The Forbes panelists note that relying solely on past achievements or current roles can create a false sense of security. Ongoing relationship-building, participation in professional organizations, and staying visible within and outside the company are key to uncovering new opportunities and staying competitive as career paths evolve.

Evaluating software success in small businesses involves revisiting initial goals, assessing how well the software has addressed targeted problems, and analyzing key performance indicators that are specific and relevant to the business. This assessment should be honest about both improvements and areas where the software implementation fell short.

Audio marketing through professional business music services offers an opportunity to improve in-store promotions. Many providers include features like in-store audio messaging, allowing you to deliver short, targeted ads between songs. This transforms your background music into a direct sales tool, influencing shoppers and effectively promoting daily specials or new products beyond signage.

Engaging a certified public accountant early in the life of a business can provide guidance on entity formation, tax planning, budgeting and cash-flow management, says Heather Sperduto of ADP. Sperduto emphasizes the importance of ongoing support from accountants to ensure compliance with evolving regulations.

It's good to get your teams out of their comfort zone, but the goals you set for them can become toxic if you don't provide the necessary resources, frequently change them or team members feel criticized, no matter how hard they work to achieve them, writes leadership development expert Tim Jackson. Focus instead on fewer, bolder goals and provide team members with the resources and encouragement they need to reach them, Jackson advises.

Financial key performance indicators are crucial for small-business owners to understand and manage their company's health, focusing on profitability, liquidity and operational efficiency. Experts recommend regularly monitoring five to 10 core KPIs, such as net profit margin, current ratio and accounts receivable tu