Hurricane Sandy

We had been offline preparing since 10/27, due to hurricane Sandy. On 10/29 we had a mandatory evacuation from our area, that was subsequently hit hard and almost completely wiped out. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude and wishes to all who have survived this storm and send our prayers to those who are still in the recovery process. We were blessed in that we had a place to go to (my parents) and that our power was finally restored after 10 days. Although we are still going through some issues and are not 100% back in our home (as of 11/28) we are just grateful that we at least still have a home. Sincerely Patricia

2 Radical Ideas for Start Up Success

It's a pretty well-accepted fact that entrepreneurs typically approach business differently than traditional Corporate America workers.

But many successful entrepreneurs take it a step further and completely flip the script in order to subscribe to a new business paradigm. Would your business benefit from a new way of thinking?

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/khary-cuffe/radical-ideas-for-start-up-success.html?cid=em01012week29

15 Dumb Mistakes to Avoid When Pitching Investors

The Young Entrepreneur Council asked 15 successful young entrepreneurs about the dumb mistakes entrepreneurs make when initially pitching to investors. Here are their best answers.

Read their comments here
http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/12-dumb-mistakes-to-avoid-when-pitching-investors.html?cid=em01012week29

Counseling and Training /SBA.gov

SBA is dedicated to helping you and your small business succeed. There are a variety of online and offline trainings which cover many business topics for you to learn.

Read information here
http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/counseling-training

The Anatomy of a Killer Business Plan

by Peter Cohan Founder of Peter S. Cohan & Associates

"Unless you have a spectacular track record as an entrepreneur or an exceptionally great new business idea, you cannot raise capital without a business plan. I have invested in six start-ups and three of those were sold for a total of $2 billion. The other three went out of business."

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/peter-cohan/the-anatomy-of-a-killer-business-plan.html?cid=em01012week33

An Introduction to Business Plans

A business plan is a written description of your business's future. That's all there is to it--a document that describes what you plan to do and how you plan to do it. If you jot down a paragraph on the back of an envelope describing your business strategy, you've written a plan, or at least the germ of a plan.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessplans/article38290.html

12 Tips for Balancing Entrepreneurship & Parenthood

The Young Entrepreneur Council asked 12 successful young entrepreneurs about how to better balance the demands of growing children and a growing business. Here are their best answers.

Read the tips here
http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/entrepreneurship-and-parenthood-making-room-for-both.html?cid=em01012week33

Tools for Creating an Employee Handbook

"...When well written and organized properly, it clearly sets forth your expectations for employees, describes what they can expect from your company, and lays out your legal obligations as an employer and your employee's rights. The following guide brings together tools to help you assemble an effective handbook."

Read details here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/tools-for-creating-an-employee-handbook.html?partner=newsletter_Success

How to Write a Summary Business Plan

by Darren Dahl

A business plan doesn't have to be all encompassing, especially when you're trying to generate buzz. Here are the elements you really need.

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/how-to-write-a-summary-business-plan.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

10 Essential Tweets (Starting or Running a Business)

Entrepreneur Magazine - March 2010

As if we needed to tell you, not all tweets are created equal. Some are not only worth following, but also essential for anyone starting or running a business. This month, Entrepreneur kicks off a new feature, asking business leaders to name their 10 top Twitter feeds, and why. First up: A mix of business, culture, tech and news, chosen by our Editor-in-Chief Amy Cosper (that is, @EntMagazineAmy).

Read her list here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2010/march/205002.html

7 Ways to Improve Employee Satisfaction

by Gretchen Rubin

Employee attitudes typically reflect the moral of the company. In areas of customer service and sales, happy employees are extremely important because they represent the company to the public. Satisfaction, however, is not linked solely to compensation.

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/201105/7-ways-to-improve-employee-satisfaction.html?partner=newsletter_Success

10 Tips for a Strong Start

by Brad Sugars

"...To help this process, here are 10 essential things you need to know about running a successful business. Use it as a checklist to make sure your thinking and your business plan are on the right track, or if you need to get more information, strategic education or clarity for yourself on your overall vision, your market, or your product or service."

Read his tips here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/startupbasicscolumnistbradsugars/article204982.html

11 Free Tools Every Young Entrepreneur Must Use!

by Jared O'Toole

Every young entrepreneur is strapped for cash yet looking for all the same products and services that big companies use. It is important to look professional yet also squeeze every penny when starting out. Here are 11 tools that will help you do both in the startup days of your venture.

Read info here
http://under30ceo.com/11-free-tools-every-young-entrepreneur-must-use

Achieving Success Series

Posted by Marketmommy

This post is part of a new series on Market Mommy, Achieving $uccess. These posts detail the journey these mom entrepreneurs have taken to reach sales of six figures and beyond. How do they balance it all? What strategies have worked for them? What advice do they have for you, the new mom entrepreneur?

Read through the complete list of women being profiled here
http://www.marketmommy.com/blog/tag/achieving-uccess

Finding Insurance: A Beginner's Guide for the Self-Employed

by Wendy Lynn

"When you look over the following options, keep in mind how much your current insurance costs you. Even if your employer pays the full amount for your policy, it is part of your compensation; if you did not have it you would be able to have a larger salary. Chances are you are paying at least part of the premium, with it being deducted from your paycheck."

Read article here http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/insurance-self-employed

Five Social Media Mistakes Your Startup Must Avoid

by Neil Patel

While using social media can be an effective marketing idea for startup companies on a small budget, executing them isn't always foolproof. Falling victim to any of the common flubs can end up damaging your business's reputation and chances for success.

Read his tips here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220640

How to Find Willing Investors

by Darren Dahl

Most entrepreneurs who dream big simply don't have access to the kind of money it takes to realize their aspirations. Enter the professional investor community. But, in order to get investors to open up their checkbooks, you'll need to convince them that your idea is worthy and also be willing to subject yourself to increased scrutiny and give up a percentage of your company.

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/how-to-find-willing-investors.html?partner=newsletter_Startup