How COVID-19 Will Impact the Future of Small Business

Covid-19 is running rampant throughout the country, with the number of cases rapidly rising. Pandemic anxiety is growing, and small businesses are feeling the pressure. According to a new Xero report, Emotional Metrics: Small business mindsets during the pandemic, two-thirds of small business owners have reported being concerned about the mental health and well-being of themselves and their employees. Read more.

COVID-19 Edition: The Ultimate Work From Home Survival Guide

For many of us, working from home is the new normal for the foreseeable future. The days ahead are filled with uncertainties, yet it’s possible to live and work above the fray. Whether you are a small business owner, employee, or student in pursuit of higher learning, there are practical tips that can make working from home less stressful, and more empowering.

In partnership with Dell Technologies, we’ll tackle four key areas designed to empower you as you work from home. Whether you’re in the thick of it or trying to find your bearings, these mindset, workspace, technology, and productivity tips will ease your anxiety and help you stay connected and inspired wherever you are. Read more.

Americans Starting New Businesses at Record Pace

New figures from a study by LendingTree indicate the number of new business applications across America in 2020 has surpassed the figure from the previous year’s total by mid-October.

New business applications reached over 3.4 million new applications in 2020 up from last year’s 3.4 million figure. Even with the nation experiencing the worst economy since the Great Depression, new business applications have surpassed 2019’s figures. Overall business applications growth was triggered following the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. Read more.

Kids Stuck at Home? How Nonprofit and Commercial Sectors Are Meeting Afterschool Needs for Entrepreneurs.

We’ve all heard the complaints from otherwise loving parents: Sure they love their kids but not on a mandatory, 24/7 level. Remote education has created a pressure-cooker in the American family home. Desperate for social enrichment activities for their kids and, yes, a break from them as well, more parents are turning to afterschool programs in the commercial sector.

The demand presents opportunities for the afterschool industry – but only if providers can adapt to public health requirements and parental concerns. Read more.

After generations of disinvestment, rural America might be the most innovative place in the U.S.

Rural leaders, governments, and philanthropic funders who aren’t afraid to break with long-standing assumptions about the inevitability of rural decline can leverage the potential, talent, and innovative spirit of rural America to build the new Heartland, writes Kauffman Senior Program Officer Chris Harris. “Rather than defining rural communities by the progress that is believed to have stopped, we can instead choose to define them by the progress they’ve made despite massive disinvestment and, perhaps, by the progress they could make if they had the support.” Read more.

Two Ways To Survive — And Thrive — As A Small Business Owner

Award-winning author Laurence Gonzales wrote a fascinating book called Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why. Using engaging storytelling, he combines a mix of science and art to shed light on who survives in the wilderness (or through other severe life challenges) and why.

Some of the science shared reveals that “those who study accidents in outdoor recreation have begun to realize that all accidents are alike in fundamental ways. What we call ‘accidents’ do not just happen. There is not some vector of pain that causes them. People have to assemble the systems that make them happen.” Read more.

Remote Tools Just for Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age

Running a solo business online is the new office of today, especially for emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners. By utilizing into the right resources you can greatly improve your efficiency. There are several ways to make your venture work for you by taking advantage of these great tools. Let me know how these work for you! Read more.

Why Tenacity Is One of the Most Critical but Overlooked Entrepreneurial Skills

As entrepreneurs, we’re passionate, volatile, growth-hungry individuals. We’ve broken the norm, escaped the rat race, shed our inhibitions, and eagerly look forward to a future of exceptional success.

But while our fire and risk-taking mindset were key in pushing us to take that first step towards building our brand, they’re not enough to keep us going when things get tough. Read more.

Connecting the Right Brands, People & Opportunities!

Acceler8Success Group has achieved success in many aspects of small business and franchising. Widely recognized as industry leaders and influencers, Acceler8Success Group leadership have extensive experience as entrepreneurs in small business and restaurants, as senior-level executives within nationally recognized brands, and as franchisees within successful franchise systems.

Our goal is to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs architect a plan of continuous accelerated movement toward a pinnacle of desired success, even if and when previously thought to be unattainable. This process has been developed around our proven e-IDEA (explore, identify, develop, execute & analyze) methodology. Deployed effectively, it is key to sustainability and ultimately, to success… Acceler8Success! Learn more.

COVID-19’s Ripple Effect on Mental Health and Addiction

Typically, the holiday season means end-of-the-year corporate parties, family gatherings, and festive get-togethers with friends. But the holidays in 2020 will look very different. As the coronavirus numbers increase, schools are returning to remote learning, offices are sending staff back to work from home, and the fear of another lockdown is on everyone’s mind. People are being encouraged to stick to their “COVID pods” and embrace more intimate gatherings, with virtual parties sprinkled in. 

