Category: Business

Books for Aspiring Business Owners

by Sandra Hayes

If you want to become a business owner one day, then information is going to be your greatest asset right now. Learning from those who have already walked the path you’re starting can help your idea launch to greater heights.

Reading is an essential tool in the entrepreneurial toolbox. These books for aspiring business owners can help you to develop a strong foundation that leads you toward the success you want to build.

List of the Best Books for New Entrepreneurs

1. The 4-Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss captures your attention with this unrealistic title. He shows you why every moment has value when you start creating a new business. The modern marketplace is fast-paced and unforgiving. You’ll discover how to harness your mindset and working style to maximize productivity. If you expect instant gratification, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

2. The $100 Startup

Author Chris Guillebeau shows you in this book that it doesn’t cost much to start a business today. If you have resources to use, a home-based company can get going for $100 or less. That means you can begin a side-hustle while maintaining full-time employment to support yourself. Then keep investing in the new company until it can replace your current career.

3. The Startup Playbook

David Kidder takes you through the stories of the most successful startups and the entrepreneurs who created those opportunities. It’s like reading an entire book of case studies that provide information you can use in practical ways to get your business off of the ground. You’ll get a glimpse of the storms that are coming your way so that you can plan for any eventuality that happens.

4. Zero to One

Author Peter Thiel has successfully worked with partners to create billion-dollar organizations. His thesis in this book is that the most challenging step in the startup process is to go from 0 to 1. When you do something new then you’re walking in unfamiliar territory. Knowing what your strengths are or why your ideas are unique will take you to incredible heights if you put in the work to do it.

If you are starting a new business now or when the economy stabilizes after COVID-19, then try to read at least one book per week. The information that you’ll find on those pages can lead to practical experiences that give your startup resiliency when it needs it the most.

Why Companies Need a Disaster Recovery Plan Template

by Sandra Hayes

Most businesses carry insurance to protect themselves against unexpected losses. What these companies didn’t realize when purchasing a policy is that the fallout from a pandemic isn’t usually a covered problem.

Thousands of businesses around the world are listed as non-essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. That means employees get furloughed or laid off, owners lose revenues, and the rent remains due.

Having a disaster recovery plan template can help an organization of any size recover quickly when an economy reopens for business.

You Can’t Rely on a Government Bailout!

Billions of dollars in government support were made available to American businesses as a response to the COVID-19 emergency. Some of those funds are 100% forgivable if the money gets used to make payroll. Low-interest loans, some at 0%, are also part of the package to keep companies operating.

The reality of today’s business climate is that this money is not a survival guarantee. You need to have a disaster recovery plan template to fill out.

It’s like having a backup business plan that you can implement if regular operations get disrupted for some reason.


Imagine if you wanted to support better health and wellness at home, but you didn’t have products from brands like Argentyn 23, Heritage Store, or Sovereign Silver. If you don’t know what resources are available, then you must wait for outside help.

Having access to resources that you can use immediately enables you to be one of the first businesses that open its doors when the pandemic is over.

What Resources Are Available Right Now?

The Small Business Administration provides access to numerous loans and grants that can keep a business operational during an emergency. Planning for this bureaucracy must be part of your disaster recovery plan template.

Business grants of up to $10,000 are available through Hello Alice through funding from partners like Salesforce.

Most cities are launching recovery programs that can offer solutions that can keep small businesses operating. You’ll want to speak with your Chamber of Commerce to discuss what is available.

Online lending programs provide up to $1 million to affected companies. Many providers are waiving payment requirements until the emergency is over.

If you don’t have a disaster recovery plan template available, then your business is at a higher risk of failing. Although no one expects something as massive as COVID-19 to impact the global economy, planning for the worst-case scenario can help you to get back on your feet faster.

Why You Must Create Networking Success Stories

by Sandra Hayes

Networking success stories shouldn’t be a process that you dread. Forming relationships isn’t always at the top of your to-do list because it can be an awkward and time-consuming process. Some personalities struggle to put themselves into these situations because it feels uncomfortable.

If your calendar is already crowded with family commitments and work appointments, then putting off a meeting with a few strangers is a decision that seems to make sense.

There’s also no way to deny the power that a strong professional network provides. When it is done well, then you can land jobs faster. These relationships can give you a competitive edge at every stage of your career, especially in your early twenties.

Creating Networking Success Stories

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to follow if you want to create new networking success stories. Each person uses different tactics to build relationships because the focus is on personal comfort first.

If you don’t like networking with people, then consider meeting someone for coffee to have a one-on-one conversation. When you thrive in an environment where you can be the center of attention, then a Chamber of Commerce meet-and-greet could be an incredible opportunity.

Then create a game plan that you can execute. It’s essential to head into each networking opportunity with at least one clear goal to achieve. It doesn’t need to be a complex outcome that you hope to achieve. Bringing back one new insight or connecting with two new people in your industry can be the beginning of a networking success story.

It would be best if you make a plan to follow up after meeting people. It’s the one crucial step that most professionals neglect. The time that you invest in connecting with someone new goes away if you fail to maintain that new relationship.

You don’t need to send someone a lengthy love letter that encompasses every emotion you’ve ever experienced. A simple, thoughtful message that speaks of the appreciation that you have for the connection will work.

Create a Fairy Tale Ending

As a final step, it helps to pay it forward. Start looking for ways to provide more value to the people in your current network before asking them for help. When you invest in these relationships, then it will be more comfortable for you to offer assistance – and get some in return.

How are you going to start creating more networking success stories?

5 Career Choices for a Business Management Degree

by Sandra Hayes

If you want a career for a business management degree, then there is a diverse range of potential jobs that you could pursue. Here are some of the best-paying options that may be available in your community.

1. Account Manager

An account manager is a company’s personal representative to a customer. This job is responsible for managing client relationships, coordinating with sales teams, and preparing presentations that communicate the value of products or services.

2. Financial Analyst

This job is responsible for conducting qualitative analyses with regard to the investments or finances of an organization. You would compose spreadsheets, graphs, and charts that forecast the financial health of the company for a variety of time periods. This position is also responsible for determining the price of products or services when they reach the market.

3. Marketing Manager

You are responsible for estimating the demand for the products or services sold by your employer in this position. You’d analyze what your competitors are doing in the marketplace to determine what niche would be profitable for your agency. Then you’d oversee a team that develops a strategy to maximize profits based on that information.

4. Sales Manager

This position is responsible for creating the strategy behind each sales goal and initiative. It’s a job that works to resolve consumer complaints, monitor customer needs, and prepare budgets that work toward revenue growth. It is your role to determine what the focus of each outreach effort should be based on the analytics your team creates. 

Many sales managers are also responsible for the direct distribution of products or services by assigning territories and establishing training programs. You may need to be involved in the recruitment and hiring of new staff. 

5. Business Analyst

If you pursue this job, then your employer will expect you to spend your day working to gather information related to the issues or policies in the organization. Then you’re responsible for analyzing the collected data to determine if alterations or another possible solution is available to pursue. Any new procedures or policies that get created would come from employee interviews, personal observation, and internal reviews of agency documents.

You can choose to pursue a 2-year or a 4-year degree in business management in the United States. When you successfully complete your education, then jobs like these will be waiting for you in the employment sector.

How to Pick the Right Accounting Software for Your Business

by Sandra Hayes

Accounting and bookkeeping services can require a lot of time to complete. When you own a small business, those precious minutes translate into real currency.


Time investments are money. That’s why you must create efficiencies whenever possible to keep your small business profitable.

Accounting software is an easy way to simplify your bookkeeping needs. If you are ready to make your bookkeeping life more straightforward, then these tips can help you to choose the best tool for your needs.

