How about another lesson in business ethics, inspired by today’s headlines?

For the former Vice President, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

First, the good news: a predictable Oscar win for his PowerPoint presentation!

You’ve no doubt heard about Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and are aware that the film paints a grim picture of the challenges faced by the planet as a result of global warming.

(For those of you who were paying attention several decades ago, this used to be called “The Greenhouse Effect.”)

However, this just in: today it was revealed that Mr. Gore burns through utilities at a somewhat than higher average.

Like, 10x higher than average!

That can’t exactly be chalked up to a rounding error.

And with the media writers now circling like sharks, it makes for a tough follow-up to Oscar.

So here’s the translation.

Whether you are in business to sell cars, or to sell video copies of an Oscar-winning documentary, your customers have one thing in common.

They do not want to feel taken advantage of.

Want some sound advice?

Avoid driving a GM if you tout Ford to your clients. Oh, and keep your personal energy costs low if you implore others to do the same.

That is, if you are at all concerned about gaining - and keeping - the trust of the people you rely upon to keep you in business in the first place.

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Your regular dose of entreprenurial inspiration, served up fresh right here at Grow My Business. And for all your small and home business software needs, check out Blue Squad and Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest software bang for your hard-earned business buck.

As many small business owners recognize, eBay is one of the best, most reliable ways to make those quarterly numbers.

When it comes to business tools, no other internet resource gives the average small business person access to the global marketplace of buyers and consumers that eBay does.

From entertainment product to design or computer goods, eBay will help you search out and entice the all-important, and oftentimes frustratingly elusive, customer base.

And in the case of fledgling small business owners, this is especially true - and especially valuable!

So it’s no wonder that so many millions of people rely on eBay as either a supplemental or primary source of income.

Of course, there are fees associated with doing business on eBay.

But they are far, far less than the cost of trying to market one’s business solo.

So it’s somewhat surprising to learn that the IRS is being forced to consider cracking down on eBay sellers for not claiming the income they generate through the online auction powerhouse.

Apparently, many businesses don’t realize that they have to claim this revenue.

Or are simply taking advantage of the fact that there is currently very little IRS oversight for online sales through eBay.

Either way, there’s no excuse.

There is a cost of doing business, both online or off. It encompasses all the expenses your vendors, your infrastructure and your marketing plan require to keep your product in-stock, and your electricity turned on.

It also includes the cost of being ethical, keeping things above board, and playing by the rules. And these are costs the entrepreneur with integrity - the merchant in it for the long run - always put at the top of their list.

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Your regular dose of entreprenurial inspiration, served up fresh right here at Grow My Business. And for all your small and home business software needs, check out Blue Squad and Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest software bang for your hard-earned business buck.

You know, business is a funny thing…

We hear incredible, fabulous, inspirational success stories about entrepreneurs every single day.

However, finding one’s own path to small business fame and fortune is hardly like shooting fish in a barrel.

If it were, we’d all be back-slapping each other on our financial acumen and exceptional judgment!

Alas, it’s a little bit more a gamble than that, so most of us spend just a little bit less time celebrating.

And a lot more time trying to deduce just what it is that makes a good business plan tick.

Smart business takes a good plan, of course.

But it takes a lot more than that.

For instance, apparently it may take playing video games!

Some of the things it definitely takes are some quality business cards, the tools you need for professional database management, and a smart way to schedule your 40 hours-a-week.

Start to finish, running a business demands lots of attention to all things big and small.

Still, no one can be expected to have it all figured out from day one.

So what do you do?

Stay one step ahead of the competition, and keep the customers happy.

And always bring your best game to the office.

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Your regular dose of entreprenurial inspiration, served up fresh right here at Grow My Business. And for all your small and home business software needs, check out Blue Squad and Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest software bang for your hard-earned business buck.

Running a business of any size is a lot of work.

But there’s a solid case to be made that running a small business is a lot more work than running a big one.

Why? Simply because with fewer resources to go, small business owners typically don’t have the luxury of delegating work.

Oftentimes, the small business support time consists of the crack team of me, myself and I.

That’s why it’s so critical to remember that when it comes to work, you can’t forget to factor in play.

You’re not in business for yourself because you want to make money doing something you hate.

(At least, I hope not.)

You’ve put it all on the line because you believe in yourself and your ideas…and because the allure of entrepreneurship is impossible to ignore!

But there’s a sure-fire way to wear down and defeat even the best of hardworkers.

And that’s by making yourself go, go, go until you’ve completely worn out.

It’s not just tiring, it’s dangerous to your bottom line. Because when you’re burnt out and exhausted, you’re not thinking clearly.

And that means you’re putting your livliehood at risk.

So ask yourself: Does that new business card design really need to be done today?

Does the network really need to be remapped today?

Does the website really need an overhaul today?

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business? Take a day off.

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Your regular dose of entreprenurial inspiration, served up fresh right here at Grow My Business. And for all your small and home business software needs, check out Blue Squad and Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest software bang for your hard-earned business buck.

