Stock and Flow Bathtubs

How to Develop Stock and Flow Diagrams to Discover the Real Drivers of Outcomes

I Recently Hired a Landscaper, and His Seasonal Ups and Downs Reminded Me of the Power of Stock and Flow Diagrams. By Visualizing His Business as a Series of Bathtubs With Faucets and Drains, the Real Constraints Became Clear. It’s a Practical Way for Small Business Owners to See Beyond Symptoms and Manage Systems.

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A coach a consultant and a mentor sitting in front of a client

Are You Asking the Wrong Person for Help? The Hidden Differences Between Coaches, Consultants, and Mentors

With SCORE’s Reduced Role, Small Business Owners Must Be Intentional About Choosing Advisors. Coaches, Consultants, and Mentors Serve Very Different Purposes. Knowing Which One You Need Right Now Can Save You Money, Reduce Frustration, and Move Your Business Forward With Greater Clarity.

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Iceberg

How to Develop an Iceberg Model to Find the Root Causes Behind Business Challenges

Most Owners React Only to What They Can See; A Slow Month or a Poor Launch, Without Realizing That the Real Causes Lie Deeper. The Iceberg Model Shows How Events Are Shaped by Patterns and Trends, Structures, and Mental Models. By Digging Beneath the Surface, Small Business Owners Can Uncover Leverage Points That Change Outcomes for Good.

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A man pouring mail into an email algorithm where some is placed in spam and others are placed in an inbox

The Invisible Algorithm Deciding If Your Emails Land in the Inbox or in Spam

Offering Something Free for an Email Address Is Still a Smart Way to Grow Your List — but if You Don’t Take One Counterintuitive Step, You’ll Slowly Destroy Your Sender Reputation. Learn How Inbox Algorithms Judge Your Emails and What to Do to Stay in Their Good Graces.

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Man Chatting with ChatGPT

Stop Using AI Like a Tool—Start Collaborating With It Like a Business Mentor

Most Business Owners Use AI to Speed Things Up—Summarizing Content or Writing Emails. But What if You Flipped the Script? This Article Shows How You Can Use AI Not Just to Get Answers, But to Explore Ideas, Challenge Assumptions, and Become More Creative Through One-On-One Collaboration.

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Chef interviewing a cook

How to Use a DISC Profile to Make Smarter Hiring Decisions and Reduce Turnover

Use Disc Behavioral Insights to Go Beyond Resumes and Gut Instinct. This Guide Helps Small Business Owners and Hiring Managers Evaluate Candidates Based on How They Actually Work—Not Just What They Say. Learn How to Assess Energy and Environment to Build Balanced, High-Performing Teams.

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Men around a table computing the IRR of an investment

Are You Wasting Money? How IRR Can Save Your Startup

Many Startups Fail Because They Invest in the Wrong Things at the Wrong Time. Understanding IRR (Internal Rate of Return) Can Help You Make Smarter Financial Decisions, Prioritize High-Return Investments, and Avoid Cash Flow Disasters. Before You Spend Another Dollar, Learn How IRR Can Determine Whether Your Investment Will Pay Off—or Drain Your Resources.

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Man looking at off-balance sheet assets

The Off-Balance Sheet Secrets That Can Make or Break a Business

Your Balance Sheet Doesn’t Tell the Full Story of Your Business’s Value. Hidden Off-Balance Sheet (OBS) Assets—Like Brand Reputation and Customer Contracts—Can Significantly Impact Your Financial Health and Business Valuation. Learn How to Identify and Leverage These Critical Assets to Secure Financing, Attract Investors, and Maximize Your Company’s Worth.

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The Certainty Triangle

The Three Certainties That Make or Break Any Sale

Success in Business Hinges on the Prospect’s Certainty. To Win Them Over, They Must Be Certain That Your Solution Will Solve Their Problem, That You Are a Trustworthy Provider, and That Your Company Can Deliver on Its Promise. Learn Why So Many Businesses Struggle and How Strengthening All Three Sides of the Certainty Triangle Can Turn Hesitant Prospects Into Loyal Customers.

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Dr paying Taxes while business man sitting on cash

The Truth About Taxing the Rich: The Misconceptions About Wealth, Income, and Tax Policy

The Phrase “Tax the Rich” Is a Deceptive Tactic Used by Politicians to Justify Raising Taxes on the Working Middle Class While the Truly Wealthy Remain Unaffected. Discover How Business Ownership Can Help You Take Advantage of the Tax Code to Build Lasting Wealth.

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A bot rising from the pages of a book or blog

From Blog to Bot: The Journey of Building SteveBizBot

Discover How a Decade of Blogging Evolved Into SteveBizBot—a Cutting-Edge Conversational AI Chatbot Tailored to Small Business Owners. Learn About the Behind-The-Scenes Journey of Adapting a Trusted Resource Into an Interactive Tool That Redefines How Entrepreneurs Access Advice in the Digital Age.

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Man pitching solution to woman executives

How to Handle Complex Sales for B2B Businesses

Sales processes vary significantly between Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions. While B2C sales are often simple, involving a single decision-maker, B2B sales are more complex, especially when dealing with larger companies. This complexity arises because B2B transactions typically involve multiple stakeholders, each with distinct roles, priorities, and decision-making criteria. To successfully close a complex

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Tips to Make Successful Sales Calls

Tips to Make Successful B2B Sales Calls

Selling to small and midsize businesses often requires reaching top executives, but gatekeepers can pose significant challenges. With thorough preparation, personalized communication, and a strategic approach—including leveraging sales team insights and respecting gatekeeper roles—you can navigate these barriers and connect with key decision-makers effectively.

