Small Business Tips from Sage Summit

Comments 20 by Rebecca Bollwitt

This 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.

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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

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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.

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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.

Sage Summit 2015

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)
RT to enter to win a copy of #Sage50 from @SageNAmerica @Miss604 http://ow.ly/R6hJv

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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20 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Ariel CWednesday, August 19th, 2015 — 10:18am PDT

    There’s no such things as impossible. The word itself spells “I’m Possible”

  2. samanthaWednesday, August 19th, 2015 — 10:33am PDT

    “build it and they will come” is false. Let THEM build it and they will live there.

  3. JenWednesday, August 19th, 2015 — 4:13pm PDT

    “A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for” – get out of your comfort zone!

  4. JasonThursday, August 20th, 2015 — 9:52am PDT

    Always have a great front end to deal with the customers at point of contact

  5. DavidThursday, August 20th, 2015 — 11:43am PDT

    Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.

  6. HelenThursday, August 20th, 2015 — 1:30pm PDT

    Be humble with your success

  7. Lisa GThursday, August 20th, 2015 — 1:31pm PDT

    “Follow your passion” Great advice for both business and life:) thanks for the chance!

  8. Chris (@lyteforce)Thursday, August 20th, 2015 — 2:43pm PDT

    Just because you’re moving the direction you’re facing doesn’t imply you’re moving forward.

  9. Alan HuangFriday, August 21st, 2015 — 9:28am PDT

    Instead of waiting for something else to give you the opportunity, create it yourself.

  10. EileenFriday, August 21st, 2015 — 10:38pm PDT

    “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

  11. Shelley LockwoodSaturday, August 22nd, 2015 — 1:01pm PDT

    “In business, without exception you should always say thank you and mean it.”
    Shelley Lockwood

  12. KristySaturday, August 22nd, 2015 — 4:06pm PDT

    “It’s always too early to quit”.

  13. Jason BSaturday, August 22nd, 2015 — 5:46pm PDT

    Save 20% of what you earn.

  14. MaureenSunday, August 23rd, 2015 — 6:56pm PDT

    “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.”

  15. susannahMonday, August 24th, 2015 — 9:53am PDT

    In every situation ask yourself “What can I learn from this?”

  16. Leanne SMonday, August 24th, 2015 — 10:13am PDT

    It’s all about flexibility and adaptation and a can-do attitude.

  17. David HMonday, August 24th, 2015 — 10:22am PDT

    Love without action is meaningless. Action with love is irrelevant – Deepak Chopra at Sage Summit 2015

  18. WenMonday, August 24th, 2015 — 2:50pm PDT

    Start out small and do your research.

  19. Erin WTuesday, August 25th, 2015 — 8:40am PDT

    Start small and keep it manageable. Too much growth too fast can be more of a nightmare than a dream!

  20. JennyTuesday, August 25th, 2015 — 11:14am PDT

    Success is not achieved overnight

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