en http://www.primestrategies.com/blog_rss.xml Prime Strategies blog Fri Mar 12 02:55:38 2010 Business http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=101&blogID=102 Mon Apr 21 09:17:04 2008 Whether this is your first visit or you've been to the Prime Strategies site many times, I welcome you. This is my first blog and my first blog post. My purpose is to share with you my observations about the small business community (locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally). I'll pass along tips and strategies as they come to my attention. I'll also share resrouces and links that I think you'll find of value. I invite your comments and participation. You won't have to register, but all comments will be reviewed prior to post. If you have something you think is ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=102&blogID=105 Thu May 1 13:31:29 2008 My husband, Marty, and I just spent 5 days in Savannah, Ga. While my purpose for going was to relax and enjoy a short vacation, I couldn't help noticing the thriving economy in this city of only 175,000 residents. From my observation (no stats) I would say the following are the top 3 industries keeping the Savannah economy healthy and strong. ShippingTourismSavannah College of Art & DesignIt's located just a few miles off the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Savannah River and has been a port almost since it's founding in 1733. Today it's the 4th largest port in ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=103&blogID=107 Wed May 7 19:03:49 2008 On Saturday I attended an all-day workshop for women who want to "communicate with power and purpose". The day went very fast and we accomplished so much. I left with a renewed sense of who I am and what I have to offer as a speaker. It was organized and led by two speaking coaches, each with a different style. Jezra Kaye, http://jezrakaye.com, focuses on structure and content, while Miriam Goldsmith, http://speakingmastery.net, focuses on the emotional and connection aspect. Together they gave the 9 of us a full scope analysis of our speaking. I think it's safe to say we all ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=104&blogID=110 Sun May 18 16:53:26 2008 Last week I held my first Brain Exchange Roundtable in almost a year and a half. I enjoy organizing and hosting these conference room events where a small group really get to know each other.  We select a topic and usually have a guest expert. Everyone gets to share their own expertise. Our guest expert this time was Ilana Eberson, networking maven, who covered the subject of "Really Effective Business Networking". Ilana said she would be happy to share her notes for anyone who would like them. You can contact her at reallivepeopleparty@nyc.rr.com. We had great feedback: "Last night's event was fascinating and ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=105&blogID=111 Mon May 19 10:59:06 2008 Reported today in the National Dialogue on Entreprneurship, published by the Kauffman Foundation, http://www.kauffman.org, founded by Ewing Marion Kauffman to advance entrepreneurship education and training efforts. The latest OPEN from American Express Small Business Monitor survey shows that small business owners are increasingly gloomy about future economic prospects. Only 45% of surveyed entrepreneurs believe the nation's economic performance will improve over the next six months. This figure represents the lowest confidence levels of the Monitor's six years of existence. While they are gloomy, these business owners aren't giving up on growth. In fact, 71% plan to grow their business over the ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=106&blogID=112 Tue May 20 12:31:20 2008 With networking being such a critical part of business building it's always good to get some tips to help you stand out from the crowd. The article, "7 Unusual, Uncommon and Unexpected Networking Secrets", http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/bcards.htm, published by Business Know-How, offers some solid advice that will surely boost your image. If you have any networking tips that have been particulary successful for you, please add them in the Comment section ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=107&blogID=113 Wed May 21 13:44:50 2008 Trust is a critical element in any partnership, alliance or business dealing. What are your criteria for trusting someone? Some of mine are as follows: - Honors the rules of business etiquette - Keeps their word - Does their best work consistently - Are diligent in their efforts Trust, or lack of it, can play an important role in the decisions you make; and therefore the growth and development of your business. In Cindy Rehnhardt's article, "Trust: The Key to Partnering Success", she shares insights gained in considering partnering with an assistant. What are your criteria for trust? ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=108&blogID=115 Mon Jun 2 15:24:59 2008 My good friend and Summit partner, Ramon Ray, is hosting another of his Taste of Technology events this month. Do check it out if you're into mobile technology. Taste of Technology - Mobile Office for Small Business June 10, 2008, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. What does mobility mean for businesses? How can smaller companies leverage mobile technology to grow their business? How can I respond to customers out of the office just as if I were in the office? How do I extend mobile technology to my employees? These and other issues will be discussed at an interactive presentation by our ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=109&blogID=116 Wed Jun 4 12:17:03 2008 I live and work n the heart of Manhattan, New York City. I don't get to hear the birds singing, walk on grass or see the stars at night because the sky is so bright from the city lights. So my weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY, gave me the chance to have all of that for a couple of days. What a treat! In addition, I got to be with lovely people and hear and see a resident's view of the town. Saratoga's heydey was late 19th and early 20th century when it became a summer mecca for wealthy business tycoons ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=110&blogID=117 Sat Jun 7 17:16:25 2008 Since June is marketing month at Prime Strategies I'm taking this opportunity to SPOTLIGHT some of the people who are using my One Page Marketing Plan to organize and carry out their marketing efforts.     Dana Fabbro is the Brain-in-Charge of Concept DNA, http://conceptdna.net/, which provides advertising concepts and copywriting for print ads, television, brochures, film, press releases, music videos, radio, direct mail, website content and corporate identify. He has an impressive list of clients who consistently use his talent to bring their ideas and inspirations to life.   Dana uses the One Page Marketing Plan to help him organize ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=111&blogID=118 Mon Jun 23 19:19:21 2008 Online marketing strategies and options change so rapidly it has become a science all its own. it's impossible to keep up with the latest decisions and directions. So I decided it was a good topic for one of our monthly Brain Exchange Roundtable sessions where we could talk with an expert.. On Tuesday, June 17th, our 12 self-selected Roundtable members sat with our guest expert, Jasmine Sandler, who is Chief Marketing Officer of Agent-cy, http://agent-cy.com, an online marketing and PR agency serving the small business market. You can read a summary of the meeting written by Ramon Ray, Editor of Smallbiztechnology.com, ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=112&blogID=119 Sat Jun 28 23:39:14 2008 Yesterday I attended a business womens' luncheon, hosted by Janet Wise, WISE Solutions, where I got the "road sign" that what I'm doing and what I have planned is taking me the right direction. The guest speaker, Betty Healey, Road Signs, is a coach and the author of 2 books on identifying and following life's road signs. She shared her own experiences and helped us each see our own road signs. The most powerful experience for me was finding my "attraction card" which was awaiting me at my self-selected seat. I didn't even see the card until Betty pointed it out ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=113&blogID=121 Sun Jul 13 20:27:16 2008 I'm always happy to review and comment on small business books. And I include the review in my blog. Send anything you'd like for me to review. On that note, I just finished reviewing Tom Marquardt's book, "My Little Black Book to Success", http://www.theprofitrepairman.com . It's a fast read and really hits home on some important points. Here's the review I just sent back to Tom. Hi Tom, I finally had the time to read your book. I like it! It's well written, easy to read and offers a perspective that isn't known by many small business owners. Using the concept ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=114&blogID=122 Tue Jul 29 00:12:43 2008 On Saturday I attended a tele-seminar on how to set up and use You Tube videos to promote my business. I had always thought of You Tube as strictly for the social networking groups. To my surprise many small business owners (and not so small) are using You Tube. Such recognized folks as Donald Trump and Robert Kiosaki had posted videos of their presentations. I learned you can even borrow existing videos, extract snippets, apply your own text and create something for yourself without even having your own video. It's all covered in the tutorial which, of course, is a composite ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=115&blogID=123 Mon Aug 4 00:35:02 2008 There is so much wisdom within the small business community I've decided to use this blog as a venue for sharing some of that wisdom with you. For my first guest expert, I've invited Karen Pinkman, an executive search specialist, who has chosen to become innovative in her own practice by matching clients and candidates who are skilled in envisioning, creating and deliivering innovative products, services and methodologies. She recently launched a new specialty in finding senior level executives who are experts in bringing innovation to their companies. Her article appears below or read it on her site, "Innovation Inside an ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=116&blogID=125 Sun Aug 24 16:57:29 2008 My husband and I just came back from a 6 day trip