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hi, there, everyone. i'm j.j. ramberg and welcome the "your business" where we give you tips and advice to help your business grow. we certainly ask a lot of time asking how can government do things better to help small businesses and we note it has a number of programs out there to help entrepreneurs. officials in the nation's capital tried to get the word out about these programs during the recent national small business week. >> the president talks about an economy built to last and we know that small businesses are going to be a big part of job creation in the future. >> small business owners from around the country descended on washington, d.c. for national small business week to attend event and ceremonies held by the u.s. small business administration. >> we are very excited. >> from break-out sessions to

networking event, the main focus was on helping entrepreneurs in the three key areas. the three cs. capital, contracts and counseling. >> without the capital you can't continue your business or even consider to grow it. so obviously, getting the sva loan really helped us make that jump-start. and actually, our second sva loan took us to a new building and able to double and triple our size eventually. >> though it can be a time consuming process, business own rs were advise to pursue the free resources available for government contracting opportunities. >> small businesses get the revenue they need to grow and create jobs and the federal government gets access to some of the most innovative small businesses, most creative businesses, often times with the direct line to the ceo. >> mark deboes recent partner of the sba and could sponsor of national business week talked to

us about the main resource score provides. >> some people want to grow. some people want to start. some people want to exit their business. >> export was also a hot topic huge opportunities to gro internationally. >> growing two thirds around global growth outside the united states, it is really imperative for small businesses to realize there is a lot of opportunity outside the united states for those sales. >> we decided we wanted to do this international business within the company. we chose three markets. and then we concentrated on those three markets and in a matter of two years we were giving resources, we did a lot of market research. so it basically began from there. >> and no discussion about growing your business connections is ever complete without talking about the power of social media. >> people are changing their business models. there's been so 78 technological

innovations and how do you make yourself stand out from the pack? there is move toward experience shl business. it is not just, here is what my business is. it is making an experience about the whole thing. >> can you use social media it find like minded people. think of needles in the hay stack. not just connecting with other business owners or customers or partners in your local community or neighboring towns. you can just as easily connect with somebody in india as you can in indiana. using social media. >> the week was busy and the sba hopes that small business owners come away from it knowing where to go when they need help. >> we believe that every small business should have an adviser or counsellor. and that will help them grow their business. so if you go on sba.gov and put in your zip code, you can find those resources nearby and most of them are free.

>> every small business owner has to deal with rules and regulations. but what should you do if there is one putting a strain on your company. one craft brewer certainly sflss your frustration since he saw a state law standing in his way and instead of just sitting back, the maker furious and abrasive >> it was a pretty small change, but it is still a little bees of legislation that made a good difference for us. it is good for the state, good for uz, good for minnesotans, why wouldn't we do it? >> the owner of surly brewing has plans of in mind for expanding his business. >> we never thought we would experience this type of success. it's been fantastic. >> first year of 2006 we sold 1600 kegs of beer and this year we're on pace to sell around

40,000 kegs of beer. >> surly's beer is so popular that there is a waiting list for customers. omar had to focus on increase his supply with so much demand. >> we can't make enough beer here. we had to decide it cap our growth at this building or build a new facility. >> he decided to open a new location. simple right? not in this case. because of this decision omar had to become the driving force behind a change in state law. >> minnesota is one of the state where you could not sell someone a glass of beer at a production brewery. >> in other word, he could sell his beer in bars, restaurant and liquor stores but that's about it. >> when someone comes in for a sure, we give them beer. it is not legal to charge them for a glass of beer. in some states you can, in some states you can't. >> i want it have a restaurant and bar and sell his own product. that put him on a collision course with the law.

