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Know Your Market

By Glenn Muske

In most small-business startup manuals, you, the owner, are encouraged to define your audience. While a great early step, it often is done incorrectly. The instructions ask you to define your customers or potential customers in terms of: What they like to do Where they gather What they buy What drives them Where they live […]

June 28, 2017 Filed Under: marketing, Small Biz 100 Tagged With: business success, marketing, small business, small business success, success

Should Small-business Owners Trust Their Judgment?

By Glenn Muske

How often aren’t we told to “trust our gut?” You see this comment made often for people starting a small business or when small-business owners need to make an important decision. Yet a recent article from Entrepreneur challenged this and indicated that this idea may be a myth. So who do you believe? Which view […]

May 10, 2017 Filed Under: rural, Small Biz 100, success Tagged With: business success, decision making, effective management, small business, success

Small-business Owners and Inventors: Each Use Different Skills

By Glenn Muske

Inventor

Building a small business and developing an invention take different skills. I was reminded of this when I read David McCullough’s book, “The Wright Brothers.” Inventors are interested in the development of the idea. They are not put off by trial and error. Business owners are focused on solving a consumer’s problem and doing so […]

January 25, 2017 Filed Under: rural, Small Biz 100, success Tagged With: business success

Family Businesses in the Economy

By Glenn Muske

Family business

You will find a family business in one out of every 10 households. Family businesses contributed over $10 trillion, by one estimate, into our U.S. economy. Family businesses generate over 50% of U. S. business revenue. Family businesses employ over 50% of the U.S. workforce. Do you get a sense of my topic this week? […]

October 12, 2016 Filed Under: Small Biz 100 Tagged With: business success, family business, small business, small business success

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