The Small Business Advocate
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Replay Latest Broadcast of The Small Business Advocate
Click here to listen to an unedited REPLAY of our most recent show in its entirety, or go to the individual interviews below. This feature changes between 9 and 10 a.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday, and is available 24 hours.
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What is the greatest impediment to economic growth?
What's holding back the U.S. economy? Steve Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the primary reason the U.S. economy is languishing, which is Obamacare and how much business owners are afraid of it.
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Are we witnessing unprecedented assaults on the...
Is the U.S. Constitution under attack? Steve Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss a number of scandals that have arisen from what seem to be assaults on our Constitutional rights, such as freedom of speech and of the press.
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How dangerous is the IRS scandal?
Will the IRS scandal get bigger? Steve Moore joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the recent revelation that the IRS has been targeting private citizens and groups, potentially for political purposes.
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Revealing the essence of entrepreneurship
Why do entrepreneurs take risks? Jim Blasingame offers insight into the reasons why entrepreneurs take risks in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
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The customer evolution from need to want to expectation
Are you making the expectations journey with customers? Jim Blasingame reveals the journey of customer desires, from need to want to expect, and why you have to make this journey with them.
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Why are taxpayers paying for health care for...
Do you want to pay for Cadillac health care coverage for billioinaires? John Fox joins Jim Blasingame to report that millionaires are receiving significant tax deductions that are not available to regular tax payers
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What's a 501(c)(4) corporation and why would you want...
What's the difference between a 501(c)(4) corporation and a 501(c)(3). John Fox joins Jim Blasingame to explain the difference between a 501(c)(3) corporation and a 501(c)(4), and discuss the IRS controversy.
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How do we fix the dysfunctional U.S. tax code?
The U.S. tax code does not serve us well. John Fox joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why the U.S. tax code is broken and how certain changes could simplify it and lead to greater economic growth.
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What Ikea and Amazon can teach us about the customer
Take a lesson from successful customer-focused companies. Chuck Wall joins Jim Blasingame to report on how highly successful companies got that way by how they talk with and respond to customers.
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How to profit from the power of your customers
Who has the most power in your business? Chuck Wall joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how control of your relationship with customers has shifted from you to your customer, and why.
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Can your leadership stand up to scrutiny?
How much evaluation can your leadership ability stand? Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to offer suggestions on different ways to evaluate your leadership style and results.
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Do you lead projects or people?
How do you think about your leadership role? Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the power of opportunity thinking, which includes leading people first, instead of leading the project with the people as just a resource.
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Successful leaders open doors for their followers
How do you think about acquiring success? Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the power of leaders opening success doors for their people and aggregating the success of the team.
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Find your entrepreneurial dream by taking small steps
Be patient with your journey to entrepreneurship. Denise Barreto joins Jim Blasingame with suggestions for why you should be patient and deliberate in your quest for entrepreneurship by breaking your plan into small steps.
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How to find your life's work
Are you doing what you were meant to do? Denise Barreto joins Jim Blasingame to offer ideas on how to find and pursue your life's work, by being intentional and taking inventory of yourself.
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SCORE stories about social media expectations
A SCORE volunteer relates client expectations and reality of social media. Steve martin joins Jim Blasingame to share his experiences with small business clients who are trying to create a successful social media strategy.
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Why profitability is a criitcal task for a small...
Perhaps more than management, profitability is a CEO task. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to explain why the long-term profitability of a small business is a role for the company's CEO, not the managers.
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One of a CEO's leadership deliverables is sustainability
How much of your time is focused on sustainability of your business? Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of business sustainability thinking by the CEO of a small business.
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Is social media providing an ROI for small businesses?
Where is the ROI for a small business social media strategy? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to compare a traditional marketing strategy and a social media strategy, and conclude that you need both/and, not either or.
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How is your marketing plan like taking vitamins?
Get ready for a one-a-day marketing plan? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to recommend a multi-faceted marketing plan that you execute a different element of each day, like a one-a-day vitamin.
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The real goal of Obamacare; A single payer system
Are you ready for a single payer health care system? Avik Roy joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what our attitude will be about Obamacare after it is fully instituted in 2014.
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Can businesses avoid the Obamacare employer mandate?
Are you prepared for the employer mandate of Obamacare? Avik Roy joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how the employer mandate will affect small businesses, and a possible way to legally work around it.
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How Obamacare expands the power of the IRS
Are you ready for more IRS in your life? Avik Roy joins Jim Blasingame to report on the way Obamacare creates a much more intrusive role for the IRS as the chief taxer and compliance enforcer for every American citizen and business.
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How to pick projects that you are likely to finish
Are you good a picking projects you can finish? Michelle LaBrosse joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to break big goals into small projects that can be completed.
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Why do 75% of projects started never get finished?
