My name is Garrett. I live in a fantasy world that is a cross between a Victorian society and the Middle Ages, with a dose of Steampunk technology tossed in for good measure. You don't see me because I operate out of the shadows. I stealthily make my way in and out of places and across the rooftops of the city, making off with treasure and whatever goods I can find. The only evidence you... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Tim Golen) This article is for three primary audiences. It's for the business owner who does his own programming and development. It's for the business owner who has hired or contracted a developer to work for him. It's for the developer doing the work. I will be discussing the single piece of software that can increase your efficiency more than any other investment. Yes, it is an investment in your business... Continue Reading

I've been at Project Fit for about a month now. My goal has been to prove you don't need to go to extremes in order to lose weight and become healthier. There's nothing wrong with extreme exercising as it really can't do you harm. But there is a problem with extreme dieting. I don't want to be extreme in any way. After reading The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, I wanted to put his theories... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Tanner Bennett) Printing used to be the cool kid in school. Then one day a new kid showed up. He brought with him Facebook, Twitter, blogs and lots of other new tools for communication. Print was suddenly so last week. Continue Reading

You've come up with a business idea you believe will rock the world. You have built your website... it's so beautiful it brings a tear to your eye. You are the expert in your field and you've got something to say. Now you just need someone to say it to! It's no surprise that the best way to become recognized is to be interviewed by others who want to leverage your expertise for a newspaper... Continue Reading

What's the real secret to getting things done? While much of the answer lies in things like motivation and daily habits, you also can't ignore the value of the tools you use every day to do the work. We polled our staff to find out what's running on their machines here at the office and at home. What we found is that our office has some universal solutions, and then seemed to split departmentally. So... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Tim Golen) There was once a man who built his house on sand and one who built his house on a rock. The winds came, the rain fell, and the streams rose. Once the storm was over, the house that was built upon the rock was left standing and the one that was built on sand was washed away. Continue Reading

Mobile marketing is a new trend that is often misunderstood by business owners. Do you own a business and wonder how you could use mobile marketing to your advantage? Check out the following ideas. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D.) Recently, I had a very candid conversation with an entrepreneur whom I've known for a long time but who has never shown much interest in elevating service at his business. During that conversation he said something like, "Joseph I know you believe service is an important value proposition and intuitively it makes sense, BUT I can't monetize the value of service." Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D.) Recently, I had a very candid conversation with an entrepreneur whom I've known for a long time but who has never shown much interest in elevating service at his business. During that conversation he said something like, "Joseph I know you believe service is an important value proposition and intuitively it makes sense, BUT I can't monetize the value of service." Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) Sometimes the simplest idea is also the best. The winner of the BetaCup Challenge was announced this week. The BetaCup Challenge was a contest sponsored by Starbucks (along with others) to find a sustainable alternative to the ubiquitous disposable paper (or worse) coffee cup. The winning idea wasn't a coffee cup at all, but rather a very simple tool with the goal of motivating people to bring their own... Continue Reading

With all the distractions of modern life, it can seem as though there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done that you want to do. In reality, you just need to use your time better and learn how to work more effectively. The old adage that time is money is true only up to a point. The truth is that you can always find ways to get back money that you've... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Fletcher Groeneman) This article is a continuation of our series on branding. (Read Part 1 and Part 2.) By now you have drawn up a list that effectively describes exactly what you want your product to accomplish. You have swallowed your pride and presented your loved ones with this list and allowed them to refine and tweak your dreams. Finally, you have compared this list with products already on the market... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A Michelli Ph.D.) Last week we talked about the importance of having a customer-centric business approach. But how exactly do you go about becoming a business like The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company that adds value though service excellence and desired experience? I take my clients through a very systematic process with delivery of that process adapted to the needs of their business. Typically this journey begins with an honest assessment of... Continue Reading