Business Planning


Recent Business Planning Articles

Happiness Generates Revenue 

Serial entrepreneur Ted Leonsis asks entrepreneurs to question their definition of success.  Watch video

If You're Happy, You're More Likely to Succeed 

Serial entrepreneur Ted Leonsis talks about teaching his kids the difference and relationship between happiness and success.  Watch video

7 Ways to Apply Scenario Planning

How do you expect the unexpected? Check out how you can benefit from a little preparation.  Read more

Turn Your Hobby Into Company Profits

I've practiced improv comedy and climbed ice formations. But I never thought that one of my hobbies would translate into a significant new revenue stream for...  Read more

Bring Purpose & Profit Together 

Naked Pizza founder Robbie Vitrano talks about building a business based on community feedback.  Watch video

How Do You Fit into the Marketplace? 

Naked Pizza founder Robbie Vitrano says today's marketplace demands profitability and responsible behavior from businesses.  Watch video

How to Prepare for the Unexpected

Strategic thinkers see big changes coming before everyone else in their industry. Fortunately, it's an acquired skill.  Read more

Biggest Obstacle to Business Growth

Some of the biggest market shifts of the past 15 years happened when people challenged the existing assumptions.  Read more

Here's a Business Model that Works 

Kevin Cleary, president and COO of Clif Bar, talks about how his company's bottomline is directly related to its mission.  Watch video

Become the Next McDonald's: 3 Steps

Can you scale your business like McDonald's did? Here are three steps to take during the journey.  Read more

Living With Your Decisions 

Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, talks about the day-to-day struggle of plotting a course for his organization.  Watch video

Grind, Hustle & Payoff 

CrowdSpring co-founders Mike Samson and Ross Kimbarovsky talk about failures, hustling, and partnership.  Watch video

How to Make Money in Your Sleep

You fell in love with being your own boss, but can your company scale and exist without you? Here's how to branch out into new revenue streams.  Read more

Can Facebook Acquire a Better Mobile Experience?

The now public company has shown that it's not above buying what it can't build. But is that right solution for its biggest problem?  Read more

Uncertainty Is the Key to Success 

Eric Ries says entrepreneurship is a career with many unknowns, but learning how to become lean will help you scale faster.  Watch video

Is Your Start-up Plan Fatally Flawed? 

Entrepreneur Eric Ries says even if you meet your goals, if the plan is bad, you will fail.  Watch video

Squeeze 25 Hours Into a Day 

Increase your productivity. Get yourself in the zone. Tips from Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation , and Scott Gerber, founder of the ...  Watch video

Can This Start-up Shake Up the Art World?

Consumers can already rent dresses, cars, and DVDs by the day. Why not fine art?  Read more

Be Cool in Crisis: Lessons From the Secret Service Scandal

How a management team prepares for and manages a crisis is what sets a great business apart from a mediocre one. Here are a few steps key to PR success in th...  Read more

Disruption Comes (Finally!) to Commercial Real Estate

How Jason Freedman and 42Floors cooked up a killer business idea that could turn commercial real estate on its head.  Read more

When It's Time to Throw Out Your Business Plan

Successfully growing your business requires regular questioning of the key elements of your plan. Here are five tips for keeping your business model fresh.  Read more

How We Launched a Major Music Festival

Within 24 hours of Fireflyfestival.com launching, we had well over $1 million in ticket sales. Here's exactly how we broke into the music festival business.  Read more

2 Things That Kill Creativity Daily

These everyday facts of life may seem inconsequential, but they're really stealth creativity killers.  Read more

How to Leave Your Company in Good Hands

Leaders who prepare their successors ensure the future of their organizations.  Read more

Your Business Can Be More Than Just a Job

Did you fantasize about the lifestyle you would have as an entrepreneur? Surprised it hasn't turned out that way? It's not too late to turn things around.  Read more

5 Cues You're Pursuing A Bad Business Idea 

How to determine you're on a dead-end business path. Tips from Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, and Marc Barros, CEO of Contour hands...  Watch video

Is That Partnership Going to Work?

Joint ventures can yield tremendous results. They can also be a huge pain. Here's how we learned to master certain rules of engagement, and make great partne...  Read more

Before You Launch Your Business Idea 

How do you get a company started? Take these tips from Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, founder of Gilt ...  Watch video

What the Smartest People Focus On

Alexander Osterwalder is an expert on business model innovation. Here’s what he has to say about your current business model -- and why it’s not working.  Read more

New Concept? Ask These 3 Questions First

To rigorously evaluate a new idea, business plan, sales pitch, or product feature, be sure you ask these three simple questions. They will save you.  Read more

Best Time to Start a Company

Don't wait. Here are seven reasons to launch a venture today.  Read more

Looking To Raise Capital? 

Pravina Raghavan, New York District Director of the Small Business Administration, recommends you take advantage of free resources.  Watch video

The Big Business of Local News: Main Street Connect

In early 2010, Jane Byrant Quinn and Carll Tucker launched a community-based news website. Today they compete with AOL. Here's how they changed the game.  Read more

How to Pick Between Two Logical Options

Making a decision with imperfect information is a challenge. The rule of the one-way street might be the tie breaker you're looking for.  Read more

5 Ways to Build a Resilient Company

The best companies are those that can bounce back from failure. Here's what it takes to do it well.  Read more