In the midst of the current financial crisis, it would be easy to lose sight of what actually forms the cornerstone of our economy. Entrepreneurs and small businesses make up 20 million of the 26 million businesses in America, Of these businesses, 97% employ 20 people or less, accounting for half of the non-farm GDP and 60-80% of jobs. (Small Business Administration)
Now more than ever, it is imperative that we reach out and prop each other up. We must find new and creative ways to
support entrepreneurs who are willing to take the plunge. Each day, 2,356 Americans decide to go into business for themselves. Their companies account for 78% of all US businesses. And they collectively obtain annual receipts of $951 billion. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics)
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We often think that building your client base is an extremely complex process…full of formulas, pie charts and diagrams. But it is important to take a look at your company’s policies and actions and make sure you aren’t missing the basic building blocks of customer service. Go back to the beginnings of school and check your ABC’s.
A: Always listen to what your customer is truly saying. Listening is about really tuning in to the dialog that is happening 
around you. Part of this basic step is making sure that you address any concerns or complaints from disatissfied customers. But it is also about reaching out and proactively collecting information directly from those you serve. Tune in to what’s being said.
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Entrepreneurs have the flexibility and ingenuity needed to utilize the internet to find their niche market. As you build out your business plan, think about how you can use the internet to identify and market to your customers.
Critical to the understanding of finding niche markets is building your skills in social media applications. While basic Google searches are a good place to start, you will need to find and interact with pockets of people who are interested in your service.
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As an entrepreneur, you are already a leader. But are you a Transformational Leader? Are you a visionary who inspires others? Challenging times create great opportunity for transformational leadership.
I was reading an article today on the Inc blog, it was about leadership in tough times. And as I was leaving a comment, I was reminded of one basic principle. You can’t know great success until you have experienced great failure. And most people do not want to risk failure of any kind. The downside of not risking is a life of never quite reaching your 
potential. And for me, that is at least as scary as failure…if not more so.
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As you know by now, Virtual Assistants and Virtual Offices are the hallmarks of the new entrepreneur. But what other characteristics define Entrepreneurs 2.0?
In addition to a strong desire for a better work/life balance, new business owners want to have more control over their 
production and processes. Many want to find deeper meaning in their life. By choosing a service or product that fits with their sense of the world, entrepreneurs have the ability to create deeper meaning.
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