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Tim Knox Email Alerts

Boy, What Were You Thinking?
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] When I was a kid there were five words I heard more than all others combined. Usually coming from my father, they were, "Boy, what were you thinking?"

Be Careful What You Wish For
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Well, my friends, like the Terminator, politicians named Clinton, the ghosts from the movie Poltergeist, and that corn on the side of your big toe: I'm back. There are just some things that won't go away. Sorry.

Cut Start Up Costs by Using a Dropshipper
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] I want to start an online specialty shop, selling gifts and home accessories. I want to be able to have items dropshipped to customers through my site. I already have a website and domain name reserved, but I don't have a lot of money to get this going. I'd appreciate whatever insight you can give me.

The Great American Customer Service Unawareness Campaign
[Business:Customer-Service] I'm so sick of you so-called business experts always saying the customer is always right. This is my business, not the customer's, so I'm the one who's always right. Sure, they can have an opinion, but in the end it's up to me to decide who's right and who's not. And if the customer doesn't like it they can take their business elsewhere. What do you say to that, Mr. Business Expert?

Credit Cards, Merchant Accounts, and Your Bottomline
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Q: I'm opening a gift shop and want to be able to accept credit cards. I talked to the branch manager at my bank, but he didn't seem to know much about how it all worked. He did say that I would need something called "a merchant account" and something else called "a credit card processor." Beyond that he seemed as clueless as I am. I'm thinking about going to another bank. Can you explain how that all works?

Move Slowly Into Your First Office
[Business] Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to find office space for me and two part time employees. I am really excited about opening my first official office, but never having rented commercial space before I don't know anything about how this process works. What are some things I should consider before signing a lease? I'm really eager to get started!

Use Noncompete Agreements to Protect Your Business
[Business:Management] Q: One of my former employees has launched an online business very similar to mine and is contacting my clients and trying to steal their business from me. Do I have any legal recourse against him?

Business is No Guarantee of Riches
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Q: I'm thinking about starting a business since that seems to be how most rich people get rich. I don't have any business experience or much money, but I'm a fast learner and have lots of energy. Any free advice?

SBA's 8(a) Program Can Help Some Companies Compete
[Business:Small-Business] The 8(a) program is reserved for what the SBA calls "socially disadvantaged individuals." Socially disadvantaged individuals are defined as those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their membership in a disadvantaged group.

Is the eBay Fee Increase Actually Good For Business?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] Fee Increase Leaves Some Sellers Angry, Others Thrilled Much of my email from readers this month concerned the recent announcement from eBay that it will increase many seller fees on February 18, 2005. Since many business people use eBay's online store system as their primary ecommerce point of sale, it's no surprise that most of the emails I received were of the angry variety.

Franchising Pros and Cons
[Business:Franchising] Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose the franchise that would best fulfill his life-long dream of owning his own business sparked a number of emails from other readers wanting to offer their two cents on the subject. Some folks offered helpful insights and suggestions on how to pick a franchise and a few things to watch out for, while other emails came from current franchise owners asking me to help them sell their operations to Anthony R...

Maintaining Your Business Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Should I build and maintain my business Web site myself or pay someone else to do the work for me? When you say, pay someone else to do the work for you...

Beware of Spam Withdrawals
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Spam-Blocker] After listening to me complain about spam for months, my lead engineer burst into my office a few weeks ago and announced, "I've solved our spam problem! I've installed a spam filter on our server that will prevent spam from getting through." Great, I thought, now I can find something new to complain about.

Franchises Offer Shortcuts, But Not Control
[Business:Franchising] Franchising can be a great way to start a business career, but you should make sure you're not just trading one job for another. Unless you plan on being an absentee owner, which I highly discourage, you are gong to be working in the business just as an employee would, so be sure the business you choose doesn't turn your lifelong dream into a never-ending nightmare.

Does Your Website Induce Seizures?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] We promote our web site in all our ad campaigns, but according to my website statistics program, we are getting very few visitors who click past the first page. The site has a cool Flash introduction page that the designer said would impress visitors, but it doesn't seem to be working. What can we do to get people to spend more time on the site?

What Does Your Website Say About Your Business?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Question: My business is very small, just me and two employees, and our product really can't be sold online. Do I really need a website?

If You Build It, Will They Come?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] QUESTION: I recently launched a website for my sporting goods business. Do I need to do anything special to attract customers to my website? I know nothing about search engines and marketing as such. Please tell me where to begin...

Turnkey Dropship Websites Save You Time, Trouble and Money
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] QUESTION: I would like to start an online dropshipping business, but I have no idea how to get started. I would like to specialize in giftware and accessories. Where do I find products and how do I get set up a website without any technical knowledge? - Beth N.

Build a High Profit Business With Affiliate Programs
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Affiliate-Revenue] QUESTION: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs, but there is so much hype out there I can't figure out which programs would work best for me. Everybody claims their program is best. I'd really appreciate some guidance here.

Do You Have What it Takes to Be an Entrepreneur
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] There are a variety of skills you'll need to succeed as an entrepreneur and chances are do not possess them all. One of the great things about being an entrepreneur is that if you lack certain skills you can always hire people with those skills to help round out your company skill set.

