Last week we offered you some pointers on how to determine which lawyer is best for you, but what about actually finding a lawyer. If there’s one thing that entrepreneurs aren’t short of, it’s lawyers.
Legal advice is absolutely essential to the entrepreneur’s long-term success. We’d be kidding ourselves if we thought we could get by without a solid lawyer in our corner. Entrepreneurs have a tendency to want to do everything and be everyone, but do yourself a favor and leave to technical legal aspects of your business to a lawyer.
Of course, learn as much as you can about the law and how it affects your business, do doubt! You should always do your own research into that. Being able to intelligent express what you need to your lawyer is key.
Many young entrepreneurs fail to hire a lawyer in the beginning stages of the business because, it’s simple, we’re broke! And guess what? Lawyers are expensive. For the first 2/3 years of my business I never consulted with a lawyer.
But as time goes by and legal issues begin to become more and more apparent, I know that investing funds into a reliable lawyer is a must. Sure, you can get by for a long time without a lawyer, but when things start to speed up and you’re expanding like no tomorrow, get ready to move forward with a lawyer. No excuses.
Here’s a site that I’ve used in the past to find a lawyer, Legal Match. This site is cool because it’ll match you up with a lawyer based upon how much you’re willing to spend, the type of lawyer you are seeking, and your location. Give them a shot. Also, check out this article for further information.
I moved from Manhattan to Queens just over a month ago. I miss Manhattan, but I’m still there all the time so it’s not too bad. Before moving into my new apartment there were some issues that needed to be taken care of such as: painting the rooms, fixing the rack in my closet so I can hang-up my clothes, and some other things.
After a few days of living here, I was promised that my closet would be installed and the apartment painted on a certain date. When that date came and I was still without a closet and unpainted walls, I said to myself: “okay, no problem…maybe my landlords just forget.”
Another week went by with a few more promises to have the closet installed and rooms painted, but, again, there was absolutely no follow-through, just a bunch of empty promises and false commitments.
It’s now the fifth week and about 7 false promises later and still nothing has been done. Every time I called, left voicemails, emails, smoke signals, etc… I got the same response: “Ohh… sorry. I was busy. Something happened. We’ll get to it this weekend. I’ve been so busy with this and that.”
So at this point there really isn’t anything else I can do, besides moving out which would be a HUGE hassle that I would not want to endure at the moment. This is a case of someone throwing their weight around because they know that they can.
Someone who throws their weight around is someone who does or doesn’t do things just because “they know that they can” and there will be little to no immediate affect on them. We see it all the time in business — all the time.
You know, when your boss lets you know that he has the final say and no matter what you do or think, it really won’t matter because he can just overrule you at any time. He goes out of his way to make you understand that your word is valued less than his and that his word will ALWAYS trump yours.
I guess it’s an ego thing. When people feel the need to push their weight around, they are usually lacking something within and are desperately trying to find that “something” by imposing their inadequacies unto people through mistreatment and misuse of power. It’s absolutely disgusting to see this happen.
Have you ever found yourself throwing your weight around your partners, employees, and friends? I’m sure that you have at some point. We all have. But it’s bad for business. It’s bad for karma. It’s bad for EVERYTHING. It’s a weakness in one’s character, really. Or maybe just a lack of understanding.
People shouldn’t be focusing their energy on diminishing other peoples’ values and making false commitments just because “they know that they can.” When you do this, you are tainting yourself. You are losing the respect of others. You are disempowering yourself no matter how “empowering” you may feel at the time.
A company with such a leader at the helm is bound to fall apart. It’s a boat that’s either going to sink or you’re going to fall off because all that weight that you’ve been pushing around is going to push you overboard sooner or later.
Don’t misuse your power. Use it to unite, not divide.
Update: Fellow young entrepreneur Patrick O’Keefe may be a victim of someone throwing around their weight. Check out his story and let us know what you think.
If you had 15 minutes to kick back and chat with any entrepreneur in the world, who would it be and why? For me, I’m going with Sir Richard Branson. Why, because the dude is just so damn chill! Branson built his empire, literally, by having fun and following his gut no matter what. I admire that in an entrepreneur. Someone who really enjoys what they are doing and living up it every single day to the fullest extent. I can see it now… me, Branson, some beach, and a few pina coladas.
Please, think about others and do everything in your power to give to those less fortunate than us. Use your business as a tool to shine light onto others. Give and you shall receive.
Please consider Toms Shoes the next time you purchase a pair.
At the age of 11 I was a hardcore skateboarder who was totally in love with the extreme sport. My brother and I would wakeup early every morning and start waxing the neighborhood curbs so that we could effortlessly slide across them with our boards. It was some of the most exhilarating times of my life. Kicking back with my super baggy jenco (remember those?) jeans with the frills and my oversized shirt.
I remember how we skaters always disliked all of the “posers” around school. The posers were the kids who wore the baggy jeans, wore the long wallet chains, wore the oversized shirts, and, of course, always had a skateboard under their arm. But the difference between them and the authentic skaters, was that we “actually” skated and they didn’t. They just pretended to skate to fit in and be cool.
