Posts: 27

1. 

   When You are a Start-Up -- You and Your Busienss are One.

   17.Jan.10, 14:20 EST
   
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   Someone emailed this question to me: "Do I need to start my business as an LLC, sole. or Corporation to limit my business from getting the negative creditability from me?
   
   One of the primary reasons to organize a company as a corporation or LLC (Limited Liability Company) is to provide protection against personal liability when something goes awry in your business – not the other way around. Whether your company is a corporation or LLC, under the law it is considered a separate legal entity -- technically separate and apart from you personally.
   
   You also mentioned “sole” in your question so I’m assuming you mean a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship is not a formal type of business organization. Quite simply, it’s a way to describe an individual who is in business for himself and isn’t receiving W-2 income. Unlike a formal business structure, a sole proprietorship does not provide protection from personal liability.
   
   You noted you don’t want your business to have the negative credibility you have personally. There are two ways to interpret your concern so I’ll briefly address both.
   
   First, when you start a business, regardless of whether or not you choose a formal legal structure, it is always going to be measured by you. Unless you purchase a franchise with a well-recognized brand name, your customers are going to do business with your company because of you.
   
   Secondly, if you’re referring to your personal credit history, once again you aren’t going to be able to escape scrutiny by creating a corporation or LLC. A new business doesn’t have any credit history; therefore, banks and vendors look at your financials to determine the creditworthiness of your business. Even more established businesses often have to disclose the personal financials of their owners.
   
   Think about this. “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). You may be focusing on the negative in your life as a rationale for not pursuing the positive. Whatever you decide to do with your business, I wish you much success. If you have more questions please feel free to comment or visit my web site.

2. 

   Are Social Network Profiles Putting Us at Risk for Business Discrimination?

   04.Feb.09, 17:19 EST
   
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   When you interview a potential employee for a job opening, according to federal and state law you are forbidden to ask a candidate his or her age. Furthermore, it’s illegal to discriminate against job applicants based on their gender, race or religion. But today it’s easy to prescreen candidates and find out whatever you want to know if they participate in social networks and are careless about what information they share. For example, some social communities ask for your birth date including the year. Oce you’ve input the information, your age appears prominently on your profile page. Because these sites won’t let you proceed with registration if you fail to include the year, I have started my own personal protest by using something totally outrageous. On a local television network’s site and on MySpace, I’m a 90 year old female. If you believe that then you’ll be getting in touch with me to find out what plastic surgeon I use. It’s not that I mind people knowing how old I am, but I don’t think the whole world needs that information. What purpose does it really serve? Unfortunately, people make judgments about both young and older workers. I’ve heard many stories from young entrepreneurs who feel as though they aren’t taken seriously, regardless of their capabilities, because just aren’t old enough to be in business. The other big age give-away on these community sites, is including the years you attended school or the dates of employment. People can quickly do the math and figure out approximately how old you are. On Facebook, I graduated from law school in 1910. Talk about being an unbelievably precocious child. Some sites ask for your religious beliefs and political party affiliation. All information someone could use to make an unfair, biased judgment about you. Not fair – true! But this is the real world folks and it happens. I love the world of social networking. It is an excellent way to build business contacts, keep up with colleagues and stay in touch with friends and family. But be careful of what information you can include if you are using these sites for business opportunities. Even with privacy settings, savvy techies can easily get in. Because discrimination laws haven’t addressed this issue and I doubt they ever will, it because it is virtually impossible to prevent business discrimination when it’s easily accessed on the Internet. So because of that, be careful not to give someone an unlawful reason to discriminate against you. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to worry, but this is the real world and it happens. Join SBTV.com's social network and we won't ask your age.

3. Planning a Holiday Party? Some Tips to Keep You and Your Business Out of Harm’s Way.

   12.Dec.08, 15:41 EST
   
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   Can you believe it? The holidays are here. In fact, this week is the SBTV.com holiday party. I'm looking forward to it. It's a great time to get everyone together and say thanks for a fantastic year and it's a wonderful opportunity to meet spouses, partners, friends and significant others. Of course, there are often the post-party stories that get told over and over again about someone dancing with the lamp shade on his head or a stolen kiss under the mistletoe. Most of the antics are harmless, but if the festivities can get out of hand that could mean serious consequences for your business. As an employer, you can be held liable for actions occurring during or as the result of your company sponsored social event – particularly if alcohol is served. It's a concept known as social host liability and it is recognized by many courts across the country. (It's a good idea to consult an attorney and your insurance carrier before your event.) Here are some ideas to help you host a fun, yet safe holiday soiree. First, make sure attendance at your event is voluntary. You want to eliminate any implication that work is being conducted at the party. Secondly, make sure you don't drink too much. Yeah that's right. Limit the number of drinks to one or two. You need a clear head and good judgment to avoid problems. Arrange for alternative transportation. Ask for volunteers to be designated drivers or arrange for a taxi service to ensure your guests arrive home safely. Plan your menu so there aren't a lot of salty foods. Salty foods make you thirsty and as a result you drink more. Make sure you serve your guests their drinks. Don't provide a self-serve bar. It's even a better idea to hire a professional bartender who can keep eye on how much your guests are drinking. Also, make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages on hand. Consider hosting your party in the afternoon or early evening when people tend to drink less. Finally, stop serving alcohol at least an hour before the party ends. Instead, offer a coffee bar and some wonderful deserts. I don't mean to put a damper on your event, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You don't have to be a grinch. It is possible to host a fun event for your team and still protect your company from liability.