Taxing Your eBay Profits
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] As a small business person-slash-advice columnist I dread the first quarter of the new year. Not because in my mind my own business fortunes start at zero again every January or because I have already dismissed every New Year's resolution I made when the clock rang out the New Year.

Achievements Outweigh Education and Experience
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Many successful businesses were started by first time entrepreneurs who never went to college. Natural talent, ambition, drive, determination, and good old dumb luck have fueled many success entrepreneurs, myself included. I don't have a degree (I drove past a college once. It looked hard, so I kept going.) Would a degree have helped make my business trek easier? Perhaps...

An Entrepreneur and a Life to Be Remembered
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Corey Rudl had been killed in a high speed crash at a race track in California. At the moment of his death at the young age of 34, Corey was a passenger in a Porsche that hit a retaining wall at over 100 miles per hour, killing him instantly and the driver shortly thereafter. The track had been rented by a local car club so that Corey and his buddies could take their expensive, powerful cars to the track to see how fast they could go.

The Secret to Real eBay Success
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] Q. I hear so much about people who started selling on eBay and eventually turned it into their full time business. Is it really possible to build a profitable business just selling junk on eBay?

How to Handle the Occasional Oop-See!
[Business:Customer-Service] My company is really in hot water with one of our best customers. I can't reveal exactly what happened, but suffice it to say that we really dropped the ball and the customer is furious. I'm not even sure we can save the account.

Managing Employees is a Little Like Herding Cats
[Business:Management] Some business experts will tell you that managing people is an art. Others will tell you that managing people is a skill. I'm going to tell you that managing people is more like herding cats. Just when you think you have them all going in the same direction one will run off and you have to go catch it. And by the time you get back with the stray cat the rest of the herd has all gone off in different directions.

When it Comes to eBay, Don't Follow the Herd
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] Q: I want to start an online business. Since I don't know anything about ecommerce and building websites and such, I'm thinking about starting out selling products on eBay, then pay someone to build a website for me once the money starts coming in. The big question is: what is the hot product to sell on eBay to make money fast? -- Bob D.

Writing the Book on Great Customer Service
[Business:Customer-Service] You probably can't compete with the superstore on volume of inventory or on price, but there are other things you can do to help keep the customers coming in your door. One of the best ways to ensure customer loyalty is to offer superior customer service.

Starting Your Business by the Book
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] To begin, here's the best legal advice I can give you as a new business person: find yourself a good lawyer and make him or her your very best friend. Granted, your new best friend will charge you an hourly fee for chatting on the phone or talking business over lunch, but you'll find it to be money well spent. A good attorney can save you far more than the cost of his services. I rarely make any decision that has the potential to impact my business without first consulting my attorney.

How to Create Your Own Info Product
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:E-Books] In the last article we talked about why informational products are the best type of products to sell online. An informational product can be a digital book (known as an e-book), a digital report or a white paper, a piece of software, audio or video files, a web site, an ezine (electronic magazine) or a newsletter.

Teaching the Big Boys to Think Small
[Business:Management] It's a fact that smaller companies, by need and design, are more innovative, more flexible, more decisive, and faster to move than their larger brethren who are entrenched in operational processes and corporate procedures. Small companies are typically not led by career executives for whom every decision must be predicated by hours of meetings and mounds of documentation. Most small companies are led by their founders; men and women who were cut from an entrepreneurial cloth that has yet to fade. It is when a company grows to the point that the founder steps aside to make way for professional managers that the company loses its innovative nature and entrepreneurial flair.

Teaching Large Companies to Think Like the Little Guys
[Business:Management] The fact that innovation and entrepreneurship run rampant in smaller companies, but is often suppressed in larger companies is nothing new. Management guru Peter Drucker first addressed the issue in his 1985 book, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Drucker wrote that one of the most often-asked questions in many a 1985 boardroom was, "How can we overcome the resistance to innovation that plagues most organizations?"

What's the Customer Service Buzz About Your Business?
[Business:Customer-Service] Nothing generates negative buzz about a business like bad customer service, and nothing will drive nails in a business' coffin faster. News of bad customer service travels like lightning and spreads like wildfire. Think back to the last time you were on the receiving end of bad customer service. I'd be willing to bet that you immediately went out into the world and told everyone you met about the experience. You probably also warned them to "never do business with those &^%$ or you'll get treated the same!"

What's the Best Product to Sell Online?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Product-Launching] I wish I had a dime for every time I've been asked, "what's the best product to sell online?" I also wish I had a nickel for every blank stare I received when I answered: "That's simple: information." I'd have enough money to finance another startup or two.

Don't Be Afraid to Give Problem Customers the Boot
[Business:Customer-Service] As the business owner, it is your responsibility to meet the customer's expectations and provide good customer service. Even if your business does not involve a formal contract that spells out to the letter what should be expected, there is generally a clear understanding of what the customer expects and what you are willing to deliver. If you back peddle on your end of the bargain, let's say by serving a bad meal or losing a customer's laundry and refusing to make things right, then you are guilty of not meeting the expectations of your customer and thereby are guilty of providing bad customer service.

