The Peoria Journal recently sat down with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO, Tom Donohue to answer some vital questions about the economy and the Chamber’s values before he spoke to the 2011 mid-year graduating class of Bradley University. Below are some highlights from the Peoria Jou
What do you buy the entrepreneur who already has all the big ideas for Christmas? The Up and Running Blog has a new article offering gift ideas for the “starter-upper,” the “communicator” and the “salesman” to help you out of that gift-planning crunch. These gift giving ideas will help supplement th
Venture Studios at Mashable interviews Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup. In this interview, Ries explains that entrepreneurship is about management, about building an organization in times of great uncertainty. He says the most important thing for entrepreneurs to learn is how to build sustaina
This year, the PEW Research Center conducted a national survey of veterans and found that 44% of post 9/11 soldiers have faced difficulty in readjusting to civilian life. As most of our troops make their way home from Iraq, we must show our support and understanding as they struggle to assimilate ba
This year, gift planning goes viral. Mr. Youth, a marketing firm recently acquired by LBI, conducted a study of close to 4,500 adults and discovered that social media is very influential in our gift purchasing decisions. Hearing suggestions from friends and family drives sales; the study pointed to
Trep Life is an original series created to give viewers a 360-degree understanding of what is required to succeed as an entrepreneur. Each episode, like the one below, features behind the scenes interviews with working entrepreneurs. Episode six follows Mike Samson and Ross Kimbarovsky, co-founders
According to a recent report from the National Federation of Independent Business, small businesses in America are looking to increase their new hire counts. After surveying several small business owners for their report, the NFIB discovered that this is the highest this intent has been in the last
We have previously written about the very real potential entrepreneurs have for solving some of the most difficult problems in the world. For the first time, Forbes has created a list of the top 30 impactful social entrepreneurs. They define social entrepreneur as an individual “who uses business to
The Small Business Innovative Research program coupled with the Small Business Technology Transfer program have recently been reauthorized by House and Senate members in a bipartisan effort to create jobs and improve the economy. These programs have proven to be successful over a 30 year period and
Many of our veterans are hard-pressed to find job opportunity in this country when they return from their service. Shockingly, the nationwide jobless rate among veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is 12 percent. Military spouses have it worse still, with a 26 percent jobless rate. Kevin Schm
According to the Kauffman Foundation, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark Warner (D.Va.) introduced new bipartisan legislation that aspires to jumpstart the economy through business development and sustained growth. Political leaders are prioritizing job creation and economic growth in the f
Failure for many budding entrepreneurs is an opportunity to learn, improve and better oneself. Seth Godin, author of “Poke the Box” sat down for an interview with Bryan Elliot from Behind the Brand and talks about the importance of failing. He explains, “If you get to keep playing, that means you ge
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Courtesy of Forbes"][/caption]
Technology entrepreneurs can now look forward to a new, free online resource. Stanford University has done a lot to advance the cause of both entrepreneurs and startup ventures in the U.S. Now the university is g
Is your business ready to move to the next level? The answer to that question mostly depends on how much money you have in your wallet. Many businesses are hard-pressed for cash and expansion requires additional funding. Growth is a necessity for the long term success of a business, however, unplann
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="214" caption="Clarence Otis Jr. via CNN"][/caption]
In the face of such severe economic uncertainty, small businesses are reluctant to hire new employees. According to Clarence Otis Jr., CEO of Darden Restaurants, policy and regulatory requirements are maki
As studies like the Junior Achievement survey continue to show, young people are becoming more enthralled with the idea of starting their own businesses. The Young Invincibles, with Lake Research Partners, Bellwether Research, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation conducted a survey about entrepr
NASA has selected 300 small business proposals to enter into negotiations for possible contract awards through the agency's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
These competitive awards-based programs encourage U.S. small busine
Venture capitalists have always had their own language, but this takes that concept to another level! You probably don't associate investors or technology entrepreneurs with rap music, but maybe you should. The Washington Post's "On Small Business" blog explains that several young startups and ventu
[caption id="attachment_14933" align="alignleft" width="234" caption="From left, Steve Case, Ted Leonsis and Donn Davis (Courtesy of The Washington Post)"][/caption]
AOL pioneers Ted Leonsis and Steve Case have combined their entrepreneurial power to transform Washington into a new sort of Silico
TechCrunch recently posted an interview with Mayor Bloomberg for their series, Founder Stories. In the interview, Mayor Bloomberg shares his incredible journey expressing that he may not have been the smartest guy anywhere he was in life, but he was always the hardest worker. "It's like skiing," May
So many creative entrepreneurs are born and educated in America, yet they are taking their businesses with expansive job creating potential elsewhere. Daniel Shin came to the U.S. from South Korea, attended American schools through college and quit his American job to pursue a career as an entrepren
For young Americans aspiring to become entrepreneurs, the decision to go to college is a difficult one. The question is, does college adequately prepare you to become an entrepreneur and start your own business? Well, Business Insider has done young career minded people across the country a huge fav
Did you shop local this past Saturday? The second annual Small Business Saturday event took place this past November 26th and received more support than ever. 2.6 million people showed their support for small businesses by becoming fans of the event on Facebook - that’s 1.2 million more supporters t
Are entrepreneurs born or made? CEO of FindTheBest Kevin O'Connor asks himself the same question each time he guest lectures for college entrepreneurial programs across the country. O'Connor’s life experiences and additional research has convinced him that successful entrepreneurs are a little bit o
[caption id="attachment_14697" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Courtesy of Forbes"][/caption]
George Feldstein is one CEO who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. The American business man founded Crestron Electronics, a company that assembles a myriad of home automation devices. At 70 yea
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the Future of Entrepreneurship Education Summit. Margaret Spellings, a senior adviser to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of its Forum for Policy Innovation, welcomed the entrepreneurs, educators and government officials who were guests at the e
Andrew Yang is a serial entrepreneur with reach into industries as diverse as healthcare and fashion. By 2025, he hopes to create an astounding 100,000 jobs for the American economy. Yang recently founded Venture for America, a nonprofit organization with big dreams operating out of New York City. T
Back in August, we followed the story of Mike Moradian who was ranked America’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2010 by Bloomberg Businessweek. Moradian was convinced that he could not attend Harvard University’s School of Business and continue work on his promising startup. Fortunately, that decision mi
According to a survey from the Kauffman Foundation and Young Invincibles, 54% of Americans aged 18 to 34 want to start their own company. This is great news since small businesses employ over half of the private workforce. Unfortunately, our unpredictable economic climate is holding these aspiring e
Gen Y has already awed and amazed the world with its innovative talent. Born into the language of technology, nothing seems impossible to these youthful Americans. With the right mentorship, education and resources, these are career entrepreneurs in the making who have the potential to transform our
A vital part of an entrepreneur's growth and development involves making mistakes and learning from them. The Young Entrepreneur Council featured an article yesterday by entrepreneur Scott Gerber. He offers some words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs: build a sustainable model, stay focused, kee
Dave Morin is truly a remarkable entrepreneur and angel investor. He has previously worked as both a marketer for Apple and an associate at Facebook where he helped build Facebook Platform and Connect. Last year, he moved away from the social networking giant, so that he could pursue the creation of
More and more small businesses are utilizing social media marketing tools across the United States. According to a Constant Contract survey, small businesses are using platforms to engage with customers on a more personal level. Despite indications from the Fall 2011 Attitudes and Outlook Survey tha
Global Entrepreneurship Week is here! The event, which "inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators," is a welcome reminder of what needs to be done to get the American economy back on its feet
Aspiring 'Encore Entrepreneurs' See Financial Risks in Today's Economy, But Most Are Undeterred
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New research released by Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, shows that in a tough employment market, millions of Americans
Clay Mathile is quite the businessman. With a net worth of $1.8 billion dollars, he is lending his priceless business insight to small business owners who hope to emulate the success that Mathile has had. He is sharing this insight through an institute he created called the Aileron Institute. Mathil
Jack Dorsey, Twitter and Square co-founder, attended the GigaOm Roadmap conference and shared his entrepreneurial experiences. Dorsey explains to TechCrunch in an interview that he was instilled with entrepreneurial values at a very young age by his parents who were entrepreneurs themselves. In the
Small Business Saturday is right around the corner, and with support from online companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter, it is going to be bigger and better than ever. This November, Small Business Saturday will take place on the 26th. Small businesses that want to get involved can look forward
American Express has already accomplished a lot for American small businesses by sponsoring events like Small Business Saturday. The company intends to do even more by implementing a multi-year plan to invest $100 million in startups that provide for the “critical parts of the digital commerce exper
Business Insider recently revealed their 20 Most Innovative Startups in Tech, all of which have the potential to transform the way we live. We have showcased stories that prove time and time again that age is no barrier to ingenuity. The Chamber partners with Our Time a national non-profit network o
Abbie Davies is the owner and founder of My First Yoga, a successful yoga company for children. She attended Harvard University to study how movement and exercise contribute to self-confidence and esteem. The priceless values she discovered through her education can be clearly seen in the way she le
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="208" caption="Courtesy of Shutterstock via Portfolio.com"][/caption]
The National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly index of small-business sentiment revealed higher small business optimism for the second month in a row. October gained 1.3 points,
Andrew Keen of TechCrunch recently interviewed Robert Safian, the editor and managing director of the award winning business magazine Fast Company. The magazine journeyed to San Francisco for “Innovation Uncensored” a business event which brings together innovators from diversified industries. Safia
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="170" caption="Jack Fluor, CFO; Mike Braico, EVP of Sales; and Bruce Lyon, CEO via Inc."][/caption]
A few years ago, Bruce Lyon, founder of Integrated Media Technologies, quit his job as a sales executive at Sun Microsystems and went into business for himself.
Women 2.0 Startup Weekend is coming up this November 18th and will continue through November 20th at the Hatchery in San Francisco, California. Startup Weekend is a community building startup event which will embody Women 2.0's mission to "inform, inspire and educate a new generation of females that
Editor’s Note: This post by Cheryl Oldham originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce’s (ICW) Cheryl Oldham has taken issue with Dr. Peter Cappelli’s recent column in the Wall Street Journal in which he argues th
Dorothy and Robert King have given $150 million dollars to the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies. This donation is one of the largest sums ever designated to the University before. The intent is for the Institute to empower entrepreneurs, managers and leaders to help devise s
Will young entrepreneurs save us, economically? Maybe, but they definitely need our support to do it. Ernst & Young and McKinsey & Company have conducted some studies to see what young entrepreneurs are thinking. The research will be used to aid participants in the walk-up G-20 summit of young entre
With job creation in mind, two bills intended to assist small businesses in acquiring capital were approved by the House of Representatives Wednesday, November 2, 2011. The Small Company Capital Formation Act introduced by Rep. David Schweikert, for example, increases the initial-public offering thr
Women turned a new page of history in the year 2010. For the first time, they became the majority of the U.S. workforce. According to Hanna Rosin’s Atlantic article titled “The End of Men,” 57% of college attendants are now women. However, it is still true that men continue to head the executive ran
Ben Parr from Mashable was fortunate enough to intimately report on the f.ounders Dublin event that has rapidly become one of technology's top international conferences. The forum taught Parr firsthand how hardworking and ambitious entrepreneurs around the world truly are. The Dublin event hosted fo
Editor’s Note: This weekly column is written by U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Thomas J. Donohue. Read more from the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ChamberPost.
When every responsible party in America is focused on economic growth and job creation, some lawyer
With unemployment numbers through the roof, all employed American's such be some what grateful that they can put food on the table. However, there are a few lucky Americans who wake up to some of the coolest career opportunities in the world. A CNBC article featured on Yahoo! Finance showcased the t
This year’s Halloween spending forecast is spookily large. According to the annual National Retail Federation Halloween spending survey, an astounding 161 million people are celebrating the holiday. The NRF tells us those are the largest participation numbers in ten years of polling. Consequently, w
When we are children, we learn many subtle entrepreneurial lessons. It might have to do with the consequences we face in deciding how to appropriately invest our allowance or perhaps it has to do with the lemonade stands we decide to build. Whatever the lessons, money seems so unreal when we are sma
Brent Freeman is the CEO of Roozt.com, an e-commerce platform for companies with cause oriented business models. Freeman explains in an interview with Forbes that, “Within five years, social entrepreneurship will be the new standard.” As a volunteer, Freeman takes the time to time to teach about the
Investing in startups can be a nerve wracking process for a novice. And in that case, it’s important to rely on the expertise of angel investors who have undergone the same difficult process time and time again. By studying the strategies of those who already possess advanced experiential knowledge,
There is a documented gender gap in funding for female-led startups. Pemo Theodore’s search for investment capital is a good example of the difficult journey some female entrepreneurs have experienced. She spent five long years in London trying to find support for a digital matchmaking startup and c
The United States is lacking comprehensive high-skilled immigration reform that will ultimately help contribute to the integrity of local markets and our overall global competitiveness. The United States could jeopardize its role as the world’s leader in entrepreneurial pursuits if it continues to r
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Courtesy of Shwood"][/caption]
Eric Singer, founder of Shwood Handcrafted Wooden Eyewear in Portland, OR was just voted as the winner of “America’s Favorite Small Business” contest sponsored by Dell, MasterCard and Microsoft. For eight weeks,
Tim Sykes is the Founder and CEO of Investimonials and Profit.ly. Investimonials hopes to save people money and time by offering them a place to discover the best financial products. Profit.ly on the other hand is an attempt to introduce the trading world to “measurement, accountability, transparenc
Manufacturing companies are hard pressed to fill as many as 600,000 vacant positions. According to the Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute five percent of current manufacturing jobs are unoccupied due to a deficit of qualified applicants. They additionally note that 67% of manufacturers have “a mod
Alltuition is an internet company created by former medical student, Sue Khim. Disillusioned by the lack of readily available information about low interest student loans, she created the company to help other students avoid the same taxing research process that she underwent. In fact, she was so pa
For any entrepreneurs out there looking to start a business, you may be interested to see a break down of the various options available to you. As you will see, some startups and small businesses fund their efforts with bank loans (where they can find them) and others seek out trustworthy investors.
Jon Gelberg recently went on safari in the Serengeti and was shocked to learn that patterns of animal behaviors reminded him of the competitive nature of entrepreneurial business pursuits. He discovered several ruling insights from the Serengeti that reminded him of business: (1) strong and decisiv
Retailers are worried this holiday season that their products and services won’t move as quickly as they have in previous years. With the bulk of revenue acquired during the fourth quarter, most retailers are disappointed by the negative forecasts for the Christmas holiday, which can either make or
Businesses often fail on their journey to success. It is important to remember that failure teaches entrepreneurs important lessons about how to ultimately succeed. Fast Company showcases five 30 second interviews with knowledgeable business leaders discussing why teams fail and what can be done abo
Teens in Tech is an impressive, new organization focused on providing support networks, interactive events and resources for teenagers with technological propensities and aspirations. Their new "Connect" site allows teens to connect with co-founders and discover new job opportunities and resources.
StartX, the Stanford Student Startup Accelerator, is a corporate accelerator based out of Palo Alto which offers promising startups complimentary office space, mentoring services and access to capital. However, StartX differentiates itself from other incubators in that it offers unique benefits like
High unemployment rates have created unfavorable tension in the United States. The only way to make our current economic situation better is to funnel that tension into job creating efforts. Supporting American entrepreneurs and small businesses are vital ways to reduce unemployment figures. 10,000
Wednesday night the House passed free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. According to a federal commission, these agreements could expand the U.S. economy by $14.4 billion dollars and foster considerable job creation in our country. Watch the CBS news special below to learn more
There is no shortage of venture capital in the state of New York. Mayor Bloomberg recently boasted about beating Boston in startup investment numbers. In the third quarter, New York firms brought in $831 million from 86 venture capital arrangements, while in the state of Massachusetts, firms brought
High-skilled immigration reform can help America round out its national skillset and increase our overall global competitiveness. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is launching the "Entrepreneurs in Residence" initiative in order to better the visa acquisition process. The purpose of the ini
In August, the Small Business Optimism Index came in at 88.1. September, however, defied economists' estimates coming in at 88.9. This index concluded a six-month decline, yet while sales expectations improved from last month, the NFIB cautions that these numbers are nothing to write home about.
Many Americans dream of leaving the lives they lead far behind in search for new beginnings. Trisha Waldron did just that. At the age of 28, she had a life changing experience which made her reevaluate her place in the world. At the time, she was a welfare recipient with two children, no formal educ
The Fall 2011 American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor survey was released this week. The survey includes responses from over 800 small business owners to see how they are faring and feeling in our current economic climate. The concluding results of the study reveal that 40% of small business ow
Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki are co-authors of a new book entitled, “Midas Touch: Why some Entrepreneurs Get Rich and Why Most Don’t.” Kiyosaki is also the author of the best seller, "Rich Dad Poor Dad," and has completely revolutionized the way people around the globe evaluate their money. In a
Lessons learned during military service or as the partner of a U.S. serviceman or woman can translate perfectly into the world of business creation. As we discussed in a previous post, military values and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, which is one of the many reasons American Free Enterprise
There is a lot to gain from understanding the way startups operate. Startup Foundation was launched recently in major cities like Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Des Moines, and Sao Paulo to develop ecosystems for startup advancement. The Foundation receives funding from the Kauffman Foundation
Yesterday, Intuit Small Business revealed an Employment Index report which indicated that small businesses employment has been expanding for the past two years, with small businesses responsible for 55,000 new jobs in the month of September alone. The report's numbers boasted 735,000 new jobs for bu
Good news for America’s manufacturing sector – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, 61 out of 100 of our country’s largest metropolitan regions created new jobs this past year. Detroit came out on top adding 14,100 jobs to the industry since August 2010. The Business Journals features a helpful da
More and more Americans are turning to entrepreneurship as the economy continues to deny job opportunity. And while our young entrepreneurs fresh from their university studies face impressive challenges, with both little experience and money, they have some distinct advantages over other entrepreneu
Our fragile economy has left many Americans in a state of uncertainty, unclear about their economic and professional futures. Consequently, “accidental entrepreneurs” are emerging all over the United States to jump head first into entrepreneurship and make their own way in this bitter economy. Unfor
Forbes interviewed entrepreneur Dal LaMagna this month to talk about his new book, “Raising Eyebrows, A Failed Entrepreneur Finally Gets It Right.” In the interview, LaMagna reveals that his business practice was significantly enhanced by following the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Business is becoming an increasingly popular major among college students. According to a MoneyWatch article, one out of every five college students receives a business degree in America. As the economy continues to offer very little in the way of job security for our college graduates, students are
Consumer confidence is at an all-time low with Americans becoming frustrated with a lack of job opportunity. New numbers from a New York based research group, The Conference Board, showed that confidence is the lowest it has been since April 2009. Poor morale can be attributed to a depressing August
Focusing on domestic energy production will not only create American jobs, but will also establish significant revenue for state and federal governments. Expanding oil and gas industries closer to home would offer our economy a necessary push, all-the-while reducing our dependence on foreign energy.
