From TikTok to Instagram Stories and Reels to YouTube, video has undeniably become an essential tool for marketing your business. In fact, in an independent study performed by Wyzowl, 91% of businesses said they’re incorporating video marketing into their strategy in 2023.

At every point in the life cycle of a product, humans have a choice. Each choice can contribute to the massive effort to conserve resources, protect the environment, and slow down the impact of consumerism. Or, it can lead the product on a one-way trip to the island of plastic.

What we now call members of the creator economy, we also call artists and entrepreneurs. Roman gladiators earned money for endorsing olive oils and wines that promised (presumably) that gladiator glow, and Leonardo da Vinci reportedly earned the contemporary equivalent of several million dollars a year for art sales and commissions.

A clear snapshot of your business’s financial performance can help you secure funding, obtain loans, and, for so many reasons, reduce headaches. For that, your balance sheet is crucial. After all, scrambling through piles of receipts or scrolling for emails is stressful with a deadline looming or an auditor watching over you. You don’t want to miss an opportunity for an acquisition, investment, or loan because your financial records are unorganized or unbalanced.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could recite a sales pitch to a stranger and within minutes they become a paying customer? Unfortunately, selling is rarely so simple. As seasoned sales managers know well, courting potential customers takes time and effort. The good news is customer conversions can happen when you follow a proven and standardized sales process

For some small business owners, networking comes naturally. Maybe you started your business in part to expand your personal network, or maybe you just identify as a social butterfly. Other business owners fall firmly into a different camp—after all, a passion for your products or services doesn’t necessarily translate into a desire to spend social energy at conferences and cocktail hours.