Arizona has a thriving entrepreneurial community. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state is home to more than 700,000 small businesses, representing 99.5% of all Arizona businesses. Small businesses also accounted for 85% of the state's net job growth in the SBA's latest reporting period. Those numbers speak to the importance of entrepreneurship to … [More]
Four Strategies for Managing Long Sales Cycles
Most people haven’t ever run a marathon. But many salespeople run them every day — the long sales cycle. Salespeople love the quick win — that satisfying moment when a prospect becomes a customer in a matter of days or weeks. Sometimes, it’s even the fabled “one call close.” But what about those industries, or even those times, where the sales cycle stretches into months or … [More]
Their Take: Great Companies Need More Than Recognition
As BestCompaniesAZ celebrates its 25th anniversary, I’ve spent time reflecting on the journey, the partnerships, and the mission that continues to guide us today. Over the years, many people have come to know BestCompaniesAZ through the workplace awards and recognition programs we’ve helped introduce, support, and elevate throughout Arizona. “Oh, you’re the awards … [More]
Extreme Heat Can Disrupt the Tech Small Businesses Rely On
Summers in Arizona mean more customers on patios, employees working from trucks and job sites, digital menus, payment systems, security cameras and Wi-Fi that have to keep running. But the sunshine and heat that define the season can also work against technology, both outside and inside a business. Phones, outdoor TVs, laptops, speakers, security cameras, routers and … [More]
ASU and SRP Partnership Offers Mentorship and $20K Pitch Opportunity for Arizona Firms
Salt River Project and Arizona State University are offering a Small Business Academy that provides mentorship, training and networking opportunities for small businesses interested in expanding capacity and learning how to compete for contracts with public agencies and private companies. The academy runs for six weeks and includes weekly sessions beginning January 22. The … [More]
Office Space Psychology: How Design Affects Productivity
The design of an office space is more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a powerful tool that can influence employee focus, creativity, and overall productivity. When a workspace is thoughtfully designed, it creates an environment that motivates and supports its workforce. This intersection of interior design and behavioral science is often referred to as “office psychology,” … [More]
Pandemic, Inc.
This is a difficult time, that’s for sure, but it’s also a time of enormous opportunity. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and self-employed professionals need to leverage these 8 trends to thrive in tomorrow’s economy! Pandemic, Inc. offers a strategic roadmap for businesses navigating the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. The book details eight accelerating … [More]
A Unifying Vision Helps Entrepreneurs Act with Less Fear and Hesitation
Millions of people have made the decision to be entrepreneurs, and millions more will follow. One thing that many of them have in common is preparing for the unknown. What nobody tells those who decide to become self-employed is, there are numerous things that will get in the way of their plan and there will be some people who second-guess what they are doing or simply walk … [More]
COVID-19 Unleashes a Time for Innovation
My business research focuses on a source of innovation that is often overlooked — the users of products themselves. Both people (like you and me) and companies use products that they buy from others in their daily activities. We might not know exactly how something is made, but we know how it is used. That is what is called user knowledge. Not surprisingly, users often come up … [More]
Strategies to Attract Customers Online during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Times are hard, especially with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Businesses are suffering as more and more communities go into quarantine. To survive as a business owner, one needs to find effective marketing strategies in the midst of the crisis brought about by this pandemic. One of the best ways to stay profitable is to make the businesses’ online presence known … [More]
The New Scottsdale Small Business Assistance Center Looks to Offer Guidance to Businesses in Need
Scottsdale’s Economic Development Department has launched a new initiative aimed at assisting Scottsdale small businesses. The Scottsdale Small Business Assistance Center (SSBAC) will serve as the City of Scottsdale’s virtual one stop shop for Scottsdale businesses looking for information on available business support programs and resources during the COVID-19 crisis. The … [More]
Coronavirus and the New American Economy
The face of the American economy is forever changed by this coronavirus pandemic. In three weeks’ time, we've witnessed financially viable companies go into rapid freefall by the millions, starting with employees and trickling rapidly. Small to mid-sized businesses are laying off in record numbers, and there is no clear end in sight. With the spread of COVID-19, people are … [More]
How Businesses can Pivot While Slowed or Closed during Difficult Times
With businesses across the U.S. having closed temporarily or reduced services due to the coronavirus pandemic, company leaders are trying to find ways to stay afloat until the crisis passes — and figure out how to move forward into an uncertain future. Kyle Bogan, D.D.S., a business consultant and speaker on workplace culture, says this unprecedented event has caused … [More]
There’s a New ‘Business as Usual’
In this third week of mass social distancing (with more than 225 million Americans ordered to stay at home), CEOs are beginning to ask not only how to survive the pandemic, but what they will be surviving into. Radical events bring radical change, and the American workplace — and quite possibly the American economy — is in the midst of its most significant disruptive and … [More]
Bunker Labs: Entrepreneurial Boost for Veterans
Bunker Labs is a national network of veteran entrepreneurs dedicated to helping new veteran, military spouse, and active duty military entrepreneurs start their own business. The nonprofit is committed to seeing that every entrepreneur in the veteran community has the network, tools and resources they need to start their own business. “Bunker Labs was started in 2014 by … [More]
Dos and Don’ts of Email Negotiating amid the COVID-19 Crisis
That’s not what I meant! The fact is, nobody likes to be misunderstood or have their words misconstrued, especially when another party wrongly applies sinister motives, casting their character in a negative light. And nowhere does this happen more frequently than via email or other modes of e-communication. Even during the best of times, email negotiation can be tough. But … [More]
