This Month in Small Business

From the MBN studios at 617 Seymour in Downtown Lansing Michigan Michael Rogers of SBAM talks to Jeffrey Mosher about some of the events the MBN team has covered over the past few weeks. Jeffrey discusses the June 25th Sustainable Living Summit that the MBN attended in Mason, MI. Jeffrey had also covered the June 22nd Construction Association of Michigan's Mid-Year Economic Forecast/State of the Industry breakfast, held in conjunction with the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan and now showcasing a report delivered from the American Institute of Architects Michigan. This had been held at the Suburban Collection Showplace of Novi, MI.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with noted small business advocate Chris Holman and his Michigan Business Network colleague Jeff Mosher about the Celebrate Meridian Township event and Michigan Lean Consortium, the origins of various sports/business phrases, six things your investors are really thinking when you are making your pitch, eight ways to pivot for growth, four consequences of success and the keys to happy customers.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Jeffrey Mosher of the Michigan Business Network staff about the TU-Automotive Detroit 2016 conference and Grand Valley State University/Consumers Energy Solar Gardens Power Plant ribbon cutting.

Michael Rogers, vice president of communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with nationally known small business advocate Chris Holman about new entrepreneurial trends such as drones!

Respect is something not automatically given. It must be earned. When you’re in a leadership position, it is imperative that the people with whom you work respect you. They might respect your work habits, your intelligence, or your ability to close a deal. Yet, there’s more to it than that. If you can earn their respect as a person, then you’ve really won the game.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with nationally known small business advocate Chris Holman about the recent Mackinac Policy Conference.

Some say a business plan is all you need -- if your growth objectives and targets are solid, you’ll attract great talent. That might sway a business school professor, but to real world professionals, the "business plan route" is just plain wrong.

Being a suitcase entrepreneur means you are always on the move. If your business involves you traveling around quite a bit then you should have garnered some travel wisdom. But the chances are that you are still making some mistakes.

The content of your email message is important, but your design is the first element that recipients will see. If you want readers to see your message instead of clicking to the next email, it’s essential to please their eyes and pique their curiosity.

In downtown Detroit, start-ups and luxury retailers are opening up and new office buildings are being built as the city works to recover from its deep economic problems.