Failing doesn’t make you a failure; it makes you a learner. If you don’t think that this applies to running a business or nonprofit, think again. Bad experience is a great business leader.

Learning Opportunities Expand for Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs

by Geri Stengel on Feb 15, 2011 - 11:29am

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The benefits chronicled by graduates of training programs for entrepreneurs are many and varied. In its press release announcing that 1,000 entrepreneurs have now graduated from the Kauffman FastTrac program it sponsored, New York City lauded both the new levels of growth achieved by individual entrepreneurs and the benefits to the city’s economic recovery.

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How do Small Businesses Grow? Experience and Money

by Geri Stengel on Jan 20, 2011 - 12:11am

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"The U.S. economy looks to be in better shape, but a full recovery will only be achieved once small firms begin to prosper" and "We do want businesses that are viable and have good business plans and lots of experience backing them up to get loans."

Both those statements come from Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve as quoted in The Wall Street Journal.

Trends in 2011 Will Be Same as They Were in 2010: Collaboration, Social Media, Integrity

by Geri Stengel on Dec 21, 2010 - 9:04am

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Collaboration
Every conference I went to in 2010 stressed collaboration, whether in new forms of financing for social good, both nonprofit and social enterprises, or among co-workers, within sectors or across sectors to generate new products/services. If you didn't get the memo, check out some of the posts from the Social Impact Exchange 2010 Conference.

Expanding an Entrepreneur's Network Fires Up Her Business

by Geri Stengel on Dec 2, 2010 - 7:00am

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I can't resist: I have to tell you about another entrepreneur who, to her surprise, has found networking and lifelong learning enriching and even essential.

Sharon Ng doesn't know where to start when she recounts the benefits of networking, going back to "school," and listening to people she thought had nothing to offer her. She had, after all, developed a unique and effective way of teaching Mandarin, French, and Spanish to children. Who could help her with that niche business?

2 Keys to Stamina for Entrepreneurs: Network and Learning

by Geri Stengel on Nov 12, 2010 - 3:39pm

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It's not like Philip Kent Kiracofe is a new kid on the block. He's led successful ventures in real estate, venture capital, and online services. As to the usual entrepreneurial skills – ability to take risks, undaunted in the face of challenge – he may have extra, judging by his avocations of mountain climbing and Ironman competitions.

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Break Down Walls to Build Creativity With New Technology

by Geri Stengel on Sep 23, 2010 - 8:00am

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This is one of three blogs about the future of tech-enabled business models. Check out Tech Knowledge Will Expand Markets, Services of Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits and Tagged Products, Smartphones Offer New Business and Fundraising Possibilities to read what else is in store.

Out with the old organization chart, in with the wiki-world. That's the gist of the first three of 10 tech-enabled business trends, according to a new McKinsey report.

7 Must-Read Books for Small Business Owners, Social Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit Leaders

by Geri Stengel on Aug 17, 2010 - 9:48am

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'Tis the season for book lists and I don't want my readers left out. Rather than conjuring up a reading list based on my own tastes, needs and what I've had time to read, I asked our experts – the professionals who teach our webinars – for recommendations. Looking at this list, I'll have to plan a trip to the beach myself, just to check out these new ideas.

Saving a City, One Entrepreneur at a Time

by Geri Stengel on Jul 8, 2010 - 8:00am

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An interesting twist on public-private partnerships – and a social enterprise home run – is Bizdom U, a bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs in Detroit. It is funded by Dan Gilbert, a self-made man who has focused his philanthropy on one city and on building a network of small businesses to raise that city's economy. For four months, the would-be entrepreneurs receive a stipend while they work on business plans and refine their products and services. Some receive a $100,000 grant to implement the plan.