Small Business Simplifier
Helping You Work More Productively, Profitably and Enjoyably
Are you giving up on your dream of owning a business because you’ve been told you’re too old to be an entrepreneur? Do you think it’s too late or that you’ve missed your window of opportunity? Banish those thoughts at once! You are not too old to be an entrepreneur. No, I have absolutely no …
Like most other kids, I had career dreams and aspirations growing up, but becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t actively among them. I don’t think I even heard the word entrepreneur when I was a child. When I was almost 12, I started babysitting to earn pocket money. Babysitting didn’t pay particularly well, and I found myself …
When I was in college, I decided to become a professional photographer when people started asking if I would photograph portraits and events for them. I had very little idea what was involved in starting a business. I knew I needed a business license and a state tax permit. I didn’t know much about bookkeeping …
Do you have a current photography portfolio? Do you know what a portfolio is and why you need one? Your photography portfolio is a collection of your best work. It is a marketing tool, used to show prospective clients what you have done and what you are capable of doing. A portfolio can be digital, in …
In my early days as an entrepreneur, I often struggled with ways to market my photography business on my limited college-student budget. I didn’t have a lot of options then. Newspaper ads weren’t an effective way to advertise for photography clients, television and radio were well out of my budget, and direct mail was a …
I am frequently asked about online image use. Most of these questions are about images people find on the web and want to put on their blog, website or Facebook page—or about using them in various products such as eBooks and advertisements. This post was originally published in 2011, and updated in 2021. These are …
I read. A lot. Books are an essential part of my education, especially my entrepreneurial education. I’ve read business books that I wondered why they were written, and I’ve read books that changed my business and have become library staples. It’s not that I just read for business. At any given time I have at …
My college girl called me the other day to talk about her career plan. She knows exactly what she wants to do, and she has outlined the path she plans to take to get there. She’s chosen a career in one of the most highly competitive fields on the planet, and she has a good …
Summer has arrived, and it is HOT! Temperature records are melting all over North America. But work must continue, and that means workers are out in the summer heat. Working in extreme heat is not just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous, and even deadly. To stay healthy, and to keep healthy at work, it’s important …
Entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly popular business option. According to Inc., more than 27 million Americans are starting or running their own businesses. Despite the popularity of entrepreneurship, the challenges of becoming a successful entrepreneur are many. Current research shows that more than 50 percent of businesses fail before their fourth year, and by some …
Gossip hurts. Whether you are the gossiper, or the gossipee, gossip is damaging. Gossip has been on my mind this week. Two different podcasts I listen to aired episodes about gossip. While preparing a presentation on positive communication, I remembered a time I was deeply hurt by gossip—from someone I trusted. And, sadly, I remembered …
Quality professional graphics are essential to building a successful online presence. You don’t have to be in a design-based business to understand the need to create quality professional graphics for your website, for your blog posts, for your marketing or for your training. While I am confident in my abilities to produce great photographs, I am …
