Just in time for the holidays, I received this present in my inbox from Amy Reynolds, whom I interviewed this past May. It was heartening to read that my advice was able to help her and her company, and Amy’s consideration in following up with details of her recent successes brightened what was otherwise (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: International Virtual Assistants Association
Why It’s a Gem: Get Just the Right Amount of Support You Need — No Commitment Necessary

Our lives have become virtual — virtual money (ATM cards), virtual sales clerks (online shopping carts), virtual relationships (texting). So why not virtual assistants? And, as with other forms of technology, the world of virtual assistants is evolving to encompass more industries and skills sets than most brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs might have believed possible. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Business Talent Group
Why It’s a Gem: This new piece of human capital infrastructure enables talent to have a different kind of professional life and companies to have the ultimate flexibility

With the business world undergoing a seismic shift, companies need to be nimble to adapt to the ever-changing forces at work. And nowhere is being nimble more important than in any business’ most valuable asset: its workforce.

By monitoring trends in her own career as an executive, Jody Miller identified a highly undeveloped niche – one that hinges on the unpredictable nature of human interactions and personalities – and showed that being flexible could turn unpredictability into profits. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Solexx/Adaptive Plastics
Why It’s a Gem: Solexx greenhouses are the epitome of sustainability made easy

Slow food. Organic. Local produce. Healthful, sustainable food is no longer a trend; it’s become part of the nation’s social conscience, with even the First Family raising their own victory garden.

With 20 years’ experience in the market, Adaptive Plastics is taking the next step by introducing a modular greenhouse that makes growing so simple even those of us with brown thumbs can raise a bumper crop – for a fraction of the price of store-bought organics.
(more…)

When the underlying basis of your business is philanthropic, it can be difficult to remain true to your original business model. But in this new economy, doing good is key to doing well: Customers care where their money goes. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Climb On!
Why It’s a Gem:  What began as a niche product proves valuable to a much larger population

(more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Designs by Lolita
Why It’s a Gem: Learning the licensing ropes helps a home-grown artist become a worldwide sensation

Just as Jason Thompson proved that art can be profitable, Lolita Healey has also turned her talent to riches. But unlike Thompson’s Rag and Bone Bindery, Designs by Lolita has taken the licensing route, which has given Healey a whole different ballpark to play in. So far, she’s batting a thousand. (more…)

When a former employee contacted me on advice for his new business, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Not only does Michael Talve have a fabulous product, his environmental and philanthropic soaps are cleaning up this planet, one shower at a time.

Read on to hear the advice I gave to Michael on how to make his Vivo Natural Products even more desirable to customers. (more…)

Sometimes a product stands out so much that I just have to talk to the visionary behind it. Such is the case with Monica Williams’ creation, Pacimals, a combination pacifier/plush toy that she created after noticing that daughter Mackenzie kept dropping her pacifier, something that drives most tots to tears. That small observation has morphed into a new product that begs to be noticed in an already-saturated baby-product market.

In this week’s Ask Lynda, I break from the regular letter format to speak directly with the radiologist-turned-entrepreneur, who never expected that her email asking for business advice would prompt a response – much less an hour-long phone call from the author of the book she’d just read. “Holy cow – you replied!” Yes, Monica. Your product was just too cute and inventive to pass up!

(more…)

Among the many highlight clips in this reel are my reasons not to fear the recession, the legends behind the pomegranate, and why Teleflora finally decided to do a Super Bowl commercial.

More on The Aspen Institute blog