Small Business Owners

08 Feb Hate Your Job? How to Cope and Mope

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

Americans work long hours. Longer than a lot of other major economies (pretty much all of Europe, to start with). The average full time worker is at the office 47 hours per week. We also receive, on average 15 days of vacation – and take just 14 of them. (The average European worker gets 28 days. Yes, really.) So, if you hate your job, that’s a lot of time to be unhappy. If leaving immediately isn’t an option – and for most people it isn’t, here are some ways to make the work day more bearable.

Ways to cope when you hate your job:

01 Feb Keep ‘Em Coming: Monthly Retainer Arrangements

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

Most people in sales know, whether you’re a one-person shop or a multinational, it’s often easier to keep a current client than to get a new one. But what if you’re a service provider and a few clients are slowly using you less and less? Or they disappear for months, only to pop up again? You could consider offering clients monthly retainer arrangements. If you haven’t quite lost them, but they’re not coming to you as much as you like, this might be a solution.

Things to consider about monthly retainer arrangements:

25 Jan Speak Up: How to Communicate Like A Leader

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

If you’re the boss, then technically you might not need to be an effective speaker. People sort of have to listen to you, right? Maybe. But if you know how to communicate like a leader, then you won’t have to rely on seniority (or, fear). You want a team that both understands what you need and enjoys hearing how you say it.

Three ways to communicate like a leader:

11 Jan Maybe You Should Be a Mentor: Here’s Why

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

People who are looking for a new job, or at least new advice on their current job, are often told that getting a mentor could be a great step forward. But what about the other side of it? Who should be a mentor, and why?

Here are some reasons why you should be a mentor:

28 Dec New Year’s Resolutions: Annual Checks for Businesses

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

Whether you’ve had your business for years or just finished the first one, a new year offers a natural time to assess where you are and where you want to be. Annual checks for businesses aren’t meant to replace the more frequent monitoring of your business. Regular activity like sales targets and budgets should be happening monthly, if not more often. But a few tasks just need a once a year check-in to make sure you don’t need to make any adjustments.

Here are some annual checks for businesses to consider soon:

21 Dec Top Dog: Things To Know About Being the Boss

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

Whether you’ve started your own company, or been hired to run someone else’s, being the boss is exciting. After all it’s a statement that you have the ability and confidence to be the last word on all things. No matter where you are in your career, there is a satisfying sense of accomplishment. And no one tells you what to do…sort of. So it might be surprising as you settle into the role and discover all is not as you expected.

Here are some surprising things about being the boss:

30 Nov Tis the Season: How to Survive the Holiday Season at Work

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

Like clockwork, the commercials and emails and online ads for the holidays arrived just as turkeys landed on tables across the country. We’re officially in the holiday season, and there’s no turning back until January 2. For some, this is the most special part of the year, getting ready to spend time with family, decorate the house and indulge in seasonal savories. And it can be easy to survive the holiday season at work if that’s how you see it. But taking all that jolly spirit to the office can be tricky for some.

Here’s how to handle the holiday season at work:

09 Nov Need help? Why You Should Hire Older Workers

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

So, you might be sick of the idea of older and wiser. Or, “you’ll understand when you’re older”. Or. . .well, fill in your favorite “experience matters” cliché. But. Well, the truth is, more experienced workers can be a really valuable asset to your team. So consider why you should hire older workers to help grow your business.

Reasons why you might want to hire older workers:

02 Nov Stay Jolly: How to Hire Seasonal Workers for the Holidays

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

In our post on being a seasonal worker during the holidays, we made a strong argument for why now is a good time to start considering seasonal work if you are in the job market (or not, but open to some extra cash). And if you’re on the other side of the hiring desk? Here’s how to hire seasonal workers for the holidays and still keep the happy in your happy holidays.

Tips if You Plan to Hire Seasonal Workers for the Holidays

12 Oct Check These Out . . . Great Apps for Small Businesses

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

We know, we know. Everyone is always touting what’s the next best set of apps for small businesses. But that doesn’t mean that some aren’t worth checking out. You only need a couple of great ones to change your life (well, ok, at least your business day).