Features

• What is Strategy?

  January 30, 2014

  Despite all the consultants in the world wanting you to believe that you could never comprehend strategy at "their level", strategy is quite simple. Strategy is simply a plan to get from point A (where you are at today) to point B (where you want to be at a future date). Curt Fowler shares how all of us use strategy each and every day, even for the simplest of things.

• What Do Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans Look Like?

  January 29, 2014

  Hidden among the large amount of data released regularly by the Federal Reserve is some valuable information about the terms of Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans.

• 14 Unorthodox Tips for Becoming Successful in Business

  January 28, 2014

  It’s no secret that you don’t become successful in business by doing the same thing the others guys are doing. Being able to take calculated risks is all part of the fun of being a small business owner — and understanding how to differentiate your business from the rest is a special skill most entrepreneurs spend their careers honing.That’s why we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs, the following question: “What is your most unorthodox tip for becoming successful in business?” Here’s what YEC community members had to say.

• Small Business Optimism: Status Quo or Cautious Optimism?

  January 27, 2014

  Small business owners tend to be optimistic by nature. You have to be, if you want to overcome the obstacles of running a business. Still, the economy has been pretty rough since 2008. Are there signs of improvement? If I had to sum it up based on two small business optimism surveys, I’d say it’s “status quo” or perhaps “cautious optimism.”

• Why You Should Consider Building Business Credit

  January 24, 2014

  Building business credit is both highly misunderstood and becoming more and more important all the time for business owners. I have heard some people say that building business credit doesn’t matter. I say, then why are a lot of business credit reports being pulled if business credit doesn’t matter?

• Huckaby: “We are Making the Right Decisions for Students & the State”

  January 23, 2014

  The need to help more students afford and earn a degree is driving key and fundamental changes in the University System of Georgia, said Chancellor Hank Huckaby in remarks to the Georgia General Assembly’s Joint Appropriations Committee.

• Georgia Ports Authority Has Banner Year in 2013, Looks to Top It in 2014

  January 22, 2014

  When success is part of your DNA, it can become tempting to rest on your laurels and keep doing more of the same. Or, your company can keep your foot on the gas and strive for more. Georgia Ports Authority certainly falls into the latter category, partly because the whole state—heck, the whole country—is watching.

• Cabela's Announces Opening Date for Augusta Store

  January 21, 2014

  Cabela’s Incorporated, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, will officially open the doors to its Augusta, Ga., Cabela’s Outpost store at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 20. The store will employ approximately 90 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees.

• Should You Consider an Accountability Partner?

  January 17, 2014

  When people, especially salespeople, are left to their own devices, they lack consistency and succumb to their own emotional performance roller coaster, operating more by default than by design. Hence, consider bringing in an accountability partner.

• No Sign of Real Recovery in Small Business Numbers

  January 15, 2014

  Small-business optimism ended the year slightly up from November at 93.9, but below the previous 3 mid-year readings of over 94 and 6 points below the pre-recession average, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB’s) latest index. On the positive front, reports of capital spending rose significantly in December, increasing by 9 points from November and job creation among NFIB firms was the best since February 2006.

• Greater Augusta Leaders Want Local Innovators to Seek Top 40 Honor

  January 14, 2014

  Local Leaders are urging companies from across the Greater Augusta Area to apply for consideration for “The 2014 Top 40/Top 10 Innovative Companies in Georgia" presented by The Technology Association of Georgia.

• The Era of Declining Self-Employment

  January 13, 2014

  The number of employed Americans rose from 144,144,000 in October 2013 to 144,775,000 in November 2013, an increase of 631,000, according to Federal government data. That’s good news. More people going back to work is something that everyone – left, right and center – agrees is good for the country.

• Is Your Business a Talent Attractor?

  January 10, 2014

  Only an elite group of businesses earn the title “talent attractor.” What is a talent attractor you may ask? A talent attractor is a company that is best in class when it comes to benefits packaging and delivery. The human resources departments at these companies are more likely to believe that overall employee health is important to workforce productivity.

• Small Businesses Spend More on Travel, Per Concur Survey

  January 09, 2014

  Small businesses are playing the role of big spenders on the road. A new study found that small businesses spend more on travel than big business.