The posers were the bane of our sport. They went around from skate park to skate park just sitting on their boards and casually rolling around from time to time, giving off the illusion that they really skated. But at the end of the day, then did nothing of the sort. It was just a façade. They spoke about how cool and awesome skating was, but they never lived it — only spoke it.
After reading a chapter in the book The Radical Leap, I was reminded of this poser mentality. So many people really think that they are leaders, motivators, innovators, fill in the blank.
But whom are they leading? What are they innovating? Who are they motivating?
It’s so easy to call yourself a leader. So easy! We’ve all become familiar with the response to the question: “What’s your greatest quality?” Undoubtedly, the response will be “I’m a leader.”
If the amount of people who claimed to be leaders actually were, this world would truly be a different place. But that’s not the case. Most people, I believe, are just talking about being a leader, pretending to be a leader, and just creating the picture perfect illusion for the world.
A true leader, get this, leads! He/she lives by example. He actually brings people together. He actually coaxes brilliance out of people. He actually inspires people. He creates an environment where people can express their fullest potential. He provides a shoulder when someone is down. He comes up with solutions that bring about positive feelings within us all.
And he doesn’t do it from time to time. He does it EVERY DAY. It’s his life. It’s who he is. It’s imprinted in his character. It’s not something the he is forced to do, it’s something that he does freely.
So the next time you throw around one of the buzzwords: leader, innovator, intellectual, motivator, entrepreneur, etc… Ask yourself this: “Am I really that person. Do I live my life that way? Or, am I just pretending because it feels good and I like to trick people into believing that I’m something that I’m not?
Have you ever been fired from a job? I have. Actually, once or twice. I’m not exactly proud of it, but the longest 9-5 job I’ve ever had lasted only 3.5 months. I would either quit or become so unenthusiastic about what I was doing, that I would end up — essentially — provoking my boss to fire me. I simply could never hold back my desire to run my own business and be my own boss.
It’s one of the toughest things in the world to be working for someone else when you have a burning desire to go off on your own and create a company. It literally haunts you every…single…day… while you’re sitting there in your cubicle (cell) taking your 15 minute lunch break.
I remember being 16 years-old and working at this little shop called Meat Farms. My mom actually got me that summer job. I was absolutely miserable working there. All day long I would be thinking about how I could start a business and make my own money. I told my boss that I would be going on vacation to Jamaica. But the plan was to spend a few weeks relaxing and thinking of business ideas at home (not Jamaica). Stupidly, I told one of my coworkers my plans and when I got back from my “trip to Jamaica” I was fired.
Throughout the years I continued to get jobs but I never lasted. I would work, save up some cash, invest the cash into some sort of venture, then either quit or get fired. It was something that I was actually getting used to.
During my college years I got a few jobs as a waiter, food-runner, and at catering halls. Got paid around $10 bucks an hour. But, of course, carrying plates of food around all day and night wasn’t something that I could bear. And it showed. So, again, I would be let go or I voluntarily left. My mind was on entrepreneurship, not serving food.
But as much as I was able to get used it, there was this extreme ambivalence about the whole thing. It really upset me and angered me that I “needed” the job in order to make money and use it to build a business. But, at the same time, it was always extremely liberating and exhilarating when I was fired or quit.
There’s a feeling of fear when ending a job as well. How will I pay the rent? How will I continue to fund my business? Will I have to borrow money? What the heck am I going to do? These feeling are totally normal and should be expected.
But at the end of the day I couldn’t pretend to be a 9 to 5er anymore. I knew that I had to stop working 9to5 altogether no matter what the outcome would be. No more quitting! No more being fired! Time to take control back into my own hands! Time to take the leap and go full-fledge into what I really wanted to be doing, regardless of being broke at times or not having a stable income like everyone else.
Are you working a 9to5 that is making you absolutely miserable? Are you an entrepreneur stuck in corporate America desperately wanting to break out of your cubicle and venture out into entrepreneurship? Will you take the leap? Are you ready?
If you’re like me, you have tons of books all over your room, office, desk, bathroom, all over the place. You probably don’t have a clear-cut system of organizing your books and are content with them living all over your office/house/apartment. If you’d like to throw some organization into the mix and actually start using those vacant bookshelves, there’s no better time than now. Sometimes things can become too messy and we’ve all experienced that time when we couldn’t find that one book that we absolutely need.
While it’s a good idea to be knowledgeable about rules and regulations for your business practices, finding the right legal help at the right time can be a little overwhelming. You’ll find plenty of lawyers ready to jump on board with your entrepreneurial venture, but overspending on legal assistance is an easy mistake. Finding a good lawyer will take time and possibly some interviewing; you’ll want to develop a detailed list of objectives to learn what information and assistance you really need.
The most common reasons to turn to a lawyer for a startup or new venture may include:
Defining your business structure
Assistance with negotiating a new lease or other legal contracts
Determining what is considered intellectual property
Assistance with copyright information and infringement clauses
Help with litigation services
The sale or negotiations with equity for your company
You may also need help raising capital, or working with international trade associations and governments. Whatever the case may be, outline exactly what you need to accomplish by consulting an attorney; any potential lawyers that can’t provide specific information will not let you make the most of your options. Look for a lawyer that can add value to your specific industry; don’t be afraid to ask for referrals and contact other businesses for advice.
