According to a new study from Portfolio.com and American City Business Journals, Austin Texas is the best metropolitan area in the U.S. for starting a small business. The city's population growth, employment rate and burgeoning small-business growth helped it earn the No. 1 spot. It was followed by Baton Rouge, La., Raleigh, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Portland, Maine.

Last place… Detroit.

Sad to see that my hometown of Nashville came in at #28, but that is an improvement over last year’s ranking of 33.

Chris Brogan, president of New Marketing Labs and the co-author of Trust Agents, offers up some great advice for new business owners.

• Focus on what you need to drive the business, not the “trappings” of a company.
• Keep your metrics simple, and focus on value.
• Use sweat instead of credit.

In business for just one year, New Marketing Labs is not only profitable, they are growing. These three key are definitely part of their winning formula. For me, working within your means and staying very lean are keys for success.  It’s nice to see that others agree.

Great story of a quality product and persistence. Greg Snell developed the Winepod, a $4,500 contraption for making wine at home, which seemed like an idea full of promise just a few years ago in a very different economy. But then the recession hit, venture capitalists backed away and entrepreneur Greg Snell had to lay off all his employees and move the business into his home. It was a rude awakening for a company that once boasted $4 million in funding, but Snell expresses confidence that a less-than-$500 version, due out next summer, will keep the dream alive. CNNMoney.com

Some of the greatest qualities of entrepreneurs is self-confidence, determination and a belief in what they do. I have no doubt that one day; I will be buying a Winepod. It does illustrate the need for researching your market and preparing for storm clouds. In a great economy, $4,000 for a higher end market probably seemed achievable. In this market, a $500 price point and quality that is “good enough” will probably keep the dream alive.

Self-employed business and factory owners scored the highest in the most recent Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a statistic that has psychologists touting the significance of personal freedom at work, control of time and ability to respond to hardships like the recession.

Seeking out enjoyable work and finding a way to do it on your own terms, with some control over both the process and the outcome, is essential to fuel satisfaction and contentment. This is one of the main drivers for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Now more than ever, this a lesson employers need to take into account.  With layoffs and longer hours, it is important for employers to take heed of these lessons and find ways to give their employees some sense of control. Next year, the employment situation will improve and your employees will be seeking these types of opportunities.

Preparing now to hold on to your talent would be a very wise move. They will remember how you treated them during the rough times.