I ran into a friend of mine last week and he suggested I check out this company he created that allows business professionals to schmooze with other random professionals and broaden their network.  Now I don’t know about you but every time I find myself at networking events, I find that I know more than half the people attending.  The whole point of networking is to meet people you don’t already know.  Enter GoSchmooze...

Why should the fact that there are about 40 million older adults (65+years) in the U.S. matter to an employer?  The two word answer is: employer costs!  Current statistics from reliable resources* make a dramatic impression about employer costs for employees who help to care for older family members. American businesses lose an average of 2.8 million work days each year due to unplanned absences of workers, costing employers nearly $74 billion.  Work day interruptions alone cost employers about $3 billion. 60% of the 44 million people who care for aging parents work full or part-time. The older population will continue to grow to 55 million by 2020 because of the large size of the baby boomer generation. By this time, it is predicted that one in three U.S. households will be caring for an older adult... 

On Wednesday, February 29th, Apple hit a high point that few other companies have been able to achieve when their market capitalization hit the $500 billion mark.  Few companies have been at this point before or remained here for very long.   Apple is only the 6^th US company to hit this landmark milestone...

Firms recently surveyed by PricewaterhouseCooper shared some good news which had 78% of executives saying that they expect their company to show positive growth over the next 12 months.   54% of executives questioned stated that they planned to hire over the next year, with only 3% planning to trim their workforce...

Most high school students gear up for college with the anticipation that they will graduate in 4 years and find a job after college graduation, right? Not anymore. Finding a job has been extremely difficult for college students and especially stressful for those students and families who are unable to afford the cost of higher education without student loans. I recently read an MSNBC article that said “student loan debt in the U.S. now totals more than $1 trillion. That’s more than all the outstanding credit card debt in the country.”  Recent reports state that college seniors in 2012 owed an average of $25,250, up five percent from the previous year. Aside from that, parents of college students had an average of $34,000 in student loans for their children. The more staggering statistic indicated that the number of the parental loans jumped 75 percent since 2005-2006. And what about the fact that more than 2 in every 25 students who graduated college in the last five years and will need to get a master’s degree?  Is higher education “worth it” after all?

One of things that I, like other small businesses, like to talk about is that in 2010, 2 out of 3 jobs were created by small businesses.   I’m also always touting the idea that small businesses are the engine of the economy and when small business rebounds, we’ll see the US finally completely emerge from the recession.  Two articles recently released one by national website MSNBC.com and the other by local LI Business News, countered this idea...

On Friday it was announced that the payroll tax cut will be extended for the remainder of the 2012 year.  Instead of the normal 6.2 percent level, Congress has decided to keep the Social Security payroll tax at its lower 4.2 percent rate and to extend unemployment benefits.  While this is a short term solution to increasing the cash flow in the economy by providing 160 million working Americans with a slightly larger paycheck -approximately $1000 per year on a $50k salary- the Congressional Budget Office said that the bill would increase federal deficits by $89.3 billion over the next ten years.  They will account for the lost revenue for Social Security benefits by pulling from general tax revenue, which will ultimately add to the budget deficit... 

Governor Cuomo just announced the launch of the “New New York Leaders Initiative”, a program designed to entice young professionals and college students to serve in state government...

Yesterday I wrote about the problem of producing enough STEM graduates to fill jobs and keep the US competitive. According to Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM fields have the greatest potential for job growth in the 21^st century and will make higher wages. Today, let’s talk about what we can do as professionals and parents to get our kids on a path to economic competitiveness... 

When it comes to producing new workers in the STEM fields, the United States falls well behind other advanced countries, a new report finds.   So, what is STEM and why is this important?  STEM is a US Government acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  Why are these falling numbers a problem?  Well, per Ronald Ehrenberg, director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute, research has shown that innovation in a country’s economy is dependent upon how many workers have degrees in these fields...

According to a report from the Associated Press, the number of jobs waiting to be filled rose in December, thanks to hiring in factories, retail and business services.   This number hit almost a three year high, marketing more good news for the economy.

According to the Labor Department's Job Openings and the Labor Turnover Survey, there were 3.4 million jobs open at the end of December, compared to 3.1 million at the end of November...

