Survive and Thrive

In his book Deep Survival, Laurence Gonzales examines stories of people who survived the most dramatic life and death situations. He asserts that while proper equipment and intelligence are important, the most important indicators of survival lie in a person’s psychological and emotional make-up. Gonzales writes that searchers often find people who have died while […]

Layoffs: An Option of Last Resort

With the economy tightening on a daily basis and few words of encouragement for the immediate future, many employers are enacting layoffs as a means of reducing costs and sharpening their focus. Layoffs are a particularly difficult option for the small business owner because oftentimes employees are wearing multiple hats; thus, the remaining employees will […]

Making Performance Appraisals Effective

Are performance appraisals necessary in today’s business world? Yes, the appraisal is an important opportunity for the employee and employer to sit down and evaluate the prior year’s performance. Work performance cannot be improved unless it is measured. The actual appraisal meeting should be scheduled so that both parties can sit down and have an […]

Back to the Basics for Business Owners

We all know the economy is in turmoil and businesses are being forced to reinvent themselves to simply survive. So what now? What should business owner do? President Obama’s words during his inaugural speech were very clear when he said, “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work […]

Ten Truths that all Small Business Owners Should Know

Last week a new business owner asked me what ten things would I tell a family member who was starting a business. This was an intriguing question and one that I pondered. At first, I thought of the standard things such as write a business plan, know your break-even point, know your target market, etc. […]

Georgia’s Small Businesses Must Look to the Familiar to Make it Through Tough Times

It wasn’t very long ago that the federal government passed the financial rescue package. Georgians embraced this historic government action with both optimism as well as with deepening concern about the state’s and country’s economy. One major segment of the economic engine, the nation’s small businesses, continues to struggle in today’s difficult market conditions. Small […]

LLC or Corporation: Which Legal Structure is Better for Your Business

When starting a business, choosing the best legal form is a serious matter. If you don’t want your personal assets to be at risk, your choices are between a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and a Corporation. Both entities provide the limited liability protection that you want. What other criteria should you examine before making that […]

Protecting, Valuing, and Licensing Intellectual Property

Not every idea is worth the time and money to protect. On the other hand, many inventors don’t achieve maximum value for good ideas. By understanding the invention process and business strategies associated with the commercialization of innovative products, inventors can save both time and money and get the maximum benefit from their innovation. Build […]