And the Winner is…
After a week full of great articles, content, comments, and comraderie the time has come to announce the winner of the first $100 competition sponsored by Smallbizbee.com.
For those of you just joining us, here’s how the competition worked:
- Contestants submitted an article of original content to be published at Smallbizbee.com for 24 hours.
- The winner is decided by who got the most unique page views in the 24 hours their article was in the “Featured Story” section of our site.
- Contestants were allowed to promote their articles in any way to drive unique page views to their submission.
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Please join us in congratulating Yan Susanto from Thoushallblog.com in winning our first $100 competition. Yan’s article titled “The Joy of Self Employment” generated 217 unique page views in the 24 hours it was in our Featured Story category.
How did everyone else do?
In a word…Fabulous! Of the remaining 5 articles in the competition, George at Tumblemoose.com received the 2nd most number of unique views of his article “Business and Balance – A Slightly Different Take” with 127 in the 24 hour period.
Third through sixth was seperated by a total of 72 page views, with the average of this group being 39 views each for the 24 hour period. In this group were the following articles, in no particular order:
Small Business Communication: Multicultural (Global) Conversations
Listen to Yourself Sound Crazy
Thank You Everyone!
A big thanks to everyone who submitted an article in the first, of what we hope are many, exciting competitions here at Smallbizbee.com! Yan, we’ll be sending you $100 of our hard earned money soon, looks like you’re buying lunch. Any chance you’ll leave a comment and let us all know your secret to success?
Final Note
All stats were compiled using Google Analytics. If any of the contestants would like to know their exact page views during their 24 hours of fame, please just send us an email and we’ll give you the details.
Look for a follow up post next week where we’ll look at some key takeaways from this competition that can be applied to the real life businesses you all are running…you didn’t just think this was fun and games did you?
Adapt or Die!
Below is the sixth article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by Jennifer who you can find at http://innerlight.nsedreams.com Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
A consistent characteristic of all entrepreneurs is adaptability.At this time in history it has never been more important to make the most of opportunities, jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate and job security is a joke. This is precisely why I have never had a real job. For years I have worked for myself and when I got married we started working together. It has been a pleasure and a struggle, like anything in life, with up’s and down’s.
We are watching our particular industry crash and burn in the recession, and just like other creative professionals we can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. My husband and I have had a photo studio for ten years. As Artists it has been especially hard to survive. Even with a business in place with the studio we have had to be creative and come up with new markets over the years. In our case diversifying our services has been essential, but that also adds to the challenge of staying focused.
We shoot primarily food and beverages now, but have worked on just about every type of project. We have had a nice business but recently we have been discussing what to do next to compensate for the scarcity of good paying photo jobs these days. Having exhausted most of the areas we could in Photography we are now thinking about adding something new to the mix. Change can be scary but not taking a risk can be scarier.
We are all born equally capable, it is just a matter of how we use our skills and take advantage of opportunities.
“Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.”
-N. Hill
Whether you think you have it or not, chances are, if you are willing to take a risk and want it badly enough you will succeed.
I have spent the last few years writing and marketing my cookbook, which my husband also was involved in. We took skills, interests, and what was happening in our lives with raising a child and created a source of income with a book. It has been a huge learning experience, mostly fun and rewarding, and relatively profitable. I always thought of us as artists, but have come to learn we have other hidden talents. I learned that I love marketing, connecting with people and networking. As a result, I now feel confident enough to apply these skills to whole different business.
So now is the time where we need to make a decision about our future and the future of our child. Do we stick with what seems comfortable or do we take a risk and use newfound talents? There are a million opportunities out there; it’s just a matter of deciding what you can be passionate about.
We have recently researched and found a business that fits our interests and skills. It’s fun, has huge potential for growth, and we don’t have to re invent the wheel either. When a friend first told us about her success with a new anti aging skincare technology product we scoffed. However, our ability to never ignore an opportunity has paid off again. We are on a quick road to building a whole new business that is filling the gaps in our other careers.
Sure, there is still a lot of risk in jumping into something new, but there is a lot of risk is not jumping these days too. Never be careless, always do your research, and don’t be afraid to jump!
http://innerlight.nsedreams.com
Jennifer Carden
jen.carden@gmail.com
PC Security is your Business!
