Confront them directly and professionally (especially if you have heard that they are talking bad about you to higher-ups). If your boss has been
defaming you, that's illegal. Consult an attorney.
3.  Take notes - It will help you to really see what's going on. Secondly if you decide to take legal action you will need the information.
4.  Know when it's too much - If you start to have physical or mental problems and you start to feel bad. Targets of abusive bosses tend to be high

achievers, perfectionist, and workaholics.
5.  Control your destiny - Never refer to your old boss once you have left the company in a bad way. Simply state that "you and your old manager,
boss, etc. had a longstanding disagreement over the most effective ways of getting things done and you felt the most professional way to deal
with the problem was move on".

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5 MARKETING MISTAKES THAT COULD RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY SALES
(FOR RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, CATERERS, OR OTHER BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON HOLIDAY SALES)
1.  Relying too much on discount pricing. Don't cut into your profits too soon.
2.  Spending too little on advertising. This is not the time to cut back.
3.  Marketing to some customers and not others. Target all segments of your customer base.
4.  Overlooking feedback. Track how customers feel about your overall business & where the customers come from.
5.  Forgetting last minute shoppers. Account for this in your inventory and think about those after-holiday shoppers.

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THE FOUR MYTHS OF BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
1.   "Now it's my time to get rich quick".
2.   "Now I won't have anyone telling me what to do".
3.   "Now I won't have to work all those crazy hours".
4.   "Now I won't have so much responsibility at work".

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WHAT MAKES UP A GOOD SOLID BUSINESS?
What are the signs and signals of a good small business?
There are good points and signs of a good solid business:
1.  A business can sustain itself without needing cash injections either through loans or owner input.
2.  A diversified customer base.
3.  Controlled revenue growth every year.
4.  Having a happy and content staff.
5.  The business is profitable.
6.  The expectations of the owner are being met and the business is fun.
Do not be a small business owner who constantly tries to make a bad business work. If you are doing all the right things and the above good signs are not there,
maybe it is the business and not you.

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THE STEPS TO STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
10.  Choose your product or service.
  9.  Educate yourself.
  8.  Begin developing a business plan.
  7.  Choose a name for your business.
  6.  Finalize your business location.
  5.  Finalize your financing needs and sources.
  4.  Determine your entity type (LLC, Sole Proprietor, etc.)
  3.  Apply for all your necessary ID numbers.
  2.  Open your business checking account.
  1.  Plan/schedule your grand opening. Let everyone know you are open for business (be visible and vocal).

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE "PR" PUBLIC RELATIONS. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO GENERATE ATTENTION FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
Write articles: write informative articles. Share your experiences with others. This gives you credibility.
Newsletters: these can be done on-line or offline. Start with your current customer base they are your best prospect.
Public Speaking: volunteer yourself to speak free at business meetings, service clubs, schools, and chambers.
Radio: get on a business talk radio show and share your expertise with a large audience.
Write a letter to the editor of your local papers: let them know you are available for questions or comments if needed.

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CHOOSING A LOCATION FOR YOUR BUSINESS. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
-  Take your time. Do not grab the first spot that you see.
-  Plan to find the location early in the process.
-  Must satisfy your target market people Can people reach you.
-  Is there freeway access, good traffic flow, and adequate parking?
-  Find out where the competition is.
-  This is not a time to go cheap. Make the location work for you.
-  Pick a landlord that will work with you.
-  Find out why the location is available. How many businesses have tried to be successful in that location.

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TIPS TO BECOMING A BETTER COMMUNICATOR
-  Talk to people and never down to people.
-  Be human, don't pretend to know it all.
-  Speak clear and simple.
-  Let your personality and excitement excitement.
-  Be a great listener.
-  Practice the KISS principle. KEEP IT SIMPLE SILLY.
-  Get feedback.