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, retailers are reaping the benefits of yet another holiday that spurs increased spending.  “According to a National Retail Federation survey of nearly 9,000 consumers, shoppers will spend an average of $116.21 on traditional Valentine’s Day merchandise, such as greeting cards, flowers and candy, this year, up 11% from $103.00 in 2010”.  What I found interesting was that “32% of consumers plan to do their Valentine’s Day shopping online.”  So while an increase in spending bodes well for small business, such a large number of purchasers shopping online does not... 

What do both small business owners as well as large business owners have at their disposal?

Well if these organizations have been in business any length of time they better have made a few clients happy. Many small businesses overlook the fact that they have “Raving Fans” to spread the good word about their company. Many small business owners put a tremendous amount of time, energy and money on all kinds of ads in local publications or networking groups. These are all necessary to a point but the easiest way to expand a business is to let your “Loyal Followers”, or as Ken Blanchard puts it, “Raving Fans”, act as your best sales reps...

On February 5^th, millions of Americans will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. In fact, a new survey by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association found that 173 million people will watch the game Sunday, the most in the survey’s eight-year history and up from an estimated 171 million last year...

We talked last week about Burger King offering delivery service to have an edge on the competition, now the latest in fast food evolution is the addition of breakfast to Taco Bell’s menu.  With McDonald’s, Burger King and now Wendy’s offering breakfast it was really only a matter of time before Taco Bell hopped on the bandwagon... 

One Long Island local scored big this January when Chevrolet announced it will air 26 year old LI native Zachary Borst’s ad titled “Chevy Happy Grad”.   Beating out 400 other scripts and 198 films by independent film makers as part of the Route 66 Super Bowl ad contest, Borst’s ad will air to the tune of 110 million TV viewers during the Super Bowl.  In addition to having his ad on television during the Super Bowl, he’s also receiving a $25,000 grand prize...

As the US struggles to accelerate a sluggish recovery, a deeper look needs to be taken at the reasons for the slow recovery.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal government’s official source of employment statistics, in October 2011, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Americans 25 years and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree was 4.4 percent. For those who graduated high school, the unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in October 2011.  However, for those without a high school degree the rate is 10.6 percent, and for those aged 25 and over, the unemployment rate was 13.8 percent.   These are staggering numbers.   How are we supposed to compete on a global scale when we have almost a quarter of high school students dropping out each year, or in other terms, over 340,000 students a year? In fact, the Education Database recently reported that high school dropouts are not eligible for 90% of the jobs in our economy and we have 40 million high school dropouts in the US today...

The days of walking out of your house, getting into the car and driving to the nearest fast food joint are over.  If you haven’t heard by now, Burger King is giving its customers a more convenient way of eating: they now deliver.  For Burger King, this isn’t new; the home of the whopper has actually been testing out their delivery service internally for years. Countries like, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil and Colombia have taken advantage of this service so it’s only fair that America gets to experience this as well. What does this service cost you?  A $2 fee will be charged and order must be a minimum of $8 to $10 dollars in specific restaurants in Washington D.C. where the service is available...

According to The Labor Department, initial claims for first-time jobless benefits rose 24,000 to 399,000 on Thursday, the highest in six weeks. The four week average, a better indicator of labor market trends, rose 7,750 to 381,750 from a revised 374,000. However, growth is expected to slow during the first three months of this year and help for the economy may still be necessary despite recent data that suggested the recovery was changing in the right direction...

On the fourth day of business, it’s time to ask if your job candidate has been naughty or nice this year.   Yes, it’s social media time. 

By John Jantsch

Small business owners are an odd lot. I can say this without judgment because I am one.

Cracking the small business code is something that routinely perplexes large organizations. I see it every day, and I’ve been asked numerous times to consult on that very puzzle.

The thing is, however, a lot of small businesses want to sell to other small businesses too. Many times I find that they miss the subtleties of attracting small business even though they need look no further than their own buying habits for keys to the sale...

On the third day of business, I want to talk about how image matters for both the employer and the job seeker.

As we return from the holidays and settle back into our routines, it’s time to return to my strategies for better interviews and more effective hiring decisions for both employers and job seekers.

Last week we started with the first day of business, which was having a plan.  On the second day of business, I’m going to talk about resumes...

You constantly hear the term “work-life balance”, but does it really exist?  To some people the concept is unmanageable; to others, it's something that's achieved by discipline and smart choices. The first step in figuring out what “work-life balance” is, is asking yourself what it means to you.

