Susan Solovic

Small business is the engine that is driving the American economy -- that's a phrase we have all heard a lot. But little help has been provided to help small businesses survive the recession, until now.

I don't like the idea of someone feeling me up at the airport. But I also don't like a company reaching into my wallet for wads of cash just because I need to change my travel plans.

America's got lots of entrepreneurial talent. A helping hand may give a budding entrepreneur the chance to appear on his or her stage of opportunity. Help the talent be discovered and flourish.

People are fed up and tired of fighting the traditional career path, so a number of people have become employed by creating their own jobs -- by starting a business.

Because entrepreneurs are visionaries, they sometimes see opportunities the market isn't ready to accept, so they are labeled eccentric and easily discounted.

Early in my career when I was job-hunting, I always sent a hand-written thank you note to every person I met during the interview. But do people really read those notes today?

Small business is the American dream. But if the government continues to ignore the realities small business owners face, it will successfully extinguish the dream.

What do you see on your desk? Piles of paper. Half-empty coffee cup. Part of Wednesday's lunch. No wonder we waste up to 3 hours a week "looking for stuff." Today is the day to change all that.

Remember that 2010 is going to be a challenging year. So here are a few ideas to help you make resolutions that stick for your small business.