I saw this recent article which is a unique take on explaining the value of business plans. While I firmly believe that an unwritten plan is mostly a morass of untested ideas and random thoughts, following a methodical approach to building your business will pay great dividends.It simply doesn't work…
Despite all the recent publicity about the SBA's "helping hand" to small business, recent reports tell another story. Loan volume in dollars is down $3.6 billion, around 27%, and 25,000 fewer businesses have been served this year. Pretty woeful record when programs to support Wall St. and the banking industry…
Whenever I find an article about innovative or alternative financing, it's worth sharing. Creative financing has never been more needed as businesses seek to preserve and protect their franchise. While these alternatives may not be applicable to your business, use this information to jumpstart your creative juices to consider different…
The need for planning is a common theme at Exkalibur and John Maxwell, a well-recognized source of leadership insights, has written extensively on this subject. He recently wrote about Principle-Centered Planning as a way to emphasize the value of planning, particularly in such uncertain times. His metaphor about white-water rafting…
The McKinsey Quarterly, a publication of McKinsey & Company, recently published a short article offering Three Tips for planning in these uncertain times. It emphasizes the importance of developing multiple scenarios, rigorous monitoring and longer-term focus to enhance the success of your planning. (You'll need to register - for free…
You've heard much of it here before ... Take Action, Plan Carefully ... so take a minute to reinforce that mantra by reading a short article from the Harvard Business web site from Jeff Stibel, brain scientist and entrepreneur.As we know, small businesses employ more than half of our private…
CFO Magazine recently included an article entitled “Imperfect Futures“, describing the growing challenge of forecasting in an uncertain economy. It’s never been easy but maybe never before, this hard.
There is a valuable perspective in this article worth considering. (more…)
Disappointing sales are the number-one problem afflicting America's small businesses, and few business owners expect consumers to start spending again any time soon, according to the National Federation of Independent Business's latest monthly survey of its membership. As we know, sales declines have also forced businesses to shut down. In…
Small businesses have become more pessimistic about the chance for economic recovery in the next six months, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. The indicator fell 1.3 points in July to 86.5. "Now they are expected to finance the new experiments of Congress and the…