4. 

   Best Vacation Tip for Small Business Workaholics.

   03.Dec.08, 04:38 EST
   
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   Do you actually go on vacation when you go on vacation? Typically, I don't. This Thanksgiving week my husband and I went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We frequently choose that holiday week for our vacation because I'm only gone for three business days. (Yeah, I know – pretty pathetic.) Of course, that doesn't mean I don't work. Much to my husband's chagrin, packed right along with the sunscreen and swimsuits, are piles of uncompleted work projects. In the past I've finished book manuscripts, written business plans, even reviewed financials as part of a due diligence process. But this trip was different. First the resort didn't have an Internet connection in the room. Panic attack! Then, my phone signal was extremely weak. Another panic attack. I had to face the facts: My constant communication connection had been unceremoniously cut. Okay, I can deal with that, I thought. So I accepted my plight and decided to focus on projects that didn't require communication with the outside world. But guess what! I did nothing. Yep, absolutely nothing. Didn't accomplish one darn thing the entire week. There was something freeing about being cut-off from the world. I wasn't compelled to check emails all day long or return phone calls. Instead, I took leisurely walks on the beach, enjoyed lazy lunches at beachside cafes, read a couple of great books, watched a few movies and relaxed. And amazingly -- I enjoyed it. So my best vacation tip to my fellow small business workaholics, go on vacation and do nothing. RELAX.

5. 

   A Small Business Lesson I Learned from a Spy.

   21.Nov.08, 16:27 EST
   
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   I was speechless (and for me that hardly ever happens) when I met Valerie Plame Wilson last week at a VIP reception in New York hosted by the Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) and Aetna. You may recall, Valerie is the former CIA undercover agent whose identity was revealed after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times criticizing the Bush Administration for the Iraq war and claims that Saddam Hussein was acquiring uranium ore from the African nation of Niger to build nuclear weapons. Valerie's career with the CIA took her all over the world gathering information, recruiting spies and working deep undercover. In 1998, she started spying for a new CIA division, counter-proliferation, and became Director of Operations for the CIA's Iraq joint task force. She and her team met with Iraqi scientists trying to find evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. About a week after her husband's article was printed in the New York Times, Valerie's name and CIA affiliation were disclosed in a newspaper column written by Robert Novak. Her career was over and her security as well as that of her family was put in jeopardy. Valerie's story is something of which movies are made. She's written a book entitled: Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. I can't wait to read it. Now for the reason I was speechless. I knew Valerie was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the WLE East Coast Summit, but I wasn't expecting to meet her at the VIP reception. Therefore, when I was introduced to her, I was taken aback. Heck she didn't look anything like a spy. She's blonde, very attractive, thin, fashionable, and the mother of girl-boy twins. She remembers her toddlers running around underneath her desk when she was Director of Operations at the CIA -- a scene to which many working moms can relate. But not many working moms I know carried an 80 pound backpack and 5.56 mm ammunition for an M-16 through thick woods and swamps as part her job training. This gruesome exercise was part of Valerie's paramilitary training at the CIA "farm." Casually and with a little reserve, she also mentions she was the best shot with an AK-47 in her mostly-male CIA training class. Unbelievable. I don't even like camping -- roughing it to me is staying at a hotel without 24-hour room service. However, the thing that impressed me most about Valerie (other than the fact we were both wearing great looking red shoes -- it's a girl thing) is how she's dealing with this life-altering experience that destroyed her career, her husband's consulting business, harmed both their reputations, nearly ended her marriage and put her children in danger. To survive, Valerie explained she went back to the basics and defined what she wanted the outcome of her ordeal to be. She made a list of the most important things she wanted to salvage: her marriage; the well-being of her children; and her dignity. So what did I learn about small business from a spy?. At the conclusion of her keynote remarks the next day, Valerie said, "All of us face crisis that throws us off track. As long as you remain true to your personal convictions, you'll get through." She's right. Fortunately, most of us will never experience anything comparable to Valerie's ordeal, but there are always going to be tough times. Right now, as the economy continues to spiral out of control many of us are bracing ourselves for financial struggles, personally and professionally. Often times, strength of character is the key differentiator among those who succeed and those who don't. Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager says there is only one boss and that's company values. But it's not just company values that are important, it's our personal values too. Entrepreneurs are resilient, innovative, persistent and determined. Hold onto your beliefs and don't compromise and as Valerie says, you'll get through.

