I’ve never been one to remain silent in a room. My ideas have always been heard. I attribute this ability to share my voice to my parents, teachers, and mentors, and to my education, as they all played a pivotal role in creating the professional woman I am today. I found my voice at a…

Small and midsized enterprises (SMEs) are the economic and job growth drivers for the world economy. But they can be hindered by complexities associated with legacy technology, business processes, and decision making that prevent them from growing. And yet some businesses are able to overcome these growth pains and thrive. How do they do it?…

When it comes to customer service, we have seen a revolution in our times, and its name is Social Media. Current studies show that nearly half of all consumers expect a response within an hour when they’ve reached out via a social channel. For brands, this presents challenges as well as amazing opportunities. The challenge…

An entrepreneur’s greatest challenge isn’t coming up with innovative ideas, findingcustomers, or acquiring top talent, but rather finding the time and efficiency to grow their business. The struggle is real for entrepreneurs everywhere, as they all share the same challenge: Getting everything done while wearing many hats. There’s no exact formula for success or how…

Over the past few decades, technology has evolved – and rapidly so. Just 20 years ago, we had to choose between talking on the phone or dialing up to access the internet. Now the thought of having to pick just one digital device at a time sounds foreign and horribly outdated. Dial-up was the norm…

You stumbled and fell. It happens to the best of us, even to Olympic sprinters with the eyes of the entire world on them. Stumbling is evidence that you are testing your limits. It should serve as motivation to do it again and to try a little bit harder. You’re almost there. If your New…

Mom-and-pop businesses are slowly becoming a nostalgic memory. Thirty years ago, small businesses were the backbone of most communities in towns and smaller cities all across America. From the local grocery store to the barbershop, the entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well, with very few franchises or large corporations. Although mom-and-pop businesses may be dwindling…

In August, @SAP4SmallBiz launched a monthly TweetChat series titled #SAPSMBChat. The format of the series is a one-hour Q&A session co-hosted with Brian Moran, a small business expert and influencer, and a special guest. In the inaugural TweetChat, our special guest was Angela Maiers, an award-winning educator, speaker, consultant and professional trainer known for her…

A review of the small and midsize enterprise (SME) landscape in North America reveals some very interesting data points. These depict a very large universe of enterprises with enormous numbers at the bottom of the hierarchy pyramid and only a few at the top, relative to number of employees. What they all have in common, though,…