Features

• 6 Steps to Help You Get Started in Exporting

  June 21, 2013

  Are you interested in growing your business in a global economy? Today, nearly 96 percent of consumers and over two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power reside outside the United States. Small businesses now constitute 34 percent of total export dollars, and comprise approximately 97.8 percent of all exporters. If you’re considering exporting as a way to expand and grow your business in new markets, where should you start?

• Commentary: Time for Deal on Immigration

  June 20, 2013

  The remaining political oxygen for a debate leading up to Congress's summer recess will be used to fuel the debate on immigration. While it seems like the "debate" over this issue has gone on forever, it really hasn't. The knowledge that America has a huge number of people living and working here illegally has been with us for decades, and many have used the issue to fuel political campaigns and other talking points. Debate on how to actually fix the problem, however, has been sorely lacking -- until now.

• New Chick-fil-A Generating Strong Customer Traffic

  June 19, 2013

  On May 9, Chick-fil-A opened a freestanding restaurant at Lee Crossings on U.S. Highway 19 South. The new location is Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator, K.J. Wari’s third restaurant, and the first freestanding unit in the Albany trade area.

• How the IRS Scandal Might Benefit Small Business

  June 17, 2013

  A few weeks ago, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) admitted that some of its employees improperly subjected to disproportionate scrutiny to conservative groups seeking to set up non-profit status. While you might think that the scandal has little to do with small business, in the strange world of Washington — where everything influences everything else — the scandal has the potential to benefit small business owners in several ways.

• Top Small Business Stories for June

  June 14, 2013

  Smaller smartphones, cheaper tablets, and Vine for Android — they’re all top stories for small businesses this week. You’ll also learn about a new acquisition by sales and CRM software giant Salesforce.com that adds email marketing and marketing communications to the company’s offerings. As always, the editorial team gives you the news important to small businesses — and puts it into context for what it means to you.

• Scott Hunter Shares Why You Shouldn't Overload Your Portfolio with Company Stock

  June 13, 2013

  Many companies offer their employees a stock purchase plan, enabling them to purchase company stock at a discounted price and invest in the company they work for. While this can frequently be a great way to invest in the stock market, as an investor you need to question whether it’s good to load up too much on your company’s stock — or any company’s stock, for that matter.

• The Internship: A Lighthearted Movie About Google and The Changing Business World

  June 11, 2013

  ”The Internship‘ is a new movie that follows two laid-off salesmen as they attempt to start over in their careers through an unpaid internship at Google. It comes across as a feel-good movie with special relevance for anyone interested in the inside workings of Google.

• Your Attitude in Life Determines Your Altitude in Life

  June 10, 2013

  Your attitude is how you look at life and the way it looks back at you. Doug Robinson this month relates a story to the sales process, and gives a take away to help you and your team share the same outlook and optimism.

• Commentary: Why Japan’s Currency Devaluation Is Worrisome

  June 06, 2013

  Japan has been in an economic funk since the 1990s. It was at that time that many speculated that they would overtake the U.S. as the global economic superpower, rather than China. However, a poorly regulated financial system led to a housing crisis that they have yet to recover from.

• Franchise Ownership: When Can You Expect The Payoff?

  June 05, 2013

  In most cases, the payoff is not instant. Once in a while, it comes faster than expected but, on average, not fast enough. And, in a few rare occasions, it never happens. I’d like for you to avoid that.

• Albany Doctor-Farmer Phil Hajek Brings Preventative Care to Ag Workers

  June 03, 2013

  Phil Hajek is the type of doctor you go to when something already is broken. The Albany, Ga., orthopedist is a farmer himself, but most of the guys he sees in his office have injures. He grew even more intrigued by the thought of bringing preventative care to farmers when his own friend had a heart attack.

• How Would Your Hospitality Rate?

  May 31, 2013

  Your brand goes far beyond a name and logo. It is your entire image and the way you are perceived. It’s your reputation, and the emotions and attitudes that are associated with everything you do and all that you stand for. Rita Suiter with FiveStar Customer Service Strategies gives some ideas and examples on how to make sure your hospitality exceeds your customers expectations.

• How to Use Knowledge to Connect to Your Customer

  May 29, 2013

  Knowledge is dead. Have you heard this? Any question can be answered with a quick web search. We don’t have to know anything, we can Google it. Well, I’m here with good news for you. Knowledge isn’t dead. Knowledge isn’t even sick. What knowledge is, however, is fundamentally misunderstood.

