Machan: Creative ideas arrive faster when we let our brains relax.
Machan: Headlines say "credit crunch," but businesses can still get loans.
Machan: Small-business owners try their luck selling "Data as a Service."
Wisdom gleaned from the music industry can make your company a hit.
Entrepreneurs are looking for an edge by publishing their own wit.
Family businesses can have an edge competitively -- if everyone gets along.
National chains say their franchisees may cope more easily in the recession.