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Disaster Alerts Help Google Grow Its Competitive Ad-Vantage, Strengthen The Brand

Late yesterday Google revealed it would be issuing "Public Alert" disaster warnings using Google Maps. Sounds great, but combined with other recent news it adds to bigger worries that Google is diluting its brand. Here's why that's not the case.READ»

Six Lessons From Judging Harvard's Business Plan Competition

Harvard's Business Plan Contest--an annual event since 1997--has spawned hundreds of business plans. Winners and non-winners alike have gone on to implement their plans and start successful enterprises.READ»

How to Turbo-Charge Your Growth Plan in One Hour or Less

Business growth reviews take discipline--and they can also be highly rewarding.This EnergizeGrowth® Plan Review Process removes some of the fear and mystery. Use this with your teams and stakeholders to take your growth to the next level.READ»

What's Your Ironman?

Business success is no different than competing in an Ironman competition.READ»

No Business Plan Survives First Contact With a Customer – The 5.2 Billion Dollar Mistake

At $5.2-billion Iridium was one of the largest, boldest and audacious startup bets ever made. Conceived in 1987 by Motorola and spun out in 1990 as a separate company, Iridium planned to build a mobile telephone system that would work anywhere on earth.READ»

The 5 Secrets For a Green Business Plan That Works

An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Making Every Day Earth DayREAD»

What VCs Want: Insights from Silicon Valley's Harvard Business New Venture Contest

What's on the minds of the Sand Hill Road crowd? Their questions at a recent business plan contest reveal interesting insights.READ»

Ten Critical Steps to writing a Business Plan

Starting a business is a major commitment that will consume 24/7 of your life with no end in sight. It is always good to know what you are getting into before you take the plunge. From my experience writing business plans for large ...READ»

It's Creative (Destruction) Genius

As the world and the US slogs through the current economic turmoil, the task of economic development professionals is shifting.  What use to be a local struggle to attract businesses and jobs, competing against other states or ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

As Luck Would Have It…Success Is Not A Science.

One of my favorite radio programs is a quasi-science show called Radio Lab and is hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich. There are two reasons why I love this program so much: 1) because the production values are so good that no matter what they are talking about it sounds multilayered and dynamic and 2) while the topics are science related they are not overly technical and there is a heavy philosophical element usually presented from various sides by the two hosts and their guests. Anyway, while perusing the Radio Lab website the other day to download some files for my iPod, I came across a podcast entry where the two hosts are discussing the early days and their first failed attempt at creating a skit for another public radio program called This American Life. Toward the end of the skit, Jad answers a question about how the show is produced, and he talks about science in a way that struck me, in that it is directly related to entrepreneurship and for that matter…life. Here is an excerpt: READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

A 2008 Christmas Poem

As I wake to the sounds of the FM dial my mind starts to focus on life’s great trials. “Time to get up kids & brush your teeth and please for once don’t fall back to sleep.” “Hurry now get out of the shower the bus has gone and it’s tardy hour.” In a rush as we fly in our car but the road is slick and traffic is at war.READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times

When entrepreneurs start a new business they often have a nasty habit of paying little attention to whether or not the timing it right for that business idea. Some will start their business either way, no matter what the data (or the bozos) say. And some of those entrepreneurs are going to be successful in spite of the worst of odds. But today’s economic uncertainties actually puts the question of timing front and center in the entrepreneur’s minds eye. So here are some things you should consider before starting a business in today’s brutal business climate:READ»

Welcome to the Entrepreneur's Secret

Hello, this blog is designed for entrepreneurs to share ideas on business strategy, operations and efficiency for greater success.  I hope to hear from you and I look forward to advising you on your small business.  READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

How the Credit Crisis Affects Small Business

The big media is talking about big dollars, big companies, and big bailout packages.  Sub-prime mortgage backed securities, money market mutual fund savings, and now commercial paper have all been at the center of the conversation ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

What's Going On? From Wall Street to Main Street.

There is blood in the streets of America’s businesses both small and large.  On Wall Street, the collapse of financial institutions, the bailouts of Freddie, Fannie, Bear Sterns and now AIG.  500 point daily drops in the Dow ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

The Universe of Opportunities

About a year ago, I co-funded the start-up of a pizza restaurant, in a city near my own, with a friend I’ve known since high school.  At the end of this month that restaurant will no longer be mine.  Despite breaking even, we ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

Rags to Riches…Anecdotally Speaking

I love listening to a good story…especially ones about entrepreneurs and their path to eventual success.    The woman or man who turned nothing into something, who did it quickly, and without the help of others, AKA the ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

Building Quality Financial Projections

Probably one of the most uncomfortable things a first time entrepreneur has to attempt is their first set of financial projections.  Frequently I hear the following: “Well…I don’t know how many people will buy from ...READ»

START-UP   |  Comment

“The Only Thing We Have To Fear…”

I grow tired of hearing the opinion that business plans are not a necessary component of starting a business.  In Mike Michalowicz’s blog post Business Plans are OUT! Here’s the New Way… he expounds on the virtues of the ...READ»

“Free Money to Pay Your Bills!” Or Maybe Not (Part 2)

In Free Money to Pay Your Bills! Or Maybe Not Part 1 we discovered how Matthew Lesko (and others) use word play and semantics to get you to buy their books believing you will obtain riches on someone else’s dime.  In Part II we ...READ»