Most people in the entrepreneurial and small business arena run on a tight budget and time span. Learning to ask the right questions can drive and create opportunities. I’ve discovered that questions which seem simple — or even sound dumb — can actually be intriguing and cause you to think deeper.

I’ve been developing programs for communities to ensure that entrepreneurs learn how to start or grow businesses, and small business owners know how to grow their enterprises, for 30+ years.

I’ve come to see that some people operate on FOMO — Fear of Missing Out — to leverage the advancement of their career, or in selling their products or services.

I often use the statement “your brand is not what you say, but what others say about you.” It doesn’t mean that you can’t try to change or influence what they say, or that you can’t promote or market the brand you are aiming to be, or think you are.

“Most of the work can be done by an employee with the right attitude, and a bit of “upscaling” of their skills, through training or education.”

“Simply moving forward allows you to just keep going — because you aren’t really taking the time to think about what happened, when or why it happened, or at least having some understanding of what worked or didn’t.”

“From Michigan to San Francisco, from Oman, Jordan, Belarus, and so many others countries, I’ve learned that individuals supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs also need a support system.”

“The minute we start looking at others and comparing/judging ourselves against them, we become victims of the misconceptions of success.” -Faris Alami

“Setting clear goals makes it easier for everyone to move towards achievement. When you simplify the message, it becomes easier to break it down into basic steps that can be set daily, weekly, or monthly.”

“The more integration we have in celebrating each other’s differences, the more results we will have as businesses and communities at large.”