2020 is the fire hose that has blown away how and where we used to work. I find I am scattered. What about you? Here are some ways that I improve my focus: 1. Eliminate distractions. Easier said than done when we’re working from home and there is no school, camp or daycare. I often get up early and get a few hours in before everyone else wakes up. 2. Stop Multi-Tasking. I have learned the hard way that I can’t truly concentrate on more than one thing at a time. One thing alwa

This time last year, I had mapped out three months of blog posts on common legal mistakes small businesses make and the differences between stock purchases and asset purchases. Today, we are suffering from pandemic economic losses and a reckoning of our entrenched prejudice. What should small businesses say and do? It is a tough question, and one I struggle with. Large corporations are making statements in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Brands are finally shedding logo

We have a guest blogger on Direct Talk today - Mark Simmons, a 20+ year marketing veteran and the founder/CEO of Mixed Digital, a full-service marketing agency in Durham. According to research from Hubspot, 97% of consumers use a search engine to discover local businesses in their area. From restaurants, to auto care, to lawyers, often new business starts as a search on Google Maps. That’s exactly where Google My Business (GMB) comes in. As a business owner, you want to claim