The Boston Globe released a recent survey that stated Google, MITRE, Facebook, McKinsey & Co. and Bain & Co. as the top 5 companies that put an emphasis on career opportunities and work-life balance. Work-life balance opportunities range from social events, the option to work from home or saying good-bye to the traditional 9-5 hours. "Many companies are integrating flexibility into their business strategies," says Sara Sutton Fell, founder and CEO of FlexJobs.com. "Both job seekers and employers are looking out of the box and embracing non-traditional opportunities"...

I recently came across an article that brought up an interesting economic issue.  The struggling economy affects everyone in one way or another; however it seems to have a more drastic effect on Americans under 35 rather than those over 65.  Taking into account all of the points mentioned in the article, I’d have to say that I agree...

I read an article on The Hill about a letter from the National Payroll Reporting Consortium, a union of major payroll firms that includes Automatic Data Processing and Paychex.   The letter criticized the payroll tax legislation that was passed by the Senate earlier in the week.

Pete Isberg, president of the National Payroll Reporting Consortium states that “the two-month extension would be a nightmare for payroll processing firms to implement because it includes a provision to ensure that wealthy income earners don’t pay a lower payroll tax rate than middle-class workers”...

It’s that time of year again, we’re shopping and decorating, over-eating and over-spending…there’s family parties and cocktails with friends, Secret Santa’s…the fun never ends!  And if you’re fortunate to work at a company that is able to throw a holiday party there are a few things to remember to avoid being “that guy/girl”. You know who I’m talking about, the guy who made a fool of himself at last year’s holiday party by getting drunk and hitting on the boss’ wife.  Or the woman who flashed everyone on the dance floor…  While it’s a time to celebrate and kick back with your co-workers, it’s important to remember that it is a work function and everything you do has an impact on your reputation and can make or break your career...

Don’t you just love those afternoons when you’re in and out of meetings, you’re backed up with email, you’re on and off the phone with so many people that you can’t even get their names straight anymore and just when you’re ready to pull your hair out the phone rings.  You pick it up.  The robotic voice on the other line asks you “Does your business need more money?”  I’ll bet it takes all you have not to throw your phone out the window!  Well I’ve got some great news for you!  The H.R. 3035: Mobile Informational Act of 2011 will allow you to enjoy these scintillating conversations on your cell phone!  Who’s excited?!  Yeah, I didn’t think so...

It’s been two years, countless complaints by politicians in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and an angry main street but at long last the MTA Payroll Tax that many believe was “unconstitutional” has been eliminated for many small businesses across New York State. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law eliminating the MTA Tax for 289,000 small businesses across the state with an annual payroll under $1.25 million. Businesses with a payroll between $1.25 million and $1.5 million will see their MTA payroll tax cut to 0.11 cents per employee, while those with payrolls up to $1.75 million will have their tax reduced to 0.23 cents. These adjustments eliminate the tax for almost 80 percent of businesses in the region. The state will fund the $250 million cost of the payroll tax through a $2.6 billion increase in income taxes on the wealthy...

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  We would like to introduce our latest episode, “Who Says You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks?”  When Anthony McCabe, owner of Genesis Creations Contracting, wanted to take his business to a new level we knew the Basso On Business team could help. Together, we will help Anthony assimilate new technology into his business, take a step back from managing the company’s daily construction jobs to focusing on really managing the company and help him fine tune his messaging to his clients and prospects...

Every business owner or entrepreneur struggles with this at one point or another.  Whether you are cash strapped or have the cash but it’s still not incentivizing your employees, we’re always looking for ways to help ramp up the employee motivation level.

I came across a great article on Inc.com with nine ways to motivate your employees without using cash.  I took a few minutes to examine her list and compare with what I’ve done and the results...

“First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there's the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small on November 26th. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge,” states American Express. 

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I couldn’t agree more and I have officially taken the pledge to shop small this Saturday.   Why shop small?  What’s in it for you?  Well, it’s more than a warm and fuzzy feeling that will fade away when you leave the store.  It’s an affirmative action to make sure that contribute to the stores that dot your local Main St, not your local Wal-Mart.  It’s an action to say to your business neighbor that you want their lights on and their doors open.  Too often you drive through a town to see half the storefronts boarded up.  Well, Small Business Saturday is your way to not only start your Christmas shopping but support your local economy...

