Chip Reaves joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the dark side of surfing the Internet with spyware and spam, what can happen to your information, and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Gerald Celente joins Jim Blasingame to celebrate the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Trends Journal and discuss what it takes to anticipate the future.
Will the Middle East unrest cascade around the world? Gerald Celente joins Jim Blasingame to explain his prediction that the current unrest in the middle east will become the next great war.
Are we headed for a depression? Gerald Celente joins Jim Blasingame to make his economic predictions - that we're headed for an economic depression if the people don't take back their governments and marketplaces.
Are you an accomplished Internet researcher? Sam Richter joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why every business person should become more adept at using Internet tools and resources to build better customer relationships.
What online tools should you use in preparation for a sales call? Sam Richter joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the tools available to get up-to-the-minute information about your prospects and customers before the sales call.
What does it take to be a Mommy and a corporate CEO? Sabrina Parsons joins Jim Blasingame to discuss becoming the second generation CEO of a family business, and the mother to three young children at the same time.
Is your marketing plan organized and working? Sabrina Parsons joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how essential it is to forecast sales activity and some new tools that are available to help you accomplish better forecasting.
How effectively are you loading the sales pipeline? Sabrina Parsons joins Jim Blasingame to discuss new tools and new rules that you need to know in order to effectively keep your sales pipeline flowing.
Friday - February 18, 2011
Small businesses don’t have to win digital race, but we must keep the winners in sight. Rick Mathieson joins Jim Blasingame to talk about reaching customers through online technologies that are now more about platforms than websites.
What are the keys to being successful in the on-demand, digital age? Rick Mathieson joins Jim Blasingame with tips and best practices that will help your small business execute a successful on-demand, digital marketing strategy.
Are you a socially responsible investor? Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss socially responsible investing, which doesn’t just care about the payout, but works to understand the mechanics of investing.
Unethical until proven guilty. Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss ethical investing and whether creating a product that is destined to fail is fraud.
Is the stock market overvalued? Gary Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why the stock market is overvalued and if the economy will ever catch up with the stock market.
You have to continually re-invent your small business or you’ll perish. Robert Brands joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the importance of continually innovating and ideating to re-invent your small business and stay relevant.
Create a culture of innovation for 21st century small business success. Robert Brands joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why it's imperative to encourage your employees to be innovative using inspiration and recognition.
Should we be concerned about innovation on Wall Street? Scott Patterson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the difference between innovation on Main Street vs. Wall Street and the possibility that innovation on Wall Street is not such a good thing.
Is securitization a good thing or a bad thing? Scott Patterson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how securitization is a good thing unless you take it to the extreme, like Wall Street did.
What have we learned about causes of the financial crisis? Scott Patterson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what caused the financial crisis, the people who created it, and the political committee that is supposed to recommend reforms.
Monday - February 21, 2011
Why do Americans celebrate Presidents' Day? Ken Davis joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the history of Presidents' Day, including how it began and what motivated America's founders to create our Executive Branch of government.
Why was George Washington the right man at the right time? Ken Davis joins Jim Blasingame to celebrate Washington's Birthday and talk about the leader before the politician, and why it was important that he be America's first president.
As managers, should we manage change or lead change? Rick Lepsinger joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the difference between managing change and leading change, plus how being an initiator of change can be a differentiating factor in effective management.
Are you managing change effectively? Rick Lepsinger joins Jim Blasingame to explain how effectively managing change bridges the gap between planning and execution, plus the importance of recognizing appropriate change.
Are managing and leading different disciplines? Rick Lepsinger joins Jim Blasingame to explain that the primary role of a business owner is to anticipate what’s on the horizon and determine the best way for the business to respond.
How is Generation Y different? Ornella Grosz joins Jim Blasingame to discuss finances for Gen Y, plus why giving advice and criticism to Gen Y is completely different than for other generations.
Do you know where you spend your money? Ornella Grosz joins Jim Blasingame to offer financial tips for Gen Y, including the importance of budgeting, understanding your spending habits, plus tips on house hunting.
How do you define success? Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about success in small business and explain that personal development is key to becoming more successful in business and life.