Below is the fifth article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by Debbie who you can find at http://mice.org/blog/ Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
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As an owner of a technology small business and online instructor for PC security courses with a national educational provider, I am always shocked – no, horrified is more the word – at the number of individuals and businesses that are clueless about PC and online security fundamentals.
Today, I received a call from a small business owner about a possible security breach to his network. And just last month, while meeting some advertising reps, one woman proceeded to tell me about how her husband’s small contracting business computer had been hacked exposing his client database and their credit card information.
These types of stories are repeated to me daily through clients and students. And to be honest, it terrifies me.
As a security professional, I know what’s out there and what this new breed of hackers and malware writers are capable of doing. While security is a process and not an end result, it is the responsibility of every user of the Internet community. And if you have a business – online or off – the fact that you use a computer that contains business information to access the Internet puts your business and customers at risk.
The fact that many Internet users don’t understand the basics of PC security makes it even more likely that a network attack or computer hack could happen without your knowledge. Honestly, would you know if your personal computer or small business network had been compromised?
PC security is your business and without it, it could cost you your business!
Before you disconnect your high speed Internet connection, let me give you the basic software requirements for every computer; and this applies to regular user and business owner alike. The following recommendations are the bare minimum you should have when using the Internet, conducting banking transactions online, or just checking e-mail.
Antivirus Software – Each computer should have its own Antivirus (AV) software that is regularly updating definitions automatically. While I prefer certain software to others, using something is a must! There are many free AV software programs available if budgets are tight. Start somewhere! Avast , Grisoft’s AVG, and many others are available for a free download. Clam Antivirus is a great open source solution for Mac’s and they now have a PC version.
Business computers that are on a wireless network should have added protection. Even if you are a home-based business using a wireless laptop to work throughout your house, invest in Trend Micro’s Internet Security Pro. Their wireless encryption browser protection will give you added protection should someone in your neighborhood hack your wireless connection.
Firewall Software – No, Windows Firewall is not valid firewall protection – especially if you are running a business!
If you purchase the Trend Micro’s Internet Security Pro, you will have the firewall protection you need. But if not, then you can use Zonelab’s ZoneAlarm Free firewall software with the free AV programs I mentioned above.
If you are a Mac user, the built-in firewall with the Mac OS X is very good and you are well protected!
Anti-malware – You need a minimum of one, but I recommend two anti-spyware/anti-malware programs. I recommend the free Spybot Search and Destroy and Lavasoft’s free Ad-aware.
The reason I recommend the two programs is because each one scans in a different way that compliments the other. So what one misses, the other will catch.
These are the minimum requirements for security software on your computers. If you want to add some additional security feature – just in case – then you might want to include Trend Micro’s free RUBotted and Rootkit Buster.
Protection - You should run a full scan for viruses and malware/spyware every week on business computers. Many of the tools available allow you to schedule scans so they can be done automatically and you don’t have to remember to do them.
Also, make sure that you keep your systems updated and patched for security flaws. Even though I have my auto-update feature disabled, I have a schedule of going to the Windows update website regularly to stay patched with the most important critical updates.
If your small business has employees, make sure to provide them with a written, acceptable use policy for Internet access. And of course, make sure that each user is using an e-mail program that allows your anti-virus to scan incoming and outgoing mail.
Remember, a breach in your network or to any computer system within your business could cost you more in legal fees as well as credit monitoring for your clients. And that’s not mentioning the breach of your clients trust that this will cause.
Security is your business!
Debbie Mahler is owner/founder of MICE Training & Education™ a woman-owned IT company and online PC Security Instructor for a global education provider.
Listen to Yourself Sound Crazy
Below is the fourth article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by Chloe who you can find at sistp.blogspot.com. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
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I’ll preface this by stating that I don’t have a business of my own, yet. I’m in the ‘idea phase’. Actually, I have the idea, a great one (in my humble opinion) at that. I’m in the ‘learning phase’, to be perfectly honest. I’m trying to gain as much information about starting up a business as I can; attending open coffees, learning about different forms of capital, joining the appropriate networking sites and groups to build my network, and maybe most importantly, allowing myself to sound ‘crazy’.
