PODCAST · business
Small Business As Usual
by Community Economic Development Fund
A series about the art of operating small enterprises and the issues faced by the owners.
Episodes
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WOWRadioCT Jim Bzdyra May 12
WOWRadioCT Jim Bzdyra May 12 by Community Economic Development Fund
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Deep Dive -- How & Why Successful Nonprofits Borrow Money
Find out why nonprofits with $500K+ recurring revenue can and should use debt capital from CDFIs (like CEDF) to bridge funding gaps and manage operational needs. Learn how to break down the "business first" mindset, debunk common myths about nonprofit profit and donor perception, and hear an...
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Deep Dive -- Starting Your New Business Right
Making a successful start of a new business requires not only creativity and hustle but a certain discipline to do things the right way. Compliance with regulatory expectations can trip up a new business owner who doesn't follow the checklist for doing it the right way. Google’s Notebook LM is…
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Deep Dive --Ten Principles for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Thanks to our free enterprise system, it’s still relatively easy to accumulate at least a small amount of capital to launch a venture. And whether it’s called a “side hustle,” “part time gig” or small business, it’s still subject to the market forces and foundational truths that ultimately…
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Deep Dive -- Entrepreneurs Checklist for Raising Capital
Learn how small businesses typically get funded, and the seven most important concepts to have locked down to know you are prepared to take an entrepreneurial journey. Google’s Notebook LM is the tool we used to voice the podcast. Dialogue was created by AI but based on our published booklet...
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Deep Dive -- Can I get that business loan_
This podcast episode is based on CEDF’s Ready for Business Success course and applies to borrowing from a bank or a community lender. Enrolling in the free course on the CEDF website at CEDF.com/inquiry will provide you with a good understanding of small business funding and a questionnaire to…
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Deep Dive -- Understanding How Lenders Evaluate Loans
Get a checklist for your understanding of what a community lender or even a bank is looking for as it evaluates applications. Preparation of your business is the key to success on your first try.
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Deep Dive -- Prudent Advice for Small Business Borrowers
There are many different sources for borrowed small business capital. But the terms can be very different and the net costs to the borrower can vary enormously. Be careful and be sure you understand how the products differ from traditional business lending from banks, credit unions or community...
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Deep Dive --Top Ten Reasons Loan Applications Fail
Nonprofit community lender organizations, just like banks and credit unions, provide responsible, affordable small business lending. Learn the reasons why some applicants stumble and how to prepare for success.
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Deep Dive --12 Tips for Securing a Small Business Loan
Nonprofit community lender organizations, just like banks and credit unions, provide responsible, affordable small business lending. Learn the important factors to consider when you prepare to apply.
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Deep Dive -- Financial Competence
Learn about CEDF's approach to financial competence to help small business owners.
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Small Business As Usual -- unintentional entrepreneur
Some people appear to be born entrepreneurs. Others seem to end up owning businesses having never contemplated that career. But is that the same as being an entrepreneur?
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Small Business As Usual -- fortitude
What do you do when you lose 85% of your business? Stephen Richmond of Painting with a Twist in Hartford describes his approach.
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Small Business As Usual -- diversity, inclusion & equity
Karen Hinds of Workplace Success Group explains why small business owners need to be engaged with diversity, inclusion and equity and how it can improve their success.
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Small Business As Usual -- facing uncertainty
What makes some entrepreneurs better suited for the most emotionally challenging part of business ownership -- uncertainty? Dr. Len Wysocki has insights into the skills required.
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Small Business As Usual -- building community
Michael Cervellino of Belle Academy had figured out how to deal with COVID-19 long before the pandemic hit through charity events and old fashioned public relations.
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Small Business As Usual -- preparation for change
As a small business owner, it’s likely you’ll have to deal with change on a daily basis. Ralph Mesite shares how he prepared for facing COVID-19 in a way that few others had the opportunity.
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Small Business As Usual -- employee personal problems
Episode 20-2: Employee personal problems. Organizational development consultant and author Bruce Tulgan explains you can be be humane, thoughtful and take the right approach to dealing with employees who bring personal issues to work.
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Small Business As Usual -- should you go into business?
Lots of people are attracted to owning their own businesses. But not everyone stops to make a truly informed assessment of whether it’s right for them. Mary Kay Della Camera, advisor for the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, specializes in helping her clients ask the right questions.
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Small Business As Usual -- bread saved my life
We've all heard stories about how the challenges of small business ownership cause personal crises. In contrast, Jennifer Acuna, owner of Loafing Around, LLC explains the profound difference that starting a business made in getting her life back on track.
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Small Business As Usual -- improving cashflow
Michael Mongillo of Eleven Arrows Consulting points out the solutions are surprisingly straight forward and lie in good information and honest, candid and effective communication.
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Small Business As Usual -- why borrowing got hard
Small business owners might wonder what happened to the world where they could dial their banker on the phone and arrange for a loan in a snap. As CEDF celebrates its 25th anniversary, President and CEO Jim Bzdyra looks back over the changes that impacted commercial banking.
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Small Business As Usual -- emotions behind money
Problems in business with money? Maybe it's all in your head. Corrin Gibbs Burke, CFP, explains the emotional side of what none of us can live without, and how using archetypes helps us understand pitfalls and tendencies that interfere with small business success.