Why should you read more non-fiction? Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to explain why reading nonfiction, small business owners can learn from others’ successes and failures, and connect ideas in creative ways they may have never considered.
Do affirmations help you in your business? Jim Donovan joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the use of affirmations as a personal development tool to help you deal with challenges and opportunities.
Tuesday - February 22, 2011
What is the difference between managing and supervising? Wally Bock joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the difference in managing at the team level, and supervising at the individual level.
Owning a franchise is small business without entrepreneurship. Cliff Ennico joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why buying a franchise is attractive to unemployed corporate managers and employees.
Should you consider buying a franchise? Cliff Ennico joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on the due diligence process of buying a franchise, including using retirement funds as capital.
It’s not that hard to make extra money on eBay, but it is hard to make a living. Cliff Ennico joins Jim Blasingame to offer tips on successful eBay selling, including the new eBay rules and why you should find your niche.
Is ObamaCare Constitutional? Seth Lipsky joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the Constitutionality of ObamaCare, especially with regard to how much control the federal government is granted over the states.
Will the U.S. Constitution be involved in state budget challenges? Seth Lipsky joins Jim Blasingame to report that the governors of individual states have the constitutional right to tell the president to stay out our their budget issues.
Feedback is not just information, it’s information with a purpose. Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the difference between saying "Good job," and saying specifically what was good about the job.
Is your feedback effective? Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss feedback as a visual tool in business, plus advice for leaders giving feedback to employees.
As a leader, do you look for feedback from your employees? Rick Maurer joins Jim Blasingame to provide specifics things for leaders to do when asking for feedback, plus how feedback from employees can help you makes decisions and changes for your business.
Are you a supervisor who shows up? Wally Bock joins Jim Blasingame to provide fundamentals of supervising and explains that one of the most important tasks of being a supervisor is to know the people you are supervising.
Wednesday - February 23, 2011
Do you know how customers are finding you? Jim Blasingame reports that customers are increasingly demanding more online support and what you should be doing about it to avoid becoming irrelevant.
On the 106th anniversary of Rotary, Jim Blasingame talks about what it means to be a Rotarian and how the values of Rotary have benefited the world, including its work to eradicate polio.
Do you know which stocks to buy and when to buy them? Bob Fischer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why Wall Street jargon is designed to be confusing and how to invest without being intimidated.
Use rules-based investing instead of stock-picking. Bob Fischer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss several rules for investing, including price-to-sales ratio and balancing your portfolio by industry sector and between stocks and bonds.
How is an ETF different from a mutual fund? Bob Fischer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the advantages of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) and how to use them instead of mutual funds.
What’s it like to be the only woman GM in the NFL? Susan Tose Spencer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss her experience as the GM of the Philadelphia Eagles and why she thinks women can excel in male-dominated industries.
How can women have natural advantages over men in male dominated industries? Susan Spencer joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what women should do - and not do - to gain an advantage in male dominated industries.
"It’s okay to fall in love with what you do, but not how you do it." Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what small businesses can learn from big businesses about using technology to strengthen your business model.
Will the next technology disruptor help you or hurt you? Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how small businesses have an advantage over big businesses by being able to make quick adjustments with today's micro-technology.
Are you prepared to take advantage of the mobile app revolution? Ed Yourdon joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the increasing demand for mobile apps by customers and what small businesses should be doing to answer this demand.
Thursday - February 24, 2011
Are you coordinating your marketing and networking strategy? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why every business must stay visible in the marketplace with a marketing strategy for the brand and a networking strategy for the owner.
How strong is your online security strategy? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the most important issues to keep in mind when you and your employees use the Internet, whether hardwired in the office or moving around with wireless.
The Wall Street Journal recognizes champion entrepreneurs. WSJ’s Brian Moran joins Jim Blasingame to report on the national “How I Built It” program of The Wall Street Journal which will highlight leading entrepreneurs around the U.S.
What is the state of entrepreneurship in the U.S.? Wall Street Journal's Brian Moran joins Jim Blasingame to report that existing small business owners have weathered the recessionary storm and are ready for what's next, plus the future for start-ups.
