News/Views
Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Professional Headshot
These days, personal brand is extremely important to any entrepreneur. Even if your occupation isn’t particularly “glamorous” or “public,” your personal brand will affect the way people perceive you and your small business. This in turn will influence their decision...
Should You Ever Work For Free? (Short Answer: No)
As a freelancer or a small business owner, you may get asked to work for free, especially when you’re first starting out. You will be presented with many reasons as to why it would serve your best interests to work for nothing: “I’ll recommend you to all my friends.”...
Why Successful Entrepreneurs Wake Up Early
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve likely wondered how you can find more time in the day to get more things done. If that’s the case, have you considered waking up a few hours earlier? Wait, don’t stop reading. Many entrepreneurs will flat-out refuse to consider...
You Might Be An Entrepreneur If…
Entrepreneurs can be a quirky bunch, when observed from the outside. And while some of their habits might seem a little peculiar or extreme to the nine-to-five set, it is exactly these behaviors that enable them to thrive as small business owners. Think you’ve got...
How to Hire Subcontractors
Inevitably, there comes a point when there are simply just not enough hours in a day for an entrepreneur to handle all aspects of their small business on their own. At this stage in the game, it may become necessary to go from being a solopreneur to delegating work...
How to Deliver Powerful Presentations
Not everyone is great at public speaking, in fact it is known to be a common fear. Nevertheless, giving presentations is a great way for an entrepreneur to grow their business; by positioning themselves as an expert in front of a targeted audience. Here are a couple...
How to be Less Awkward at Networking Events
Attending networking events plays a very important role in growing your small business, but many entrepreneurs avoid these meetups like the Plague. Let’s face it, networking events can be quite awkward. But they don’t have to be. Here are a few tips to take the...
How Entrepreneurs Can Deal With Stress
Stress may be an unavoidable part of an entrepreneur’s life. In fact, sometimes a small amount of “good” stress can be a motivator to make great things happen. However, too much stress can be very detrimental. You might be a stressed small business owner if you answer...
How to Start a Business with Family and Friends
Starting up a new business with friends or family may seem like a lot of fun at first, but it can actually be quite challenging. You might even compare it to entering a marriage! The stakes are high when you mix business with friends and family, so here are a few...
Surprising Challenges that New Entrepreneurs Must Face
We all know that running a small business is not for the faint of heart. Most of us expected certain challenges when we made the decision to become entrepreneurs. We suspected that launching a small business would require long hours for low pay and living with a...
How to be a Successful Entrepreneur at Tradeshows
Displaying your product or service at a booth or table at a tradeshow is a great way to get the word out about your small business. Tradeshows are a great idea, but make sure you are strategic when taking part in them, so that you get value from your investment. Some...
Author Summit 2015 will help YOU on the path to publishing and promoting your book!
I’m excited to announce that I will be leading a Branding workshop at the upcoming Author Summit 2015, hosted by Publisher Production Solutions with co-organizer Canadian Small Business Women. Whether you're a self-published author or a writer-to-be, on June 6, Author...
How Entrepreneurs with Families Drop the Guilt
Running your own small business is hard. Raising a family is hard. Running a small business WHILE raising a family is an epic struggle for balance. To make matters worse, many entrepreneurs with families experience overwhelming guilt. They feel guilty for working too...
Benefits of a Diverse Client Base
As an entrepreneur, when you first embark on a new small business venture, you might be tempted to take on virtually any client that comes along. But as things progress and your small business builds a regular client base, there comes a point when it will be in your...
Co-working versus Home Office (What’s right for you?)
Co-working spaces offer entrepreneurs and freelancers a space to get their work done, often boasting features such as open or reserved desks, internet access, audio/video equipment, meeting rooms, printing and faxing, and sometimes even coffee! Is a co-working space...
5 Superpowers Possessed by Successful Entrepreneurs
Beyond education and experience, successful entrepreneurs possess certain intangible qualities that set them apart from the rest. Maybe they’re born with these superpowers, but it’s more likely they’ve honed these traits by being self-aware, hard-working and...
How Solo Entrepreneurs Can Combat Isolation
Entrepreneurs typically work long hours, off-hours, alone and maniacally driven in a way that doesn’t always make sense to the nine-to-five set. As a result, it is not uncommon for small business owners to experience profound isolation at times. Feeling alone? Here...
When Should You Delegate?
When you first start a small business, it’s only natural to try to do everything yourself in an effort to save on costs. But once you start growing, you’ll find that delegating tasks is crucial, so that you can free up your time and energy to focus on more productive...
How much should you charge?
As an entrepreneur, it can be tricky trying to figure out what to charge people for your product or service. Pricing yourself competitively while making a good living can be a balancing act. Here are a couple of factors that every small business owner needs to...
When to Fire a Client
As small business owners, we can sometimes become so obsessed with pleasing our clients and potential clients that we lose sight of when it may be time to say goodbye. Sometimes a client relationship - just like any other kind of relationship - can turn out to be...
How to Stop Procrastinating
Entrepreneurs usually love knowing they don’t have to answer to a boss. However, sometimes not having a superior to light a fire under you can be lead to procrastination. Procrastination is a vicious opponent for the small business owner. Here are a few tips that will...
What to look for in a Business Coach
As an entrepreneur, you are always learning new things and (hopefully) moving forward, but sometimes it might feel like you're not progressing fast enough! And when your energy, time and funds are limited resources, sometimes you need to achieve your small business...
How to Use Stock Photos
Human beings are visual creatures, so as an entrepreneur, you have likely considered using images for your small business’s website, blog, promotional pieces and various marketing materials. While it’s always best to stand out with original images that are created...
How to Host a Successful Seminar
When you’re a small business owner, it becomes necessary to think of out-of-the-box ways to find clients who are right for you. One way to engage your specific target market is to brand yourself as an expert by hosting an event such as a workshop or seminar. The...
How to Look Like an Expert
Becoming a successful small business owner requires a serious shift in mindset. When you become an entrepreneur you make the transition from being a skilled trades-person to being an expert in your field. Why is it important to be seen as an expert? Experts are valued...
Public Relations for Your Small Business
When it comes to getting publicity, entrepreneurs need to be more creative and think beyond traditional advertising. One such out-of-the-box tactic involves writing a press release and encouraging journalists from print, radio, television and digital media to talk...
Go Where You’re Wanted
As an entrepreneur, how hard do you try to sell your product or service? When do you back down? Should you ever back down? You might be tempted to think, “I never give up. Everyone should be my client.” When faced with resistance, your entrepreneurial spirit kicks in...
How to Make the Most of Your Off-Season
Many small businesses experience the occasional down-time or an off-season. It’s a natural part of the business cycle. Instead of sitting idle or panicking over a temporary slump in activity, here are a few things that you as an entrepreneur can do to maximize your...
Goals for Your Small Business
Whether it’s a new year, a new quarter, a new day, or even if it’s just time toshake things up, every small business owner should nurture a list of goals which go beyond simply “getting more business” or “making more money!” While growing your business might be one of...
How Entrepreneurs Can Conquer Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is the natural nemesis of the entrepreneur. If a small business owner is afraid to take risks or manage uncertainties, they will never be able to move their business forward. Regardless, fear of failure is a common affliction that can suddenly appear...