Do you have a project graveyard? Michelle LaBrosse joins Jim Blasingame to explain why projects get started but don't get finished, including how to eliminate the distracting elements that create these failures.
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Can we trust the IRS to enforce Obamacare?
Why would we give the IRS more access to our private affairs? Barbara Weltman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why we should be concerned about giving the IRS more control over our lives as the enforcer of Obamacare compliance.
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New tax rate concerns for small businesses
The new top rate tax increase could cost you a lot more than you think. Barbara Weltman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how the way the new top tax bracket is calculated could create a lot higher tax bill for some small businesses.
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How fair is the Marketplace Fairness Act?
Prepare to collect and remit sales tax for online sales. Barbara Weltman joins Jim Blasingame to report on the progress of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which when passed, will require most online sales to be subject to local sales tax collection.
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Mentoring in a multi-generational workplace
How many different generations work in your company? Chip Bell joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the challenges and benefits of promoting mentoring in today's workplace with so many different generations that are so different from each other.
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How to create a mentoring organization
How much mentoring goes on in your company? Chip Bell joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how promoting mentoring in your organization can create many benefits, including increased engagement, more innovation and higher productivity.
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How to become an exhibitor at a national trade show
Could you use more business? Maybe a trade show is the answer. Lana Calloway joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to grow your business by attending and exhibiting at trade shows associated with your industry.
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Keys to multi-generational workplace harmony
How are the generations getting along in your operation? Wally Bock joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how things have changed over the years with regard to bringing the younger generations in to work alongside the veterans.
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Is your business ready to grow as the economy does?
Is your organization structured for growth ? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the six elements of a holistic management approach, and how it can help you grow profitably as the economy expands.
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Achieve quantum leap growth through holistic management
What percentage of what you do does not contribute to operational performance? Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to proactively focus on the six elements of a holistic approach to management.
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Do you practice a holistic approach to management?
Cover all the bases on purpose. Gary Harpst joins Jim Blasingame to discuss why you need an intentional holistic approach to business management, rather than a random style of running and growing your business.
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How has the economy impacted franchising?
Franchises are a good start-up alternative, especially in a slow economy. Jim Wassell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the operational and financial benefits of a franchise start-up, even in a slow economy.
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Create brand synergy through local sponsorships
You don't have to be a big company to benefit from branding sponsorships. Jim Wassell joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to maximize sponsorship opportunities by finding the right audience and the right sponsor partner.
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Face-to-face is still the original social media
Don't leave out the power of the person in social media networking. Joanne Black joins Jim Blasingame to manage social media networking activity as you would a face-to-face relationship.
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Personalize your LinkedIn profile and activity
High tech and high touch - people still do business with people. Joanne Black joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why it's important to personalize your LinkedIn profile and the way you connect with people, especially for referrals.
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Things NOT to do on LinkedIn to get referrals
Are you using LinkIn to get referrals? Joanne Black joins Jim Blasingame to reveal at least three things to NEVER do when you're seeking referrals on LinkedIn.
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How to protect and restore your personal credit rating
Have you checked your personal credit rating lately? Michael Grayson joins Jim Blasingame to reveal several tips on how to check, protect and restore your personal credit rating.
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Separating business credit from personal credit
The evolution of the credit market has affected both personal and business credit. Dr. Michael Grayson joins Jim Blasingame to reveal tips on why and how to keep business and personal credit activity separate.
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How much of your values and beliefs should your brand...
Are your values and beliefs out front as you go to market? Tom Markel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal plans to incorporate his religious faith commitment into the marketing of his new start-up.
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Include a "sanity committee" in your start-up plans
How do you test your start-up idea? Tom Markel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how he has successfully started a dozen businesses by including a sanity committee in the process as a way to test his ideas against reality.
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How one entrepreneur is relaunching a family business
This entrepreneur is relaunching his great-great grandfather's 150 year old brewery.Tom Markel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about his efforts to get a family brewery started up again, having been founded in the 19th century.
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The rules of selling have changed, have you?
Are your sales strategies working? Jim Blasingame reveals how the Age of the Customer has changed the rules of selling by requiring more effort in the introduction phase of selling.
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Business interruption: Three key areas to focus on
Is your business ready for an emergency interruption? Jim Blasingame reveals three key areas of focus in order for small businesses to prepare for an emergency operating interruption.
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Are you tracking your sales execution for profitability?
You can't track sales based only on cash flow. Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why all sales activity, including customers, must be measured by profitability, not just for cash flow.
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How profitable is your marketing strategy?
Are you tracking the profitability of your marketing plan? Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to reveal tips and best practices on how to evaluate your marketing for profitability, including differentiating from traditional and digital.
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Are you focused too much on cash and not enough on...
Cash may be king in the short-term, but profit is required for sustainability. Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how small businesses can convert their operating focus from only on cash to a healthy and sustainable balance with profit.