to Virginia to visit with my high school friend and her family at their lake house. They live in Raleigh, NC, and have a wonderful weekend home at Smith Mountain Lake in southwestern Virginia. It's a huge lake with over 500 miles of shoreline. My family has no young children, so it was great to be with children and teenagers again. We got to go out in their boats and watch the kids tube and wake board. Just having the wind blowing through my wet hair was a treat ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=117&blogID=126 Mon Aug 25 21:59:46 2008 One of the great joys of the work I do is getting to be part of the lives of my clients. This past weekend I attended the wedding of a former client who has taken control of his life and given himself what he wants and needs. I'm sharing his story with you because I think you'll appreciate what it means for him to be in command of his life. Here's what he wrote to me when he first announced his wedding plans. Yes, he does give me credit for being a strongly positive influence in his decisions along the way ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=118&blogID=127 Tue Sep 2 18:07:53 2008 Partnership is the topic of this month's feature article, "How Do I Find the Right Business Partner", in my newsletter, Small Business Leader. If you're not aleady on the mailing list, drop me a note (see Contact page) and I'll make sure you receive the article. One of the important partners you'll want to have in your business is a good business lawyer. As guest blogger this month Nina L. Kaufman, Esq., Ask The Business Lawyer. shares some of her experiences working with small business partners. Consider this a heads up on what to avoid. Nightmares with Business Partners By Nina ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=119&blogID=128 Tue Sep 16 14:31:10 2008 Even Robert Kyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and creator of the Cash Flow game, has had to kiss a lot of frogs to find the right business partner. He shares the full story in his Cash Flow Blog. Here's why he thinks his partnership with Ken McElroy is successful. • We share the same investment philosophy. We buy, improve, hold, and refinance. We generally don't like selling our properties. • His expertise makes up for gaps in mine. Ken owns the largest property management company in the Southwest, and his partner, Ross, is a real estate developer. Both men ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=121&blogID=130 Tue Sep 30 16:39:03 2008 This month I have been focusing on cash management and planning, so I wanted to share with you the handout that I gave at the most recent presentation. To assure you can remain strategically proactive, now's the time to get your finances in order and your business operations organized. That's what being in command is all about. Tips on Cash Flow Management Accounts Receivable Objective: Receive payment as soon as possible. 1. Set policies for granting credit and how the decision will be made. • Check credit history and references. • Start with a low maximum. • Be alert to big ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=122&blogID=131 Wed Oct 15 16:24:54 2008 I just learned of a new place to post your New York and New Jersey events. It's the twice monthly newsletter published by Accession PR. It's free and goes to 1,000 regional professionals and business owners. Contact Sherrell Dorsey at sherrell@accessionpr.com for details on how to submit your event post ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=123&blogID=132 Mon Oct 20 21:20:20 2008 This month's guest blogger is Biba Pedron, whom I met when she first came to the U.S. in 2002. She's a master networker and the host of the October 22nd free teleclass where I will be the guest expert, introducing the One Page Marketing Plan. Register here if you'd like to join us. Biba had been in business in France for several years before she came to NYC to start a business here. One of the first lessons she learned was the differences between doing business in France and the U.S. Here's her article where she explains. Networking in a Multicultural ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=124&blogID=133 Fri Oct 24 15:02:22 2008 On Wednesday I gave away the secrets that make the One Page Marketing Plan such an effective tool to organize your thinking and direct your marketing actions. As the guest speaker on Biba Pedron's teleclass I went over the entire process. If you missed it, the recording of the class is at http://tinyurl.com/OnePageMarketingRecording. This is the ideal time to focus on your marketing plans for 2009. Now you can give yourself the advantage provided by this simple, easy-to-use proven system. It comes with full instructions and is downloadable immediately at http://tinyurl.com/onepagemarketing. You'll be able to get started right away ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=125&blogID=134 Tue Oct 28 21:23:21 2008 Over the past few weeks I've seen an increase in marketing outreach by a lot of small businesses. I've received quite a few cold calls and introductory e-mails. It made me curious as to what strategies and tactics are being applied and how small businesses are managing the downturn. I decided to ask. So