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AI Identifying Gaps

Using AI to Identify Gaps in the Market: Insights and Strategies for Small Businesses

In the Digital Landscape, Small Businesses Must Identify Market Gaps. AI Excels by Analyzing Vast Amounts of Data and Detecting Patterns Beyond Human Capability, Making It Invaluable for Finding Untapped Niches. Its Superior Data Processing, Pattern Recognition, and Unbiased Analysis Surpass Human Abilities.

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Person experiencing an oculus headset

Why New and Novel Offerings Fail and How to Fix It

Discover Why New and Novel Products and Services Often Struggle With Sales Due to Consumer Psychological Barriers. Learn How the Status Quo Bias, the Certainty Gap, and Adoption Challenges Impact Purchasing Decisions. Explore Strategies to Market Your New and Novel Products or Services Effectively and Turn Intriguing Concepts Into Successful Ventures.

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Happy people looking for the best freelance platform to join.

How to Benefit From the Consolidation of Freelance Marketplaces

In the world of business, companies often oscillate between two major strategies: bundling and unbundling. Bundling combines various products or services to offer a comprehensive package, while unbundling entails breaking down these packages into individual components. This cycle of bundling and unbundling is prevalent across industries, driven by changing market demands and technological advancements. One

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Woman Freelancer working on computer

How to Employ Labor Arbitrage to Optimize Business Growth with Offshore Freelancers

Unleash Business Growth With Offshore Freelancers via Labor Arbitrage. Discover How to Access Top Talent at Lower Cost While Retaining Your Client-Facing Functions, Reducing Expenses, Improving Margins, and Accelerating Projects. Discover These Labor Arbitrage Strategies With Practical Examples.

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Upwork Explainer Video

How to Use Upwork.com to Find, Hire, and Manage Talent

Three-Quarters of All Registered Businesses in the US Are Classified as Nonemployer Businesses. But That Does Not Mean That Because You Are the Only Person in the Business, You Can’t Get Help From Other Freelancers and Be a Virtual Business. There Are Many Platforms That Can Help Facilitate the Finding, Hiring, and Managing These Resources. This Video Explores One of Those Platforms, “Upwork.”

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How to Find and Evaluate a Business for Sale

How to Find and Evaluate a Business for Sale

Seize the Opportunity as Retiring Baby Boomers Create a Favorable Market for Business Buyers. Explore Key Steps for a Successful Small Business Acquisition: From Choosing the Right Type of Business, Assembling a Deal Team, Drafting a Letter of Intent, Conducting Due Diligence, Assessing Risks, and Preparing a Forward-Looking Business Plan to Creating a Purchase Agreement.

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Pet Groomer

Beyond the Hype: Demystifying LLCs and Unpacking Their Challenges

For Years, Entrepreneurs Have Been Inundated With the Notion That Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) Are the Go-To Choice for Small Businesses. We Argue That LLCs Are Oversold and Their Management Underrated and Critique the Widespread Endorsement of LLCs For Small Businesses, Highlighting Potential Shortcomings in Liability Protection, Flexibility, and Simplicity.

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Femail Shop Owner

How To Choose Between Startups, Franchises, Or Acquisitions

The Decision to Start a Business from Scratch, Buy into a Franchise Concept, or Acquire an Existing Business Hinges on Your Entrepreneurial Vision, Your Risk Tolerance, Your Financial Capacity, and the Desired Level of Control. Uncover the Unique Advantages and Challenges Associated with Each Pathway.

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Listening

Why You Need to Listening to The Marketplace

In The World of Business, Success Isn’t Solely About Passion and Innovation. It’s Also About the Willingness to Listen, Adapt, And Submit to The Ever-Evolving Marketplace. The Principle of Subordinating Your Ego to Market Needs Is Essential for Survival and Prosperity. So, Keep Your Antenna Out, Conduct Research, Make Offerings, And Remember, Business Success Is a Gamble Worth Taking, But Inaction Is a Sure Path to Obsolescence.

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Financial Crime Enforcement Network Logo

How To Navigate FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information Report Requirements (Rescinded March 26, 2025)

In the Dynamic Regulatory Landscape, Small Businesses Face a New Demand Under the Corporate Transparency Act. Starting January 1, 2024, All Businesses Must Now Submit a Beneficial Ownership Information Report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Known as FinCEN.

How To Navigate FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information Report Requirements (Rescinded March 26, 2025) Read More »

Nice female manager posing with the staff in a modern kitchen catering

How To Master Employee Recruitment and Retention in The Great Reshuffle

Businesses Are Grappling with an Unprecedented Employee Turnover, Fueled by Employee Dissatisfaction. Discover The Strategies to Address the Root Causes of Employee Disengagement. Explore The Transformative Power of Meaningful Recognition and Managerial Training, And Review 30 Proven Engagement Best Practices. Elevate Your Workplace Culture and Secure Your Position as An Employer of Choice in Today’s Dynamic Business Landscape.

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Man pitching to Investors

How to Master the 10-Minute Pitch: A Step-By-Step Guide to Compelling Business Presentations

Perfecting the 10-Minute Pitch Is the Art of Conveying Emotion Alongside Information. It’s Clear Which Founders Excel in Creating a Personal Connection, Evoking Empathy, And Maximizing Every Minute of Their Pitch. Learn to Make Every Minute Count.

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