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Hell or Richmond: Some things haven't changed in U.S....
What similarities are in evidence between Civil War politics and current politics? Ralph Peters joins Jim Blasingame to discuss his new novel, Hell or Richmond, and offer evidence of how politics have changed little in 150 years.
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Hell or Richmond: An important Civil War record and novel
What was so different about that 30 day period in 1864? Ralph Peters joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why the Civil War's Overland Campaign was so important to the outcome of the war, and how he reported this period as a historically accurate novel.
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Will Gen Y demand more transparency than past...
How will Generation Y's desire for transparency manifest in the workplace? Ken Gronbach joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the transparency default attitude of Generation Y and how that will manifest as they take over the workplace.
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Will the Boomer Brain Drain create a behavioral drain?
Boomer brain drain or behavior drain? Ken Gronbach joins Jim Blasingame to report on the retirement of Baby Boomers and how this brain drain could also create a behavior drain, and what that could mean for the workplace.
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How will the Baby Boomer Brain Drain impact the U.S.?
There is a major shift in brain power in the U.S. coming soon. Ken Gronbach joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the Baby Boomer Brain Drain phenomenon which is beginning to occur and will significantly impact the workplace.
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Reconciling high tech with customer high touch...
Are you managing the multi-faceted expectations of modern customers? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the challenges of meeting the high touch expectations of customers who also want the high tech capability that they feel is relevant to ...
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Are you the kind of company customers want to keep?
Do you demonstrate the old fashioned customer attraction traits? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the traditional business traits that customers still want, even as we increase our technology minimize face-to-face business.
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A sticky note way to create an organizational chart
If you have sticky notes, you can create an org chart. Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to simplify the process of creating an organizational chart, and whether salary levels should be included.
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Avoid these mistakes when creating an organizational...
Yes, you should build and organizational chart, but avoid these mistakes. Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to reveal more reasons why small businesses need to operate with an organizational chart, plus several missteps to avoid.
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Building an organizational chart for your business
Yes, even a small business needs an organizational chart. Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to reveal several reasons why even a small business should build and operate with an organizational chart.
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Dealing with the algorithms of Facebook and Google
Are you becoming an unwitting victim of algorithm changes at Google and Facebook? Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how the big platforms, such as Facebook and Google change the way you're ranked and how that can hurt your business.
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Are you watching out for Facebook scams?
That's right, there are scams on Facebook. Kathy Perry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what some of the scams on Facebook look like, how they work and how to avoid them.
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How one family business addresses a brand image change
When a multi-generation has to make brand changes. Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to report on a family business that discovered it's traditional brand image wasn't working and what they did to fix it.
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Clearing out the unconscious "headtrash" that's in your...
How do you eliminate the unconscious negative stuff between you and success. TIsh Squillaro joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that we all have unconscious headtrash that comes between us and success, and offers tips on how to eliminate it.
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How much conscious head trash is holding you back?
Are you conscious of negative self-talk? TIsh Squillaro joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the negative headtrash we all have that we can self-identify and, offer steps to eliminate or at least minimize them.
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How large and small businesses will partner in the future
Big business is recognizing it will have to become more responsive to customers, like small businesses. Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to forecast a marketplace trend where large business will partner increasingly with small businesses to become m...
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Blending the right combination of strategy and capability
As CEO of your business, you have to balance strategic focus and capability development. Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to encourage building organizational capabilities of the teams simultaneous with developing strategic direction.
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Why strategy must have a foundation of capability
Strategy without capability is like a roof without a foundation. Walter Kiechel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the critical role that organizational capability has in executing a business' strategy goals.
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Jim offers free market instruction to President Obama
President Obama, your policies aren't working for small business. Jim Blasingame offers President Obama specific evidence on why his policies are actually hurting small businesses and therefore, restricting economic growth.
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Offering evidence in praise of achievement
Why isn't achievement used to describe accomplishment more than success? Jim Blasingame offers talk about the similarity and differences between success and achievement, and to recommend thinking more about the latter.
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Delegation is the most important time management practice
Become a better delegator to become a better time manager. John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to reveal delegation practices that can result in more successful time management for small business CEOs.
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How does personality impact your time management?
What do you know about your own personality regarding time management? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to discuss time management practices, including recognizing the impact of personality on the application of effective time management.
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How to successfully direct your time management
How much do you wish you had more time? John Bradberry joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the challenges small business owners have with time management and recommend practices on how to direct your time more successfully.
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What does National Lemonade Day teach our children?
This program teaches 15 entrepreneurial fundamentals. Julie Eberly joins Jim Blasingame to discuss some of the entrepreneurial fundamentals this year's National Lemonade Day teaches hundreds of thousands of children around the country.