I recently read an article on SmallBizTrends.com, 8 Steps to Take Your Brick and Mortar Business Online written by Tyler Garns, Director of Marketing for Infusionsoft.  I decided to rate one of my companies, Advantage Payroll Services, against the 8 steps they suggest to follow to ensure your company has a significant presence online. 

Here’s how Advantage stacks up:

1. Get Found- Check!   Tyler suggests list your business listed in Google places, industry directories, local directories and more.    If you Google Advantage Payroll Services Long Island, you’ll see us clearly listed on the map.  If you click the map, you’ll see our logo comes up in the information box.  We’re also listed on multiple local websites and we have a profile for our branch on LinkedIn...

When Facebook was introduced in 2004 it was available only to college students and shared only basic information.  Then the “Wall” was added to open communication between Facebook users.  In 2005, the “Photos” application was added.  Finally in 2006, Facebook was opened to the general public and the social media craze took off...

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Marvin Soskil, the owner of Brett Harrison Jewels and Sluggers Jewels, has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to make some major league decision and strategic business changes. This week we examined the effect of the techniques Marvin has implemented thus far on his business, on his goals, and on his sense of self...

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Marvin Soskil, the owner of Brett Harrison Jewels and Sluggers Jewels, has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to make some major league decision and strategic business changes. This week we talked about really focusing on his targets in order to accomplish his goals...  

A recently published study has found that most Americans are not financially prepared for an emergency. Bankrate.com reports that a mere 24% of consumers have the recommended financial cushion of six months’ expenses set aside. What’s more: 24% of Americans have no emergency savings whatsoever. Financial experts are slightly surprised by these results, given the high rates of joblessness and unemployment that ravaged our society from 2007-2009. However, the recent challenges have made it more difficult for Americans to conserve money for unexpected expenses. As the light at the end of the economic tunnel starts to peek through, I wonder what this information means for small businesses. Many businesses were forced to downsize or shut their doors altogether during the recent slowing (some might even say halting) of our economy. Is your business prepared to weather the another economic storm?

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Marvin Soskil, the owner of Brett Harrison Jewels and Sluggers Jewels, has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to make some major league decision and strategic business changes. This week Marvin read “As A Man Thinketh” and was asked to use this to benchmark against his past and future achievements...

When starting your new business venture, there are many decisions to be made from where to locate, to the number of employees to hire, to the type of services to provide.  One important decision to make right out of the gate is what type of business entity you are going to form.

There are several different types of business entities, each with their own pros and cons. The most important thing is to find the one that best fits your needs and allows you to accomplish your goals as a small business owner...

                John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing wrote a great blog about how you can turn your raving customers into marketers for your business – beyond giving glowing reviews to other potential customers or becoming referrals.  In this blog post, Jantsch tells of a time when he asked a customer who was very excited to meet him in person for the first time to actually introduce him at an upcoming event. The customer was thrilled and Jantsch had an introducer who sang his praises for a great kickoff to an event with an audience of their peers. He also uses client success stories to create video testimonials and to holds peer to peer events during which favorite clients can network with each other. I have used these strategies in my own business to not only help connect my clients with each other but to help spread the good word...

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Marvin Soskil, the owner of Brett Harrison Jewels and Sluggers Jewels, has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to make some major league decision and strategic business changes. This week we talked about taking responsibility for making your own decisions...

Everyone knows that this popular social media site is great for connecting with friends, family and attracting people to your business brand.  I thought I had heard of every use of Facebook until I had a conversation with Basso On Business client Brian Fagan.  Brian has been struggling with keeping himself on task and remaining motivated to accomplish the important things he needs to do each day to reach his goals.  He recently started mapping out his schedule to stay focused in order to assure his goals are met, but it was not enough to hold him accountable...

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Brian Fagan of All Boro has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to achieve his goals. This week Brian took a new strategy when gathering information from prospective clients, taking on more of a detective role.  Asking questions when selling a job to his customers is vitally important; we worked with Brian to help him realize that rooting out all the problems and asking the right questions to get all the facts before closing the deal will leave less room for unfortunate surprises and incorrect assumptions.  