A good lawyer will help you understand legal documents, prepare contracts or procedures, and may also assist with any hearings and trials. Just keep in mind that you don’t have to let your lawyer draft everything from scratch; save on their hourly rates by drafting material yourself first, then having them approve or edit the documents.
Fee structures can be complicated depending on the type of lawyer you’re hiring; it’s a good idea to request a formal billing contract so you know how much they are charging by the hour. Some lawyers can charge upward of $450 per hour; making sure you are getting true value for your requests is important, and you might be far better off turning to other resources.
Always keep in mind that there are many local resources available in your community. The local library, professional speakers, and consultants can all serve as mentors and guide you through many areas of business. Your local small business development center can also offer free services, and sometimes even legal advice. Learn about what’s available by contacting your area Chamber of Commerce, and get involved with local networking events to open up fresh opportunities!
A few years ago I was really into bodybuilding. Back then, to me, it was all about building muscle and getting bigger and bigger and bigger…. At one point, I was approaching 220 pounds. I was huge and I knew that the only way to get bigger was to continue to overload my muscles with more resistance. As my muscles became accustomed to a certain weight, I would add more.
The same holds true with our businesses: In order for us to make advances, we must continue to challenge our companies (ourselves). And that can be done in many ways.
Continue to improve your quality of service.
There will never be a limit when it comes to quality. We can always improve our offerings in some way or another. Especially when it comes to customer service, we should always strive to make enhancements in order to best serve our clients on an ongoing basis.
Continue to innovate.
Okay, so you have a great idea and you have turned it into a business. Swell! But you need to keep on going. You need to keep on innovating and breaking through barriers. Your ideas should never stop growing. An idea is a root that continues to grow deeper and deeper into the earth. Your company should be a reflection of that constant growth — that continued evolution of your mind.
Continue to disrupt.
If your company isn’t disrupting preexisting business models, then you are probably in the business of playing it safe. Your business should strive to transcend what’s already out there. It should make people think a different way and dispel old notions. Essentially, your business should strive to be so disruptive, that it invokes a paradigm shift in whatever sector your are in. In order to do that, you must think on levels that people have steered clear from.
Continue to set seemingly unfathomable goals for your business.
Spend some time and think about goals that seem to be unconquerable based upon your current situation with your business. Then set out to conquer them! What’s the saying: “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.” Always think big, never small. If you think small, then expect small results.
Continue to remain positive.
As a founder of a company it’s your responsibility to set the tone of the entire company. And that tone will be a reflection of your personal attitude and your thoughts. You have to be the shinning light that illuminates determination, ambition, and motivation upon your entire organization — every single day. It’s not an easy job, but someone has to do it. You have to do it.
For years I’ve been telling people to build a business around their passion and that will be the key to success. Well, that’s not exactly correct. Someone can be super passionate about, say, yoga — they practice yoga all day long, read yoga books, talk about yoga to their friends and family, eat, sleep, and drink yoga. But does that qualify them to start their own yoga studio and run a business? No way.
This comes back to the distinction between a businessperson, entrepreneur, and someone who has a passion and wants to make money through that passion. Phew… these semantics are confusing, eh?
Let’s try to work this out. Ok, the person who loves yoga and wants to start a business around yoga (opening a yoga studio) isn’t exactly an entrepreneur just because they want to start a business around their passion. However, if they team up with someone who can run the business allowing them to take care of the yoga lessons, and you are able to turn a profit, then I’d consider you a businessperson who is making money from your passion.
Now, if the dude who loves yoga has ideas to spread yoga all throughout the world, has an innate desire to start a business and then actually starts a studio either by themselves or putting together and running a team…I’d consider that person an entrepreneur who has materialized their plans.
Semantics and definitions aside, people have to understand that just because they are passionate about something, that doesn’t automatically mean that they can build a business around it. Just as most musicians aren’t exactly qualified to promote and sell their own records.
The small group of special people who are usually able to handle the creative / business aspects of running a company are the “entrepreneurs.” Entrepreneurs are the people who can wear many — pretty much all — hats of running a business (from idea to implementation.)
The bottom line: if you have a passion and want to build a business around it, then do that! But understand that not everyone is going to be born an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs, I believe, aren’t made. Businessmen are made. Realize who you from the start. If you have the passion, then find the entrepreneur to help you realize your dreams.
We all made fun of my friend when he first started his business – because he was the youngest lawyer we’d ever known and, and came to work each morning braces- faced and ready to take over the world. But, this guy scoffed at the heckling and began making his mark at the ripe age of 23. He never seemed to worry about what to charge because he knew he was good. In fact, he knew he was better than his competition.
It costs money to talk to this guy. And people, even seemingly broke people fork it up willingly because they know that he is going to help them and treat them right. He has taught me that there is no such thing as free time, when you’re running a start-up. If you’ve got some free time it should only be spent on yourself and your loved ones. When clients dip into that time – make them pay.
Now, whether you charge $100, $500 or $1000 is up to you, but you need to consider the ebbs and flows of work when setting your price. If your goal is to make 60,000 in your first year, then you need to factor in how much you need to make per day. If you are only actively doing “work” (that pays) two days a week – then you need to increase your hourly wage.
