I'll keep this short and sweet. Do you have affiliate partners that sell your product/service but only collect if they make a sale? This is arguably the best sales strategy out there. It is how I built my shed sales company to $3,000,000+ in 2 years. Having affiliates is scalable and a way to keep fixed costs low. What have you done to bring on commissioned sales people?

Identifying Risk in Your Small Business Every small business carries at least one risk capable of crippling operations and most have a handful. The challenge isn’t that risks exist; it’s that many owners don’t identify them early enough to prepare. Some threats are obvious, like a sudden change in government regulations that reshapes your industry overnight. Others are harder to spot, such as a disruptive competitor quietly gaining traction until your customers start drifting away. Internal risks matter just as much. A key employee leaving can stall momentum, delay projects, or create knowledge gaps that take months to rebuild. Cash‑flow shortages—often the silent killer of small businesses—can turn a healthy operation into a crisis with one slow sales cycle. Legal exposure, natural disasters, or relying too heavily on one customer or revenue stream can also put your business in a fragile position. The goal isn’t to eliminate risk; it’s to see it clearly. When you understand where your vulnerabilities are, you can build buffers, diversify revenue, strengthen processes, and create contingency plans that keep your business resilient no matter what comes your way. What is your biggest risk? Be honest, if you don't know, you better ask someone who has more insight or experience. There are always risks.

Finding the right funding can make or break a growing business but protecting your credit while you search is just as important. Many entrepreneurs unknowingly damage their scores by applying for too many products or working with lenders who run hard inquiries upfront. The good news is that you can explore capital options strategically without taking unnecessary hits. Start by focusing on soft‑pull lenders, which review your credit without affecting your score. Many reputable online lenders, CDFIs, and fintech platforms now offer prequalification tools that let you compare rates safely. You should also look at non‑credit‑Finding Funding Without Hurting Your Credit** Securing capital is one of the biggest hurdles for entrepreneurs, but protecting your credit score while doing it is just as important. Fortunately, there are smart, low‑impact ways to explore funding without triggering hard inquiries or unnecessary risk. **Be careful to not just fill out a generic contact form on a website that will search for offers. These sites are lead farms and they sell your info to EVERYBODY. Your phone will ring 10x/day for 3-6 months*** Next, look at non‑debt options. Grants, pitch competitions, and government programs like SBA resource partners (SCORE, VBOC, SBDC) provide guidance and sometimes direct funding with zero credit impact. Crowdfunding and revenue‑based financing can also give you access to capital without traditional credit pulls. Finally, keep your financials clean and organized. A strong business plan, clear cash‑flow projections, and documented traction can open doors to lenders who rely more on business fundamentals than personal credit. Exploring funding shouldn’t cost you points on your score. With the right strategy, you can find the capital you need while keeping your credit intact and your business moving forward.

LinkedIn gives us the green #OpenToWork ring, which is useful. But what about people who are not looking for a traditional job? What about consultants, founders, speakers, authors, freelancers, coaches, veterans, or business owners? I kept looking at that little green ring and thinking: Why should the message stop at #OpenToWork? What if it said: #OpenToConsult Available for Projects Veteran Owned Book Me to Speak Founder YourWebsite.com LinkedIn does not currently offer those choices. That is where my motto kicks in: Don’t tell me it can’t be done! So I made a simple Customer GPT I captured my existing profile image, replaced the green ring, changed the wording, tested new colors, and turned it into a branded profile badge. Here is the link: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6a6554ecf3788191b0b02adb3f89388d-profile-branding-ring-pogue-digital-solutions If you could replace #OpenToWork with any message, what would your profile ring say? Drop your idea below.

You've only seen 2. But I'm not trying to build this alone. So I'm asking you two questions: 1. Which lead magnet should I drop next? 2. What other apps should I be using to make this whole thing better? Drop your answers below. I read every single one. More to come.