We welcome your letters and e-mail. Often viewers ask us, "How do we qualify to have a show about us?" First, take a look at the criteria for selection; we especially encourage you to work with your local public television, your Chamber of Commerce and your trade association.

Here is a letter from Lake Chelan, Washington: We were so impressed we went to find out more. Meet Johanna and Randy Reed of Reed's Marine. Soon, working with the local Chamber of Commerce, we will produce a new episode about this wonderful community and the people in it.

Dear people, I was winding down after spending two days reviewing my company's performance for the past year . . . a hard 2 days work. The last thing I wanted to hear was more business related information, but I started watching the Calise Bakery story and found people like me. I couldn't change the channel. In the 13 years of my small company's business we had fought back from near death, so I knew what the brothers meant by blood, sweat and tears. Failure was not an option . . . We are in the Melbourne, Florida area and I was watching WBCC Channel 68. Faun Leachman, Express Press Printing & Copy, Inc. 270 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32935 407253-3222
p.s. The consultants I hired where Crouser & Associates (Thomas & Pamela Crouser). Some of the good guys and my heroes. Their web-site is http://www.crouser.com
WBCC Fridays at 9:00 PM (and Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Cocoa)

I TEACH COLLEGE COURSES . . . AND I AM STARTING MY OWN BUSINESS . . . Thanks for the help.

To which we answered: Thanks for writing. First, we always want to know which PBS-member station you were watching. We recommend that you work with a SBDC specialist on incorporation, and your local SCORE specialist. Also, depending on your state, there are many specialized programs that can help from your Economic Development Commission.

I am Mom of four and a Canadian entrepreneur. There is a lot I could say about the balancing act . . . I have a new business that has been receiving breath taking support. Thank you.
Tammy, Baby In Waiting. WCFE, 5 pm Saturdays, Plattsburgh, NY

I love your show; it does my soul good. If you are looking for a good startup story, come see us. Keep up the good work! Respectfully, Tom Klevay, Findlay, OH 45840

I am writing to you from Cape Town, South Africa. I'm 25 years old and I have just started my own business while I am our television broadcaster. SABC3 broadcasts the show every Thursday afternoon in SA. I cannot tell you how much the information and tips on your show have helped me. I have learnt so much from hearing the experiences of other entrepreneurs on your MasterClass. I only wish that the encouraging small business atmosphere in the States was the same in SA. It is extremely difficult for Small Businesses to be succesful in Africa. Keep up the good work. Your show (and this web site) is a shining light. Stay on the Edge!!
Mark Beckman, Founder, Director, SABC3 - South Africa Thursdays, 1330 and 1400

Your MasterClass is real, enlightening and above all done with a great heart. -Chuck Anderson, KUHT (Houston)

 Having used the Small Business School in my large introductory marketing class, I can honestly say each of your MasterClasses is outstanding . . . packed full of valuable insights and make the concepts we are discussing in class come to life. My students find the shows both enlightening and enjoyable. Careful attention has obviously been given to selecting the firms profiled. In addition, and with more and more students interested in running their own businesses, each MasterClass adds an entrepreneurial dimension to the topics we discuss in introductory marketing. - Jeffrey S. Conant Conant (who is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas and the recipient of both a 1994 Piper Professor Award and 1999 Academy of Marketing Science "Great Teachers in Marketing Award"). KAMU-TV (College Station, TX).

I would like to start a small computer & network services business, but I have no idea how to get started. Could you help me? Antonio   KERA-TV in Dallas

Our response: Antonio: Can you come to our web site?
http://www.SmallBusinessSchool.org/ and take Course 101. Also, there is Step 1. Work through every option and then do what you need to do to go to Step 2, then Step 3. Be sure to take Hattie's quiz and read the first chapter of her book, Beating the Odds, and be sure to work through the booklet and freeinfo.

