As an avid The Office watcher (and I know the British version was probably better), this was a good read on the lessons we can learn from Andy Bernard’s struggles in management. Google is buying companies at a crazy clip, so if you are looking to sell out, start there. Nice piece in the Times about the less-attractive side of entrepreneurship. If you are looking at leaving the cubicle behind, read this first. Its December, which means year end is here (among other things), so if you want to avoid Uncle Sam in April, get your tax avoidance strategies in place now When getting ready to start up, here is what not to do. A little love for Iowa’s start up culture. You can have all the drive and ambition in the world, but entrepreneurs also need these 4 things according to Glen Blickenstaff on Inc.com. I tend to agree, especially in regards to making a difference. If you have thought about kicking off a pay-per-click strategy for your business, now is a great time as... [More]

Many people blame the current high unemployment rate in the United States upon the outmigration of manufacturing jobs to foreign countries, where labor costs are cheaper- much cheaper.   Some American job loss can credibly be attributed to this kind of outmigration but surprisingly, many more American manufacturing jobs are being eliminated because of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Columnist Hale Stewart wrote last year in the popular Huffington Post online magazine, that improvements in manufacturing processes- rather than outmigration of jobs overseas- have resulted in the huge layoffs we’ve experienced over the past decade. Even though the national unemployment rate is currently over 9%, Stewart notes that manufacturing productivity has never been higher; we manufacture more goods today than we did a decade ago with only 4-5% unemployment.  While looking at these numbers, I kept thinking about Chickasaw County in NE Iowa. Between 2000 and 2003 ... [More]

Link-O-Rama for 11/11/11 It’s often said, but not nearly often enough practiced that the best funding to get your business going is sales. It’s always easier to head to the bank or your brother-in-law, but sales trump it all in my opinion. Here is a pretty good primer on how to take a step back and look at your sales process to “Six Sigma It up” a little. One thing that always amazing me when counseling with small business is their lack of process around collecting from customers. If you have a business model where you can’t get cash up front or at time of service, you NEED to have things in place to keep the A/R under control. Here is a great read on how to go about it. Waiting it out and playing nice is not always the answer. And when you’ve worked hard for the sale, the last thing you need is a deadbeat that doesn’t pay. Jeff Haden over at Owner’s Manual always has good stuff to share. Here he delves into the world of Linked In&... [More]

On November 9th, young entrepreneurs and small business owners from all across rural Iowa will gather for the Rural Young Entrepreneur Summit (YES) in the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. The event provides an opportunity for young and/or emerging rural entrepreneurs to network and connect with resources and programs that can make a difference in the entrepreneurial culture of rural America. Governor Terry Brandstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will also be in attendance to learn from and share perspectives on opportunities for entrepreneurship in rural Iowa. During the event, a panel of young rural entrepreneurs will be sharing their business stories and discuss with attendees how they were able to make their enterprises successful in rural Iowa. Panelists include: Matt Russell, Coyote Run Farm (Lacona, Iowa)   Amy Strouth, Prairie Queen Bakery & Restaurant (Sheldon, Iowa) Pat Palmer, The Computer Guy (Hampton, Iowa) Mari Holthau... [More]

The on-line public voting phase of the regional Iowa Innovation Gateway DREAM BIG GROW HERE contest closed on Thursday, September 15th at 11:59 p.m. Thirty different regional entrepreneurs submitted testimonies about their businesses for the contest. Over 16,000 votes were cast throughout the voting period. Congratulations to: Chris Perkins, Go Topless Glassware Heidi Rockwell, Yumi’s Bakery & Deli Carol Von Klompenburg, The Write Place Josh Cowman & Jon Kettler, Skowty, LLC Simone Bates, Simone’s Cuppa These top five vote getters will now present to a panel of regional judges on September 20th to see who will take home the $5,000 regional grant. Judges will be using the following criteria to determine the final winner: the viability of the business, an effective plan for use of prize money, the ability to raise additional capital, a potential to generate wealth in the region, the business provides economic diversity to the region and there is a potential... [More]

MT.PLEASANT, Iowa – The popular Dream Big Grow Here entrepreneurship contest in SE Iowa has resulted in an unusual finish after a wild night of online voting September 16th. The Southeast Iowa Dream Big Grow Here contest is one of six regional contests sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa and five other organizations to promote local awareness of the unique businesses and talented entrepreneurs in the state. Each regional contest offers a $5,000 cash award and a chance to win an additional $10,000 in a pitch-off event in March 2012. “The SE Iowa contest, sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Area Development Commission has been one of the most popular so far this year”, noted Maureen Collins-Williams, Director of Entrepreneurship Outreach at UNI, where the contest was created. “Not only did southeast Iowa attract more contestants than any other regional contest, people from all over the world turned out to vote for their favorite business there, casting nearly ... [More]

Good Afternoon! Things are jumping in Iowa this month!  As many of you know,  the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center (RBC) developed a partnership with the Iowa Bankers Association and the Community Vitality Center in mid-2010 to launch Dream Big Grow Here -an online entrepreneur contest featuring $1,000 monthly grants awarded online to emerging and existing Iowa small business owners who uploaded their ‘dreams’, then encouraged customers, family and other business owners to vote for them. Dream Big Grow Here attracted 63,489 visitors during the five month beta test.  Given the initial success of Dream Big Grow Here, a group of statewide sponsors stepped up this year to provide matching funds for more customized regional contests-with bigger cash awards of $5,000- and to fund a statewide pitch-off among winners for a grand prize of $10,000.  The Iowa Bankers Association, The Technology Association of Iowa, Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Dep... [More]

MyEntre.Net, Iowa's largest online community for small business owners and entrepreneurs, has partnered with Google and other state agencies to offer a series of workshops designed to help small businesses get online or improve their existing online presence! [More]

•    In some ways, this video isn’t too far off from the truth on today’s tech start ups – obviously I am generalizing – please don’t send me a bunch of hate mail on how your start up is different.  •    Looking for a way to manage social media?  Check out the Roost.  •    Who doesn’t love a good freebie now and again (or in my case, all the time)?  And if you are going to the trouble of using a promo item for your small business, read this first for a few tips.•    This one doesn’t have a ton of great stuff in it, but I mention it based on the sheer power of all things Harry Potter.  •    If you are constantly hearing “no” as you look for a lending source for your start up, don’t overlook the credit union industry as a source.  Chad Lyons has a good piece here about CU’s as a viable source fo... [More]

Have you ever noticed a small business operation where everyone in the business marches to the same drummer? Conversely, have you ever noticed a business where operations seem to be completely disjointed? Every business, intended or not, has a culture. The culture of a business is simply the way a business behaves. And, the behavior of a business is simply the reflection of the sum total of its people. As an example, I have purchased my last five vehicles from the same automobile dealership. The primary reason for my loyalty is the customer service. On one occasion, I stopped to visit my favorite salesman. A fellow salesman informed me that my guy was out of the dealership for a couple hours and asked if he could be of help until my guy returned. I said I had planned to look at a particular vehicle. The fill-in salesman quickly found the keys, the dealership plate, and fueled the vehicle for me to test drive. And he continued to be attentive until my salesman returned. In addition, ... [More]