An infographic developed by LinkedIn and featured on Business Insider illustrates how and where Americans are finding economic opportunity. According to the research, 360,560 LinkedIn members, also U.S. veterans, found jobs in operations, information technology, engineering and entrepreneurship, to
Last week, one of Tracy Foster’s ONA Designs was featured in A Cup of Jo’s "Thursday giveaway." In 2010, the Campaign for Free Enterprise held the “I Am Free Enterprise” video contest in which Foster was a contestant. In the video below, Foster explains, “Part of being a business owner is saying, th
Zaarly founder, Bo Fishback, wanted to create a company that would make it easier for people to find assistance for small community jobs. The unique startup gives a new meaning to the term "service economy." At just three and a half months old, the startup already has acquired 60,000 users. Posted j
Technology moves swiftly and without much consideration for what came before. It is argued that the knowledge college graduates gain from computer science degrees is incomplete and carries too quick of an expiration date. It appears as though the adaptation and development of college curricula has n
Portland, Oregon attracts attention for having the most craft breweries within its city limits compared to any other city in the world. The city is often compared to other beer havens like Munich, Brussels and Prague. According to the Brewers Association, the beer industry is booming, with small U.S
The number of individuals working from home is increasing dramatically with 26.2 million teleworkers identified in the year of 2010 alone. Numbers are likely to increase steadily with technological advancements in communications. Worksimple conducted a study of Fortune 500 companies and found intere
Oil and gas companies in America are anxious to hire new workers, if only government leaders would let them. In a previous post, we discussed how focusing on green energy has done little to create jobs in this country. American oil and gas companies now want to take a stab at reducing our high unemp
Starting a new business is a daunting task given how much time it requires. Entrepreneurial success can be reinforced by effective time management and planning. The ability to manage time adequately can often make or break new businesses. In order to manage time better, some experts recommend compar
The American millennial generation has been privileged enough to live through some of the most innovative technological advances. They have witnessed young, ambitious entrepreneurs create some of the most successful companies ever made, and in doing so, they have been inspired to help grow our econo
Yesterday, the University of Maryland published a study which revealed that as many 182,000 new jobs have been created by the Facebook App Economy. More aggressive estimates suggest that a staggering 235,644 jobs have been created, adding a value of $15.71 billion to the U.S. economy in 2011 alone.
On Tuesday, the Startup America Partnership, revealed $330 million worth of product and service commitments created to assist startups. The Startup America Partnership is a nonprofit organization designed to further innovation and create American jobs. CEO, Scott Case, is also in charge of the priva
In the video below, Steven Blank, retired serial entrepreneur, gives some of his best entrepreneurial advice. He tells a room full of engineers with ambitions to become successful business leaders that coming up with interesting and innovative products is not enough. He suggests that startup founder
It is a known fact that technology progresses at an exponential rate. An influx of electronic applications and capabilities has made our lives easier and entirely more efficient. Many of these innovations are not surprisingly due to America’s brilliant, young creators and is why we partner with orga
Amazon Inc. is known as a business constantly striving for innovation. It is also a company with a reach to people all across the world and boasts only the most intimate and interactive customer service. Founder, Jeff Bezos, has been active in teaching the benefits of entrepreneurship whenever he ca
TNW spoke with Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup. His book offers prized advice for hopeful entrepreneurs and their developing startups. Part of this advice includes the idea of continually "pivoting" business models until a startup establishes the most efficient path to succes. “A ‘pivot’,” Rie
With an anemic economic recovery, we need to enact effective policies to create American jobs. Cutting payroll taxes is a productive way to spur job creation and one that has also garnered tentative political agreement. Continued job creation, however, relies on the duration of the cuts. The longer
In August, small business sentiment shattered across the board, taking the Small Business PESSImism Index down 1.8 points to 88.1. In reports, the NFIB sites the political squabbles between Congress and the current administration over the national deficit as key to breaking business confidence. Econ
Fashion startups have done a lot to create jobs and boost the economy. Inc. this week, featured seven startups that have had significant success in American markets. One of the showcased companies was also featured at Our Time's Young Entrepreneurs Event.
Inc. reports on Rent the Runway:
Jus
The CEO and Co-founder of Meebo, Seth Sternberg, recently discussed what it is like to transition from the CEO of a startup to a company with 200 employees. His insights reveal how exclusive the initial phase of business planning can be. When a startup grows to encompass many employees, Sternberg ad
According to an Aflac study, seventy-seven percent of employed adults, who volunteered to take a survey, desire to leave their current positions in order to pursue a life of entrepreneurship. Although the survey's sample population wasn't entirely reliable, it does at least indicate that the world o
Football season is finally here, making now the perfect time to highlight some NFL stars who have traded the gridiron for entrepreneurship. As it turns out, many football players have decided to tap into their entrepreneurial spirits post NFL retirement. Since 2005, 700 players have attended the NFL
Political leaders in Washington have attempted to cut down on massive unemployment figures. However, some economists believe that these leaders are on the wrong track. Instead, they argue attention should be focused on how to grow the economy. Without competitive markets and a stable demand for good
In a previous post, we highlighted where you could find the jobs most available in this economy, but not all industries are findings success. Columnist David Brooks explains that despite significant public sector investment, the green energy industry hasn't been able to create significant jobs. This
With a stifling economic climate, over one million self-employed workers have gone under. With small businesses struggling, job creation falters, and unemployment rates inevitably rise. We need a new jobs plan more than ever, and our political leaders are meeting September 8th to reveal a strategy f
Despite zero net new jobs being created in the month of August, there are certain industries that are vigorously looking to hire new talent. Kiplinger.com asked CareerBuilder to analyze current job opportunity and determine the hiring demand for under-supplied jobs. The study yields good news. For e
Entrepreneurial Spotlight of the Week: The Dish’s Dish. Checkout founder, Jill Donnenfeld, as she discusses her home chef service at Our Time's Young Entrepreneurs Event.
Starting a business can be a very intimidating feat for most. Especially, if they have no experience with entrepreneurship. Fortunately, Bryan Janeczko has created Wicked Start, a free online service that teaches users how to initiate new business. Janeczko offers a well defined framework for succes
Many entrepreneurs dream of big, successful businesses unrivaled by any other institution. However, competitors invariably lurk in the wings, waiting to snatch up market share. Accordingly, thorough research aimed at determining who else is out there and strategizing about what you should do in the
With a fail rate of more than 90%, startups have the odds stacked against them. The Genome Project was created out of curious determination to figure out what exactly was keeping American startups back. This is a very important inquiry for the Project to be concerned with, as startups offer the pote
It is difficult for small businesses to prove to suppliers that they are in fact a safe and smart bet, especially when they are competing against well established firms and government agencies. Small businesses can gain a competitive edge by filing for a DUNS number, opening a line of credit under y
Social media platforms are now being used to recruit new employee talent, and for job seekers, to pursue what interesting job opportunities are out there. With social media becoming more and more active in the job application process, resumes are not what they used to be. According to the infographi
Entrepreneurs can become quickly disillusioned when their vision for the company is not compatible with the views of their peers. Ideas cause conflict when people who are passionate about those ideas are met with varying opinions, but this can be a good thing. Conflict can reveal the truth about bus
Three long awaited trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama have been delayed by political squabbles between the White House and House Republican leaders. Both parties generally agree that the free trade agreements should be passed; however, a significant lack of trust has slowed the proces
We know how important jobs are in this country and the free enterprise system is essential for job creation in America. A feature from Inc. exhibits the top ten businesses for job creation in the United States. The top two companies are:
Founded in 1988, SeatonCorp (formerly Staffing Solutions Hold
President Obama launched a national campaign to help Americans start new businesses. Startup America was announced this past January, and the initiative focuses on unlocking access to capital, connecting mentors, reducing barriers, accelerating innovation, and unleashing market opportunities. The Ob
Many people are tempted by the idea of working from home. However, just as there are positives to be found in working from home, there are negatives too. For example, some develop feelings of loneliness, doubt their own ability to work hard, and some have difficulty establishing and sticking to time
Most influential companies today had humble beginnings. Passion and a willful character can propel any small business from anonymity to acclaim. That is why an optimistic perspective on business opportunity is so integral to maintaining the incentive and passion to carry onward. In a post yester
Representative Adam B. Schiff is working on a bill that would help foreign students, specializing in science and engineering, stay in the U.S. even after they have completed their studies. These students could provide meaningful contributions to the technology sector and help the United States gain
There is still cause to be carefully optimistic, even in light of all the depressing economic talk. Positivity is essential to producing effective strategies to help take advantage of business opportunities that do exist. Contemporary angel investors are continuing to invest in startups, clever
It is conventionally understood that focusing business attention on one client can be too risky. If they change their minds about their interest in your company, you could potentially lose it all. Not-to-mention, if you rely heavily on one consumer, you lose out on the opportunity to find new ones.
Overbearing regulations make it difficult for businesses to get off the ground, especially for entrepreneurs who lack funding and a full understanding of the complex regulatory system. Donna Matias and her colleagues at the Entrepreneurship Clinic at the University of San Diego Law School are trying
For the past decade, American Express has been using Small Business Monitor surveys to track the sentiment of small businesses and their operational leaders. The report they recently released revealed that optimism has not recovered from the Great Recession. Uncertainty about our economic climate is
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="288" caption="Courtesy of CNET"][/caption]
Connor Zamary is the inventor of a 99-cent iPhone app called Toaster Pop. At seven years old, he pitched his idea to investors, hired an iOS developer, and filed for an LLC. Toaster Pop is a game application where
Patience is a virtue, particularly when thinking about starting a business. While fiery passion for implementing your innovative ideas is helpful in jump starting a business, some entrepreneurs get carried away and forget to remember anticipated hardships. A passion for professionalism is also a
Mashable has been hand picking startups each week that are creating alluring, one-of-a-kind or niche products. This time they are focusing on startups that are making new devices to assist you in everyday shopping, selling, and running. For example, a featured startup, Lockerboxer, tells you how muc
Establishing the foundation for a new business is always, in a positive word, a journey. Erratic stock markets, depressing economic narratives and a highly indecisive Congress have all worked to make it even more difficult for entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground. However, even in th
Aaron Harris, CEO and Co-Founder of Tutorspree, talks about the challenges entrepreneurs face today in the video below. Tutorspree is a company based out of New York concerned with bringing quality tutors to interested consumers. Harris explains that ideas are cheap; the most difficult part of creat
The second-ever 500 Startups Demo Day took place yesterday. Several inventors admitted that they just happened upon their business models. For example, Craft Coffee’s creator, Michael Horn, revealed that his original e-commerce site for gourmet coffee wasn’t working. He instantly transformed the bus
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="262" caption="Courtesy of AFLO/ZUMA Press"][/caption]
Andy Rubin, inventor of Android operating system, has gone from business owner to employee. After Android was acquired by Google, Rubin became one of eighteen senior vice presidents. He is no longer in c
The second-ever 500 Startups Demo Day is getting ready to begin. Dave McClure’s 500 startup seed fund invests in young startups that pay special attention to design, data, and distribution. Starting today, 31 startups will present their companies to investors.
An article from Tech Crunch repo
Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna have worked hard to build a popular new startup intended for female consumers. Their company, Birchbox, is a monthly subscription service that delivers to women the hottest beauty products tailored to their custom, online beauty profile. These innovative entrepreneur
While the world needs entrepreneurs with big plans and big ideas, we also need entrepreneurs dedicated to competing in markets that have already been established. Watching these "old school" entrepreneurs at work may not be the most exciting, but their work is essential for economic growth and s
Startups provide an essential fuel for our economy. Unfortunately, startup communities without long term commitments from entrepreneurial leaders are not sustainable. Entrepreneurial leadership in local communities is particularly important, because it provides innovative insight for larger companie
Retail sales are slowly rising even in light of stock market declines and fear of national default. These increases are vital components of the United States’ gradual economic recovery. With a struggling labor market and companies holding back on hiring new talent, weary consumers may be faced with
Generation Y has proven themselves worthy and able to help clean up our messy economy. Concern for job security has caused many young Americans to build their own startup businesses that have in turn created much needed American jobs. MSNBC reports on organizations such as the Young Entrepreneur Cou
Finding good economic news right now can seem next to impossible. However, as an article from Cato@Liberty explains, the United States is still on track to doubling exports by 2014. President Obama announced his National Export Initiative in January of 2010 with a goal of doubling exports between 20
Solutions to the United State's extensive debt caused months of bickering leading up to the very end of the legislative session. Though legislation was eventually passed, the fighting and delay caused havoc for the economy. U.S. Chamber's Dick Castner met with U.S. Representative Ben Quayle from Ari
Bringing together different strengths to create a successful team is a vital part of starting a company. For instance, if you have a great idea for a new technology company but lack the business know-how, it is crucial to find a business partner who can make strategic financial decisions. Finding ba
It is no surprise that teenagers are obsessed with electronics and technology. Social media sites and smart phones are just a couple of examples of revolutionary innovations that have altered the way we communicate. Accordingly, Online Education.net developed a cool infographic depicting this growin
A report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicates that varying policies and regulations across the country make some states more employer-friendly than others. The results, based on labor laws, unemployment rates and business-formation data, show why some U.S. employers, especially small b
[caption id="attachment_10364" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Courtesy of Our Time"][/caption]
Matthew Segal, the co-founder of Our Time, is giving a voice to entrepreneurs and job-seekers under the age of 30. His original plan was to create a political lobby on their behalf, but soon rea
The United States is often thought of as one of the most innovative nations in the world. However, an article from Business Insider, showcasing ten gadgets from overseas, highlights the wealth of talent abroad. As noted on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's official blog, Chamber Post, reforming our imm
The July Monthly Jobs report has been released. Based on these new figures, to reach pre-recession employment levels within 39 months of the end of the recession (September 2012) we will now have to create 485,000 jobs every month.
[caption id="attachment_10321" align="aligncenter" width="459"
Editor’s Note: This post by Sean Hackbarth, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The EPA postponed their release of new ozone regulations. Bill Kovacs, the Chamber's senior vice president of Environment, Technology, and Regulatory Affairs hopes "t
There has been a longstanding misconception that women angel investors are more risk-averse than their male counterparts. However, a recent study, conducted by the University of New Hampshire's Center for Venture Research, has shed light on this area of debate. As discussed in The Wall Street Journa
The idea of the "entrepreneur" has sparked a little debate between Mark Ventresca, a professor at Oxford's Said Business School, and Grant McCracken, a research affiliate at MIT and the author of Chief Culture Officer. In a talk at TEDx Oxbridge Ventresca argues that entrepreneurs are "system builde
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a study Thursday indicating that small businesses had steeper job declines than big businesses during the recession. According to the study, discussed in the Wall Street Journal, economic uncertainty is considerably more detrimental to small business
Small businesses are innovative, flexible, and the backbone of the economy, but one of the biggest barriers holding owners back from generating the revenues they crave is the "small business mindset." According to Forbes, when a small business adopts a big business mentality, their true potential ca
Transparency is imperative when running a business, especially a startup. You have to be open with investors, even with bad news, and open with your employees so that they develop a sense of trust in you and aren't afraid to be honest with you when something unplanned occurs. On Gigaom, Om Malik dis
Innovation is a term that embodies human potential to change and improve lives. In a special report on innovation and engineering, Bloomberg Businessweek highlights companies and industries that have already succeed, and have the potential to succeed, through innovation. Subaru of Indiana's Automoti
Some people might say that dropping out of college at 18, moving to Silicon Valley, and starting a business is a "fantasy," but for 19-year-old Dale Stephens, it is now a reality. As one of the Thiel Fellows, a program led by Peter Thiel, PayPal founder and Facebook investor, Dale Stephens lead UnCo
Despite the popular belief that Subchapter S Corporations are large small businesses, data shows otherwise; the majority of these corporations are actually micro-businesses with less than 10 employees. Small Business Trends posts data from a study of small business tax compliance done by Donald DeLu
Small businesses are struggling due to payments coming in later than expected. Payments that used to be "net 30," paid within 30 days after an invoice, are now becoming net 60 or longer because clients are holding onto their cash in this uncertain economy. According to USA Today, these delays are af
The job market offers bad news today as it states that there are almost 5 unemployed workers to every job opening. A report by the Labor Department shows that for May, the number of jobless workers per job opening was 4.7, which is more than twice the ratio seen before the Great Recession. Henry Mo,
People rarely just "get lucky" in business. More often than not, good luck follows those who work the hardest. Indeed, an article from Forbes discusses how you can make your own luck by following a few key principles. Notably, Alex Rovira and Fernando Trias de Bes, authors of the book, “Good Luck: C
Good news: there is an increase in selling small businesses with around $350,000 annual revenue right now, up 8% from this time last year, according to BizBuySell.com.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the reason these businesses are selling is due to the fact that business owners are accepti
Work-life flexible jobs have always been in high demand. However, according to a study done by Work+Life Fit Reality Check, there are a few roadblocks in the way of everyone achieving this work-life balance, including employees worried they won't make enough money, that their boss would say "no" to
In terms of size, America's education and pharmaceutical industries are comprable, but in terms of revenue reinvestment in research they are worlds apart. While 17% of pharma's revenue is reinvested into research and development, only .01% of the education system's revenue is. In the Entrepreneur Th
A recent survey of bankers nationwide, indicates that the majority expect the credit crunch for small businesses to worsen before it gets better. The Wall Street Journal reports that of the 272 risk managers surveyed, 60% said they expected approval rates for small-business credit and loan applicati
Tech IPO's have been a major talking point amongst analysts, entrepreneurs and business owner alike this year. With rumors of a Facebook IPO still circulating, Mashable has posted an interesting infographic from Singlegrain depicting the biggest tech IPOs of 2011. As the infographic shows, some very
Editor’s Note: This weekly column is written by U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. Read more from the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ChamberPost.
