It’s Leap Year!

What does that mean?

Well, for one, it’s another day to make things right.

Have you been thoughtful this year? Have you looked before you’ve leaped?

Maybe today can be a day to reflect and tie up any loose ends.

Do you have something hanging in the air, waiting for your attention?

Take some time today to figure out how to solve the questions that have gone unanswered.

Leap into next month with the reassurance that you’ve done all you can and resolved as many issues as possible.

Remember all those times you’ve muttered, “If I just had one extra day…”

Well, today your wish is granted. Make the most of it!

So you didn’t make it the first time.

Many entrepreneurs don’t. In fact, many small business owners are seasoned in the world of consumerism.

They’ve tried and failed. Tried again and succeeded. They’ve been around the block and then some.

Maybe you are now attempting your small business for a second or third time.

What will you do differently?

In a sense, the second time around is a better, more secure place to be.

You have skills, now! You know what to expect, and how to manage disappointments, unforeseen occurrences and additional expenses.

You know how to deal with people. You know the right (and wrong) things to say.

You’re organized and more efficient.

Tally it all up and success is a more realistic forecast than ever.

According to a recent article, one should never underestimate the power of the almighty employee newsletter.

Why?

Because it does more than one job.

A newsletter does not just exist to inform employees that the bathrooms are getting a new sinks installed on Thursday; they are there to make employees feel appreciated.

And just like any piece of written work, they’ll be thrown in the trash if they are reminiscent of an afternoon nap.

That’s not to say they shouldn’t contain pertinent business information: upcoming staff meeting, changes to the schedule, etc.

But a newsletter should be so much more than that. They should be personal and humorous.

They are, after all, for the employees.

And if you think back to any job you’ve ever had, wouldn’t you have liked to be somewhat entertained at work?

Wouldn’t you have liked to be appreciated and written about kindly?

A resounding YES! would be the answer.

Any entrepreneur knows that a pitch can make or break you.

Knowing and mastering your sales pitch can mean getting a loan, getting a partner, getting investors.

In other words, if you don’t have one, get one. Fast.

There are lots and lots of books and articles dedicated to The Pitch.

It’s 30 seconds that could change the rest of your life.

It’s got to be sharp, concise, interesting. It’s got to get the blood pumping and minds racing.

No, you’re probably not going to convince someone in 30 seconds, but that half a minute could mean getting an hour-long meeting down the road.

And it is then that you can really boost interest and win over your future funders, investors and business partners.

Practice your pitch and most definitely perfect it. Each and every day.

Finding funding for your budding small business can be more than a headache.

The government may not want to help you, but there are plenty of agencies that do.

The Small Business Administration is one of them.

Well-known for its assistance in planning and managing small businesses, the SBA can be your tool to finding the help you need.

For minorities, there is the Minority Business Development Agency that offers information on business development and financing.

Don’t feel too disappointed if you find your minority status is getting overlooked.

While the government does not guarantee minorities and women any special treatment, there are plenty of agencies and banks that want to help these groups.

Many SBA-certified lenders (some are: Bank of America, Wachovia and Wells Fargo) give special consideration to small business owners of minority status.

So, don’t give up. Just keep looking and shoving your foot in the door. Even if it gets slammed a few times.

You may have plans for the summer. You may have plans for your kids, plans for your home or plans for the weekend.

But do you have a business plan?

I don’t mean do you plan to become successful. That’s everybody’s plan, isn’t it?

I mean a real business plan - a blueprint of what you plan to do in the weeks, months and years to come.

Do you know what to do in case of an emergency? Do you have a Plan A, a Plan B?

Have you drawn out a sales plan, a business model, a mission statement, legal contracts?

Think of these things as the foundation of what will eventually become your Empire! The higher you want to build, the more substantial, strong and structured your foundation has to be.

If you “wing it,” you could get lucky. Or you could wind up lost down an empty road with no where to turn.

So, I repeat. Got plans?

Your friends will always be there to tell you you’re doing great. But is that really always the best feedback?

A constructive, unbiased critique of your business and its progress is what you need. And where you’ll find that isn’t within your own personal circles.

Want to try out a new product or marketing idea? Want to get valuable, truthful opinions that will ultimately help your business thrive?

A fantastic way to do this is to organize a focus group made up of a variety of different people from various backgrounds.

Have a neutral third party moderate your group and organize a list of open-ended questions for the group to discuss.

Most focus groups and marketing studies offer some sort of compensation. You can either pay your attendees or give them free services/products from your business/store.

At the end of the session, you will have a wealth of valuable information and feedback on how to improve your business.

Friends and family are great for the “pick-me-ups” we need from time to time, but a pat on the back isn’t what will keep you pushing forward and striving to make your business better.

A spider uses its web to catch prey. Its finely spun silky home grabs and captures what will become its next delicious meal.

Lucky spider.

Today, we use our own Web to attract the ones we hope will sustain our mission, our companies and our livelihoods.

If you’re one of those people that likes to do it the old-fashioned way and can actually pull it off, congratulations.

However, anyone attempting to start up a business will soon realize that the Web is not only a valuable tool, but a necessary one.

Think about how many times a week you look to the Web to figure something out, to get store hours, to shop, to find store locations, to read news, to blog, to get directions…

I almost never look in the Yellow Pages. What’s the use? I can get faster, more efficient and detailed information online. I can visit the stores themselves, make purchases and track orders.

In short, if you’re not using the Web, you’re not pushing your business to its full potential. And you may, in fact, be missing that juicy fly!