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Social media policies for employees: what’s cool, and what’s not

Social media has made some work boundaries a little blurry. We’ve talked about whether or not it’s okay to friend your employees on Facebook in the past, and this time we’re talking about social media policies. When it comes to social media, employees want to know how do you keep your personal life personal, and professional life…

Does listening to music at work improve productivity? Here’s 8 compelling reasons why it does
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Does listening to music at work improve productivity? Here’s 8 compelling reasons why it does

Brad and I wrote a little while back about wearing headphones at the office.  He noticed I was wearing them more often and we had some issues when he would try to get my attention. So we shared about it on LinkedIn, and it generated a storm of comments from people with polar opposite views — either they…

5 things your business can’t run without (only one of them is money)
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5 things your business can’t run without (only one of them is money)

When I was starting my business, everyone told me: give up your job, give up your life, and work like hell. That was my introduction to entrepreneurship. The problem was that, at that time, I was a single dad with three young kids. Working 100 hours of the week (even if I was free to…

How to communicate with your boss (and get what you want)
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How to communicate with your boss (and get what you want)

So, let’s say you’ve been working for a company for a while, and you really want to find a way to accomplish some new tasks or take on new roles with your position. You’re ambitious, hungry, and ready for a challenge. But that means figuring out how to convince your boss that A) You’re ready…

You and your business partner: how to get on the same page and stay there
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You and your business partner: how to get on the same page and stay there

Running a business is hard. That’s why a lot of folks decide to partner up and start a business with someone else. There are some definite advantages to working with a partner: two heads are better than one, and partnerships often have access to better resources and talent that a solo founder might not have….

Employees missing deadlines? Here’s how to make it stop!
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Employees missing deadlines? Here’s how to make it stop!

Missing deadlines is a common occurrence in the world of small business. No one is to blame (or everyone is to blame) and there are no real consequences — until the owner wakes up one morning and says, “Hey, weren’t we supposed to be finished with this project by now? What happened?” There are plenty…

3 ways to take advantage of opportunity (even when you are uncertain)
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3 ways to take advantage of opportunity (even when you are uncertain)

The headlines are dramatic, and appear to swing from one end of the pendulum to the other: Stock market has best day of the year; Dow up 188, US jobless rate falls to 5-year low of 6.6 percent. Are we actually seeing the beginnings of the much promised recovery, or are we experiencing a minor…