Doing business in the state of California isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s one of the biggest economies in the world, and attracts many of the most talented people in every industry. To maintain a viable business you need all the help you can get. That’s where the California Chamber of Commerce, or CalChamber,...

Negativity seemingly always bombards us in the news and in our social media timelines these days. If you want to combat this, one surefire method is to adopt a social good strategy for your business. For many years now, companies both large and small have sought to improve the world through corporate social responsibility by implementing practices...

“Do as I say, not as I do” might once have worked for both parents and stern bosses, but these days leadership by demand is no longer sufficient. Modern employees want to see you in action, leading by example. When your actions actively work against the things you say (whether in direct conversation or through the creation or enforcement of...

Becoming an entrepreneur, owning your own business, setting your own hours, being the boss … for many of us, it’s a dream come true. At the same time, though, many business owners wake up one day and wonder when it’s time to quit. People strongly attracted to the idea of creating a small business of their own one...

I’ve talked to dozens of founders over the years looking to go digital. Companies now more fully recognize the benefits of paper reduction, including environmental benefits and significant cost savings. But even the most conscientious company has quite a few pages landing on the office printer every day. It can seem like an unavoidable part...

Tesla has disrupted the automotive market and helped shift major carmakers towards producing electric vehicles at an accelerated pace. The company always seems to be up to something innovative, like it’s newest announcement about an electric pickup truck to be released sometime in 2020 or thereabouts. You always hear Elon Musk’s name when people talk about these developments, but one...

We all know there’s a healthy hacker culture in the entrepreneurial world. For decades, coders have hacked their way to creating new products and businesses. More recently we’ve heard about “growth hackers” attempting to increase the size and reach of their companies. Or “bio hackers” who take Soylent or stick to certain diets to keep the weight off. Recently, I’ve started...

The holiday season is pretty much here already, and the internet is still probably the outlet of choice for much of your marketing. But, don’t count out traditional marketing just yet. Just as in-person interactions can personalize your relationship with customers and colleagues, print collateral can make a different type of impression on customers. For freelancers, the...

Today’s companies are under a lot of pressure to create memorable, sticky brands — especially amidst growing competition from online retailers. Starting a business is one thing, but building a story around it is something entirely different. Unfortunately, not all companies hit a home run when it comes to branding. In fact, even well-known retailers...

Every entrepreneurial journey is unique, but the mistakes entrepreneurs make are not. The process of planning, launching and running your own business is a heady time, full of long hours and exciting challenges. Pure adrenaline, excitement and sometimes lots of caffeine propel new entrepreneurs through hazy days that often run into one another. Some days, it...