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WAYS TO START THE NEW YEAR
-  Take a vacation at the beginning of the year.
-  Focus more on your strengths strengths use those to help others.
-  Develop a theme for the year such as "debt free".
-  List three of your fears that may be keeping you from having a great year.
-  Eliminate things in your life that drain your energy and stress you out.
-  Develop a sense of humor.
-  Remember that you are mortal.

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TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT (COMPLETE THESE IN JANUARY)
-  Design a theme for the year.
-  Create a business vision every year.
-  Update your business and marketing plans.
-  Conduct a review of your ROI (return on investment).
-  Start the year off with a clean and organized office.
-  Clean out your computer files.
-  Purchase a new anti-virus program .
-  Get up to date with all your tax records.

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TIPS FOR MIXING MARRIAGE AND MONEY
1.  Keep no secrets. Be open about your spending, debt, salary, and spending habits.
2.  Discuss whether you will combine checking and savings accounts or keep them separate.
3.  Sit down on a regular basis and discuss your financial and money because things change.
4.  Remember whatever your situation is money does not equal power.
5.  Discuss tough topics. Make sure you have a will.

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TIPS FOR SUCCESS WHEN MARRIED COUPLES ARE BUSINESS PARTNERS
-  Decide whether or how you want to separate your work life from family time.
-  Make sure you both use (and develop if you need to) communication skills and have a sense of humor.
-  Set guidelines for who does what and what's expected.
-  Decide how you will handle professional meetings and appearances, especially with clients.
-  Schedule time alone for outside interest.

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THE LIST OF THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK AN APPLICANT IN A JOB INTERVIEW
About: (notice none of these questions addresses the skill needed to perform the job)
-  Private organizations he or she belongs to
-  Religion
-  Race
-  Date of birth (except when used to verify the age for requirements
-  Ancestry, national origin, nationality, descent, etc.
-  Sex or marital status
-  Height or weight (unless needed to do the job)
-  Physical or mental disabilities

Some question 'do's and dont's' for getting personal information about the applicant
Don't say: How many children do you have? Do you have a babysitter available if we need you on a weekend?
Say: What days can you work? What hours?
Don't say: Do you have a baby or small child at home?
Say: Do you have any responsibilities that would interfere with traveling for us?
Don't say: Have you ever been arrested?
Say: Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

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6 THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY ON A BUSINESS CALL (OR HAVE YOUR EMPLOYEES SAY)
1.  Say "that's not our policy".
2.  Say "that's not my department" or "That's not my job".
3. "Could you call back? We are real busy right now".
4. "We are have problems with our servers" or "My computer is down".
5. "I was waiting to get more information before calling you back".
6.  Never put someone on hold without telling them first!

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BUSINESS CARD TIPS
-  Always keep plenty of business cards with you. Keep them in your wallet, purse, car, brief case, etc.
-  Make sure you replenish when you use some.
-  Create a system for giving and taking cards.
-  When you do take a card from someone, write some notes on the back of it to help you remember your conversation or something else about that person.
-  Do not forget to follow up with people after you get their business card.
-  Use the back of the card for business tips, coupons, etc. be creative.

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DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER? ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT
(You should be able to answer yes to most of these) .
  1.  Can you delegate?
  2.  Are you self-motivated and disciplined?
  3.  Are you afraid of a little work?
  4.  Are your personal relationships strong enough to withstand starting a business?
  5.  Can you sell?
  6.  Do you give up easily?
  7.  Can you handle rejection?
  8.  Do you interact well with others?
  9.  Do you have financial backing?
10.  Do you have experience in the business you want to start?

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7 WAYS MICRO-MANAGERS CAN CURE THEMSELVES
1.  Understand why you are doing it.
2.  Redefine your role.
3.  Remember back when you had a manager that was a meddler and think about how you felt.
4.  Give your employees a job to do and let them do it without getting in their way. Look at the end result and if they perform as you'd like then you know you
can rely on them.
5.  Understand the distinction between helpful and meddlesome.
6.  Take it in steps.
7.  Let you staff have the freedom to tell you when they feel as if you are in their way.