Tips to Follow When Choosing Accounting Software

1. Consider Your Needs and Overall Skill Level

The needs of a company that earns over $1 million annually are very different from one that generates less than $50,000 in activities. Your skill level in this area will also dictate some of the selection processes. If you have a high level of financial literacy, then you can choose more complicated tools that can automate processes for you.

2. Look at Cloud-Based Applications.

Accounting software on the cloud will come with a variety of unique benefits. You can access your data at any location with an internet connection, avoid the cost of licenses, and always use up-to-date products. Because all of your records are kept at a data center at a different physical location, there is a lower overall risk of a catastrophic loss.

3. Stick to Your Budget

Business accounting software is available for any budget – including companies that need a free solution. You’ll discover that a lower cost typically creates a more generalized application. If you need a specialized product, then your investment will need to be a little more.

4. Pay Attention to Add-ons

Accounting software that offers add-on features can bring extra functionality without a significant expense. You can use this option to have remote access, accept payments, or fuse your e-commerce platform with this setup. Some providers offer packages that are compatible with tax software so that you can automate many of your financial and reporting processes.

5. Work With an Accountant 

If you have an accountant, then this person might prefer a specific application that’s already compatible with what is currently being used. Every business is a little different, so the individual or contractor in charge of your books can offer an educated opinion that you’ll find to be helpful.
Finding the right accounting software is not a decision to take likely. It is a costly experience to choose one, only to discover that you must switch to a new product within a few months. By making the right choice, you can start working towards bigger goals, such as building credit, hiring staff, buying tools, and finding ways to save big at tax time.

Apply Financial Business Intelligence Offers with These Growth Opportunities

by Sandra Hayes

Financial business intelligence involves various methods of data collection, processing, and analyzing. It takes information from databases in real-time situations to help executives make better business decisions.

Most companies apply financial business intelligence opportunities through SaaS (software as a service) products that run in the background automatically. New technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and process higher data loads faster than ever before.

Today’s business leaders understand that time is also money. Data analytics bring everything together for an organization so that financial datasets can create unique insights that encourage growth.

Best Tools to Use for Financial Business Intelligence

Sisense

This tool allows companies to view, analyze, and collate financial data in meaningful ways. It uses a single dashboard with drag-and-drop functionality to offer granular views to users. The software crunches the information for beginners so that everyone can look for scalability or flexibility.

Looker

A web-based interface works with an organization’s analytics team to glean insights from collected data. It uses an intuitive approach that lets leaders build and share reports instantly, using a single code to design visualizations and analytic modules. It accommodates over 25 different variations.

Wyn Enterprise

Teams can use this browser-based report designer to make more sense out of the data they already have. It provides several functionalities right out of the box, including online document designing. You can integrate this tool into some existing software products to take advantage of several different formats. It also provides an interface that’s easy enough to understand for non-technical users.

Zoho Analytics

This software provides an entire productivity suite with several configurable tools that can maximize production. It offers REST API capabilities to integrate data from several third-party systems so that automatic information collection can happen. The interface is also scalable so that virtually any company can process information at any level of datasets. It even has collaborative spaces for teams to stay productive with their analytics reports.

Qualtrics Research Core

If an organization needs a cloud-based tool, then this research software offers a powerful solution for most SMBs. It empowers brands and marketers to look across all of their verticals, supporting virtually every industry. You can use real-time analysis features, project management opportunities, and smooth tracking.


Financial business intelligence starts when companies work smarter instead of harder. These tools can make that outcome become a reality.  Other steps are important, too. Make sure to follow these investment newsletters to help you to gain a broader understanding of how to grow and invest money.

How Companies Use Values Management to Align an Organization

by Sandra Hayes

Almost 90% of employees who know and understand the critical corporate values of their employer have increased engagement levels.

That means benefit programs don’t always need to focus on wellbeing products, processes, or brands like Standard Process, Premier Research Labs, or Host Defense.

