New York SBDC Research Network

VAMBOA is a non-profit veteran business trade association that promotes and assists Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners. "We know that you possess special skills including leadership abilities and a work ethic second to none. Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners are highly qualified to build successful businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and responsible for job generation." Membership in VAMBOA is free and provides a multitude of resources. Here is the blog .

In 2006, a report published in Inc.com concluded — ridiculously — that productivity losses cost U.S. employers more than half a trillion dollars — $544,000,000,000, to be a little more precise. The report found that in an eight-hour day, employers spent an average of 1.86 hours “on something other than their jobs, not including lunch and scheduled breaks.” And of those surveyed, 52% “admitted that their biggest distraction during work hours [was] surfing the Internet for personal use.” The data is garbage, of course; the idea that employees should be always-on and that anything less than that is going to result in productivity losses isn't based in science or reality. But every once in a while, there’s an example of an employee who goes to the extreme, not doing much work and perhaps none at all. Take, for example, the story of a former software developer identified by the press only as Bob. More from Now I Know .

Have you ever wondered which company rules in your state? Well, now you don't have to—thanks to a new revenue map covering all of America's 50 states. The graphic, designed by telecommunications firm Broadview Networks, reveals the largest companies in each state based on income. It shows that Verizon Communications is the biggest company in New York, while the retailer Costco has trumped Microsoft Corporation in Washington. ... The graphic,  unveiled in a blog by Broadview , is based on financial information from a Hoover's database of company profiles. More from Nation of Change .

Entrepreneur provides general business, start-up information on Leadership Growth & Strategy Marketing Technology Security Social Media Finance Entrepreneurs Starting a Business Franchises and MORE

JUST LAUNCHED! There is ONE website where you can find free government programs, grants, events and advisors near you! BusinessUSA has just launched its newest website feature, the State Resources Portal. Together with the other local resource tools on the site, American businesses can find local resources, events, and business assistance centers in their state. Try it today! Click the State button at the top of the Business.USA.gov Home Page . You can also find local resources and events by using the Local Resource Finder on the home page of Business.USA.gov . Simply type your U.S. ZIP Code in the box shown and click GO.

Collected by Kate Baker, advisor with the NY SBDC office in Albany 1. The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary. Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart 2. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Bill Gates 3. It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. Charles Darwin 4. It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages. Henry Ford 5. Well done is better than well said. Benjamin Franklin 6. Spend a lot of time talking to customers face to face. You’d be amazed how many companies don’t listen to their customers. Ross Perot 7. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa 8. If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful. Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon.com 9. In the

Where in the U.S. will you find the most satisfied employees? And what makes them so satisfied in their jobs? For job seekers looking to relocate or launch their career, Glassdoor has released its second annual Employment Satisfaction Report Card by City (2014) , offering a comparison by city of overall employee satisfaction, number of employers hiring, business outlook expectations and more, according to local employees in the 50 largest U.S. metros. Based on local employee feedback shared over the past 12 months, the San Francisco Bay Area takes the lead for the second year in a row, with San Jose, CA ranking #1 (3.5 employment satisfaction rating) and San Francisco, CA taking #2 (3.4). Both cities are home to several companies that won a 2014 Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, honoring the 50 Best Places to Work.