2020 has presented a host of challenges, and there is a grave concern for what the mental health effects on our society are going to look like in a post-COVID era. Read more.

A Science-Based Technique for Coping With Stress

Do you wish to be able to manage difficult emotions more successfully, make wiser decisions, and deal better with socially stressful situations? Psychological science has discovered a simple technique that may help you do just that. It is called distanced self-talk.

Distanced self-talk “leverages the structure of language to promote emotion regulation by cueing people to reflect on the self using parts of speech (i.e., names and non–first-person pronouns) that are typically used to refer to other people.” Read more.

How to Set Goals Amid Chaos

Loss is all around us: loss of life, lost jobs, lost workspaces, lost school structures and routines. These aren’t just a logistical inconvenience; they’re a health risk. Prolonged, elevated levels of stress like so many of us have experienced this year can wreak havoc on brains and bodies, affecting everything from memory and cognition to digestive issues and high blood pressure. Read more.

Why The Most Productive People Do These Six Things Every Day

Of all our available resources, everyone has the same number of hours in a day. Some, however, happen to get more done. Are they faster or smarter? Do they have more help? Perhaps. But they’ve also learned tricks that can help them stretch time and eliminate the unimportant.

Here are six things super-productive people do every day to maximize their results and success: Read more.

The U.S. Child-Care Crisis Is Torturing Parents and the Economy

It didn’t seem possible that the U.S. child-care crisis could get much worse. Then came the pandemic, and parents were thrust into full-time caregiving roles for months on end. Beyond being stressful and exhausting, that reality has forced millions of parents, mostly mothers, to make tough decisions about how much to work, if at all. Read more.

In 2020, Fear Has Been a Driving Force – A Note from Paul Segreto, Founder, Acceler8Success

Certainly, 2020 has had many uncertainties which, quite frankly took us on an emotional roller coaster. Mostly, the driving force has been fear. I’ve realized my own fear once I was able to admit being scared. Hey, at my age and the fact I’m not in good shape, I must be realistic. So, I’ve worked through my fear and in doing so, maybe I can overcome it. As fear is such a strong emotion that easily grips the soul, it will take time and patience to overcome such a grip.

Little by little I look forward to continuing to pry it away as fear is replaced by courage gained from confidence that fear is just a challenge to be conquered. The great thing is that some of the challenges don’t have to be tackled alone. Instead, collaborative efforts aligned with common goals truly exemplify the phrase, ‘strength in numbers’ and it’s that strength that ultimately conquers fear. Easier said than done? Possibly, but the alternative is being overwhelmed by fear and that, I’ve recognized is not living.

Need to talk through your fears, to determine how to tackle challenges you’re facing and, to clear your mind so you can explore possibilities? If so, I’d like to help. Please contact me on LinkedIn or drop me a note at paul@acceler8success.com. No obligation! And, no one else needs to know!

Why Entrepreneurs Need To Talk About Their Mental Health

72% of entrepreneurs are directly or indirectly affected by mental health issues compared to just 48% of non entrepreneurs. That’s according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health. 49% of entrepreneurs deal with mental health issues directly while only 32% of others experienced them. Similarly, 23% of entrepreneurs have family members who face these issues compared to just 16% of others with family members who face these same types of issues. Read more.

50 Tough Questions You Never Ask Yourself, But Should

With the dawn of every New Year, pledges are made by hopefuls everywhere to do or change something big in their life and business. Most of these commitments are shelved or forgotten altogether soon after we ring in that very same New Year.

An annual attempt at implementing meaningful change isn’t the answer. It’s a commitment to continual, deep levels of introspection that brings successful, happy people to the top. If you want results, begin with what’s on the inside instead of pushing to control what’s on the outside. Read more.

4 Ways to Find Passion and Purpose in Your Life

Let me paint you a picture. You arrive at work tired from a restless night worrying about a high-stakes proposal or how to ask for a well-deserved raise. A single glance at your stuffed inbox and your message button blinking a menacing shade of red makes your pulse quicken with anxiety. It’s been months since you’ve had time to let off steam at the gym.

You pause to wonder what it would be like to use the 30-plus vacation days you’ve accrued over the past two years. Or to have a job that offered flexibility, respect and empowerment.

With the morning’s first meeting starting in minutes, there’s no time to linger on that daydream. Instead, you hammer out emails that begin, “Sorry for the delayed response, but I’ve been crazy busy.” It’s barely 8 a.m. and you’re already overwhelmed. Your body aches with fatigue. Sound familiar? Read more.