There are so many things that would point someone such as myself away from starting a business at this point:
a) I’m 25 (too young! Too risky to start your own business!)
b) The economy sucks (no way to get financing! Money cannot be found!)
c) Just started my current dream job (you just started a great job! Focus on that!)
d) I’m in graduate school (you have no time! That ‘after 5pm’ time slot is filled with school work!)
e) DEBT. (hello, student loans and your amazing non-profit, low-paying job!)
So, at this point, when I have the great idea that also seems feasible, it is most daunting to tell my friends, colleagues, family, and fellow classmates, that yes, actually, I am planning on starting my own business. “Oh, really?” they say. Sometimes it is as though they are just entertaining you. But, and there is always a ‘but’, it is crazy. And that is okay. The world is changing, businesses new and old and large and small all are trying to figure out how to adjust to a changing world, when no one knows exactly what the world is changing into.
So for someone, such as myself, to say ‘hey, I want to build a business that can help people and other businesses work and adapt to these changing times NOW, not later’, it is crazy. But at the end of the day, it’s the crazy ones who will survive these times. It is the crazy ones who can make successful businesses develop, grow and thrive out of situations that seem impossible to overcome. Because if we don’t, who will?
My goal is to create a coworking space in Washington, DC that also provides a space for job retraining, and youth IT/entrepreneurship development. Ideally, the space would also turn into an incubation space for new businesses as well. In this day and age, communities and businesses need to get better at sharing and utilizing resources in ways that are beneficial to the business and also to the larger community or world (for example, start-ups sharing resources such as printers to cut costs or entrepreneurs hiring youth to perform some of their administrative tasks and provide mentorship). So, while I am working on picking up and building skills that will help me start this new venture, I am getting used to hearing myself sound crazy and reminding myself that not only is it okay, but necessary.
Small Business Communication: Multicultural (Global) Conversations
Below is the third article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by Charmayn of www.psipsychologytutor.org Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!======================================================================= 
Communication is the interpersonal process that you and I do everyday to transmit and understand information. Symbols, signs, and conversational rules that we automatically see as “common” within our own culture can hamper or enhance the effectiveness of communication with people from another culture who are not familiar with Western styles of conversation, or us of theirs. The transference of intended meaning can even be difficult for different countries in the West, such as some of my North American clients who may find my Australian tendency for “light hearted sarcasm”, quite rude!
The psychological experience of connection with others through conversation motivates feelings of belongingness and identity. In turn the values, roles and norms of a small business can be communicated to clients, giving them access to the business’s mission, values and quality of productivity, services and customer focus. Throughout the communication process noise is inevitable; factors exist that can constrain and distort an intended business message, and subsequently cause the loss of a client, or potential customer.
A psychological barrier such as information overload is due to the processing capability of the human cognitive system. Advancing technologies, such as those of the Internet (blogs, websites, social networks, instant messaging etc), both assist and hinder human information management at the cognitive level. From a cross-cultural perspective prejudice and stereotyping are also examples of psychological barriers to communication. A social barrier is evident with online services that decrease inter-personal distance between people. Alternatively, environmental barriers to communication could be weather conditions that affect telecommunications.
These assorted barriers to communication (noise), are also determined by the cultural norms and values that the small business and clients are embedded in. Each person’s unique frames of reference are ultimately grounded in their culture. Hence the receiver may ignore or pay attention to different parts of the message than what the sender intended for the listener to pay attention to. Miscommunication occurs because the words chosen and the meanings associated with those words do not make sense to the receiver.
Cross-cultural communication is also a personal barrier in that each person differs in his or her ability to communicate, and this is based on our experiences of communicating. As such, mistakes may mean that a speaker has a low level of trust about being understood, and so does not communicate much. In turn this negates a person’s practice with a language, incurring future miscommunications.
Munter (1993) states that managers (this means You as a small business operator) must become proficient at cross-cultural communication for today’s global community. For example, cultures differ in the timeframes that they use to experience the world. In Australia and other Pacific Island nations, the Indigenous peoples may have the practice of “island time,” that aligns the people with their environment. As such, a deadline or time of appointment is not exact (according to Western concepts), and so people do not expect a meeting or submission to be required at a specifically designated time; whereas in Switzerland, promptness is highly valued.
Communication styles also differ between cultures, and some styles are more useful in one culture than another. For example, an autocratic culture is one in which power is unequal, and it is mainly centered on a distinct leader. The autocratic leader may rely on a “tell” style of communication to inform others. Whereas a more democratic society will likely employ a consultation style of communication, and so disperse power amongst the group with the democratic leader having to earn respect from other group members.
Cultural norms also determine gender roles of communication, and so set up receiver expectations when communicating with a male or female small business owner. For example I am a female Anglo-Australian tutor/academic mentor, and a growing segment of my clientele is Arabic. At times I am requested to converse only with the husband with regard to financial matters pertaining to his wife’s study support needs. I find at times the male clients quite abrupt in “ordering” me as to “what to do” as compared to Indian male clients, who are very formal in their politeness and requests for assignment help.
In conclusion, cross-cultural communication is essential in the 21st century global market place. Do your homework and as a small business manager you will find yourself with an abundance of grateful clients. Sometimes~ the little things, such as just being able to greet or say thank you to a client with a phrase from their culture puts a smile on their face, and will warm them to you. Everyone appreciates others who take the time to sincerely communicate with them.
Recommendations for Small Businesses in Cross-Cultural Communications:
- Be mindful of political correctness
- Be brief – convey the message concisely (less room for misinterpretation)
- Establish unique netiquette values and guidelines for different cultural groups
- Cultivate relationships with small businesses of cultures similar our clientele~ there is the potential to have translators at hand for more reasonable fees/exchange of services
- Be empathetic; have some knowledge as to how other cultures interpret verbal and nonverbal information.
- When your client does not understand what you are saying, repeat the message in different ways to assist understanding.
- Ask for feedback from the client so that you can be sure that they understand what you are requesting from them, or suggesting hat they do.
- Cultivate relationships with people on Twitter and other bloggers from cultural groups the same or similar to those of your clients
- Identify other cultural groups attitude to time
- Do not expect other cultural groups to take on your communication style.
What are some insights from your own cross-cultural business interactions?
References Munter, M (1993) Cross-cultural communication for managers. Business Horizons, 36 (3). Char (Charmayne) Paul is an online tutor/academic mentor with PSI Tutor (www.psipsychologytutor.org). She her days helping university students be better supported in their studies. Sometimes she creates income to buy that! canoe for adventures in her home of Tropical North Queensland, Australia. e: admin@psitutor.org Twitter: tutormentor
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweettradephotography/286423882/
Business and Balance – A Slightly Different Take
Below is the second article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by George at Tumblemoose. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
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Taking time for ourselves. It is so difficult to do in the age of cell phones and 24 hour news channels. Each day we run our hectic schedules, fulfilling our obligations. We blog, we social network, we work to grow our business. But what about the most important obligation of all? The obligation to live this life to it’s fullest, enjoying good food and the laughter of friends and family in a relaxed setting, far away from the worries of the day.
A good life is one that is full and balanced. Hard work should be balanced with relaxing play. It is possible to have it all. And the truly good news is that you can enjoy a wonderful afternoon or evening without making elaborate plans. As a bonus, you will be much more refreshed and ready to tackle your business from a fresh perspective.
Here are the ingredients for a memorable time:
- Location – Pick somewhere that speaks to your heart. Beauty is everywhere and if there is a setting that you find beautiful, sharing that location with those closest to you enhances the beauty that much more. A good location doesn’t have to be near a majestic sea shore with a golden sunset in the background. It can be as simple as a local park or even a scenic pull-out along a highway. The only real requirement is that the setting be one that makes you feel good. Remember, open eyes see beauty everywhere.
- People – You can choose to just include your soul-mate, or you can invite any number of friends or family members whose company you enjoy. Is there a new acquaintance that you’d like to know a little better? What a perfect way to explore who they are.
- Food – Ah yes, food. The common tie that warms our soul and nourishes our body. Food is of course the centerpiece to a gathering of friends. From a full course Thanksgiving meal, to the cookies and coffee served at meetings, good food delights our senses with tastes and smells that bring our fondest memories forward and take us home.