6. Don't Make the Same Mistake as I -- Protect Your Small Business from a Customer's Bankruptcy.

   14.Nov.08, 17:30 EST
   
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   More years ago than I’d like to admit, I owned a small advertising and public relations business. When I say small, it was just a few freelancers and me, but that didn’t deter me from going after the big fish. Nope. And I finally caught one. My big fish was a rapidly expanding deli chain, and I won all its business. Wow! There was so much work involved that it consumed me so I didn’t have time to reel in more clients. Then one day, the owners of the deli chain just disappeared. Poof! The headquarters building was locked tight and the owners were nowhere to be found. The company filed bankruptcy. Well, there I was left with thousands and thousands of dollars in unpaid bills to vendors, media outlets and for other expenses -- not to mention the money they owed to me for my work. Not a good situation. Fortunately, I worked out deals with my creditors and gradually paid them off, but it forced me to close up shop. I went back to a job earning a regular paycheck. So what would you do if this happened to you? A customer’s bankruptcy can easily bankrupt your business too. When a customer files bankruptcy, you may be surprised to learn that you have little or no protection under the bankruptcy laws. Bankruptcy courts are for debtors, not creditors. And business bankruptcies are on the rise. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, business bankruptcies in the first half of 2008 were 42.1 percent higher than the same period last year. Now, is the time to take steps to protect your business before it’s too late. Don’t push product out the door on easy credit terms. And if you are dealing with a first-time customer, make sure you check credit references even if you’re sure it’s okay. Watch for changes in payment habits, too. If a client that normally pays on time, starts lagging behind, you need to consider that a huge red flag. Don’t let them get in too deep. Another thing to watch out for is a break-down in communications. People who owe you lots of money and can’t afford to pay you tend to not return phone calls. And of course, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify your client base so you won’t end up closing the doors as I had to do.

7. 

   Ringing the NASDAQ closing bell: A Small Business Success

   09.Nov.08, 18:03 EST
   
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   I never thought I'd be there, but sure enough – there I was on the stage at the NASDAQ -- part of a group invited to ring the closing bell. What a thrill! We were there because we'd been selected to participate in a venture capital forum for women-led media companies called ALL THINGS MEDIA. The program sponsors were Springboard Enterprises and The Paley Center for Media. Although it was an incredible experience for me, the real stars of the show were Gail Goodman, Chairman, CEO and President, Constant Contact (CTCT), the most recent women-owned business listed on the NASDAQ, and Kay Koplovitz, the founder of USA Networks and Chair of Springboard Enterprises. Gail hadn't expected to be so moved by the experience. "It was an exciting moment. It truly gave me goose bumps. The entire time I was up there, I thought about our team and how proud I am of them," Gail shared. And proud she should be. Talk about a small business success story. Constant Contact is one of seven Springboard companies now listed on the NASDAQ. Springboard is dedicated to accelerating women's access to equity capital. Constant Contact® began operations in 1998 with the goal of designing an affordable, easy-to-use email marketing tool—to help small businesses build successful, lasting customer relationships. Fast forward to October 2008 and Constant Contact has grown from a small start-up to a leading provider of email marketing and online survey tools for small businesses, associations, and nonprofits by focusing on our customer's satisfaction and needs with helpful, personal coaching. It's great to see women business owners succeeding to this level of success. Thanks to Gail and Kay for leading the way and giving us the inspiration and support to shoot for the top. Who knows, wait a few years and it could be SBTV.com. Or you and your company!

8. 

   WEDO Program Offers Great Advice to Women Business Owners.

   24.Oct.08, 02:05 EDT
   
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   Wouldn’t it be great to have an advisory board for your business consisting of successful entrepreneurs who were willing to share their insight, expertise and secrets for success! Well, let me tell you about my day. I hosted an hour-long live satellite broadcast program for the Women’s Economic Development Outreach Tour or WEDO. Joining me as guest panelists were three of the most incredible business women you’d ever want to meet. It struck me during the program just how much brain power was sitting on the stage with me. These women know their stuff. They started with nothing, faced obstacles and challenges, yet emerged with successful, multi-million dollar organizations. For everyone watching, I think it was almost as informative as having that “dream” advisory board. In fact one woman business owner said to me afterwards, “I really needed this today.” I’ll introduce you to my guests, and in future blogs I plan to share some specifics we discussed on the program. Brenda Newberry is Chairman and CEO of The Newberry Group, a global IT consultancy she founded in 1996. Today, the company employs 140, is 100 percent employee owned and does commercial as well as government contract work. Brenda started her career in the Air Force and then joined the corporate role reaching executive-level positions before deciding to strike out on her own. Leaving the glitter and glamour of Hollywood behind, Sally Hughes returned to her Cleveland, Ohio home and identified a market niche no one had thought of even though it was right at their feet. Sally launched Caster Connection in 1987 – a supplier of high-quality casters and wheel solutions. Today, Sally is known as the “caster queen” and her firm does business with companies all across the country. After losing her job at 40, Mary Bahr decided she’d had enough. So she started MAB Advertising, a full-service advertising agency whose mission is to improve customer relationships and organizational profitability through strategic direct marketing. Although Mary is in a competitive industry, her innovative business savvy and focus on customer relations has resulted in an impressive client list. With decades of experience and success, the wisdom and advice these women shared was so valuable. They were candid and straightforward. As I mentioned, in future posts, I’ll provide specifics about our discussion, but for now I’ll close with one of my favorite tips from the show. This came from Mary Bahr: “Do the hardest thing first.” In other words, get those projects or tasks you dread done first thing when you go to work. When you put them off until later it’s easy to postpone them until the next day. So get it done. I want to thank National City Bank and the other WEDO alliance partners. In addition to our live audience, women from 11 cities in five states joined us and participated by submitting email questions. You can learn more from the WeDo web site. As Linda Stevenson, National City senior vice president women’s business development and executive director for WEDO says, “It’s we do, not me do.” She’s right. It’s about all of us working together to help women in business succeed.