>> if we can somehow manage it change the law that brewery kes sell a glass of beer we are not just building a bigger brewery, we are building a destination. >> with a political battle grewing omar created a team to take his issue to the capitol. >> he said i want to change the law because i want a brewery unlike anything else in minnesota. >> i said, sound good. where do i sign on? hired lobby enlisted publicist clint roberts of the company one simple plan. >> i realized, what exactly he wanted to do, and realized it with a 78-year-old prohibition law and said, well, this is going to take some -- this isn't going to happen in two weeks. this will have to be something that when we map it out, we have to stay relevant for months to even have a fighting chance. even with that, who knows. but let's go for it. >> despite some support, omar felt some resistance from the start. >> there are a lot of people that didn't want it see that change happen. just that's the way politics works is usually when the laws

are there, there is someone that want it keep them that way. >> that is why he had to prove that his campaign wasn't just about selling pints of beer. >> we made it more about small business, big idea, free market. this guy want to grow his business, why is anyone standing in his way, let alone the government. >> omar says his business wouldn't be the only one benefiting. hundreds of jobs could be created with a minor change. >> it became a jobs bill. we have the opportunities to do it here. let's do it hero posed to another state. >> this is about jobs. >> jennifer loom was once of the sponsors about the surly bill. she believed it was an opportunity to gift economy a boost. >> what he was seeking is a miner change, in my opinion, to our liquor statute in the say the of minnesota bp that one of the reasons i came to the legislature was it break down barriers and cut that red tape. >> representative loon says the

law put small businesses add a disadvantages. >> that's how businesses start. someone with an idea, and we need to make sure we aren't putting roadblocks in their way. aren't we here it create ideas and create jobs sfwhz when the appeal fell on deaf ears omar and his team took their plate public. >> the fight had to be taken outside of the capitol doors and really the people were going to have to kind of help us out and support us. >> fans of sur pli brewing, better moan as sur pli nation, mobilized and they quickly took action. >> we said, please contact your legislators. they said, what can we do. we said, please tell your family, friend, we need your help. >> facebook and twitter turned into base camps of information or surly supporters as the surly team spent hours making ilgity . >> we rallied troops and said, here is what they are saying, this is what it means for the proj aengt this is the next step. >> the support never waivered.

lawmakers got a constant stream of e-mails and phone calls. >> people started to take more seriously surly nation and how much after hot button issue this was. it was about small business. it was about beer. and it was about the evolution of a company. >> legislators took in the and a process that could take years turned into just months. with overwhelming support in the minnesota house and senate, the surly bill became law in 2011. the result? >> breweries like ourselves can get a tap room license. that means we can sell beer that we make here at this facility, we can tell this beer in a tap room. just glasses of beer. >> with a win in the surly column the it company is finalizing plans for expansion. omar says the fight was worth it because the bill opened the door to growth for everyone. >> one of the reasons is it is hard to open a brewery. it takes a tremendous amount of cash. can you see all of the equipment you've got to get. just being able to sell someone some pint of beer a huge

advantage. well see other breweries open up now with this law changing. and it is going to make the beer scene here a better and better place. >> many small business owners complain that what they see as useless regulations are hurting their bottom lines. let's turn to this week's board of director. stella is founder of woompa a company creating teen building experience answers managing director of ladies launch in new york and new jersey. and barry is a small business co-founder of barry on-line. he also is author of a book, small town rules. thank you for being here. what this story taught me, is take stuff in your own hand, right? it would be easy for this guy to say, i'm going build a bigger brewery. er to get it. forget it. this is too much work. he took it in his hands and made

it work. >> it is a true entrepreneurial story. of not taking no of an answer. and laws are there to protect us. this wasn't. this wasn't -- this minor change didn't stand in the way of anyone's rights and it offered, you know within business and beer. what better -- you know, what better cause could you rally around? so that's awesome. >> j.j., they have been doing this this n law for years. in 1993 my friend and his family wanted took their cause all wait to the supreme court. the quill corporation one. this is significant because it goes to the internet retailers now who don't have to collect tax in a state where they don't have a presence. in this case a small business add huge impact. >> we did a story a couple years ago about a company in new jersey, it was a spa. there was basically only

one-hour parking. they say all of our experiences last more than an hour and it th is hurting our business. they went door to door and fought the law in the town. but it took a lot of work. this is not something you can take on lightly. if you do something like this, you have to have the time and money to build a coalition. >> and put together a team. i like where surly beer put together a pr team, put together lobbyist. and make it bigger than just your business. i love how he made it about small business. in the end, most legislators do want to promote small business. >> and he used facebook. >> they have a huge community and passionate following. people love this beer. there a high demand. it is easy for people to rally around that. certain businesses may not have that advantage. using social media it really push is really smart. >> and we just talked about this a second ago. but it is important, if you can,

get together with other businesses. there is power in numbers. then have you more money to hire someone like the lobbyist. >> exactly. >> anyhow, a great story of seeing something that seems insurmountable. i love the line where he said, i want it change the law. >> small businesses are known for, we never back down. just go for it. >> and it worked. >> thanks, guys. >> for your small business to compete with the industry leaders, you've got to dress the part. here now are five wayes it make your business look bigger without the hefty price tag courtesy of ink.com. one, hire a virtual secretary. a toll-free number with a receptionist that goes to your office. evoice and freedom number will help your image seem more polished. two, host for professional conference calls. ditch freeway call for host it conference calls. can you have toll-free

