Articles January 2010

I work with and talk to dozens of small technology companies on a regular basis. The mantra I hear most from their leadership is ‘we need to hire talented people – in every department’. But wanting talent and attracting it are two different things, and this is where most organizations fall down. Read more...

An old advertising saw holds that a highway billboard should have 8 words or fewer. More than that and the average driver doesn’t have enough time to read or digest the message. Read more...

Mr. Boulding intended his pithy words to be a warning ­-- that the lessons learned from success are most often vanity and hubris. Like Icarus flying recklessly close to the sun, Boulding was reminding us that victory’s first flush often leads to a catastrophic fall. Read more...

My friend and I have an idea for a new business that we are really excited about. But it’s also daunting. It requires capital to research the market, lease space, buy equipment, hire staff and spend money on marketing. Read more...

These days it isn’t enough just to be on the Internet. It’s all about engaging and interacting with online audiences. Read more...

If you’ve been living under a rock for a few years, I have some exciting news: Social media is here, it’s free, and it can make your Canadian small business look big. You can engage your customers by starting a conversation to learn what they care about and develop stronger relationships. Read more...

We’ve all heard that horrible saying, “Most new businesses fail to survive their first two years”. Why are these negative phrases so popular? Sure, it’s statistically true, but it’s pretty discouraging isn’t it? Today’s savvy entrepreneur should reply with, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail! Talk to me in two years.” Read more...

A staggering 92.5% of people said they regularly research products online before buying them (BIGresearch 3/07). So basically if your business is not online, you don’t exist. An online presence for your small business will give you credibility, exposure and hopefully a few sales leads (if you ask nicely). But you knew all this right? That is why you are here. So the question is simply: “How?” Read more...

I’ve worked in a lot of offices over the years, from noisy newsrooms, to dingy cubicles to fancy wood-paneled executive suites. But now I work from home, and I love it. Read more...