Free consultations and pro-bono work have their place in my heart and business, and they should in yours as well. And, if you set your standard rates as high as they can be – you can afford to eat and chat with clients for free. Remember – people pay for quality.
If you aren’t down with VoIP yet, where have you been hiding out? With Vonage expect to pay $30 per month (actually mine comes out to $32.50) and relax with unlimited calls in the US. Get rid of that outdated land-line and upgrade to an Internet phone connection. It’s faster, clearer, and cheaper.
One of the best online invoice systems on the market would have to be Blinksale. With their user-friendly and intuitive design / functionality, you can easily send professional invoices to all your clients. And when it comes time for taxes, just print out an excel sheet that the system can produce for you.
I’ve used a lot of hosting companies over the years — most of them have been very disappointing and unreliable. But Media Temple has never let me down (well, at least not with their dv (dedicated virtual) servers.) Their customer service absolutely rocks! 24/7 I can give them a call and they’re always up for helping me out with anything. I highly recommend them as your hosting provider. [*** If you only have one small site and don't expect a ton of traffic, then go with Godaddy basic hosting package.]
From newsletters to surveys, IConact makes it super easy to build a list of subscribers for any sort of content that you wish to share. I use them for my monthly magazine and their service has been on point. Packages start at $9.95 and scale up from there. If you’re thinking about starting a newsletter or online mag, then give iContact a shot.
For $29.95 use Skype to make unlimited outbound calls from your computer. I like to use this service in conjunction with my Vonage because there are times when I don’t have my business phone with me — like in a café or on the road. All I need is an Internet connection and I can use my SkypeOut to make unlimited calls. Also, I can use an app called Audio Hijack Pro to record any Skype call. (podcasts, conference calls, etc). If you run windows, use Hot Recorder to record.
Recently named Miss New Jersey, Amy Polumbo, was blackmailed over images on her facebook account. Images of people biting her breasts, drinking, and all sorts of wild and crazy things that we’ve all experienced at any party in college. A few weeks after her becoming Miss NJ, packages of photos taken from her facebook profile were sent to pageant officials demanding that she loses her new glory or the images would be published.
This just goes to show you that we young entrepreneurs should be careful about the sort of images we use on our social network accounts (facebook and MySpace). I’ll admit it, I do have images of me drinking and partying on both of my accounts, but those are things that I am not trying to hide. Yes, from time to time I do drink and I do party.
However, there is a line that should be drawn. And that line must be made at your own discretion based upon multiple factors: the business that you’re in, the image that you want to portray to the world, and the people that you are involved with / associated with your business.
Say, for instance, you run a vegan/vegetarian online network and your entire business is based upon teaching people how “not” eating meat improves your health and longevity. Now what do you think would happen if there was an image on your profile of you eating a big t-bone steak with a blood-dripping burger?
You would lose all credibility. Your business would lose it’s reputation. And everything that you created up to this point would be destroyed. As an entrepreneur — someone who is in charge of a business and has an image to protect; be smart and make sure that images/content that can tarnish your character/business aren’t publicly accessible.
As an entrepreneur my whiteboard has become a must-have for my startup. Brainstorming ideas, sketching website designs out, and working out problems are all a part of using the big whiteboard that’s hanging up on my wall. I paid around $50 for mine, but you can cut that price in half by making your own:
…some white tileboard from the bathroom section of Home Depot will work just as well. 4×8 sheets are under $20, letting you cover an entire wall for less than the cost of buying something off-the-shelf. Cover that woodgrain panelling with dry erase paradise using the tips from Kevin Kelly’s Marker Board Walls.
A few years ago, a friend of mine started a hip-hop dance troupe in Chicago. She had ideas of using dance to make money and have a huge impact on the city. It was her goal for the company to become a regular name in bars, clubs, festivals and parties – but she was also offering classes and mentoring programs for aspiring dancers. Basically, she loves to dance and doesn’t want to settle for starving her way through a dance lifestyle. She realized that although she may not be able to dance forever (because of the strain it puts on the body); she would always enjoy running the business.
And, so she began – but without any money. But, you better believe that any friend of mine has got to be pretty resourceful. With a little (or a lot) of help she concluded that she would pretty much never need to pay for marketing – if she did it properly in the beginning.
So, she got a publicist who had a fairly huge contact sheet. She had someone write an awesome press release that told a story and begged readers to ask more – and she sent it out to over five hundred people. As a result, her company was covered in numerous publications including the Chicago Tribune. The media coverage brought the public out to their shows and events, and made them a hit from the beginning. Now, their work is covered because people want to be updated on the troupe’s latest adventures, not because they write new press releases.
If a press release is written like a news story, and the story is good – it will be hard for editors not to publish it. If you or your copywriter can conjure an angle that will lure the reader, then your press release may be published in its entirety. Good press releases may also be used in part, or simply inspire the editor (or receiver of the p.r.) to call you and ask you more questions about your business.
You may not have a business that holds events or news that you feel is fitting for your city newspaper. But, do not sell yourself short. Yes, you need to find your audience – and they are out there. And, I guarantee that they read. You can send your p.r. to trade publications, bloggers, any media and creative directors. You can send the release to whoever will help get the word out to your audience.