Taking Your Business International
[Business:International-Business] I called on Jose Rodriguez, President of RISMED Oncology Systems, a Huntsville company that provides high medical technology to radiotherapy professionals around the globe, to get his input on the subject. Jose is an old friend and client and if anyone can give pointers on doing business internationally, Jose is the man.

The Business Failed, But Did You?
[Business:Small-Business] In fact, I know exactly how you feel. I failed so miserably my first time in business that I swore I would never think about working for myself again. All I wanted to do was to find a nice, secure 9-to-5 job that provided me with a nice steady paycheck. I yearned for the opportunity to grow fat and happy on someone else's payroll for a change.

There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!
[Business:Small-Business] Occasionally a question comes over the digital transom that just makes me go, "Huh?" It's kind of like trying to stifle a giggle when Grandma breaks wind at Sunday dinner. Some things are just better left ignored.

The Thick Line Between Buddy and Boss
[Business:Management] I have made just about every business blunder you can imagine. I am like the Evel Knievel of the small business world, if Evel Knievel wrote a weekly column on motorcycle safety. One of the more unpleasant things I've had to do is fire a good friend who was not doing the job I hired him to do. He needed a job, I needed an employee, so I thought I would give him a shot.

Is Your Website Credit Card Friendly?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] In my last column I discussed the process of credit card enabling your brick-and-mortar business. I pointed out that research has shown that accepting credit cards can help increase revenue and enhance cash flow. I also pointed out that you may have to look beyond your local bank for help in getting things set up.

How to Handle Customer Billing Snafus
[Business:Customer-Service] I have found that in situations like this it is always best to be proactive and face the problem (or what you perceive as a potential problem) as quickly as possible. This will save you hours of needless worry since most of the time the problem is not as big a deal as you imagined it to be.

Business Lessons Learned at the Mall
[Business:Sales] Normally in this column I dispense highly-intelligent small business advice in response to thought-provoking questions submitted by future and fellow entrepreneurs. This week, however, I have a couple of questions for myself, one of which makes me wonder how truly intelligent I really am.

How to Tell If Your Amazing New Product Idea is Really Worth Gambling On
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Product-Creation] After hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars spent developing the product we were amazed to find that the only people who thought the software was truly amazing was us. We made mankind yawn. Quite an amazing accomplishment, if I do say so myself.

Investing in Son's Business Could Cause a Real Family Feud
[Investing] A loan from a relative is no different than a loan from a bank. You, Mr. Banker, are giving your son, Mr. Borrower, the use of your money for a specific period of time and you fully expect the loan to be paid back under specific terms, even if his business goes south. Sure, you will probably be a little more forgiving than a bank when the loan goes unpaid, but the damage to your personal relationship could be extreme and hard to repair.

Choosing a Business That's Right For You
[Business:Small-Business] I always compare starting a business to jumping into a pool of freezing water. There are typically two types of entrepreneurs who take the plunge. Both types of entrepreneurs may find success, depending on how well equipped they are to handle the water they are diving into. Here are a few ideas to help better prepare you for the plunge.

Opportunity Does Not Knock
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] I can tell you that as a breed, entrepreneurs are an impatient lot and many jump on the first business bandwagon that comes along just for the sake of being in business. That's a big mistake that usually comes back to bite them in their entrepreneurial behinds.

Perceived Value is in the Eye of the Beholder
[Business:Marketing] Q: My partner and I are having a hard time coming up with what we feel is the perfect price for our new product. We know what competing products sell for, but we don't know if it's better to price our product cheaper than theirs or charge more based on what we think is a superior product. What is the best way to determine the perfect price and what is the rule of thumb for raising prices later on?

Veteran Entrepreneurs Are Growing in Ranks
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Out of everything I do I get the most enjoyment from speaking and teaching. Maybe it's the old stand up comedian in me, but nothing feeds my addiction like standing in front of a room of entrepreneurs talking about the ups and downs, the ins and outs, the do's and don'ts of business.

What's in a Name? When it Comes to Your Business, Plenty!
[Business:Branding] The name of your business can also spark subconscious reactions in a customer that may drive them to you or drive them away. Words like quality, complete, executive, best, low-cost, and on time often spark positive reactions in the mind of the consumer. Words like cheap, discount, and used tend to create negative emotions. You'll notice that no one claims to sell used cars anymore, but the dealer lots are loaded with vehicles that are "previously owned."

Some Guys Have All the Luck
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Recent studies claim that the less educated you are, the more sex you have, and the more sex you have, the longer you'll live. Sure gives new meaning to "Live long and prosper!"

SWOT Analysis is No Magic 8 Ball
[Business:Strategic-Planning] Think of a SWOT Analysis as a checkup for your business. By spending a little time examining the internal and external factors that affect your business' health you can better gauge the present state of your business and identify things that may adversely affect your business' health in the future.

How Good is Your Big Idea
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] There are two things that will happen here. First, your mother will tell you what you want to hear and your best friends will be equally kind. No one who really cares for you will want to rain on your parade no matter how insane your parade might be, so take the wisdom you gain here with a hug and a grain of salt.