One of the bold-and broken-promises made by supporters of the health care law was that it would reduce healt
The Jobs for America Summit 2011 is streaming live. Watch it below! Follow #voices4jobs on Twitter to join the conversation.
Live Broadcast by Ustream
For years, entrepreneurs and inventors alike have dreamt of creating flying cars. Now, they appear to be more real than ever before. According to Bost Innovation, Terrafugia, a Woburn based company, has taken a major step forward in getting their flying car, the Transition, off the ground. The Highw
According to a video produced by Economic Freedom, a project of the Charles Koch Foundation, people living in economic free countries tend to be happier, have more civil rights, earn over 10 times more than countries with less economic freedom, and live on average 20 years longer. These countries al
Women small business owners are becoming more and more optimistic about the future of the economy according to the Key4Women Confidence Index survey from the Center for Women’s Business Research. When the survey was last taken 6 months ago, only 33% of owners thought the economy would improve, but t
The economic recovery has been underway for a year and a half but the unemployment rate is still high, job creation is low, and workforce participation is at its lowest rate in a quarter of a century. With a projected $112 billion budget shortfall for 2012 in 44 states, governors need to act fast to
Although the unemployment rate is still high, a score of +15 on Gallup's Job Creation Index for June is the highest it has been since a score of +16 in September of 2008. According to Gallup, 33% of workers nationwide said their employers are hiring, while 18% said their employers were letting peop
The nature/nurture debate is prevalent in discussions regarding entrepreneurial talent. Are you born an entrepreneur, or can you learn to become one? Inc. reports that a Babson College study of 3,755 alumni found that business students who take at least two core courses on entrepreneurship will be s
Small business owners are more optimistic about the future of their company and the economy, according to a survey conducted by TD Bank. Philadelphia Business Journal reports that 44% of the 300 companies surveyed said they were optimistic or neutral about the U.S. economy. This survey, conducted in
As the Fourth of July weekend gets started and everyone is celebrating America's independence, take some time to think about your freedoms in the workplace and make sure you are satisfied. As you review your work schedule, the work itself and your job security, consider life as an entrepreneur,
[caption id="attachment_8939" align="alignleft" width="249" caption="Courtesy of Twitter"][/caption]
Twitter has become a popular go-to place for small business owners to reach out to the public and other entrepreneurs seeking their advice. Dustin
A great company name can jump start your business, but a boring name that doesn't resonate with your customers can hurt it. Although choosing a good name before your company launches is ideal, it is never too late to change the name if a more creative one hits you. In fact, many large businesses hav
Stemming from yesterday's blog post regarding the The Clinton Global Initiative that is currently taking place in Chicago, Former President Bill Clinton has laid out 14 proposals to boost jobs and training, and to make America more competitive in the global market. He also introduced an initiative
Young entrepreneurs can get great advice from hundreds of sources these days, but Eileen Gittins, a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition, has one golden nugget for the young entrepreneurs hoping to make it big: "never give up." Gittins is the founder and CEO of Blurb, a d
The Free Enterprise magazine was honored to have an exclusive interview with former Indiana Governor and Senator Evan Bayh and former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card after their press conference last week. Bayh and Card were previewing their nationwide tour which will educate Americans on how i
Do you have what it takes to be a top salesperson? According to Steve Martin, who interviewed and administered personality tests to thousands of top salespeople, there are 7 personality traits that make up a quality salesperson. Martin's results, featured in Harvard Business Review, include modesty
Most entrepreneurs realize that starting a business makes a 9-5 desk job impossible. The non stop, on-the-go nature of entrepreneurship can make it difficult to stay on top of the endless work that needs to get done. Fortunately, the Wall Street Journal has suggested mobile tech tools that help entr
If you are looking for a leg up with your business, try thinking internationally and expanding your business overseas. A survey done by The Business Journals on Portfolio reports that 23% companies are now becoming global businesses, with this number expected to grow even more in the next few years.
The second annual Jobs For America Summit 2011 will take place two weeks from today, on Monday, July 11th. This is our Campaign for Free Enterprise's free event featuring keynote speaker Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric. Registration begins at 12:30p.m. followed by the program and recepti
Legislation was passed on Thursday to overhaul the U.S. patent system, changing how patents will be granted from previously "first to invent" to "first to file." Most other countries have to "first to file" system which is said to simplify the patent process for businesses filing applications in mul
Mobile commerce is on the rise today mainly because of smartphones and tablet computers. Group SJR and Liz Claiborne Inc. surveyed 801 mobile shoppers, anyone who uses their phone, including a map application, to shop, and found that 660 were smartphone owners, 141 were feature phone owners, and 230
The terms inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference in innovators because they can be either linear, evolutionary, or non-linear, revolutionary, thinkers. As the Harvard Business Review explains, evolutionary innovators tend to make increme
In order to create an "exceptional start-up," you must have several strong qualities. Naval Ravikant, co-maintainer of AngelList and Venture Hacks, two great resources for entrepreneurs, shared what he believes are the 5 best qualities of an exceptional start-up at the Founder Showcase Event. In the
Although the current national unemployment rate is 9.1%, a third of employees are ready to drop everything and quit their jobs. According to a survey by Mercer LLC which surveyed 2,400 U.S. workers, 40% of the people on the edge of their seats are workers aged 25-34 and 44% are workers younger than
Good news: economic data reported today is better than expected! Jobless claims fell, housing starts rose, and futures are down, according to the Wall Street Journal. This unexpected data has people looking up for a change.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
Jobless claims fell to 41
As almost everyone is aware, today's economy is in trouble. Only 54,000 jobs were created in May, which is only a third of what is needed to decrease the 9.1% unemployment rate. The blame has been placed on many people and policies but TIME has identified what they describe "destructive myths" about
Time and time again we are reminded of the strangling effect regulations have on job creation and yet the White House's job creation strategy includes tax increases and the formation of another council on jobs. Business owner Bernie Marcus, like many other business owners and entrepreneurs, has had
Stan Anderson has brought more than four decades of experience to his current role here as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Campaign for Free Enterprise. Anderson's latest efforts to fuel job creation and economic growth by promoting free enterprise manifest themselves recently in a le
Recent college graduates may find themselves asking the question: Do I want to pursue my dreams or do I want to eat? With a disheartening job market, it may seem like following your passions is an idealistic thought of the past. However, according to Lane Wallace with The Atlantic, it is possibl
The Obama Administration is considering a temporary cut in payroll taxes due to the rising unemployment rate which reached 9.1% in May, its highest point all year. Due to the hard economic times today, they are hoping this tax cut would help accelerate job
Good news, although May's hiring numbers were lower than expected, the majority of small business owners said they are planning on hiring new employees this year. According to Manta, the world's largest online community for promoting small businesses, 57%
The changing world today continues to reshape the job market. As farming and ranching are going out of style, jobs such as social media strategists, massage therapists, and accountants are quickly taking the lead as the fastest growing jobs. According to Boston, the quickest growth is in jobs that r
At business schools all around the country, students spend months creating start-up businesses in which they enter into business-plan competitions with. Winning these competitions is not just for pride, but for monetary rewards up to hundreds of thousands of dollars and getting a head start on busin
Start-ups and entrepreneurs are the focus of the new web comedy, Leap Year, which premiered yesterday on Hulu. Produced by CJP Media, Leap Year follows 5 entrepreneurs as they compete to win money to fund their start-up. As Mashable states, entertaining realism is what you can expect to see from thi
Mobile shopping is now more prevalent than ever before due to new technology in our world today. Some interesting facts you might not have known are that men aged 30-49 do more online shopping than their peers, and movies, music, and games are the most popular items to buy on phones. The infographi
Unfortunately, economic recovery is a work in progress. A disheartening report from the Institute for Supply Management shows a decrease in manufacturing and the U.S. Dollar falling further against the Yen. An article from Yahoo! Business gives insight into the startling statistics. We know that m
The job figures for May have been released, and they are pretty disappointing. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Chief Economist Dr. Martin Regalia, issued the following statement in reaction.
“While we don’t want to make too much out of one data point, the latest jobs report is a clear indication t
Do you think that small businesses have enough power in Washington? According to the Wall Street Journal and Harris Interactive, more than 90% of people believe that small businesses are undermined. In a poll of 1,000 adults, most people felt that small businesses don't have a big enough voice in Wa
Editor’s Note: This post by Kevin Schmiegel, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
As the sounds of Memorial Day parades fade away – the grills are covered and the flags are stowed until Independ
Millennials, more commonly known as Generation Y, are the most likely generation to become small business owners. The Entrepreneurial Mind by Jeff Cornwall says this is due to more students studying entrepreneurship and having more resources available to start their own business. Cornwall found that
Are you happy with your job? According to the Huffington Post, people are less satisfied with their jobs today than they were at the peak in February 2008. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index poll said that 87.5% of people were satisfied with their jobs in April, down almost two percent from
With unemployment at 9% it could take until 2016 to reach its natural level, the theoretical measure of what share of the workforce would be unemployed under ideal conditions in relation to the structure of the economy. Unfortunately, economists have suggested that this "natural" rate of unemploymen
Big news from the Campaign for Free Enterprise—we’ve hit the ground running with a national Voices for Jobs Listening Tour, which will run throughout the summer and be featured at our second annual Jobs Summit on July 11 in Washington, D.C. Through the tour we’re meeting with business owners and asp
Silicon Valley is known for its start-up company schools who breed the most successful entrepreneurs. The newest of these company's is SSE Labs, started a year and a half ago. Why this company stands out above the rest is due to its close ties with nearby Stanford University and other prominent Sili
The Campaign For Free Enterprise's Center For Entrepreneurship has released its 2011 Legislative Agenda which features plans to support numerous Acts designed to further the efforts of entrepreneurs and fuel job creation. The 2011 Legislative Agenda identifies immigration, tax, patent reform, capit
Small businesses rely on high productivity to maintain a competitive edge. Providing the right kind of employee feedback is key to increasing or decreasing productivity. Research from Strategy+Business measured three types of employee feedback: positive, indirect negative and direct negative to see
Well-known investor Peter Thiel, former PayPal CEO and an early investor in Facebook announced the appointment of his first members to the 20 under 20 Thiel Fellowship. However, according to Tech Crunch, Thiel found the entrepreneurial candidates so remarkable he appointed 24 fellows rather than onl
Entrepreneurs are a unique breed. Most have certain attributes like the ability to take risks, a hardworking attitude and a penchant for independence that lead them toward a life of entrepreneurship.
John Baldoni, leadership development consultant, executive coach, author and speaker, discuss
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in Free Enterprise Magazine, which provides news and views from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
At the Wall Street Journal’s “How I Built It” panel during America’s Small Business Summit on May 23, moderator Colleen DeBaise, small business editor for
Good news for recent college graduates! As the economy improves, those graduating college in 2011 have better chances of finding a job than students who graduated a year ago. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that these odds only apply as long as graduates are looking for employment in th
Editor’s Note: This post by Tom Donahue, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Donahue is president and CEO.
It may not be immediately evident, but intellectual property (IP)—embodied in trademarks, patents, and copyrights—is indispensable to Am
Business success stems from growth. Growth doesn't only come from an increase in the number of sales, customers or profits. It also comes from change. This can mean trying new products, offering new services, adding new technology or even attempting new ventures.
However, change is a scary w
This past week, the U.S. Census Bureau released data on the powerful economic contribution of veterans to the American economy. They found that vets owned around 2.4 million, or nine percent of all small businesses in 2007.
The Census Bureau also found that in 2007, vet-owned businesses prov
Today is the first day of America's Small Business Summit in Washington D.C.! If you forgot to register or couldn't make it to D.C. this year, you can still participate in the summit through their virtual tab on Facebook.
Go their their Facebook page and click the Like button to gain access t
Do you ever find yourself stressing before an important job interview? Maybe you don't know what to wear, don't know what questions to ask, or barely know anything about your potential employer. With the help of Monster.com's Interview app, you can now go into an interview more prepared and a lot le
As demand from emerging markets continues to grow, the American dollar still remains below its pre-recession strength. Stemming from these facts, TD Economics, a research affiliate of TD Bank Group, released a report saying they expect small business exports to expand substantially over the next fe
People often use the word "innovator" as a synonym for entrepreneur, but are the two really the same? Undoubtedly innovation is a part of entrepreneurship, but true innovation is often hard to come by.
Take cell phone technology as an example. According to Young Entrepreneur, the first cellph
We've reached the middle of the 48th annual Small Business Week! This is a time to celebrate the incredible economic power of the 27 million small businesses who create 60 to 80 percent of our nation's new jobs. To honor small businesses during this week, Dal LaMagna, author of Raising Eyebrows:
If you have a blog for your small business or startup company, you probably work diligently to get your content out to readers. After all, what is the point of having a blog that promotes your business or gives industry advice if no one reads it?
There are several great ways to market your bl
In a time when businesses are looking to save money in an unstable economy, choosing what to cut and scale back on can be difficult. When attemping to cost-cut, businesses should be extremely thorough in examining all areas, from holiday parties to office supplies. Every decision needs to be analyze
In the weeks following the success of the Osama Bin Laden mission, nationwide interest in the intense training and skill of the Navy SEALS has peaked. Reuters spoke with former Navy SEAL, Brendan Rogers, who gave an enlightening speech on the lessons he learned during his time as a Navy Seal to
It's National Small Business Week! It's time for the country to honor the 27 million small businesses who support economic growth, job creation and the communities in which they live. Small businesses actually provide over 2/3rds of the nation's jobs!
The theme of this year's celebration in W
Starting your own business can be extremely challenging. It's expensive, time-consuming and at times confusing. However, a business incubator could provide the support every entrepreneur needs in order to overcome these barriers.
A business incubator, also known as a startup incubator, is a p
It's National Small Business Week, and news on the state of American small businesses has been quite confusing lately. Unemployment numbers continues to rise and fall. Some studies report an increase in small business optimism, others a decline. The latest news from The Wall Street Journal may provi
Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has dedicated one week out of the year to small businesses to celebrate the success, hard work and positive economic value of entrepreneurs and small business owners. President Obama has proclaimed this week, May 16th through the 20th, Nat
Americans like to stay busy. We habitually try to avoid boredom by filling our lives with some form of work or entertainment. However, Harvard Business Review believes that boredom can be extremely useful tool to drive innovation. They suggest that the constant activity that fills our daily lives ma
Thom Ruhe of Entrepreneurship.org, recently attended 39th Annual Induction Ceremony for the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Some of the people inducted included George Devol for the industrial robot; N. Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver for the first optically scanned barcode; and Whitfield D
It appears as if the SEC may finally ease the strict rules regarding crowdfunding sites, social networking websites that match small businesses to interested donors. As of now, investors can only make donations and in return receive a small token gift like a T-shirt or a hat. If the SEC changes
Research from the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy shows a high correlation between military service and becoming and entrepreneur. According to The Wall Street Journal, the SBA found that vets with under four years of service and those with over 20 years of services are the
Need help marketing on Facebook? Facebook wants to help! The company recently posted its “Best Practice Guide: Marketing on Facebook.” The guide is intended to serve as a resource on how to use Facebook’s advertising, analytics, plug-ins, and other tools to build lasting customer relationsh
In January, President Obama created the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to help jumpstart America's economic recovery. The council aims to provide support for small business growth, strengthen U.S. competitiveness and help increase job creation. In a piece for the Dayton Daily News,
Social media has been incorporated into virtually every industry imaginable, and although companies tend to look at the efforts of businesses in their own market space to learn and differentiate themselves from competitors, equally valuable lessons can be learnt from observing the practices of compa
The Securities and Exchange Commission began taking more concrete steps toward reviewing regulations for small private firms. As a result, the SEC has formed a Small-Business Committee that will examine the current fundraising rules and how they impede on an entrepreneur's ability to raise capit
Gas prices now average around $3.90 a gallon, according to the American Automobile Association's Fuel Gauge Report. Everyone is feeling the pain at the pump, particularly small businesses.