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National Lemonade Day to train young entrepreneurs
Reporting on this effort to grow entrepreneurship beginning with our children. Julie Eberly joins Jim Blasingame to report on this year's Lemonade Day, which shows children how the free market economy works by teaching entrepreneurship.
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What does failure have to do with team success?
Is failure necessary for sustained team success? Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the relationship between success and failure as it relates to effective and sustained team building.
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What are the elements of a successful team?
Does your team demonstrate these traits? Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the traits of a successful team, including cohesion, integrity, generosity and sustainability.
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A sustainability expert looks at the power of teams
Our sustainability expert talks about teams. Bruce Piasecki joins Jim Blasingame to report on why the companion to his sustainability book is about team building.
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How to bank relationship capital
Do you think of relationship capital as important? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the concept of banking relationship capital and why it's important to your professional success.
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Building professional relationships is good business
Is having business relationships a best practice? Ruth Sherman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the power of professional relationships, how to acquire them and why having them is not only the right thing to do, but a best practice.
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SCORE stories about social media expectations
A SCORE volunteer relates client expectations and reality of social media. Steve martin joins Jim Blasingame to share his experiences with small business clients who are trying to create a successful social media strategy.
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Why profitability is a criitcal task for a small...
Perhaps more than management, profitability is a CEO task. Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to explain why the long-term profitability of a small business is a role for the company's CEO, not the managers.
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One of a CEO's leadership deliverables is sustainability
How much of your time is focused on sustainability of your business? Steve Martin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of business sustainability thinking by the CEO of a small business.
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Is social media providing an ROI for small businesses?
Where is the ROI for a small business social media strategy? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to compare a traditional marketing strategy and a social media strategy, and conclude that you need both/and, not either or.
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How is your marketing plan like taking vitamins?
Get ready for a one-a-day marketing plan? Ilise Benun joins Jim Blasingame to recommend a multi-faceted marketing plan that you execute a different element of each day, like a one-a-day vitamin.
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Can you influence your future Social Security benefits?
How would you like to adjust your future Social Security benefits. John Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that prior to retirement, you can do certain things to increase your Social Security benefits, including allocation of personal income.
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Estimating how much your Social Security benefits will be
You can estimate Social Security benefits. John Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to use any number of calculators to estimate your social security benefits upon retirement, including the one at SSA.gov.
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Is Social Security going to be there when you retire?
How long will Social Security last as currently structured? John Harrison joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that as currently structured, Social Security will pay current benefits for about 20 more years.
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When affirmations aren't working, try telling yourself...
Are your affirmations working? Jude Bijou joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the power of telling yourself the truth about where you are, instead of using affirmations that sound good but aren't true.
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Are emotions derailing your business success?
Learn how to navigate your emotional roadblocks. Jude Bijou joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how our emotions can hold us back and how to take the steps to navigate around these professional and personal roadblocks.
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The online sales tax debate is about fairness on both...
Will the online sales tax become a reality? Rick Newman joins Jim Blasingame to report that both sides of the online sales tax debate have a reasonable argument that their position is about fairness.
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The housing industry is now totally government supported
The government is driving 100% of the housing recovery. Rick Newman joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that the Fed's monetary policies and Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac are 100% of any housing rebound we're having and why that might be dangerous.
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What's holding back the jobs recovery?
Why isn't unemployment coming down faster? Rick Newman joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the issues that are causing employers to hold off on hiring, including the specter of Obamacare.
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You can start a business, but can you manage it?
Do you have a sustainable business? Jay Myers joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to create a business and organization that's sustainable when the world throws you a curve ball.
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Can you hit the major league business curve ball?
Are you ready for what the marketplace dishes out? Jay Myers joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what can happen when your business is going along fine and the marketplace throws a curve ball at you - can you handle it?
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A great small business story about niches
Small businesses can become world-class. Tim Howell joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the way it became world-class by finding a niche and exploiting it with unique products and services.
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How a Chamber is helping its members with energy...
How much cash are you wasting on a bad energy strategy? Steve Millard joins Jim Blasingame to explain how his chamber is working with their small business members to find ways to reduce energy costs and increase productivity.
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How Obamacare will impact Chambers that provide health...
Obamacare is changing many business models. Steve Millard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how Obamacare will impact the chamber of commerce he leads as they attempt to provide affordable health care to their members.
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What's preventing you from being an entrepreneur?
Want to be an entrepreneur? What's stopping you? Bill Schley joins Jim Blasingame to help you follow your entrepreneurial dreams, including how to have a productive relationship with fear, failure and the fear of failure.
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What Navy SEALS teach us about entrepreneurship
Are military special forces examples of entrepreneurship? Bill Schley joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how Navy SEALS and other special forces units can teach the rest of us about the essence of entrepreneurship.
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What is the essence of entrepreneurship?
Where does entrepreneurship spring from? Bill Schley joins Jim Blasingame to reveal his research on the origins of entrepreneurship, which is heavily weighted on your ability to believe - believing in yourself, your idea, the mission, etc.