Check out the video for Brian’s candid thoughts and make sure to leave your comments and suggestions.   Make sure to tune in each week for new updates from Brian and the Basso on Business team.  

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Brian Fagan of All Boro has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to achieve his goals. This week Brian worked on mapping out goals, action items and tracking his results. Putting goals down on paper gave Brian structure and guidance. Having a plan everyday makes Brian’s life easier and more efficient because he gets to see his progress. Brian describes the changes he has made thus far as “a breath of fresh air.”

Check out the video for Brian’s candid thoughts and make sure to leave your comments and suggestions.   Make sure to tune in each week for new updates from Brian and the Basso on Business team.  

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Brian Fagan of All Boro has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to achieve his goals. This week Brian focused on keeping his thoughts positive and upbeat in all situations that may arise as opposed to immediately seeing each situation in a negative light.  Brian took the time to really focus on each challenge that came up this week and concentrate on keeping his thoughts constructive and optimistic.  This allowed him to turn each situation into a positive opportunity while keeping his stress level down and remaining focused on his weekly goals without being distracted by the challenges that came up.

Check out the video for Brian’s candid thoughts and make sure to leave your comments and suggestions. Make sure to tune in each week for new updates from Brian and the Basso on Business team.   

The Basso Business Building Program features a unique format where we work with business owners and professionals to provide them with a formula for success through focused planning, strategic goal setting, weekly consulting sessions and candid video updates of their progress.  Brian Fagan of All Boro has been working diligently with the Basso on Business team to make changes in every aspect of his professional life in order to achieve his goals. This week his task was to focus on implementing some of the Basso on Business team’s initial suggestions on changing his thought process in order to change the way he views his professional interactions and their outcomes.  If Brian can start changing the way he thinks and views the challenges he encounters, he can begin to turn each of those challenges into new opportunities. 

Check out the video for Brian’s candid thoughts and make sure to leave your comments and suggestions.   Make sure to tune in each week for new updates from Brian and the Basso on Business team.  

When you hear the word “leader”  Alexander the Great, Martin Luther King Jr., Teddy Roosevelt are just a few names that come to mind but, what about great business leaders? How do you become a strong leader in your organization? Leadership skills are not something you learn overnight; developing good leadership skills takes time. To me, a leader should not only demonstrate courage, competence, and a clear vision of where he/she wants to take the company but a leader should also visually look the part. It’s important to be confident in your leadership role. Jeff Tempone from East Coast Refrigeration felt a lack of leadership respect in his organization. After spending some time with Jeff, we found out that the issue began with Jeff not his employees.  It was Jeff’s fault for not positioning himself as the driver of his company. It’s important for Jeff to become a leader to achieve breakout success and navigate his company to prosperity.  Comment below and let us know what characteristics you think a leader should have.

A company mission statements helps your employees understand what you’re trying to do as a business owner and what exactly the company should strive for. Your mission statement is the driving force behind your company philosophy. Mission statements should be succinct and easy to understand so that it paints a clear picture of what exactly you want your business to accomplish. When employees feel confident in their mission and rally around it, it makes it easy for others to feel confident in your services.  Since we last visited Jeff Tempone from East Coast Refrigeration, we learned that Jeff not only created and applied  a company mission statement  to his business but asked all of his employees to create their own personal mission statements to help them reach their full potential.  Take a look at your mission statement and ask yourself; is it driving clients to your business?

At Basso On Business we want to expand our reach to give back and help each and every part of the business world, including the online sector.

We launched a real world forum with Working Lunch where business professionals can come together and share insights to challenges and problems they’re looking to overcome while garnering advice and feedback.  As of today, we’ve launched our new LinkedIn group and have taken that same entrepreneurial mindset in bringing business owners and professionals together to help each other overcome challenges and problems and transcended our thinking into the social media realm...

Written job descriptions are not always easy to put in place but they shape the duties of your employees. Creating job descriptions and implementing them will help your employees fulfill their daily duties. East Coast Refrigeration had some difficulties creating job descriptions for their employees. Since those job descriptions did not exist, they were unsure of their  responsibilities and were not capable of achieving daily tasks. Since the show last November, East Coast has made some significant changes to their organization including providing job descriptions to all of their employees. Now, the staff is held accountable for specific tasks because they have certain guidelines they must follow. Be sure to help your business by helping your employees first.