If You’re Searching for Purpose, Ask Yourself These 5 Questions

We are all searching for a purpose, a career and a life that really matter. So if you feel stuck, trapped or hopeless—if you want more—ask yourself these five questions to get your life back on track: Read more.

Overcoming pandemic fatigue: How to re-energize organizations for the long run

Pandemic fatigue: it’s plaguing organizations and employees right now. In 2020, we’ve endured a global pandemic, a massive economic crisis, and widespread social unrest. Layer on top of that forces that are fundamentally reshaping societies—technological innovation, business-model disruption, societal inequality, and workforce automation—and it’s clear that an epidemic of stress has been building, with the COVID-19 crisis as the tipping point. Read more.

4 Things Dogs Can Teach Us About Franchise Entrepreneurship

There sure are a lot of business-related sayings about dogs! If you’re one of the millions of Americans with a dog at home, there’s a good chance your furry friend can teach you a thing or two about franchise entrepreneurship. Read more.

Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders unite in support of Black-owned businesses

When Jasper Kuria considers strategies for addressing racial inequity and social injustice in the U.S., he puts support of Black entrepreneurs at the top of the list.

“It’s really about wealth inequality and opportunities for the Black community,” said Kuria. “And when you think about the massive wealth gap between the Black community and the white folks, it’s really about business ownership.” Read more.

Entrepreneurship 101 for Customer-Centric Leaders and Those Who Want to Be

Entrepreneurs and startups intuitively understand the need to connect their products and services to the needs of the market—because if you haven’t identified a specific need and aligned your offerings to meet it, you have little chance of success. Read more.

Why Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship

While society innovates, our K-12 schools have remained stagnant. As a result, they are not graduating the doers, makers and cutting-edge thinkers the world needs. Certainly, some public and private schools are modernizing — having students work in groups to solve problems, learn online and integrate science with the arts. But most institutions do not teach what should be the centerpiece of a contemporary education: entrepreneurship, the capacity to not only start companies but also to think creatively and ambitiously. Read more.

The Best Children’s Books About Entrepreneurship For Kids

A lot of parents (myself included) are always looking for ways to expand our children’s mind – especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you are eager to teach your kids about being a business owner, there are a few books that stand out. I sat down with Eevi Jones, an award winning & bestselling children’s book author, and the founder of Children’s Book University™, to get her take on what makes a children’s book great for budding entrepreneurs. She has extensive experience turning complex business concepts into lessons even a 5-year-old can grasp. Read more.

Group aims to launch new generation of Main Street entrepreneurs

During this crisis, small businesses are struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, with hundreds of thousands of businesses permanently closed.

Even before the public health crisis, entrepreneurs faced substantial barriers to success. Most would-be entrepreneurs have limited access to capital, and this problem is worse for minorities, who are twice as likely to be denied loans, more likely to receive lower loan amounts, and pay higher interest rates than their white peers. These barriers to entry are also stark in low-income areas, where there are proportionally fewer self-employed workers and small businesses. Read more.

Acceler8Success Cafe Monday 12.7.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Tuesday 12.8.20

Texas-based Pepperoni’s franchising as a 30-year overnight success!

Acceler8Success Cafe Hospitality & Restaurant Edition Wednesday 12.9.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Thursday 12.10.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Weekend Edition 12.11.20

Making the Right Connections

Whether representing businesses & restaurants, brands and organizations for franchising, licensing or distribution goals, or for complex scenarios with varying objectives… Acceler8Success Brokers & Advisors act swiftly AND decisively. 

Exploring possibilities, bringing together all components and closing transactions are key to successful brokerage… Acceler8Success Brokers & Advisors make it happen AND make it count!

Learn About Acceler8Success Group!

41 Motivational Quotes for When You Need Inspiration Most

Some days are easy–energy is high, the sun is shining, everything seems possible. But there will always be times when the storms come. Things go wrong, people let you down, and pressure is high. Those are the times when you need some inspiration. Read more.

Tips For Combining Family, Business, And The Holidays

Those of us who are in the family business, are in the business of family – and the holidays are often met with conflict and uncomfortableness. That’s on top of a global pandemic hanging over us creating additional stress and anxiety. It is rare for family in business to have perfect interactions all the time. To be fair, it is rare for any family to have perfect interactions all the time.

Family relationships can be an inherent advantage or disadvantage to overall business performance and succession planning.  Ineffective interaction breaks down harmony, collaboration, and ultimately trust within the business.  It also creates tension when it comes to family getting together outside of work.  There is a silver lining here.  You can have less stress going into family gatherings this holiday season, while also enjoying your time together in the office. Read more.

