Government, Politics, and the Economy Is It Too Early to Start Thinking About a Rebound? It may not feel like it yet in your town or in your industry, but there are indications that things are getting better. NYtimes.comManagement and OperationsHow to Not Go Out of BusinessStart by studying how your best customers interact with your brand and its competitors, then brainstorm ways to address any shortcomings. BusinessWeek.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Tips from October 5, 2009 The Small Business tips today are about focusing on employee development. Learn employee long term goals. Find their motivation and inspiration to help them learn and develop their biz skills. Create a fun and productive environment to help employees reach their goals to develop. Encourage getting involved. Set a good example. Show employees what you have accomplished and what it took to get there. Set standards and goals. Present a schedule/timeline as a guide. Offer assistance and make yourself available for help. Daily Overview: Help your employees develop their careers by providing motivating guidance. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Friday, April 10, 2009 The Small Business tips today will cover some green changes that will affect your personal space and save you money! Use ceiling fans to reduce the use of air conditioners. Insulate hot water heaters and lower the temperature. Insulation reduces the need for the higher maintained temp. Install air hand dryers in the restrooms. Eliminates the need for paper towels. Use low-flow toilets and urinals. This uses less water. Daily Overview: Simple changes to the way you regulate water and temperature is good for the environment but also lowers costs! [Read Full Article]

Tips from Thursday, April 9, 2009 The Small Business tips today cover simple changes at work that can lead to some positive lasting environmental effects. Recycle paper, plastic, aluminum and ink cartridges. Donate or recycle old computers and equipment. Keep up with regular maintenance of all mechanical equipment.  Use permanent dishware in the break room instead of disposable cups, plates or utensils. Use eco-friendly cleaning products that are biodegradable and non-toxic. Daily Overview: Recycle everything you can. Reuse what can’t be recycled and do it all while using non-toxic products. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Wednesday, April 8, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about going green with efficiency in the office. Refill your ink cartridges instead of buying new. When you have to get rid of them though, choose to recycle. When you have to print, utilize both sides of the paper: duplex printing helps us use fewer trees. Reuse misprints as scratch paper and/or shred for packing materials. If you don’t do either, then recycle it. Print only when absolutely necessary. Keep digital records. Email. Store things online. Daily Overview: If it’s necessary to print then make sure to refill, recycle and reuse. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Tuesday, April 7, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about going green in your office by saving energy. When you paint your office put Insuladd in your paint to save over 20% on energy costs. Developed with NASA technology. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, which are more energy-efficient than standard light bulbs. Buy a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Laptops use 15-25 watts while desktops use 150 watts during average use. Mom taught me if you’re not using it, turn it off: lights, gadgets, all technology. Daily Overview: You can take steps to save energy without having to make drastic changes to your routine. Start today! [Read Full Article]

Tips from Monday, April 6, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about how your small business can go green by reducing car emissions. Telecommute. If the job can be easily done from home and you or your employee can be productive, do it! When telecommuting isn’t possible, use public transportation as much as possible. If public transportation and telecommuting aren’t possible, car pool as often as you can. Encourage the 4-day work week! Four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days reduces gas consumption considerably. Daily Overview: Less time in the car means less pollution in our air. Be an influence and encourage these practices http://bit.ly/14vx4 Additional Thoughts As a small business owner you have influence. Encourage your employees to reduce their car’s emissions. Spending less time in your car and u... [Read Full Article]

Tips originally broadcast on December 1, 2008 The Small Business tips today will be about handling your employees. Initiate frequent and frank discussions regarding performance expectations, teamwork, leadership styles and company performance. Ignoring workplace challenges can cause an employee to lose their commitment to performance. Ignorance is NOT bliss. Most important: tell your employees often if they do something well. A simple "good job" goes a long way towards a boost in morale. Offer perks. In my office we have Free Pizza Friday and leave early on Fridays. If you can, give a bonus for exceptional work. Daily Overview: If you take care of your employees, they'll take care of you and stick with you for long haul. -- I post small business tips on my Twitter account each day, Monday through Friday. This is a reposting of those tips. [Read Full Article]