In some cases small businesses are hurting more at the pump, especially if they make deliveries or drive
To be successful in this economy, innovation is key. The startup, Zipcar, is a prime example of a company that invented their way to success. While car rental services battled for customers at the airport, Zipcar came out of left field and offered a completely new and innovative way for people to re
New research by MultiFunding LLC, found that over half of the startups do not qualify for traditional Small Business Administration backed-loans and therefore must seek funds through alternative means. SBA backed loans only require three to eight percent in interest while these alternative means l
April jobs numbers are in and the picture is cloudy. Portfolio reports that the unemployment rate rose to 9 percent; however, the private sector added jobs in April and non-farm payrolls increased more than expected. So, should we be fearful of another economic downturn or excited that better times
Our culture praises optimism. We have been told countless times that if you believe success will come easily to you, it will. Not only is this statement probably untrue, it can also lead to failure. According to Harvard Business Review, there is quite a big difference in believing you will be succes
With the announcement that unemployment rose to 9% last month it seems surprising that some companies are struggling to fill positions. However, as The Wall Street Journal explains, an apparent lack of talent domestically has left small and large manufacturing companies very concerned about fill
During the economic downturn, industries like manufacturing and construction burdened the already lagging economy. As we move slowly out of the recession, certain industries like healthcare and agriculture have been instrumental to economic growth and recovery.
The U.S Department of Commerce
Chesapeake Bay Candle Company, known for its inexpensive fragrant candles commonly sold at Kohl's and Target, recently decided to build its newest factory in the United States rather than adding an additional to the three it already operates in Asia. Founders, Mei Xu and David Wang, thought the proj
Smaller U.S. exporters seem optimistic about an expansion in global trade in the coming year according to a recent survey. Around 59 percent of the 300 small exporting firms surveyed had high hopes for the global economy, according to The Wall Street Journal. This number represents a 13 percent incr
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual America’s Small Business Summit is coming up fast and we want to make sure you are there!
From May 23-35, you are invited to Washington, D.C. for the opportunity to network with hundreds of small business leaders from across the country, learn new strate
Starting a company requires vast amounts of dedication, hard work, resilience and above all, passion. Whilst an entrepreneur may possess these qualities in abundance a staggering 80 percent of new businesses fail within the first five years, according to a study by Inc. and the National Business Inc
Despite the fact that the limelight has been well and truly focused on the entrepreneurial successes of twenty-something whiz-kids, it is important to understand that they do not represent your "average" entrepreneur. The Zuckerbergs of the world are few and far between and this is arguably because
Since the 60s, each U.S. President has dedicated one week out of the year to honor small businesses. This year President Obama declared May 16-20 this year's "small business week." To celebrate Braun Research conducted a nationwide survey of nearly 2000 small business owners in order to paint a pic
Editor’s Note: This post by Margaret Spellings, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Today the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is stepping out in a vigorous way on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (otherwise known as NCL
At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we understand that some level of regulation is necessary in order to maintain citizen’s health and safety, but we believe that currently, there are too many regulations. The excessive regulatory power of the government impedes innovation, progress, job
Tech entrepreneurs seem to be stealing the limelight when it comes to recognition for innovative and game changing new creations. However, some entrepreneurs have focused on less glamorous opportunities and have become very successful in the process. The Wall Street Journal discusses entrepreneurs w
An extensive survey by The Business Journals indicates a significant decline in small business owners' confidence that the U.S. economy will regain its former strength. Three years ago, in the heart of the recession, a resilient 64 percent of American small-business owners believed the U.S. woul
The Securities and Exchange Commission may soon ease regulations that currently limit how private companies raise capital. The SEC is slated to review three areas of regulation: general solicitation rules, the 500 shareholder limit and crowdfunding.
The current rules in place by the SEC pose
According to the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard, the small business economy has shifted into neutral. Wages and hiring in April neither rose nor fell. While on average paychecks were flat for the year, energy and food prices continue to climb requiring an increased percentage of every empl
Happy Royal Wedding Day! This morning millions of people tuned in to watch Prince William marry Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, the daughter of two successful entrepreneurs. Kate's, mom started a party planning business in 1987 that grew into a multimillion-dollar business.
Alth
Try to picture what a typical entrepreneur looks like. Many picture a man in his late 20s to early 30s who recently started some online website, and spends his time talking about venture capitalists and buying the latest tech gadgets. However, in reality, entrepreneurs are a diverse group who come i
Guy Kawasaki's book The Art of the Start, has shaped the lives of young entrepreneurs nationwide. Many of the entrepreneurs who successfully started businesses as a result of Kawasaki's insights may now be looking to sell their companies. Accordingly, Kawasaki spoke with Inc.'s John Warrillow to
Small business success is largely dependent on an innate understanding of the customer. As the needs of the customer evolve so too must the scope of the business serving them. At the heart of a small business's efforts to remain relevant there must exist some form of trend identification. As bus
Entrepreneurs may believe that by keeping their business ideas secret they are protecting them from competition. However, according to Marty Zwilling, CEO of Startup Professionals, stealthy startups actually slow the process of launching a business in a world that demands entrepreneurs to get to mar
As the economy begins to heal, companies need to focus on retaining their top employees and reward them for their hard work. Maintaining a company culture that makes employees happy is key to earning their loyalty.
Yahoo! Finance interviewed three of the top companies that made the list of th
Editor’s Note: This post by Mark Elliot, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Yesterday marked World Intellectual Property Day, as designated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) more than 10 years ago. As we reflect on the co
Following a rich and influential 99 year history the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has begun counting down to the 100 year anniversary of its creation. In preparation for this great achievement the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Nation has published the history of the organization online.
The Blackstone Group has announced the launch of the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, a five-year initiative to mentor startups in North Carolina’s research triangle. The Blackstone Group has put up $3.63 million to the entrepreneurial network which was founded in partnership North Carolina univers
2011 looks to be a promising year in terms of our nation's economic recovery. According to the Startup Outlook 2011 report from investment firm Silicon Valley Bank, 83 percent of startups said they will likely hire new employees this year. This percentage shows a 10 percent increase in hiring co
It's Earth Day. What does "green business" mean to you? Does it mean companies have to manufacture green energy products like solar panel and wind turbines or can a business simply implement environmentally friendly practices in order to do their part?
John Ray of Forbes looked at over 31,300
Editor’s Note: This post by Bill Kovacs, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Happy Earth Day!
Over the last week, the Chamber has focused on a series of clean energy technology initiatives: modernizing water infrastructure; encouraging green
Many successful entrepreneurs have been fortunate enough to have had guidance from an experienced teacher or mentor. These men or women are able to take the lessons they have learned and use them to guide the inexperience of youth. Both teachers and mentors have the potential to shape the visions of
In one way or another, innovation has shaped everything we do; from pouring milk into a morning coffee to logging in to your email. As we engage in these day-to-day activities we rarely take a step back to imagine the people who made them possible. However, if we do take a second to conjure up a
Many companies are comprised of great employees who are all smart, hard working and great communicators. So, how do companies select those to promote? Adam Bryant, in his latest book, The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons From CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed, interviewed over 70 CE
In the face on unemployment, many families across America have come together to launch their own business. While running a business with family has its perks, like trust and accountability, there are some major pitfalls to look out for.
The Wall Street Journal profiled the Mintz family, who t
Although some believe you cannot teach entrepreneurship, several universities are attempting to prove them wrong. Rather than teaching how to write business plans in a sterile classroom setting, the best courses on entrepreneurship require students to experience the risk and unpredictability of
Editor’s Note: This post by Ross Eisenberg, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
There’s enough noise rattling around in the energy and climate debate that it sometimes sounds like an off-pitch band marching past your office window (not that
According to a report released last week by the Kauffman Foundation and Brink Lindsey, senior scholar in research and policy, economic growth is more reliant on free, competitive markets now than it ever was before. Frontier Economics: Why Entrepreneurial Capitalism is Needed Now More than Ever ar
Editor’s Note: This post by Dr. Martin Regalia, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Regalia is the senior vice president for economic and tax policy and chief economist at the Chamber.
Feeling glum on this Tax Day thinking about how much of your
According to government data from the Commerce Department, sales rose for the ninth month in a row. However, March's numbers show the smallest gain since sales began to increase last summer. Total retail sales rose only .4 percent in March compared to 1.1 percent in February.
The rise in gas
Good news for job seekers! The lingering effects of the economic recession are slowly starting to lift. According to the latest government report, job openings in February were the highest they have been in two and a half years. The number of jobs available rose 352,000 in February to reach 3.1
Editor’s Note: This post by, Blair Latoff, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Tax Day doesn't usually engender positive feelings among people, but just days before 2010 tax returns are due to the IRS, small businesses received some good news
While Congress debates over the 2012 budget, entrepreneurs can be sure that the coming changes will affect their businesses. Join us at America's Small Business Summit May 23-35 in Washington, D.C., for our panel Navigating the New Congress: Policies to Understand and Anticipate.
Moderate
Fast Company reports that algae-based fuel could replace up to 17 percent of our oil imports. This slimy green stuff is reported to have some extraordinary powers already used in protein supplements, medication, skin moisturizer and now potentially biofuel.
Many "green" startups attempting to
As limited access to financing continues to hinder the growth and development of startups and small businesses, many entrepreneurs may believe that appeasing the banker by developing a business plan is the most efficient use of time and resources. However, in an article for Inc., John Warrillow
Business models are extremely useful for planning and developing strategy. While they offer guidelines that help entrepreneurs and businesses make decisions, they also constrain and limit options. Business models are usually based on past experiences and successes. However, when circumstances and en
Innovators tend to use certain words when communicating ideas about their products and services. Their language is characterized by talk of revolutions, evolutions and change that they will bring to the world. Although full of hyperbole and metaphor, their word choice is significant because it is a
Business Journal just released its survey on top cities for small businesses. Austin, Texas took the number one spot for the second year in a row for not only small business, but also "entrepreneurial effort and initiative." According to Portfolio.com, only Austin, Charleston, Seattle, and Raleigh m
Regulations are a controversial subject, especially following the budget battle in Congress. At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we understand that some level of regulation is necessary. However, our government must learn to balance their regulatory power with America's dire need for economic g
On April 19, McDonalds plans to hire 50,000 new employees in just one day for its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. Positions available include part-time and full-time crew and management openings.
According to CNN Money, Jan Fields, the president of McDonalds U.S.A, started as a crew member herself i
According to a front-page article in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, President Barack Obama will propose tax increases as well as changes to the tax code on Wednesday. The proposed tax increases will apply to people making more than $250,000 a year. The WSJ Blog "In Charge" discusses concerns tha
Passion is the driving force behind entrepreneurs. This is what motivates them to take risks to launch their own business and work hard to make it successful. Entrepreneurs believe so passionately in their ideas and products, that at times, it may blind them from the truth.
Jeff Cornwall, author
About an hour before the Friday midnight deadline, Congressional leaders compromised on the budget for the 2011 fiscal year, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. However, the national debt remains sky-high and Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on what should be done.
In a spe
According to the Huffington Post, American support for a free market system has significantly dropped. A report by GlobeScan found that the number of American citizens who believe in an unregulated free market ranks lower than even China and Brazil.
GlobeScan's first research findings in 2002
America’s Small Business Summit is coming up soon on May 23-25 in Washington D.C.! On Monday, May 23, there will be a panel discussion hosted by The Wall Street Journal on How I Built It.
You can register here for a special rate ($295) available for young entrepreneurs only.
The panel, mo
This month's Campaign for Free Enterprise newsletter is out! The following is an excerpt from the March issue. To find out more about about the campaign's efforts and exciting developments, sign up here to receive next month's newsletter.
In late February, the CFE launched a new initiative -
As the post-fossil fuel world draws ever closer and development of alternative fuel cells gains traction, countries all over the world are looking to the moon as a very realistic source of the resources needed to fuel the planet. Dr. Barney Pell, Naveen Jain and Dr. Robert Richards who founded Power
As devastating as Hurricane Katrina was for the city of New Orleans, it appears that innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurship emerged unharmed from the wreckage. The New Orleans metro area produced new businesses at a rate well over the national average, with 450 out of every 100,000 adults sta
Small business job creation continued to increase during the month of March. The Small Business Employment Index found that small firms created around 50,000 jobs in March alone.
Similarly, ADP’s National Employment Report found that, “medium-sized” firms made 49,022 jobs and that “small” firms c
Regulations are a controversial subject in our society. At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we understand that some level of regulation is necessary; however, our government must learn to balance their regulatory power with the dire need for economic growth. We believe there is an excessive amount
The Kauffman Foundation's longitudinal survey of new businesses has revealed that tougher lending restrictions resulted in a notable increase in firms being denied bank loans or credit. The survey is yet another indication that increasing regulations are detrimental to the growth of new business.
Entrepreneurs are known for their ability to create and innovate. But without a sales strategy, great ideas are all they have.
Scott Gerber, founder of The Young Entrepreneur Council asked this group of entrepreneurs for their best advice on how to become a better salesperson and ultimately i
In early 2010, six aspiring entrepreneurs were attempting to mold their business ideas in to successful companies. These six small business owners agreed to let a reporter from USA Today chronicle their journey through all its pitfalls and achievements from January to July.
Now, nine months a
Tonight is the NCAA Championship! Butler will be playing UCONN and no one saw it coming. The is the first time in the tournament's history that a number one or two ranked school is not in the Championship. Out of the 5.9 million March Madness brackets submitted to the ESPN tournament challenge,
The following is the U.S. Chamber's Comments on March’s Job Data. For more information on creating jobs, visit the 20 million jobs challenge.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following today’s report that the unemployment rate decreased to 8.8% and 216,000 new jobs were created in March, the U.S. Chamber of C
Editor’s Note: This post by, Blair Latoff, originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
It was a cold morning in Washington, but even Mother Nature couldn’t dampen the energy at our Capitol Hill offices today as the Chamber’s Congressional team was jo
Regulations are a controversial subject. At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we understand that some level of common-sense regulations are necessary, but we believe that there are currently too many regulations that impede innovation, progress and job creation.
In today’s regulation one-pager
The White House met with Senate leaders at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday to discuss possible solutions to the federal budget standoff. The possible budget agreement may cut spending by as much as $33 billion. The Washington Post details the various areas of compromise and disagreement b
Companies always want to fill their positions with the best talent. This is why many tantalize their potential recruits with perks galore like complimentary meals, hair-cuts, drinks, supplies and other policy perks such as allowing pets and more time off from work. Increasingly, many companies o
Barriers to entrepreneurship continue to fall, making it easier than ever to start your own company. Entrepreneurial education is abundant in universities, colleges and communities. Yet, the fear of losing the stable income of a day job still hinders people from taking a risk on their startup dr
Universities across America are looking for ways to innovate and improve the education they provide to students in order that they may better compete globally.
Gordan Gee, president of Ohio State University, told the Texas Tribune that the American university system must reinvent itself to be
Ann Miura-Ko, a venture capitalist, explains in an interview with Reuters that regulations and visa restrictions can significantly harm entrepreneurs and their ability to create companies that create jobs. Here at the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we know that excessive regulations hinder small bus
The founder of messaging app Kik, 23-year-old entrepreneur Ted Livingston, is giving back in a big way. He has donated $1 million to his alma mater to help other entrepreneurs follow in his footsteps. The money will go to the University of Waterloo’s VeloCity Residence, a mobile and digital star
Regulations are a controversial subject. At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we understand that some level of common-sense regulations are necessary, but we believe that there are currently too many regulations that impede innovation, progress and job creation.
In today's regulation one-pager, w
We are quickly approaching a world in which all transactions can be completed with a mobile phone and American Express has taken a giant step toward that world. While this is a pretty cool and innovative product iteration from AmEx, it could be a game changer for entrepreneurs and startups as well.
The supercomputer, Watson, probably best known for beating out it's opponents on Jeopardy, is the brainchild of IBM's Semantic Analysis and Integration Department team lead by Dr. David Ferruci. Although the product of a massive company, Ferruci, taught his Watson team to think like a startup within
This week, 35 aspiring small business owners graduated from Niagara Fall's Entrepreneurial Training Program. The program launched four years ago to promote entrepreneurship and growth of small businesses in the areas.
The city's economic development department and the college's Students in Fr
Editor’s Note: This post by Lt. Col. Kevin Schmiegel (ret) originally appeared in ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Are you a Military Vet or the spouse of one?
If so, then you’ll be interested in yesterday’s launch of a nationwide initiative to help YOU find jobs
America's Small Business Summit is coming up soon May 23-25 in Washington D.C.! On Monday, May 23, there will be a special session on B2B Procurement Matchmaking, hosted by The Latino Coalition. In this session, you can find out how to make money from doing business with the government!
Learn what
The young startup Soundtrckr, a music streaming platform, created its own path to success by breaking free from the mold of other online music services. Soundtrckr delivers advertisement-free content at no cost for all users, across all platforms.
Like other startups, Soundtrckr worked its w
Running a successful small business is simply not possible without converting prospects into customers. Many small business owners have found out the hard way that failure to engage and communicate effectively with prospects will cause the business to suffer and perhaps fail. In an effort to help sm
The world was truly saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Elizabeth Taylor who succumbed to heart failure on Wednesday at the age of 79. The iconic movie star paved the way for modern celebrity branding by combining raw talent with ambition and a focused business mind. As discussed in an artic
Millions around the world do not have clean drinking water. Even developed countries have their fair share of water dilemmas including aging buildings with leaky pipes, pollutants dirtying the water, and climate change makes supply unpredictable.
Future population growth and industrialization
People often think of starting their own business as a way out of the 9-5 corporate world. They want to be their own boss, make their own hours and become wildly successful. While all these dreams are possible through entrepreneurship, there are some hard truths about starting a business that potent
Applicants hoping to be recognized as one of Inc.'s fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in the 2011 Inc. 500 | 5000 will undoubtedly include some of the most forward thinking innovators in the world. Indeed, this elite list of private companies has documented the wealth entrepreneurial br
There is a very elite group of young entrepreneurs emerging; those who have rejected a billion dollars or more from major corporations for their companies. Joining the club is simple: 1) Create an Internet start-up company that takes the nation by storm, 2) receive an offer from a massive corporatio
The AT&T* Small Business Technology Poll has revealed the staggering growth in small business use of, and dependence on, various forms of technology. The poll indicates that use of mobile applications, cloud-based or SAS solutions, Facebook and wireless devices for working remotely have increase
March Madness is one of the most widely-viewed and lucrative three weeks in sports. Viewership increases by 8.4 million hours during the workday alone and over 8.3 million people stream coverage online.
