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In Carol Tice’s article for Entrepreneur magazine, she culled stacks of forecasts to create a Top 10 List of Small Business Predictions for 2012. What struck me most was the 10th prediction, because it was hers and mine. 10. Companies that collaborate with each other and help each other have a better chance of prospering. [...]

In Sunday’s Tribune there was a full page ad asking Chicago, do we want the Pump Room back or the new Gold Coast Kitchen? It’s a little like asking do we want the Action film or the Opera? It puts the responsibility on the consumer and we already have plenty of that. In this instance [...]

I’ve recently had the revelation that niche marketing is actually personal marketing; and not only not niche, but not marketing. What we are really doing as entrepreneurs is reaching out to one set of eyes, one heart, and one mind of a person; singular.  What sparked this insight was not the gazillions of books I’ve [...]

Big Ooga and Carol Roth Rescheduled! There’s a lot to be said about how well entrepreneurs adapt to real-time conditions. Our meeting is rescheduled to Monday, Feb 21st at Catalyst Ranch, same time, same place, same program.  Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph Street, Chicago 60654  Time: 6-8 pm Hope you can make it and please [...]

It was an ordinary day at Ooga.  Jean Pickering sized the Big Ooga Logo on Facebook because she wanted to. My daughter sent a picture of me that landed in the Met. Melinda sent a thank you and link to a hilarious video. Ray sent a brilliant economic video that supports our work. Marcy sent an article relevant to the Revolution, Joanne sent a slew of [...]

Press releases are a great way to get your story told.      Here are 3 tips for writing better news releases for entrepreneurs and small business people:     1)  Write short, to-the-point news releases and put the important information up front.  Editors are busy. They typically have 7 to 12 seconds to read your [...]

Imagine juggling five balls in the air while running through a plate of spaghetti – then meet people who have done it well – and you’ve got the entrepreneurial journey. Tonight, with an expert panel and a room full of seasoned and new entrepreneurs,  we will be talking about navigating business chaos and making strategic [...]

I competed in Toastmaster’s Smack Down this week and came in last behind the mental patient.  To make it worse, it was the easiest topic in the easiest division AND I did my best.   In cream on cream wool with matching stilettos, my first 30 seconds were a breeze.  But for the next 60 seconds, [...]

There are 27,000 current members in Linked n Chicago, thousands of members & friends of Big Ooga, Local First, BNC, Evanston Chamber, West Suburban Chamber, the Naperville LinkedIn Business Group and the Evanston / North Shore Business Group. Among them, the owners, founders, leaders, volunteers and members share a common vision, to create a working, [...]

Image by kevindooley via Flickr I worry about myself when everything is in order.  Isn’t a neat office the sign of an empty mind? How is it possible that my accountant and bookkeeper have overcome my chaos? How is it feasible that my efficiency expert has delivered on her promise to “get more done so [...]