Fix.it
Calling all small-business owners who would like to win expert help to build their companies: You can now enter the Upsize Growth Challenge 2005, presented by Fredrikson & Byron, our unique contest that selects three winning presidents and matches them with experts to help them grow.
We had a blast with this contest in 2004, our inaugural year, and I learned as much as our winning CEOs.
Remember the owners of P.M. Bedroom Galleries, Floorworx, and GateKeeper Systems? They attended two hands-on workshops with local experts in finance, law, technology and more, they shared their tips and tactics in two articles in the magazine, and they presented their stories at a breakfast event in June. Each owner used strategies gleaned from the sessions to get closer to their business goals.
Your company can benefit, too. If your company is based in Minnesota and has fewer than 100 employees, you are eligible. E-mail nominations@upsizemag.com to get an entry form, complete that form and tell us about your company’s growth challenge, and send it back by Jan. 10, 2005. Anyone can nominate a company, their own or someone’s else’s. Our panel of judges will select three winners in February, and their journey will begin.
What’s a growth challenge? Any problem you’re working on, or opportunity you’re trying to seize, to help build a bigger and more profitable business.
Maybe you’re trying to diversify your product line, or open a second or third location, or hire managers to fill gaps in your team, or raise money. Tell us about your efforts succinctly, but with as much detail as possible. Judges select winners based on the complexity and ambition of the growth challenge, the quality of work already completed to meet it, and its relevance to Upsize readers.
If you have questions, please e-mail or call me. Also, check the ad on page 31 of this issue for more information. I’m looking forward to learning about your company’s dreams.
Meanwhile, this special issue of Upsize, called the Upsize Toolkit, is packed with real-life ways in which local companies are solving their problems, with advice from local service providers who are helping them. We’ve included the best tactics from a year’s worth of issues of Upsize e-tools, our biweekly electronic newsletter. Plus, we’ve gathered into one place two year’s worth of the listings of service providers that we publish in each regular issue.
The idea is to provide in one place a tool, tip, idea or contact name that can help you tackle any project that needs attention at your growing company.
The depth and variety of resources for business owners in Minnesota is a beautiful thing to behold. You are truly not alone, as I’m sure you’ll agree once you’ve digested this issue.
What needs fixing at your company? Read, select the right tool or person to help, and get started.
— Beth Ewen
editor and co-founder
Upsize Minnesota
bewen@upsizemag.com