Inc. highlighted three technological innovations in March Madness coverage that are changi
Good news for small businesses! According to a study by Equifax Inc., small-businesses bankruptcies declined in 2010.
Equifax reported an 18 percent drop in bankruptcies when comparing the fourth quarter of 2009 to 2010. This denotes the sixth consecutive quarter that bankruptcy filings decre
The Wall Street Journal highlights how small business owners are helping the people of Japan. It's great that giving back has become integral to the next generation of business, so much so that it's almost a requirement to incorporate giving into your startup model. Check out these examples of small
As the economy slowly recovers from the recession, VCs are investing more money in startups. Silicon Valley remains the number one place for venture capital investment, but as VentureBeat explains, startups in other areas of the country are getting a piece of the "VC action."
The best place to
Most people associate online video with YouTube. However, when it comes to producing online video there are a host of great resources out there. The New York Times previews the major players. Check out the list and let us know if any of these services have worked for you.
The New York Times also
Entrepreneurs Roundtable is launching an incubator for entrepreneurs in New York City, a place that in the past, had limited support for startup companies. The incubator, which will run for three months this summer, will provide guidance to entrepreneurs in the program, as well as allocate $25,0
Network Solutions just released its 2010 State of Small Business report on social media usage by small businesses. The report shows Facebook is used by 27% of small businesses for business purposes. This number is up 10% from last June.
This is stunning growth and another data point suggesting
Talk pertaining to job creation is widespread as the economy slowly recovers. Few conversations however have identified beer as a possible source of job growth. The BEER Act was introduced by two U.S senators in an attempt to create jobs in the nation's small breweries.
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass
Earlier today, we reported that small businesses are planning to spend money to invest in growth. Despite this good news, Americans are still worried about the economy. This worry is driven largely by rising gas prices and the federal budget concerns. Economic worries hit their highest level in 12 m
Another sign that the economy is turning around - a new survey indicates that small business owners are planning to begin increasing investment in their companies so that they can grow. A Brother International survey found an 11 increase in plans for expansion over last year.
The Jacksonville Bus
[caption id="attachment_5561" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Students from Steve Blank's Class at Stanford"][/caption]
Today's entrepreneurs are innovating and paving new paths that have little or no precedent. This means educating them is a new and unique challenge because there are few
Samuel Adams used storytelling, complete with characters and a plot, to help Americans understand his arguments during the Revolutionary War. Today, the Public Affairs Council wrote on their blog that the Campaign for Free Enterprise is using a similar strategy to inform Americans about the power of
Calling all young entrepreneurs!
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's annual America's Small Business Summit is right around the corner - and we want to see you there (so much so, we have a special discounted rate just for you).
From May 23-35, you are invited to Washington, D.C. to join over 50
At the Kairos Society Global Summit, the Campaign for Free Enterprise interviewed entrepreneur Jonathan Hefter about his startup, NeverWare, a next generation cloud computing company.
Hefter's product, the NeverWare juicebox server, allows his customers to increase the speed of their technologica
This op-ed by Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, appeared in USA Today.
A combination of federal, state, and local regulatory red tape is preventing American businesses from creating nearly 2 million new green energy jobs and generating more than a trillion doll
This is a press release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce regarding the "Hiring our Heroes" initiative which helps military personel transition after they have left the service. At the Campaign for Free Enterprise, we recognize that our military and veterans protect our free enterprise system and ar
From the time she was a young girl, Jane Wurwand's mother stressed the importance of getting an education, and learning a skill that would guarantee financial independence.
Wurwand went to beauty school, which gave her the skills to later found Dermalogica. Today it is the number one skin-car
At the Kairos Global Summit for Young Entrepreneurs, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Enrico Palermino gives an overview of his innovative product line, Thinklite, which features state-of-the art, efficient lighting technologies.
Palermino also discusses all the things he loves about be
The meteoric rise of new media has presented an opportunity for widespread job creation. However, as The Huffington Post explains, small business owners are often reluctant to hire a full time "tweeter" despite the potential gains. Innovation in social media presents a big opportunity for job cr
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, presenting sponsor of the Kairos Global Summit for Young Entrepreneurs, interviews Evan McGowan-Watson, VP of Sales for BrandYourself.com, a tool to create and promote positive content about yourself across the web.
Click here to see more videos from the Free Ent
Today, we updated the jobs chart that shows how many jobs we'll need to create in order to reach pre-recession employment figures within 39 months of the recession's end. (The worst performing recovery in the post-WWII era took 39 months to get back to prerecession employment levels, so we are compa
MIT student, Ben Gulak presents his invention, the Shredder, a small compact all-terrain-vehicle (ATV), while at the Kairos Society Global Summit in New York.
Ben shares keen insights on the life of an entrepreneur - our favorite is that "being an entrepreneur means spending your time on projects
Entrepreneurship rates are rising due to the fact that thousands of people cannot find jobs. The Kauffman Foundation released a report today that found that more people are launching startups.
According to the report, the spike in new businesses is driven by those who have been hit the hardes
Last week in New York City, the Kairos Society, a non-profit student entrepreneur group and partner with The Campaign for Free Enterprise, came together during their Global Summit in order for young entrepreneurs to meet and share their innovative ideas.
Presenter, John Xie, talks about his star
South by Southwest is a festival held each year in Austin, Texas, known for its convergence of music, film and innovative technologies. The interactive component is a vibrant scene of startups and innovators - a real showcase of American Free Enterprise. People from around the country make the trip
Trading a steady job for the uncertainty of developing a startup from scratch is a daunting undertaking to say the least. Yahoo! Finance spotlights three brave individuals who traded the perks of corporate employment to develop their own business ideas. They encountered numerous challenges, but were
One of our partners, Junior Achievement is commissioning a nationwide survey, the first of its kind,to measure high school students' knowledge of the free enterprise system.
In addition to this survey, Junior Achievement is launching a new "Igniting the American Spirit" program with the financi
The Internet has allowed for the creation of an easily accessible global marketplace. It is simpler than ever to reach millions of people around the world. As easy as it is to connect, few local small businesses attempt to compete in the global market.
Jani Penttinen, CEO of PremiumFanPage, a
Inc. has produced its third-annual report on America's most innovative college start-ups. One of the companies chosen by Inc., Sole Bicycles, was also at the Kairos Global Summit this past Friday. Check out their video above.
The 14 young entrepreneurs they have selected embody the genius tha
Last week, we announced the opening of the Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the Chamber's plan to focus on the needs of American entrepreneurs. Part of the center is an advisory board tasked with advocating for entrepreneurs, small business owners and those launching startups.
Stan Anders
The entrepreneurial world often looks down on copy-cat entrepreneurs as if they have no new ideas to offer. However, Martin Zwilling of Forbes, believes that imitation may actually be the key to success, as long as you provide a new twist.
Zwilling writes that first time entrepreneurs can avo
Entrepreneurs are unique and important to our economy because they create businesses that create jobs. That's why we've created the Center for Entrepreneurship to learn about the challenges that entrepreneurs face. We plan to help them have a voice in Washington.
Entrepreneurs are an exciting
Jobs are important to many Americans, including this 5 year old who understands the need for job security.
Nancy Koehn has become an entrepreneurial mastermind. She teaches a class on Entrepreneurial Leadership at Harvard, is a historian who serves as HBS's James E. Robison chair of Business Administration and has written several books on entrepreneurship, branding and leadership. She has also conducted
Starting today, Feb. 25 and tomorrow Feb. 26 the Kairos Society, a non-profit student entrepreneur group and partner of the Campaign for Free Enterprise, will host their third annual Global Summit for entrepreneurs from around the world to network, talk business and share ideas.
According to
Does the battle of the sexes play a role in starting a business? Are men or women more adept to business creation? Or, is it impossible to say one way or the other whether men or women have a predisposition to start a business? Regardless, the female perspective on starting a business, as discussed
Much debate exists over the merits of the feemium business model. Nevertheless, if you are considering implementing the model for your company, then Mashable has the "how to" guide for you.
Yes, You Should Consider Freemium
First question: Does freemium make sense if you already have a healt
Last week government officials, non-profits groups and entrepreneurs young and old met at the The Future of Entrepreneurship Education Summit in Orlando to discuss how entrepreneurship education should be taught. The conference was hosted by members of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, a partner of
The White House recently launched their "Startup America" initiative with plans to foster, accelerate and motivate growth in American entrepreneurship. This mission is an integral part of President Obama's national strategy for promoting job growth and innovation. Obama and "Startup America" als
Running a home-based business is not small feat; it takes time, dedication, passion, and skill. While you may have these qualities in abundance, no one will deny that filing taxes is an entirely different animal. Accordingly, Inc. has supplied home-based business owners with seven tax saving tip
You have had a moment of pure inspiration and you now hold in your head the next "big idea." What do you do?
The thought of someone stealing your idea may drive you into the shadows where you can develop your concept in private. However, this approach can be detrimental to your business and your
We've often wondered if business owners in America relate to the title "self-employed" or "entrepreneur," but the Wall Street Journal has helped answer our curiosity. Emily Maltby explains that "entrepreneur" is the "sexier" term for people who start or own their own businesses. She explored Goo
As the country has weathered the economic downturn, citizens have experienced variety of emotions from fear to confusion to uncertainty to hope.
Each quarter the Kauffman Foundation surveys prominent bloggers on economic policy to find out their thoughts on the status of the economy. The Entr
Picking your second-in-command is key, not only for your potential exit strategy, but also to help balance the pressures of running your company. However, choosing this person may seem to be a difficult process.
Inc. interviewed Bob Sutton, Stanford professor and author of several business s
President Obama's proposed budget is calling for tax increases for the rich meanwhile, states around the country have already increased a tax that impacts everyone, sales tax. Several states are facing mounting budget crises forcing them to hike up their sales taxes. Increasing these taxes decreases
Starting your own company can be risky, and one way to reduce risk is to bootstrap instead of taking out a loan. Bootstrapping can be tough, but it forces your business to "live within its means."
A post in the American Express Open Forum explains that there are a few key tricks to bootstrapp
In the Huffington Posts' Small Business section, MIT's Entrepreneurship Review offers insight into gathering market research to determine pricing. Many entrepreneurs create surveys of their customers to understand what they are willing to pay for their products. But, these surveys often miss the mar
IBM has created a computer to compete on Jeopardy! Its name is "Watson" and it is an incredible invention because "he" can process language and identify answers. Scientists at IBM have created thousands of algorithms to compute the complexities of human language.
Watson is a privately-funded
Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business professor, Vijay Govindarajan, just released his eighth book The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge. He believes that when companies make mistakes it is not failure, but rather "a knowledge-building exercise." He is determined to spr
The success of a business is dependent on countless factors. Employee performance is one such factor, and it is up to the company boss to motivate and coordinate employees as best they can. Ultimately, the success of the boss will determine the productivity of the employees, and thus the success of
Creating a website for your business is the first step in generating online sales. However, the process does not end there if you are serious about generating revenue from international sales. About.com discusses three ways to harness the potential of global e-commerce.
1. Language.
Sick of the high sugar content in a lot of American food, Siggi Hilmarsson set out to recreate skyr, a fat-free yogurt he ate everyday in his native Iceland. With a recipe from 1913, a little trial-and-error, some seed money, and a lot of ambition, Hilmarsson founded Siggi's Skyr yogurt. Inc. discus
It is a great time to be an engineer as technology continues to thrive and advance. The world is in the midst of a another technology boom that has left very few of the world's best engineering graduates wanting to start their career in the U.S. This has created a shortage of the best engineering ta
It's Valentine's Day, and love in in the air! What better way to show your love than to run a business together? Running a business with your significant other can wind up meaning you are on the job 24/7. According to the Wall Street Journal, about one-third of family businesses are run by husband a
Across the board, unemployment rates have doubled. However when comparing the unemployment rate of high school graduates to college graduates, The Economist reports it is much higher for those with only a high school diploma: 9.4% compared to 4.2%. The good news however, is that unemployment rate i
If you are an entrepreneur working on starting and growing your business, you may find yourself strapped for cash in any given month. Although your annual revenue may be high, your cash flow may not be as regular as you would like to be.
Small Business America of the Huffington Post asked the
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for those with college degrees will likely grow twice as fast as job opportunities for high school graduates. The Atlantic reports that the U.S. will see a large increase of job opportunities in health care as well as the consulti
Small businesses are finding innovative ways to work with employees. We've heard a great deal lately about the power of the cloud and how it enables collaboration from all over the world. Well, the future of the cloud may already be here. There's a growing trend of "cloudworkers" - employees who
Yesterday, the U.S. Chamber sought to bring attention to the burdensome impacts of the 1099 reporting mandate on America’s job creators.
Blair Latoff shares our perspective below. This post originally appeared on ChamberPost, the official blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The U.S. Cham
The number of America workers filing jobless claims dropped more than expected this week in a sign that we might finally be seeing real job growth.
The Wall Street Journal reports,
Initial jobless claims dropped by 36,000 to 383,000 in the week ended Feb. 5, the Labor Department said Thursda
The recession has been rough for many startups and small businesses alike. Some businesses are able to ride out the storm by having a clear goal and a penchant for hard work. Giveacar is excellent example of this.
Recent college graduate Tom Chance launched Giveacar in January 2010. Giveacar
The economic recession has not only put countless of Americans out of work, but also barred thousands of young people from even entering the full-time workforce. According to Reuters, young Americans everywhere without and even with college degrees are having difficulty finding work.
Either empl
Editor's note: The following post was written by Megan Bloomgren of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy.
Last week, the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy unveiled a plan for a more secure energy future. The plan includes five critical areas that policy
The Campaign for Free Enterprise Newsletter is out! To receive this newsletter and the latest updates from the Campaign in your inbox, sign up here.
Working together in 2010, we turned the dream of free enterprise into a reality. Americans from across the nation — in small towns and big citie
The Congressional Budget Office announced Monday that the federal government recorded a $53 billion budget deficit in January. The federal government has incurred a $424 billion deficit through the first four months of fiscal 2011.
The following article from the Wall Street Journal describes the
We can all learn valuable lessons from pioneers who have come before us. Razor Suleman is one such pioneer. He is the founder and CEO of I Love Rewards. Like most companies, I Love Rewards has seen its share of misfortune and low point, but they choose to learn from the experience and share thos
For generations, Radio Flyer's red wagons have been a part of American childhoods. Radio Flyer wagons have remained an American icon despite competition and technological developments. This is why Free Enterprise took a look at how this startup has continued its success year after year.
In th
It has become common knowledge that factories are closing around the country and American jobs are moving overseas. China's rapid industrial growth is on the mind of government officials and American workers alike.
With the major decrease in manufacturing jobs it may seem as if the United States
Update: You can also watch the remarks live on CNBC and C-Span in your local area.
This post was originally posted on ChamberPost.
By Tita Freeman
In yesterday’s Weekly Radio Address, President Obama provided a preview of his speech here at the Chamber on Monday. The address, entitled,
The jobs challenge chart has been updated. In order for the United States to reach pre-recession employment levels, we will need to add 385,000 jobs every month for the next 20 months! You can learn more about the jobs challenge and what we need to do to sustain a full economic recovery on our jobs
Are you a entrepreneur who doesn't want to work from home, but is not quite ready to rent out a large office space? ShareYourOffice, an online office space locator first launched in Europe, is now bringing it's web solution here to the U.S. Their free website locates shareable office space for busin
The Super Bowl is this weekend and the entire country is getting ready for the big game, including snow-covered Dallas, Texas! Even if you aren't a big sports fan, chances are you'll tune in anyway to see the commercials. These high-profile brands spend millions just for the T.V. time, but there are
Today marks Facebook's seventh birthday! The popular social networking site was founded on February 4, 2004. Facebook has over 500 million users who use the site to connect with friends, family and even brands. That means that site would be the third largest country if it were a country, with more u
It is difficult to identify an individual as the single source of success within a team. Invariably, it is the group as a whole that dictates the success or failure of a project. If the Oscars can teach us anything, it is that success is derived from all facets of an organization.
Fast Compan
For small business owners, paperwork can be a nightmare! You're busy trying to actually run a business and keeping track of critical documents may be the last thing you want to worry about. The good news is that there are quality products out there that can help you get and stay organized so that yo
Finding a quality internship can be tough, especially in a down economy. But, gaining good experience in college can help you make connections, learn critical skills and position yourself for employment after you graduate. With that in mind, finding the right internship is important for your career.
We've heard that small businesses have a hard time finding credit, but that will be changing soon. Credit card companies see small business as a prime market because business accounts are excluded from many new regulations. But, now that the credit is available, small businesses are reluctant to tak
According to President Obama, America has entered into an entrepreneurial arms race with the world. Steven Martin, entrepreneur and author, recently wrote an Op-Ed for Mashable talking about this issue. He believes America needs national support for entrepreneurship in order to improve the economy a
This week, we've written that unleashing small businesses is one of the best ways to create jobs. Well, even after the holiday season ended, January still saw positive hiring growth from small businesses. Is this a sign that the economy is rebounding? You decide.
Small Business News explains,
Being an employee is financially safe for many people. But, for those who have lost their jobs, being an 'employee' just isn't an option right now. Entrepreneurship can be a great alternative, but not if you aren't committed to it. Adriana Gardella writes that too often, aspiring entrepreneurs hit a
If you are thinking about starting your own business, you may be wondering the best way to accept payment. There are many options, but credit card companies often charge for processing payment through them. PayPal may be a good solution for you if you plan to accept payment via credit card.
P
Negotiating is a critical part of every business, but if you don't have experience with it, you might find yourself at a disadvantage. There are different philosophies on negotiation and maximizing your success, but here are a few sure-fire things that you shouldn't do during the process.