Are You Willing to Do Whatever it Takes to Succeed in Business?
[Business:Small-Business] There is a very simple reason some entrepreneurs do amazingly well in business while others do not. It has nothing to do with product or location or backing or education or street smarts or dumb luck. It has more to do with people willing to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to succeed in business.

To Go Or No Go, That is the Question
[Business:Strategic-Planning] A feasibility plan is just that: a written plan that is created for the sole purpose of validating the feasibility of a business idea. Some call it a "Go/No Go" plan, because the results of a well-constructed feasibility plan will tell you whether or not the idea has a chance for success (that's a Go) or if this idea would be best left on the drawing board (that's a No Go).

For Entrepreneurs a SIMPLE Plan May Be Best
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] I own a small decorating business and I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about taxes or retirement plans. I'd like to set up a 401(k) or an IRA or some other kind of retirement plan for me and my three employees. What are the various retirement plan options available for a small business owner and in your opinion, which would work best for me?

Mastermind Your Way to Business Success
[Business:Networking] This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to ringing out the old and ringing in the new. It's the time for wiping the slate clean and starting over; a time for new beginnings; a time for making New Year's resolutions that, while spoken with the best of intentions, are usually forgotten by the time the black eyed peas are gone. It's the time that we look back at the carnage left in our wake over the past year and vow to do things a little different, maybe even a little smarter, in the year...

Is Brick and Mortar a Passing Fad?
[Business:Small-Business] During the dot-com boom the mantra was "Brick and mortar is dead!" Then when most of the dot-com's crashed like an elephant sitting on a wicker chair, the mantra suddenly changed back to "The Internet is dead! Long live brick and mortar!" In both instances those doing the shouting were dead wrong (and highly annoying). The correct mantra should be "Long live ecommerce enabled brick and mortar!" It's not as catchy, but a lot more accurate.

Expert Strategies For Hiring the Best Employees
[Business:Management] Hiring employees who can contribute to your business positively is a challenge for every entrepreneur. Here are some tips on how to go about this difficult and challenging task.

Are You Mentor Material?
[Self-Improvement:Coaching] Typically, there are three things every good mentor should have: time, patience, and a genuine desire to help another person succeed without expecting anything in return. If you have an abundance of those things, then being a mentor can be a highly rewarding experience. If not, please see the rubber plant reference above.

Tips For Dealing With Contractors
[Real-Estate:Building-a-Home] This week we discuss how to find a capable building contractor to build out the location. And as this series has been thus far, this segment is based on my personal experience and offered to you warts and all. As with all of my columns only the names have been changed to protect the innocent, the ignorant, and the overly litigious.

How to Profit Using eBay's Saved Search Feature
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] This is an eBay tool that I use every day to locate products that I can buy and resell or buy cheap and keep for myself and my family. And the great news is you can use it, too..

How to Boost Your Bottom Line With Two Little Words
[Business:Customer-Service] In fact, this little secret is so powerful that you will be amazed at its immediate effect on you, your employees, and your bottom line. This little secret is guaranteed to improve your relationship with current customers and if used wisely, can get you lots of new customers without spending a dime on marketing or advertising.

We Don't Need No Stinking Permits
[Business:Small-Business] So far in this series we've talked about finding a location for your retail business, negotiating the lease, and securing a capable contractor to build out the space. Unless you're renting simple office space odds are you will need to make some modifications to the space, be it adding walls, flooring, paint, electrical, plumbing, or any combination thereof. Rarely will a space be perfect from the get go and building out can be expensive; especially if you're an idiot who doesn't do your homework about building codes and permits.

What Makes a Good Leader? Ask Uncle Sam
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] What do the major generals who are leading the war efforts in Iraq have in common with executives and entrepreneurs who are conducting business back home? When it comes to leadership, the answer is probably a lot more than you think.

The Bad Guys Are Phishing For Your Personal Information
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Security] The latest attempt by identity thieves to steal the personal information of eBay members hit my inbox earlier this week and I have to say, this one is pretty convincing. Even this old dog did a double-take before realizing that the identity thieves were phishing for my personal information again.

Never Dive Into Business Without a Startup Plan
[Business:Solo-Professionals] This week begins the tale of my recent foray into the world of brick and mortar and the startup the lessons learned there from. Over the next few weeks I'll be detailing the exact steps that I took to launch my retail business and bring it to profitability within the first 30 days. The lessons to come are many, and not just for those milling around in the brick and mortar crowd.

What's Your Company's Email Policy?
[Business:Workplace-Communication] Does your company have an email policy? Did you even know there was such a thing? Well, there is, and if your company doesn't have one you are not only risking the professional image of your firm, but also risking potential liability issues that may arise from the misuse of your company email system.

The 8 Things You Must Know to Build a Great Website
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] Before the first graphic is drawn or the first line of code is written, you must define the website's budget, purpose, target audience, design, navigation, and content. And when that's all said and done you must define the marketing that will bring visitors to your site.

Learn to Avoid Ugly Baby Syndrome
[Business:Management] Last week we talked about creating a "Startup Plan" for your new business idea. To catch you up, a Startup Plan is a detailed list of tasks and subtasks that must be completed in order to get you from the initial idea stage to opening day and beyond.

