The following is based on research as well as my personal experience. Research indicates that businesses with two or more owners are more likely to succeed than companies with a single owner. For the past couple of years, I have had to fight the battles of my small business as a one-person business owner, and I can agree with the results of the study. I have been involved with Design Manufacturers for 36 years. A small company in central Kansas operated by myself and my dad

I find that if you look behind the facade of most so-called self-made successes, there is a long string of unsung people behind the scenes. These people range from first employees to managers to front line workers putting in the time and effort in the early years of the business. I have a great deal of respect for people who recognize the input of others in their success. Richard Branson is very refreshing as he gives credit for his success to the team of people with which he

It seems there are some miss perceptions on what a business owner is and what is considered a successful business. My observations after many years in business are that you can break down what constitutes a small business owner into two categories. Group one is people who are good at making things or providing services of some type. For this group, the act of making products or providing services is the heart of the business. Making things and or providing the service is the

If your companies business model includes the hiring of teenagers, your managers have the responsibility of being mentors. For many teenagers, this is their first job. They do not know what is expected of them in the workplace. Unfortunately, for many teenagers, their first work experience is working for managers that are poorly trained and do not care about the personal growth of their teenage employees.