• CooperCraft Communication Continues Growth With Select-Tel Merger

  May 28, 2013

  On May 23rd, CooperCraft Communications, which specializes in the installation and upgrades of security systems, telecommunication systems and cabling infrastructure, completed a merger with network specialists, Select-Tel Systems. The combined company, called CooperCraft Communications, has approximately 45 employees and offices in Albany and Tifton.

• The Difference Between Managing And Directing

  May 24, 2013

  Let me tell you a tale of business. A small businesses starts out as a one man show, just a guy who “bought himself a job.” Let’s call our guy Bob. Bob’s got no one to manage and nothing to direct. Just do the work; go home; repeat. And then it happens: Bob succeeds. Bob’s business starts getting busy, really busy. It’s a nice problem to have but it’s a problem all the same.

• U.S. Entrepreneurship Rates Reach Highest Level In More Than A Decade

  May 23, 2013

  U.S. entrepreneurship rates climbed to the highest level in more than a decade according to the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor U.S. Report by Babson College and Baruch College. In 2012, the average Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity rate increased to nearly 13 percent, an all-time high since GEM first began tracking entrepreneurship rates in 1999.

• Commentary: Let’s Amend, Not End, Capitalism

  May 22, 2013

  The United States prides itself as being the “land of opportunity”. With the U.S. being a favored destination for immigrants across the world, that distinction still has merit. However, there are disturbing trends where many are questioning the value of capitalism due to its contribution to income inequality. Even so, we must acknowledge the role that capitalism played in lifting not only Americans out of poverty and into prosperity.

• Facing the Firing Squad: Speaking Before a Group

  May 20, 2013

  Jerry Seinfeld once said, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Does that seem right? That means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” If you make your living as a salesperson, you will eventually reach the place where you need to speak before groups, either in boardrooms or ballrooms. So let’s wake up and smell the coffee in preparation for that fateful day.

• Checking Email at Night, on Weekends & Holidays the New Norm for U.S. Workforce

  May 17, 2013

  The conventional, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., five-day work week is a thing of the past for the overwhelming majority of workers at small to mid-sized businesses, according to a new survey on work-related email habits. Due to the widespread availability and use of smartphones and tablets, email is more accessible than ever and, as a result, it has become deeply embedded in the daily workplace and personal lives of most employees.

• Business Owners Face Emotional, Financial & Timing Issues in Business Succession

  May 16, 2013

  Many business owners find their wealth is mostly tied up in their businesses, which provides well for them and their families. When it comes to protecting their business, however, business owners often have not quantified how they would replace their income when the time comes for them to exit or sell their business and retire. Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Scott Hunter shares how to navigate this issue that all business owners face.

• Hughey & Neuman Sells Albany

  May 15, 2013

  Founded in 1954, Hughey & Neuman, Inc. is a third-generation family-owned real estate firm that is dedicated to its industry and to Albany itself.

• What If the U.S. Economy Operated Like NFL?

  May 14, 2013

  On one hand, we have the U.S. economy where President Obama and Congress draft laws and regulations to oversee economic activity. Then there is the National Football League (NFL) and the English Premier League (EPL), who each have administrations that develop policies and rules to regulate their respective brands of football or ‘futbol’, as known by my soccer aficionados. When looking at the U.S. economy, one could argue that the U.S. government has more closely reflected EPL over the last couple of decades, rather than the NFL. Is that ideal or should they look to the NFL as a better model for governance?

• Commentary: Is Two-Tiered Minimum Wage The Elixir for Poverty?

  May 13, 2013

  During Obama’s State of the Union, he brought up raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour. If Congress passes this piece of legislation, then all employers cannot pay any worker below $9 an hour. However, poverty and income inequality remain troubling concerns that need to be addressed.

• 4 R’s Boost Engagement: Respect, Respond, Relate, Recognize

  May 10, 2013

  So much of our success in business and life depends on our ability to be a “people person” and our likeability factor. We spend a great deal of time interacting and dealing with people in person and equally online now. Not everyone is a people person, or cut out to be a social butterfly. But it is an important skill that impacts our success.

• Governor Deal Inks Ethics Overhaul Aimed at Lobbyists

  May 08, 2013

  Gov. Nathan Deal signed two pieces of ethics legislation Monday that will bolster Georgians’ confidence in their state government.

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