Santa - The Consummate Entrepreneur
[Business:Small-Business] You have probably never considered the fact that Santa is the CEO of a large organization that not only distributes a vast assortment of products throughout the world, but does so in a single night with just a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. Sam Walton would have killed to have Santa's logistics manual.

Never Say it Can't Be Done
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] In business one must never say or assume that something can't be done. With a little help from ingenuity and creativity any problem can be easily solved.

It's All Up to You
[Self-Improvement:Success] If you're waiting for Ed McMahon to show up on your doorstep and proclaim, "This is your lucky day!" you are going to have a long, miserable wait. Ed can't make you a success. I can't make you a success. It is all up to YOU.

How to Really Get the Competitive Advantage Over Your Competition
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] One of the hot catchphrases being bounced around a lot in business these days is "competitive advantage." One of the cool things about being an entrepreneur and business author and speaker is that I get to use all kinds of big words and phrases that make me sound much smarter than I am.

Please Don't Buy Anything From Me
[Business:Customer-Service] This week I had one customer threaten to hunt be down and shoot me like a dog. Another said that if she could get her hands around my neck she'd strangle the life out of me. And still another sincerely hoped that I "burn in Hell for all eternity." What did I do to deserve these threats? That, my friend, is the rest of the story...

Why a Good Credit Score is Important to Your Business
[Finance:Credit] Whether you're in business or an individual, you should have an idea of what your credit score is, even if you're not currently applying for credit. Knowing your credit score and occasionally checking your credit reports also helps you protect yourself from identity theft and credit fraud.

What Would You Do With a Second Chance?
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] You could avoid the mistakes you previously made and build on the successes you previously enjoyed. You could nurture the positive relationships and avoid the bad. You could tap into your wealth of experience during times of indecision and always know where and when your time and money would be best spent.

Entrepreneurs, Learn This Lesson - Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Many entrepreneurs crumble under the weight of pressure everyday business. Here are some great tips to tackle such pressures and focus on your business growth.

The "E" in Ebusiness Does Not Mean Exempt
[Home-Based-Business] I've gotten quite a few emails recently from ebusiness owners who seem to think that just because their business is conducted online or from the comfort of home that the rules and regulations that govern brick and mortar businesses do not apply to them. The ebusiness questions I get most often do not involve building websites or conducting ecommerce. They are more what I call the "Do I Really Have To" line of questions, such as: "Do I really have to get a business license?

Use Email Marketing to Keep Customers Buzzing About Your Business
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Email-Marketing] Email marketing can be used as an effective tool for communicating with customers. It is an effective medium of communication to boost sales by ensuring that your customers constantly remember you.

What Do Your Business Emails Reveal About You?
[Business:Workplace-Communication] Why should you worry about how your emails are reviewed by their recipients? Because in business, you are constantly being judged by your customers, your employees, your investors, your partners, and your peers.

How Do You Keep Your Best Employees From Flying the Coup?
[Business:Management] There is not lack of jobs for good talent today and the best way to keep your best employees around is to provide them with incentives to stay on. The end result is of course the continued growth of your business.

What Can American Idol Teach You About Business?
[Business:Management] Well, folks, as luck and ratings would have it, it's time for yet another season of that train wreck of reality TV, American Idol; the show that attempts to separate the talented from the terrible and brings them all into your living room each week for you to enjoy. Get ready to call in and cast your vote for who should be applauded and who should be muzzled. How fortunate we are to be living in a time when we can judge our fellow man via text message.

What's Stopping You From Starting Your Own Small Business?
[Business:Small-Business] Some people simply don't have what it takes to start your own business. Others just need a bit of kicking to jump start them.

The Time to Consolidate Your Student Loans is Now
[Finance:Student-Loans] Most financial pundits recommend that the sooner you consolidate and refinance old high interest student loans, the better off you will be. Federal student loan interest rates are at an all time low, but that can't last forever. By refinancing your student loans now, you lock in the interest rate for the duration of the consolidation loan. The first thing you need to do is find out if you are eligible for student loan consolidation.

Learn to Focus on What's Important and Farm Out the Rest
[Business:Management] Outsourcing your mundane tasks to focus only on the essential tasks is the best way to organize your business. The results are great not just for you but also for your business.

Protect Your Ideas With Copyrights and Patents
[Legal:Patents] A patent is a form of protection granted to an inventor that protects his invention in the United States for up to 20 years from the date of application. Patent law states that, "whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or any new and useful improvements thereof may obtain a patent." Owning a patent gives you the legal right to stop someone else from making, using or selling your invention (or one that's very close to it) without your permission...

Do You Want Fries With That Management Style?
[Business:Management] The environment of any workplace is highly dependent on the type of manager and his/her management style. This article describes some of these management approaches.

Is Bad Customer Service Killing Your Business?
[Business:Customer-Service] It's time to beat the old bad customer service drum again. I know, I'm sick of beating the drum, too, but as long as bad customer service runs rampant through so many businesses I feel it is my entrepreneurial duty to bring it to your attention. So grab a pew and prepare to listen to the sermon I've preached before: bad customer service is the bane of business. If the Almighty smote down every business that dispenses bad customer service the world would be a much friendlier, albeit much sparser place. Consider a world without malls and fast food joints... would it really be so bad?