You cannot afford to pass up this inexpensive marketing technique. When I launched my magazine, I sent out about 1000 p.r.’s, and I got 10,000 hits in the first two days. I am now experimenting with tailoring press releases for specific groups, to make them more enticing. Spend your money on having the release professionally written, or at least copy edited. Make sure that you quote business owners and experts and draw the reader in from the beginning. Look for someone who has an extensive list (publicists do not like to share their lists, and they don’t come cheap, either). But, you can also begin compiling your own lists.
If you use a press release properly, it can turn out to be the springboard for tons of free marketing for your biz. And, we like free, don’t we?
What do you say when you’re asked what you do? Does your answer depend on who you’re talking to and for how long you plan to converse? Do you find that you get mixed reactions when you tell people you’re an entrepreneur?
My profession does define me. At least to a certain degree. It has to — because I am so emotionally involved in my business that I cannot seem to get into a conversation that does not involve my career. But, what I tell people that I do does depend on the type of response I feel like dealing with.
I like to say I’m a writer, because that’s the passion behind what I do each day. People romanticize about writers, and many think it’s a “starving artist” career. But, this is something I feel comfortable explaining and defending. Calling myself a writer makes me feel important. Like I don’t just have a job, but I have a purpose.
Recently, I had a talk with a friend and fellow freelancer that really got me thinking about the differences between jobs and careers, entrepreneurs and 9-5ers. She was commenting that I work too hard and too long, and that I should maybe try to go back to “work” at least part-time. I scoffed at the idea of answering someone else’s phone, or filing papers that have no meaning to me. I told her I would “never” do that. And, she tried to sell me on the idea that what I do needn’t define me as a person.
We are so many other things besides entrepreneurs. We all have qualities, hobbies and relationships that make up a great chunk of who we are. No single term can define any of us. And, while there is no shame in getting a day job – an entrepreneur can never feel proud to call to himself a car salesman for someone else’s company (forever). We have to control our own destiny and our own paychecks, or we’re not satisfied.
So, consider that your profession sort of does define who you are, and make sure that you can answer proudly when asked what you do for a living.
Everything is so structured and rigid. You have to wake up at a certain time every…single…morning… You are tired when you get back every…single…afternoon. Your creativity is stripped away from you and locked up in the company basement. It’s not fun having to be obedient and follow the commands of whatever the company tells you do to that day. It’s not fun, it’s hectic. It’s stressful. And it can ruin your entrepreneurial spirit.
Because being in control of your future is always the best and safest road to go down.
People have it all mixed up: they think that having a 9 to 5 is safe. Well think again. You can be fired at any moment and lose your job for reasons that you may never even know. There you are, 5 years into corporate America… you think that all is well…making $75,000…. and all of a sudden, one day, your boss calls you into his office… 5 minutes later you walk out and your life is over. You’re fired! I don’t know about you guys, but I’d never want someone to have that sort of control over my life, my future.
Because lacking control and having someone tell you what to do all day long absolutely sucks!
At some jobs you’ll be nothing more than a dog that fetches every time your master (re: boss) throws his bone across the room. “Fetch boy! Get boy! Run faster! Hurry up! Good boy…. Good boy…. Here’s a treat…. Good Boy….” It’s disgusting to see how some employees are treated by their bosses — absolutely disgusting! It’s like they forget that employees are human beings, not some sort of trained animals that you beckon all day long. Hell no! I’m not having that. I’m not going to subjugate myself to that sort of treatment and you shouldn’t either.
Because it’s an illusion to see your friends making $30,000 — $100,000 per year after graduating college.
Sure, they may feel like they are on top of the world, financially. They may even feel rich. And you, the entrepreneur, may feel poor and broke because they made more in a month than your business did quarterly. But it’s all an illusion my friends…. The entrepreneurs who jump right into building a business around their passions right out of college are going to be the next millionaires — the next billionaires. Not the dudes making $85,000 per year with a leased Mercedes trying to fool the world into believing that they are rich.
Because going the 9 to 5 route is what 99.9% of the population is doing.
Dare to be different and take a shot at pushing forward with your passions. We are living in a new era where anyone can start a business and achieve massive success. Our parents lived through the age where is was a given that you were to get a 9 to 5 after college, but times have changed. Colleges are in a rat race pumping millions into entrepreneurship wings, facilities, and programs at their schools. Why? People they have finally realized that going the entrepreneurship route is a viable option (not an alternative) for college students. Most 9 to 5 jobs serve to lock in your potential, not expand it. It’s like a flower kept in the dark, it’ll never bloom and reach its full potential.
The following entrepreneurs have inspired me in various ways and motivated us all to never give up — they all have achieved massive success due to their immense hunger, determination, and will to change the world. I have learned a lot from each of them.
Sir Richard Branson
Branson has taught me to always have fun no matter what. Entrepreneurship isn’t all about pain, it’s about feeling good and basking in the moment — the present. You have to enjoy yourself on your journey to success. Be happy every day that you are able to push forward with your business and have a blast!
