If You Want to Grow, You Have to Let Go
For most of us, starting a business meant learning lots of new skills. I wanted to do marketing strategy, but I had to learn do bookkeeping and payroll, fill out forms and pay taxes. I learned to use software programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver and how to set up computer networks and telephone systems. Then came lessons in how to evaluate business insurance programs and what to do when there is a strange smell underneath the house that is home to Roundpeg. It is good to know how to do all those things, but there is no way to grow my business if I spent my time doing all...
read moreWhat to Do When Your Sidebar Goes Mushy
It’s really tough choosing side dishes at the buffet. There’s an abundance of option, each with their own flavor. Your main course should be the most exciting thing on your plate, but side dishes are the complementary elements that complete the meal. They’re totally optional, but you get the best value from your buffet ticket if you pick a few good ones. The same can be said about website sidebars. These are the side dishes to your main website content that serve up helpful nuggets of information and calls to action. These items don’t entice your visitors away from...
read moreThanks for Calling Roundpeg
I was surprised the other day when a caller thanked me for answering the phone. I have done a lot of amazing things in my life which I felt deserved a thank you, but answering a telephone was not one I would put on that list. It seems this woman had spent the better part of an afternoon calling companies, with little success. Each call forced her to navigate through voice mail hell. After spending several hours this way, she was frustrated because she was no closer to a solution than she had been when she started. She thanked me because she was grateful to finally connect with a find a...
read moreAt the Front of the Pack
It’s May, my favorite month in Indy. The temperature is perfect, the rain has stopped, the flowers are in bloom, and the cars are on the track. Yes, it is true, I am a race geek. I love the cars, the drivers, the back story and the history. I have a favorite spot high in turn one for qualifications, and there is nothing quite like the feeling when you hear Mari Hulman George squeak out, “ladies and gentleman start your engines!” Watching the race each year, one thing is obvious: winning teams can’t sit on their laurels. If Ganassi Racing assumed that since they won...
read moreMTFW: Tax Preparation
Now that tax season is over, it’s a good time to look at ways to reduce your tax bill next year. Join us as we chat with Gregory Simons about how you, the small business owner, can get ahead. About Gregory Simons: Greg has been an accounting professional since 1988, having worked for two Big Four accounting firms as an auditor and manager for special projects for six years. He also worked for a Fortune 500 company as an Internal Auditor for over a year. In 1995, Greg founded Simons Bitzer & Associates and has focused his time on providing services to small- and medium-sized...
read morePut It Back in the Oven
I love working with entrepreneurs. Excited and enthusiastic, their energy is contagious as they talk about their next great idea. But sometimes I have to tell these amazing people that I can’t help them, because excitement and energy is not enough to make a business successful. Usually it’s because their idea is only half baked. There is a good concept, but they haven’t done their homework. Typically the shortfalls occur in one of several categories: Not enough experience in an industry – There was the woman who wanted to open a shoe store because she loved...
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