50 Tough Questions You Never Ask Yourself, But Should

With the dawn of every New Year, pledges are made by hopefuls everywhere to do or change something big in their life and business. Most of these commitments are shelved or forgotten altogether soon after we ring in that very same New Year.

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

Carl Jung

An annual attempt at implementing meaningful change isn’t the answer. It’s a commitment to continual, deep levels of introspection that brings successful, happy people to the top. If you want results, begin with what’s on the inside instead of pushing to control what’s on the outside. Read more.

Why The Most Productive People Do These Six Things Every Day

Of all our available resources, everyone has the same number of hours in a day. Some, however, happen to get more done. Are they faster or smarter? Do they have more help? Perhaps. But they’ve also learned tricks that can help them stretch time and eliminate the unimportant.

Here are six things super-productive people do every day to maximize their results and success: Read more.

5 ways digital business will change in 2021

COVID-19 made what was once optional into a mandatory part of business strategy, and 2021 will only move the needle further to the digital side, Forrester predicts.

Forrester has released its predictions for digital business in 2021, and it sees big changes coming as the post-pandemic era continues to rapidly transform the business landscape. “What many considered optional became imperative overnight,” Forrester said of digital business, citing that one retailer saw five years’ worth of digital adoption happen in only five months due to COVID-19 lockdowns. 

2021 is the year, Forrester predicts, the majority of businesses will invest in having a full-fledged digital presence. Read more.

Finding the Right Franchise

Are you thinking of going into business for yourself and learning how the choice of a franchise can “jump-start” the process and your earning potential?  Well, Franchise Foundry can help. Working with in-house franchise professionals you will work one-on-one in determining if you’re right for franchising and whether it is right for you.  If you determine that franchising is a path to consider, you will be introduced to various industry segments and ultimately, brands that could be a “right-fit” situation . . . all to help ensure your future success! Learn more.

4 Reasons That Now Is The Right Time To Start Your Own Dream Business

It may sound counterintuitive, but right now might be one of the best times to invest in yourself and make a change in your life by becoming a business owner. If you are one of the many who have been forced into retirement, furloughed, or let go, before looking for a new job where you are still at the mercy of your employer, why not take the time to really consider starting a new chapter in your life?

The pandemic is driving many workers to reevaluate where they are headed. Maybe your career isn’t going where you thought it was, or maybe your talents and skills are being wasted and your frustration is growing. This might be a great time to make a decision to control your own destiny by starting your own business. Here are some reasons why now might be the right time to be your own boss: Read more.

Startups And Small Companies Could See Major Benefits By Hiring Gap Year College Students

For college students looking forward to the university experience, paying a hefty university price tag to sit in their parents’ living room or in an isolated dorm room and taking online classes is a potential disappointment.  So, some students have opted for local community college classes this year, while others have decided to sit this year out and take a COVID-19 gap year. Only 2.5 percent of colleges are planning a fully in-person semester this upcoming year. Rather than spend a year staring at Zoom, some students have taken the semester off. Startups are starting to see this as an opportunity to recruit these students into virtual fall internships. So can smaller companies. Read more.

In 2020, Fear Has Been a Driving Force – A Note from Paul Segreto, Founder, Acceler8Success

Certainly, 2020 has had many uncertainties which, quite frankly took us on an emotional roller coaster. Mostly, the driving force has been fear. I’ve realized my own fear once I was able to admit being scared. Hey, at my age and the fact I’m not in good shape, I must be realistic. So, I’ve worked through my fear and in doing so, maybe I can overcome it. As fear is such a strong emotion that easily grips the soul, it will take time and patience to overcome such a grip.

Little by little I look forward to continuing to pry it away as fear is replaced by courage gained from confidence that fear is just a challenge to be conquered. The great thing is that some of the challenges don’t have to be tackled alone. Instead, collaborative efforts aligned with common goals truly exemplify the phrase, ‘strength in numbers’ and it’s that strength that ultimately conquers fear. Easier said than done? Possibly, but the alternative is being overwhelmed by fear and that, I’ve recognized is not living.

Need to talk through your fears, to determine how to tackle challenges you’re facing and, to clear your mind so you can explore possibilities? If so, I’d like to help. Please contact me on LinkedIn or drop me a note at paul@acceler8success.com. No obligation! And, no one else needs to know!

