Here are this week’s links to a few good stories we found and selected. We feel they might add valuable insights and perspectives for small to midsize businesses.
When I started my first business more than 30 years ago, I often joked that being an entrepreneur means you get to pick which 80 hours you want to work in a given week.
As all small business owners know, starting a business is no joke. According to a recent survey by the Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer, managing responsibilities and problems with business finances are the top stressors, and giving up leisure activities and time with friends and family are unwanted byproducts of that stress. Tamara Holmes speaks to some very good ideas to relieve stress and achieve balance during those business formative years in her article Want to boost the bottom line? Invest in yourself.
Most business owners strive to grow their businesses.
Mike Michalowicz lists a few ways to do that in 4 Ways You Can Help Fast Track Your Business’s Growth. Interestingly, he suggests that owners should “skip social media.” His point is that creating clever tweets might not yield results if you are marketing to grandparents, and using Facebook might lose the under-25 crowd. The real point here is to know your audience. If kids and seniors are not your target, proper use of social media may indeed be a valuable tool in your marketing toolbox.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 2.7% of college-educated workers over age 25 are unemployed.
This creates challenges for business owners to attract and retain good talent. In a post on TLNT, Tim Low offers three pieces of some very good advice:
- Be fair: Pay them right.
- Be transparent: Tell them the truth.
- Be Modern: Compensate them for today and tomorrow.
Read You’ll Be Better Off Talking To Them About Pay to learn more.
