You are browsing the archives of small business networking Chicago.

Reading the Chicago Tribune business section I learned that Barbie, the world’s most popular doll, had lost her “Wow” and the president of her division at Mattel, Neil Friedman, had sent his team on retreat to go and find it. They returned with a new slogan, “Dream Big In Pink Heels” and as soon as [...]

Entrepreneurs are puzzle-solvers. We take what’s visible and invisible and ponder, plan and experiment. Sometimes the plans work out fabulously..other times, not so much. Here’s a classic example of one of them. Riding up the elevator to the management office of the John Hancock Center, they had agreed to meet with me over an idea [...]

Fresh out of Suzanne Ross’s Communication Class – juiced with the skills to precisely define my company – I went home to write. At a certain point, I thought – “This is tough! Let’s get to know Suzanne better and see what she says about HERSELF.” So I hopped over to her website. Check point [...]

The other night at a business event I met a fellow networking leader who I had been looking forward to speaking with. In the first few minutes of conversation she asked me what I thought of  “Person X”. “You don’t want to ask me that.” I said, knowing she could be associated with her. “Yes, [...]

For small companies and entrepreneurs battling overload and needing more business, this B2B progressive networking is for you. By harnessing the power of small group brain trusts lead by experienced coaches, you will have think tanks of experienced entrepreneurs dedicated to helping your company. As you move from table to table, you will give and [...]

Nancy Sharp, CEO of Food for Thought gave us some strong entrepreneur advice last night.  She’s built a company from Zip to $25 mil in revenue.  Here are a few key points. 1. You have two choices. Lay down or get up. 2. Own your confidence – if you don’t believe in yourself no one [...]

I have lots of conversations with entrepreneurs and realize the way we frame questions to ourselves determines the direction we’re heading in. If, for example, you are asking yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen? Can I possibly end up in a double-wide?” This is the wrong direction. It’s not IF you will succeed that [...]

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.   This is Emerson’s vision of success. What is yours? “To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find [...]

In his address to graduates of Stanford University,  Steve Jobs said you can’t connect the dots of your life in the future. You can only know their meaning once they’ve played out. There is no fast forward to see how things turn out. The only way to know if you’re going to fulfill your destiny [...]

If your business has evolved but your website hasn’t, this presentation will help you learn how to transform your web presence into a dynamic, customer engagement destination. You will see a Before and After Case Study of a redesigned and re-imagined website for CFO-Pro, John Lafferty. Created by the Big Ooga Creative Services Team,  you [...]