Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia 
Why did I commit to this? That thought gallops across my brain (it is, after all, the year of the horse) as I stare at a blank screen. Then I remember! I committed to blog each day for 30 days because blogging is painful for me. And, I want the pain to stop – or at a minimum, subside to a dull ache!
Running a business in today’s fast-paced environment is overwhelming. For women business owners, running a business is even more stressful as we strive to balance the demands and aspirations of our business with the stressors and cravings of our personal and family life.
It can be overwhelming to grasp the many different financial aspects of your business. From basic accounting and budgets to bookkeeping, pricing strategies and taxes (just to mention a few), not many entrepreneurs have time to make sense of the flurry of financial activities. Although we may not comprehend them as well as an accountant, it doesn’t relieve us of the responsibility we have for actively understanding and managing the financial development of our business.
Living in Los Angeles is a continual reminder of the need to “freshen” one’s look to remain relevant. It’s a great analogy for the importance of keeping your business products and services pertinent in a continually evolving and dynamic marketplace.
Operational system development is vital for the small business entrepreneur yet it seems to be the least discussed aspect of a successful enterprise. With limited resources, such as time, money, and staff, to assist with day-to-day operations, running your business as efficiently and effectively as possible is important. Unfortunately, any business not operating efficiently will soon find themselves out of business.
Our friends recently went through an extensive process as they designed their dream home. They spent countless hours pouring over drafts, drawings, pictures, and concepts to ensure their new home reflected their vision and aspirations. There were meetings with designers, contractors, city planners, and neighbors. It was a grueling process, as you know if you’ve traveled down that road. However, the result of a home that reflected their true essence was well worth the journey!
Traditionally, business owners and entrepreneurs attempt to accelerate their business growth through time-honored methods like marketing, planning, strategizing, budgeting, etc. While these external means are critical to the success of your business, they don’t ensure its growth or sustainability. Yet, in spite of the facts, these approaches are those of conventional wisdom.
Technology has redefined the marketplace, altered business strategies, and allowed small business to compete on a global scale. The information revolution has definitely transformed the business environment. In order to compete and flourish, small business entrepreneurs need strategies to gain new skills.