The Reasons Why Most People Will Never Find Online Success
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online] There is no such thing as a real get rich quick opportunity. If someone tells you that you can start with no money and no experience and make hundreds of thousands of dollars overnight they are lying to you and you are a fool for believing them. Yes, you can make lots of money in a short period of time as an Internet marketer, but you're not going to get rich this week unless you hit the lottery or your rich uncle dies. And you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than either of those things happening. Be realistic, be smart, be logical. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Women Entrepreneurs Prove It's Not Just a Man's World
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Women are increasingly more active in starting new businesses. Top growth of their businesses indicates skills that are noteworthy for other women and men.

Companies Stifle Intrapreneurs at Their Own Risk
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] I've noticed an interesting trend lately. Usually the e-mail I receive in response to this column comes from rookie entrepreneurs or established business owners seeking my input on startup matters, financing, employee relations, general management and leadership issues, policy matters, etc. Lately, however, many of the messages are coming from employees of medium-size and large companies who are growing frustrated at working in an environment that they deem (to quote one e-mail) "Intellectually stifling and (that) offers few challenges of one's creativity and innovation."

6 Ways to Fund Your New Business
[Business:Venture-Capital] Here are a few of the most common ways to finance a new business. All methods have pros and cons and some (or most) may not work for a specific situation. In any case one must always thoroughly investigate the ups and downs of any new venture before jumping in it with both feet.

Conducting Market Research From the Back of a Boat
[Business:Strategic-Planning] Market research is one of the most important but often overlooked part of business management. This article highlights many real life analogies to this important business function and provides some excellent advice to entrepreneurs.

Without Market Research You Could Find Yourself Fishing in an Empty Pond
[Business:Small-Business] Market research is a key ingredient in today's business environment. In this article an expert on business, gives some sound advice to entrepreneurs about market research that can help make better business decision and make the critical difference between business success and failure.

Dealing With Contractors Teaches Valuable Lessons About Business
[Business:Small-Business] The experience of dealing with contractors and other entrepreneurs is an interesting one as it highlights some key business issues. Planning, scheduling, customer satisfaction and accurate budgeting are just some of the things that play an important role in ensuring a successful business.

When it Comes to Marketing Your Business, Think Creatively
[Business:Marketing] If your business doesn't stand out in today's hyper-competitive market place there's a good chance that you won't be in business very long. There are countless others vying for the same slice of the pie that you are. There are dozens of competitors just up the road doing all they can to get the attention of your customers and take money out of your pockets. It's called "marketing," and some are probably doing a better job of it than you are and some probably worse. What can you do to position your business as the one customers notice? The secret to effective marketing is: think creatively.

What the Heck is Podcasting and What Can it Do For Your Business?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Podcasting] Podcasting is the new hype these days with many claiming it to be the future of internet and communication business. However, for many this is at best a vague term that is difficult to understand and even more frightening to use. This article will certainly help to develop a basic understanding of what podcasting actually is and how it can be used to promote your business.

A Christmas of Good Intentions
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] Christmas is that time of the year when we all rejoice and celebrate. However, along with Christmas comes a chore that is troublesome to some people - "shopping". This article relates just one such trip to avoid doing last minute shopping by going for it a full week in advance.

All the President's Women
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] How does the nation take the allegations against President Bill Clinton? There have been national surveys and forecasts by amateurs and pundits alike. Here is an analysis of the whole episode as well as some advice for the President.

Armadillo on the Half Shell
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] The origins of the human food menu is certainly a mystery that is yet unsolved. However, it seems that some amendments are certainly being made in these dietary standards today!

El Nino Made Me Do It!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] For years, I've been trying to convince my friends and family that outside forces caused me to do most of the stupid things I've done in my life. Though they would never come right out and say it, I'm pretty sure the only thing they are convinced of is that I'm really just a highly functioning idiot savant, kind of a high octane Rain Man, if you will. Maybe that's why my wife never lets me drive.

Getting "Yankee Naked"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Nakedness is no longer a word that is self explanatory. There are just so many variations of this word with each having a different meaning that an explanation of the broad categories is necessary. This is just what this article sets out to do!

Gimme a Head With Hair
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] A man's hair are certainly one of his best assets and a matter of pride. For many their loss can cause depression and anxiety that must be taken care of by an expert psychotherapist - or better still by a sports car!

Growing Old in a Red Miata
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I just had another birthday and I'm not particularly happy about it. To me, that's like saying, "I'm another year closer to having my prostate removed! Somebody bake me a cake and let's party!"

Honey, Did You Take Your Pill?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] A birth control pill for men? As if remembering to take out the trash isn't enough pressure.

I Hope You Kept the Receipt
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I was still standing in the mall entranceway when I discovered that I had no idea what to do next. That's when I realized that it doesn't matter how early in the season you shop if you have no idea what you're shopping for. In other words: tis better to shop on December 24th with a gift in mind than to go two weeks early and walk around like a last minute man without a clue.

