Picture this: A lone elephant lumbers across the open savanna.

As you read that sentence, your imagination began painting a mental picture. You likely saw in your mind’s eye an elephant walking across wide, grassy terrain.

Stop and analyze what you just did. It’s really rather remarkable.

Chances are, as you read this, you aren’t on safari in Africa. There are no actual elephants in your immediate vicinity. But you’re still able to envision an elephant in widescreen detail simply by reading words on a page.

And that happened, automatically and without any effort on your part, because we humans are both visual and imaginative beings. Not only are we born with eyes that allow us to view the world around us, but our brains have the extraordinary power to record and recreate that reality within the limitless universe of our imagination.

And even more amazing, those imaginary constructs are often linked to our very real emotions. If you’re passionate about elephants, maybe collect elep...

Your small business is a living entity. It requires sustenance, attention, and health maintenance. Best practice is a collective of wisdom and sage advice for improving the quality of life for small businesses. Following these practices can make your company thrive.

An important aspect of a thriving small business is collaboration with other local entities. Collaboration offers mutual benefits and credibility within the community. Establishing a reputation in your community as a reliable business resource can positively impact longevity. Being credible and trustworthy is a best practice that small business owners can aspire to in the long term, and it starts with a daily commitment to excellence.

Credibility Through Connection

Collaboration can be as simple as two neighboring businesses offering expanded hours and complementary goods, or as complex as planning a fundraiser with a local non-profit to support community needs. If you are interested in a more widespread collabo...

This is a guest post by certified life coach, Elena Stewart

It’s no surprise that the coronavirus lockdown is having a major impact on small businesses. As many retailers have been forced to close and consumers are hesitant to spend on non-essentials during this period of financial uncertainty, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Despite these setbacks, there’s a lot business owners can do to drive sales and prepare for reopening. From short-term cash flow strategies to in-store improvements, here are some effective ways to keep your business going during the pandemic.

Learn from Your Competition

Look for businesses that are managing to get by during the pandemic to find out which strategies might work for you.

• Small business retailers are driving immediate revenue by promoting gift cards, offering pre-orders, and discounting underperforming products.
• Restaurants have shifted their focus to take-out and delivery services.
• Service-based businesses are pivoti
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