Personal Outlook Archives

Handling Competition: Do’s and Don’ts

By Rick Gossett | Dec 19, 2012

When you first started your business, you looked at your competitors with the eye of an upstart. But what do you do when a new competitor arises—and suddenly you are the old establishment? The new competitor is eyeing your customers, your employees, and your profits. You can’t afford to make a mistake.

Focus on Your Top Priorities

By Chris Barnes | Dec 19, 2012

It seems like there’s never enough time in the day to do all the things you want to do. In fact, sometimes it seems like there’s not even enough time to do all the things you need to do! Entrepreneurs must prioritize their most important tasks to create a strong foundation for the business.

The Art of Friendly Networking

By Deborah Sweeney | Dec 19, 2012

When you’re networking, it’s important to get outside of your comfort zone and meet new people, and not just stay put with what you already know. And when you get out there, a friendly approach that focuses on building real relationships will be more effective than just looking to get something.

Networking for Introverts

By Chris Barnes | Dec 19, 2012

A lot of the time, extroverts are writing networking tips for fellow extroverts. But what is the other half of the population supposed to do? With the right approach and strategy, introverts can take advantage of networking opportunities, too.

Reinvent Yourself Every Day

By Fran Tarkenton | Dec 19, 2012

For a business to be able to grow, it needs to be flexible enough to adapt to changes as they happen. You have to be willing to examine everything you do with a critical eye, and reinvent yourself every day. Never take a strategy for granted!

3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive to Investors

By Deborah Sweeney | Dec 19, 2012

Small businesses looking to expand are often looking for investors—but don’t know what they should do to make themselves more attractive to those investors. To make your business more investor friendly, follow these 3 key steps.

How to Maintain a Sane Approach to Taxes

By Rick Gossett | Dec 18, 2012

We all get stressed out around tax time. There are so many complicated, intertwined rules and regulations that it’s easy to get tripped up, especially when your focus is on building a business. here are 10 tips to maintain a sane approach to taxes.

Why People Don’t Seek Legal Counsel

By Jason White | Dec 18, 2012

Many people who are in a situation where they could really use legal counsel choose not to get it. There are a number of reasons for this, including personality, intimidation, and cost concerns. Managing these issues will help you determine whether you need to seek outside help.

Traps with Self Help

By Jason White | Dec 18, 2012

Small business owners are naturally do-it-yourselfers, and that instinct can spring up when legal issues arise. While there are plenty of self-help books and websites available that promise to save dollars in the short term, this can be risky. You have to know which resources to trust, and which to avoid.

We All Sell

By Nick Serba | Dec 18, 2012

Whether you consider yourself as being in sales, we all are; we sell our ideas, concepts, beliefs, and products. A sale is based on finding out what somebody wants or needs, and showing them how to get it. Selling requires helping.