Inc
Your brand serves as your identity to your customers and other audiences. For a small business, you may think that other areas of your business are more important than your brand, because branding is only for big companies. Well, Noobpreneur disagrees. Mariam Noronha says that branding is critic
The economy and markets are frequently changing. This can be frustrating for some because you can never really sit on your heels - you must constantly innovate to stay at the top. This is something that entrepreneurs are very good at. The best entrepreneurs are forward-thinking, and they are never s
As a nation, we often look for ways to help veterans who have given so much for our country. Veterans have many important skills and can make outstanding employees for a business of any size. With that in mind, here are a few resources that Network Solutions has highlighted that will help you co
We need to create 20 million jobs in order to create all of the jobs that Americans need. We've heard different strategies for creating jobs, and all of these ideas are welcomed.
Mark P. Mills of Forbes.com argues that small businesses are the keys to job creation. Small businesses create new
In order for your business to grow, owners must learn to delegate so that more work can be done. However, for many entrepreneurs, that can be a real challenge. You've built your business and you are probably fearful of letting someone else take control of something related to the company.
Del
Starting your own company can be tricky, but learning from the lessons for others can help you avoid pitfalls. In this video from Stanford's Entrepreneurship Corner, Aaron Levie of Box.net discusses the 5 lessons he's learned from starting his own company.
VentureBeat summarizes these lessons:
This article was originally posted in Free Enterprise Magazine.
By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
January 25, 2011
The single biggest obstacle to job creation, U.S. global competitiveness, and the future of free enterprise is a regulatory tsunami that is unprece
Small business funding has been challenging in this economy. We've shared tips before on tools such as crowdsourced funding as an alternative to traditional funding. Today, Networked Solutions highlighted another funding source that might be helpful if you are looking for additional capital. BoeFly
We keep seeing signs that the economy is turning around, and here is another one - Small Business Owners plan to expand operations. This means more investing and more hiring! Small Business News explains the findings of a survey showing that small business owners plan to expand operations.
More
Entrepreneurs often need all of the help they can get. The Internet offers many time-saving and cost-effective tools. Natalie Sisson who writes for the "Work in Progress" blog at Forbes.com highlights six of the best tools for every entrepreneur. The tools include bill payment and invoicing tools, t
[caption id="attachment_4095" align="alignnone" width="404" caption="Courtesy of Small Business Trends"][/caption]
Now that many small businesses are going to be hiring again, they are looking at new, innovative tools to help them find the best candidates. So, if you are a small business looking
Email newsletters are a great way to connect with customers and prospects. Your newsletter likely has outstanding content and great messaging. Now, it's time to take it one step further and use your newsletter to interact with customers in social channels, too. Gail Goodman of Entrepreneur.com e
Entrepreneurship has many benefits- job security, independence, work-life balance, etc. But, it can also be risky and can take a while before your venture is profitable. However, part-time entrepreneurship could be perfect for you! By keeping your "day job," you can avoid the financial risks of qu
[caption id="attachment_4055" align="aligncenter" width="496" caption="Source: Fast Company"][/caption]
Google is known as one of the most innovative companies, but Fast Company points out that their greatest innovation might not be a product at all. Google has long been led by a management team,
Many companies start with a free model and then start charging after developing a loyal customer base. Other companies face rising production costs and have to raise their prices. Unfortunately for many of these companies, customers do not always respond positively to price increases. So, Inc. prese
Small businesses have often led the way for economic recovery, but through the current economic recovery small businesses haven't hired at the same rate. The good news is that small businesses are showing signs of increased hiring, an indication that the economy may be ready to really ramp up. B
President Obama has announced that tomorrow's State of the Union address will focus on reducing the deficit, decreasing unemployment and boosting America's ability to compete with global economic rivals.
BusinessWeek reports that Obama will be discussing working towards reaching longer-range
Satellite offices are becoming increasingly common as communication technology continues to advance. Remote office locations not only cut costs, but also allow businesses to recruit the best talent from around the country. They can be a great option for startups since they reduce costs and can help
[caption id="attachment_4001" align="aligncenter" width="160" caption="Courtesy of Starbucks"][/caption]
When credit cards became widely used, they represented an innovation in payment technology. Now, we are seeing a new breakthrough - the ability to pay with a mobile phone. If you own a retail
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2010 Report released yesterday estimates that 250 million people between 18-64 years old are actively engaged in starting or running new businesses in 59 economies around the globe. That seems positive, however Dr. Jeff Cornwall encourages "policy makers to look b
When building out the thought leadership strategy for your small business, be sure to incorporate a blog that enables you and your company to share opinions and trends. Grow Smart Biz has put together a list of 5 types of blog posts that will keep your readers coming back for more:
1. How-to’s
Foursquare has revamped it's "business" page to help small businesses make the most of the site. The site will help you create a profile and manage your business' presence on foursquare.
Small Business Trends writes,
As a Foursquare-using brand, the site will hold your hand to help you creat
The end of January is quickly approaching, so it's time to think about filing your taxes. We learned earlier this year that even the national taxpayer advocate believes the tax code is just too complicated. Trying to navigate all of these complicated rules may require the help of a professional. We
Earlier this week, President Obama announced an executive order calling for a review of existing regulations and their impact on American businesses. While this review is welcomed, it's important that all regulations be re-evaluated, including financial, energy, health care and labor regulations
Starting a business has many rewards: independence and job security to name a couple. But, it can also be a scary or risky endeavor. Ali Brown of Forbes thinks it's all worth it. She writes that you can't win or find success if you don't play the game. She encourages entrepreneurs to take a well-cal
Handling the taxes for your small business is a daunting prospect. Accordingly, All Business has identified four areas you should address should you decide to seek help from a professional.
Tax preparation and filing isn't easy at the best of times, but with business ownership comes new respons
If you are thinking about selling your business, there are several steps you should take before looking to sell. In order to ensure a business is prepared for the selling process business owners need to take the necessary actions. Noobpreneur has provided a list of questions all business owners shou
Renting office and retail space has become a thing of the past for many startup companies. According to Inc. more than half of small businesses in the United States today are based out of the entrepreneur's home. This number represents 15 million home-based businesses which create about $500 bi
Over time, the format for teaching and learning in the classroom setting has remained stagnant. Students are typically lectured by teachers and professors during the school day and later attempt to apply what they learned on work outside of class hours after it was taught.
Forbes talked to S
With unemployment still hovering at 9.4% and the underemployment at 19%, plenty of Americans are looking for work. Gallup's recent poll confirms that the number one issue on the minds of Americans is job creation and reducing unemployment. Our analysis shows that we need to create 345,000 jobs per m
The Campaign for Free Enterprise is the proud lead sponsor of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, an organization dedicated to teaching young people the value of entrepreneurship. This week, Entrepreneur.com highlighted their strides in entrepreneurial education.
When he was 16 years old, Michae
The Internet has fundamentally changed the way we communicate, do business and spend our time. But, we all know that more changes are in store for this incredible tool. Mashable interviewed 6 web pioneers and asked them what they think the future of the Internet holds.
1.Steve Case, Co-Founder
[caption id="attachment_3706" align="aligncenter" width="380" caption="Kathy Doherty (l.) and her tennis and business partner, Ruth Marvin Webster, started a small business after Ms. Webster was laid off. Net Wit markets tennis shirts with clever sayings on them. Fred Greaves/Special to The Christi
It's been over a year since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti and the country is still struggling to recover. Yet, despite the devastation, there is reason for hope. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center reports that despite a rough economy and other disasters, businesse
The Oregon Ducks may have lost the BCS National Championship Game, but they sure looked good doing it. Nike sponsors the Ducks, so they designed their uniforms to maximize the appearance of speed. Their design is considered unique and innovative, and Nike designers explain what they were thinking.
Starting a business is a great adventure, but one of the risks involved is a potential lawsuit. While lawsuit reform is controversial in political circles,there are a few things you can do to help minimize the risks of a lawsuit for your business. Forbes offers tips from their vast experience in bus
For many entrepreneurs, selling their business and retiring is the ultimate goal. But, for many, this process can be filled with unexpected issues. Dr. Jeff Cornwall of Belmont University says that many students are also unaware of the challenges involved in selling a business. His lecture on ma
If you love science fairs and educational opportunities for young people, then stay tuned! Google is going to host a web-based science fair and plans to award scholarships and job opportunities to budding scientists.
Mashable broke the news yesterday:
The tech giant is inviting students ages 13
The Internet may seem like second-nature to many of you, but it wasn't too long ago that most business owners didn't see a need for a web presence. In fact, about 51% of small businesses still don't have a website. A web presence is a big investment, and many just don't want to spend the time or t
This morning, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue delivered the "State of American Business" address, and he indicated that the Chamber's number one goal this year is to turn the economic recovery into a jobs recovery. Well, we know that small business growth is critical to job creation and
Marketing can be difficult and even painful, but its a huge opportunity for your company to grow, find new customers and expand. Without an effective marketing program, a business may never find success. But, even if you know marketing is important, it can be tough to find the time to market while y
We all know that small businesses play vital roles in our economy, but new data shows that there are more small businesses than we may have thought. In fact, there are 51 metropolitan areas with 25,000 or more small businesses.
Buffalo Business First writes about what this means for the Buffa
Your relationship with your investors is very important. This is especially true because your investors will be with you the whole way, so you will have a tough time if you don't see eye-to-eye.
Mark Suster, a serial entrepreneur, talks about managing your relationship with investors in this Stan
The IRS' National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olsen, has identified the biggest challenge in the tax code this year, and it's the entire thing. Each year, the National Taxpayer Advocate identifies the biggest challenges in the tax code and recommends that Congress take action to remedy them. However
The news for small businesses hasn't been all that rosy recently, but the Wall Street Journal reports that changing consumer expectations may signal an opportunity for small businesses.
Credit markets are opening and businesses are primed for a continued recovery. However, many consumers have
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released December employment figures today. They reported that the private sector had an overall gain of 103,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate improved from 9.8% in November to 9.4% in December.
Below is the latest chart indicating the rate at whic
Cutting costs can be critical to business success. As we wrote about yesterday, one of the primary reasons small businesses fail is because the numbers just don't add up. When costs exceed revenue, a business can't survive. So, here are a few simple ways to save some money this year, courtesey o
Training employees is usually a daunting task, especially in a start-up. You have so many things to do and little time and resources to make it happen. But, you know that training can be critical to your success because a well-trained staff will be more efficient and productive. Employees also l
Technology is letting customers communicate easily and loudly. This means that customer service problems can really hurt your business from a reputation standpoint. Of course, poor customer service can also prevent repeat purchases, but either way, top notch customer service will help your business.
We love to give you tips to make your business successful, but we think it's also useful to look at the reasons why a small business might fail. Knowing these reasons might help you avoid having to close up shop. If your business has ever failed, let us know why it happened and what you might do
The Foundation at Revision3 interviewed Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter, about his path to entrepreneurship. The video is a good one and definitely worth a watch, but it is long. So, here are the highlights:
Dorsey always had a fascination with maps, urban traveling and emergency dispatch as
Small Business Idea brings you Foursquare 101. Check out these tips for putting your small business on the Foursquare "map". You can also see examples of promotions that other businesses are running:
Does your business have a physical location? You can attract new and repeat customers plus prom
Did you know there are more than a trillion URLs in Google’s index? The fine folks at Mashable have done their homework and come up with the 10 sites they think are going to be BIG in 2011. Did they miss any?:
1. Kickstarter
Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform for creative endeavors, was
[caption id="attachment_3486" align="alignnone" width="100" caption="Max Chafin, Senior Writer at Inc. Magazine"][/caption]
The New York Times reported that Goldman Sachs recently purchased a stake in Facebook. The deal reportedly values Facebook at $50 billion. Max Chafkin of Inc Magazine argues
48ers is a new tool for monitoring social media. You've heard from social media experts that monitoring the conversation around your brand and competitors can be critical to your success, but finding the right tool to do this monitoring can be a challenge. We'll Networked Solutions has found a g
Do you struggle to find quality employees to help your business grow? Employees are a critical part of a growing business, and you need talented, dedicated help to keep your company going. Dan Finnigan, CEO of Jobvite, offers advice on finding and retaining top employees. He predicts a "War for Tale
Now that the holiday season is behind us, it's time to take a look back and assess how it all went. One of the biggest trends this year in online sales was customer service - it turns out that customers care how they are treated. Amazon and Netflix topped the list of winners with 86 percent customer
Yesterday we posted on how companies can help their customers do good things. Well, it turns out that customers are becoming more and more important to companies' CSR (corporate social responsibility) efforts. Fast Company analyzed several CSR reports from 2010 and identified the top trends in CSR f
Rural small business is seeing an uptick, after a prolonged period of decline. Recent trends, such as an emphasis on buying local and an increase mobile phone usage.
Small Business Trends elaborates on these developments:
1. Local Foods: Farmers are the next food stars.
Local foods made up
We've often discussed the philanthropic work of many companies as they work both to make a profit and to give back. Well, Inc. takes this concept one step further by explaining how companies can help their customers do good as well.
Encouraging Customers to Do Good: Tap Customers as a Resource
It's a brand new year, and that means endless possibilities. For entrepreneurs, 2011 might signal a new golden era. This year may have the perfect mix of technology, innovation and investment to help entrepreneurs thrive. We hope 2011 shows the world the power of American Free Enterprise.
Ven
US Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President, Communications and Strategy and Counselor to the President Tom Collamore has a few resolutions for Congress in 2011. He urges Congress to help American business stay competitive by reducing regulatory burdens and taxes. Do you have other resolutions
In this Forbes video, MassMutual CEO, Roger Crandall, says many small business owners don't have life insurance and that they need it. Do you think life insurance is a 'must have' for small businesses? Watch the video and decide.
InVivo is an innovative start-up that hopes the help victims of spinal cord injuries. The start-up recently received $13 Million in funding to help them help others.
Fast Company writes,
InVivo Therapeutics, a biotech company focusing on spinal cord injuries, got a fresh $13 million in fundi
With the economy improving, many companies are looking to fill spots as their business grows. This is a great time to consider promoting from within. A well-defined career path can help you retain talent because your employees will see room for growth with your company.
Inc. explains strategies f
We often feature stories of success, but here is a unique one. This teenpreneur has launched several successful iPhone apps and continues to build his company. He has made the most of unique opportunities to learn, and he is a great role model for us all. This inspirational teen has the right mixtur
Video is one of the most engaging formats for media online. A great video blog can drive traffic and build relationships with customers. Many companies struggle with creating and editing videos, but Inc. offers four great tools for creating engaging video content, with ease.
1. Windows Live Essen
2010 held many challenges for small businesses, but we hope 2011 will bring more success. There are several signs that the economy is turning around and that small businesses will have an opportunity to thrive. Carol Tice at Entrepreneur.com discusses some of the predicted trends for the new year:
These 10 companies were sold to bigger organizations and rewarded their founders and investors with big pay-days. Business Insider presents the top 10 list:
1. Quattro Sold to Apple for $275 million - Investors: Highland Capital Partners, Globespan Capital Partners
2. ReachLocal went public wi
Some people consider 2010 to be the "year of the apps." We saw new, more sophisticated smart phones, tablets and apps to help people have fun and be more productive on-the-go. With all of the apps out there, Inc. has narrowed the list down to the top business apps of the year.
1. Dropbox (iPad)
Company culture is important - it defines. Most entrepreneurs know exactly what type of culture they want to cultivate strategic and creative thinking, and create a fun environment to work in. But, this is often easier said than done. Encouraging employees to be innovative, above and beyond their jo
You've heard that the country is counting on entrepreneurs and small businesses to lead the economic recovery, but have you ever thought that these companies could be a good bet for you, individually? Babson College Professor Joel Shulman has created a fund of companies with "entrepreneurial attribu
Many businesses are a bit slower as the holidays approach, while some businesses see a boom in business in December. Whether your company's downtime is now or some other time, you can make the most of a little break to help your business thrive. Grow Smart Business offers a few suggestions for spend
Building a company can be a rewarding experience, and many Americans dream of going to work for themselves. However, many would-be entrepreneurs don't understand the challenges that entrepreneurship brings. Venture Beat helps us out, by explaining 6 of the harshest realities that entrepreneurs face.
As companies scramble to develop full-proof business plans for 2011, Social Media Today offers up 14 questions to help guide you through the process.
1. What is my core value I offer customers? Be honest with yourself. What is the core, foundational value you offer customers. How is it unique?
Fast Company has been highlighting the "Change Generation" all year. These are young people who use entrepreneurship to better the world.
In this edition, Neil Shah and Arthur Woods discuss their venture, Compass Partners. They help college students become social entrepreneurs.
Read more a
Smartphone makers claim to increase productivity, but will they really help a small business owner? TJ McCue thinks so. He argues that smartphones can help small business owners drive sales and revenue and deepen engagement with customers.
I have been itching to test the true usability of the
Starting a company is a big investment that requires time and commitment, but sometimes it also requires a backup plan. Markets, customers and even normal life events can change the course of a business. Yet, many entrepreneurs don't know when it's time to make a change to better their business. Luc
2011 is right around the corner, and trend spotters are already predicting the big issues for next year. Noobpreneur writes:
Are you looking for trends and ideas in 2011 to spice up your existing business, or even to start a new one based on one of the ideas? This blog post will let you know wher
US Chamber blogger, Bryan Goettel, writes about the benefits of the tax bill for small business:
Chamber member and small business ower Jason Speer of Quality Float Works, Inc., a 2010Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award Regional Finalist, in a segment on ABC News discussed the positive impac
Barbara Corcoran had a problem with authority, so she became her own boss and found success. In the video below, she discusses her path to becoming a real estate entrepreneur.
The struggle to be profitable is one that many small businesses face, and reducing costs is one way to make that happen. But, some spending is inevitable, so it's important to make sure that the spending is a justifiable investment.
