March 1, 2013 is the National Day of Unplugging. Watch Susan Solovic – THE Small Business Expert provides tips on how you can unplug from technology and enhance your small business success.
Every manager understands the importance of job descriptions. Trying to run a business without them is sheer chaos. However, job descriptions in small organizations shouldn’t be written in stone. You can increase productivity and profitability if your team members are trained for more than one position.
At first I thought it was a joke. I received a press release from the SBA’s Office of Advocacy with the headline: Small Businesses Leading Nation’s Economic Recovery. But it wasn’t a joke or a misprint. The release cited the Small Business Economy 2012 Annual Report as the basis for the bold headline. Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, stated the report demonstrates that small businesses have been at the core of our economy’s growth over the past few years.
Major snow storms have paralyzed parts of the country so far this year. Thousands of people have been left without power. Many small businesses had to close for several days. Yet despite the prevalence of natural disasters recently, research from Alibaba.com shows 74% of American small businesses do not have a disaster preparedness plan, and 84% do not have any natural disaster insurance. More than one third don’t know how quickly they can get back on their feet after a natural disaster.
Growing a successful small business means making many sacrifices. In order to succeed you have to have the dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes. Businesses that flounder or fail often to so because the owner simply isn’t willing to make the necessary sacrifices and put forth the effort.