Labville is a STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – group for all ages. The goal is to highlight a topic each month and introduce it to the public at a level we can all understand. August will be 3D Scanning that can lead directly to 3D printing or other means to create the model outside of the computer. Continue reading
Have you ever put on a pair of cowboy boots or other boots with the little tabs to help pull them on? Using those is bootstrapping. From Wikipedia:
Tall boots may have a tab, loop or handle at the top known as a bootstrap, allowing one to use fingers or a boot hook tool to provide greater force in pulling the boots on. The saying “to pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps” was already in use during the 19th century as an example of an impossible task.
Today “Bootstrapping” is the art of building and operating a business without outside funding. Just you, standing on your own two feet, using your own personal money to fund your business. Continue reading
Labville is a makerspace devoted to the practice of leveraging technology and techniques to build things both real and virtual with a sense of community, collaboration, inventiveness, humor and wonder.
I facilitated an Elevator Speech workshop for our clients last week. People did great work in the session and left with a new elevator pitch or polished up their old one. What’s next? Developing a good Tagline. What is it? A single phrase or sentence that describes your primary benefit. Notice I didn’t say your primary product or offering – but your primary benefit. Continue reading
It’s fair to say that at the Cumberland Business Incubator we do “something different every day.” As examples, a few things that have occurred recently: Continue reading
Lots of small business owners start out thinking they will do everything they possibly can in their business to keep costs low, including doing their own accounting. Some have learned the hard way that small errors can add up to a big mess. Continue reading
No, I’m not suggesting you ignore a quarterly marketing plan, annual financials or your annual business plan, but realize that it’s important to run your business one week at a time as well. Here are a few keys to success that need to be done weekly: Continue reading
I’ve had a number of conversations with clients recently about exit strategies. Knowing what you want out of your business every day is always good, and knowing what you want out of it at the very end is something to spend time and thought on. Continue reading
Ready to Grow Your Business?
Consider joining a Mastermind group – a group of people that you meet with on a regular basis to help you achieve your goals. Napoleon Hill discovered while doing research on the great leaders of his time that they attributed their success to having a Mastermind group to help them reach their goals. If you are ready to brainstorm ideas, share best practices, be held accountable to implement change, aren’t afraid to work ON your business, and aren’t afraid of growth…….consider joining a CBI Mastermind group.
A Mastermind group is not a leads group. It is not a training class. It is where you commit to working ON your business. If you have the following attributes you are welcome to apply; self-starter, learner, leader, positive outlook, and have a commitment to growing your business.
Learn more about Mastermind Groups.
When you are in business, it’s helpful to have an understanding of what people want. Abraham Maslow developed the Hierarchy of Needs in 1943. In Maslow’s theory there are five general levels of need, each of which must be met before a person can focus on the next higher-order need. The five levels in Maslow’s theory are: Physiological (breathing, food, water, sleep); Safety (security of body, property); Love/Belonging (friendship, family); Esteem (confidence, self-esteem, respect of and from others); Self-actualization (morality, creativity, problem solving, lack of prejudice). In short, if you don’t have enough food, or you’re in physical danger, you’re not focused on whether or not other people like you or how much personal growth you’re experiencing. Continue reading