If You Clone a Schizophrenic
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Scientists have successfully cloned a sheep and a cow. What's next? Dogs? Cats? Professional wrestlers? Me? And if you clone a schizophrenic, how many people do you get?

I Love You, You Love Me
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Barney The Dinosaur is suing The Famous San Diego Chicken for beating up a Barney lookalike during his act. Sounds like a clear case of costume envy to me.

No Sale Like a Yardsale
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] My wife, God love her, has a problem. Ordinarily, she is a wonderful woman, always kind to animals and small children, friendly with the neighbors, loved by one and all. But every Saturday morning, just after sun up, something happens to her, something horrible!

Pick on Somebody Your Own Size
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Mattel's redesigning Barbie to make her more realistic. Imagine Christy Brinkley going in, David Brinkley.

Show Me the Money
[Finance:Personal-Finance] The stock market could crash like a circus fat lady falling over a lawn chair and it wouldn't affect me in the least. All my money's tied up in bills; electric bill, phone bill, Visa bill etc.

Sometimes Life Just Ain't Funny
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Alabama weather is about as predictable as watching The Jerry Springer Show. You know something's going to happen, you're just not sure what it will be.

Staying Alive
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] If someone offered you a pill that would add 50 years to your life, would you take it? Not me. At least not until I found out who'd be footing the bill for all that extra life.

The Dust Settles on Miss America
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] The Miss America Pageant is taking its last breath. Will the mourners have to wear swimsuits to the funeral, or will evening gowns be enough?

The Four Letters Between PG & R
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] When you're a kid, there are certain words you dare not say. Swear words, my mother called them, cuss words. Today, my kids call them "daddy words." You can probably figure out why.

The New Fab Four
[Kids-and-Teens] They sing, they dance, they drive the kids wild. But how best to describe the Teletubbies to the uninitiated? Imagine this: if Pink Floyd produced a half-hour show for kids, this would be it. And you would enjoy it immensely.

The Real McCaugheys
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] What's it take to raise seven babies? Love, patience, understanding, and Prozac, lots and lots of Prozac.

The Religion of Football
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Here in Alabama, there are three classes of people: Alabama Crimson Tide fans, Auburn Tiger fans, and atheists. Two of the three will go to Hell when they die. Which two depends entirely on who you ask.

The Smarter White Meat
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] A college professor at Penn State is trying to teach pigs to communicate using computers. I think this guy is one pork rind short of a full bag. Who wants to get email from a pig?

The Tanya Factor
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Is it me or are the '98 Winter Olympics about as exciting as watching old people speedwalk at the mall? What's missing this year? Could be The Tanya Factor...

The Tax Man Cometh
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] Someone once said that there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. I would argue that death and taxes are really one and the same, the only difference being that death can only claim you once, while taxes can kill you every year. I die a slow death every April 15th.

Thingamabobs and Whatchamadigits
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] My daughter cornered me the other night, wanting to know about the birds and bees. Actually, she wanted to know what "sectional misconduct" was.

The Intelligent Diaper
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I believe it was Frank Zappa who said, "Necessity is the mother of invention," which means that if there is a need for something, sooner or later, someone will invent it. And then Microsoft will rip it off.

What's My Mama Gonna Say?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I know you're going to find this hard to believe, but I, am a sexist pig. Sorry, mama. I had no idea.

When Great Minds Meet
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] When the richest man in America meets the world's greatest Elvis impersonator, you know only good things could come of it. Could 'Don't Be Cruel' really become Microsoft's new theme song?

Who Cracked My Crystal Ball?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] It seems like an awful lot of people are asking my opinion these days, usually about things on which I have no opinion to give. They ask my take on international politics, global warming, the overseas stock markets, the future of the Eurodollar, the latest Calvin Klein fragrance, and a whole slew of other topics that I know little, if anything, about. Even my wife wants to know what I think.

Women Are From Where?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] The other night, after throwing the kids outside and putting the animals to bed (we discovered our mistake the next morning), my wife and I settled in for a quiet evening alone. We don't get much time to ourselves anymore, what with work and the constant demands for attention from a two-year-old who thinks electrical outlets are convenient, piggy bank ATMs and a ten-year-old who wants to forego middle school to become a Spice Girl. So, when we get more than five minutes alone, it's a big deal.

It's a Booming Time For Business
[Finance:Personal-Finance] If you were a man you expected to retire at 65 and die at 75; and if you were smart you banked enough dough to see you comfortably through that stretch. We figured we'd get at least 10 good leisurely years before the grim reaper shows up without having to worry about money. Turns out, we were wrong.

It's Not All About Location, Location, Location
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Last time we met I brought you the tale of how I scouted for and eventually found what I considered to be the best retail location for my new retail gunshop in my hometown of Madison. No matter what your product or service the key to finding a great location is through good old fashioned legwork. You can use a commercial realtor to help identify potential locations, but you should take it upon yourself to visit each location at different times of the day, on different days of the week, to make sure it's truly...

Like Books, Entrepreneurs Are Always Judged by Their Covers
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] Entrepreneurship requires not just hard work and knowledge of business but also a number of other things that are many times not considered too important. Grooming yourself to look good is just one of these things that entrepreneurs need to focus on.

