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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Old fashioned illustration of a farm couple with a three legged stool and milking pail
    economic development | marketing | rural

    Stop using “3 legged stool” to describe any idea

    June 24, 2019July 1, 2023

      There are dozens and dozens of 3 legged stool analogies. The Three Legged Stool of Retirement Planning …of Politics …of Sustainability …of Accounting …of Organizational Architecture. And all the headlines: Why Leadership is Like a Three Legged Stool. Apple’s three-legged stool at WWDC 2019. ‘The three-legged stool’: McDonald’s recipe for franchise success. Think about…

    Read More Stop using “3 legged stool” to describe any ideaContinue

  • A girl smiles while eating a meal at Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
    community | rural | trends

    What’s the Life Expectancy of Our Community?

    June 22, 2019June 2, 2019

      Guest post by Paula Jensen I remember in 1997, just following the birth of my second son, when more than one elder in my community told me, “It is so sad that your children will never graduate from Langford High School like you did!”  Those comments told me that the local leaders were questioning…

    Read More What’s the Life Expectancy of Our Community?Continue

  • "Brag Basket - add your good news" over a photo of a basket in a field of flowers
    brag basket

    Have you put your good news in the Brag Basket?

    June 21, 2019June 2, 2019

    The Brag Basket is open! This one is for June 21-23, 2019. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you share in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week celebrate progress, even baby steps congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your undying…

    Read More Have you put your good news in the Brag Basket?Continue

  • Start the survey
    announcement | community | economic development | entrepreneurship | rural

    What are your challenges? Add your voice here

    June 17, 2019November 8, 2022

      Every small town has its own set of assets, issues and opportunities, but many of us share common challenges. We created the Survey of Rural Challenges so you could share your own view of rural, and we could better help you. A total of 479 people answered our previous surveys, and we’d like your…

    Read More What are your challenges? Add your voice hereContinue

  • "Brag Basket - add your good news" over a photo of a basket in a field of flowers
    brag basket

    The Brag Basket is open for good news

    June 14, 2019June 2, 2019

    The Brag Basket is open! This one is for June 14-16, 2019. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you share in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week celebrate progress, even baby steps congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your undying…

    Read More The Brag Basket is open for good newsContinue

  • How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finished
    economic development | marketing | rural | tourism

    How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finished

    June 10, 2019June 9, 2019

      Have you got a “coming soon” biking trail? Or a biking trail that is not completely finished yet? Well, don’t keep it a secret! A couple of places I’ve visited lately, I’ve heard about trails that are in the partially-finished stage. Some segments of the trail have been improved, others are still rough. “Once…

    Read More How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finishedContinue

  • "Brag Basket - add your good news" over a photo of a basket in a field of flowers
    brag basket

    Come add your good news to the Brag Basket

    June 7, 2019June 2, 2019

    The Brag Basket is open! This one is for June 7-9, 2019. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you share in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week celebrate progress, even baby steps congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your undying…

    Read More Come add your good news to the Brag BasketContinue

  • A list of project pitches: 1. Upper floor tours. 2. Bike rentals. 3. Permanent info booth. 4. Food truck festival. 5. Jazz equipment.
    community | economic development | entrepreneurship | finance | rural

    How $5 and a bowl of soup can rebuild your community

    June 3, 2019June 2, 2019

      Have you heard of “soup” events? People pay a small amount, say $5, to attend a local pitch event. Local groups pitch their ideas, everyone votes, and the winner gets the money. The real winner is the community, of course. It boosts activity, gets people talking to each other, builds momentum and rewards people…

    Read More How $5 and a bowl of soup can rebuild your communityContinue

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