- Accessories – Having a meal outdoors does not mean fine food served on paper plates with flimsy plastic cutlery. Part of the enjoyment of the meal is a pleasing presentation with the tools that contribute to a fine eating experience. A beautiful picnic basket filled with items to enhance the setting can really complete the dining experience. A few simple candles also add to the atmosphere of relaxation
Remember to keep it simple. You don’t have to plan activities or decide who sits next to whom. Let things progress at their own natural pace. Have everyone do themselves a favor: for this brief moment in time, leave their cell phones in the car. The world will still be there, waiting for them upon their return to reality.
Bring these ingredients together often. Spice them with humor and good conversation. Every outing has the potential to be memorable and soon you will find that these outings are the highlight of your week. Something to be savored and treasured. Something to look forward to with joyful anticipation and gratitude for everything this bountiful life has to offer.
The Joy of Self Employment!
Below is the first article of six in our $100 competition, submitted by Yan of Thoushallblog.com. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
Let’s face it. Who doesn’t want to be his own boss? Who doesn’t fancy the thought of writing his own paycheck? We all do, don’t we?
Self-entrepreneurship appeals to anyone. It is the ultimate dream for many people. You and I love the thought of being our own boss, setting our own hours, and watching the dream of owning our own business become a reality. The fact is not everybody wants to work for somebody else. No one wants to live from paycheck to paycheck. However, self-entrepreneurship isn’t necessarily made up for everyone. The rewards can be really satisfying but the road to it may be a long and bumpy journey. If you are thinking and considering starting your own business, you have to do some serious thinking and planning.
Ask yourself if you have what it takes to run your own business. Do you have a business plan? Are you a risk-taker? Do you communicate well with others? These are just some of questions, among hundreds of others, you need to self-examine yourself. The rush of excitement must be tempered by the necessary cost of time, money and effort in properly setting yourself up independently.
Money
If the financial independence to become your own boss appeals to you then you will need to weigh the opportunity cost before you release yourself from your current employment. Suffice to say, it’s advisable to keep your regular employment as your financial security before you roll up your sleeves and jump in. The last thing you need is to let the burden of financial worry cloud your judgement.
Time
Money aside, it’s important to recognize the time it takes to become self-employed. If you have other obligations; family, job, social etc. then you will have to consider if you can sacrifice and devote the time needed to get your business off the ground. The hours can be painfully long but none of this should be carried out at the expense of your quality time with your loved ones, family and friends. The key is to find the right balance between work and personal commitment.
Effort
Having discussed both money and time, you must also recognize that there are much more efforts required before a business can be profitable. As in most business new startups, you will come to the point when you are working your hardest and doing everything your business requires but still you are not seeing any monetary results, or at the very least a very meager one, and that’s where you’ll hit a psychological wall. Do not falter! This is where truly entrepreneurial individuals see an obstacle as an opportunities. This is the time when your passion is taken to the crudest test. Just remember that the bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn.
Passion
Keeping your head in a time of difficulty is not always easy, but it does get easier if you are passionate in what you do. Passion will see you through it and overcome any perceived barriers. It will certainly keep you going and ultimately become very successful. Along with passion comes perseverance that will allow you to see the sweet fruits of your labor and prove to yourself and others that the joy of being your own boss far outweighs the initial pain of becoming one. To sum it up, the ultimate reason of self employment is the fact that you get a chance to be your own boss and be in charge of what to do, when to do it and how to do it. However, the road leading to it can be pretty rough but with passion and careful planning, the possibility is endless.
Yan is enjoying the fruits of his labor and still find the time to manage a blog that helps beginners to blog better. Get in touch with him.
Photo credit: Bethany Mae Photography
Don’t Forget – Last Day to Enter for $100 CASH!
Don’t forget time is of the essence to win our hard earned money. You have until 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time to enter for your chance to win $100 cash from SmallBizBee.com
How to Enter:
- Send us an article of at least 500 words of original content (not published on another blog or website) before 11:59pm PST on Nov. 16th.
- Make sure the article relates in someway to small business or entrepreneurship
- Don’t make your article to “spammy” (don’t sell us a product or service).
Who’s Eligible?
- Anyone and everyone who has something to add to the conversation regarding small business.
- You don’t have to be a small business owner or expert to take part.
- You also don’t need to write as well as Hemingway!
How will the winner be picked?
- Beginning November 17th articles will be posted on Smallbizbee.com, under the “Featured Story” section of the website, one article per day.
- Articles will be posted in the order they were accepted and will run for 24 hours (from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST)
- The article that receives the most unique page views during their 24 hour period will be deemed the winner!
- Feel free to promote your article on your blog or in other online outlets. You’ll get credit for each unique page view, so get creative and leverage those networks!
How to Submit Your Winning Article
- Email your article to matthew@smallbizbee.com between November 6 and 16
- Subject of the email should read ”$100 Article Competition”
- Include an article title, which will be the main title for your submission (choose a title carefully)
- Include one picture to run as the headline image for your article (optional)
- You will be notified within 24 hours if your article is approved or declined, we will give you reasons for any article declined
What Would Keep Your Article From Being Accepted?
- Unrelated in any way to small business
- Overly spammy or self serving
- Trying to sell a product or service as part of the article
- Article is less than 500 words
- Article is not 100% original content
$100 for 500 words…what are you waiting for, get your name in the hat for the cold, hard, cash!
Win $100 From SmallBizBee.com!
How would you like to be $100 dollars richer by this time next month? Well you can just by submitting an article to SmallBizbee.com! We will be giving away $100 to the author of the most popular article submitted between November 6th and the 16th. No catch, no gimmicks…picture cold hard cash delivered to your door (or Paypal.com account) just for taking part in our little contest.
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The Rules
Submit an article to SmallBizbee.com between November 6-16 to be eligible.
- Article must be related to small business or entrepreneurship
- Minimum of 500 words
- Only original content will be accepted (not currently published on ANY website or blog)
- Smallbizbee.com reserves the right to decline any article that appears to be overly self serving or “spammy” in anyway.
- Feel free to link to your website or blog as part of the article, no product sales please!
Who’s Eligible?
- Anyone and everyone who has something to add to the conversation regarding small business.
- You don’t have to be a small business owner or expert to take part.
Can’t Think of Something to Write About?
- Business owners…what were the challenges you faced when starting a business, how did you overcome them?
- Would be business owners, what is holding you back?
- Advice to new businesses
- Success strategies
- Small business, entrepreneurship, or startup theory
- Thoughts on leadership
- Personal development for a small business owner
- Articles on statistics or facts regarding small businesses
- How do you network with other small business owners
- What social media sites do you use and how?
- Etc, etc, etc…
How will the winner be picked?
- Articles will be collected between November 6-16
- Maximum number of articles accepted will be 30, on a first come first served basis
- Beginning November 17th articles will be posted on Smallbizbee.com, under the “Featured Story” section of the website.
- Articles will be posted in the order they were accepted and will run for 24 hours (from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST)
- The article that receives the most unique page views during their 24 hour period will be deemed the winner!
- Feel free to promote your article on your blog or in other online outlets. You’ll get credit for each unique page view, so get creative and leverage those networks!
How to Submit Your Winning Article
- Email your article to matthew@smallbizbee.com between November 6 and 16
- Subject of the email should read “$100 Article Competition”
- Include an article title, which will be the main title for your submission (choose a title carefully)
- Include one picture to run as the headline image for your article (optional)
- You will be notified within 24 hours if your article is approved or declined, we will give you reasons for any article declined
How to Get Paid
- At the conclusion of the contest we will announce the winner on SmallBizBee.com, and contact the winner via email
- Our preferred method of payment is via PayPal
- If you do not have a PayPal account we will send you a check (and you’ll have to trust it will clear). We will need to collect your mailing address in order to remit your winnings in this fashion.
What Would Keep My Article From Being Accepted?
- Unrelated in any way to small business
- Overly spammy or self serving
- Trying to sell a product or service as part of the article
- Article is less than 500 words
- Article is not 100% original content
So that’s it…no catches and no gimmicks. For a few minutes of your time you could be $100 dollars richer. As Jeff Probst on Survivor would say “Worth Playing For?”…we think so! Please let us know if you have any questions.
Good luck everyone, and thanks for taking part in the $100 Article Competition!