Bill Gates
I admire Gate’s zombie-like intelligence. He is, without a doubt, one of the smartest leaders in the computer industry. And it’s ironic, because his brilliance lies in his ability to surround himself with people smarter than him. He’s always been hungry and willing to do anything to see his dreams of Microsoft realized. Gate is definitely a powerful nerd.
Oprah Winfrey
It’s funny because Oprah doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur at all, but I think that we can all agree that she is. I respect Oprah so much for having such a big heart! She truly cares about those less fortunate than her. Her charity and causes to help the poor and impoverished have changed the world. And not to mention her ability to shine light on real issues that matter — that spark positive change.
Sam Walton
Sam is the man! When nobody believed in his dream to open up Walmarts in small, no-name, towns, he pushed forward anyway and relied on his gut. He saw an opportunity that everyone else thought was a business pitfall. He took a risk and made it happen. Now look at what he’s created, the Walton’s are one of the richest families in the country and Walmart is deeply engrained throughout the world.
Steve Jobs
I love Job’s energy. Yes he’s an ass and he is what some would call a despot…but therein lies his brilliance. He fights so hard to push his ideas unto Apple, because he truly believes in himself. And guess what? He’s proven himself to be right most of the time. Jobs is — hands down — one of the most creative people in the industry. That’s why we love him.
Thomas Edison
From Edison, I learn that failure isn’t “failure,” it’s just a way to get closer to success. Edison didn’t fail 10,000 times before creating the light bulb, he “ just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Entrepreneurship is all about experimentation, and you have to be willing to keep on trying new things — new techniques — before you find something that works…. even if it takes 10,000 tries. You only have to be right once.
Howard Hughes
Hughes was one of the weirdest but one of the most innovation entrepreneurs in history. At a young age he acquired his father’s tool company and quickly turned it into the top aviation company on the planet. Without a formal education in engineering, Hughes was able to dream up and help develop some of the most sophisticated aircrafts at the time. His company, Hughes Aircraft provided the government with countless aircrafts and vessels that helped shape the course of combat and travel in America. However reclusive he was, Hughes was simply one of a kind!
What is stopping you from ending your work day at 5 p.m. and hanging out with friends once a week? What’s stopping you from telling your client that you need to charge more for a project? What’s stopping you from having more fun, making more money and getting more sleep? You, my friend. Only you can do this to yourself.
I’m married. And, while I agree that it’s not a commitment that everyone should/can make – I will say that it teaches us so much about selflessness, responsibility and team work. But, on the other hand, marriage has taught me to take what I need for happiness and survival.
Living in such close proximity to another individual (albeit, an individual who I love), gets stressful as soon as one of us begins to neglect our own personal needs. I would be unbearable to live with if I didn’t get enough sleep, eat properly or learn to manage my own stress.
So, in order to be a worthy member of my family, I must take care of myself first. And the same goes for all of us. We will never satisfy all of your clients. So, there needs to be a moment where we stop trying to achieve perfection for one client, and move onto the bigger picture.
Stop wishing that you had more time to complete a project. There will be more work tomorrow. Stop telling yourself that you’ll rest when “X” is finished. Take some rest time, and some fun time each week.
Nobody else, not even a spouse or awesome BF or GF is going to give you a box full of time. You need to create it yourself and take it when you need it. It has taken me years to discover that I am much more valuable as a human being when I get morning walks, time with my friends, and quality family time.
Clients want your best work, but they won’t pay you more simply because you worked yourself to the bone, in the wee hours of the night to finish their assignments. Do not be afraid to compromise and make your own deadlines or charge more for work assigned on the weekends.
So, how do you start taking what you need? Well, you sit down quietly with yourself and you make a list of ways that you can be happier and more efficient. And, then you immediately begin applying these principles to your life. That’s it. There can be no fear or hesitation involved (and, if there is – ignore it). If you want your way, you need to take action.
The world doesn’t respond kindly when folks start changing their ways and becoming more aggressive, so don’t expect everyone to simply follow suit. Instead, use any negativity to fuel your determination.
Less words and more action will help you realize that you are a serious individual who deserves respect. Never waste breath explaining why you need personal time. Just take it, and continue taking it when you need it, until it becomes natural to you.
On my train ride this morning I sat across from a guy whose shirt read “Totally Wasted.” And, the funny thing is that he was actually totally wasted. His hair frizzed out in an Einsteinian way, his glasses half-broken, and he stumbled from seat to seat until he decided to flop in front of me.
At first, I laughed (internally) at the irony of the fact that he lived up to the label on his shirt. But, then my mind went crazy contemplating all of the different ways we can choose to carry ourselves in public, and how this affects the way others view us. On top of that – why had this guy dumped himself in front of me? Why was I chosen to inhale his beer stench and listen to him grunt while he read the paper aloud? What did this say about my image? This could be no coincidence.
Back when we were on summer break from high school, it may have been cool to wear a shirt that said “Wasted” or “Confused.” Maybe you thought you looked so cute in your play-on-words “Diet Sexy” tee. Half of the reason this stuff may have appealed to us as teens is because of our lack of experience. As we grow, we learn that these labels mean something that we may not want to be associated with. Furthermore, we learn that we are labeleling ourselves with our posture, body language, and tone of voice.