Forbes gives some useful tips for ways for reduce costs:
Me
Citibank has unveiled a new concept in banking - the "bank of the future." The walls are all interactive displays and the bank has free wifi.
Mashable explains the new concept:
Instead of picking up a paper brochure, patrons can use one of the six interactive sales walls with touchscreen capabil
Technology is quickly changing the rules for retail. Consumer spending habits are changing, and they are expecting top-notch service in an ultra-convenient environment. Retail stores tend to realize this most when they the boom of the holiday shopping season is in full swing. So, with that thought i
Small Business Trends reports on how much small business is spending on social media:
What do small business owners view as the most important promotion tool for their small business? Sorry, social networks. It’s not you–yet. According to a Fall survey from Constant Contact, small business owners l
AllBusiness provides tips on planning for your business in 2011:
For most business owners, 2010 is over – at least mentally, if not actually – and if you haven’t started planning for 2011, now is the time to do so.
Here are some quick tips to help guide you through the process.
Conduct a
Jeff Cornwall from The Entrepreneurial Mind provides his thoughts on why small business owners are hunkering down:
Several recent studies suggest that small business owners are hunkering down. As sales have declined, these entrepreneurs have cut expenses and shed debt to survive the Great Rece
Mashable spotlights a few up-and-coming online destinations for small businesses:
When you think of online destinations for professional purposes, social networking sites tailored toward business users — likeLinkedIn — probably come to mind.
Savvy small business professionals will find, howe
Danny DeMichele is an Internet entrepreneur; he is the Founder and CEO of eVisibility and has worked in healthcare, marketing and ecommerce. Noobpreneur sat down for an interview with this pioneer.
[caption id="attachment_3057" align="alignnone" width="148" caption="Danny DeMichele"][/caption]
Lately, we've seen stories of individuals who can't find work creating their own businesses. But, in South Dakota, where unemployment is relatively low, sole proprietorships are on the rise. Workers in SD realize that working for themselves can be extremely rewarding.
From Small Business Labs:
2010 was a tough year for most small businesses, and the latest NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism reflects these sentiments. Dr. Jeff Cornwall of Belmont University writes that small business hiring hasn't dramatically improved, so he expects optimism to be low.
From The Entrepreneurial Mind
Starting a business can be daunting, but there are plenty of inspiring success stories to motivate any entrepreneur. How do you take the inspirational stories and turn them into success for your venture? Kerry Hannon at Forbes explains 7 critical steps for finding your way:
Find a mentor. Wh
Millenials have tremendous spending power and are only gaining more. Reaching them has long been a challenge for marketers, but Mashable offers three tips for appealing to the next generation of power consumers.
From Mashable:
1.Provide Exceptional Social Media Customer Service - Good servic
Many start-ups aren't aware of the intellectual property risks associated with starting a business. While these risks should deter you from opening up shop, they are important to consider. A Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis is a good way to help mitigate risk.
VentureBeat explains:
Recently
Many Americans dream of being in business for themselves. The self-employed report higher rates of job satisfaction than those who work for others. However, most self-employed workers first work for someone else, but some occupations make it more likely that you'll work for yourself later on.
It seems that every other day we read some news about the economy improving and then read news that things are getting worse. This can be discouraging, especially for leaders who are trying to pave the way. So, AllBusiness.com offers four tips for effective leadership during uncertain times.
1)
This time of year can be extra busy and stressful for small business owners, but you're in luck! Mashable is here to help with 9 Web Tools to Keep Your Business Running Smoothly During the Holidays.
1. Box.net (We highlighted an interview with their CEO yesterday) - Box.net enables you to acces
We've heard from fans of our Facebook page that finding capital is one of the top challenges small businesses face. Well, the Wall Street Journal highlights a new trend in funding - crowdsourcing. Innovators have created social networking sites that leverage the power and wisdom of the crowds t
Holiday shopping is often thought to be a good indication of the strength of the economy. If that's the case, then things are looking up! Grow Smart Business reports that holiday sales have been expectations, so far.
Black Friday’s number of shoppers and spending increased. According to data fr
Oprah Winfrey is a household name around the world. She is a pioneering media entrepreneur and is launching her own network - the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). While you may now Oprah, you may not know the woman running her new network - Christina Norman.
Forbes tells the story of Norman's success
Aaron Levie is changing the way documents are housed and exchanges at big companies with his own big idea - box.net. The young CEO says that he saw a real problem and decided to develop a solution.
From Fast Company:
Aaron Levie knew before most forecasters: It's cloudy in Silicon Valley. As
Today at 11am EST, the US Chamber of Commerce is hosting a live fly-in to discuss taxes. Leading tax experts will be on hand to discuss how tax rates will impact the economy at all levels.
Tune in to hear what these experts have to say, and decide for yourself what Congress should do about taxes.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about Google's effort to ask small businesses what their wish for 2011 is. Well, Google is asking another question. They want to know what your business online wish for 2011 is.
Now, we’d like to focus the conversation more specifically on your business’ online presenc
Every year can be a challenge for a small business, but The Street has developed 10 steps to help your small business thrive in 2011. Read the tips below, and then tell us other tips you have for next year.
1. Overhaul your business plan. In a climate as unforgiving as this, stasis is death. So
Inc.'s expert panel identified the top books that business owners should read in 2011. Their recommendations are top-notch and will certainly help any new entrepreneur.
On a related note, the Campaign for Free Enterprise has a list of books that drive the free enterprise debate. While you're
The Internet and sophisticated sharing technologies have facilitated the rise of niche experts. Many of these experts have used their skills to build a celebrity brand in their field. Adam Ostrow at Mashable and Anita Campbell at Small Business Trends are good examples of niche celebrities. Smal
Small businesses often struggle to survive, in fact, the average life of a new business is 12 1/2 years. These 3 Seattle companies have beaten the odds, and have been in business for over 100 years. In From the Seattle Times:
1. There is Mutual Materials of Bellevue. It makes bricks and concre
CreditScore.net created this interesting infographic on Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. Check it out below.
Via: CreditScore Blog
In this video, Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg says if you want more jobs, companies should export more.
Both chambers of Congress continue to debate the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts as their expiration quickly approaches. While Congress debate the merits of extending the tax cuts, Scott Shane at Small Business Trends explains how raising taxes will hurt entrepreneurship, economic growth and job creation
Hear from business owners how tax increases will hurt people of all incomes.
Marketers who take advantage of the Internet's unique capabilities have the potential to build increasingly engaged customer communities. Check out these trends from Mashable:
1. User-Generated Content Contests: Doritos hosted its first Crash the Superbowl campaign in 2007. Like a lot of big co
eMarketer reported on a RatePoint survey from August 2010 that shared two pretty disheartening statistics about small business owners:
47 percent of SMB owners either aren’t sure or don’t think their customers spend time on social media sites.
24 percent of SMB owners don’t think their c
Entrepreneurs are known for their innovative spirit, but what happens when they don't have the resources to implement their dreams? Well, in this case, they find innovative ways to get resources. Dr. Cornwall at Belmont University explains,
Lately, it has been entrepreneurs themselves who have
Another innovation from an entrepreneur, this time it will help non-profits. Facebook co-founder and former director of online organizing for President Obama, Chris Hughes launched a new social networking site to help non-profits and supporters connect. Fast Company explains the concept:
Hughes h
As the economy improves and the holidays draw near, employers are looking for ways to keep their employees happy. Inc. highlights 10 strategies that you can use to make sure your employees thrive.
1. Give People a Voice - "Listen to what your employees say," says Spiegelman. "And don’t just listen
With 2010 almost over, it's a good time to look back at the budding companies that emerged this year. Mashable highlights six companies to keep an eye on as they prepare for their annual gala.
The six companies are:
Instagram - Launched just last month, Instagram has quickly attracted the att
The year is almost at an end and Google wants to know that your biggest wish for 2011 is. The Google team has started a conversation over on their blog asking readers to tell them their wish.
Today the Google Small Business team is kicking off a conversation about the hopes and wishes you have
Many parents struggle with gift ideas for their children, but the Wall Street Journal has a great idea - give them the gift of investments.
You can jump-start a young person's finances by giving him or her the gift of investing with stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Throw in some lessons on how t
With Thanksgiving behind us, it's time to start thinking about the holidays. The holidays bring many needs, including holiday-specific marketing. Small Business Trends explores a few strategies for marketing during the holidays:
CHRISTMAS CARDS
JR Griggs, author of 10 Ways to Put Yourself
Companies often struggle to make the best products, but Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, thinks the solution is pretty simple. He says that companies just need to make products that don't suck.
From Fast Company:
"More than ever before, people like to talk about stuff that sucks," Wales to
The new TSA screening and pat-downs have sparked a national debate, but they have also sparked entrepreneurial spirit. Jeff Buske believes that he has found a way to reduce the danger of radiation and increase privacy with some specially-made underwear. The LA Times writes:
Jeff Buske of Larkspur i
Web start-ups are turning their attention to markets overseas, and they are learning from their web predecessors to find success. The Wall Street Journal writes:
Pioneering Internet companies such as Yahoo, Google Inc., eBay Inc. and the like had virtually no blueprint when they began expanding
Innovation enabled by the free enterprise system is improving education across the country. As the debate continues on education reform, it's great to see that improvements are still being made.
1. Better Simulations and Models:
While a tuning fork is a perfectly acceptable way to demonstrate h
Anita Campbell writes for the American Express Forum that the future is looking up for small businesses. She explains that some of the characteristics of small businesses will be changing. Some of the trends that she predicts are:
Small businesses will get ever more specialized. Customers will
Many companies are using social media in innovative ways. KFC is one of these companies. Last week KFC announced that they will be awarding a scholarship to the student who best explains why they deserve it, via Twitter!
Fried chicken king KFC announced Tuesday on Twitter that the company--repr
Dr. Jeff Cornwall of Belmont University explains that your business model needs to be flexible. Too often, entrepreneurs rely too heavily on their business model and aren't able to change with customer needs.
The research that goes into formulating the business plans that I typically see comes
Video content firm 5min Media was recently acquired by AOL for a reputed $65 million. Check out Fast Company's interview with the CEO where he talks about internet video, content and how to get the big guys to notice new start-ups:
5min Media may not be a household name, but the firm's salegene
Amazon is inviting filmmakers and scriptwriters to submit their movies and screenplays:
Good news, aspiring film auteurs: Online retail giant Amazon.com has announced its plans to start Amazon Studios. The venture, part contest and part investment fund, is inviting filmmakers and scriptwriters
This Friday, Fast Company will host a talk with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and they want your questions!
Send your questions to ideas@fastcompany.com along with your name and city. We'll select a handful of questions to ask during our interview, which will be live-streamed from the Whi
It's Global Entrepreneurship Week, and one group of teens in New York unleashed their entrepreneurship spirit with a bake sale.
They had earned a couple hundred dollars before a city council member had the police shut them down for lack of a permit. The teens and their mom didn't know that th
Richard Branson explains that entrepreneurs are very important and have the potential to enact real change in the world. What do you think?
We're focusing on entrepreneurship all week in honor of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Today, Entrepreneur.com writes that entrepreneurs must also be good 'intrapreneurs.' An intrapreneur is someone who helps a company grow from within - from employees.
Entrepreneurs often pride themselves on be
It's day two of Global Entrepreneurship Week, and we are continuing our week-long celebration of entrepreneurs everywhere.
Free Enterprise: The Lightguard Story is the tale of Michael Harrison’s idea to safeguard the lives of drivers. Tragedy inspired his innovation, and we celebrate Michael’s i
From Mashable:
When the dot-com bubble burst in early 2000, many investors lost 80% to 90% of their net worth; some lost even more. The CEOs of those tech startups fared no better. Many companies that were once million dollar babies soon became the laughing stock of Wall Street. But, after a slow
Young Entrepreneur Profiles 50 inspiring female entrepreneurs from the lastest edition of Self-Made Magazine:
We’re thrilled to announce the latest issue of Self-Made Magazine, which launched last week, and we’re especially excited about our cover story, “50 Women Entrepreneurs Who Inspire Us.” Wh
It's Global Entrepreneurship Week! Today, the Wall Street Journal discusses the best countries for entrepreneurship and breaks down some of the key numbers:
What's the best place in the world to start a business? Denmark.
What country has the biggest share of women who launch new businesses? P
Today is the first day of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a weeklong celebration to inspire people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. Check out this video below and check back often for updates throughout the week.
Check out our Facebook page for other great content this week!
PBS gives entrepreneurs a chance at fame in the show Everyday Edisons.
Creating new products is often a long, lonely process. But one PBS show gives would-be inventors a shot at the limelight with its series Everyday Edisons.
Better yet, for its fourth season, the show has done away with in-
Donna Fenn responds to Scott Gerber's piece "Why 'Be Passionate' Is Awful Advice" by defending entrepreneurial passion:
Who knew that passion could be such a controversial topic? But thanks to my blogging partner, Scott Gerber, passion is in fashion on The Entrepreneurial Generation. So I can’t
Howard Greenfield reveals the secret life of stat-ups in Silicon Valley:
As an Executive-in-Residence this year at one of Silicon Valley's largest growth stage incubators (Plug and Play Tech Center), my outlook on start-ups is bullish.
After an opportunity to meet dozens of early stage tech
There are benefits and drawbacks to companies of all sizes, but the size of your company does impact how you develop and grow your company. Mark Wolf explains in Forbes:
It should come as no surprise that small businesses with more than 50 employees are quite different from those with fewer tha
Download the full report.
Small and big businesses have long helped strengthen the U.S. economy and each other. Today, U.S. businesses of all sizes are struggling to recover from the world financial crisis and great recession. A paramount challenge for our government is to put in place policies t
In business news, Google is stepping up their efforts to retain top talent by giving employees a bonus and a raise. From BusinessInsider:
Google has given all of its employees $1,000 cash "holiday bonuses" and 2011 salary increases of at least 10%, a loyal reader tells us.
The 10% company-wide r
From BizSugar:
1. Do vote on articles other than your own submissions. This probably sounds obvious, but votes like comments have a beneficial effect. Imagine how nice it makes you feel when others vote for your article. How much more does it make you want to check out and vote for someone else’s w
VentureBeat explains that this is the Golden Age for Start-ups:
The velocity of good ideas – There has been a lot of talk recently about “lean start ups” and “pivoting”, but if you don’t have a good idea to start with, all the pivoting and lean thinking in the world won’t amount to anything.
Entrepreneurs often face the daunting question of when to sell their company. Steven Davidoff of the New York Times explains that there isn't a right or wrong time to sell a business, rather you should sell a business when the founders can no longer move it forward.
Venture firms also invest by bu
Today is Veterans Day, a day to celebrate those who have served our country in the past and present. So, today we just want to take a moment and say thank you to all our veterans and active service members.
The business community works to support veterans when they return home. Learn more abo
According to a new exit poll, Americans want jobs most of all:
"The most widely accepted narrative to emerge from the 2010 midterm elections, in which Democrats took a "shellacking" and lost the most congressional seats since World War II, was this: Sick of liberal overreach, voters—especiall
David Brooks of the New York Times discusses why America's economic identity is still very unclear:
"Bill Clinton used to talk about building a bridge to the 21st century. President Obama talks about laying down a “new foundation.” But Clinton was always vague about what the land on the other sid
Ideas from Politico on how U.S. patent laws help ensure that we continue to lead the world in innovation:
"Every year, U.S. companies, large and small, invest billions of dollars in research and development, pursuing the next technological breakthrough that could forever change the American w
FastCompany reports on how an idea from four Harvard women led to a very successful venture:
"Every so often an idea comes along that stops you in your tracks. sOccket did this for me (great name too--so smart and simple). It's an incredible demonstration of the power of a simple idea, of the
FastCompany reports on why Kansas City is a great place for startups:
"Kansas City is home to the Kauffman Foundation, a $2 billion organization dedicated entirely to research and funding of entrepreneurial efforts. And beginning February, entrepreneurs will descend upon the city in KC’s vers
US News and World Report: The administration is running out of time to lower unemployment and fix the economy
"It was the worst of times for the Democrats and the best of times for the Republicans—almost. The GOP did not succeed in capturing the Senate, or dethroning the Democratic leader, but w
Before you start a business based on your favorite hobby, ask yourself these 9 questions from Inc.
"Follow your dreams.
Turn your passion into profits.
Do what makes you happy.
This is lovey-dovey utopian nonsense. This sort of advice would have you believe that if you simply put your
According to the results of a new survey, military personnel were more satisfied at work than many in the private sector.
"Would your employees rather be working for a drill sergeant than for you? Quite probably, according to the results of a new survey of the “10 Most Blissful Workplaces” by Car
The Wall Street Journal reports the Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.7 points to 91.7 last month:
"Small-business activity in the U.S. picked up in October, and job creation turned positive, according to a report released Tuesday that also took government economic policy to task for failing t
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh says that corporate culture must be the top priority for companies. Watch his insightful lecture below.
Forbes highlights 20 businesses that are very successful, but that you've probably never heard of.
While visiting Las Vegas in 2004, auto-dealership fleet manager Rico Elmore decided he needed some stylish sunglasses for his honeymoon. Elmore is six-foot-three, weighs 300-pounds and has a head
The days of "if you build it, they will come" are long over. Leigh Buchanan explains that new tactics are needed to generate demand.
Not long ago, entrepreneurs expressed their faith in the relative balance of production and consumption with a movie quote: If you build it, they will come. Those
With the year wrapping up, here are some tips from the Wall Street Journal to end the year on a good note.