I turned to my LinkedIn network to see what they had to say. I'm sharing some of their responses so you can see what your small business peers are doing. Hopefully it will help you in strategizing for your own business. The original article, "How Are You ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=126&blogID=135 Tue Nov 4 16:01:04 2008 Have you ever been unsure about whether or not you should speak up about something you believe in? I think we all have doubts from time to time. This month's guest blogger is Jezra Kaye, who is passionate about everyone's right to communicate what they know and what they believe. She's also our guest expert at the Brain Exchange Roundtable, http://primestrategies.com/bxrt-11-18-08, on November 18th. The "Right" to Speak Up in Public After almost two decades helping people communicate, I'm still amazed at how many of us don't think we have the "right" to speak up. For some, it's a matter of ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=127&blogID=136 Thu Nov 13 18:55:22 2008 My recent visit to Nashville was a wonderful surprise. I'd go back again in a heartbeat. It's a city of 650,000 that sits in the Cumberland River valley in north central Tennessee. It's the home of Andrew Jackson, Vanderbilt University, Grand Ole Opry, and is loaded with historic sites aand museums. Music, printing/pubishing and tourism are its main industries. Known as "music city" it attracts hopefuls from all over the country who play for tips in many of the public venues, especially in the central part of town. Of course we had to see the famous Grand Ole Opry. The night ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=128&blogID=137 Thu Nov 27 18:08:03 2008 Last weekend one of my colleagues, Jezra Kaye, threw a party in honor of her birthday. She opened her apartment in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, to approximately 50 women, all of whom are part of her family, friends or business network. The food and drinks were amazing, but what made it so much fun was the 30 - 60 second pitch that each of us got to give about ourselves or Jezra. I got to know a lot more about her by listening to them. She also offered 15 minute astrology readings by 2 professional readers for those who wanted it. And ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=129&blogID=138 Fri Dec 5 18:43:51 2008 This just in from a NYC real estate client. While we expect inventory to rise through the first quarter of 2009, interest rates remain at an all-time low. Based on what I know about today's market, it is a great opportunity to buy now because: • Inventory is the highest it's been in 8 years • Fewer buyers are in the market, less competition (largely due to stricter lending standards, job losses and a decline in the stock market) • Real estate is one of the last tax shelters left in the U.S. Keep in mind, banks are looking for minimum ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=130&blogID=139 Fri Dec 12 21:00:16 2008 Earlier this week I attended a conference call where the results of a recent survey were discussed. The questions asked small business owners about their areas of greatest concern as they prepare to start the new year. Here were the results in order of priority. 1 - Marketing & promotion 2 - Networking 3 - Social media 4 - Referrals Of course, they're all about getting more business; some are just very specific. Interestingly, these are some of the topics we'll be discussing at Monday's Brain Exchange Roundtable. If you're in the NYC area on December 15th, you're invited to join ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=131&blogID=140 Mon Dec 15 19:31:04 2008 Last week the NY Post ran an article about an out-of-work banker who creatively managed to get himself an accounting firm managerial job. After many failed attempts using standard methods he decided to hit the streets wearing a sandwich board saying " Experienced MIT Grad for Hire" and included his phone number. From all the attention he got (and a few interviews) he decided to write about his experience in his blog. From that he was able to attract enough to get a winning interview. That's innovation at work. Want to do some innovation of your own in planning for profits ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=132&blogID=141 Wed Dec 17 04:08:36 2008 Highlights from last night's Brain Exchange Roundtable: - In the current environment it takes a lot more prospects, and probably a longer sales cycle, to make a sale. Need more prospects in the pipeline. - Building a relationship with potential customers is more important than ever. - When talking with a prospect, ask "would you like to know what makes us (me) different?" - To stay on the grid, continue to add value to the relationship. - The sequence in the sales process is:Introduction (introduce yourself and tell your value)Information (continue to provide meaningful information)Invitations (invite prospects to events of interest)- ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=133&blogID=142 Mon Dec 22 19:57:01 2008 Just got a reminder notice from a colleague, George Messic of Crest Capital, gmessic@crestcapital.com, about the Section 179 Tax Incentive which expires on December 31, 2008. Section 179 allows