9. 

   Don't Wait Until it's Too Late: Prepare for Business Disaster Today

   17.Oct.08, 17:56 EDT
   
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   Recently, I spoke with a friend whose home was destroyed in Galveston, Texas, by the furry and force of Hurricane Ike. Fortunately her family and she left the area before the storm hit, so they are safe and well. But their lives have changed dramatically. Her story caused me to think about how vulnerable we all are. Disaster can strike any of us at anytime, anywhere, leaving behind demolished homes, businesses and lives. Yet, very few of us take the necessary steps to be prepared for when a disaster hits – personally or professionally. Right? Think about the devastation in Galveston and think about how many small businesses were lost in that area. What would you do if a disaster occurred in your area today? Are you prepared? Could you continue business operations tomorrow or would everything be lost? Disasters of the magnitude of Hurricane Ike are tragic, but business disasters are typically caused by less ominous forces. Imagine the sprinkler system going off in your building destroying all electronic systems, customer files and inventory. When was the last time you backed everything up? Workers on a nearby construction project cut through underground cables causing a major blackout in your area. Could you continue to service your customers? It is impossible to prevent a disaster from happening, but it is possible to diminish the impact. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make a List of Business Essentials. Determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep your business operating. Create a Contact List. Make sure you have a list of your suppliers, customers and other business resources located at an off-site location. Temporary Site. Do your homework in advance, and identify a location where you can set up operations for your business if your primary location is not accessible or functional Document Storage. Keep duplicate files of all critical business documents at a separate location. Review Your Insurance Coverage. Emergency Supplies. Have a battery-operated radio and extra batteries, water, food, first-aid etc. Computer Systems. Back up financial information and keep off-site. Check out these resources for more information: Business and Home Safety: U.S. Small Business Administration Also watch www.SBTV.com's report on dealing with unexpected business interruptions.

10. 

    It's Business Not Personal: Tips to Avoid Personal Conflict From Impacting Business Success

    13.Oct.08, 11:18 EDT
    
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    Small businesses can often feel like family. Small staffs typically lead to close working relationships and lifelong friendships. Workplace bonds can be strong in and out of the business, but this blurring of the lines can lead to problems. It's easy to forget work related friendships are built on a common professional foundation. When this basic rule is disregarded, problems can develop. Often employees and their managers may find it tough to be accurate, logical and fair in their attitudes and working relationships because of the closeness and intimacy they have experienced over the years working side-by-side in a small firm. I asked some SBTV.com viewers and members of our online community, Small Biz Central, if they encountered this challenge. Several have faced similar circumstances in their companies and they shared some tips on easing these situations. Everyone seems to agree, it is good to discuss issues openly and candidly. Note the impact relationships and behaviors are having on the firm, other employees and the individuals themselves. Often, a sit-down talk with all parties involved will take care of the problem. However, I recommend scheduling a follow-up meeting just to ensure things are going smoothly. Sometimes an experienced human resource manager or similar consultant may be helpful in resolving issues and making the workplace less personal and more professional These meetings will not only get employees talking; the sit-downs will build trust among the staff. As a small business owner or manager, staffers will appreciate your action to address a topic almost everyone is aware of, but afraid to tackle. Your small business team can be like family in many ways and we all know families have disagreements. But if you handle the personal differences in the right way, they can build stronger bonds for your business. Learn more about dealing with workplace conflict in your business on SBTV.com's management and legal channels. You'll even learn how to deal with tears on the job from expert Patricia E. Adams.

11. 

    Sarah Palin Look Alike?

    10.Oct.08, 16:38 EDT
    
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    It seems everywhere I go these days; at least one person says I look like Sarah Palin. “It’s your eyes. Your smile. Your bone structure,” they say. Personally, I don’t see it at all. But I’ve had complete strangers walk up to me on the street or in the airport to ask me if anyone’s told me I look like Sarah Palin. What am I supposed to say? Is it supposed to be a compliment because they support her or is it a slam because they don’t like her? What’s wrong with simply looking like me? First, I don’t think Sarah Palin looks like me at all. I’m older than she – not by that much. Palin has long, straight hair and mine is short and curly. I only wear glasses for reading. Sarah Palin is a hockey mom with five children. I have one spoiled Shih Tzu. So what’s up with the look alike thing? Well, here’s the final kicker. Sarah Palin is a former Miss Alaska and I’m a previous Miss Missouri. Could that be it? Do all former beauty queens look alike? You tell me.

