Of all the resources on this planet, TIME is clearly the most valuable of them. There are abundances of gold, silver, oil, etc., but time – well, that will eventually run out for each and every one of us. The brutal truth is: we have a limited number of days on this earth and time management should be of the utmost importance. Think for a moment about your past; those seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, [...]

Why is it that the Ritz Carlton gives every employee the option to spend up to $2,000 to solve a customers problem? Why is it that Nordstrom will take back an item (like a spare tire!) that their store never sold? Why is it that Zappos will stay on the phone with a customer, as long as necessary, to resolve any problem? For example, you can call Zappos and tell them you need help with [...]

It’s important to focus on success and to keep your energy driven in an optimistic direction. There’s also value in seeking out the wisdom of others; specifically in the area of MISTAKES! Think about it – why would you make the exact same mistake someone else just made?? Kinda insane… How much time do you spend assessing the mistakes of others and keeping that information in your entrepreneurial toolbox? There’s a mound of information out [...]

There are a million and one things to think about when you’re starting up or running a business, but one of the most important aspects is where your venture is based. If you’re a one-man band then the option of home working is always a cost effective means of getting started, but increasingly, small business owners are finding it much more practical to rent desk or office space. After all, there is currently a wealth of it available due to [...]

BossStart says “Phone Home!” Given our diverse population of readers, we’re not sure that everyone has seen the movie ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial’. Some people may tell you that it’s a story about an alien trying to get home. Others may suggest that E.T. is about a young boy learning to connect. There are countless interpretations of the movie and its characters. Well, here at BossStart, we know exactly what E.T. was about – Entrepreneurship!   [...]

Wow! We are certainly living in historical times. We encourage you to pause for a moment and consider a few recent, historical events: A global financial crisis not seen since the 1920′s The liberation of several Middle East countries: Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lybia The assassination of Osama Bin Laden The rise of Google and Apple along with the death of Steve Jobs We could fill a page with recent historical events – many of which are meaningful to the entrepreneurial effort. Clearly the most impactful event [...]

Recently, Taco Bell was sued for allegedly using something other than ‘real beef’ in their taco products. Can you imagine being a franchise owner and waking up to this news? If we follow the story close enough we come to realize there are several learning events for our entrepreneurial followers in regards to Damage Control. A class-action lawsuit was filed by an Alabama based law firm alleging that the meat used by Taco Bell was [...]

“Skate to Where the Money Will Be” is an article in Harvard Business Review written by Christensen, Raynor, and Verlinden. The article is as interesting as the title suggests. Embedded in this interesting write-up is a section on the auto industry – and a perspective that should be on the minds of entrepreneurs everywhere. The authors predicted that the auto industry would begin to focus on smaller niche markets and produce newer models at an [...]

Do you ever contemplate how you could make your business ‘great’? Do you think about strategies that would help you make gains on your competitors by attaining that Entrepreneurial Greatness? It’s a funny thing – most successful entrepreneurs want to do more than simply ‘make it’ - they want to be GREAT! Do you still have that fire in your belly? Or maybe you are satisfied with just getting by? Oh wait, have you bought in to [...]

As a current or future independent business owner, you may have considered the path of a franchise. Our intent with this article is not to weigh the countless pros and cons of being a franchise owner – that’s a personal decision that rests ultimately within you. At the same time, we do want to offer insight to those small business owners who have decided to forgo the franchise path. You have made a conscious decision [...]