Before I sing the praises of Consumer Reports let me just say that other than being a regular subscriber, I do not hold a financial stake in the magazine (in fact, is that even possible?).

In any case, there are some things about this particular publication that offer some helpful reminders and good tools for the small business interested in staying, if not small, than definitely in business.

For instance, every month CU lists all of the products that have been recalled by the manufacturers. Can you imagine being the company that didn’t plan, didn’t test and didn’t design a product that is produced on a national or global scale?

Enter your own demise here.

Of course, for the Hasbros and the “Sonys and the KitchenAids of the world, this isn’t a deal killer.

For the little guy, with stiff competition breathing down your neck at every turn, you gotta make that first chance count if you ever hope to get a second one. Because one false step is all it takes…

Also, isn’t it just a little curious that the entire CU business model relies on absolutely no paid advertising? In this, the Google era??

Just goes to show you, in the world of business, there’s room for lots of ideas - even contradictory ones!

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Your regular dose of entreprenurial inspiration, served up fresh right here at Grow My Business. And for all your small and home business software needs, check out Blue Squad and Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest software bang for your hard-earned business buck.

No, no, no…that isn’t a reference to the not small business that is the Grammy awards.

I mean, have you ever seen so many Chevy commercials in a single night?? Wow…

But actual highlights did include the reuninon of The Police, after all.

Now there’s a smart business decision, and one that’s going to pay off big.

But after we get all get back from the $200-a-ticket show, it will be time to once again figure out how to outsmart our competitors and keep the cash flow positive.

Get excited! There’s a new business fashion in town, and it’s the talk of the malls.

“Pop-Up Stores” are creating new levels of hype and exclusivity.

I have a feeling this latest business trend has a shelf life of approximately 15 minutes.

But that’s not to say it can’t and won’t prove beneficial for some of the lucky ones (early bird gets the worm and all that…)

Beyond the quick turn-of-buck that the quick thinkers are likely to generate, I am betting that business in general will pick up some important new insights.

One of the biggest challenges small businesses face every day is expense management.

How many checks should you order?

How much should you pay to keep your web site updated?

How do you protect your technology infrastruture?

While usually not easy questions to answer, there is serious value in studying and appreciating how a store that goes up and comes down in 3 days can still make money!

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Grow My Business can help lighten the load on understanding how to get started, gain momentum, and manage growth for the long run. And for small and home business software needs, check out Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest bang for your hard-earned entrepreneurial buck.

When it comes to business, somtimes old ways are best.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

It’s been around for a long time, but NASA’s astronaut screening program, for instance, looks to be up for review.

But sometimes, the freshest approach to business isn’t to come up with some new product or service that’s going to blow everybody away.

I mean, if you can, great, because cutting edge often does work very well:

The radio…

The internet…

Digital music players…

Chicken Attack!

However, when you’ve already got a proven product with a successful track record, does it make smart business sense to abandon it?

Not according to the new CEO of Ford.

That’s right, the Taurus is back.

Although there are lots of reasons why killing it off made sense, it’s hard to argue with the designation “best selling car in America.”

Of course, us small business types aren’t exactly moving automobile-sized product around the globe.

But the lesson is the same: All too often, businesses of all sizes can get caught up in trying to go above and beyond their expertise, with predictable results.

Pretend you’re a digital camera: stay focused!

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Grow My Business can help lighten the load on understanding how to get started, gain momentum, and manage growth for the long run. And for small and home business software needs, check out Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest bang for your hard-earned entrepreneurial buck.

Just because you’ve got your own small business doesn’t mean the learning curve has gone away. If anything, it’s steeper than ever.

Yeah, yeah, OK: so you know a lot about your business.

And if you’re the best at what you do (which you can tell by the number of checks rolling in) you probably know a lot more than anyone else.

But being good at one thing doesn’t mean you’re good at everything. And in so many cases, having a great business idea is no guarantee that someone knows how to run a business.

Perhaps you struggle with the books.

Or don’t understand inventory management.

Or spend too much time fooling around (you know who you are).

So what do you do when you can’t figure out how to punch your way of out of your own particular bag?

What else? You go back to school. After all, there’s gotta be a better way, right?

Obviously, we’re not talking about shutting down the shop, picking up a Jansport backpack and some Birkenstocks, and rolling the dice in the dorm room lottery.

But with so many small business management and consulting courses available - both online and off - there’s really no excuse for not carving out some time to develop the understanding and skills that could very well help take your company to the next level.

That might mean all the way to franchise and global domination, or it might just mean moving out of the garage.

Either way, knowledge is power, and power is what keeps the lights on.

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Grow My Business can help lighten the load on understanding how to get started, gain momentum, and manage growth for the long run. And for small and home business software needs, check out Avanquest, the company that brings you the biggest bang for your hard-earned entrepreneurial buck.