Educating workers through values management can be an effective way to achieve organizational alignment. Three primary methods are useful when companies are ready to start this process.

1. It Always Starts at the Top

If the leaders of an organization don’t support its foundational values, then the rest of the workforce will feel the same way. Leadership teams must embody what they hope to achieve if engagement is a top priority.

The values of a company end up being a few marketing sentences on a website instead of a map to guide the organization into the future. When the C-Suite provides consistent examples of expectations, then more progress can occur.

2. Recognize Greatness in People

Most people don’t quit their jobs. They quit their supervisors, managers, and executives. One of the most common reasons for a resignation is a lack of recognition. Most employees don’t want much beyond job security and enough money to support their families. Small bonuses that show appreciation can go a long way for today’s workers.

It also helps to offer a genuine “thank you” every so often. Don’t settle for one of those mass-produced certificates that don’t even have a genuine signature.

3. Redefine Normal

When organizational values are too far away from those of each team, then it might be time to redefine what it means to be normal. Bringing employees into this process can help workers to form real connections with the policies and procedures that impact their lives.


When people have pride in what they do, then it gives them more motivation to become productive. If leaders can be adaptable to the evolutionary changes that happen in their industries, then increasing employee engagement through this process is an effective way to align values.

Setting Goals Must Be the First Step

Transparent goal-setting efforts must be the first step of the alignment process. If your organization doesn’t know its aspirations, then it cannot be an effective leader.

Goals require metrics that can measure successful outcomes. The data that these efforts produce can show everyone the amount of progress that happens each day.

When you have a successful outcome, then your company is supporting an engaged workforce with high morale levels.

What Role Does a Finance Systems Manager Play in an Organization?

by Sandra Hayes

The finance systems manager is one of the most overlooked roles in today’s technology industries. This person actively monitors, updates, and maintains the monetary systems for their employer. It requires an education in information management, computer science, or accounting.

The key responsibilities of the finance system manager involves serving as the point person for everything tech-related regarding money. You’ll find them in charge of point-of-sale technology, financial software, CRMs, and anything else that the accounting department requires to keep the company in the black.

Finance systems managers are the unsung heroes of many corporate settings. You don’t see them working, but you know that they’re always there.

Training and Troubleshooting From a Finance Position

The finance systems manager is like the Metagenics of their organization. Their work helps to form the cultural DNA that leads to successful outcomes. It is up to them to train new employees, provide software resources, and hold information sessions to ensure that everyone stays on the same page.

Good health comes from Standard Process products, which is the recipe that these critical managers play in the financial conduct of the company. Their approach to technology ensures regulatory compliance, report generation, and most other accounting responsibilities that take place throughout the year.

Finance systems managers must have the same energy levels that people get with a boost from supplements like those that come from Douglas Laboratories. Any software item will produce an error that the average person can’t fix without help. When such an incident occurs, it is up to this individual to find the fastest and most affordable solution to the issue.

Their hard work is what allows people to be productive. Higher productivity levels lead to a positive employee culture.

Maintenance and Security Concerns for Finance Systems

The primary role of the finance systems manager is to focus on long-term security solutions while having a hand in daily software maintenance needs. That means this job is in charge of every system-wide update or security patch. You almost always see the bulk of their work taking place after regular business hours are over because an update at any other time would make the software unusable.

The finance systems manager is tasked with finding new ways to keep data secure. Their role includes the formation of redundancies in almost every organization. This responsibility means that the individual must create cloud-based backups of information, hard copies, and updated files because this asset is the one driver that can help a company recover after a breach.

Even a power outage can cause data loss under the right set of circumstances. Maintaining redundancies to prevent this issue allows an organization to avoid suffering a significant financial blow after an unexpected situation occurs.

Working as a finance systems manager means you are in a high-stakes position that directly impacts the functionality of a business. This person directly affects security, fiscal soundness, and productivity. It is a rigorous schedule to follow, but the outcomes are almost always rewarding.