12. 

    Build Buzz for Your Business: Leverage the November Election.

    02.Oct.08, 15:44 EDT
    
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    Tonight is the vice-presidential debate between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Entrepreneurial students are using the event to “cash-in” on the debate and promote their school. To accomplish that, they are selling pink elephant and blue donkey cookies to measure the support for each candidate. Not only are they making money, but they are generating national press coverage. Baskin-Robins ice cream is also churning a political promotion. It’s asking consumers to vote for their favorite Presidential candidates by selecting between two flavors dedicated to Republican Senator John McCain and his Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama. The ice cream representing McCain is called “Straight Talk Crunch” which is a white chocolate ice cream, caramel ribbon with chocolate pieces, crunchy mixed nuts and candy red states mixed in! The ice-cream chosen to represent Obama is “Whirl of Change” a flavor of peanut-nougat ice cream swirled with hunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and complimented by a caramel ribbon. Is there a way your business can build a promotion about the upcoming November elections? Perhaps, you could run a special promotion on your web site with two options relating to each candidate. Don’t forget your home-town candidates too. If there is a hot race is your community, you might generate interest by focusing on it. Be creative. It’s a great way to build buzz. This election has everyone talking. Why not make sure they’re talking about your business too.

13. Women of Achievement Deserve a Permanent Place of Recognition. Support the National Women’s History Museum.

    16.Sep.08, 22:29 EDT
    
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    September is Women of Achievement Month, a national observation recognizing the accomplishments of women from all walks of life. I've been fortune in my career to have met many outstanding, courageous women who are inspirations and role models not only for me, but for all of us. My mother was one of those women of achievement who took risks and refused to follow the limited roles granted to women at the time. She became an entrepreneur in the 1940s – probably before anyone ever used the word entrepreneur and certainly before many women ever thought about launching their own businesses. But contrary to what you might think, she wasn't alone. The United States was built on the foundation of small business, and many of those firms were owned and/or operated by women. Baker Library at Harvard University owns a collection of accounts of female-owned businesses from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These papers document women-owned taverns, general stores, millinery shops, schools, farms, cider mills and saw mills. An effort is underway to officially and permanently recognize these industrious women who worked hard to make America a great nation and to create opportunities for the next generation of young women. Currently, the stories of these amazing women are only showcased through temporary traveling exhibits and other special events. But there is legislation before Congress to designate a permanent museum in Washington DC to pay tribute to the women who have contributed in diverse ways to the success of our country. The measure introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives, (H.R. 6548), would allow land adjacent to the National Mall in Washington be purchased as a permanent home for a National Women's History Museum. The plans for the proposed museum represent one of the first green museums in the nation's capital. The design of the building will include many sustainable features and energy efficient and eco-friendly approaches to reduce operating costs and the impact on the National Mall. Lawmakers must act before this session is over, or lose an opportunity to support women's many diverse contributions to the success of our country and to the creation of greater opportunities for all women. To ensure the creation of the women's history museum, you must act quickly. The legislation must be passed before the end of this year's Congressional session. To learn some easy ways to put your support behind the campaign and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, click here to learn more about the Right Here Right Now campaign. My mom deserves this and so do many other moms, sisters, aunts, grandmohters, daughters and girlfriends. Don't let this opportunity go by. Act now.

14. You are invited to a Great Party with Smart People, Great Food, and Plenty to Talk About!

    09.Sep.08, 11:28 EDT
    
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    Most ten year olds don't get a huge birthday celebration, but the stunning success of a business changing the way the world accesses information is not going unnoticed. You see, this ten year old is Google, the most widely used search engine. Google opened its doors in September 1998. The exact date is the focus of a debate. Even the folks at Google admit the founding date has moved around over the years, depending on when people feel like having cake. I feel like I've had a seat at the party. I've been talking about the best way to use Google and the many things it can do for a small business for years. From network television news shows to community business networking meetings, I've been sharing tips on how to use Google in small business and in personal and social matters for many of those ten years. Google is helping many entrepreneurs compete with their larger counterparts in a number of ways. In fact, numbers play a role in the search engine's name. 'Google' is a play on the word 'googol,' coined by Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. A 'googol' refers to the number represented by the number one followed by 100 zeros. It's a very large number. In fact, there isn't a googol of anything in the universe -- not stars, not dust particles, not atoms. Google's use of the term reflects the company's mission to organize the world's immense information and make it universally accessible and useful. A firm dedicated to connecting and sharing information didn't have a particularly warm and fuzzy start. In fact, according to Google lore, company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were not terribly fond of each other when they first met as Stanford University graduate students in computer science. It seems the founders argued about every topic they discussed. Their strong opinions and divergent viewpoints would eventually find common ground in a unique approach to solving one of computing's biggest challenges: retrieving relevant information from a massive set of data. The buzz about Google's search technology, remarkable success and the flexibility it offers users is enhanced by the way the firm treats employees. Google runs a fleet of luxury buses complete with plush seats and wireless Web access so employees don't have to commute. For those who want to drive, there is free parking and a lot of other perks. All eight thousand employees at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters can eat for free in any one of nineteen gourmet restaurants serving a variety of foods around the clock. There is also a free gym, laundry to wash clothes with eco-gentle detergent provided, a work-out pool, subsidized massages and even private areas to take a nap! Google offers subsidized day care facilities on site for working parents, an on-site doctor's office, pharmacy and a number of other perks designed to keep employees communicating, innovating, and creating. I think there is a lesson about creating an atmosphere where creative people can talk and giving them power to do what they know best. The search engine giant concentrates on hiring the best people and allowing them to put their expertise and experience to work. Who doesn't love a great party with smart people, great food, and plenty to talk about? I think Google's tenth birthday party has it all!

