entrepreneur: Finding Success in Creative Ways… - 04/24/13 06:55 AM
One thing I love about my job is hearing the stories from small business owners all over the country. Last year, we helped 97 small business owners in 27 states purchase, construct, renovate, or refinance their commercial property. When you work with that many business owners, you’re bound to hear some wonderful stories about overcoming adversity, going the extra mile, and finding creative ways to solve problems.
I probably don’t need to tell you this, but being a small business owner (and working with small business owners in an advisory role) takes a considerable amount of thinking outside the box. In … (2 comments)

entrepreneur: Good News/Bad News for Small Business Lending in 2013… - 03/15/13 05:34 AM
The last two years have seen record-shattering levels of government-guaranteed lending, which includes the SBA 504 loan program (aka the SmartChoice® Commercial Loan). In terms of loan volume, 2011 and 2012 were the biggest and second biggest years (respectively) in the history of the SBA. Since the SBA has done the lion’s share of small business lending as our economy struggles to get back on its feet, what can we expect in 2013?
Go here to read an article I was just quoted in yesterday on BusinessWeek.com called “How Are the SBA’s Loan Programs Doing?”
GOOD NEWS — SBA loan … (0 comments)

entrepreneur: Cast Your Vote for the Best Small Business Book… - 03/06/13 11:36 PM
The folks at Small Business Trends (www.smallbiztrends.com) are hosting their 5th Annual Small Business Book Awards, and someone was kind enough to nominate my book, The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth. I’d like you to go vote, and here’s why:
Back in 2007, the Small Business Trends people noticed that business book reviews and awards were focused on books aimed at corporate audiences. They weren’t able to consistently find helpful information about books written specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs, so they started doing their own business book reviews to fill this niche. The Small Business Book Awards are an outgrowth … (0 comments)

entrepreneur: Why the Sequester is GOOD for Small Business Owners… - 02/28/13 04:23 AM
If you’re anything like me, you’ve grown weary of all the high drama in Washington these days. First the Fiscal Cliff; now the looming Sequester; next month it’ll be something else. But as we sit on the edge of our seats waiting to find out what will happen tomorrow, I’d like to tell you why the Sequester won’t be the end of the world as we know it.
I did an interview for a local newspaper yesterday, and I told them I don’t expect the Sequester to hurt the SBA or small businesses too badly, as some have predicted. I do … (2 comments)

entrepreneur: The Entrepreneur’s Secret on Fox Business News… - 01/31/13 03:20 AM
I did in fact make it back to Orlando in time to be on FOX Business News last night, and really enjoyed getting to talk with Gerri Willis live on-air (even if we did end up talking over each other a couple times ). I got to share a few insights from my book as well as some practical things small business owners can do to build wealth for themselves. We were able to get the clip from FOX Business News this morning, so you can watch for yourself if you missed it live last night…
 Like I said yesterday — short … (3 comments)

entrepreneur: Private Screening of Atlas Shrugged II…and YOU’RE Invited! - 10/11/12 05:50 AM
You may remember that we hosted a special screening of Atlas Shrugged last year. In case you haven’t heard, the sequel (Atlas Shrugged II) is out and we’re doing it again!
The official trailer for the movie is below to “wet your whistle”…
If you’re in Central Florida (or plan to be next week), you’re invited to join us for this private screening next Thursday (October 18th, one week from today) at 7:00pm. It’s at the Regal Winter Park Village 20, and there’s no charge whatsoever to attend. I’m just a really big fan of Ayn Rand and the book the … (1 comments)

entrepreneur: Dear Entrepreneur…YOU Built That… - 07/20/12 04:44 AM
I have a handful of things I talk about in this week’s video blog — our record-breaking first six months of the year, the results of the Social Madness competition, and my recent nomination as a Top 100 Small Business Influencer — but I’m going to spend the bulk of my time on what President Obama said (exactly one week ago today) about business owners.
At the risk of saying things you’ve already heard, said or thought yourself, I simply MUST share my take on our President saying that if you own a business, “you didn’t build that.” And I’ll … (2 comments)

entrepreneur: Joshie at the Ritz-Carlton: An Extraordinary Customer Experience… - 05/08/12 06:35 AM
Lately, I’ve been doing a little more traveling that I would like to. When I was younger, it wasn’t as big a deal…but now I’d much rather be home to spend time with my family.
I was in Los Angeles about six weeks ago on one of these recent business trips, and it happened to coincide with my kids’ Spring Break. I wished I could have spent the time with them, but I suggested that my wife use some of my Marriott points I’ve been accumulating and take the kids to stay at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, which is about … (0 comments)