Most Clicked SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs Stories
1. What does it take to get organized?
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 19, 2009
Columnist Sue Shellenbarger recently followed three prominent time-management programs for one week each -- "not just software tools or high-tech to-do lists," she writes, "but behavioral-change techniques that help people get organized, clarify thinking and increase output." Each system has its own strengths, she writes, adding that the "essence of good time management is sticking to rituals that make you more productive, and rituals are largely a matter of personal preference." Wall Street Journal, The (11/18)
2. 5 things you won't find on the B-school syllabus
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 16, 2009
Business schools don't do a great job of teaching the human side of business, writes software entrepreneur Tim Berry. Entrepreneurs at most schools won't learn much about people skills, fairness, work-life balance, living with risk or knowing when to pull the plug, he writes. Planning Startups Stories blog (11/12)
3. 30 days to better work habits
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 17, 2009
If a bad habit is undermining your effectiveness, experts say, the solution is to find an alternative action you can perform repeatedly until a better habit replaces the old one. Scientific research into neuroplasticity shows that the brain creates neural pathways -- expressed outwardly as habits -- in as little as 30 days. Web Worker Daily (11/16)
4. Pet projects: When business goes to the dogs
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 18, 2009
More than 60% of U.S. households in 2008 had at least one pet, and many entrepreneurs are finding novel ways to tap that $45 billion market. Animal Acupuncture, for instance, charges $300 an hour for its alternative health treatments, while DoodyCalls has turned poop-scooping into a $3.2 million national chain. Forbes (11/14)
5. Former eBay employee offers a simpler way to sell online
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 17, 2009
Simon Rothman, a former eBay executive, says online auction sites have become too complex and time-consuming for "the middle-aged Midwestern soccer mom." In response, he has launched Glyde, a streamlined auction site that lets users list items for sale with just a couple of clicks, then ship their goods in a pre-addressed envelope. New York Times, The (11/15)
6. Learn to enjoy the trying times
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 20, 2009
We often fail to achieve our goals because we get bored with the repeated attempts, writes Peter Bregman. But when we learn to enjoy the trying, he argues, we stick with a task long enough to see it through to success. HarvardBusiness.org (11/17)
7. The dangers of execution without leadership
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 16, 2009
Fewer than half of managers said it is their duty to inspire workers or provide direction during a crisis, according to a McKinsey study. The study indicates that managers show a bias for simply "getting things done," writes leadership coach John Baldoni. But focusing only on execution "will not provide a foundation for what organizations really need to do, and that is to grow," he writes. HarvardBusiness.org (11/13)
8. The story of the penguin and the mouse
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 20, 2009
A Canadian startup called Club Penguin attracted 25,000 kids in its first month to a virtual world where they could "dance," chat and play games -- all while being represented by a penguin avatar. Parents signed their kids up in droves, attracted by strict protocols that banned stalkers, swearing and even ads. Just two years later, Club Penguin boasted 700,000 paid subscribers and 12 million registered users, prompting Disney to pay $350 million for the company. Globe and Mail (Toronto), The (11/19)
9. Revisit your vision -- or develop a new one
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 19, 2009
Companies need to update their strategic vision if they want to thrive as the economy recovers, Rick Johnson argues. Good strategic planning may be difficult and time-consuming, but the process of crafting a strategy is at least as important as the final plan, Johnson writes. CEO Strategist (11/10)
10. Why small businesses may be the key to big sales
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Nov 17, 2009
Many entrepreneurs see big, national accounts as the key to success, but targeting a broad-based network of small businesses may be a smarter way to increase sales, experts say. Research shows 73% of business is conducted within 50 miles of a company's home base, so face-to-face meetings with fellow entrepreneurs are a practical way to build lasting partnerships, according to consultant Edward Dolan. "People buy from people they know and like," he says. Entrepreneur.com (11/10)
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