15. A Perfect Match: Two Tennis Loving Moms Team Up To Turn Passion into Cash.

    04.Sep.08, 11:55 EDT
    
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    You may not see this year's tennis Olympians wearing a new product invented by two tennis loving moms, but just wait.

    Recently, I met two amazing women entrepreneurs whose new product launch has the power of a Venus Williams serve. Ernabel Demill and Meredith Kasun, co-founders of Bodystyle Athletics™, were selected for the Elevator Pitch segment on MSNBC's "Your Business". As luck would have it, Benjamin Nemo, CEO of Scorpio Ventures and I were the two panelists. Now, I'm not a tennis player. In fact, I've never been good at or interested in anything sports related, but their product, the TennisRAQ, blew me away. It's so simple it makes you ask: Why hasn't this been done before. Perhaps, that's the reason, after only six months in business; Ernable and Meredith are enjoying some success.

    Before I tell you more, let me first explain the product. The TennisRAQ (pronounced tennis rack) is an accessory for tennis enthusiasts. It's a type of belt that fits around the waist, fastens in the front with a Velcro closure, and holds up to three tennis balls.

    Ernabel and Meredith met at a tennis clinic where they became perfect partners. They'd been playing at the same level for about the same amount of time. And they are both passionate about tennis. Their personal lives were also on parallel tracks. Both were stay-at-home moms who were looking for their next career move because their children had reached school age. One day, they started talking about how they were tired of chasing after and picking up tennis balls because their tennis attire didn't have pockets. Of course, you can always place balls underneath a tennis skirt, but they're bulky and not very flattering. Plus, neither of them liked wearing skirts when the weather gets cooler. Some women, including Meredith, prefer pants year-round and because they don't have pockets, there is no place for your tennis balls.

    Then it dawned on them: How about a belt that holds the tennis balls for you. So they went to work. Drawing upon Meredith's background in fashion, the duo put their heads together and created a functional tennis belt they named the Tennis RAQ.

    Next they took the necessary steps to protect their invention and set up their business as a Limited Liability Company. With the newly manufactured products in hand, they headed to the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California where they set up a booth and created a buzz at the event. (First picture to the left.) Since then they've sponsored other tennis events, successfully obtained positive media coverage and secured placement in a number of posh tennis stores. Check out their Facebook page. It's difficult to launch a new product, even if you're already an established business because start-up costs can be expensive. Then once you've got the product produced, you need additional funds for marketing and distribution. That's why Ernabel and Meredith were pitching on "Your Business" – they need seed capital to help them promote and sell their product. During her pitch (Meredith modeled), Ernabel said, "There are 25 million amateur tennis players in the U.S. Even if only 10 percent find the TennisRAQ a "must-have" tennis accessory, then we'll be a successful business."

    You can find pictures of the TennisRAQ on the Bodystyle Athletics web site. 

    If you have a great idea and you'd like to more about launching a new product, or if you have thoughts, ideas or questions feel free to contact me. (SWS@sbtv.com) Enjoy this great quote I found on the Bodysytle Athletics web site: 

    In tennis, one can learn a good lesson for life:
    The person who serves the best, quite often,
    is the winner.

16. The Hair Biz Stands up Despite a Down Economy

    29.Aug.08, 14:50 EDT
    
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    One of the fun things about doing guest television appearances for the networks is getting your hair and make-up done by professionals. Most of the stylists are solo entrepreneurs so in addition to picking up tricks of the trade from them, I also like to ask: "How's business?" Does the beauty business hold its own in a sluggish economy? Most say, "So far so good." The reason they say, is because typically their customers aren't living paycheck to paycheck so they aren't likely to skimp on personal care services.

    To further my research from the network make-up chair, I asked my friend Pete, who owns several salons and has been in the industry for more than 35 years. He concurred with my findings. However, he noted that some customers may stretch the time in between salon visits a little longer when times are tight. For example, if you regularly book salon appointments every four weeks, you might decide to go every five weeks instead.

    My informal research reflects the national data on the salon-industry's vitality. There are some 75,000 beauty salons in the expanding beauty business – a $16 billion industry. When you add an additional 5,000 men's hair salons and barber shops to the picture; hair care and personal services equals a lot of small business jobs!

