As a teacher, consultant, nonprofit board member, and entrepreneur, I've learned a lot about starting and growing a business. I'm distilling the key points into a series of free ebooks for small businesses – that includes commercial businesses, nonprofits, and social enterprises.

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What does 2010 hold for small businesses? That Depends on Who You Believe.

by Geri Stengel on Jan 20, 2010 - 11:36am

Forecast / Prediction SBA small business owner

Officially, small business owners can expect good things in 2010:

The Small Business Administration has gotten more money for both staff and for loan guarantees with reduced fees.
America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program will offer deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000, backed 100 percent by the SBA, to viable small businesses that need help making payments on an existing non-SBA loan.
The stimulus includes money for such thing as electronic medical records and the focus is on delivery of medical services. Consultants, IT experts, and hardware/software providers should benefit.
The Obama administration has been pressuring banks both large and small to loosen the purse strings.
There's some indication, according to Federal Reserve Board stats, that access to credit is just beginning to improve.

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Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Can Contribute More Than Money to Causes They Support

by Geri Stengel on Oct 6, 2009 - 3:55pm

Commentary / Opinion entrepreneur nonprofit board volunteer service small business owner

By serving on the board of a nonprofit, you play a significant role in a cause you care about, whether it is a theater group or a homeless shelter, woman's issues or immigration. Boards have the ability to go beyond helping just one person; they impact the whole agency and, when they’re really successful, the entire community.

What Entrepreneurs/Nonprofits Execs Need to Succeed

by Geri Stengel on Sep 22, 2009 - 9:32am

entrepreneur entrepreneurial entrepreneurs entrepreneurship How To non profit nonprofit not for profit small business small business owner social enterprise social entrepreneur startup company Ventureneer

In order to succeed, entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders create support systems. The mix of resources you use is individual, but bottom line – everyone needs support. Watch the video and generate a name that captures the spirit of this video and win a $100 American Express gift certificate. Ventureneer mugs will also be given to five runners-up. Send the name to contest@ventureneer.com, along with your contact info by Friday, October 23, 2009.

Social Media: A New Way to Pass Wisdom on to Leaders

by Geri Stengel on Jun 9, 2009 - 10:43am

Commentary / Opinion entrepreneur education entrepreneur training leadership nonprofit leader education nonprofit leader training small business owner social learning social media

Did you know that only 20% of what is done on the job is learned formally? That’s a whole lot of learning – 80% -- that gets done socially or informally. Social learning happens frequently and happens a lot when colleagues get together, whether they be leaders of small businesses or nonprofits.

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What Does It Take to Lead a Small Business or Nonprofit?

by Geri Stengel on May 27, 2009 - 7:52am

Best Practice character traits Commentary / Opinion entrepreneur Small Business small business owner

There’s been some hubbub about a column David Brooks wrote in The New York Times about the character traits of CEOs.

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