How do you think strangers view you? Are you the one who homeless dudes flock to? Are you the guy who is constantly asked for directions? Are you the pigeon lady? Forgodsakes, why do you think that pigeons and cats flock to certain ladies? I’m serious. Do we send out signals that call for us to be treated the way we are treated?
I know why I am a weirdo magnet. I know it’s because I subconsciously have the need to constantly create characters and write stories, and weirdos provide me with this. But, if you find patterns of attracting the wrong people, or being mistreated or disrespected, you may want to consider what your image may be telling the world.
As you continue to succeed in business you will inevitably find that there is a time and a place to dress and speak in a particular way. And, once you get that down, you will eventually graduate to a point where you realize that you make the decisions about when and where you can dress in your “Wasted” shirt. Your outer image is a mere slice of what’s going on inside. You can be truly successful, and carry yourself in a way that feels natural to you.
When the confidence shines through – the world will see you just as you want them to.
Last night I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in on a venture capital presentation. A friend of mine was pitching his idea to a few investors and I was taking mental notes of what the VCs were asking. Below are a few questions that were asked and my analysis.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how passionate are you about your idea?
The investors were trying to gauge how serious and confident the entrepreneur was about his company. They also wanted to know how confident each partner was on a scale from 1- 10. They stressed that commitment level was extremely important.
Do any of your partners have other obligations that would distract them from the company?
They basically wanted to know if any partners had other jobs or family-oriented responsibilities that would distract their focus.
If we were to bring in a CEO that wanted to make changes to the business that would be in the best interest of the company, how comfortable would you be with that?
They wanted to see how flexible and open the entrepreneur would be to relinquishing some power in the best financial interest of the company. They wanted to test his comfort level.
What are the backgrounds of each partner — where are they located, what have they done in the past, and what do they each bring to the table?
The investors were definitely more interested in the quality of the team than the actual idea. They clearly stated that the “team is more important than the idea.” I agree, without a strong team that each bring unique value and dedication to the table, you can’t get far.
Are you looking to sell the company once it’s established?
They wanted to know if you’re in it for the long-haul or not.
How far along are you to launching? And what are the milestones that you’ve already established?
They wanted to see that he was setting goals and achieving them.
I hope these insights into a VC presentation gave you an idea of the sort of questions to expect when you’re trying to raise capital. This was just a snippet of the entire meeting, but it’s enough to get you thinking on that level and to get you started on preparing for your pitch!
Are you running your business on a shoe-string budget, with a crappy computer and recycled office supplies? I am. And, the thought occurred to me yesterday as I shifted my lap-top screen on its broken hinge – that I couldn’t have it any other way.
I wasn’t raised poor – but we had no money. I fought for the right to go to the college of my choice. I applied for scholarships and loans, and I worked my way through the expenses. Many times, I had to watch friends go out to clubs and dinners that I couldn’t afford. But, the experience of having so little money really fueled my fire.
Coming from a background where riches were scarce taught me to rely on my brain, my ambition and my creativity. But that’s not it. My senses have been heightened, my awareness and acceptance of others has grown, and my determination to succeed has multiplied. I am this determined because I have not been given much material substance to start or maintain my business.
It’s great to have investors, and it takes talent to get them. It’s awesome to come from money and have the help of family. And, a hefty bank account full of your life’s earnings would sure make a great difference in the start of your business. But none of these things are necessary.
Sometimes, like in my case, the lack of these things gives us enough determination to really succeed. And, those of us who are not blessed with monetary support may actually have been blessed with the ability to become more resourceful – and in the end better business people.
When you’re playing this game without the bank on your side you will need to be extra critical of your own decisions. Your purchases should be carefully budgeted. And, you should connect with some helpful young entrepreneurs like yourself, and share resources. When determination is high – you can go many places, but you can go even further with the help of others.
Forget the high-end tech gadgets, and focus on a step by step plan to reaching your goals. You don’t need all of the stuff that other entrepreneurs are using in their businesses.
You know where you want to be, and you even know how to get there. But, as soon as you allow your finances to frustrate you – you will begin to fail. So, write out all of your goals, but complete them one at a time.
Your struggles are a test of your determination. Conquer them and you will last as an entrepreneur.
Yesterday I was at a gathering here in the city and someone mentioned that once in a while they spend some time with homeless people living on the street and talk to them about random things. She said: “ It’s always an amazing experience because I get such a fresh and down-to-earth opinion from them. They usually have thought-provoking ways of seeing things.”
Her experience got me thinking about entrepreneurship and getting different perspectives from different people. Now, I’m not saying get out there and talk to every homeless person on that street (unless you’re comfortable with doing that). Obviously, depending on where you live, that may not be safe.
But, I think that — as an entrepreneur running startup — you should aim to get advice and opinions from as many people as possible; even if those people don’t know a thing about business, entrepreneurship, and your particular company.
The objective here is to tap into as many minds as possible and see what they think about what you are doing. Ask your mom. Ask your teacher. Ask your brother. Ask your girlfriend. Ask your enemy. Ask your mailman. Ask your doctor. Ask your professor.
