The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is a great example of what you, through survey responses, and I have been saying for a long time: Peer support is a valuable asset to small business owners and social entrepreneurs.

Social Enterprises: Taking a Well Traveled Road versus Blazing a New Trail

by Geri Stengel on Nov 9, 2009 - 12:59pm

Best Practice social enterprise social enterprises social entrepreneur social entrepreneurs social entrepreneurship

Last week, I attended the 6^th Annual Conference of Social Entrepreneurs at NYU Stern’s Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. My big take away: Sometimes the past provides a road map for the future and sometimes you need to blaze a new trail.

Report Shows Nonprofit Leaders How to Make the Most of Financial Infrastructure and Funds

by Geri Stengel on Oct 13, 2009 - 8:23am

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Nonprofit leaders can improve the effectiveness and reliability of fiscal management using tips and examples in a new report, Maximizing Nonprofit Resources in a Challenging Economy, which is based on a survey conducted by Fiscal Management Associates and ERE LLP at the end of 2008.

Branding Basics for Social Enterprises

by Guest Blogger on Jul 30, 2009 - 9:42am

Best Practice branding components of a sussessful brand Howard Levy Red Rooster Group social enterprises your brand

By Howard Levy

So you’re starting a social enterprise or have one and want to know how to build or strengthen your brand. Well, what is a brand? Is it advertising, your spokesperson, a logo?

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Surveys Are a Great Marketing Tool: Ten Tips for Doing It Yourself

by Geri Stengel on Jul 14, 2009 - 9:34am

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With the right survey, you can gain interesting insights into a market. For nearly 30 years, I've conducted mail, online and telephone surveys for organizations such as The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, MasterCard, Mathew Bender, the New York City Chapter of NAWBO and Governance Matters. For the first time I’m putting my skills to use, conducting a survey for my own company, Ventureneer.

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Go With the Flow: “Good Business” Inspiration for Our Times

by Geri Stengel on Jun 25, 2009 - 9:30am

and the Making of Meaning Best Practice Flow Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Good Business: Leadership Mihaly Csikszentmihaly Patagonia Yvon Chouinard

Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is not a new book, but its message is timeless: businesses can be more than just about making money. This resonated with me and I thought it might for you.

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Anatomy of a Successful RFP

by Guest Blogger on Jun 19, 2009 - 10:50am

Analysis Best Practice branding growth strategies How To marketing Nonprofit request for proposal RFP Small Business small businesses Social Enterprise technology

By Howard Adam Levy

Looking to redesign your website or upgrade your agency’s branding and putting out a Request for Proposals (RFP)? Make sure you get the best consultant you can by making your RFP the best it can be. Consider this list of what to include gleaned from our 17 years of responding to RFPs.

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Innovate or Go the Way of the Dinosaur

by Geri Stengel on Jun 18, 2009 - 9:49am

Best Practice innovation Nonprofit nonprofit Small Business small business Social Enterprise social enterprise

Adapting your small business or nonprofit during the recession may be difficult – even painful – but it must be done or you risk joining the dinosaur in extinction.

Sharpening Your Intuition Keeps Leaders Nimble

by Geri Stengel on Jun 11, 2009 - 7:23am

Analysis Best Practice leadership training Lessons Learned Nonprofit Small Business Social Enterprise

In today’s rough and tumble economy, leaders of small businesses and nonprofits are tested at every turn. For some decisions you have time to research or consult with others, but when decisions need to be made fast, without a lot of prep, your instincts need to take over.

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The Stuff of Entrepreneurs and Social Entrepreneurs: Do You Have What It Takes?

by Geri Stengel on Jun 5, 2009 - 7:26am

Analysis Best Practice entrepreneur entrepreneurial attitudes entrepreneurial character traits entrepreneurial qualities Lessons Learned Small Business Social Enterprise social entrepreneur

Based on the popularity of There Is Never a Bad Time to Start Up a Company and The Benefits of Starting a Business During a Recession posts, I thought I’d do a follow-up on what it personally takes to be an entrepreneur or social entrepreneur. The topic also happens to be fresh in my mind because I just taught about it in my entrepreneurship class at The New School.