Bridget McCrea's Blog

Most people don’t start a business because they have a grand plan and a sure route to success. They start because they’ve hit their limit: the paycheck, the boss, the bureaucracy. Frustration, it turns out, is one of the best startup fuels there is.   The fuel is so potent it’s practically an economic engine. Just look at what it’s set in motion:   About 5.5 million new small businesses launch in the U.S. every year. Those small companies make up 99.9% of all firms nationwide (and employ...

Gen Z isn’t waiting for permission. They’re starting businesses earlier and faster than any generation that came before them. A couple of years ago Samsung and Morning Consult did a survey and found that 50% of Gen Zers want to become entrepreneurs or start their own businesses. These aspiring entrepreneurs top out at 28 years old now, and they grew up watching traditional career paths change overnight. Here’s what the rest of us can learn from them: Move fast when it’s called for.  Gen Z...

If you’re running your business from a kitchen table, garage or spare bedroom, you’re in good company. According to the SBA, about half of all small businesses start at home in the U.S. In fact, some of the world’s most recognizable brands began the same way. Apple started in a garage, Amazon in Jeff Bezos’ home and Clif Bar in its founders’ home kitchens. Even Google began in a dorm room (and later, a rented garage) before turning into what it is today. These stories prove that success...

Every business starts with a vision, but even experienced professionals can lose sight of the basics when things get busy, challenging or frustrating. Those are the times when we tend to skip past the hard questions and focus more on day-to-day activity versus real direction. In Your First Business Blueprint  I challenge my readers to stop and assess their foundation first (even if they’ve been in business a while). And this isn’t about mission statements or big-picture strategy either; it’s...

Behind every thriving business is someone who stayed the course when others decided to go back to their 9-5 jobs. The people who succeed aren’t always the most creative or well-funded. They’re the ones who stay focused, keep learning and take consistent action. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to stand out. The basics, done well and done consistently, make all the difference. Here’s what separates the entrepreneurs who last: They know their “why.”  Purpose fuels them when things get...

If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, this is your moment. The tools, technology and support available today make it easier than ever to turn an idea into income. You don’t need permission, perfect timing or a big investment. You just need to start. Entrepreneurship isn’t only for people with deep pockets or big networks anymore. The digital age leveled the field. Anyone with drive, focus and a willingness to learn can build something of their own. Here’s why there’s never been a...

Starting a business doesn’t take a perfect plan or a million-dollar idea. It takes focus, direction and the willingness to begin. Every successful entrepreneur starts the same way: by deciding to move forward. From there, it’s about figuring out what you’re good at, who you want to serve and how to build something that fits your life. Progress comes from small, steady steps. Here’s how smart entrepreneurs set themselves up for success: Start small, think big.  Every strong business begins...

Starting a business doesn’t take a perfect plan or a million-dollar idea. It takes focus, direction and the willingness to begin. Every successful entrepreneur starts the same way: by deciding to move forward. From there, it’s about figuring out what you’re good at, who you want to serve and how to build something that fits your life. Progress comes from small, steady steps. Here’s how smart entrepreneurs set themselves up for success: Start small, think big.  Every strong business begins...

With Google down-ranking spammy, unoriginal content churned out by AI chatbots, organizations are rethinking how they create, publish & share information.   Few would argue with the power of artificial intelligence in the business world, where it’s analyzing datasets in seconds, identifying patterns and handling certain repetitive tasks. But I interviewed an owner from Dale Carnegie the other day who pointed out that while AI can do a lot of stuff, it can’t be creative  and it has no social...

Anyone who experienced the wave of bookstore closures that started in the early-2000s knows how painful it is to see the one or two national or independent bookstores in your area shut down for good.   That meant no more Borders, no more B. Daltons and no more Waldenbooks in your area mall (weren’t those stores fun to browse through? I miss that.) Books-A-Million went through some changes—but is still chugging along in some regions—and Barnes & Noble reigned as one of the last major national...