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‘Unretirement’ Fuels Growth of Small Business, Creates Jobs

Baby Boomers — nearly 80 million of them in the U.S. – will redefine traditional retirement. The first boomers turned 65 in 2011, and year after year for the next 18 years, masses of them will choose to work beyond the ages of 62 to 65, the range long thought of as retirement time. There’s been a lot of conversation lately about boomers and the ‘unretirement’ movement. In fact, AARP predicts that a whopping 80% of boomers will have to work into their retirement years. The vast majority of them will move away from high-pressure corporate positions to reshape their professional lives as small business owners, consultants, part-time workers or “giving back” careers such as teaching or non-profit management. And what we’re seeing right now is the tip of the iceberg. More from the ASBDC .

The Small Business Advocate – February/ March 2013

The February-March edition of the Small Business Advocate (vol. 32, no. 2 , edited by Rebecca Krafft) spotlights three new publications: the annual Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which examines federal agencies’ progress in considering small businesses when making regulations; Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories, with extensive government data showing the status and importance of small business in each state; and the Small Business Economy, providing a broad statistical portrait of small business. The newsletter also reports on rules from the Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Food and Drug Administration, plus the makeup of the Small Business Committees in the 113th Congress. In This Issue Message from the Chief Counsel Advocacy Report Shows Small Businesses at the Forefront of Economic Recovery Research Notes Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories Published Regulatory News Annual

Avoid These Three Deadly Sins of Sales Messaging

Salespeople's lips moving—that's how deals get done. Everyone talks about the importance of listening during the sales cycle; but, let's face it, no one buys from a mute salesperson. You eventually have to talk, and when you do, know this: The entire deal is riding on what you have to say, even more than what you have to sell. This article will discuss the three deadly sins of sales messaging and how you can successfully avoid them in order to create more demand and win more business. Read more from MarketingProfs .

Leave It All To The Movers

I just love this video of a moving company at work . Fabulous business model. Just two things: 1. The company is in Japan. 2. The experiences I have had with movies have often been, let us say, less than ideal.

Work From Home? The Home Office Tax Deduction Has Changed for 2013

For many small business owners, the home office deduction can be a mixed blessing--the savings are valuable to a tight margin business, but its complexity can lead to errors and unwanted IRS attention. But for 2013 and beyond, you have more flexibility when claiming this tax break. Keep Reading for More on This Money-Saving Option

U.S. Manufacturing in International Perspective

From HERE : • The United States remained the largest manufacturing country in 2010, although its share of global manufacturing activity has declined in recent years. • Manufacturing output has grown more rapidly in the United States over the past decade than in most European countries and Japan, although it has lagged China, Korea, and other countries in Asia. • Employment in manufacturing has fallen in most major manufacturing countries over the past two decades. The United States saw a disproportionately large drop between 2000 and 2010, but its decline in manufacturing employment since 1990 is in line with the changes in several European countries and Japan. • U.S. manufacturers spend far more on research and development (R&D) than those in any other country, but manufacturers’ R&D spending is rising more rapidly in China, Korea, Mexico, and Taiwan. • A large share of manufacturing R&D in the United States takes place in high technology sectors, particularly pharm

Karen Mills Announces Her Departure As SBA Administrator

After four years as Administrator of the SBA, Karen Mills announced on February 11th that she will not be staying for a second term . Administrator Mills will however stay at SBA until her successor is confirmed to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.