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Small Business As Usual -- what customers want
Imagine racking up big debt and betting all on opening a small store only to find out the next day a big box competitor had come to town. Nick Tarzia, explains how he survived by finding out what his customers wanted and how it eventually led to success owning Awesome Toys & Gifts in Stamford and...
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Small Business As Usual -- right place, right time, right customer
Richard Portelance, CEO of CareerPath Mobile, developed a great solution that users loved, but the paying customers weren't ready to adopt it. What he did next explains how to move your business into the right place at the right time for the right customer. Thanks to Nelson Merchan of the CT SBDC...
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Small Business As Usual -- the right questions
Episode 19-3: Are you asking the right questions about your business? Do you have the right business model? Are you solving problems for customers? Are you an entrepreneur or a small business owner? Middletown-based Anthony Price of LootScout wrote a book, "Get the loot and run," to explore...
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Small Business As Usual -- innovation
Episode 19-2: Innovation doesn't come from brainstorming. It sneaks up on you like a cat at the intersection of experience and observation. Chris Raimo, owner of Happy Cat Hotel in Windsor, CT, explains how his concept evolved into what might become an industry disruptor.
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Managing Conflict in your Workplace pt1
The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills. Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself...
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Managing Conflict in your Workplace pt2
The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills. Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself...
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Managing Conflict in your Workplace pt3
The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills. Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself...
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Small Business As Usual -- how your customers feel
Episode 19-1: Devon Scanlon, owner/operator of Chick-Fil-A in Brookfield, CT, shares her methods for maintaining fidelity to the simplest of ideas -- how you make your customers feel -- and why this can make sales and profits soar.
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Small Business As Usual -- building community
Episode 18-12: In an era emphasizing referrals, social media and testimonials, growing a consumer-facing business is not just a matter of advertising but about building a community of enthusiasts who are wild about your offering and willing to help evangelize to like-minded. Jennifer Lord…
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Building relationships with journalists pt 1
Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper…
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Building relationships with journalists pt 2
Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper…
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Building relationships with journalists pt 3
Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper…
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Building relationships with journalists pt 4
Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper…
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Small Business As Usual -- work into play
Episode 18-11: Turning work into play is easy for Laura Beckham of New London's Berry's Ice Cream and Candy Bar. Laura explains how she adds fun to the recipes to keep her team motivated and her customers enchanted.
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Use LinkedIn to Make Things Happen for your B2B Enterprise
As a small business owner or solopreneur, leveraging social media to market your business and identify leads is essential. LinkedIn is considered to be the primary social media platform for B2B connections, with over 500 million global users. This workshop will provide you with the best practices...
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Use LinkedIn to Make Things Happen for your B2B Enterprise pt 2
As a small business owner or solopreneur, leveraging social media to market your business and identify leads is essential. LinkedIn is considered to be the primary social media platform for B2B connections, with over 500 million global users. This workshop will provide you with the best practices...
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Small Business As Usual -- entrepreneur, technician or manager
Episode 18-10: As a business owner, do you have the personalities of the entrepreneur, technician and manager in balance inside your head? Do you have your time appropriately segmented and planned for efficiency? Bob Walsh, CEO of Sound Coaching Inc., in Bridgeport explains how he makes it work.
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So You Want to Buy a Building pt 1
Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of...
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So You Want to Buy a Building pt 2
Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of...
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So You Want to Buy a Building pt 3
Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of...
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Small Business As Usual -- engaging customers
Episode 18-9: Innovation doesn’t require high investment and complicated research and development. Dave Sagers explains how you can engage with your customers to accomplish true innovation.
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Small Business As Usual -- networking
Episode 18-8: What’s the most effective way to make use of business networking opportunities? Sean Moore, president, Midstate Chamber of Commerce, explains the secrets of the fellowship of master networkers.
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Small Business As Usual -- perseverance
Episode 18-7: How many years would you be willing to strive to see your concept brought to fruition? Evan Dobos of Bantam, CT, explains the role of perseverance in the creation of CivicLift, a software platform designed to increase civic engagement for towns and cities.
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Small Business As Usual -- flexibility
Episode 18-6: What would you do if you had an idea for a business in an industry you knew well, then you meticulously planned, cautiously financed and carefully launched the operation only to find it was all wrong for the market? Robert Webb of Charter Oak Scanning in Stonington, CT, explains how...
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Small Business As Usual -- above & beyond
Episode 18-5: What happens when you fail to go "above and beyond" for your customers? Tony Scacca, owner of First & Last Tavern of Middletown, CT, offers lessons from decades in hospitality that can apply to any industry.
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Small Business As Usual -- processes & systems
Episode 18-4: How do you use processes and systems to guide a business that depends on people and relationships? Caleb Roseme of Assured Quality Homecare in Norwich, CT, explains his approach.
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Small Business As Usual -- social responsibility
Episode 18-3: Katie Hughes Nelson, owner of Perk cafes and the Perk on Wheels food truck, discusses the challenges and rewards of adhering to green values and other principles of social responsibility.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A series about the art of operating small enterprises and the issues faced by the owners.
HOSTED BY
Community Economic Development Fund
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Small Business As Usual have?
Small Business As Usual currently has 56 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Small Business As Usual about?
A series about the art of operating small enterprises and the issues faced by the owners.
How often does Small Business As Usual release new episodes?
Small Business As Usual has 56 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Small Business As Usual?
You can listen to Small Business As Usual on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Small Business As Usual?
Small Business As Usual is created and hosted by Community Economic Development Fund.
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