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What do sales commissions say about the economy?
Increasing sales commissions are good news for the economy. Insperity's Jay Mincks joins Jim Blasingame with their recent quarterly survey of small businesses that indicates a rise in sales commissions which is a good indicator of economic growth.
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The Insperity quarterly survey of small business...
There are indications of economy expansion from small businesses. Insperity's Jay Mincks joins Jim Blasingame to report their most recent quarterly survey of small businesses that indicates an increase in hiring and less concern about the economy.
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What can Houston tell us about the U.S. economy?
Is the Houston economy an indicator of a U.S. recovery? Joe Cleary joins Jim Blasingame to propose that the indications of new business activity in Houston has wide ranging implications for the national economy.
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Here's a clinic on how to put together a strategic...
One of the great business practices for small business is the strategic alliance. Joe Cleary joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the strategic alliance his company put together with another firm to accomplish a large project neither could have done alone.
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An economic forecast by a construction executive
What can construction tell us about economic expansion? Joe Cleary joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the growth in the construction industry and why that is good news for the overall national economy.
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When to use Facebook and when to use LinkedIn
Do you know the difference between Facebook and LinkedIn? Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how businesses should determine when to use Facebook and when to use LinkedIn.
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How NOT to sell in social media communities
Do you know the social media rules of selling?Jeff Zbar joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how the rules of selling in social media are different from the traditional marketplace, and how to sell in online communities without acting like it.
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Who is in control of your day: you or the distractions?
Do you have distractionitis? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how many more distraction we have in our work day and how to manage them, including productive ways to stay on top of email without letting it dominate you.
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Use scanning and triage to avoid information overload
How do you prevent information overload? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to recommend using scanning techniques to identify relevant information and a triage approach to when you will consume information.
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When the Information Age becomes the TMI Age
Are you experiencing TMI overload? Debbie Meyer joins Jim Blasingame to talk about what happens when the wealth of information we have available turns into a thief of our time and productivity.
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Two more things small business must know about Obamacare
You can't start too early preparing for the onslaught of Obamacare. Paul Sarvadi joins Jim Blasingame to reveal two of the five key elements of Obamacare that you should get started preparing for, including compressed pricing and dysfunctional state ex...
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Three things small business must know about Obamacare
Are you ready for the challenges and expense to be created by Obamacare? Paul Sarvadi joins Jim Blasingame to report on three of the five key issues every small business must know about Obamacare, including individual mandate and onerous reporting.
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Look at everyone as a potential connection
Be proactive in networking. Jane Pollak joins Jim Blasingame to explain that everyone you meet has the potential to become part of your business community, plus always be on the lookout for opportunities and strategic partnerships.
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A look at a new way to do business
Business on a cruise? Jane Pollak joins Jim Blasingame to discuss a new way to do business she's participating in: a cruise - and she provides the audience; plus how to provide new opportunities to your customers while gaining new customers yourself.
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There are lots of new ways to do business
An entrepreneur is someone who finds opportunity. Jane Pollak joins Jim Blasingame to explain that the synergy of new relationships allows for building a new customer base and bring new customers to each other, plus how networking can provide a new per...
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Learn your limitations and capitalize your strengths
You can't do every job in your business. Lori Dvorak joins Jim Blasingame to explain that the greatest challenge in operating your business is realizing that you can't do every job yourself, plus how eWomenNetwork helps women network and grow their bus...
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Don't be defined by your job; be defined by your skills
What was the spark that started your small business? Lori Dvorak joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the beginning of her small buisness and how she volunteered her time and skills to help her build the confidence to turn those skills into a viable small b...
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Reduce government jobs to reduce government spending
How can we reduce the levels of state government taxation? Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame with his 2013 Business Tax Index and to talk about lowering taxes on businesses by reducing the size of government.
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What states are the best and worst at taxing businesses?
What states rank best and worst for tax policies? Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame with his 2013 Business Tax Index, which identifies the best and worst - Texas and California, respectively - on the 50-state list of business tax policies.
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How does your state rank on the Business Tax Index?
What kinds of taxes do states impose on businesses/ Ray Keating joins Jim Blasingame to discuss his 2013 Business Tax Index that identifies the levels of taxation small businesses have to pay in the 50 United States.
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Three reasons small business owners don't plan for...
Why don't small business owners do better retirement planning? Jim Blasingame reveals the challenges small businesses face when planing for retirement, including three reasons why it doesn't happen as often as it should.
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What process do we use to determine what we believe?
Do we use a process to decide what we believe? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that businesses should understand the process customers used for what they believe and focus on that rather than trying to get them to believe your marketing mess...
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Identifying the business of belief
Do you know what your customers believe? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that, as relevance trumps competitiveness, you need to connect with customer based on what they believe, instead of just with a marketing message.