Rising gas costs affect everyone, no matter what the size of your business but it can be an especially tough burden on small businesses.   Everything we do costs more; the trips we take to clients and prospects, the products we ship, the mailings we send, the goods that we buy.  The list is endless.   As I looked at the rapidly rising cost of a gallon of gas (almost $4 and counting) I thought about simple ways we can use less gas and help take less out of our wallets....

For a lot of small businesses, the first few months of the year can be slower.  The holiday spending is over, and people are starting to tighten their budgets to save for a summer vacation.   It’s the time of year to get creative and keep your business moving forward.   

When your staff has some downtime, have them hit the phones to call your current clients and make sure they are aware of all the ancillary products and services you offer.  Have everyone catch up on any projects that have been left untended due during the busy times, whether it’s scanning in old files or updating training manuals.  Try to schedule in any refresher courses during downtime as well.  Have your managers take a look at recent office supply orders and make sure they are ordering efficiently.  Offer a webinar on new laws that have passed or run additional training for your clients that may be interested in using or already are using a special product or service that you offer.  Dust off your business plan and make sure it’s updated to reflect your current position and business goals...

Employees are receiving a surprise raise and may not even realize it. There have been changes made to employee payroll tax/social security tax rate which will put some extra cash in many pockets. Americans can use the extra money to stimulate the economy, lord knows we need it.  Take a look at the clip below for some further detail about this “surprise raise...”

As social media still continues to grow and play a major role in business each and every day  you have to ask yourself the question, “Am I using my social media tools in the most effective and efficient way?”

I know that lots of you think social media can take away from your usual business day and it’s definitely something you don’t want to get completely wrapped up in, but managing your social media and keeping it up to date is a necessity for better business. There are a number of different social media management platforms and I recently came across a great one. It’s called Hootsuite and it comes to us by way of our friends in Canada up north. Hootsuite is a website and online brand management service, which publishes to websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and WordPress...

I recently had the opportunity to appear on the JP Godsey radio show with JP “Gus” Godsey.  We talked about everything from the incoming Republican Congress, recent Basso on Business episodes to the survival of the American Dream. Check out my appearance on one of JP’s last show’s.

It’s no big secret that you need to exercise if you plan on living a long and healthy life. But what about having a long-lasting and healthy business? I’ve got a pretty regimented work out routine with Matt Basso from Iron Lotus Personal Fitness and I’ve seen the effects that it has had from a business perspective first hand.

Exercise is all about discipline and motivation. Discipline to begin a program, discipline to stay on track when we’ve only done it a few times and discipline to continue that same workout in the upcoming weeks or months...

I had the opportunity to appear on the Sean Hannity Radio show on recently.  We discussed everything from Black Friday shopping, economic indicators, recent laws that were passed, outsourcing, the stock market and the effect of small businesses on the economic recovery...

Email is the number one method of business communication; the amount of “snail mail” my office receives is rapidly dwindling with the exception of catalogs.  However, the cost associated with company email can be staggering to a startup company.  Hence, many small businesses rely on free email services such as AOL, Hotmail or Gmail; using these for business purposes can be a struggle and confusing....

Literally calling on prospects when it's cold outside builds character and could win you some pain and suffering points. There is a blizzard going on here in Long Island; wind blowing, chilling temperatures and almost two feet of snow in some places.

I don't recommend going out in a blizzard, but why not get some phone calls done and leave a smart message referencing why you're calling and the crazy weather conditions. You can get silly if you must. It can brighten someone's day and show your tough as nails work ethic....

I know this time around the holidays things get a bit hectic, so take some time out of your busy schedule to watch me tomorrow afternoon on the Fox Business Network!  I’m going to be appearing alongside Ashley Webster. The show is going to be live and runs from 12 – 1pm so be sure to set your DVR.

With so much going on at the end of 2010 including Bush’s tax cuts being extended an additional two years, Americans spending billions this holiday shopping season and confidence among smaller U.S. businesses on the rise, you can bet we’re going to have a lot to talk about...

Looking for something to laugh about at work? Missed the Working Lunch With Rob REUNION event? Well then you have checked out the right blog folks! Below is the Basso On Business 2010 Bloopers Video which uncovered some of the years funniest behind the scenes Basso On Business moments.  Everyone needs comic relief so take a look; I can assure you they are hilarious!