• 35 of Georgia’s Brightest Come Together as Young Gamechangers

  January 08, 2014

  GeorgiaForward kicks off its second annual Young Gamechangers program on Thursday, January 9th convening 35 of the state’s most promising young leaders in Dublin, with the goal of revisioning the area as a vibrant 21st century community.

• Starting a Business in 2014? Here Is Your Startup Checklist

  January 07, 2014

  Each year, the number of new businesses spikes in January as the start of a new year seems like the most natural time to begin a new venture. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned entrepreneur, run through this startup checklist to better understand the steps needed to make your business legit.

• 2013 Georgia Job Creation Hits Record High

  January 06, 2014

  Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that the Global Commerce Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development produced a 10 percent increase in job creation during the state’s most recent fiscal year. Statistics from the department show its 389 company expansion or location announcements generated 31,656 jobs and $6.07 billion in investment. These statistics indicate a continued trend of growth since the state’s 2009 fiscal year.

• Small Business Optimism Sees Slight Bump

  December 17, 2013

  November ushered in the holiday season, but it did not translate into enthusiasm among small-business owners, whose optimism increased, but only slightly—under a point (0.9)—for a total reading of 92.5, according to NFIB’s monthly Index. Of note in November is the positive trend, albeit sluggish reality, of job growth.

• Poll: Georgians Concerned About Effects of Obamacare

  December 13, 2013

  Healthcare Georgia Foundation today released the results of a statewide public opinion poll to gauge how Georgians perceive the cost and quality of their healthcare. According to the poll, Georgians rate the quality of healthcare in the state a modest 7.26/10, with ten being excellent and one being poor. Georgians were also surveyed about their perceptions about what the government is doing about healthcare today.

• Economic Forecast: Georgia’s Economy Will Rise More than the National Average Next Year

  December 12, 2013

  Buoyed by rising home prices, smart economic policies and new jobs, Georgia's economy will rise more than the national average next year. That was the message delivered by Charles B. Knapp, interim dean of the Terry College of Business and president emeritus of the University of Georgia, at the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon held Dec. 11 in Atlanta.

• Don’t Let That Business Plan Collect Dust on a Shelf

  December 10, 2013

  Small business owners rank creating a business plan right up there with writing the dreaded high school term paper, college thesis, and bar exam rolled into one, says Tim Berry.

• Lawmakers To Consider State Level Healthcare Reforms

  December 09, 2013

  With the holiday season upon us, the thoughts of most will turn away from politics and on to things that actually matter. And yet, when the presents have been opened and the calendar turns to 2014, there will be less than 2 weeks before the start of Georgia’s General Assembly session. Thus, while most of us are celebrating and spending time with loved ones, some have already been preparing for what will likely be a short and speedy session of making laws.

• Doug Robinson on “Making Your List and Checking it Twice”

  December 06, 2013

  As your humble monthly contributor, I would like to suggest a great Christmas or holiday gift that would be very relevant and appreciated by your salespeople, customer service reps, or technicians/installers. For ten years, while facilitating workshops and training classes for sales and customer service reps and sales managers, I repeatedly heard many of the participants encourage me to put my thoughts on paper and publish a book. After hearing this mantra regularly for several years, I decided to go for it, and listed, “write a book” on my bucket list.

• 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Take in Investors

  December 05, 2013

  So I was brainstorming with a couple of my partners for a start up venture we’re about to launch. They seemed genuinely shocked when I said I didn’t want to take in any investors. I know the trendy thing today is creating a pitch that attracts VC firms. But as a rule, I usually don’t want them. Their job is to find investments they can grow and cash out. And that sometimes clashes with the best long-term objectives for a business.

• Many Americans Leaving Unused Vacation Days on the Table

  December 04, 2013

  Expedia.com, released the results of the 2013 Vacation Deprivation study, an annual analysis of vacation habits among 8,535 employed adults across 24 countries and five continents. Americans are now treating vacations as a luxury rather than a right: Over the past year, typical Americans could have taken 14 days of vacation and took 10, leaving four days on the table, twice as many as the year prior.

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