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Top 10 Recruiting Myths - Busted
Your business depends on your ability to make a good hire. But making a good hire is not exactly an easy task. After sorting through resumes and selecting the few choice candidates considered worth your time is only half the battle.
Small Businesses That Will Make Your Sweetheart Swoon
True story: I have good friend named Aaron who makes women swoon. I'm not kidding - absolutely swoon. Picture a guy that knows his way around the gym, Irish-Firefighter kind of handsome, and the easy, smooth manner of Fred Astaire that comes as naturally to him as breathing in and out all day
Add to that a friendly, kind-hearted nature you can't help but like and you start to get a picture of Aaron.
He'd grown up in Boston and you could still hear traces of the city now and then when he spoke. Just a random word or phrase here and there - enough to make you tilt your head to the side if you didn't know him and wonder where he was from. He'd moved on to Miami, settling into the sun and the beach and the music and the dancing like he'd rediscovered an old love and spent a few years perfecting quality time.
I met him after he'd found a great job in Austin and said goodbye to the coast. We were roommates for a while and during that time Aaron introduced me to football, taught me how to play chess, passed on a thing or two about cooking, and did his best to teach me how to dance. The dancing part never quite took.
But it's the cooking I'd like to talk about.
One February a few years later business had been horribly slow behind the bar. Just one of those months where people were going out less, spending less money, or hanging out at home. It happens.
All this to say Valentine's Day was coming, funds were basically nonexistent, and I had a lady I seriously wanted to woo. Make her swoon, you might say. We'd been dating a couple of years and she knew how slow the bar had been, so there was no stress on her end - she suggested renting a movie and picking up some fast food, if I recall. But a lady like her you go crazy for no matter what she says is okay.
And then I remembered a bit of wisdom from Aaron: You can never go wrong cooking for your lady...
After a quick phone call for a couple of his recipes I emptied my pockets, dug around the couch, traded in everything from my trusty change jug and came away with just enough to buy a few groceries, a bottle of wine, and a little gift that managed to be sweet.
Some years later I married that girl. And while I can't say it happened because of the Chicken Cordon Bleu I cooked that Valentine's Day, I can definitely say that meal didn't hurt my chances. All thanks to Aaron.
And now another February has come and Valentine's Day is fast approaching. If you're in a tough spot like I was, wanting to seriously woo that lady or fellow with no ideas how to get it done, I highly recommend the chicken.
Or, you can take a look at the small businesses below. Each has less than $30 million in revenue but provide great products or services. Additionally, they just might make your Valentine's Day a whole lot easier.
Old Faithful.
Okay, so maybe overdone and a little out of vogue, a box of sweets can still be a great gift when it comes to Valentine's Day. Nothing says "I love you" like some tasty goodness. For chocolate and yogurt-dipped strawberries Roseville, California-based Shari's Berries International is the place to go. If you're on the other coast in Manhattan and looking for candies and gifts, Dylan's Candy Bar could do the trick.
What goes better with chocolate than wine?
But, even if you forgo the candy, a bottle of red or a crisp white can add another dimension to your evening. Based in Los Olivos, California, Firestone Vineyard LLC offers a number of both. From a Chardonnay to a Syrah, this vineyard provides you and your sweetheart an opportunity to toast each other.
If I haven't sold you on the chicken...
The fact is if the kitchen isn't your thing you still need to eat. Great food, impeccable service, and a variety of atmospheres can be found through Culinary Adventures Incorporated. Operating restaurants ranging from the French steakhouse and jazz lounge, Chat Noir, to the steak and bistro classics of French 75, Culinary Adventures takes the guesswork out of the perfect place to dine.
Don't forget something with a bow...
It doesn't have to be huge. It could, in fact, be an old-fashioned teddy bear standing up to 36 inches tall with a choice of a whopping 190 outfits. For Doctor Bears, Nurse Bears, or even Lady Lawyer Bears, look no further than The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
If you're a bit more of a traditionalist, KaBloom, Ltd. might be more your speed. This Massachusetts-based company provides a variety of flowers, gifts, and sweets sure to bring a smile to his or her face.
Last but not least...
Food, flowers, wine, presents - they're all great. But if you're looking to go that extra mile, you might think about the Weekend Trip. Whether you're just starting out or a couple that's been around a while Snowdance, Inc. might be the place to add a little romance to your relationship. Located in Brownsville, Vermont, this resort offers activities like skiing, snowboarding, biking, and more.