With the economy in flux and companies laying off employees right and left, it is time to declare your independence as small business owner and get the ability to tap into millions of dollars of federal contracts. In this article learn how to complete the SBA 8a application successfully without paying someone else $$$. You can do it.

"Send me an e-mail." "I'll text you an answer by COB." "Just leave a message on my voice mail." "Did you get my e-vite?" "Meet me on line." Have we gotten to the point where our only form of communication is via e-mail, voicemail or chatrooms?

What is a WOW card? A personalized card that causes someone to say "WOW, that is the best card I ever received" and the card is then framed or displayed promiently at work or home. WOW cards are the ultimate hearfelt card.

As an instructional designer (training professional) with over 25 years experience, I noticed there is a trend in the corporate training marketplace for clients asking for standards and criteria to help them distinguish practitioners who have proven they can produce results through a systematic process. Up until 2003, there was not a way to distinguish true training professionals.

Sending a Thank You card is a great way to build and maintain a business or personal relationship. In our impersonal world, just the simple act of saying "thank you" is very powerful.

You have a new training project and you have got to write training objectives. Where do you start?

Training often takes the backseat in companies, Starbucks has elevated the importance for well trained employees to a new level.

How can you best prepare for a business matchmaking event? What are methods for getting new business?

How can you write more effective company flyers, articles and other documents in less time?

Are you a minority or woman business owner? Have you considered applying for SBA status to allow you to access millions of contract dollars with the federal government? Wonder if your business qualifies to become 8(a) certified?

hy spend the money to buy software, when you can just download the forms from the SBA's web site and fill them out for nothing? The SBA provides all of the forms you need to use.