Eight Resources for Michigan Entrepreneurs

We’ve already seen how the recession has provided some benefits for small business startups in Michigan through lower rents, a larger pool of talent available at affordable rates and good deals on advertising.  Now there’s more good news for budding entrepreneurs - a wealth of fantastic resources available at no cost or low cost.

Here’s a list of eight organizations offering support, counseling and training for small business owners and budding entrepreneurs in southeast Michigan – especially the Metro Detroit area. (more…)

Premature Articulation

There it is again, the business version of  driving your car into a tree.  A small business owner announced a “major development” that now has been shelved.  He broadcast the “news” repeatedly, in fact, to anyone and everyone; so caught up in the excitement that he never considered whether it might be best to get further along before blurting out the details.  He spent months talking it up – and now it’s just “oops, never mind.”

Enthusiasm – even outright zeal – is important in small business, but it’s not as important as credibility.  It’s devastating to have to “un-announce” something or just slink around hoping no one will say “hey, what’s happening with that ___ you said you were launching in a month?”

Fight the urge to generate excitement by revealing too much, too soon.  It’s so much sweeter – and safer – to announce a new product, partnership, service, whatever, once it’s a done deal.

There’s a Chinese proverb to keep in mind when find yourself aching to share a juicy bit of news about your future business plans: “Think twice - then say nothing.”