The lessons we learn as entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t just apply to our businesses. That tells me that being an entrepreneur is more than just starting a company, growing that company and trying to earn a buck; there’s something more profound going on. Or at least more interesting! This morning my wife went […]
Grasshopper New Media Keeping Me Busy With New Podcasts and Upcoming Video Content
Two days without posting here. Uh oh. Let’s hope people don’t abandon me! I’ve been “quiet” for a couple of reasons. Mostly, things at Grasshopper New Media are picking up and keeping me crazy busy. In the last few days we’ve initiated several great projects that will go live soon. The first is Small Biz […]
Get Rid of Your Dud Business Partners
Partnerships are hard.
Almost anyone that’s ever worked with a partner has a story to tell. Often, a horror story. The worst case is the “dud partner” — a partner that doesn’t pull their own weight.
Do you think it’s possible to carry dud partners on your back and succeed?
I used to. Now, I’m not so sure.
I’ve had a couple “dud partners” in the past, and I’ve learned:
It’s best if you get them out of the business as soon as possible.
How to Succeed in Business Through Failing
Failure is a fact of life. We all fail. And The Great Big Small Business Show is tackling small business failure with some insight, advice and inspiration. I’m particularly excited by the addition of Phil Gerbyshak to The Great Big Small Business Show team. He’s contributed his thoughts on how to define both success and […]
Will You Sacrifice Your Soul to Close a Deal?
You’ve cut your price down to almost nothing. You’ve agreed to an impossible timeline. You’ve even decided to cut corners with your product or service. But what about your soul? Are you willing to sacrifice that? Enough with the melodrama, Ben! Ok, fair enough, here are some questions to ask yourself:
Will You Sacrifice Your Service or Product to Close a Deal?
We’ve talked about sacrificing your price and time to close a deal…but what about sacrificing what you offer? What about diminishing the value of your service or product to a close a deal? Typically this would be done in response to another sacrifice. You’ve given the customer a crazy price or you’ve agreed to an […]
Choosing a Book Publishing Method and Marketing with Business Cards
There’s so much going on at The Great Big Small Business Show it’s amazing! First, we have a bonus podcast episode titled Choosing a Book Publishing Method which tackles the differences between self-publishing, print-on-demand and traditional publishing. Ted Demopoulos tackles this question with a great podcast. Second, we have our first ever video blog entry, […]
Will You Sacrifice Your Time to Close a Deal?
Time is cheap right? Sure there’s only 24 hours per day, but what’s the harm in doing a bit more work for someone without charging more? Let me ask some more questions: Do you track the hours you work on different projects? Do you charge more when you go over a certain number of hours […]
Will You Sacrifice Your Price to Close a Deal?
You need to close deals in order for your business to survive. Thank you for stating the obvious… But invariably when closing deals you’ll have to make concessions. You’ll have to…negotiate. Price is almost always the #1 issue with customers. Everyone wants a price break. In some industries it’s pratically guaranteed that you’ll negotiate on […]
Presentation Skills and Communication at The Great Big Small Business Show
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are constantly presenting themselves. Whether it’s doing sales, customer service, shmoozing, getting financing…whatever…we’re in the limelight with customers, vendors, partners and others. We need to present ourselves in the best light possible, to make an instant and positive impression. This week at The Great Big Small Business Show, we’re tackling […]
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