Category Archives: Business Advice

Look Before You e-Leap

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  E-commerce is growing 23 percent per year as 51 percent of Americans prefer to shop online. Yet 46 percent of small businesses do not have a website. “Is selling online right for your business?” asked Eduardo Lugo of the Small Business Development Center at a seminar on e-commerce. “You have to do your homework, just like you were opening a restaurant or retail location. It revolves around your target…

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Body Language Speaks Volumes

Jan Hargrave demonstrates the body language of a handshake during her presentation.

Whether sitting down for a tough negotiation or interviewing a potential new hire, most business people would like to be able to know more about their conversational counterpart than just the words coming out of their mouth. Learning to read a person’s body language can give valuable insight into what’s going on behind the verbal exchange. Body language expert Jan Hargrave says research shows 55 percent of personal communication is…

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The Art of Leaving Nothing Unsaid

Leaving Nothing Unsaid

“Leave nothing unsaid” may seem an odd piece of advice for a leadership and management column. In today’s media rich world – where words can be quickly immortalized and just as quickly regretted – the fear to keep silent and reserved may be high. Sage voices of the past have often suggested discretion and wisdom over hasty expression, such as this from Benjamin Franklin: “Remember not only to say the…

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Online Tool Sizes Up Local Competition

SizeUp logo

McAllen Chamber tool helps small businesses from Laredo to Kingsville Many small businesses cannot afford consultants or market research to help them keep up with the competition or identify potential customers. But the McAllen Chamber of Commerce offers access to a free online tool that can help. SizeUp McAllen allows business owners to do their own local market research through its extensive database that includes revenue comparisons, consumer demographics, labor…

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Speaking with a Leader’s Heart

Leader's heart

Communication is key “Did I wake you?” “No, I’ve been awake for a bit,” I say. A friend is on the phone. He’s an attorney. “Good. I don’t have court until 8 a.m., but I’m already here,” he says. It’s 7 a.m. “I’m catching up on my voicemail and writing a few notes to myself.” We chat for a moment, toss a few project ideas back and forth, share an…

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Six Ways to Prepare for a Successful Holiday Season

Holiday Season, holiday marketing

Guess what people are doing right now? They’re starting their holiday shopping. They may not be decking the halls yet, but 17 percent of shoppers surveyed by the National Retail Federation said they start researching holiday purchases before September, while eight percent reported making purchases before the start of autumn. That holiday mentality holds steady in September before rocketing up in October and November. Customers are looking ahead, and your small business needs to…

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Values Create Strong Cultures

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Reinforcement of values means success When evaluating the organizational culture of a business, it is important for owners to ask themselves two vital questions. Am I living and leading the values and expectations I wish for my employees to emulate? Am I communicating these values and expectations clearly throughout the chain of command? Regardless if the business is brand new or well established, it is essential to develop and maintain an organizational system that nurtures the purpose and values of the company and, by de facto, its leadership. Successful business owners do not take their organizational cultures for granted or underestimate how much these shared values impact long-term success. Instead, astute owners clarify…

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Try a Simple Approach to Goal-Setting

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Simple steps lead to clarity For some of us, goal-setting seems to be a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. There is a simple approach that can keep you on track for setting and achieving your goals. Most people tend to think that goal-setting needs to be a massive, time-consuming venture that requires deep philosophical discussions: what are my priorities; what do I want in life; what is important…

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Brothers Credit SBA Programs with Growth

Federal programs and contracts pay off Brothers Samuel and Saul Maldonado founded SAM Engineering & Surveying Inc. in June 2008 with only three employees and yearly sales of $400,000. Today, the firm has grown to 55 employees with sales in excess of $4 million.  The brothers attribute part of their success with assistance provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Starting initially as an engineering and surveying firm, SAMES added…

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Leadership: Crafting a Resilience Mindset 

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“It is within our power to be unconquerable.” Seneca (4 B.C. – 65 A.D.). When Roman philosopher Seneca spoke these words, he was referring neither to our bodies nor our positions in life. He was referring to the power of our minds. Stoicism was a way of life for Seneca, and he taught it to all who would listen. Stoicism is the practical everyday philosophy of virtue and self-discipline introduced by the…

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