Can you tell the difference?

The subtitle of my blog is: Helping Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Succeed.

Why didn't I just put small businesses or entrepreneurs?  Why include both?  What's the difference?  The difference is in the eyes of the beholder, based on their perceptions.  However there are more textbook differences as well.  I'll spare the dictionary definitions and move into my analysis. 

Small business owner - usually a mom/pop type business, less than 5 employees, with a goal to work for themselves and/or provide a product/service based on doing what they do best.  Typically the 'technician' in the business which just means they bake great cookies or can change tires really well.  They may or may not have loads of business experience, but they've managed to open the doors and keep them open.  Most people think of a pizza shop, a bakery, a dog groomer, a shoe store, etc. 

Entrepreneur - a business person geared to grow.  This can be a business, an inventor, or someone within a larger organization.  Many people can be entrepreneurs but yet still work for other organizations.  The key here is growth and innovation.  Most people think of Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. 

A while back, I met a gentleman who asked what classes I taught at the university.  I told him Entrepreneurship.  He said 'oh, is that a science class?'.  The funny part of this story:  the man owned his own fence contracting business and had 28 employees.  He didn't know what an entrepreneur was.  Not that he was or wasn't one, I didn't get enough out of the conversation to make the determination.  He was in business to do what he was good at and passionate about. 

The point here is there is not always a correlation.  A small business owner may or may not be an entrepreneur.  An entrepreneur may or may not be a small business owner. 

So for now, I'll keep my blog subtitle as is.  Which slightly contradicts with the blog title.  Anyone have a suggestion for improvement?  I'm seriously open to some creative and fresh insight!

How's My Driving?

We've all seen the 'How's My Driving' stickers on the back of commercial vehicles.  They've been around since I was a kid.  In fact, back in the day when prank calling was still feasible, I always dreamed of prank calling those 800 numbers and making up stories.  But enough about last week, let's get back to business here... :)

The goal of the 'How's My Driving' stickers is to create accountability and provide other drivers on the road with an outlet to report reckless driving.  In essence, the sticker provides an opportunity for a conversation.

Social media is much the same way.  When a business makes a decision to start a Facebook page, a Twitter account or maybe a YouTube channel, they commit to being engaged.  The problem - they don't always (in fact, very rarely do they) have a strategy behind the commitment. 

If a business has a Facebook page and they don't respond to people's posts (either positive or negative), they are in essence posting a 'How's My Driving' sticker all over their vehicle (business) and not answering the phone.  But what if someone posts a suggestion or a negative comment on your Facebook page?  Then respond!  The sooner, the better.  What if someone posts a nice comment about your business?  Then respond!  The sooner, the better.  See the pattern here?  Otherwise, it's almost like picking up the phone to call someone, dialing their number, waiting for them to answer and then just quietly sitting there while they say 'Hello?...helllooo?'.

Social media is a two-way conversation.  When I was a kid and I'd get into a fight with my brothers, my dad would always say 'It takes two to fight'.  It didn't make much sense at the time, but now that I have two teenagers, it makes perfect sense.  The same concept applies.  In social media, it takes two!  (insert 1988 song lyrics here...better yet, a video!)