Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia 
If you participate in any sort of athletic activity (running, biking, hiking, walking, etc.), there is much to learn about achievement that can be aptly applied to your business. Like today, while completing a 6 mile pace run in preparation for an upcoming half-marathon, I learned that when I take myself to the limits of my physical capabilities, I discover a missing ingredient that will expand those limits.
Let me begin by saying I’m not a fan of the term “fire a client”. It sounds a bit egotistical, especially when I’m half of that equation and likely shouldn’t have engaged the client in the first place. (More on that later.) However, for the sake of this conversation, or until someone gives me a better phrase, I’m going with it.
The recent economic downturn has found highly-skilled professionals on the unemployment line. With employment options limited, inventive professionals exercised their ingenuity and launched their own business. In fact, the US Census Bureau states that small businesses without payroll – those who classify themselves as free lancers, self-employed, or solopreneurs – make up 70% of America’s 27 million companies with annual sales of $887 billion. To you we say, Welcome!
If you’ve never worked with a strategic business coach before, you might be curious what the process of coaching looks and feel like. Although the experience of business coaching is unique to each entrepreneur, each coaching call follows a similar structure.
Like peanut butter and jelly, the future success of your small business may be in developing meaningful partnerships. And, with the right type of planning, “teaming up” can prove to be a match made in heaven. Without advanced and thoughtful planning, partnerships can be hell.
Several years ago, the explosion of the internet caused several industries to become extinct. Some business owners, like those in travel, found themselves without a business. Recently, the Huffington Post released an article entitled, America’s Ten Disappearing Industries, outlining the industries most likely to become a thing of the past. On the flip side, the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), released their report of the industries looking to grow today and in the future.
Website bounce rate is one of the most important metrics you should be tracking in your analytics. Bounce rates tell you what percentage of visitors click-away after viewing only one page of your website. This is obviously a critical statistic when you are trying to convert browsers into buyers. A simple mistake in your website strategy and design can send visitors away even if you have the best product or service in your industry.
As an entrepreneur, it’s likely you’ve “sensed” when an aspect of your business was not working well. Something was off. You may not have been able to put your finger on it but, one thing was certain, it created a sticking point for your business. Whether it was a marketing tool, a client, an event, a group membership…your gut was speaking to you, telling you something wasn’t fitting as well as it could. Unfortunately, the importance of trusting your gut isn’t a strategy you’ll find in many business schools. Yet, it’s one of the most effective tools in a successful business.