Tag Archive: Informational Blog

Groundhog Day: How To Avoid Repetition & Take Action To Meet Your Business Goals

February 1, 2023 8:00 am

The movie Groundhog Day tells the story of a weatherman who is stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. While the movie is a comedy, repetition, and stagnation can be too real for many business owners. Just like the weatherman in the movie, you can break out of the cycle and achieve your goals. This blog post will explore identifying signs of repetition and the importance of setting specific goals and taking action to meet your business goals. In this blog, you’ll learn: How you can identify signs of repetition in your business and[...]

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One Big Reason To Compliment Your Business Today

January 6, 2023 6:30 am

Complement Your Customers & Employees As we move into the new year, it’s a great time to look at how you can start 2023 with positivity in your business. The start of the year is an opportune time to reflect on what you achieved in the previous 12 months and set yourself up for success in the coming year. Whether you’re starting a new business or looking to grow your current startup, there are a few key emotions and strategies you can take to ensure that 2023 starts off with a bang. This blog post will cover how you can[...]

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An Ode to Small Business Fatherly Advice

June 7, 2022 10:00 am

“What’s long, brown, and sticky?” If your dad is particularly inclined to tell dad jokes, you have probably heard this one before. The answer, of course? “A stick.” [Slow clap]   Dads can lend a special light to our lives, not least of which is bad humor. On the other hand, they are also sources of immense wisdom if we can tap into that wisdom. They’ve experienced so much more than we have! We can observe the same phenomenon when it comes to older, wiser mentors in the business. Some entrepreneurs are lucky enough to count their father as their mentor[...]

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Social Media Dos and Don’ts for Your Small Business

June 7, 2022 6:00 am

One of the ways we support West Virginia small businesses at 3 Steps to StartUp is by spreading useful knowledge. Our venture fairs and LIINC events last year brought innovators and entrepreneurs together to share their technical knowledge with aspiring small business owners. We also strive to provide information through our blog with posts like this one!   Social media cannot be ignored in today’s business world. With widespread social media use by consumers, a small business would be making a mistake to skip participating in social media. Business social media pages are a primary source of inbound marketing in today’s[...]

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Spring Cleaning for Your Small Business  

April 19, 2022 6:00 am

Spring has arrived, and that means ‘tis the season for spring cleaning! Your small business is no exception when it comes to the need for refreshing. At 3 Steps to Startup, we are in the business of providing support for entrepreneurs throughout West Virginia at all stages. If you’re hoping to start a new business, there’s no time like the present! Jump in with support from our program! If you’re a first-time entrepreneur already in business, utilize these 4 strategies to do some “spring cleaning” for your business.   Update and refresh your website and social media pages   Your website[...]

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Adversity: What Our Experience Has Taught Us

April 5, 2022 6:00 am

Despite the adversity businesses face today, West Virginia’s economy is doing well in 2022. Unemployment in the first part of this year reached 3.9%, an all-time low. State leaders are optimistic about what 2022 will bring, even though we are still feeling the effects of a pandemic after two years: effects that small business owners have felt the most. The three main complications affecting small businesses in 2022 are COVID-19 (the threat of new variants), inflation, and supply-chain issues. At 3 Steps to Startup, we understand issues like these because we’ve experienced and overcome them! Below, we identify 5 helpful[...]

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March TAX Madness for Small Business in West Virginia 

March 15, 2022 8:00 am

March Madness is upon us… and so is the madness of tax season. If you’re a small business owner, and especially if you’re new to entrepreneurship, this time of year can be overwhelming. At 3 Steps to Startup, we want to provide you with the know-how to make it through this tax season with a win! Here are some pointers for making sure you lead your business through March tax Madness without any upsets.   1) Know how much time is on the clock:  One of the most important things to know as a small business owner is the timing of[...]

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How Critical is Luck When it Comes to Small Business Success? 

March 1, 2022 8:00 am

Many entrepreneurs attribute the success of their businesses to hard work… and a little bit of luck. This month, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we ask: is luck the determining factor for a business’s success?  The consensus is no. Entrepreneurs who credit good luck for their success usually indicate that it is only a portion of what goes into business success – and far smaller than the majority. Most of them give luck credit amounting to 20% or less. When pressed, the common thread for what people consider “luck” is actually just good timing. Elon Musk revealed that Tesla[...]

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Self-Care For Entrepreneurs

February 1, 2022 8:00 am

February is typically a month that people start to think about how they’ll show others they care. We think that February should inspire you to show yourself some care as well! Entrepreneurs can seem super-human, but they are no exception when it comes to needing self-care. Small business owners report working twice as much as regular employees. The number of hours entrepreneurs work is not the only reason they might need to treat themselves every once in a while. If you need more convincing, here’s a list of more reasons entrepreneurs need self-care:  They are under immense stress, one source[...]

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2021 Was a Success – Let’s Do it Again in 2022! 

December 30, 2021 7:00 am

3 Steps Year in Review It was an eventful 2021 here at 3 Steps to Startup! What started as a year of hopefulness with some uncertainty has finished with even more optimism and an opportunity to reflect on West Virginia’s economic growth, including the formation of well over 12,000 new small businesses. At 3 Steps to Startup, we are proud to have played a part in furthering our state’s goals for economic growth.   Throughout 2021, new entrepreneurs and veteran small business owners connected with us for help with their businesses. We have assisted them with information gathering, commercialization of ideas,[...]

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