Going global with The Wall Street Journal. Brian Moran joins Jim Blasingame to report on a new series of events to help small businesses go global, in partnership with organizations such as the US Commercial Service and Ex-Im Bank.
Do you have a financial strategy for your products in development? Richard Hooker joins Jim Blasingame to discuss being disciplined about developing a financial strategy, first and foremost, when it comes to your new products.
Where should you begin with a financial strategy? Richard Hooker joins Jim Blasingame to offer simple principles for having a business financial strategy, including planning for continuous revenue and profit from ongoing customer relationships.
Valuation is the heart of a transaction to sell a business. Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the key elements in business valuation and why this step is the key to a successful transfer of ownership.
How do you appraise the intangibles when valuing a business? Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the challenges of valuing the multiple elements that make up the intangible goodwill of a business that is being sold.
How does owner financing impact the value of intangibles? Russ Brown joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how owner financing impacts the valuation of intangible, goodwill elements of a business being purchased.
Friday - February 25, 2011
Scott Gerber joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the issues Gen Y faces in becoming entrepreneurs, including overcome their feelings of entitlement and fear of failure.
How do Gen Y’s gain the knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs? Scott Gerber joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the growing number of Gen Y entrepreneurs and the importance of mentoring Gen Ys in entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Why is there a decline in patent applications for small businesses? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to report that even though it is easier and as inexpensive as ever to apply for patent protection, US small business patent applications have dropped 50% in the last 15 years.
Is the development and ownership of intellectual property part of your business strategy? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to report that small businesses can gain a competitive advantage by making intellectual property development part of their business plan.
What is the intellectual property strategy of China? David Dawsey joins Jim Blasingame to discuss international intellectual property strategy, specifically in China, and how it differs significantly from that of the U.S.
Mobile marketing is reality - are you an adopter or road kill? Carolyn Rhinebarger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the reality of mobile marketing as either a powerful tool for your small business or the thing that makes you irrelevant.
How can mobile opt-in marketing work for you? Carolyn Rhinebarger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about developing a mobile texting marketing campaign by asking customers for their mobile numbers and using texting services to execute it.
What are the important upcoming tax dates? Eva Rosenberg joins Jim Blasingame to discuss important tax dates you need to know, including why 2011 personal filing date is not April 15th, plus the corporate dates and extension info.
Do you understanding how to deduct business travel expenses? Eva Rosenberg joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the details about how to keep and report business travel expenses, including how to write-off part of a vacation.
How do you deduct your auto expenses? Eva Rosenberg joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the details about how to keep and report business travel expenses, plus comparing itemized deductions with the mileage allowance.
Monday - February 28, 2011
Would you enter into a contract with someone you don't trust? Judith Glaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why you should listen to what experience has taught you about trust when entering into a contract or new relationship.
What are the challenges of exporting ideas to China? Judith Glaser joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the challenges of doing business in China when the export is an idea and the two parties have different ethical perspectives.
America's in a budget crisis because Congress didn't do its job in 2010. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the events that led to our current budget crisis and a prediction for how Congress will avoid a government shut-down.
Unions are demanding 20th century benefits in a 21st century world. Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the protests by government employee unions to requests for compensation and benefits adjustments as states attempt to balance their budgets.
What's the political and economic future of the Middle East? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss theological, political, and economic issues that are at the heart of the conflicts in the Middle East, and how it will impact the West.
Can small businesses' courage save the world? Tim Irwin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why small business owners must demonstrate courage and fierce determination to help save America and the world.
How does humility support courage and determination? Tim Irwin joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how humility, or lack thereof, contributes to your success as a leader.
Everything you sell is a commodity – even your basic service. Charlie Fewell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why you should focus the measurement of your company's performance based on the value delivered that creates loyal, returning customers.
Are you measuring customer experience performance? Charlie Fewell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to measure whether you’re exceeding your customer’s expectations by mapping their entire experience, from greeting to technology.
Creating customer advocates requires perpetual training and leadership. Charlie Fewell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to specifically define the results you want in any customer interaction and train your employees how to accomplish these expectations.
