Government, Politics and the Economy
Seidman: I Don't Want the Recession to End Yet
According to Dov Seidman, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of LRN, we need more time to understand where our economy went wrong and to get Wall Street back into proper perspective. BusinessWeek.com
Next Six Months Will be Tough for Obama
In his first six months as President, Barack Obama got a $787 billion economic stimulus package, $750 billion for the financial crisis, and a down payment on a $1 trillion overhaul of the healthcare system. With greater policy hurdles before him, the next six months may be far more difficult. Bloomberg.com
Management and Operations
Turning Buzz Into Loyalty
Many small businesses enjoying sudden popularity are working to build loyal customer bases by reaching out on the Web, offering freebies and getting celebrities to try their products. WSJ.com
Listening: A Talent all Leaders Need
If you are a leader, you need to be able to listen—not just hear, but listen—to the things the people around you, your employees, your partners, your customers, are telling you. Here are five steps to being a better listener. USAToday.com
Legal Issues
Returning Vets: Be Their Ally, Not Their Enemy
Facing the largest re-employment of "citizen soldiers" in US history, employers must address the impact of returning military employees on their organizations, especially the owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Workforce.com
Be Careful to Avoid 'Accidental Contracts'
Most employment contracts are written with the assistance of an attorney, but an employment contract does not need to be written. It can be oral, or partially oral and partially written, and if you are not careful, you may discover that you have unknowingly entered into an employment contract with an employee. BusinessManagementDaily.com
Taxes and Financial Issues
CIT Worries Those With Receivables Credit
Small business lender CIT is a big player in the business of extending credit based on receivables, and its recent financial crisis has many of its customers worried. BusinessWeek.com
Six Ways to Impress Venture Capitalists
The competition for venture capital in the recession is fierce, and winning such funding can be very challenging for entrepreneurs. Here are six tips on how to appeal to investors. WSJ.com
Technology Issues
Social Media: Can a Visible Brand Ruin Your Life?
In today's world of social media, building your own personal brand can be as important as anything else you do in your career, but you have to be careful because major problems can crop up. ZDNet.com
Is Windows 7 the Vista We've Been Waiting For?
People in the know say that Windows 7 is just what Vista should have been all along, but wasn't. Get the perspective of analysts and small business owners who took part in early testing of the new Microsoft operating system to see if that is true. SmallBusinessComputing.com
Health, Benefits and Labor Issues
Obama Nominates NAACP Attorney as EEOC Chair
President Obama announced plans to nominate NAACP attorney Jacqueline A. Berrien as chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Workforce.com
Putting a Stake Through Office Energy Vampires
Vampires have moved from the graveyard to your business, and instead of blood, they suck up energy and time, lowering productivity and morale as they go. Here are several types you need to be on the look-out for. BizJournals.com
Branding, Sales and Marketing
Digital Marketing: Is Twitter Worth It?
The digital marketing world is abuzz about twitter, and the microblogging site's trending topics do hold opportunity for brands to connect with consumers, but does it offer any real, lasting value? ClickZ.com
The Misconceptions and Truths of Selling
Everyone thinks they can sell, but they think that because of their last encounter with a salesman. They don't really know the reality of sales as a profession. Here are some hard truths about being a sales professional. ManageSmarter.com
7 Persuasive Qualities of Powerful Sales People
Everyone in sales, at some point, will have to persuade someone that their product or service is the one they need. Here are the seven skills every sales person needs to convince others to change their mindset. BusinessKnowHow.com