Preparing The Next Generation Of Creative Entrepreneurs

The youth of today are witnessing a major turning point in our world, as they are transitioning from their educational journey toward building successful and rewarding lives and careers. They are also witnessing an evolving workplace, increased unemployment, and the emergence of new, tech-focused jobs roles that they need to be trained and skilled for.

It is estimated that approximately 600 million jobs need to be created over the next 15 years to meet youth employment needs. This is an ambitious number, and therefore it is the collective responsibility of governments, corporations, and even individuals to pave the way for future generations to succeed and have viable employment opportunities. Read more.

Restarting Your Small Business

As I write this, businesses across the US have applied for the funding offered through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). They have navigated the loan process, are diligently following up with their lenders, and are attempting to access as much information, funding, and advice as possible to help their businesses stay afloat. It’s a trying time, and Dun & Bradstreet is committed to helping small businesses in their efforts to survive. As a former small business owner, I’m riding out this storm with my friends and family who have their own businesses. But also, as a former small business owner, for all my worry and concern, I’m an eternal optimist. During the 2008 financial crisis I had two small businesses in Detroit, Michigan that both survived, and I believe that many small business owners will come through this global crisis with a deeper understanding of their customers, the technology available, and their business overall. Read more.

Everything You Need to Know to Build a Thriving Online Business

Billions of people around the world have access to the internet today. This creates an incredible market, where the barrier to entry is relatively low. With a marketable product and business plan, you could tap into this geographically distributed yet closely connected audience and create boundless opportunities. If building an online business is on your mind, here’s a checklist that will help you achieve your goal. Read more.

6 Ways to Increase Happiness at Work and at Home

Improving happiness is a challenging task these days, but it can be done. An analysis of 61 happiness interventions found that 96 percent of the interventions increased happiness and about half of the results were statistically significant.

A new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology shows exactly what types of happiness interventions are more successful than others. Read more.

Overworked? 12 Practical Ways Entrepreneurs Can Cut Down Their Hours

“Do one thing everyday that scares you. Those small things that make us uncomfortable help us build the courage to do the work we need to”.

Elanor Roosevelt

It’s well-known that entrepreneurs must dedicate a lot of their time to getting their businesses off the ground in order to be successful. It’s not uncommon to hear of a business owner working 60 or more hours a week in pursuit of that success. However, this amount of work can have a major negative impact on one’s mental and physical health. Read more.

To be successful in life get uncomfortable.

No one has ever achieved great success without experiencing the pain of discomfort. We are engineered to resist change, which is why incredible success takes tremendous effort. Action is required to facilitate the process of personal growth, and that involves stepping outside our comfort zone.

Success and performance crescendo when we venture outside what is familiar. Something else happens when we meander into uncharted territory. Stress increases. No need to bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower, small steps are sufficient for starting to stretch outside our comfort zone. Read more.

Connecting the Right Brands, People & Opportunities!

Acceler8Success Group has achieved success in many aspects of small business and franchising. Widely recognized as industry leaders and influencers, Acceler8Success Group leadership have extensive experience as entrepreneurs in small business and restaurants, as senior-level executives within nationally recognized brands, and as franchisees within successful franchise systems. Learn more.

National Restaurant Association to Congress: foodservice businesses need financial relief now

Pointing out that one in five U.S. restaurants has closed amid the pandemic, the National Restaurant Association is urging Congress to pass relief for foodservice businesses before it breaks for the holidays.

In a letter to Congressional leaders, the association shared new survey data it says shows an “economic free fall” has harmed 500,000 restaurants of every type — franchise, chain and independent. According to the association, 17% of restaurants nationwide — more than 110,000 — have closed this year, either permanently or for the long term. Read more.

Restaurant industry fears it’s reaching brink of collapse

California restaurant owner Angela Marsden’s emotional video has gone viral. In it, she points to a movie studio allowed to open for dining just next to her restaurant, the Pineapple Hill Saloon and Grill, which was forced to shut down.

“They have not given us money and they’ve shut us down. We cannot survive, my staff cannot survive,” she said, adding she plans to continue to protest against the orders.“

Angela Marsden, California Restaurant Owner

Her struggle, though – just one of thousands documented in small towns and big cities across the country. Jeff Good co-owns & operates three restaurants in Jackson, Mississippi and spoke to CNN about the need for federal relief. Read more.

How Church’s Protected Brand Standards During a Pandemic

In early summer, Church’s Chicken CEO Joe Christina issued a challenge to his operations team. COVID-19 stretched long enough for the brand to grasp no let-up was in sight. And so Christina began thinking about one of his lead mantras since succeeding Jim Hyatt to Church’s top spot in fall 2016: This notion of becoming a “global franchisor of choice.”

