Posts by Edwin Bevens
Midweek Reading: Ownership, Risk, and Merit
An employee stock-ownership plan is a valuable way to get employees invested (literally) in the success of the company. Corporate Press in Lanham, MD, has a long-running system that has proven to be a winner for both the company and its employees. How important is the alma mater when you look at a job candidate’s…
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Midweek Reading: Caution, Dedication, and Society
Business is about more than just making money. Tim Cook of Apple recently spoke about what he sees as the responsibility business has toward society. Martin Dempsey, the retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks about maintaining a balance between caution and paralysis by analysis. Jordan Spieth just completed one of the most…
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Midweek Reading: Self-Promotion, Silver Bullets, and Character
Elliot Begoun has advice for business people who aren’t comfortable with self-promotion. In the social media age of content, it is easier to adopt this strategy of outreach. Don’t just look for a silver bullet; Marty Zwilling has a list of 10 things every new business needs to have to stand out in a competitive…
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Midweek Reading: Organizational Structure, Competition, and Roadmaps
As human beings, we are naturally competitive. Perhaps a bit too competitive. Matthew Hutson reviews a series of studies demonstrating the power of competition, and how many people allow relative standing to influence their happiness more than their absolute standing. What’s your roadmap? To be successful, you have to know where you are going, and…
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The Generalist Advantage
A fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing. -Archilochus, 7th c. BC The metaphor of the hedgehog and the fox is ancient, but powerful. The metaphor touches on a universal question: is it better to be a jack of all trades, or a master of one? There’s a strong cultural bias today…
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Midweek Reading: Hobbies, Spinoffs, and the NFL
Coming out of Labor Day weekend, we’re heading out of the summer and into the busy fall. Here is the best news, information, and insight for small business owners and entrepreneurs this week. Taking the leap into entrepreneurship and leaving your day job is a big step. Alison Coleman of Forbes writes about how several…
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Midweek Reading: Meaning, Culture, and Selectivity
With Labor Day just around the corner, the summer season is coming to a formal close. But the time for reading and learning marches on—here are some of the best stories for small business owners and entrepreneurs today. Meaningful work is not just for people in certain industries or job positions; psychologist Barry Schwartz argues…
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Midweek Reading: Fear, Food, and Introversion
Looking for the best of the web for small business owners? This week’s highlights include small business psychology, industry trends, and HR tips. Philipp K. Berger researched the ways entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs experience and deal with fear, including how fear prevents entrepreneurs from taking action and how to balance fear and awareness. Food-watchers think…
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Empathy Through Curiosity
Curiosity is one of the most overlooked ingredients in success. Asking questions of smart, successful people and getting to hear their thoughts on important topics, and learning to understand how they think and why, gives a new perspective and generates creative thinking. Joan Kingsley, author of The Fear-free Organization, says it does more than that.…
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Midweek Reading: Subscriptions, Student Debt, and Side Businesses
The “subscription box” model is exploding, with thousands of entrepreneurs shipping out boxes every month filled with curated items fitting a particular category or theme. The New York Times examines the trend, and why so many small businesses are jumping at the opportunity. For entrepreneurs who still have a day job, it can often feel…
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