Most Americans – 71 percent – trust small businesses more than they trust their government, their preacher, their teacher, or the nightly news, according to a very dense report issued in April by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press.

Millennials Will Force Businesses, Nonprofits to Change Culture… for the Good

by Geri Stengel on May 11, 2010 - 8:00am

baby boomers collaboration creativity Gen X GenY millennials Nonprofit nonprofit problem-solving Small Business small business small business owners social consciousness Social Enterprise social enterprise social media social responsibility

Time flies! The leading edge of GenX is entering its mid-life crisis period. The new kids on the block are the Millennials/GenYers, born between 1981 and 1996 into a world transfigured by a new kind of connectedness and technology.

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Competency Doesn't Mean Heartlessness: Businesses Can Be Profitable and Compassionate

by Geri Stengel on Mar 11, 2010 - 11:45am

corporate social responsibility entrepreneur ethics Small Business small business owners socially responsible

I've said my piece about the competency of nonprofits – they are competent! – but now I have to speak up for businesses – they can be trustworthy, compassionate, and ethical.

That is not the perception of businesses in the survey recently published by Stanford University. The study indicated that nonprofits are viewed as trustworthy and incompetent. It found that corporations are viewed as competent but not trustworthy or "moral."

It's Not a College Degree That Counts, It's Your Experience

by Geri Stengel on Jan 28, 2010 - 11:45am

entrepreneurs Small Business small business owners

Wow! Having a college degree and an alumni network are not as important to successful entrepreneurs as everyone thought. What really counts is hard work – we knew that – experience, and your professional network. Also not so important: investor advice, alumni networks and government help.

Faster, Cheaper Technology Is Key to Small Business Growth in 2010

by Geri Stengel on Jan 16, 2010 - 2:03pm

Small Business small business owners

It looks like my love hate relationship with my computer will only intensify in 2010. New technology and upgrades to old technology mean that more business will be conducted over the Internet. The world has become smaller, markets have become larger and being tech savvy is no longer an option for small business owners or for consumers.

The Power of Peers: A View From a Consummate Pro

by Geri Stengel on Jan 8, 2010 - 1:13pm

peer support Small Business small business advice small business owners

Several months ago, Ventureneer undertook a survey that documented the power of peers when small business owners deal with problems. The results were clear: Everybody needs – and wants – support. While survey numbers are great, nothing drives a point home better than an example.

Entrepreneurs Prefer Seminars Over Degree Courses for Ongoing Learning

by Geri Stengel on Aug 25, 2009 - 2:55pm

entrepreneurial education entrepreneurial training Research seminars for entrepreneurs small business education small business owners webinars for entrepreneurs

New research finds that small business owners learn in many different ways, but they have a strong preference for seminars over undergraduate business and MBA university courses. Use and Value of Resources by Small Business Owners and Nonprofit Leaders: A Survey Conducted by Ventureneer, August 2009 also finds that going online is a popular way of taking seminars.

Research Confirms Entrepreneurs Turn to Networking for Help

by Geri Stengel on Aug 19, 2009 - 1:53pm

entrepreneurs networking Research research seminars small business owners survey

Over the past few weeks, Ventureneer has been conducting research to find out about the use and impact of resources among small business owners and nonprofit leaders. I’m still digesting all the information for the full report, Use and Value of Resources by Small Business Owners and Nonprofit Leaders: A Survey Conducted by Ventureneer, but I wanted to start sharing some of the insights.

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