Comments for Learned At SCORE Chicago

Comment on Tough Times – Is It Smart to Buy a Franchise Now? by Franchise-Santa-Barbara-Taylor

Franchise-Santa-Barbara-Taylor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:02:10 +0000

Very comprehensive and helpful post you have here. It gives me a better idea whether franchising is still best during this tough time. It’s good to know that there are still “recession resistant” franchises which is really very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Comment on About SCORE Chicago by chimac

chimac — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:57:49 +0000

Hi,

I have lots of small business resources at my website http://www.chimac.net. It is free and I am based on Chicago. I am free for non profits.

Regards,
Brian Povlsen

Comment on 4 Tips for Dealing with Tech Support by Suggestions on how to deal with Tech Support « Chicago Mac/PC Support

Suggestions on how to deal with Tech Support « Chicago Mac/PC Support — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:55:20 +0000

[...] on how to deal with Tech Support He makes some great points. Click here to [...]

Comment on How Long Should Your Business Plan Be? by markegoodman

markegoodman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:29:50 +0000

Any of the business plan formats will work. The same questions apply weather financing is internal or external. I would pay special attention to an action plan with milestones. Internal financing typically supervisors more closely than external.

Comment on How Long Should Your Business Plan Be? by Ralph Ferragamo

Ralph Ferragamo — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:21:05 +0000

What do you suggest for a business plan that is designed for a product or service for an existing company. Financing would be internal but experise for product development would be external.

Product developer would be looking for one time cash payment plus 5 yr royalty package and turn owership over to company at end of royalty period.

Comment on 7 Keys to Effective Guerrilla Marketing by LARRY SEMIGRAN

LARRY SEMIGRAN — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:56:01 +0000

OUTSTANDING…..TO SAY THE LEAST..
I am the chair person of the marketing committee, SCORE # 150 in Toms River, NJ…With our newly elected board, we are in the process to void the statement, “SCORE is the best kept secret….
YOUR seven keys, to EFFECTIVE GUERILLA MARKETING,
will be our cornerstone, in achieving our goal…

Thanks again,

Comment on 4 Tips for Dealing with Tech Support by Patrick (G)

Patrick (G) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:22:18 +0000

hmm,
asking technical support about the difference between POP and IMAP is akin to going to an auto parts store and asking about the difference between synthetic and conventional oil.
Any discussion about the difference beyond the superficial is likely to be (a) above their pay grade and (b) inconsequential to you.

As for your Apple Tech Support adventure. Your question is not nearly as straightforward as it seems. Are you talking about videos on VHS tapes, camcorder tapes, DVDs, from a digital camera, already in a computer format (if so which?), or web videos from, say, Youtube?

Itunes (on the computer) will understand how to handle a subset of all possible video formats, but that’s not really it’s main job. You can get other software that can convert to-and-from more video formats – and most of that software have options that make generating Ipod-ready video relatively straightforward. If your video is coming from DVDs, you might need to circumvent the so-called copy-protection measures. For video tapes you will likely need a hardware device and video-editing software (sometimes sold together) in order to connect your VCR to a computer so you can capture the video.

Comment on What is most important in a Business Plan by Business Plan

Business Plan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:19:31 +0000

Absolutely brilliant!

Comment on Help with a Business Plan? by Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:15:48 +0000

Wonderful post! I believe that a business plan is critical in every business. By teaching my coaching students on how to write a business plan for something they really want gives them direction and clarity and they will be able to move forward and see quick results.

Comment on Is A One Page Business Plan a Business Plan? Poll Results And SCORE Comment by Glenn Mehnert

Glenn Mehnert — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:39:57 +0000

First, a disclaimer. I am certified in and sell the One Page Business Plan Process and Tools. Second, with an MBA from a top ten B-School for entrepreneurs, I understand the concerns brought up by SCORE counselors.

So here’s the thrust of my comment – different tools for different purposes, different leaders, different sized businesses, different markets, different objectives at different times in their respective lifecycles.

The One Page Business Plan requires leaders and professionals to be clear in defining thier focus and how they will bend the curve on the handful of balanced metrics required to achieve a 12-36 month vision. This is rarely accomplished in traditional business plans. Traditional business planning focuses on KNOWING all the different (sometimes esoteric) variables that could impact the business and describing how threats and opportunities will be addressed over that period. It is valuable thinking if an organization has resources to collect and act on all of the information, but most often that’s not the case – even in large, well funded enterprises.

Yes, it is wise to put together a full traditional SWOT analysis and include marketing, operations, management, financing, and R&D if you are abundantly resourced. It is necessary if you are pursuing VC or bank funding.

If you are not (and you already have experience and insight), decide what 5 to 9 key measures need to change to move your Division, Department, Work Unit, Project, or Business forward and get to work. The speed of business makes longer-term planning valuable only if you make it to the future where the resources to execute are available.