Spring Training and the Chicago Cubs

After quite a disappointing playoff run the Cubs are looking to regroup this off season by adding some new talent to the squad. Already they have dealt away the OFer they got from the Detroit Tigers last year, Craig Monroe, who really just never got it together after being dealt to the Cubs. We are all still pretty upset about the way Manager Lou Pinella manged the pitching rotation in hthe playoffs and took Zambrano out of that first game so he could pitch later on in the series. You have to get there first Lou!

Anyways, I have already been looking at Spring Training tickets to the Cubs games since they are always in a place where I have relatives (Arizona) already and I like to take some time off to go catch some games. We like to head over and get some real live experience to the guys trying to make the team rather than having to rely on what reporters tell us and sift through possible BS that they write because they want to keep the club happy. We want to see for ourselves! Always a great experience. Kind of different from a regular season game as you really aren't going to see the "stars" play as they typically only play a couple of innings. What you are looking for is to see who is NEXT. Who is going to get this team over the top. That and maybe yell at Lou a bit and heckle him about the playoffs ;).

Networking at Conferences and Trade Shows

One thing that has always been a major way to go for a large mass of people when you want to market, or network is hitting up conference, or throwing up a booth at a trade show. This isn't just for off-line businesses either. Contrary to what many believe, even if you work primarily on the internet, there is a great benefit to attending these events. Not only can you learn a lot about the industry, but you can find people to network with that are much easier to communicate with once you get home because they are used to dealing with people over the internet and making deals that way.

We aren't there just to get free stuff!

Often, our mentality at business conferences and trade shows is that we're there to take away something, whether it's information, education or free samples. But don't overlook the potential for making connections that will further your endeavors down the road. Conferences and trade shows offer prime opportunities for networking, and if you're not intentional about it, you might overlook many of the ways you can make new contacts and get the word out about your business. full story

Temporary Dental Repair

When strange things happen to your teeth at unexpected times it can become not only embarrassing, but rather inconvenient. Losing a filling or cap in an strange or awkward manner causes pain, discomfort and embarrassment when it happens. This has happened to me before while at a bar. Imagine being in that type of environment and busting a filling while trying to look smooth. Terrible experience, but there was nothing to do except to just head home and wait until I could get to a dentist. Couldn't eat for 2 days. That is where having some sort of temporary dental repair comes in handy. More specifically Dentemp OS which will help relieve the agony until you can get proper dental care.

Take a look at some of the features of Dentemp OS:

-Provides fast, temporary relief of pain and discomfort.

-Just remove it from its plastic vial and it's ready to use. No Mess! No Mixing! Several Applications in each vial.

-Replaces lost fillings and may be used to temporarily cement loose crowns.

-You can eat on it within 30 minutes of setting.

-All products have been tested and fully comply with FDA Regulations for Oral Care.

Quite a bit better than having to wait for your dentist to be available, or having to sit in an emrgency room right after it happens. You can just wait for an appointment and go on with your life for the time being in relative comfort.

Being Obsolete

Pull up your home theater chairs and take a look at this very interesting article at Entrepreneur.com that talks about thisng being obsolete in the world of business.

In 1969, I graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and was offered two jobs. I took the job paying $47,000 a year and turned down one paying $75,000 a year because it required me to join a labor union. I'm not against labor unions. I am against being obsolete due to obsolete ideas. As entrepreneurs, we need to stop looking at employees from an Industrial Age point of view. In the Industrial Age, employees were rewarded for things like seniority. In the Information Age, seniority is death via obsolescence. In the Industrial Age, a senior employee had more experience. In the Information Age, experience can be a liability. full story

Online Coupons

Besides getting great ideas for gifts during the holidays, Online Coupons can actually be useful for small business owners. Being able to get discounts on major technology needs with BestBuy coupons is something that should always be considered. Even with your leisure time it is great when you can get things such as Addidas coupons for the time you take to exercise every morning. You do keep yourself fit as a business owner don't you? Yeah...I know it gets tough to keep at when you have so much going on, but it sure helps relieve a lot of that stress.

Hollywood Writers Strike Threatens to Hit Small Businesses Hardest

Not only are many of you missing your favorite television programs this season, but many small business owners are being hit by the strike. Anyone that works on these shows as an independent contractor and owns a small business with less than 10 peoples is really feeling the hit. Places that work on costurmes, computer engineers supplying equipement like HDMI cables, as well as make up and prop designers.

Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, said that 84 percent of the companies in the Los Angeles TV and movie production industry are small businesses that employ less than 10 workers.

"Prop houses and companies that are doing costumes are starting to consider laying people off," Kyser said. "And then there's the ripple impact on restaurants, coffee houses, and other businesses in these areas." more