Norm Brodsky

"Street Smarts" columnist and senior contributing editor Norm Brodsky is a veteran entrepreneur who has founded and grown six businesses. In 2008 he sold CitiStorage, a document-archive business based in Brooklyn, New York, for $110 million. Along with Bo Burlingham, Norm has chronicled his entrepreneurial journey in his column in Inc. and in the book The Knack: How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up.


Recent Street Smarts Articles

How to Handle Employee Sabotage

Not all employees resign gracefully. Some try to sabotage your company on their way out. Here's how veteran entrepreneur Norm Brodsky deals with it.  Read more


Buying a Business? Expect the Unexpected

If you're considering buying a business, consider veteran entrepreneur Norm Brodsky's advice first.  Read more


How to Deal with Late Payments

When times are tough, customers take longer to pay their bills. You can count on it. Veteran entrepreneur Norm Brodsky says that's the wrong time to start th...  Read more


The Commodity-Pricing Trap

Norm Brodsky advises on how to avoid the race to the bottom.  Read more


Do You Need a Business Broker?

When buying a business, what's the going rate for hiring a broker, and who is responsible for paying it?  Read more


When Is It Time to Throw in the Towel?

Giving up isn't something that comes easy to entrepreneurs, but sometimes, giving up might just be the best move.  Read more


Norm Brodsky on the New Breed of Entrepreneur

If nine out of 10 entrepreneurs are starting Web-based businesses. Is that trouble?  Read more


Norm Brodsky on Weighing Prospective Clients

How much time is too much time for a small-but-growing company to spend talking to and preparing estimates for prospective clients?  Read more


Norm Brodsky on the Right Way to Reward Top Employees

When you have a stand-out employee, is increasing pay and benefits enough?  Read more


No Vacancy at the Hotel Brodsky

By the time Norm's new hotel opens, it will have been booked for the next three years, and therein lies an important lesson for any entrepreneur.  Read more


Keeping Peace in the Family

The best way to avoid bickering over family ownership of a company is to put everything in writing early on.  Read more


Making a Smooth Transition When Buying a Business

How can you retain a great company culture when forcing an ownership transition?  Read more


Entrepreneurs: Leash Your Optimism

Even in tough times, entrepreneurs are incurable optimists. But too much optimism can blind you to the obstacles ahead.  Read more


Norm Brodsky on Overcoming Your Fear of Competition

Norm Brodsky says that buying a business to stifle competition is never a good move. Spend the time and money improving your own business.  Read more


Norm Brodsky on Dealing With Picky Customers

What should you do when customers insist on working only with you?  Read more


Norm Brodsky on Identifying Outstanding Salespeople

Good salespeople focus on the particular feature the customer cares about.  Read more


Being Prepared When Things Go Wrong

What’s the best policy for raising prices to offset the cost of materials?  Read more


When to Change Your Business Model

If a competitor offers its product for free, should you do the same in hopes of increasing market share?  Read more


Keeping Your Company Healthy

A balance sheet is like a thermometer that provides a reading on the health of your business. Ignoring it could be fatal.  Read more


Prospecting for Black Gold

Norm’s next big move: opening a hotel in North Dakota  Read more


Divvying Up the Business

Making sure you have a good ownership agreement  Read more


Growing Up as a CEO

Learning to take responsibility for your mistakes  Read more


How to Avoid the Price-War Trap

Dealing with low-priced competitors  Read more


6 Lessons on Starting Up From Norm Brodsky

"Street Smarts" columnist and senior contributing editor Norm Brodsky is a veteran entrepreneur who has founded and built six businesses. Here, he shares his...  View slideshow


How to Take On a Bully

Dealing with a large competitor that intimidates your customers  Read more


How to Adapt Your Business Model for Hard Times

Norm Brodsky suggests getting a second opinion on big decisions.  Read more


How to Prepare Your Business for Inflation

Norm Brodsky warns that a period of high inflation is coming and offers tips on what you need to do now.  Read more


Building Your Business

Norm Brodsky talks about deciding which opportunities a small business should pursue.  Read more


How to Drum Up Customer Referrals

Norm Brodsky gives advice on how to get more customer referrals and sales leads.  Read more


Are You CEO Material?

Norm Brodsky gives tips on how to determine if you are the right person to take your company to the next level.  View slideshow


How to Keep Your Message Clear

How to optimize your marketing message by better understanding the customer  Read more


Are Your Credit Card Bills Out of Control?

In order to build a viable business, you need to exercise sound inventory control.  Read more


How to Benefit From Government Cutbacks

Government spending cuts will be painful, but private businesses could still see growth opportunities.  Read more


Running an Event on a Budget

Norm Brodsky offers advice on running an event for your customers without breaking the bank.  Read more


Reaching Your Target Market

Norm Brodsky offers his advice on how to attract more of the right kind of customers.  Read more


Capitalizing on the Economic Recovery

Each economic recovery is different. Norm Brodsky gives advice on planning for recovery.  Read more


Sales Strategy Checkup

How to make customers realize they need your product  Read more


Understanding Your Company

Advice for small business owners when winging it is not enough to build your company  Read more


Planning to Exit

How to build your company with a plan to sell  Read more


How to Pay Less in Taxes

Norm Brodsky says the secret to keeping your taxes low is knowing your numbers.  Read more