As a small business owner I would like to take advantage of all of the legal write-offs I can for my business.  Which by the way is one of the benefits of being in business for yourself!  Since it’s that time of year again be sure you’re getting all of the benefits too.

Going back through information from Sandy Botkin (formerly an IRS Attorney), I came across some helpful tips:

“According to the IRS, you are considered “traveling” if you are away from home long enough to require sleep.  In that case your lodging is deductible as well as your Read the rest of this entry »

Some might say it goes to figure that someone from California would think about opening a store type warehouse for medical marijuana cultivation.  I think regardless of location, this entrepreneur saw a need and is filling it.  There are numerous people who rely on this for medicinal purposes, and it can get expensive, just like any treatment can. Read the full article here.

At the opening last week the line was a block long to get into the warehouse, and you can only purchase the equipment if you have a cannabis card.  They sell everything – all the necessary equipment for indoor, hydroponic cultivation – from nutrients, pumps, and tubing to lights.

There are various displays set up, and you can even pay for a technician to come to your home to set the system up, and maintain it weekly.  The new Geek Squad!

The owner is considering how to franchise his idea …..  what are your thoughts about it?

Until next time,  J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

I’m not bringing this up to irritate anyone.  I’m not bringing this up even thinking I could possibly make a difference as “one.”  The general feeling I have been hearing from others though is that of disappointment, the, “here we go again”, the “samo-samo talking heads”, the “how can services be lessened and we stay as the number one global power“? What do you think of the state of the union address?

I think back to all of the years as a single parent and how I struggled to make ends meet.  There was one point I even had to rent rooms to others to keep my house.  My heart just aches for the single parents now, who actually need to hold down 2 jobs to make ends meet – but can’t even find one.  My heart aches for the families who have lost their homes, have swallowed their pride, yet they still feel Read the rest of this entry »

Last night I watched 60 Minutes and the feature they did on Don Hewitt, the creator and executive producer of 60 Minutes.  Unfortunately he passed away in August of pancreatic cancer, but the legacy he left changed how people reported stories.  So what does 60 Minutes have to do with online marketing you’re wondering?  As Mr. Hewitt described his philosophy of telling a story of the people within the story, it reminded me how important it is to connect with your audience, especially marketing online when you don’t have that visual impression.

People can buy “stuff” from anyone, but they will buy it from you if they trust you, if you connect with them.  He changed how news was reported….his team didn’t just state the facts, they got into the story and showed us all sides of the coin, so to speak.  People tuned in and continually came back for more.  The team was known for it’s cutting edge techniques of getting interviews, and as importantly they were known to be Read the rest of this entry »