Time To Sign A Lease - Get Your First Born Ready
[Business:Strategic-Planning] We've been discussing the steps required to open a brick and mortar store. We've talked about startup plans and finding a location. This week we look at what comes next in the process: the negotiation and signing of one of the most dreaded legal document any entrepreneur will ever face: the commercial lease (insert scary music here).

Don't Let Stress Run You Out Of Business
[Business:Management] Stress is business is a common phenomenon and every entrepreneur must know how to handle it and grow with it.

Operator Error Is Why Most Businesses Fail
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] This is the column that probably gets me kicked out of the entrepreneurial chapter of the Priory of Scion. I look silly in those long robes anyway, so here goes. A thousand apologies to my entrepreneurial brothers and sisters, but. I think the more important question is: do businesses fail or does the entrepreneur in charge of them fail? I have to be honest and tell you that I think most business failures must be laid at the feet of the person in charge.

The "Other" New Year's Resolution
[Self-Improvement:Goal-Setting] "This year I will start my own business!" I call it "The American Dream Resolution," and like most N...

The Latest Email Scam Is Nothing New
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Email-Marketing] The eBay scam is just the latest in a long line of sophisticated attempts to steal personal information through online means. Customers of PayPal, Amazon, Dell Computer, eTrade, Bank One, and many other online merchants have been the target of such scams in recent years.

The Entrepreneur's Checklist
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] I was asked the other day what personality traits I thought were important to entrepreneurial success. I immediately gave my preprogrammed reply about passion and dedication and hard work. After taking some time later to ponder the question a little deeper (I normally operate in shallow waters), I came up with a more detailed checklist for entrepreneurial success.

Is Selling On eBay Just A Hobby Or A Real Business?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] If you consistently sell on eBay the IRS may deem your activities to be business oriented and you will be required to file a Schedule C and claim the income. The IRS uses a number of factors to determine if a hobby is really a business.

The Business Autopsy: A Fact Of Life
[Business:Small-Business] Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy on a dead business. No, I haven't been watching too many of those wonderfully graphic, TV forensic investigation shows. The reason I recommend you do a business autopsy is to uncover the exact reasons why the business died.

Entrepreneurs Just Get Better With Age
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] According to recent studies 22 percent of men and 14 percent of women over 65 are self-employed. That's compared to just 7 percent for other age groups. According to a Vanderbilt University study the number of entrepreneurs age 45 to 64 will grow by 15 million by 2006.

If It Was Easy Everybody Would Do It
[Business:Entrepreneurialism] I think the real question isn't whether or not you have what it takes to run a business. The real question is do you have what it takes to handle the stress of running a business. These are two very different questions and the answers depend totally on you...

Do You Pay Taxes On eBay Income?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] It seems that everyone likes making money, but hates carving off a piece for good old Uncle Sam. Welcome to free enterprise, folks. If you're going to come to the dance you have to pay the fiddler.

With a Lease The Devil Is In The Details
[Real-Estate:Leasing-Renting] In the last article we looked at a few of the things you should consider before leasing that first office or storefront for your business. To recap, you should not only consider the old standard "location, location, location," but also consider things like sufficient parking, the number of employees who will be working onsite, and future growth projections. I stressed that it was important not to get caught up in the moment. You should take your time to find the space best suited for your business for the long haul, not just for today.

The Business of Identity Theft
[Legal:Identity-Theft] Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online collectibles business. I recently received an email that my PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.

Navigating The Internet Sales Tax Laws
[Legal:Cyber-Law] Q. I have been contacted by my local city government to say that my business is scheduled to be audited to determine if I owe any sales tax from items purchased on the Internet. Can they really make me pay this tax? I thought you could buy things online tax free? -- Katie R.

The Internet Tax Man Cometh
[Finance:Taxes] Q: I was contacted by the city tax collector to say that my business is scheduled to be audited to see if I owe sales tax on items purchased on the Internet. Can they really make me pay sales tax on internet purchase? I thought you could buy things online tax free? -- Charlie B.

Taxing eBay Part Deux
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] When my column on paying income tax on eBay profits ran it brought a wave of emails on whether you were required to report income earned from eBay sales to the IRS sparked a number of additional questions and comments from eBay sellers who were hoping that I could somehow validate that their eBay activities were mere hobbies instead of actual businesses and therefore not susceptible to IRS taxation.

Dropship Your Way To Ebusiness Success
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] Q: I would like to start my own eBay business, but I really don’t want to invest in a ton of inventory until I can get a better handle on what might or might not sell. I read another column about dropshipping, but I’m still a little fuzzy on how the whole process works. Do you think using dropshipping is a good way to start an eBay business and if so, how do I get started? -- Candace M.

How To Create Multiple Streams of Online Income
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online] One of my favorite things about being an Internet Entrepreneur is that I can literally wake up in the morning with an idea for a new product and have it become a reality by the afternoon. Or I can find new ways to promote an existing product. Or I can join a new affiliate program or pursue a joint venture. Every time I repeat this process I create a new stream of income to add to my existing revenue base.