...Who Is the One Person You Depend On?

We all have people we depend on.  In life and in business we have or have had someone very valuable in our lives that helped make everything just a little bit better.   Who is that person for you? Are you that person to anyone? 

Everyone needs someone they can bounce ideas off of someone we trust with our secrets and our ideas.  It’s important that we have someone in our lives to do just that.  Mine throughout the years have been either a strong mentor (especially in my college and early career days) a great boss, a great employee and since I got married, my husband. 

We cannot underestimate the value of having someone we can depend on, having someone who has our backs.  Think about who that person is in your life. Also you might be that person to someone else; you might be the one they depend on more than anyone else, who never lets them down.

This type of person can be worth their weight in gold. Make sure you treasure them. 

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...Do What You Are

“Here's some practical advice: Do not what you love; do what you are.” 

                            --Penelope Trunk, Founder and CEO of Brazen Careerist

I love this quote. I came across it online.  I have to say I’ve never bought into the whole do what you love theory of starting a small business, because frankly not a lot of people ever really get to do what they love. And let’s face it; don’t we all LOVE a lot of things?  Like food, sex, wine or beer, reading, skiing  etc., but not everyone can make (or should make) a living at those things!

I think it’s more about who you are than what you love when it comes to building a business. It also has to do with your talents and skill set.  Sometimes having a strong skill set can help you build a successful business.  Sometimes it’s the education you have that might help you build a great business. 

I think it’s more important to know how to do the type of business you want to do and like it a lot help but I don’t necessarily think you have to love it to be successful.  

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...Great Customer Service Stories

I was looking online recently at great customer service experiences. You know the kind where people go way beyond what the customer is expecting.  There were stories that ranged from Morton’s Steakhouse delivering a full meal to a longtime customer who jokingly sent a tweet asking them to meet him when his flight landed to a pilot refusing to take off until a passenger made it to the airport to get to his grandson’s last hours of life. 

Sometimes companies understand when they can capture a customer and turn them into a customer for life.  There are instances where this makes all the difference in a person’s life.  Sometimes it’s a simple thing of knowing that your complaint or problem is being taken care of, to knowing that the people working for that company truly value you and want you to come back.

If you own your own business, how’s your customer service? Has your company, your employees or you ever gone above and beyond for a customer?   Not only can it give you a customer for life, but it can garner you some great PR out of the process.  Train your staff to be aware of these types of customer service experiences and let them know you want them to go above and beyond to give that customer more than they expect.  You just might be surprised at the results. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...Do You Really Listen To Your Employees?

Here at BizWorks we see a lot of different types of businesses and just as many different types of business owners.  One of the types that we see is the business owner who hires employees for their expertise and then never listens to them.  It’s the “I know what’s best for my company about everything attitude.”   We see it from time to time when business owners either feel like they know it all or they know it all concerning their business.

So if you have employees, do you actually look at their skill set and work with them to help them bring you their best work?  If you don’t, why do you have employees?  If you think you can do it all then why don’t you?  Probably because there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all if your company is growing.  So hiring and then allowing employees to do the work you hired them for is important.

Now you may be thinking well who would hire someone and not use their talents?  Listen to how people complain about their bosses and you will see. A lot of people work for micro-managers who look over their shoulder or re-do their work. Then there are those people who ask for recommendations from their staff and then disregard everything they say. 

Next time you are working with an employee make sure to take the time to listen to what they have to say and look at the reasons you hired them. It will help them stay more satisfied in their jobs and will help you with the lists of things you have to do.

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...Planning for the End

Many small business owners take on a partner for their business. There can be many reasons behind that partnership but there is one thing you should have regardless and that is a partnership agreement.  I’ve spoken about this before but I feel it’s an important topic to blog about.

We have seen some companies end when partners can’t get along, or a partner isn’t contributing and there was nothing ever set up in writing. A good legal contract can save your business.  When a partnership is not working out and one wants out, if you have nothing in writing it can get ugly.  Having a contract stating who gets what in whatever situation may arise helps each of you to be treated fairly when the time comes to end the partnership.

I know that small business owners don’t always have a lot of money going in and think they can’t afford an attorney to write up the various legal documents they need.  What we like to tell people is we believe that you cannot afford NOT to do these things.  They can literally save you and your business from going under. 

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter