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No Sympathy Here: Meet The Small Business That Cleans Cars And Changes Lives

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Small Business in Parkland, Florida

Rising Tide staff photoA small business in Parkland, Florida is blazing new trails in their industry.

And they’re doing it with a staff that consists largely of adults living with what a condition that is usually regarded as a huge disability – autism.

Kevin Wolyniec, General Manager of Rising Tide Carwash

“We are not selling sympathy” notes Kevin Wolyniec, General Manager of Rising Tide Carwash.

“We’re located .9 miles away from one of the best carwash businesses in the nation. The fact that we are growing so rapidly really says something about our staff, our people. This is manual labor, long hours in the Florida sun and humidity, and we have the best crew” he says. [Read more…]

“A Full-Time Career In A Part-time Economy:” Are You Ready To Take “The Leap?”

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Web 1You’ve got to get this guy’s book….”

The subject line jumped out at me as I saw the email message in my inbox.

“This summarizes a bunch of the things you’ve been talking about on your program for the past four years…”

The message was from a personal friend, and included a link. 

And that email led to my recent conversation with Robert Dickie, Author of “The Leap: Launching Your Full-time Career In Our Part-time Economy.” [Read more…]

Very Independent: Conference Helps Small Business Owners Stand Strong In A Corporate “Big Box” World

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NicoleSmilingLookingUpCan locally owned small businesses really compete against large corporately owned retailers?

Most certainly, says Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle, Publisher of RetailMinded.Com.

The publisher of RetailMinded.Com, Leinbach-Reyhle will be a featured speaker at the forthcoming Independent Retailer Conference March 1-4 in Las Vegas, NV.

She joined AustinHill’s BigWorld of SmallBusiness to talk about the conference, and about the ways in which small business owners can survive, and thrive. [Read more…]

Shop Small: Consultant, Business Owner Rallies Support For “Small Business Saturday”

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You’ve probably heard about “Small Business Saturday.”

But how much do you really know about “SBS” and the “Shop Small” movement?

“It came to life five years ago, and was founded on this idea of supporting, rallying behind, and celebrating small businesses” says Nicole Leinbach Reyhle.  The Owner and Publisher of Retail Minded.Com, Reyhle is a small business owner herself, and   is serving this year as a national spokesperson for SMS.

SBS happens again this Saturday, November 29, 2014, the day after so-called “Black Friday.”  The intent of SBS and the Shop Small movement is to encourage holiday gift shoppers to focus on locally owned small businesses in their communities and to direct their purchases to these local, independently owned ventures. [Read more…]

The Courage To Create: Entrepreneur Builds Business Helping People Escape Maryland

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EricCaryheadshot_nTaxes and government regulations are driving businesses out of the state of Maryland, and voters in “The Chesapeake State” seem ready to vote for more of the same in this year’s elections.

But amid the chaos, one creative business owner is finding a way to capitalize – by helping people flee the state.

“I’ve tried to focus my business efforts on people’s true necessities,” notes Eric Cary.

A self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Cary operates as a licensed realtor that specializes in assisting private individuals and businesses to relocate out of the state of Maryland.

“The word has gotten around that we’ve gotten pretty crazy here in Maryland, to the point that we even tax the rain” he says (search “Maryland rain tax” for further details). “But people will always need places where they can live and operate their businesses, and that means that properties will always need to be bought and sold.” [Read more…]

Are You Feeling The “Consumer Sentiment?” Is Your Small Business Feeling It Too?

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small-business-owner

 

As we’ve often discussed, business is a very emotionally driven phenomenon.  If people “feel” confident about having adequate resources (both monetary and non-monetary resources), then they’ll generally be comfortable spending money for things they need and want.

According to a private,  non-governmental poll, people are “feeling” better about the U.S. economy.  Yet it’s difficult to generalize about the “U.S. economy” – economic performance varies dramatically on a regional basis.  How is the economy performing in your area?  And are you feeling the uptick in “sentiment?” Get the full story HERE.

The Courage to Create: Operating A Business, Not Just Working A Job

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Photo Pete Cerqua

Pete Cerqua: Strength / Nutrition / Wellness Expert

Name: Pete Cerqua
Business: Strength, Nutrition, and Wellness Expert
Current Home: New York City

Some people spend many years preparing to be a personal trainer. They work to heighten their own fitness and agility levels, they earn degrees and certifications and licenses.

And then, they go to find a job. Perhaps they pursue employment working at a health club or resort, or maybe a teaching position in a school of some sort.

Pete Cerqua approached things differently. After he was ready to be a trainer, he didn’t go searching for a job – he started his own business. Today, he provides individual clients with personal fitness training and nutrition consultations, he writes books and speaks around the world on his areas of expertise, and he trains other trainers to do the same. He is one of New York City’s most in-demand health and fitness consultants, and a global health guru.

Austin: After you completed your training and education, you didn’t go looking for work in somebody else’s business – you started your own. Why? [Read more…]

The Courage to Create: From The Consultancy, To The Kennel

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Picture

After 26 years of software programming and independent consulting, this Entrepreneur stepped away from the computers and jumped in with the dogs… Name: Vince Eufemia

Business:  Emerald Street Kennels, a full-service dog and cat boarding, grooming, and recreational facility

Originally from:  Bayside, Queens, New York

Current home:  Boise, Idaho

Education:   Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, with a Minor in Mathematics, Queens College, NY

Austin: You’ve gone from programming computers to operating kennels. Where did this interesting journey begin? [Read more…]

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