Part of that directive always centered on direct support, from corporate to operator to coach and everything along the path. But one thing COVID did was strip one of the most fundamental aspects of running a multi-unit franchise from the process—actually visiting restaurants. Read more.

Entrepreneurs take long view in running one boutique resort, selling another

You would think the pandemic would be a hard time to sell or run a boutique resort. But Michael Koch and Mary Ann Muir say that’s not the case.

The brother-and-sister duo own two boutique resorts on Siesta Key. In an effort to slow down, they’re selling one — the eight-unit Siesta Palms by the Beach, listed for $3.5 million — and they plan to continue to run another — the eight-unit Siesta Key Inn. Read more.

With Technology and COVID-19, it’s How, Not If for Restaurants

Technology was a muddled and complicated arena for restaurants before COVID-19. But you generally had two choices—embrace or avoid. That’s not so much the case today. What is still valid, however, is trying to understand what fits and what doesn’t, and which paths to implementation represent the best strategy. Early on during the pandemic, operators dove just to dive, or because they had no choice. Yet on the doorstep of winter, with cases surging and no letup in sight, refining digital infrastructure becomes key. As the novelty of offering new options fades and the pool grows deeper, differentiation becomes the aim once again.

Dave Gates, the VP of restaurant development at UniFocus, who previously spent 27 years at full-service burger chain Red Robin, chatted with QSR about the biggest tech trends today and how restaurants are levering them in a COVID environment, as well as what comes next. Read more.

Making Sense of Evolving Kitchens

The kitchen has changed. In recent years, as restaurants adapted to changing consumers and looked for new methods of getting food into their hands, the back of house has evolved along with it. No longer is there simply a kitchen in the back of a serving area. The kitchen could be mobile or it may be off-site. There are kitchens designed to serve a takeout consumer and kitchens run out of the home. They are more efficient than ever, using robotics and other technologies to improve their operations. The editors of Restaurant Business this week explore the Evolving Kitchen and what its change has meant to the foodservice business. Read more.

Chef David Chang won it all on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.’ He’s giving the $1 million to hospitality workers.

After nearly four minutes of agonizing over a $1 million question that had stumped him, the time had come for celebrity chef David Chang to take a stab at answering who was the first president to have electricity in the White House.

His guess Sunday on the revived “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” was Benjamin Harrison, who Chang admittedly didn’t know for sure was even a president. But he said going for the top prize was a chance he had to take to do his part to help out a hospitality industry that has been devastated throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

The Waterman Steele Hospitality Team helps restaurant companies connect with their customers through carefully selected markets and locations using our combined research expertise, strategic insight, and unique real estate brokerage services. We prepare the real estate so you can focus on preparing your menu. Waterman Steele Real Estate Advisors. We know hospitality. Learn more.

5 Tips for Coping with Entrepreneurial Stress and Anxiety

Over the years, I’ve made several career decisions that may not have made much sense to the people around me. From quitting a steady office job to going all-in on business ideas no one else thought would work, I’ve suffered my fair share of entrepreneurial stress and anxiety. After all, living a life of financial uncertainty was not something I personally looked forward to. But then again, neither was the idea of slaving away for something that I didn’t feel passionate about. Read more.

Seasonal Depression Can Be Especially Difficult for Entrepreneurs. Here’s How to Fight It.

There’s a high cost to being an entrepreneur; it’s physically and mentally one of the most demanding things you will ever do. That’s why it has always struck me as supremely ironic that many entrepreneurs will invest everything they have in their business and ignore making any investment in their own well-being.

I’ve often likened the experience of being an entrepreneur to that of being a professional athlete in that both are endurance sports that require you to be in top physical and mental health. For anyone who hasn’t had the joy of founding, building, and running their own business, that sounds like hyperbole. For those of us who have, no further explanation is needed. Read more.

Why Being Kind to Yourself Is Key to Entrepreneurial Success

I remember sitting in the middle of a tech conference years ago when I first founded my company, JotForm. I watched as, one by one, established entrepreneurs took turns in sharing their stories of success. Every time one would get up to speak, I heard this small, nagging voice in my head tell me: You’re not good enough.

I had fallen into the trap of comparison and self-pity, which then led to a snowball effect of self-criticism. Why can’t I reach my goals faster? Why am I the only one struggling to scale up my startup? Not only was I beating myself up over my perceived shortcomings, I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. Read more.

Benetrends is dedicated not only to helping you secure funding, but to helping you educate yourself on a wide range of topics related to starting and funding both franchise and start up businesses. Check out the library of whitepapers available to you at no cost. Be sure to check back often, because new whitepapers are added regularly. Learn more.

