News & Views

Be a small business advocate

If you care about something, you advocate for it. I care about small business so I use every opportunity to spread the word. To advocate means, “to speak or write in favor of; to support or urge by argument; respond publicly.”

Recent News

5 Things to Consider Before You Target Big Businesses

Excited to be writing for Entrepreneur Magazine. Here is my first post. You have heard horror stories. The ones where the big company makes outrageous demands of small suppliers, ruthlessly squeezes them for discounts and asks them to take on the risks of inventory without the guarantee of continued business. There is no doubt that […]

Should Your Start-Up Hire Interns?

Much has been said about the value of internships for college students. At CK and CO, we have had a long-standing relationship with a state university. Their internship program requires seniors to complete a six-month internship as a graduation requirement. It has been a huge benefit for my company because it serves as a hiring […]

Successful Start-Ups Look for Help

It is true. Unless you have started a business it is hard to understand what it is like. The effort. The passion. The challenges. Sure, others can empathize with you but unless you have taken the risk, applied for a loan and opened the door you do not feel the weight of the endeavor. That […]

Why Start-Ups Need Exit Strategies

You are getting ready to open your dream business. You checked all the boxes. You have a business plan, financing, and a marketing plan. You think you are ready but in the rush to open the doors, you might have missed one important step. Have you thought about an exit strategy for your small business? […]

Start-up advice: What makes a start-up successful?

What is it that makes a successful business start-up? Why has the failure rate for small businesses remained high over the years? I remember looking at statistics ten years ago, five years ago and this year. Even though there are more available programs, resources, and assistance, the outlook is still not great. According to the […]

The Importance of Being a Passionate Entrepreneur

Bracelets and bath bombs. Dried apples and aprons. Plants and popcorn. What can we learn from passionate young entrepreneurs? That is what I set out to discover this past weekend in the small community of Ada, Michigan. Two large tents were filled with young businesspeople, ages 5 to 14, who set their products out on […]

Featured in West Michigan Woman Magazine

A number of years ago, Career Press published my book Small Business for Big Thinkers. In the book there is a chapter titled Position Yourself. Learn to Brag. So often we are raised to be humble, not to brag about accomplishments, not to go for the awards. But recognition is important if you want to […]