National Small Business Week is Officially OPEN! - President Barack Obama

Date: May 4, 2015

The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/05/02/presidential-proclamation-national-small-business-week-2015


Here are remarks from the President:

Presidential Proclamation -- National Small Business Week, 2015

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, 2015

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

America's small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing half of our country's private sector workforce and creating nearly two out of every three new jobs in our country. Representing the quintessential American ideals of hard work and ingenuity, small businesses -- from startups to mom-and-pop shops -- are crucial to our national prosperity and economic security. During National Small Business Week, we recommit to advancing these vital enterprises, and we celebrate their contributions to our collective American story.

From day one, my Administration has made supporting our Nation's small businesses a priority. We have fought to ensure our tax code reflects our values and encourages growth, and part of that effort includes making sure those who take risks and do the hard work of turning a good idea into a great business get a fair deal. That is why I have signed into law 18 different tax cuts for small businesses, which are helping them thrive in the 21st-century economy. By investing in our infrastructure, expanding access to credit, and assisting entrepreneurs as they start out and scale up, we are continuing to bolster America's small business community.

My Administration is committed to ensuring small businesses have the tools, resources, and expertise they need to succeed. Last year, we built on the success of my QuickPay initiative -- which has already generated over $1 billion in cost savings for small businesses -- by launching SupplierPay, a new partnership with the private sector to strengthen small businesses by increasing their working capital. The Affordable Care Act is working to expand insurance coverage, reduce health care costs, and improve the quality of care -- all of which help small businesses and our economy. Additionally, the law allows small businesses access to SHOP, a competitive marketplace where they can look for coverage that meets their needs and where they cannot be charged more for operating in blue-collar industries, employing women, or insuring people with pre-existing conditions. We are also focused on injecting capital into emerging, entrepreneurial communities, supporting ventures operated by women, veterans, and underserved populations. And we continue to work to open new markets for small exporters because we know trade promotion bolsters our small businesses and their employees.

Our small businesses represent what is best about our Nation -- the idea that with determination and responsibility, anyone can build a better life for themselves and their loved ones. For more than two centuries, American innovation has sparked ideas that have changed our lives and the course of our history for the better. This week, we recognize the role small businesses play as pillars of our communities and engines of our growing economy, and we rededicate ourselves to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit that has forged the strongest economy the world has ever known.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4 through May 8, 2015, as National Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the competitiveness of the American economy with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

Turning Busyness into Business means Balance

By: Stan Washington
Date February 28, 2015

Busyness versus business is a matter of balance. The "Busy" owner hopes their efforts will be noticed by the stratosphere and sometimes spends a ton of time building great products and services, meanwhile no one knows about it. "Busy" person number two spends time coming up with marketing gimmicks instead of producing quality products or services. And "Busy" person number three misses out on actually selling their product after telling people about it.

Missing out on one aspect of the business can instantly turn the entrepreneur into a very "busy" person without growing their business. If sales are lacking then it is possible the business is "imbalanced."

Imbalanced businesses tend to focus on one part of the area they feel comfortable with. If the business owner is shy they tend to focus on their product while the extrovert may focus on the story before their product is complete and there is a third person who is so sporadic with their messaging their audience cannot understand their brand.

Sales is not Marketing. After developing the product or service, many entrepreneurs begin marketing and sit by the phone waiting for it to ring. What they are missing is a sales approach that compliments their marketing effort. Sales is very different than marketing. Sales is the process that moves your prospect to the point of purchase. Marketing invokes a feeling, emotion or positive attitude towards your brand in a memorable way to drive loyalty to your product or service.

Stop or Start Building. Some people are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Some are not confident in their brand and are in, what I call, "The Infinite Building Zone." This person feels they will be discovered and focus most of their day building "stuff." While it is great to focus on R&D, at some point the product or service has to be released. A strong Marketing plan alone with Sales techniques will bring that product to fruition.

Conversely there are those who begin selling a concept without having any thought behind their business. I call these people the "Vapor-ware Dreamers." It is great to have an idea, but it is better to understand if you have a consumer base who will buy it. Are there some minor adjustments that could turn your product or service into something that becomes a household name? Take your time and make quality.

Leverage Technology. Facebook and LinkedIn are great tools but business automation should be the goal for business owners. I'm amazed that entrepreneurs think they have the time to keep track of all hundreds of potential clients, hundreds of clients, tracking invoices and building their products, all while juggling with one hand. 

Automating processes gives business owners control of their time freeing them up to go after more sales. A balanced business uses automated technology, compelling marketing and purposeful sales efforts. If all are done well then growth can be exponential.

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