Features
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The 5 Game Changing Benefits of Networking
June 23, 2014
We live, work and play in two worlds today – in person and online. They are equally important, inter-dependent and mutually beneficial. The importance of consistent, qualified, dedicated networking can never be stressed enough as a requirement, not an option today.
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The Role of Entrepreneurship in Rising Income Inequality
June 20, 2014
Income inequality is growing in America, and it has much of the chattering class in an uproar.
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13 Best Practices for Building Solid Small Business Operations
June 19, 2014
Running and scaling a business will always be challenging. But having a solid foundation of smoothly operating practices underlying your company can make it much easier. To find out how successful entrepreneurs were building their operations, we asked 13 founders from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question: “As a business owner, what do you feel is most important when it comes to building solid small business operations?”
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Mayor’s FY2015 Budget Adopted by the Atlanta City Council
June 18, 2014
The Atlanta City Council today overwhelmingly approved Mayor Kasim Reed's fifth consecutive balanced budget that includes no tax increase and a boost to the city's cash reserves.
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Small Business Sentiment Improving But No Sign of Surge
June 17, 2014
NFIB Optimism Index rose 1.4 points in May to 96.6, the highest reading since September 2007. However, while May is the third up month in a row, the Index is still far below readings that have normally accompanied an expansion and there have been similar gains in the past that haven’t panned out in this recovery period. Five Index components improved, one was unchanged and four fell, although not by much.
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12 Tips for Training Your Summer Interns
June 16, 2014
Summer interns can be an invaluable resource for a small business. But although these bright young college kids are ready to tackle challenges, they’re likely inexperienced in the business world and won’t automatically integrate with your team. We look at how other entrepreneurs were successfully training their interns for the summer.
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4 Steps to Facing the Challenge in Strategy
June 13, 2014
Strategy is a way through a difficulty, an approach to overcoming an obstacle, a response to a challenge. If the challenge is not defined, it is difficult or impossible to overcome it.
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Blanchard Leadership Forum Brings Big Names to Georgia
June 12, 2014
The Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum consistently hosts some of the biggest names in business during this annual event on August 25th and 26th, and this year’s event lives up to its expectations. The 2014 line-up is headlined by Entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.
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There are Times When Business is Personal and Not Just Business
June 11, 2014
Some people believe one needs to make decisions based upon the bottom line 100% of the time. If it benefits you, great. Otherwise, discard the idea. Emotional decisions in business benefit no one. On the other hand it is said, what you put out into the atmosphere will be received back many times over.
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Is the USDOJ Trying to Shut Down Businesses it Doesn’t Like?
June 09, 2014
What if government officials suddenly decided they didn’t like your business? Then they went to your bank and warned them you were a bad risk and that the government had its eye on you? Suppose the government brought so much pressure to bear that before long, your bank closed down your account or refused to open new ones in your name or the name of your business. Apparently, this is exactly what is happening with the U.S. Department of Justice initiative called “Operation Choke Point.”
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Are You Hiring for the Right Traits?
June 06, 2014
There’s lots of talk lately about the talent shortage – how employers, especially small ones, can’t find workers with the skills and experience they are seeking. But maybe the problem is that small business owners are putting too much emphasis on the wrong things.
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Coleman Talley Achieves Milestone in the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy
June 05, 2014
Coleman Talley LLP delivered the goods in the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, providing 87,640 pounds of food – double its poundage in 2013 – and winning the medium firm size category for the third straight year. Attorney General Sam Olens announced the results last week of the third annual food drive in which lawyers and staff compete outside the courtroom for two weeks to raise food and funds for Georgia's seven regional food banks.
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9 Things You Shouldn’t Overlook When Planning Your Next Event
June 04, 2014
Business events are a great way to build relationships with potential partners, meet investors and network. But making sure your event goes well requires a lot of forethought and planning. There’s nothing worse than a lousy event. From location to food, there’s much to consider when picking the perfect venue for your event.
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Georgia Manufacturing Activity Continues Growth in May
June 03, 2014
Georgia manufacturing activity remained strong for May, even as new orders fell from its high April reading, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released today by Kennesaw State University’s Econometric Center in the Michael J. Coles College of Business.
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Five Health Insurance Tips that Can Make Your Workforce Appreciate You
June 02, 2014
Over the past several months, small businesses may have grappled to understand the many changes and regulations to the evolving health care landscape. In developing compliant strategies, employers have made, and continue to make, key benefits decisions that will impact the personal and financial well-being of their workers for years to come.
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How to Use Twitter for Customer Service
May 30, 2014
In order to provide the best possible customer service, smart small business owners learn from the big companies’ best practices. One tactic more and more big corporations are using is providing customer service on Twitter.
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Georgia Credit Unions Impact Their Members, Their Communities & Beyond
May 29, 2014
Georgia credit unions are committed to helping their members afford their lives. But the impact of credit unions reaches far beyond the branch walls. As not-for-profit institutions, credit unions contribute their resources to the greater good of their communities. They live out the values of working together to accomplish more, and the difference they make is felt across Georgia every day.
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Behind the Scenes at Medient's $700 Million Georgia StudioPlex
May 28, 2014
“Georgia’s film industry is booming,” touted Governor Nathan Deal in last week’s video address to the Savannah Economic Development Authority’s (SEDA) annual luncheon, and rightfully so. Employment, tax revenue and new construction are rising steadily throughout the state. However, one proposed development in Effingham County near Savannah should be a warning to all counties in Georgia. This is the story of how a proposed $700 million “Disneyland meets Googleplex” development has created high hopes for one Georgia community only to be at risk by the players involved.
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Working Flextime? According to New Research, Bosses Prefer Early Birds to Night Owls
May 27, 2014
In a new study of flexible work policies, researchers at the University of Washington Foster School of Business have found that people who elect to work an early shift are perceived by their bosses to be better employees than those who work a later shift.
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TAG Mobilizes Metro Techies to Aid the Atlanta Community Food Bank
May 23, 2014
The Technology Association of Georgia is mobilizing Atlanta's technology community on behalf of the Atlanta Community Food Bank as part of a weekend of great ideas and giving back to the community.
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Secondary Self-Employment in Decline
May 22, 2014
Fewer Americans are working for themselves than did at the turn of the 21st century. That’s true for both people’s primary and secondary jobs, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicate.
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Georgia Primaries Bring Expected Congressional Runoffs
May 21, 2014
Tuesday’s primary election results brought runoffs for candidates for both houses of Congress.
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Underdog Businesses Must Work Harder
May 20, 2014
Small business owners are almost always underdogs. They deal with competition from companies with much larger budgets and more resources at their disposal. So how can David compete with Goliath? In a recent sit-down with Inc.’s Issie Lapowski, author Malcolm Gladwell explained.
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How to Keep Your Family Business All in the Family
May 19, 2014
Is your small business family-owned? Family business owners are feeling optimistic about the short term, but pessimistic about the long-term outlook for their companies, says a recent survey by The Alternative Board. The good news? If your family business is on the wrong track, there are some simple steps you can take to right it before it’s too late.
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Operation HOPE Founder to Serve as Atlanta Technical College Commencement Speaker
May 16, 2014
John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, America’s first non-profit social investment banking organization, will address the Atlanta Technical College class of 2014 at its commencement exercises today at 11am. The ceremony will be held at the Atlanta Civic Center.