via flickr.com It IS about the conversation!  Content is there, but note the traction that happens in this under 2 minute clip with a “small talk” professional who understands the depth of making true connections in networking and connection. This fun banter and Debra Fine’s “Small Talk” presentation is what it’s all about:  connection, enjoyment, [...]

___________________ The smartest entrepreneurs plan on growing and are prepared for change.   — Bob Reiss ___________________ …My advice is this; write your business plan in pencil; …doing so will illustrate two important principles. Change is inevitable. I have little doubt that you (the small-business owner) will shortly have to change, amend, modify, scrap or abandon [...]

Deb: This site is quite a goldmine of Small Business & start-up resources from those with experience in the small business arena. The site includes articles on how to get started–straight talk, comparing the differences of leasing vs. buying real estate, business plan development resources (SCORE), and marketing advice. I highly recommend a walk-thru, from [...]

 Paring it down to the essentials makes a lot of sense for small business in start-up mode.  via flickr.com   Excerpted – March 31st, 2010 : If you have ever watched an episode of Kitchen Nightmares, then you will notice…some amazing restaurant turnarounds.  …[H]e teaches some very important business lessons  that we can all learn [...]

Deb:  The writer of this blog post attended a 90 Day planning workshop a local business coach offered to business owners. He said that taking ½ day out from business to plan out his goals for the next quarter seemed a very helpful plan.  Result:  He gained much more than he had expected.  Excerpt from [...]

  Excerpted: What is a Tribe page anyway? Good question and I’m glad you asked. The tribe page is one of my favorite pages as it’s the section where I can promote other people in my tribe or blogging alliance. These people I look up to as trainers, team members, people who I want to [...]

via flickr.com There’s some intriguing work out by Randall P. White, Ph.D. and Sandra Shullman, Ph.D.  _________________________ …a fearless approach to uncertainty is required. _________________________ Three Tenets of Mastering the Unknown The authors advise that mastering uncertainty is learned over time, and the skills to do it should be included in the curriculum of leadership [...]

via flickr.com   Deb: I found this gem in the higher education twitter stream via @barbchamberlain – Helpful, and VERY well said to those looking to stay up-to-date via social media.  It is mainly written for non-profits, but is very insightful for small business and the for-profit world, as well as LC3′s (hybrids.) Excerpted from [...]

Are your goals strategic? This is the third of three posts in the MCG series focused on the goal stage, after “membership” and “control.” At this stage, teams are fully fit and ready to act, if there is a commonly understood goal and a plan to achieve it. As some leaders struggle in defining clear and strategic goals, tools and approaches are offered.