Small Business News

Imagine how it feels to be the first one on the planet to do something no one has ever done before? What drives that person to do it anyway? How does it feel when you are successful and finally prove all the doubters wrong? Every entrepreneur wonders this.

On this week’s Small Business Radio Show, I interviewed Tracy Edwards who skippered the first all-female crew on the “Maiden” in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race in 1989 and became the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy. Her remarkable story is told in a new documentary called “Maiden” which is now in movie theatres.

Tracy says she attempted this because she had to “change her world”. She didn’t like when people told her that she could not race around the globe as a skipper because she was a women. It was at this point she decided to put together an all-female crew.

Tracy believes that she only attempted this because of her youthful naiveté; “My friends thought I was nuts, but my family was very supportive&rd

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Want to make your work environment less stressful?

Then consider bring feng shui to your cubicle or office.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art still practiced today that relies on spatial arrangement and orientation to channel specific energy (including success and productivity) into a physical environment.

The principals of feng shui can help infuse your work space with balance, focus and productivity.

Take a cue from unicorn entrepreneurs like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, both of whom incorporate feng shui to increase their productivity.

Discover 7 ways to feng shui your cubicle!

The first step to bringing feng shui to your cubicle is cutting the clutter.

Clutter does not make for a productive work space.

Not only can documents and to-do lists get lost in piles of irrelevant paperwork, but it can throw off your mindset when sitting down to do work.

Make it a task at the beginning and end of each day to clear your space of trash and clutter so you are free to

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If you play music at your small business, the review of ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees by the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) will likely have some consequences.

The DOJ is reviewing two music antitrust consent decrees which have been around since the 1940s. And with this review, the way how music is played live, broadcasted and streamed could change.

If the changes go through, it will eventually mean higher/more fees for businesses that play music in their establishment. But it also applies to online companies, movie companies and commercials.

The review comes as the music industry is seeing many new changes to the way people and organizations consume content. Streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora are two examples of how they have changed the industry.

Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, addressed the issue of these changes in a press release for the review.

Delrahim said,  “There have been many changes in the music industry during this time, and the needs of music creators and music users have continued to evolve.  It is important for the Division to reassess periodically whether these decrees

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One of the most personal types of data is medical information. And when it comes to protecting this information, the government doesn’t give anyone wiggle room to make excuses.

Armed with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has settled millions of dollars against violators.

The financial impact of HIPAA violations is especially burdensome on small businesses. This is why small firms have to take increased precaution to ensure they are not violating any HIPPA regulations. Whether you’re providing healthcare directly or support services, you are equally liable under HIPAA.

In a press release announcing the recent large settlement associated with health data breaches, Elliot Dinkin, a nationally known expert in actuarial, compensation and employee benefits issues, explained the liabilities.

Dinkin says the OCR is serious about penalizing any HIPAA violations. But the OCR is not the only agency, states also go after violators, which adds to the final levy imposed by regulators.

Dinkin warns, “Given the

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