Archives: August 2005

Always Guard Your Front Door

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 31

Today's security threats require more than a "plug and play" firewall system. To properly protect your networks, IT staff must not only deploy the firewall, but monitor and manage it...

It's O.K. To Start Small

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 30

You don't need a lot of money to start a business. I see a lot of people not venturing forth because they think they have to get big-time financing. I...

Solve a Problem... Or Find a New One

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 29

When generating ideas for a new venture, you may take one of the following two strategies: Start with the problem to be addressed and brainstorm potential solutions. Generate a new...

Opportunity Doesn't Knock -- It Answers

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 26

You have to go out and find opportunity. If you're an entrepreneur, it's not going to knock on your door. Opportunity doesn't even know where you live, it doesn't know...

Sometimes You Have to Work for Free

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 25

Give away your services for free and do pro bono work in the community. For me, I've found it's one of the best ways of marketing your business -- it...

Rent Before You Buy

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 24

If you're an entrepreneur looking into office space for the first time, don't even think of buying. You want to rent. Make sure you get a "good guy" clause in...

Stand Out from the Crowd

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 23

The most important thing is to get your positioning as "right" as possible. You want to be perceived by your target market as better than the competition on some attributes...

Only Spend What You Have

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 22

I think most small businesses fail because they're overcapitalized. I think it's the worst myth of small businesses. When I opened this bookstore, I did it on what I could...

Never Stop Marketing

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 19

Marketing is a process, not an event. Marketing is absolutely every bit of contact any part of your business has with any segment of the public. Guerrillas view marketing as...

Know When You're Stressed -- How to Walk Away

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 18

When you're stressed, there's negative "self talk" in your head. What are you saying to yourself? Thoughts create emotions, releasing chemicals in your body. When you're under a lot of...

Don't Get Distracted

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 17

Really understand what your core competency is. What do you really do best? Focus on that. Being all things to all people is not a good strategy. Position your product...

What VCs Want

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 16

Make sure that your products have an exceptionally high gross margin. Venture capital investors have learned that products need a minimum of 67% gross margin to pay for -- and survive...

To Boost Sales, Stop Selling!

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 15

If you want to get your prospects' attention, the first thing to do is let them know how you can help them. Few people like to be sold, but every...

Secrecy Is Poison

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 12

Business owners tend to be very secretive. They don't tell anybody anything. As a consequence, it becomes very, very lonely to be an owner-manager of your own successful business. It's...

Know When To Bring in a Babysitter

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 11

If you've ever had a baby, you remember the feeling -- that no one takes as good care of your child as you do. You may even have been right,...

Hire Right -- Or Be Left Behind

Posted by: Administrator on August 08

Small-business owners all too frequently make hiring decisions based on gut feelings about a person. Unfortunately, you can be easily fooled by your emotions. It's absolutely critical that you invest...