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learn what, as business owners, should we not be doing. i wanted it hear from him the biggest mistakes he sees people do so we know what not to do. thank you for coming on the show, appreciate it. you have written so many books. you tell us what it do, how to do our marketing. i'm interested personally, what are we doing wrong? what are you going to tell me that i think, oh, god, he just said i shouldn't do that and he is right. >> you have everything at stake, your reputation at stake, and it is just not working. we fall in the troops of being impatient, self absorbed and selfish. we say, i bought it ad so i have the right to put it in front of you. you can see sai i have three weeks to make my campaign marketing work. if you wanted it to start in three weeks, you should have started three years ago. you can say, i understand my business. i do is everyday. i assume everyone else understands my business.

as opposed to taking a step back and realizing no one owes you their attention. and no one owes you their money. when we bring generosity and clarity to business all of the mistakes good way. >> so i'm self absorbed, just pushing stuff at you. my prod subject so great and you should get it. that is not working. how i do change my mentality? what i do do? >> i love farmer's markets. this guy has better strawberries than this guy because he is using something less. he will tell you details but no one is weight because this guy has a cuter sign. this guy tells a story resonating with me. and that what we do for a living. we tell stories. not slogans, stories. little red riding hood is a story. once you hear 2 t, you remember it for life tp when we see a kid with a lemonade stand it is different than when we see a vending machine selling lemonade. even if it is exactly the same product.

because the story around it is what people are paying for. when i meet small business people, all i ask is not what is their balance sheet, but what is their story. why should i pick you? why do i care about what you are doing? if you give me the inside baseball statistics about why you are 2% better than a competitor, i'm glazed over. that's not part of the way i see the world. >> if i'm hearing you right, basically i need o to get out of myself, put myself in your views and understand how my product helps you, not me. >> yes. this is not rocket surgery. brain surgery plus rocket science. so you set up a video camera and watch people look at your website. you stapd stand in a store and watch people and see if they pick your product up. if they don't, why?

you just stand there and watch people pick up the book and look at the back cover. can i say, is that book interesting to you? i can understand what they are seeing. they are the ones buying from you, not you. >> you have some interesting examples, in kwun of one of your books, purple cow. traditionally we spend money on marketing in television, ads in magazines, now maybe on facebook or search engine marketing. but you say, a lot of your marketing dollars should be sent on the product itself. >> so what we grew up with was mad men. mad men advertising in marketing with the same thing. if you spend money money in advertising you would succeed. now that over. what we are left with is the product is the marketing. we've got google, facebook, ebay, amazon. none of them spend money on advertising. they spend all of their money on making something people will talk about. if think about the leaning tower of pizza, they didn't make it lean on purpose. if you go to pizza, there are a

tons of tourist. if you see the leaning tower, you can talk about it when you go home. it doesn't matter that a hundred miles away is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. it is subtle, not easy to talk about. the question is, are you going to build something as interesting as the leaning tower of pizza. are you going to make a product or service that when people are done using it, they can't help but tell their friend about. >> and can you communicate that in an easy way? >> right. the fact will spread, not the story. >> thank you. should the head of spca be head of the cabinet position? and a clothing line, should it be on-line or in a department store?