1. Retool your business plan. The economy has changed, and your company has to change with it. Take whatever isn't working and scrap it. If you haven't looked at your business plan
Inc. sits down with fashionista and entrepreneur Eileen Fisher to discuss her keys to success:
"When Eileen Fisher started her namesake company in 1984, she had $350 in the bank and a basic idea: that women wanted chic, simple clothes that made getting dressed easy. The modular line -- pieces
Check out Forbes' Secrets of the Self-Made special report:
"What does it really take to make--and keep--a huge fortune these days? For the inside scoop, we turned to those folks who truly know best: self-made billionaires. For our Secrets of the Self-Made special report, we surveyed some of A
Mashable writes that Twitter has hired Adam Sharp, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu’s (D-LA) former deputy chief of staff, to help teach our elected representatives how to use Twitter to communicate with constituents:
The newest Twitter employee was quick to stress that he won’t be lobbying for telecommun
New survey shows small businesses are feeling optimistic about the economy.
"The Small Business Marketing Practices Survey polled small business owners to find out about their marketing plans for next year. Entrepreneurs plan to increase their online and offline marketing budgets, with the bi
Mashable asked angels, seed stage investors and VC firm partners to share their wisdom. Check out their best advice and tips:
"The web and technology bubble has a lot in common with the rest of the business world in that there are essentially two disparate groups — the haves and the have nots
Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. A number of Facebook’s early employees are moving on to build their own businesses.
"SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook, the most successful start-up of the last decade, is only six years old, and an initial public offering is still a way off.
But a numb
Jeff Cornwall posts on why he's not so sure the results of the election this week are the start of a fundamental change:
"The back and forth of power between the two major parties are like waves on a beach. While each wave gives the illusion of change as it drives the water in and out, the level
Recent report from the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce shows the number of women-owned businesses is growing in number, but those businesses’ sales are actually declining:
"For years, we have heard how women are starting more small businesses than men are. But a recent report from the U.S. Women
Tips from AllBusiness on writing a successful business plan:
"It's doubtful that no two words in an entrepreneur’s vocabulary are procrastinated over more than these two: Business Planning..
This simple phrase can conjure up visions of being hunkered down over a desk trying to justify, f
Hard-hitting, strategic assessment from Silicon Valley entrepreneur and strategy consultant:
"Recently, I learned about the Silicon Valley entrepreneur and strategy consultant Sramana Mitra’s useful Web site for start-ups. Ms. Mitra founded three companies, two of which were acquired, and she is
With the economic situation at the forefront of voters’ minds, Forbes' Brian Wingfield takes a look at what entrepreneurs are thinking about the road ahead:
"American Express OPEN, which issues credit cards specifically tailored to small businesses, recently completed the fall edition of its semi
Many businesses aren't successful, but VentureBeat explain how you can learn from their mistakes so that you can succeed.
Over many years, there have been many smart entrepreneurs who have made the same pitch, and all of them have failed. So I must answer the question —the capital-Q Question —
From Small Business Newz:
Small business owners' expectations of an economic rebound have been pushed out until the second half of 2011, even with improving indicators within their own businesses, according to a new survey by Aministaff.
Only 21% expect a rebound before mid-2011, while 47% expec
The self-employed are using fewer employees.
Small Business Labs writes:
It comes as no surprise that the self-employed are using fewer paid employees. Companies of all sizes are increasing their use of contingent workers - contractors, part-timers, freelancers, etc. - to improve workforce
Serial entrepreneur Richard Branson answers five questions about his approach to business philosophy:
1. What is the best advice you ever got?
Three gems come to mind. First, an enduring one from my mother, Eve, who always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thi
Gary Vaynerchuk has used social media to expand his wine business as well as to build other companies that he has invested in.
From Forbes:
The Inc. Business Owner Council is offering two live presentations on Tuesday, November 9, in New York for lunch or Wednesday, November 10, in New Jersey for breakfast where you can learn about the impact of healthcare reform legislation on business owners.
"Experts tell us that health care refor
Inc. reports filings have declined nearly 19 percent since peaking in the second quarter of 2009:
"The number of small businesses going bankrupt dipped for the fifth straight quarter, according to credit-reporting service Equifax.
Bankruptcies across the nation declined more than 11 percent in
Study shows there was almost no difference between men and women company founders:
"There’s been a lot of heat generated in the blogosphere lately about the shortage of women entrepreneurs in technology and what’s behind this problem—or if it truly is a problem, or if it even exists. While ma
New survey shows benefits increase employee loyalty:
"In today’s challenging economy, you might think that employees would be grateful to have a job—any job. But a new survey from the Financial Services Roundtable and Employee Benefit Research Institute reports that benefits are an important
See why FastCompany thinks Omaha is a great city for start-ups and entrepreneurs:
"Let's get Warren Buffett out of the way first. The investing guru and “Oracle of Omaha” manages to draw tens of thousands of attendees to the annual meeting of his company, Berkshire Hathaway, while also delive
Young Entrepreneur provides tips on how to work with the best possible clients:
"Those who value what you do, pay you what you’re worth and send great referrals your way?
Yes? Me too. So let’s look at what you can do, starting today, to achieve that.
Start by firing
Before you can at
Forbes' Shaun Rein encourages entrepreneurs to listen to market demands, delegate and not let the naysayers get you down:
"There's no way any company will engage you rather than McKinsey," the man scoffed. He looked at me with a mix of contempt and sympathy, the way people often look at begga
Survey shows small-business owners are more optimistic about the economy than they have been in six months:
"In October, the Discover Small Business Watch -- a poll of 750 business owners with fewer than five employees -- posted its biggest one-month gain since April.
The four-year-old monthly
Check out these nine websites from Mashable that will help you track down the appropriate entrepreneurs:
"There’s no substitute for experience. Many successful entrepreneurs learned how to run a business as they built one, and they had the educational benefit of being able to make mistakes an
Cities across the country are realizing that imposing excessive regulations hinders small businesses--and some are taking measures to remove them. Chip Mellor and Dana Berliner of the Institute for Justice write in USA Today:
When governments actually get rid of barriers to entrepreneurship, new bu
Bill Gates appears in Waiting for "Superman," a documentary on the U.S. educational system, which has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In fact, the U.S. Chamber is teaming up with the Florida Chamber to host a screening of the film tomorrow evening in Tallahassee.
Gates believes
From Small Business Trends:
While the intelligence of entrepreneurs is by no means a burning question in the academic community, a few researchers have looked at how intelligence affects the odds that a person will become an entrepreneur. Here’s what they’ve found:
• A paper published way back i
From BusinessWeek:
American shoppers are set to become the economy’s new source of strength.
Economists lifted estimates for consumer purchases in the third quarter after retail sales climbed more than forecast in September and the government said gains in the prior two months were larger th
From Forbes:
"Long a fixture on the Miami social scene thanks to his special-events company, restaurants, and philanthropic work, Barton G. Weiss became a hotelier this year with the opening of the Villa by Barton G., in the former home of Gianni Versace. Weiss is a man of unusual entrepreneuri
Business owners face many challenges, but listening to your inner-critic can be one of the toughest challenges of all.
Young Entrepreneur writes:
"No matter how determined you are as an entrepreneur, and how gung ho you are about making it against the odds, there will be times when a little
College students are creating startups and working for them. Startups offer a unique experience for students as they prepare for life after college.
A growing number of college students are starting their own businesses:
New York University seniors Katie Shea and Susie Levitt were interning
Business leaders, entrepreneurs and the self-employed often struggle to find balance. Here's how five successful business leaders get away.
"To find design inspirations for her Los Angeles-based apparel and accessories company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, the former supermodel sometimes sets aside
Yahoo! Finance highlights their top five states for business and careers. Their top five are Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and Washington.
"When voters in 37 states select their governors next month, the overriding issue will be, of course, the economy.
A recent CBS News poll found
Unemployed workers are turning to their entrepreneurial skills to make it through tough economic times.
"When Harold Brown, 49, was laid off from his job as an interior design drafter in December 2008, he knew that the prospects for reemployment were grim. The economy in his hometown of Las Veg
In addition to our widget that Personal Liberty highlighted today, here are a few more resources from Mashable to help voters decide:
"Midterm elections got you confused? There are plenty of social media tools and sites that might just help you make sense of what’s going on. Below is a collec
Mallory Factor and his guests discuss their view of the role of free enterprise and government in economic recovery. Check out what they have to say in this video:
Also, check out this video where Mallory Factor asks the same question about the role of free enterprise.
Negotiating can be challenging, but is critical to success for most businesses. Scott Messinger offers an insider's perspective on negotiating:
"My previous position as an owner of a small business with 25 employees and handling manufacturing, transportation, multiple office locations, and distr
Kiva launches new partnership with Visa:
"Last year, Kiva.org, one of the pioneers in micro-lending to international entrepreneurs, opened up its service to needy U.S. entrepreneurs, which caused some controversy. Since then, Kiva has facilitated more than $1 million in loans to U.S. small bu
Online tools help boost productivity:
"Taking a vacation is often a catalytic event. It jump-starts your work processes so you get more done in less time–all so you can get out of town on that much-needed holiday. Of all the challenges I hear from entrepreneurs and business owners, “having more
Survey shows that half of small businesses that want credit are being denied it:
"The Federal Reserve Bank of New York surveyed 426 small businesses in June and July for the report, which defined a small firm as privately owned, with 500 or fewer employees, and less than $25 million in revenu
VentureBeat offers 20 tips for building a startup culture:
Personally interview every new employee until the startup has 50 employees. Then interview everyone that will manage others.
Spend 30 minutes a week on Mondays talking to new employees as part of their first day. Close the loop within
From Small Business Labs:
"Large corporations are recovering from the recession and seeing sales increases. So far, most small businesses are not.
The chart below shows the 2010 Q2 year-over-year sales growth for the S&P 500 (a large company stock index) compared to similar data for small
From Entrepreneur Daily Dose:
"These are boggling times for those who review study data about the economy, and about how small business owners feel about the economy. It seems as if a new study comes out daily, and that many of these studies contradict each other.
However, I've hit on one
Mallory Factor sat down with a few politicians and the head of a policy research organization to ask them about the role of government vs. free enterprise in rebuilding our nation. See what they had to say:
Science and technology education is vital to our economy and President Obama invited students excelling in these areas to showcase their projects at the White House.
From Politics Daily:
"The event kicked off a week that culminates with the USA Science and Engineering Festival on the Natio
From Small Business Labs:
"The statistics on this shift are impressive:
- Women now account 57% of college students. In 1950 it was 29%.
- College men drop out at much higher rates than college women.
- Women comprise roughly 60% of all graduate students.
- Women passed men in earned
Consumer trends are quickly changing, and they have a big impact on business. From Grow Smart Business:
"
Trend: Mindful consumption. Seventy-two percent of survey respondents say they are shopping more mindfully; 63 percent are more demanding. Consumers are looking online (62 percent) for
Small Business Trends explains,
"A study has confirmed something many small business owners know from painful experience: The much-ballyhooed capital crunch is hampering small businesses’ ability to expand.
The Pepperdine University Private Markets Capital Project surveyed 559 privately held b
From BusinessWeek:
"Bank of America Corp., the largest U.S. bank by assets, plans to hire 1,000 employees in the next year to focus on companies with sales of $3 million or less.
Small-business bankers will be hired in Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington later this year with othe
TechCrunch announced the 2010 Global Cleantech 100 list this week. The list is dominated by creative and innovative American companies. It's truly amazing the type of advancements Americans can make when given the opportunity.
"The Cleantech Group LLC in conjunction with theUK’s Guardian News
From VentureBeat:
"Three months ago, things were looking up for startups seeking venture capital. Now it seems that optimism was misplaced, according to the latest Moneytree Report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers and the National Venture Capital Association.
Venture funding has followed an un
From the Wall Street Journal:
"Small-business owners banking on a big payoff when they sell their establishments may have to settle for a lot less than planned.
A combination of tight credit, skittish buyers and business owners unwilling to sell at rock-bottom prices—factors similarly affe
Entrepreneurship is the foundation of job creation, and educating entrepreneurs is vital to the future of our economy. Bill Aulet and Fiona Murray of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center outline 2 steps to improve entrepreneurial education:
"1. Make the Case Why Entrepreneurship is Important: High
Blake MyCoskie used free enterprise to create jobs and provide shoes to children around the world. From Fast Company:
"David Burstein: What was your big idea?
Blake Mycoskie: I always knew I wanted to incorporate giving in my business but it was a matter of finding the right way to do so.
From GrowSmartBusiness:
"One of the biggest challenges of being an entrepreneur is the leadership role you have to fill in your company. Before you launched a business, you may have headed a department or even a division, but being in charge of an entire business is something else altogether.
From Forbes, In this baffling economy business owners are uncertain of their next step. Here's some advice:
"Consumers, entrepreneurs, Federal Reserve members--all are befuddled by this economy. Uncertainty leads to inaction. While the future remains cloudy, businesses still have to plan for it.
Tim Berry thinks so,
"That’s trend number 11 of 20, titled “You no longer need cash to start a business.”
The follow-up question? I think you have to ask: “compared to what?” And I think the answer would be: “compared to what it is now and used to be.” The idea of no cash at all is perhaps an
From Inc.:
"A 69-year-old former dental hygienist from Golden, Colorado, competing against better-funded, better-credentialed medical-device developers, [Kathy] Callender has implausibly positioned PharmaJet to have the best chance to replace the most needles.
That alone would be a tremend
From the Wall Street Journal:
"Small-business optimism in the U.S. rose modestly in September, amid continued signs of a sluggish recovery in the broader economy, according to a report released Tuesday.
The Small Business Optimism Index edged up 0.2 point, to 89.0 in September, said the Na
VentureBeat tackles this tough question and offers some insight from entrepreneur Mark McClain:
"It’s often hard to choose between staying with the comfort and perceived safety of a corporate job and moving to the excitement and potential riches of the startup world. I know. I’ve been bitten
Dr. Jeff Cornwall of Belmont Univeristy writes,
"The September Index of Small Business Optimism from the NFIB shows little change from previous months. In fact, there has been little change for the past two years. Small business owners are mired in uncertainty and a lack of confidence in th
John Vechey followed his dreams, and now his company is worth $100 million.
"It's a geek's dream come true. John Vechey dropped out of college in 1997 to work on a computer game with his pal Brian Fiete. This year, their Seattle-based game company, PopCap, which they founded in 2000 withJason
From Forbes:
"A weaker dollar has helped manufacturing muddle through, and Huether says it is a clear catalyst for four-straight quarters of double-digit export growth. While the fall of the greenback has aided manufacturing, a free fall of the American currency is a double-edged sword. 'No one w
From Small Business Trends:
"Economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) have decided that June 2009 marked the end of the Great Recession, putting us over a year into the economic recovery in the United States.
Regardless of what the NBER economists say, few small business o
Entrepreneurs are vital to job creation, and many colleges are stepping up to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs. The Princeton Review just released the top 25 undergraduate and graduate programs in entrepreneurship.
From Entrepreneur.com:
"The education of an entrepreneur may be
From the Wall Street Journal:
"The U.S. economy continued to lose jobs last month as small gains in the private sector failed to offset big cuts in government workers, pointing to a still sluggish recovery.
Private-sector employers added only 64,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department said
Charles Kroll reinvented his tech firm twice, but eventually found the best model. He's a great example of American ingenuity.
"Ten years ago, while a senior at Brown University, Charles Kroll raised $300,000 to start Andera, which built corporate websites. Soon he had five staffers cranking
AOL co-founder Steve Case offers his views on social media, AOL’s recent acquisitions, angel investments, and the future of the Internet.
" 1. When AOL launched, it faced competition from companies like CompuServe and Prodigy. Why do you think it was AOL that ended up with 30 million users?
Chase Garbarino was inspired by a Christmas gift. Read his story here.
"On Christmas Day in 2005, during my junior year of college, my mother gave me a copy of the Small Business Opportunities magazine in my stocking. To this day, I can still remember the headline jumping out at me: "College
From Yahoo! News:
"Applications for unemployment benefits fell last week for the fourth time in five weeks, a sign that layoffs are declining.
The Labor Department said Thursday that initial claims for jobless aid dropped by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 445,000. It's the lowest level since the
From Forbes:
"
"Today’s success story features Charmaine Fuller. With over 10 years of progressive experience in IT Project Management and System Administration, Charmaine was affected by the recession and found herself hunting for her next job opportunity.
After job searching for months, C
New York Times interview with Paul Maritz, president and C.E.O. of the software firm VMware:
"Q. What are some important leadership lessons for you?
A. I’ve learned that when you go from being an individual contributor to being a leader of a small group of 5 to 10 people, to leading 100 p
Small businesses fear a double-dip recession. From the Wall Street Journal:
"Small businesses, known for jump-starting economies, aren't upholding their reputation.
During past recessions, small firms have been the forerunners in hiring and growth, and the harbingers of recovery. But this
Tough questions for new entrepreneurs:
"Taking the leap to start your own business means asking yourself some tough questions, and not all of them have to do with business plans and funding options. In a guest post on VentureBeat, Patrick Driessen, CEO of the Asian-Pacific tech incubator Seed Acc
According to Forbes, the emerging markets are where the growth is, and those who do not embrace this idea will be left behind:
"The pace of this U.S. economic recovery is unlike any other that we've experienced in the wake of any recession in our lifetime. One moment we're talking restoration, th
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's new Small Business Services team aims to support start-ups and growing companies through advice, resources and a voice in City Hall.
"The city of Los Angeles, known for maintaining one of the highest numbers of small businesses in the country, is also notorious fo
Business leaders want government spending lowered:
"A new KPMG study has found that most business executives believe this is a better way to reduce public debt, as opposed to raising taxes in the midst of a weak economy.
In fact, some 60 percent of American business leaders expressed thi
From Small Business Newz:
"The Intuit Small Business Index indicated more employees were brought on than let go.
A statement released today said, 'The monthly report found that small business employment grew by 0.14 percent in September, equating to a 1.6 percent annual growth rate.' Which is
