Tampa Bay Business News, Companies, Real Estate & Economic Development
David Bell 
While almost no one is admitting it publicly, behind closed doors, most entrepreneurs tell me they’re struggling lately. And I’m not just talking about tiny businesses—I’m hearing this from entrepreneurs running businesses of all sizes, from the one man show all the way up to large companies with hundreds of employees. It’s not a matter … Read more
Early in my career, I had an irrational overreliance on myself. I needed to be the one who did everything, solved every problem, and knew everything. Looking back, that mindset definitely held me back, and if I’m being completely honest, it was probably an issue of ego. I grew up poor, and despite having a … Read more
I have an opportunity coming up in a couple of months to speak on stage at an entrepreneurial event that I previously spoke at last year. This is something I would have avoided at all costs just a few years ago. The idea of getting on stage in front of a room full of people … Read more
I got the news on a seemingly random Tuesday. Our CEO was stepping down immediately, no notice, no transition timeline—nothing. Twenty minutes later I was on a call with our franchisees to inform them of the change. Later that night, long after everyone else had gone home, I remember thinking, “I have no idea what … Read more
A few years ago I noticed that while my team was working hard, we still weren’t achieving what I thought we should. Sure, everyone showed up consistently. They did their jobs and hit their numbers most weeks, but when I looked closer, I realized a lot of their effort wasn’t moving us toward our goals. … Read more
I used to think I had to instantly jump on every new business trend. A new tip for growing a business, that hot new app, a new marketing hack, some “must-do” everyone online swore by. I’d read it, get excited, and try to squeeze it into my week. Then another new thing showed up before … Read more
I’m one of the few people who genuinely didn’t want anything to do with AI. I run a national workplace drug testing company. My days are already full of compliance rules, client calls, and the stress of keeping a large operation running across the whole country. AI sounded like something for tech people. Not for … Read more
Something every entrepreneur has to deal with at some point in their careers are crises that they most likely didn’t cause, and unfortunately, it’s often a more frequent occurrence than most people who aren’t in your position would expect. While a business needs to be run based on its budget, we don’t operate in a … Read more
While I love the opportunities that entrepreneurship provides, the reality is it’s an incredibly challenging environment. The long hours, stress, politics, uncertainty, and risk, can quickly overwhelm even the most resilient operators—especially early in your career. That’s why it’s so important to understand how to build the right mindset to overcome the challenges you’ll face … Read more
When I was younger, I didn’t pay much attention to politics. I just saw it as something older people were interested in because they didn’t have anything better to do. But as I grew in my entrepreneurial journey, I began to realize the direct impact it had on the business community, which is the lifeblood … Read more