Integrity matters. Far too often we witness individuals who tarnish their reputation in the market place because of their lack of integrity. Want my advice? Be genuine, pay it forward, and stay positive. Being respected for honesty and integrity will assure that you will never have to worry about falling from grace in the eyes of your peers and business community. Click the link below to check out my full blog “Falling From Grace” at the NY Enterprise Report and find out why integrity matters...

I almost feel like singing “Kumbayah” after the Working Lunch with Rob Reunion held this past Friday. We were not sitting around a campfire recounting the triumphs of a day at summer camp, but rather rallying around our common business issues and challenges to help our local community and colleagues prosper.  It felt like the over 200 entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in attendance were truly connected to each other and their community through the sharing that took place.  Each featured business owner made such great progress in moving their operations forward that it was truly inspirational to everyone present.  Now how do we keep that warm and fuzzy feeling going when you are not in a room packed with motivated individuals?...

The act of refrigeration is simply the removal of heat from an enclosed place or a material.  Simple, right?  I bet Jeff Tempone from East Coast Refrigeration in Bohemia, NY begs to differ.  Everyone in the Western civilized world takes the simple luxury of ice as a given, but not Jeff. He works long hard hours making sure his clients stay cool. 

His technical skills are unsurpassed and he can fix nearly anything mechanical. That's how he got his start working in the refrigeration business. Like many small business owners, he learned a trade and opened his own shop. For the last five years he has worked hard making his small enterprise grow....and then he realized he was really stuck...

As businesses across the country slowly emerge from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a stark reality is hitting many of them.  The reality is that even though sales are rebounding and companies may even be showing positive earnings, they’re starved for cash.  What’s going on?  The problem is they’re experiencing working capital pressure.

In fact, you may find yourself in this situation.  After stretching vendors as far as you can, as orders pick up, so must inventory and accounts receivable, which increases the cash that your company has tied up in working capital.  For many companies that do not carry inventory, or have become lean managers of inventory, this pressure is solely the result of the growth in accounts receivable that comes with the uptick in sales...

Exactly 234 years ago, a group of brave, brilliant and industrious individuals met in a steamy Philadelphia room and agreed to do something that had never been done before—start a revolution.  The risks were great; the price that was paid was high in terms of lives lost, lives destroyed and money, but in the end the reward was unmatched in human history.  The American Revolution gave us a country where freedom is sacred.

Today despite a challenging economy we have the freedom to express ourselves and pursue our business as well as our personal dreams.  For many the dream is being an entrepreneur or a small business owner or simply pursuing a career in a chosen profession or industry.  Having this choice is an integral part of our national character and a driver of the entrepreneurial spirit.  While entrepreneurs and small businesses are under attack from many directions, the American entrepreneurial spirit lives on...

Fox Business Network asked me to share my thoughts on the latest legislation passed by Congress, and whether or not it’s simply another bailout, or if it would have the power to actually boost our small businesses and our economy.  Check out the video for my thoughts and don’t forget to comment.   I want to know what you are thinking.

http://www.bassoonbusiness.com/TheBassoNewsroom.aspx

In June, the New York Enterprise Report asked me to write a monthly blog using my 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur to provide their readers with useful tips and innovative advice to help their readers run their businesses more efficiently...

http://nyreport.com/articles/77040/3_reasons_why_a_business_plan_is_essential

Recently I had the opportunity to go on Fox news and talk about the potential results of the new small business legislation that was just passed by both houses of Congress. This new legislation includes $30 billion in aid to community banks, a capital gains increase, deductible health care for those who are self employed as well as much more. Click the link below to hear my thoughts on how this legislation is really going to help small businesses.

http://www.bassoonbusiness.com/TheBassoNewsroom.aspx

I recently wrote about a visit to the town I attended high school in. On that same trip I took a few pictures of the school, and a few places I worked when I was a teenager. One of those places was a print and copy shop called Kwik Kopy.  The owners at the time I worked there over 20 years ago were a married couple, Dan and Peggy.

For some unknown reason I choose to go inside Kwik Kopy and see who was running the place now.  To my surprise when I walked in, there was Dan. Maybe a few more grey hairs, but I certainly recognized him.  To my utter shock, he recognized me immediately. He must have had many people working for him over the years and I was only employed there for one year. How and why did he remember me?

