SMEs Standing Out in the US Manufacturing Resurgence
The US manufacturing renaissance offers big opportunities for SMEs. Develop your plan, specialize in niches, use smart tech, stay agile, tap the government for help, build relationships, get funding, act fast, research manufacturers, boost capabilities, network now, connect with MEP centers, update your website, and attend industry events. SMEs with bold moves will win.
Confidentiality Risk with MBA Internships at Small For-Profits
This MBA internship program offers significant value to SBIR/STTR-funded small businesses by providing cost-effective talent and fresh perspectives. However, lacking direct NDAs, clear sharing boundaries, and robust training, the current structure creates unacceptable confidentiality and IP protection risks.
From Cattle to Customers: Build a Powerful Brand on a Budget
Did you know branding originated as a practical method for farmers to mark livestock with unique symbols (logo) to indicate ownership and prevent theft? Over time, this concept evolved beyond agriculture, as craftsmen began using distinctive marks to signify the...
Strategic Customer Acquisition: Organic vs. Cultivated Growth
Effective customer acquisition is the lifeblood of a new business, especially in its early stages. When customers organically discover and buy your products or services, it proves your business is viable. Early wins can mislead you. The real challenge isn’t attracting...
Trump’s Tariffs: Strategies to Thrive in New Landscape
Trump's tariffs and economic strategy have refashioned the global trade landscape. These tariffs have sent ripples (and, for some, tsunami-like waves) through markets, creating challenges and opportunities. For U.S. businesses, small and large, these tariffs level the...
Seven Mistakes Businesses Make in Their First Year
The first year of business is exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time. You're excited about the potential and eager to prove your idea's worth. You may also be simultaneously anxious to be your boss and scared of leading the organization; your money is on the...
Strategic Delegation – How to Optimize Your Output and Profits
Many organizations and individuals seek to maximize output. However, maximizing output overlooks the importance of results. Output optimization focuses on utilizing the right resource for the task. It is all about the return on investment (time and money). Every business, especially small businesses, needs to understand the difference.
Business by the Numbers: Financial Oversight
Internal Controls and Financial Oversight When it comes to growing your business, you can't afford to not understand the financial perspective of their business. Whether it is the day-to-day performance, budgets, taxes, or other aspects of accounting for your...
Check Your Priorities: Real World Lessons Learned
If you want your organization to thrive, be honest about what your team is working on and prioritizing. Are your employees working to make things look “pretty,” or are they focused on productivity? Have you created an atmosphere where people know what to work on? Or are they busy ensuring they are covered “just in case” you change your mind? In other words, are you being consistent? Are you articulating a vision, setting goals, and then enabling your team to work toward that vision and those goals?
Looking Inside the Gig Economy with GigSalad CEO/Founder Mark Steiner
If you are in the music industry or other creative endeavors (e.g., acting, speaking), then you have been living in a gig economy [1] for your entire career. Gigs have been around for centuries. However, the gig has come to a new level of visibility in recent years...