you to buy or lease equipment, vehicles or software in 2008 and deduct it all this year. But you must act before year end. For details go to http://section179.org/. Check with your own accountant for the details on how it might apply to your business. Could be the only "bailout" small business gets ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=134&blogID=145 Fri Jan 2 23:35:58 2009 Have a business question or concern that you'd like to discuss without having to make a commitment to a long term coaching arrangement? This month I'm offering you a free 30 minute phone session to help you focus on your priorities right now. Don't put off making a critical decision because you're not sure the right one to make. This is your opportunity to get confirmation on your thinking or hear some new ideas to consider before making your decision. Sign up now for one of the Open Coaching 30 minute slots on Friday, January 23rd from 10 a.m. to 12 ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=135&blogID=153 Thu Jan 8 16:26:39 2009 I hope you're planning to attend the fourth annual Small Business Summit 2009 on February 3rd. We're at a new space this year: Digital Sandbox, 55 Broad Street in NYC. Due to the holidays we just started major promotion this week. We have about 20 marketing partners/sponsors who will be getting the word out over the next couple of weeks, plus we just got 104 pick-ups by the media on our press release. We have a terrific day lined up for you. Our theme this year is "Business & Technology: How to Find and Keep Customers for Life". Some of the ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=136&blogID=165 Thu Jan 15 20:48:20 2009 We're pleased to report that two of our Small Business Summit 2009 sponsors appear in a blog article reporting results of a survey they conducted on predicting small business success and satisfaction in 2009. "According to a national survey commissioned by Microsoft Office Live Small Business Microsoft Office Live Small Business and Elance, nearly 60 percent of small-business owners believe that 2009 will be as good or better than 2008, while 37 percent are worried about 2009 but believe their businesses will weather the current economic storm. Despite it all -- and staying true to their entrepreneurial spirit -- 86 percent ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=137&blogID=189 Sat Jan 31 04:05:54 2009 From Young Entrepreneur Forum The results are in from our most recent Entrepreneur Poll. I asked you "What is the best business to start in a recession?" and you responded in record numbers! The top 5 results were: 1. Online Business 2. It Doesn't Matter - Just Love What You're Doing 3. Healthcare 4. Education 5. Video Games Read the details and the rest of the results at http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/01/30/what-is-the-best-business-to-start-up-in-a-recession-entrepreneur-poll-results/ ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=138&blogID=194 Fri Feb 6 03:24:21 2009 The economy is in the tank and there's no sign of when things will get better. Some small businesses are doing well...and some are not. To do well now, or even survive, every business must review its market, its business practices and its finances. Big changes may be needed to realign the business for success in this market. And if the down economy has compounded previously existing problems, it may be time to save your business...before it's too late. I say before "it's too late" because I feel really bad when I have to tell someone I can't help them. They've ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=139&blogID=224 Mon Feb 16 04:23:30 2009 The Fourth Annual Small Business Summit 2009 is now just a pleasant memory. We had amazingly positive feedback from attendees, sponsors and the media. Your conference really charged my batteries! The information from your guest speakers, particularly about social networks, blogs and e-marketing, is all critical - and timely. Additionally, I met other entrepreneurs whose introductions will prove to be mutually beneficial. And these acquaintances would not have happened if I didn't attend your conference! I walked away feeling much better prepared to meet the demands of this upcoming year. Thank you! Karen N Pinkman President KNP AssociatesCoverage and Reviews Small ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=140&blogID=232 Mon Feb 16 23:50:28 2009 Thinking of starting a new business or adding a new aspect to your existing business? Don't do it -- until you've assessed your primary motivator(s). Your motivators are an important element of your brand. They're what move you into action and keep you in an active state. They can be positive or negative. Some positive motivators are: - self-actualization and expression - desire to share knowledge and expertise, - wanting to help or contribute - filling an unmet need Some negative motivators are: - fear - frustration - power - money Of course there should be profit potential in whatever you're ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=141&blogID=299 Fri Feb 27 21:19:20 2009 This article just came into my inbox from Karlin Sloan, Karlin Sloan & Co., and I just had to share it with you. "Katherine the Great" on Leadership