My brother lives in Westmont, NJ just one town over from where I spent my junior and senior high school years. I attended Haddonfield Memorial High School and on my last visit to see my brother I decided to stop by and show my nearly 10 year old son, Nick, the school.  We pulled up and the kids were just being let out for the day.  A few faculty members were out front I presume to keep some order to the dismissal process....

Acquiring the skills to not only grab someone’s attention, but develop a relationship with that person is the key to successful marketing. Integrating social media opportunities into your current marketing plan can present itself as a challenge to many, but with the rise of technology, it is almost a requirement to know how to market your company using new media. Just be sure to remember those core “time-tested” techniques you learned before the days of social media. Applying old fashioned techniques to modern day social media, will give you an advantage in exactly how to dominate the world of marketing yourself and your business...

In case you haven’t heard, in June of this year more than three dozen billionaires pledged to donate more than half their fortunes to charity.   “The Giving Pledge” is a program started by none other than Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet.   This move was surprising to many since it comes at a time when most have sustained heavy losses from the recession, but now the top 40 wealthiest families in the country are donating eye popping amounts of money to charities.  Even the founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison, who notoriously made headlines for retracting a $100 million dollar gift to Harvard, wrote a brief note stating that 95% of his wealth was assigned to a trust to be given to charity, totaling billions of dollars.

All this comes on the heels of an annual report completed by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, which announced that donations were down over 3.6%, the biggest decline since 1956. Interestingly enough, the greatest portion of charitable giving in 2009 was made not by the nations’ wealthiest, but by the average household, at a time when finances are stretched tight.  This decline also hits our local charities hard as the demand for their services rise while public and government funding declines.

What can we do to help and create our own Giving Pledge?  Aside from writing a check...

On Friday, the August Employment Situation Report was released and I had the opportunity to give my insight on this report in order to help entrepreneurs. Watch the discussion on the finalized statistics and their effects on our economy and small business. Let me know how you feel about these jobs numbers by commenting below.

On a family vacation to Hershey park this week, it suddenly hit me- this company has had success in both the amusement park and hospitality industry AND the candy industry. Conventional business theory tells over and over again to “stick to your core competency.” We’re told to review our product lines and expand based on our current offerings. According to almost every business theory out there, a candy company expanding into the amusement park and later hospitality industry would be an absolutely ludicrous idea. But it worked.

The wild success in both of their chosen industries stems largely from their unique ability to brand. They know their audience- young children with a sweet tooth, and the parents who buy them candy to satisfy that sweets craving. Hershey Park was originally built as a leisure park for Hershey employees, but upon opening to the general public, they made sure to market all of their products towards their target market. Everywhere you go at Hershey Park you see the life-sized Reese’s and Hershey’s bar characters waving you on to your next ride. You see shops upon shops filled with Hershey candies. As if this wasn’t branding enough, as you walk into and out of the park, the smell of melted chocolate wafts through the air from Hershey’s Chocolate World, a huge factory-like attraction which, of course, is open for tours complete with product samples, rides, shows, and more.

What ancillary products could you offer that conventional business wisdom might say to stay away from? How can you bring this lesson on the importance of corporate branding- on all of your products- into your organization?

Guest blog from Lloyd Garten, owner of Select Exterminating

Participating in Basso on Business was an enlightening experience and one I’d recommend for other business owners to get involved with.  My financing challenging was not unique; as you read this, other business owners are getting denied for much needed loans to reinvigorate or expand their companies.  Being on the show and listening to the advice from Rob Basso, Basso on Business and Tom Buonaiuto,  Empire National Bank forced me to revaluate the relationships that I had with my current trusted advisors and I suggest that others do the same.  I thought had a great relationship with my big name bank but as it turned out, I overestimated the strength of that relationship.   After speaking with Rob, I realized that had I looked at that relationship more closely before I applied for the loan, I would have seen that the trust and understanding of my business model wasn’t there.  Working with a local community bank was a positive, eye-opening experience.  Empire National Bank took the time to really sit down and look at the way my business works as well as my footprint in the community.   Working Lunch with Rob was another great way to approach my challenge.  Although the transaction had already taken place, it provided me with helpful advice from other local business owners to help prepare me for my next acquisition