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Exploring the power of what we believe
What do you believe? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame with his new book, The Business of Belief, to reveal the power of what we believe, what informs our beliefs and how we establish our belief system.
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Is your elevator pitch versatile enough?
Can you adjust your elevator pitch for different audiences? Janet Christy joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why in the digital age, your elevator pitch must be able to adjust to different channels and audiences.
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Is the elevator pitch dead?
What does your elevator pitch sound like? Janet Christy joins Jim Blasingame to explain what an elevator pitch is, how to use it and how, after many years, it must evolve to fit into the digital age.
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Simplify your life by identifying what's important to you
What's really important to you? Kita Szpak joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the steps you can take to simplify your busy life, including determining the things that are most important to you and sticking to them.
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Will the House be able to fix the online sales tax bill?
Has the time come for an Internet sales tax to pass into law? Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to report on the flawed Senate bill the House will debate and try to fix, plus will this be the year an Internet sales tax law is passed?
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How the Senate is handling the online sales tax bill
Harry Reid's Senate has produced a flawed online sales tax bill. Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to report on the flaws that are part of the online sales tax bill Harry Reid is forcing through the Senate.
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The online sales tax debate is heating up
The online sales tax debate has been raging for over decade. Steve DelBianco joins Jim Blasingame to review the history of the online sales tax debate and why it hasn't been resolved - up to now.
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Could a virtual assistant be right for your business?
Would a virtual assistant fit in your growth plans? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the ways business owners use virtual assistants to fill in assignments that don't need a full-time, face-to-face employee.
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Celebrating Administrative Professional's Day
What is the role of an administrative assistant? Gayle Buske joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the evolution of the secretarial position to administrative assistant, and why the new role of these assignments justify the new title.
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Can a conflict-prone personality be redeemed?
What do you do with a conflict-prone employee? Pierce and Jane Howard joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to redeem a conflict-prone employee, as well as how to avoid hiring such a prospective employee.
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What does personality have to do with conflict...
How personality impacts your conflict tendencies. Pierce and Jane Howard joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the influences that personality has on creating and resolving conflict, and how employers can know this in advance of hiring.
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Here's a great conflict resolution practice
How good are you at resolving a conflict? Pierce and Jane Howard joins Jim Blasingame to offer a conflict resolution practice that cuts to the heart of the tension in a conflict,
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Will Rand Paul lead the Liberty Movement as a 3rd party?
What will Rand Paul's role be in 2016 politics? Doug Wead joins Jim Blasingame to report on the political focus of the Liberty Movement and what role Sen. Rand Paul will take in future elections.
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What is the political niche filled by the Liberty...
Are you feeling disconnected from the political class? Doug Wead joins Jim Blasingame to report on the growing momentum of the Liberty Movement, which aims to return America to its Constitutional roots of liberty.
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Four listen and learn networking tips
You can't be a successful networker if you don't listen. Andrea Nierenberg joins Jim Blasingame to talk about four things you need to know to become a better listener and therefore a better networker.
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Helping military veterans become better networkers
It's not easy making the transition from a military environment back to Main Street. Andrea Nierenberg joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the issues facing military veterans when they return and plug back into civilian life.
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Don't forget to network with existing customers
Do you network with your customers? Andrea Nierenberg joins Jim Blasingame to reveal the many reasons why you should be practicing professional networking skills with existing customers.
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Conducting a disciplinary meeting with an employee
What are the tools to conducting a successful disciplinary meeting? Marsha Egan joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the importance of redeeming an employee who needs to be corrected, and finding a way to make sure they listen.
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Setting measurable goals for your business
Are you setting goals you can achieve? Marsha Egan joins Jim Blasingame to recommends the SMART way to set and accomplish goals, by revealing the tools that make up this acronym.
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Should you help employees with their debt challenges?
What do you do when employees have debt challenges? Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to suggest best practices when employees come to you with personal debt issues, including recommending books and counseling services.
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How to get your team involved in reducing company debt
How much should you let employees in on company debt structure? Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to offers tips on how to open up portions of your financials so your team can help with debt reduction.
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Why most small businesses get into debt problems
There are classic reasons why a small business gets upside-down with debt. Ellen Rohr joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why small businesses get into debt problems, including not focusing on profit drivers, like charging enough.
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Does Gen Y have to be raised when they show up to work?
Do Boomer managers have to raise their Gen Y employees? Marie Dubuque joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the issues older managers are reporting when they employ members of Generation Y.
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How to deal with rude and insulting people
What do you say when someone is rude to you? Marie Dubuque joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why people are rude and how we should behave when someone is insulting or rude.
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Will politics prevent immigration reform?
Will we ever have a national immigration policy? Governor Pete du Pont joins Jim Blasingame to report on the current state of immigration reform debate in Congress and whether he thinks anything will happen this year.
