Small Biz Nation: Helping small businesses help each other

Ed. note: Rieva Lesonsky has been covering the world of entrepreneurs since 1978. Two years ago, she left Entrepreneur magazine (where she was editorial director for many years) and became a business owner. She's also moderator of Small Biz Nation - a newly launched LinkedIn group and small business community resource.

We all know that it’s not easy to start and grow a small business. There are days you feel like you’re standing at the edge of the abyss. The key though, as my favorite author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, is “to stand as close to the edge as [you] can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”

Today, we're launching a LinkedIn Group called Small Biz Nation that aims to serve as an online community resource to help meet the needs of small business owners.

Some of us need money. Others need talented, qualified employees. Several of my entrepreneurial friends are looking for new office space that won’t break the bank. The list could go on and on.

There’s one thing, though, that binds us—the need to get information, to have access to experts and other business owners—in other words, we long for a truly interactive small business community.

At Small Biz Nation, you’ll be able to talk to business owners facing the same challenges you and others who have already had. There are experts who can answer your questions or point you in the right direction towards solutions you're searching for. Think of it as a community that will help you take the next step and make smart decisions.

If you’re a small business owner, please join the Small Biz Nation community here. Would love to hear your feedback and suggestions.