    A U.S. Department of Labor projection shows that between 2002 and 2012, the salon industry is expected to add 111,090 jobs. By 2012, the industry will include 865,000 workers, a 14.7 percent increase over 10 years. In addition to these numbers, many cosmetologists and stylists choose to be independent contractors renting space from salon owners and managing their own business needs.

    So at the end of the day, it seems the salon business weathers an economic downturn fairly well. Personally, I think I'd give up a lot of things before I'd let anyone see the gray hairs sneaking through. How about you?

17. My Encounter With a Woman Who Changed History: Dr. Sarah Weddington.

    14.Aug.08, 17:09 EDT
    
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    Hundreds of women business owners turned out for the Women's Leadership Exchange Summit in Long Beach, California. It was a day filled with amazing keynote speakers, training seminars and of course, lots of networking. I'm always impressed with the quality of the WLE conferences produced by founders Leslie Grossman and Andrea March. Since 2003, this dynamic duo has spearheaded 33 conferences focused on their mission of providing women in business with the knowledge, tools and connections they need to propel their businesses and careers forward. Their success is no surprise given the fact both Andrea and Leslie have been wildly successful entrepreneurs themselves so they bring a lot of their wisdom to these events as well.

    
    The highlight of my day was meeting and spending time with the event's keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Weddington. In case you don't know who she is, Dr. Weddington argued the Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court. She is believed to be the youngest person ever to win a case in the highest court in the land. But she almost didn't do it. A male attorney with a New York firm offered to help her prepare the brief and so she accepted his assistance. As it turned out, he did nothing, but he did have experience arguing before the Supreme Court so she thought maybe he should argue the case instead of her. Then she learned, unbeknownst to her, he had already written a letter to the court stating he would be the attorney arguing the case. Well, his arrogant, presumptuous attempt to take over got the Texas minister's daughter riled up. Because it's up to the client to make the decision of who argues the case, she called and confirmed they wanted her to do it. So she did. And as they say, the rest is history.
    

    
    Dr. Weddington is warm, generous, candid and approachable. If you met her and didn't know who she was, you'd never guess she's been a trailblazer and a passionate advocate for women for decades. During her career, she has been an attorney, legislator, Presidential advisor, professor and expert called upon by the national media and institutions of higher learning. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas in Austin, where she is shaping a new generation of leaders through her classes "Gender-Based Discrimination" and "Leadership in America." She's also the author of "A Question of Choice" which chronicles the Roe v. Wade case.
    

    
    What an absolutely incredible woman, and I'm thrilled to have met her. You can learn more about her work through the Weddington Center.

    If you're interested in attending one of the Women's Leadership Conferences, the next one is coming up on October 21 in Boston. At that event, Helen Grenier, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of iRobot, will be the keynote. There's more information on SBTV.com's events calendar. It's worth the investment of your time and money. You'll not only learn a lot to help you grow your business, but you'll also make great business connections, too.

18. Enthusiasm, Passion & Persistence Connect Across Language Barriers

    11.Aug.08, 12:30 EDT
    
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    Women business owners from around the world may speak different languages, but there is one commonality that bonds us all together and that is the passion for delivering the very best products and services to our customers. I witnessed this connection first hand at the recent NAWBO conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The event attracted women from around the globe to network and share their enthusiasm, energy and expertise to help each other grow and build their business enterprises.

    This is a picture of Renee and me at her booth in Phoenix. By the way, NAWBO's conference was held at the Biltmore Resort and Spa – a magnificent venue. Renee Lombardi from Peru was one of the amazing women in attendance. Thirty-eight years ago, Renee had a dream of creating a business providing custom knits and woven clothing incorporating the latest fashion trends in designs most women like and can wear. Today that dream is a reality. Renee is the proprietor, designer and General Director of Tomati's – a company providing employment for more than 20 families and offering opportunities through an apprenticeship program to become a qualified weaver.

    "We, at this company, believe that generating income to our benefit is not everything and that to grow means to have social conscience, proof of which is the formation of the theoretical/practical course called 'Weaving Dreams' which we provide at no cost to women artisans of limited resources," Renee explained.

    I'm wearing Renee's jacket holding my traveling companion, Maxwell, in front of some of the Biltmore Resort and Spa's beautiful fountains.

    Although I love traveling throughout Mexico and South America, I only speak a few words of Spanish, but language barriers didn't prevent Renee and I from connecting through the beauty of her clothes. One of her jackets caught my eye while I was making the rounds in the exhibit hall. I walked over to her booth and if the jacket was for sale or display only. Through an interpreter, I learned all the merchandise was for sale. Renee took the jacket off the hanger and encouraged me to try it on.

    Well, I put it on and it looked as though Renee had made it just for me. Renee beamed at me and we hugged. "Hermoso. Perfeccione el ataque," she said which I think means beautiful, perfect fit.

    Still beaming with pride, Renee handed me another knit top with a matching skirt to try on as well. The items were not something I would have picked out for myself, but Renee was so excited I slipped into them. Oh my gosh: It was stunning.