Courage Katherine Garret-Cox, Chief Investment Officer of Alliance Trust, dubbed "Katherine the Great" and "Superwoman" by the British press, recently told Davos world leaders to invest in people and use coaching during these uncertain times: "The human dynamic in any organization defines it. Culture is not created by technology, PowerPoint presentations or numbers on a spreadsheet. It is our people that create the long-lasting and sustainable threads that will continue to be woven ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=142&blogID=331 Tue Mar 3 02:54:23 2009 "Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative." - H. G. Wells A financial advisor client has seen her revenue cut in half within the past 6 months and has nothing new in the pipeline. She is working on a plan to set up a specialized bill paying and financial management service for the senior who can no longer manage this function. She's also approaching local companies with retirement plans set up directly with the 401K provider company. She's already found one company that will pay her to advise the executives in the company on their investments. My graphic ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=143&blogID=332 Tue Mar 3 16:43:02 2009 Looking for creative ideas to save money? The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has compiled a list of 32 Cost Cutting Tips to help you think creatively about your own business. Here are just a few examples. 14. Cheap Website (But Not Cheap Looking) Cost Cutting Tip: Have your web designer build the site with WordPress. It will look great and you can keep it up to date yourself. 20. No Paper = No Cost Cost Cutting Tip: Go paperless! Don't print it. You can get an eFax number to send and receive everything electronically. Don't print it out - file it electronically ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=144&blogID=662 Mon Mar 30 19:07:02 2009 My only sister, Evelyn, lives in Georgetown, TX, about 20 miles north of Austin. My husband and I both enjoy visiting. Within the boundaries of Georgetown, she lives in Sun City, one of the Dell Webb Adult communities where you must be 55 or older to own a home. They have 2 golf courses, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, an entertainment center and LOTS of activities for all interests. None of us play golf but we did hit the pools and hot tub a couple of times. Temperature hit high 70's and was sunny every day we were there ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=145&blogID=723 Thu Apr 2 03:56:14 2009 Are you one of the many small businesses whose market has dried up? Some industries that I've seen hit particularly hard are financial advisors, consultants, graphic designers, event planners, photographers, catering companies, esoteric retailers and many others that depend on discretionary expenditures. For some entrepreneurs it may mean cutting both their business and personal expenditures to the bare bone. Continuing to pursue a declining or oversaturated market is only going to put you closer to the edge. When there are a lot more suppliers than there are customers something has to give. It's time for some strategic decisions and action. Many ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=146&blogID=1117 Wed Apr 29 17:11:30 2009 I recently attended an educational meeting hosted by Angen Advisors for those interested in capital funding now or in the near future. The speaker was Mike Segal, head of Tri-State Private Investors Network. Below are the highlights from his presentation. Over the past year 100% of the companies funded by their angel investor group were pre-revenue, meaning they were all brand new businesses. This is the opposite of what would be expected. Angels are looking for a large market, potentially big ideas, a clearly stated opportunity and being able to get in front of the right people. Angels - Provide their ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=147&blogID=1336 Wed May 6 23:47:19 2009 Everyone knows the value of physical fitness. It may be a struggle in the short term, but the medium and long term benefits are worth it. The same is true in business. If you want your business to grow make sure it is "fit" first. A fit business is sleek, strong, stable, flexible and attractive. My thesis has always been that it's important to reach a state of business fitness as the foundation for future growth. You want to be able to answer "yes" to the following questions. If you can, your business is in a state of fitness and you ... http://www.primestrategies.com/blog&topic=148&blogID=1596 Mon May 18 21:09:13 2009 Some of my clients are in family businesses. They face not only the challenges of running a small business, they must deal with the historic family dynamic. Makes for a lot going on. Here's one client's history on how family/business challenges were resolved. Barbara (anon.) took over her father's janitorial and commercial maintenance business several years ago. Even though Barbara now owned the business, the father kept doing what he had always done: he did the work and got help where needed. Barbara had to be both business manager and field supervisor. Realizing that she could qualify for minority/women's contracts she ...