Okay, let’s have a show of hands? Who here is tired of hearing about a recession? I thought so, almost everyone. If you think that our 24-hour exposure to news channels has helped to exacerbate the recent downturn and that those analysts just tend to over analyze, then you are not alone. Regardless of how [...]

If you have been in business for some time, the chances are that you get so engrossed in the day-to-day operation and spend so much time effectively putting out fires rather than being fully focused, that you are really not seeing the bigger picture. Truth be told you should always be trying to view this [...]

In no particular order, we have compiled a list of what we consider to be ten of the best books released during 2009. These books should be in the library of every small business owner and entrepreneur, as they often represent straight shooting, pertinent and timely tips or solutions. While a lot of the material [...]

Black Friday typically signifies the day when retailers move their annual sales from the red into the black, a scary thought by itself when you realize that it takes them 11 months of negative trading before they can start to breathe! Cyber Monday signifies the day when we all free ourselves of our family and [...]

Taking the plunge and becoming an entrepreneur is akin to making a giant leap into the abyss. You might be the most orderly, anal-retentive organizer or logistician and may have a clear picture in your head about how you are going to achieve independence and satisfaction. Do you know how to make God laugh? Tell [...]

It’s simply not good enough to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon turning over marketing ideas in your head and doodling over your unique selling point on a scrap of paper. As entrepreneurs, if we are all honest we have certainly painted out our USP and may have narrowed its description down perfectly well. We might [...]

Few entrepreneurs are lucky enough to stumble upon a market that is largely untapped, that represents a solid and repeatable stream of income without too much effort or is represented by passive competition. Almost all of us will need to face the reality that our marketing initiatives need to be constantly on their toes and [...]

Every new business goes through phases, some representing expansion (hopefully, often) and some contraction and as these phases unfold your business can fluctuate in size and require different resources. Sometimes, the business will get to a certain plateau and seem to stick, almost spinning its wheels despite your efforts. At this point in time you [...]

There was a time when human interaction seemed to be a lot simpler, when we were able to pass our opinions back and forth and consummate agreements on a handshake, without fear of any protracted legal ramifications. Those days are long gone and when you are in business of any kind you need to be [...]

Financial planning seems to be more important than ever these days. Few would have imagined the catastrophic changes that we are seeing all around us, the “too big to fail” failures and the highly publicized fraud cases. Many people and businesses have suffered lasting damage and understand that their definition of security has changed almost [...]

In a complex work environment, daily activities require an interaction between all members of the organization. While each employee from the most senior level to the most junior has his or her specific job description and requirements to uphold, each contributes toward the overall goal and should one element be out of place then the [...]

If you approach it correctly, attending a conference can be a truly valuable endeavor and can really help you to stretch your business. Whatever line you are in, the chances are that from time to time there will be a conference associated with this niche and if you are lucky it will be in a [...]