you know, those farmers, those foragers, those fishermen.... for me, it's really about building this extraordinary community. american express is passionate about the same thing. they're one of those partners that i would really rely on whether it's finding new customers, or, a new location for my next restaurant. when we all come together, my restaurants, my partners, and the community amazing things happen. to me, that's the membership effect. time to answer some ofyour business questions. stella

facile you the tate 18 tax cuts and $30 billion in lend egg the past year and able to facilitate $300 billion worth of awarding of federal contracts for small business and goes right to the revenue line. >> they are not overlapping agency, they estimate they are saving $3 billion by stream lining the small business administration in the cabinet and always great to have the ear

of the president. this isn't the first time it has actually happened. this was happening under the clinton administration, just stopped with bush. i think a great thing. >> okay. good. move on to the next one. here is an entrepreneur who wants to know about the best use of her time. >> my question would be the most effective way in which i can manage the multiple hats that i wear in the process of growing and expanding my business. >> it is the hardest question. the way i do it i have a to do list and it is all mixed up together. my work, my personal life, everything and i just -- that's the way i do it. do you have any suggestions? >> i have two suggestions. one is you really want to understand the purpose of what you're doing and why you're doing it. because if you're not really motivated and don't see what it is laddering up to, less likely to stick with t you want to have a real purpose with all to does and see what they are going toward. the other thing and this happens with entrepreneurs all the time, they do get depleted because they don't stop and rest. and tony schwartz publishes a lot of great stuff on, they

writes on the harvard business review blog, and he talks about how stress is not our enemy, it is nonstop stress that is our enemy. stress is what helps us grow, it helps our muscles grow, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, that's what expands us but you need to have stress -- you need to have rest in between. >> got to take some breaks. >> got to take some breaks, breathe, take a nap if you can, walk outside. that is really what is going to help you keep going. >> how do you manage your time, barry? >> i think what people have to do and the biggest mistake they make, get up in the morn going to do work, jump on immediately, e-mail and facebook and social media feeds and takes them off in a totally different direction, the night before, think about the two things you want to accomplish the next day that will make a difference in your business and do those two things before everything else and you will see your productivity rises. >> i have heard the advice from someone else, such a good idea.

there is a list of ten things i need to do and then she goes through and says which ones can only i do and anything that she can delegate gait to someone else, she delegates to someone else. to your point, someone else side me i write down five things, i don't look at my e-mail until i get through at least two of them. >> i like that. >> really good. it is so easy, i fall into this trap all the time so easy to procrastinate by answering really important e-mails to get back to. >> they say our attention lasts about 50 minutes, if you can put on a timer and say i'm not going to stop for the next 15. >> 50 or 15? >> 50, 5-0. >> that is long. >> that is long. thank you very much for your advice. appreciate t if any of you thought have a question for our experts, you know what to do, go tour website, the address is open forum.com/your business. once you get there hit the ask the show link and you can submit a question for our panel. that is open forum.com/open business.

if you would like, e-mail us your questions and comments, the address is your business at msnbc.com. stella and barry had really helpful advice about how to improve your business. now let's get some great ideas from small business owners like you. >> my advice as a small business owner is to continue marketing in all forms, direct mail marketing, social media marketing, events. >> i recently read to never assume that anyone is smarter than you are. and in business, that is so important for me. i have to believe in my ideas, believe in what it is i want to accomplish and go and accomplish them. i cannot assume that anybody is ever smarter than me because it is me at the end of the day who benefits from my ideas. >> my advice to any small business owner is to really take the long view. i know it can be difficult from time to time. they are going to have a lean

month, going to have a great month. it can be really difficult to keep going and pushing through, even though there are hurdles to overcome. the people that take the longer view, the people that see -- keep their eye on the prize, see what is coming down the road, the people that will be most successful in their business. are you a subscription-based business where managing your billing system is take up all of your time? check out our website of the week. laura.com helps businesses set recurring billing plans for their customers and simple priv fit accounting process. define different billing periods to fit your needs and everything is sinked with sales force for easy management. to learn more about today's show, click on our website you open forum.com/your business. you will find all of today's segments plus web-exclusive content with more information to help your business grow also follow us on twitter, at msnbc your biz. don't forget become a fan of the show on facebook.

we love getting your feedback. next week, we meet a window washing company letting its scottish pride show and catching the attention of potential customers along the way. >> you see a tarten truck drive down the street and you do a double take, see a guy walking down the street in a kilt, people come up to us and talk us to all the time. >> we will learn how this entrepreneur is using a clever hook partnered with world class service for his business. until then, we make your business our business. they have names like idle time books and smash records and on small business saturday they remind a nation of the benefits of shopping small. on just one day, 100 million of us joined a movement... and main street found its might again. and main street found its fight again.