5 Characteristics Of Successful, Productive Entrepreneurs

What do top entrepreneurs have in common? Over the past two years, I’ve interviewed entrepreneurs across a wide variety of disciplines. While it’s difficult to find a single characteristic uniting them, several traits emerged as habits that any of us can cultivate. Read more.

If You Want to Win, Help Others Win First

From day one, we encounter competition on the playground and in the classroom. Later we compete with others for educational benefits, careers and promotions. We are wired to compete, and that often leads to a mindset of trying to “one-up” others. But truly smart achievers help others win, which directly impacts the speed of results they experience. Read more.

Seven Questions To Determine If Entrepreneurship Is The Right Path For You

The stories of how entrepreneurs such as Jack Ma and Jeff Bezos started off on their journeys are widely known. Jack Ma, for example, was rejected from every job he applied to before he built e-commerce giant Alibaba.

But often people attribute their success, and the success of other entrepreneurs, to talents and business skills alone. These factors did contribute immensely to the success they achieved; however, that’s not where the story ends. Read more.

“Sometimes we just need a break, shutting out everything around us, not caring who may be watching. It’s good for the body, mind & soul. It also helps to regroup and refocus on moving forward – building upon successes and exploring possibilities – doing things right AND doing the right things. A break is good time to think it all through. As timing is everything, now is the perfect time for a break, followed by the time to make things happen!”

Paul Segreto, Founder, Acceler8Success

Possibilities Become Opportunities

Accelerate your success by thinking far outside the box that your ideas stand alone, causing others to question possibilities. The ideas, outlandish as they may be would make such a significant positive impact that others would be ‘forced’ to consider a new realm of thought. Ultimately, possibilities become opportunities. Watch video.

Beyond Resolutions: The Complete Guide to Achieving Your 2021 New Year Goals

New Year’s resolutions are for amateurs. If you want meaningful, lasting change in your life, you need a system – a guide to installing systems that will help you get the maximum achievement and joy out of your year—not just in 2021, but for the rest of your life. Read more.

6 Books That Will Help You Make Next Year Your Best Year

When Tara Stiles was wrapping up the edits on her new book, Clean Mind, Clean Body, the world was shutting down amid the pandemic outbreak. Stiles saw this as an opportunity to slow down.

“We must recognize that we are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take the cue to slow down seriously,” Stiles writes. “If we let this time pass without heeding this call, we will have missed a massive moment for lasting transformation.” Read more.

160 CEOs Reveal Their Top Concerns in a Post-Covid World

Remote work appears to be here to stay — and business leaders know it. As CEOs plan for 2021, they’re embracing telecommuting as part of their long-term strategy. But strategizing is different than executing, and for many companies, working well while remote is still incredibly difficult.

According to The Predictive Index’s 2021 CEO Benchmarking Report, which surveyed 160 CEOs about their top concerns in a post-COVID world, 97% of CEOs will allow remote work to some degree moving forward. It’s a powerful finding and a win for those who enjoy skipping the commute for the kitchen table. Read more.

Proclamation on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2020

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Imperial Japanese forces ambushed the Naval Station Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Tragically, 2,403 Americans perished during the attack, including 68 civilians. On this National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we solemnly honor and uphold the memory of the patriots who lost their lives that day — “a date which will live in infamy” — and we reflect on the courage of all those who served our Nation with honor in the Second World War. Read more.

How Generation Z Is Altering the Face of Entrepreneurship for Good

For the longest time, my generation, the Millenials, were touted as the Entrepreneurial generation. For the most part, we have lived up to the billing. However, as the world evolves, the art of business evolves with it, and it turns out that Generation Z has more to do with this evolution than many care to admit. 

Generation Z entrepreneurs are springing forth at such a startling rate that a recent Gallup Student Poll found that 40 percent of students surveyed from grades five to 12 stated they wanted to run their own business. Then, 24 percent said they have already started. At this rate, it isn’t at all challenging to see Generation Z take over as the most Entrepreneurial Generation. Read more.

How Will Things be Different for You or Your Business in 2021

There are many individuals and businesses that did not achieve their goals and objectives for 2020 and now wondering & worrying how 2021 will be different. Circumstances as they are, a pivot, change, adaption are necessary. What steps must be taken now that will provide a chance of achieving goals and objectives, or just surviving into and through the new year? With focused and defined preparation, we can help change the word “chance” to “probability?” Contact Acceler8Success at info@Acceler8Success.com. Learn more about Acceler8Success HERE.