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What Republicans have to do to be competitive
Has the Republican Party lost its competitiveness? Governor Pete du Pont joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the things the Republican Party has to do to put a president in the White House in 2016.
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Will Obamacare collapse under its own policy weight?
Is Obamacare falling apart? Governor Pete du Pont joins Jim Blasingame to report on the fact that Obamacare is having difficulty being launched and whether it will survive its own structure.
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Deliver value and values to get customers to come back
How can values set your business apart? Bob Negen joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to combine delivering value to customers along with examples of your values can create a memorable customer experience.
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How small things make your business remarkable
What are you doing to set your business apart from others? Bob Negen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about ways you can set your business apart by doing little things that create a memorable customer experience.
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Should be fear political correctness more than terrorism?
Do we have to fight terrorists and political correctness? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the fact that political correctness makes it difficult to prevent and prosecute terrorists and their acts.
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Was the Boston bombing a crime or and act of jihad?
How should the Boston bombing be treated legally? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why he thinks the Boston marathon bombings should be treated as a crime and not an act of jihad.
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What is the national background of the Boston terrorists?
Why would a Chechnyan become a terrorist against the U.S.? Rich Galen joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the background of the Boston Marathon bombing terrorists and what they would have against Americans.
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How do small business owners serve themselves
Take time out of every day for yourself. Beverly Inman-Ebel joins Jim Blasingame to reveal several ways small business owners can and should set aside time every day just for their own mental and physical well-being.
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Small business owner, take care of thyself!
How much time do you leave for yourself? Beverly Inman-Ebel joins Jim Blasingame to encourage small business owners to take time to turn the care you give your customers on yourself and set aside time to recharge each day.
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What is the one key to success for a start-up?
What's the single most important thing for start-up success? Jim Blasingame reveals that regardless of industry of background, the key to success in a start-up is having enough capital until there is sufficient cash flow from customers.
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Online manners should look like offline manners
How are your online manners? Emily Post's great-great grandson, Daniel Post Senning joins Jim Blasingame to talk about specific ways to behave when using technology, including cell phones.
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Do you practice good online etiquette?
How's your online etiquette? Emily Post's great-great grandson, Daniel Post Senning joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the concept of proper etiquette, both in person and online.
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Business customers are looking for partners, not vendors
Professional salespeople no longer ask a prospect about their business - they already know. Dr. Eli Jones joins Jim Blasingame to discuss the phases of the 21st century sales process, including the increased emphasis on being a vendor instead of a part...
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How to keep your salesforce motivated and positive
If your sales force isn't motivated, the problem is probably internal. Don Cooper joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the reasons why one salesperson, or an entire sales force, might be under-performing and how to fix it.
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Why adaptability is key to success in selling
Is your salesforce adapting to 21st century prospect and customer expectations? Don Cooper joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the ways for your salesforce to stay positive and adaptable in order stay relevant to customers.
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Hire salespeople for attitude and intelligence, not...
What is the most desirable trait for a salesperson? Don Cooper joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the value of a positive attitude when hiring salespeople, even more than experience.
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Should your small business have a Pinterest strategy?
How a small business can benefit from a Pinterest strategy? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how to use Pinterest as part of your business’s online marketing and branding strategy.
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What is Pinterest and why should you care?
Are you ready for another social media platform? Lois Geller joins Jim Blasingame to report on the new social media site, Pinterest, how it works and why it seems to favor women users.
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What is the future of the U.S. income tax?
What will income tax in the U.S. look like in the future? Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the future of income tax, including value-added and flat tax plans, as well as whether payroll withholding is a good idea.
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Marking the 100th anniversary of the U.S. income tax
The U.S. income tax is 100 years old. Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame to report on the history of the U.S. income tax and how it has become a drug for politicians instead of a way to fund a frugal government.
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A tribute to the life and leadership of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher was an iconic leader of the 20th century. Burt Folsom joins Jim Blasingame pay tribute to a great leader of the 20th century, English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and recognize her important role in promoting freedom and free ente...
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Should you file a personal income tax extension
Do small business owners take advantage of the income tax filing extension. Jim Blasingame reports on a recent poll of how small business owners take advantage of the tax filing extension and whether you should use it.
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Managing the three clocks of small business
Time is not on the side of small businesses. Jim Blasingame reveals the three clocks of small business and offers suggestions on how to manage them and how to get them to work together.
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Don't feed the elephant in your organizations living room
Are you feeding the elephant in your business's living room? Pam Harper joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to stop feeding the elephants in your business' living room and allow your people to help you get rid of them.
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How do you identify the elephants in your organization?
Don't let the elephants in your business's living room take you down. Pam Harper joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to identify the proverbial elephant in your organization that are holding you back, and how to help your people help you get rid of them.
