Archive for December, 2009

17.12 2009

Bootstrapping 101- The Virtual Office

Being at the office without actually being there has become the norm for today’s small business entrepreneur. For those who have left the corporate world to venture out on their own, there is definitely an adjustment period and a learning curve. But once you realize that you can still use the same type of tools as the big companies while working from your car, hotel room, or even the nearest Starbucks, things begin to run a little more smoothly.

Information technologies have dramatically changed the potential productivity level of today’s small business owner. Ins

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16.12 2009

Google fined by French court

16 portraits: The players of tech These tech-world luminaries – photographed during our recent Brainstorm Tech conference – aren’t just changing the game; they’ve defined it. Photographs by Robyn Twomey. View photos

Google was ordered to pay 300,000 euros ($431,700) in damages and interest, far less than the 15 million euro ($21.5 million) fine sought by plaintiffs. It must stop reproducing any copyrighted material by French publishers it has not struck deals with.

The popular search engine announced it would appeal, but Friday’s ruling will be enforced immediately pending any further court action.

“We believe giving online users access to very short extracts from works is in line with copyright,” Google lawyer Benjamin du Chauffaut said.

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16.12 2009

Bring the Entrepreneurial Spirit to Your Day Job

Many new entrepreneurs find it difficult to turn business ideas into actual actions. Hesitation often is a result of unfamiliarity with the business ownership process. Many have found it helpful to simulate the entrepreneurial experience within the context of their current job.

Dealing with Procrastination

Potential entrepreneurs often discover they are unable to make a definitive commitment to opening a new business or advancing a promising idea. Whether due to financial considerations, security with an existing job, or recognition that an entrepreneurial endeavor is fraught with risk and uncertainty, these would-be business owners frequently remain frozen by fear of the unknown.

There are many well documented ways to overcome procrastination in opening a new business including goal setting, replacing uncertainty with positive affirmations and pursuing a larger goal by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable increments.

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16.12 2009

Europe Ends Case Against Microsoft

Opera and other rivals are smiling as regulators win promise on choice and end Microsoft antitrust investigation.

LONDON — Antitrust cases in Europe can go on forever, but Microsoft‘s spat with the European Union over the bundling of Internet Explorer into Windows has finally come to an amenable end.

The E.U. is dropping antitrust charges against Microsoft after the software giant agreed to give European buyers of Windows a choice of a dozen other Web browsers like Mozilla’s Firefox, Google‘s ( GOOG – news – people ) Chrome or Opera through a pop-up “Choice Screen” when they first install the operating system. (The E.U.

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14.12 2009

Launching A New Product

On October 22nd, Small Business Trends announced the first in a series of videos that our very own, Anita Campbell, did for UPS (United Parcel Service) and provided a bit of the backstory behind the filming of the videos.

Today, we are pleased to announce the last video of Anita’s series titled, “Launching A New Product” in which Anita discusses the cycle of orchestrating the successful launch of a new product into the marketplace.

Anita says, “So, you’ve developed a new product?  You’re going to want a well coordinated launch plan.  Start planning early!  If the product is already rolling off the assembly line and being packed in boxes, you’re not leaving yourself enough time.”

When orchestrating a new product launch, there are so many factors to take into consideration.  Branding, logos, trademarks, packaging and much more.  Missing one or more of the necessary factors in a successful business launch can “make or break” your new product.  Taking the necessary time beforehand to properly prepare is crucial to the final success of your new product.

Anita says, “Keep your plans flexible.  You may need to make adjustments on the fly, but remember, those adjustments just might reveal hidden opportunities.”

Here is Anita’s final video of the series titled, “Launching a New Product”:

A big thank you to United Parcel Service (UPS) whose sponsorship made it possible for Anita to do the video series. We’d also like to point out that several ot

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13.12 2009

Want to create jobs? Import entrepreneurs

(CNNMoney.com) — A five-foot robot sits in Jon Wheatley’s chair during most U.S. investor presentations, listening, speaking, and watching the meeting as Wheatley maneuvers it from a laptop in London. The shtick draws attention to Wheatley and his company, social media Web site DailyBooth.com, but the robot (provided by one of his investors) serves a purpose: Wheatley cannot set foot in the United States.

The 22-year-old Brit’s deportation came from an innocent mistake. When immigration officials pulled him aside during a three-month trip to Silicon Valley last summer, he mentioned he might talk to an attorney about trying to get a visa to stay and build his company there.

Officials deported him, quashing his immigration plans. Wheatley now works nights to match U.S.

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13.12 2009

Exxon’s Deal: Gas Yes, Iraq No

With $41 billion XTO buyout, Rex Tillerson maps a path energy companies will likely follow in the decade to come.

HOUSTON — ExxonMobil‘s $41 billion buyout of XTO Energy caught the oilpatch off guard Monday morning. Over the weekend all eyes were on Iraq, where numerous international oil companies secured contracts to develop the world’s biggest untapped oil fields.

ExxonMobil ( XOM – news – people ), looking for avenues of growth, already has a tentative $25 billion deal to develop the first phase of the giant West Qurna field. But don’t expect the company to show interest in additional Iraqi acreage.

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