It doesn't get much better than running on the lake shore path in Chicago.
I am going to get on my soapbox a little today. I read Don't Abolish SBA; Mills Says Her Agency Is Faster, Quicker, Better by Jerry Chautin regarding the Small Business Administration (SBA) this week and felt compelled to chime in. The SBA has been a longtime whipping boy for legislators. There were always questions about effectiveness and efficiencies that made it an easy target. When the SBA made direct loans there were losses. When they shifted to a loan guarantor they didn't have enough influence to induce banks to lend so the value came into question. The agency was kind of in a no win situation. In the interest of full disclosure I run the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State and we are grant funded in large part by funds from the SBA. Having said that I have a unique perspective to comment on the SBA. I have watched the agency transform over the past 10 years from a focusing on head count of people served/touched to being much more outcome focused. The people that call for cuts in the SBA budget are the same people that will say that small business is the backbone of the economy. So which is it? Do they support small business or not? The programs of the SBA are in place to make sure small business owners can access business assistance, business opportunities and financial capital to compete and succeed in today's economy. I can personally speak to a large number of business owners we have worked with that would not have gotten financing without the SBA backing the credit. Our SBDC generally works with about 1,000 people each year that would not have access to "no cost" business assistance to start and grow their business. There are approximately 1,000 SBDCs through out the county that would have the similar stories to mine.
The SBA is not perfect but they are committed to supporting small business owners and building the US economy.
Now on to this weekend's business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business.Crazy busy weekend ahead but I am determined to find an opening in the schedule to get a few miles then read these posts:
How to Present like Steve Jobs at KISSmetrics ~ If I had a dime for every bad presentation I have attended over the years I would have a whole lot of dimes. Before you step to a podium check this post and make your presentation memorable.
Choose Your Own Adventure at ChrisBrogan.com ~ Don't wait. Create your own path.
5 Things Small Businesses Should Know To Avoid The Groupon Curse at WaxingUnlyrical.com by Rachael Seda ~ No good deed goes unpunished and Goupon is no different. As a business owner if you are going to use Groupon know that you will have a lot of work to make it valuable for you.
A Good Mentor Will Tell It Like It Is at Entrepreneur.com ~ How many times have you read in this blog not to go it alone and get some help? Here is another one of those reads.
The JOBS Act: What You Need To Know at Entrepreneur.com ~ Are you thinking about raising money for your company through the sale of equity? Be sure you understand the JumpStart Our Business Startup Act (that's the full name for the JOBS Act).
7 Ways to Launch White Papers with a Bang at Content Marketing Institute ~ If you are going to spend the time writing a White Paper it would be nice if someone read it. Here are some good steps to implement.
Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.
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