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What do your organizational elephants look like?
All organizations have elephants in their living rooms. Pam Harper joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what it looks like when you have an elephant in your organization that is holding you back but no one will talk about.
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Identifying the different doors leaders can open
Here are specific doors you can open for your people. Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal different kinds of doors that successful leaders open for their people to help them succeed and seek excellence.
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Leaders open doors for their people
Are you opening the right doors for your employees? Bill Treasurer joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how successful leaders are always opening doors that lead to helping others seek and find excellence outside their comfort zone.
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Is there a mobile app for what ails you in the future?
Could a mobile app save your life? Mike Thomas joins Jim Blasingame to report on how new mobile technology is being developed as applications for smartphones that could help you manage and even diagnose a disease.
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What are the key drivers of successful innovation?
All business innovation must add value to customers. Seth Kahan joins Jim Blasingame to reveal other innovation drivers, including the imperative of adding value and collecting intelligence about innovation influences.
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Inflection points that lead to innovation success
Accomplish innovation that succeeds. Seth Kahan joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the drivers of successful innovation, including inflection points and innovation capacity.
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Excellent service requires relationship thinking, not...
Do you think about customer service in transaction terms? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why the only way to deliver excellent customer service is to think about the solution in terms of a relationship with the customer, not a transaction.
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How should you express appreciation to customers?
What is the best way to express appreciation to customers? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the specific ways to train employees - and owners - how to properly and effectively express and show gratitude to customers for their business.
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Why isn't excellent customer service automatic?
Why do small businesses make customer service so difficult? Ed Abel joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why too many small businesses actually think they're really good at customer service - but that's not what their customers would say.
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Keep customers by making sure they know all you sell
Do your customers know all the things your business offers? Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to talk about staying top-of-mind with customers by making sure they know all the products and services you offer.
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Why do small businesses lose customers?
What causes a small business to lose a customer? Ruth King joins Jim Blasingame to reveal some of the reasons customers don't come back to your small business, and they're all self-imposed.
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How to keep the audience on your side when a sniper...
When a sniper in the audience tries to derail your speech, how do you keep the audience on your side? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to turn the tables on a sniper who disrupts your speech and get the audience on your side.
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How does a speaker handle a sniper in the audience?
What do you do when a member of the audience tries to take over your speech? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to identify what he calls a sniper who disrupts your presentation and several professional ways to handle them.
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How to handle a heckler when you're speaking or training
Can you handle an aggressive audience member when you're the speaker? Rob Jolles joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how to handle an aggressive audience member when you're delivering a speech or training.
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The value of a marketing audit
Have you ever considered a marketing audit? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to suggest, if you're marketing plan isn't working, you might need to have it looked at by another pair of eyes, like a professional marketing auditor.
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What small businesses can learn from Costco
Can small businesses learn from Costco without becoming discounters? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how small businesses can learn from the way Costco focuses on what it does best and sticks with that.
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The tax code is requiring more time from small businesses
Increasing complexity of the tax code will cost small businesses many hours. Pete Sepp joins Jim Blasingame to report on increasing complexity of the tax code that will require many more hours for small business compliance.
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U.S. income tax compliance costs businesses 6.7 billion...
The U.S. tax system is getting more complex than ever before. Pete Sepp joins Jim Blasingame with the new annual report that reveals an abnormally high level of complexity, and requires more man-hours than the top four retailers employment combined.
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Looking forward to Ttax Freedom Day
Look forward to the day when your taxes are all paid. Pete Sepp joins Jim Blasingame to report on April 18th as this year's Tax Freedom Day, which is when you can stop working for the government and start working for yourself.
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Are small business owners armed in their businesses?
How many small business owners arm themselves in their offices? Jim Blasingame reports that over half of small business owners are armed in their businesses and many others are considering it, plus his thoughts on the gun control debate.
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Why a community bank is not a little big bank
Regulating community banks like big banks is a mistake. Jim Blasingame explains the problems created for small businesses and the economy when community banks are regulated by the government as if they were little big banks.
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Tatum Survey: Is the recovery sustainable?
Are we heading toward a sustained recovery? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with this month's Tatum Survey to report that he thinks we are heading for sustained economic growth the rest of this year.
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Tatum Survey: Sales, credit and hiring are up
Business conditions seem to be improving. Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with this month's Tatum Survey that indicates improving sales, capital expenditures, hiring and credit availability.
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Tatum Survey: Business conditions seem to be getting...
What do business conditions look like? Sam Norwood joins Jim Blasingame with this month's Tatum Survey showing that business conditions are improving.
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Four thieves that steal your management productivity
What is stealing your effectiveness? Jay Papasan joins Jim Blasingame to reveal four things that consistently steal your management effectiveness, including the inability to say no.
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- Entrepreneurship
- English
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