This Year’s Top 10 Business Books Will Help You Chart A Successful Future

In case you’re worried about what to get the boss for the holidays, worry no more! Here is my annual top 10 list of the best business books of the year. There is something here for everyone—books on leadership, HR, motivation, marketing and, of course, customer service and experience. If you’re wondering if these books are ranked in a specific way, the answer is no. They just happened to be stacked on my desk in this order. So, here are my favorite books from 2020: Read more.

Agility In Entrepreneurship: Purpose, Progress And Profitability

Entrepreneurship is characterized by creativity and personality. An entrepreneur’s distinctive professional and personal experiences will coincide as goals are determined and a profitable business strategy developed. To gain momentum, entrepreneurs recognize that being nimble and innovative is a priority, and agility will drive competitive advantage.

Being curious about and open to new ways to improve your product and service delivery means changing your approach and being more readily accepting of unprecedented change, embracing opportunities and adapting to new circumstances and situations. As a result, agility and entrepreneurship are interdependent, as entrepreneurs aim to define, stimulate and advance their purpose, progress and profitability, respectively. Read more.

Acceler8Success Cafe Monday 11.30.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Tuesday 12.1.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Special Franchising Edition Wednesday 12.2.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Thursday 12.3.20

Acceler8Success Cafe Weekend Edition Friday 12.4.20

Executive Opportunity: Invest in Your Own Business Brokerage Office

Five of the Most Meaningful Business Moments of 2020

This year, Inc. launched the Best in Business awards, featuring Company of the Year to recognize companies that have had a superlative impact on their industries, their communities, the environment, and society as a whole.

Some companies have social impact baked into their business plans. Others step up in the moments when it’s most important. The companies on Inc.‘s inaugural Best in Business list have gone above and beyond their ordinary operations to respond to urgent needs–and not just those related to the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how some of those companies helped their communities and employees in a year marked by crisis. Read more.

The U.S. Has Embraced Immigrant Tech Entrepreneurs. Now It’s Europe’s Turn

The world is on the cusp of a counterattack on COVID thanks to several vaccines that are currently seeking regulatory approval and a swift rollout. For entrepreneurs and the tech industry, this is a moment when their value to society is demonstrated: business and technology is (along with medicine) leading us out of the pandemic. Read more.

Influential Women Discuss How To Fearlessly Navigate the Business World

The business world has woken up to the idea of female leadership. We hear dozens of success stories about powerful and influential women, from household names like Oprah Winfrey and Susan Wojcicki, to startup founders like Katrina Lake and Tracy Lawrence. 

Yet powerful women are often judged more harshly compared to their male peers. Yale School of Management’s Victoria Brescoll led a study where participants read a fictional story about a police chief preparing for massive protests. In one version of the story, the protest got out of hand and the chief didn’t send enough squad cars, resulting in 25 people getting injured. Read more.

How to Build Your Courage to Achieve Anything

If you’re reading this, you’re someone who desires more from yourself and others. You’re always looking for ways to increase your productivity, happiness and health, and there’s all these life hacks and time management skills that can help you.

But the secret weapon that will help you live your best life every single day? Courage. Read more.

There’s Much More To Small Business Lending Than The Funding Itself

If you’re looking for a business lending source to help finance your start-up or manage your future wealth, contact us today. Benetrends Financial, a pioneer in the industry, has helped thousands of potential small business owners like yourself secure funding over the past 35 years. Learn more.

50 Weekend Business Ideas

Want to start a business but don’t have the ability to dedicate a full-time schedule to it? Not to worry — there are plenty of business opportunities out there that you can work on just on the weekends.

If you’re interested in being a weekend entrepreneur, check out these 50 weekend business ideas that won’t take all of your time during the week. Read more.

The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship

This article won an award in the Magazine Personal Service category in the 2014 Annual Awards Contest of the Deadline Club, the New York City chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

By all counts and measures, Bradley Smith is an unequivocal business success. He’s CEO of Rescue One Financial, an Irvine, California-based financial services company that had sales of nearly $32 million last year. Smith’s company has grown some 1,400 percent in the last three years, landing it at No. 310 on this year’s Inc. 500. So you might never guess that just five years ago, Smith was on the brink of financial ruin–and mental collapse. Read more.

Accelerating Success for individuals and brands alike!

Our goal is to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs architect a plan of continuous accelerated movement toward a pinnacle of desired success, even if and when previously thought to be unattainable. This process has been developed around our proven e-IDEA (explore, identify, develop, execute & analyze) methodology. Deployed effectively, it is key to sustainability and ultimately, to success… Acceler8Success! Learn more.