At the very beginning of your new business you had to create a business plan to show off to the bank or investors to prove that you could maintain an income stream that would pay the bills. The question is have you kept your information up to date since then? I guess the real question is did you even create a business plan to begin with? When I first began in business this was probably my biggest challenge, which was keeping things organized and putting my business plan together. To help you I have devised a 5 step plan to helping you get on your way.

First step, brainstorm and map out all of your thoughts by using mind mapping software. A software called Free Mind works very well, but there is also MindMapper which also works well. Mind Mapping will open up your eyes to more opportunities and will allow you to move your thoughts around very easily. You can even set alarms of when you want to work on a particular item. As time progresses you can continue to branch off of your mind map. (more…)

How many times have you stepped into an old “mom and pop” shops where the technology is outdated and they don’t even take credit cards? How many times have you worked for someone that is still doing inventory without a point of sale system? These are obvious examples of managers or business owners stuck in their own ways, but many managers are stuck in their old ways on many different accounts. Here are a few ideas on how to get out of your typical routine.

First Idea, checkout local seminars on what small businesses are doing to survive in your vicinity. Better yet go to a conference out of your area to see what other regions are doing to keep their competitive edge. Many corporations do the same for their employees to help them develop. This same concept should be considered for your business. (more…)

As you all know I am a young entrepreneur and as a young entrepreneur I have noticed things from time to time that have paid off. Not only have they paid off, but now I realize what it means to have success as long as you are persistent. The one story that always comes to mind is The Little Engine that Could he just kept chugging along until he reached his final destination even though numerous people doubted him. The key is to believe in yourself and your cause whether it be business or something personal, just keep chuggin. (more…)

If you are an Internet user there is no doubt that you have come across the site called Wikipedia. This site offers a cornucopia of information on any possible topic that is more accurate than anything you could find in the Encyclopedia Britannica. This site is a place where people can collaborate about anything and everything quickly. In fact, the word wiki itself means fast in Hawaiian according to the New York Times.   So, in order to collaborate with your staff fast have you considered using a wiki for your business.

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About 3 months ago a very good friend of mine from simplify101.com gave me a very good tip. The tips was to further my development skills by reading and listening to books. These books included E-Myth, The Purple Cow, and Made to Stick. These are books that are easy reads and still get the point across. The best part is that if your busy all of these books have an audio version.  Where can you get these audio books or when can you find time to read these business development books.

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Generally, we have Jared Fischer write this column but for the past three weeks he has been under the gun finishing up his Masters in Accountancy. So, this week I decided to fill the dead air  and talk about how you could save some money and gain some good employee. However, some small businesses may have a hard time with this since not everyone is near a university.

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This is something that can be tricky when creating a business, but is vital to your success. If you look at companies that have succeeded in their industry you notice that they are generally companies that are known for having a great company culture. This culture is relayed onto your employees, which is then conveyed to your customers. If values are clearly defined and followed you will see better results in customer service and employee relations.

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One thing that I have noticed as an entrepreneur is making sure you have the right people around you to be your support team. I have been to numerous conferences and have consistently heard successful entrepreneurs stating that their success was a result of a great support team. You want people that have been successful in their fields and are also not afraid to voice their opinion. Having people like this will help you fix your flaws and push you in the right direction. 

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