    Renee's apparel is now home with me in St. Louis, but in addition to the clothing items, I've found a good friend for life. Renee took such pride and pleasure in helping me choose just the right pieces -- two women business owners speaking different languages connecting and communicating nonetheless. I've been invited to visit Renee in Peru and I may take her up on that one day. In the meantime, I've worn the jacket on a number of television programs and I'm sending Renee copies so she can share with her staff. Click here to see one of the appearances where I wore the jacket.

    Watch for SBTV.com's full coverage of the NAWBO conference coming up, soon. You'll find NAWBO stories on its NAWBO landing page under the small business organization tab…

19. Exercise at Work? 63% of Small Business Owners and Employees Would Exercise Together.

    06.Aug.08, 14:51 EDT
    
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    Just about everyone I know wouldn't mind shedding a few pounds. But staying fit may be as important to your business as it is to your waistline. Believe it or not, according to the Physician and Sports Medicine journal, it costs about three $330 per year in direct medical expenses for each inactive employee on your team -- including you. That's just about a dollar a day.

    By the way, that doesn't include indirect medical costs such as workers' compensation claims or the loss of productivity when you or an employee is technically at work, but less focused because of an illness or injury. Want to check out how well your business is doing. There's a resource available called the Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator. The calculator uses the latest research available that includes medical costs, workers' productivity and workers' compensation fields. See how your business compares.

    Armed with this information, and realizing small businesses are time and resource constrained, I wondered if business owners and their employees would be willing to exercise together.

    So we ran a poll on SBTV.com's homepage asking the question: Would you feel comfortable working out with your co-workers? Sixty three percent of 617 respondents said yes. Thirty-two percent said no and three percent aren't 'interested in exercise at all.

    What do you think? Any good suggestions for incorporating a wellness or exercise program into your small business?

    I bought a treadmill on eBay for my office early this year. I thought I could walk on it several times a day for 10 or 15 minutes just to relieve a little stress. So far, I've been on it a total of four times. Not a very impressive track record.

    I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Also, currently on SBTV.com's homepage you'll find a poll asking whether your business has a wellness program. Let us know.

20. Everybody’s Buzzing About Bartering. I’ve Been Talking About it For Years

    01.Aug.08, 12:39 EDT
    
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    Bartering is big business these days. Everybody's buzzing about it. The New York Times did a story. Good Morning America had a special segment on it. I've also done several television appearances explaining how bartering works and how it can help you manage your cash flow. Click here to see one of the more recent programs on Fox 2, KTVI. .

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    It makes sense that bartering would increase in popularity during an economic downturn. Small businesses everywhere are feeling the impact of the slow economy. But I've been talking about the benefits of bartering for small businesses for years. Why? First, because I understand how strapped small businesses are when they are getting started and barter arrangements can be an excellent way of getting goods and services without shelling out money or going into debt. .

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    But also, when I was growing up, I saw people barter with my family's business (a funeral home) to pay for our services. We got everything from a side of beef, to carpentry work, to a pick-up truck. Yes, the 1971 Ford pick-up – three on the column, no power-steering, no radio, no add-ons at all – now sits in my garage. I keep it because it's the car I learned to drive with and it holds a lot of fun teenage memories. .

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    The barter system has been flourishing in this country for centuries, but it has seen an uplift in activity since about 1982. It's currently one of the fastest-growing economic segments. Last year, approximately $18 billion dollars in goods and services were bartered. The International Reciprocal Trade Association estimates about two-thirds of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange do more than $14 billion in barter annually. It clearly is big business. .

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    Bartering can take place informally, much like what occurred in my family's business. However, there are more structured ways to barter for goods and services through barter clubs or exchanges. These organizations allow individuals and companies to exchange goods and services for barter credits that can be cashed in for a particular item or service. For example, a dentist does work for a lawyer, both of whom are members of the same exchange club. The dentist earns barter credits which are deposited in his/her account for doing the work. The dentist can then use those credits to purchase new office equipment or advertising space in a magazine. Some barter exchanges have brick and mortar stores where members can shop for the items they wish to purchase with their barter credits. .

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    Bartering has also exploded on the Internet. There are quite a few online sites for bartering deals only. One of the most popular sites is SwapTree. SwapTree operates much like eBay except of course no money is involved. Here is the site's description: Swaptree is a new and innovative way for people to easily trade the books, cds, dvds and video games they are finished with, for the ones they want, all for free. With swaptree, your collections stop gathering dust and can be used to acquire other items you want. By offering to trade a single item, you can choose from thousands of books, dvds, cds, and video games that you can receive in exchange. Best part: everything is free, you only pay shipping. .

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    Another popular site is Tradeaway. According to information on its site, Tradeaway provides the means for a business/person to acquire goods or services through a medium where cash is not a requirement for a transaction to take place. Now, items such as raw land and luxury condominiums can quickly trade hands through the patent pending innovations of Tradeaway. Believe it or not, you can even find livestock on the site. .

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    So the next time you're worried about how you can get that new printer or find someone to design your new logo, look for barter opportunities. Personally, I'm searching for a shoe store who wants to trade shoes for advertising on SBTV.com. Okay – my male partners probably won't like that idea too much. But who knows, they might look cute in stilettos. .