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TEN WAYS TO RESTORE YOUR FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
  1.  Know what you're worth, financially speaking.
  2.  Get out of credit card debt and stay out.
  3.  Start balancing your check book with your monthly statement.
  4.  Know what your credit rating looks like.
  5.  Make sure you are current on all bills and payments.
  6.  Develop relationships with money experts who can support you when you need it.
  7.  Educate yourself about money matters.
  8.  Keep your taxes up to date.
  9.  Protect yourself and your family against the unimaginable.
10.  Reward yourself once you start to feel your integrity is back (this doesn't mean spend more money).

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STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT
-  Begin saving as early as you can -- but don't give up if you get a late start.
-  Create a retirement plan.
-  Get the most out of your 401(k)
-  Take advantage of other savings plans.
-  Invest with your head, not your gut.
-  Take a retirement job.
-  Don't be afraid to improvise.
-  Monitor your progress regularly
-  Plan an exit strategy.
-  Instill passion into your retirement planning.

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STOP FIGHTING WITH YOUR SPOUSE ABOUT MONEY
(Tips to help ease the tension when the topic of money comes up.)
-  Recognize your personality when it comes to money. Are you a spender or a saver, do you splurge often or record every dollar transaction in your log, computer, etc.
-  Share your feelings about money. What are your fears about money? Don't point fingers.
-  Fund the big picture. Crunch the numbers to see what you will need to set aside in order to set yourself up in the future for financial success.
   When do you want to retire and how much do you plan to have?
-  Keep some money separate "play money" and don't ask questions.
-  Switch roles with your spouse for a change. You pay the part of the bills that they pay and they pay your part.
-  Bring in a neutral party such as a financial planner.

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TKT & Associates Tips on Education (Continuing Education) for Entrepreneurs

Education includes:

• Seminars, programs put on by small business service providers, chambers, accounting firms, law firms, banks, etc;
• Consider university/college and adult and continuing education programs; SBDC and SCORE programs;
• Learn from other entrepreneurs;
• Build your advisory (or shadow) board;
• Hire small business service providers, one by one, to take over duties;
• Invest in your people---ask them what they need and help them find programs or other resources at least 2 – 4 times a year
• Find mentors---at least 1 – 2, both inside and outside your industry

Read trade publications, business journals and papers, and information about trends and patterns (Hispanic Latino immigrants;
China; on-line business; computers for business functions like QuickBooks; differences among the generations: Boomers vs.
Traditionalists vs. Gen-X vs. Millennium)

Why do this:

Reason #5: Your industry is changing

·         If not, you’re in a dead industry

·         Look at the environment around you; study other industries and other markets

·         Join at least 1 industry association;

Reason #4  Your competitors are changing

·         But….they don’t always do things right, so don’t always follow the leader

·         Look at the top 3 – 5 competitors: what do they do right & wrong; learn from them….become their customer

Reason #3  Technology is changing

·         Internet and computers have changed everything

·         Faster, cheaper…better?  Not always

Reason #2  Your team is changing

·         Generational differences

·         Find out what drives them

Reason #1  Your customers are changing

·         Don’t know what they want?  Ask them!!!

·         They want faster, cheaper, more convenient, better….and no excuses

·         They want more personal service, too.

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TOP TEN SONGS FOR MOTIVATION BY BIG TALK LISTENERS

10.  Any AC/DC Song: (Troy)
9.  Hold on Tight by:  Electric Light Orchestra (Kenny)
8.  Any Bob Segar Song: (Gary)
7.  I Can Only Imagine by: Mercy Me (Dawn)
6.  Stand by: Donnie Mcclurkin (Tracy)
5.  Just Fine by: Mary J. Blige (Geri)
4.  Beethoven 9th 4th Movement (Dan)
3.  Jump by: Van Halen (Chris)
2. It's Not My Time by: 3 Doors Down (Tiffany)
1. Money by: Pink Floyd (Tom)