Small Business Tips from Sage Summit
byThis summer I traveled to New Orleans for the Sage Summit, the largest conference for small and medium sized businesses in the world, with over 7,000 attendees, hundreds of sessions, 70 speakers, and endless networking opportunities in the Big Easy. Taking place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, right along the Mississippi River a quick stroll away from the legendary French Quarter, the conference brought in delegates from around the world to be inspired in the business world, in everyday practices, and to learn more about Sage products.
Starting off the week with an address from Sage’s CEO, the massive convention centre hosted a wide array of speakers including the daily keynotes panelists: General Colin Powell, Deepak Chopra, Tony Hawk, Chad Hurley, Jane Seymour, Matthew Weiner, Trevor Noah, Baroness Karren Brady, and Brandi Temple. People in the arts, in business, in sports, politics, you name it. Every day at breakfast and lunch I sat in the dining hall with accountants, family business owners, faculty, non-profit leaders, and entrepreneurs.
There was a lot to take in, and a lot from which I could draw inspiration, but here are some quotes I made a point of saving during the morning keynote addresses.
Small Business Tips from Sage Summit
As a writer, I loved Matthew Weiner’s insights when he sat on a panel about interacting, and dealing with, fans alongside Trevor Noah and Tony Hawk. Weiner created the award-winning series Mad Men for himself and while there are focus groups that tell you what your typical fan might be, and you do listen to a lot of feedback from social media and elsewhere, he said he had to stay true to the story he wanted to tell. He gave the people what he wanted them to watch, and that didn’t make the show any less of a success, it helped it thrive.
The next Sage Summit takes place in Chicago and if you’re in the business world, and not even a Sage customer, I recommend that you check it out. It was very well organized, the agenda on the mobile app was the best event tool I’ve ever used, their speaker lineup is always impressive, and you’ll make some great connections from around the globe.
Win Sage 50
If you do want to check out Sage as a customer, I have 5 boxes of Sage 50 Pro Accounting—Canadian Edition to give away. Sage 50 Accounting (formerly Simply Accounting) is easy-to-use accounting and business management software that provides you with the tools you need to manage your bookkeeping, payroll and business needs and the freedom to do just that with ease. Each Sage 50 Pro copy that I’m giving away is a $249.99 value! Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment quoting some of the best business/life advice you have received (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw five winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 27, 2015. Follow the tag #SageSummit and @Sage_Summit on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update The winners are Chris (@lyteforce) &…
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There’s no such things as impossible. The word itself spells “I’m Possible”
“build it and they will come” is false. Let THEM build it and they will live there.
“A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for” – get out of your comfort zone!
Always have a great front end to deal with the customers at point of contact
Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.
Be humble with your success
“Follow your passion” Great advice for both business and life:) thanks for the chance!
Just because you’re moving the direction you’re facing doesn’t imply you’re moving forward.
Instead of waiting for something else to give you the opportunity, create it yourself.
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
“In business, without exception you should always say thank you and mean it.”
Shelley Lockwood
“It’s always too early to quit”.
Save 20% of what you earn.
“A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under extreme pressure, so imagine how brilliant a human being can be by sustaining pressures of life. Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to unleash your inner strength and help you discover who you are.”
In every situation ask yourself “What can I learn from this?”
It’s all about flexibility and adaptation and a can-do attitude.
Love without action is meaningless. Action with love is irrelevant – Deepak Chopra at Sage Summit 2015
Start out small and do your research.
Start small and keep it manageable. Too much growth too fast can be more of a nightmare than a dream!
Success is not achieved overnight