Originally posted by Matt Charney, one of #TChat’s moderators, on MonsterThinking Blog
It’s hard to overstate the impact of small business, even by presidential proclamation, as Barack Obama kicked off National Small Business Week, declaring:
“From the family businesses that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of America’s promise.”
As Obama (or proxy) observed, it turns out Mom & Pop and VC babies share more in common than size; they share spirit, “the idea that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our country.”
Every big company, Monster Worldwide included, started out with no more than the courage to turn an idea into action, passion into profit. Proctor & Gamble, Kellogg, Ford, and a multitude of other global corporations, have rewarded those visionaries by turning their founders into, quite literally, household names.
Look at the NASCAR-esque list of sponsors for National Small Business Week, which might seem ironic until you consider that topping Fortune takes, well, fortune. From Google (Page & Brin) to Sam’s Club (Walton) to Microsoft (that guy), these familiar corporate creation myths each began as any small business.
For many more millions of small business owners, and workers, who have dared to dream and injected so much sweat equity into their bottom line, that creation myth is still being created. They might call themselves small businesses, or entrepreneurs, or start-ups, but our economy – and our jobs – depends on their growth.
So we just wanted to say thank you.
For those who have made it, or those who are starting out, growing an idea isn’t always easy. That’s why tonight’s special National Small Business Week #TChat wants to turn conversation into innovation.
Join us on Twitter tonight at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT as we discuss the challenges – and opportunities – faced by entrepreneurs and their employees today. We’ll also be highlighting some of the biggest ideas and trends in small business all week here at MonsterThinking during our National Small Business Week salute.
Here are the questions we’ll be discussing, along with some recommended reading to help inform, and inspire, your participation in tonight’s #TChat conversation: click here for more from MonsterThinking or check out the Monster for Employers Small Business Resources site.
#TChat Questions & Recommended Reading (5.17.11)
1. How do you define ‘small business?’ Is this the term we should be using?
Read: How To Scale Your Business To Billions In Revenue by Alyson Shontell
2. Would you prefer working for a small business or a big company? Why?
Read: How To Make Your Small Company Culture Stand Out by Eric Herrenkohl
3. What role does talent play in small business success? How can small businesses successfully compete with bigger companies in the ‘war for talent?’
Read: Six Ways To Maximize Your Small Business Hiring Advantage by Connie Blaszczyk
4. What are some of the biggest advantages of working for a small business employer? Drawbacks?
Read: Bright Bulb Workers Get the Benjamins by Sal Iannuzzi
5. Do you think employers and recruiters value small business and big company experience differently?
Read: Why Are Hiring Managers Scared of Entrepreneurs? by David Mesicek
6. What should big business workers know about moving to a small company (and vice-versa)?
Read: How To Evaluate A Job at A Start-Up by Monster.com Career Advice Experts
7. What’s your best advice for someone thinking about starting a small business? Any myths vs. realities?
Read: Is Starting Your Own Business the Answer? by Susan Bryant
Visit www.talentculture.com for more great information on #TChat; for more resources and advice for small businesses from Monster, click here.
Our Monster social media team supports the effort behind #TChat and its mission of sharing “ideas to help your business and your career accelerate – the right people, the right ideas, at the right time.”
We’ll be joining the conversation live every Tuesday night as co-hosts with Kevin Grossman and Meghan M. Biro from 8-9 PM E.T. via @monster_works and @MonsterWW. Hope to see you tonight at 8 PM ET for #TChat!
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