Sounds like work? You have to love it. Work is life; it is taking what is inside you and making the world a better place. It is creating value, abundant value, and that is also business. So you need to choose your work wisely. It really needs to reflect your inner self. Your first step is your most important. Keep us informed as to how you do. Thanks. - Bruce & Hattie

". . . just finished (MasterClass). Loved it. Unequivocally. Congrats!! It was fun, informative, and, from time to time, evoked those little bumps that appear when you hear or see something that has special meaning." -Jim Schell, Bend, Oregon

"I watch your program most Sunday mornings and I never tire of hearing about the people that start in the basement or the garage and go on to various degrees of success. . . .. Just wanted you to know that. Thank you for your efforts." Blair Jeffery, Northern Alberta, Canada

"I watch your show all the time and we discuss what you present on your programs at our business meetings. My business partners and I watch your program regularly... it is a very important source of information for us. Also, we are the Web development company that designed and hosts the PBS station KNCT for central Texas . . . and we look forward to watching future programs . . . from the members of Webdotsto the SBS staff." Sincerely, Karl Wesley Walker, Texas

I WAS UP EARLY THIS FRIDAY AND YOUR SHOW CAME ON PBS. BOY WAS I IMPRESSED AND ABLE TO USE SOME IDEAS THAT CAME ON THE SHOW . . . . . KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!! DIRK L DAHMS, DAHMS & HOEG INSURANCE, TRAER, IA 50675

" . . . . While working on one of my webpages I decided to turn on the television just to break the silence barrier. Noise I had to have, it was too quiet. Then while working I heard something that hit me in the back of my mind. Mr. Katz ("Katz never closes"), said "In order to keep what you have, you have to give it away." That was the most unique thing I've ever heard anyone say. Unique in that it is exactly what I feel. I turned and started paying attention to the broadcast . . . I wrote down the phone number in an electronic sticky-pad along with the web address and logged in. Here's my excitement. I came across a page that offers a quiz from the Free Info tab. Scrolling down that page I found a small paragraph titled "ON MONEY". This paragraph fired me up. It mentioned something that will actually help me finally get my business started financially. Get the money from my customers. What a classic idea, and it's one of those ridiculous things that would work. Why not?. . ." - Richard Burbridge, Anaheim, California 92840

Hattie Bryant and Bruce Camber,
As a computer professional for a Washington State agency addressing educational issues, I have NEVER written an e-mail fan letter to a television program. I am impressed, greatly, by your program, Small Business School. It includes the best affecting, instructional television including content, writing, wit, passion and a superb host, who is a listener. Yours is an unsung program seen on PBS.
John Cohen "Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy."
KBTC-TV on 2 PM Sundays

 i watch your show (channel 35, KRSC-TV, tulsa oklahoma @ 6:00 pm Wednesdays, 10:30 am Sundays) and enjoy it; and like a lot of your viewers, raising capital is probably the number question there is. i was wanting to know if you could do a show about a (scor) offering; find someone who has used this method of securing capital. and successfully completed a direct public offering. that greatly reduces the cost.going public. . Thanks, George Seymour (OK, George. We will do it.) Then, we did it. The results: The SCOR Show Also, be sure to look in on the shows about money, "When the Banker Says, No" and "Other People's Money.

WHAT A GREAT FIND -- YOUR SHOW IS A FRESH LOOK ON THE WORLD OF BUSINESS --- YOU ASK QUESTIONS THAT A SMALL BUSINESS MAN WANTS TO FIND OUT -- HOW PEOPLE MAKE IT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES AND THE GOOD -- PLUS ALOT MORE -- YOU HAVE ME AS A FAN --- YOU ARE A BLESSING -- JOHN LONGSON

I was home sick last weekend and found your program. What a gift. I have had an idea for a business for a while now and everyone tells me, GO FOR IT.
Thanks to your program I am re-energized and getting started.
I got stalled when I ran into some difficult tasks. I did them and then just faded. However, your program has me motivated and moving. Thanks for the terrific website. I am thrilled with the validation I received from taking the quiz and answering the questions posed.
My goal is to be highlighted on your show!!! Mary Jadwisiak
OPB-TV at 4 PM Sundays

i greatly appreciate each masterclass i find it inspiring and helps me with ideas that i haven't even thought of yet thank you for doing this for small business owners david angell of angell air in cameron tx

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