It doesn’t matter. Just see what they think and attempt to spark their mind about something that may be of value to your business. You’d be surprised how much we miss out on in life — how much information we let slip out of our hands — because we don’t take the time to share our thoughts with certain people.
We need to destroy that notion and get out there and talk to as many people as possible. It’s like painting a picture with a palette of only 8 colors — your picture may come out looking nice, but imagine if you had a palette of 1,000 colors. Various opinions and unique insights from other people are the other colors that you can add to your startup.
Especially seek out people who aren’t jaded in some way or another (as hard as that sounds). People who aren’t too extreme or too passive about a particular matter. Even someone like your younger brother or sister may be good people to ask. Children are known for stimulating creativity in people.
So get out there and start speaking to people about what you are doing. No one is out of bounds! Have fun with it. What do you have to lose?
Do you find the need to uphold an image that costs more than you make? Or do you find yourself buying products that you can’t afford, for the simple sake of your comfort or sanity? Yesterday, when I explained to a friend that I can no longer make sacrifices for miniscule things like hair conditioner, she told me that I need to live within my means.
Does suggesting that we live within our means imply that we should forsake personal comfort in order to have money in the bank? Should we thrift shop for work suits and never see first run movies? I told my friend that, my having worked for the past 14 years of my 28 year existence, I’ve earned the right to high-end conditioner and whatever other products or services that I deem necessary for my happiness and progress of my life goals. She simply asked; “have you?”
I’m not rich, but I figure that if I’m ever going to get that way, I’ve got to push myself in the general direction of the wealthy. The mere fact that I can now slide my hair brush through silky strands instead of a tangled mess, makes me feel more confident – and saves me at least five minutes each morning.
During our engagement, my husband and I were advised by a minister to live within our means. This man was pretty wealthy. He advised us to make wise purchases and never use credit. This man was happy and fulfilled and lived by his own advice. We have followed much of his advice. We don’t have cable T.V. because we prefer to afford movies at the theater. We eat most meals at home, and save tons for our business. I work out of my home, and have even downsized my home in order to simplify my monthly expenses.
But, there comes a point when we should not have to sacrifice for the sake of the future. We need to make ourselves happy now. And, as silly as it seems, material items play a small role in that.
Maybe it’s not in your means to hire an assistant or get a better computer. But, there is growth potential in both expenses. As entrepreneurs, I think we need to think beyond the box of what others may consider our means. Perhaps our means shouldn’t only be measured in money, but in potential and tolerance as well.
I think “brilliant” is one of the words that are loosely thrown around to describe certain people who have done something significant in the world. It’s one of those words that so many people use is so many different ways.
We hear it all the time: “That dude is brilliant!” “Wow, what a brilliant idea!”
It would be interesting to see what you Mindpetalers out there thought of the word brilliant and what does one have to do to be considered brilliant. Personally, I think that many people call other people brilliant for all the wrong reasons.
Sure, someone can have an amazing idea or an amazing theory or even an amazing thought, but I could never define someone as brilliant based upon his or her thinking. That just isn’t enough for me, sorry.
If you get straight A’s in school or ace an exam, you may be called brilliant. Or if you solve a puzzle, someone may think that you are brilliant. And I’m sure that this doesn’t hurt your ego when you are called brilliant — it gives you all the confidence in the world!
Indeed, brilliance is somewhat of a subjective term, but we’ve diluted this word by using it to describe everyone and their mothers. It’s almost become fun to use the word. Brilliant this and brilliant that!
Brilliance lies in taking a thought and growing that thought into something beautiful and something that has an impact on the world. So many people are stuck in the realm of ideas, but lack the confidence and commitment level to follow-through and take action.
When someone takes such an idea and manifests it into the material world, then that’s “brilliance” and the outcome/impact of that new reality is “brilliant.” We need to stop calling those people who got straight A’s or who have closed a few business deals brilliant. Brilliance is something so much greater.
Your “actions” in life and the response from the world is the only measurement of true brilliance. Your actions will be what defines you, not your thoughts. When you do something brilliant, you’ll know. The world will know.
Sometimes, just like it says it the theme song from “Cheers,” we all “want to go where everybody knows our names.” We want to be welcomed, respected and missed when we’re gone too long. Look at us — we come here to share thoughts with like-minded young preneurs so that we can feel like we belong to something. A good friend or set of friends can do wonders for our mental clarity and self image. Knowing that we can go “home” after work makes our careers possible.
But, what happens when our friends have drifted or the people we expect to offer a friendly ear don’t live up to our expectations?
A negative “home” environment (“home,” meaning where you spend your non-work time, and the people who surround you) can be far more detrimental to your health than you might think. And, no matter how much you exercise, eat healthy, rest and meditate your way through struggles, negative influences will continue to disrupt your life if you do not address them directly.
Firstly, it is important to note that many of us do not and cannot get support from the conventional sources. Our parents, extended family, and best friends from high school just may not have the ability to offer us the sense of security that we need at this point in our lives. And, we cannot expect them to. One of the biggest mistakes we can make here is to hold anger toward people for not giving us the love we need.
On the same token, if you are in constant contact with these folks, and they are not lighting up your life with positivity – you need to distance yourself. It sounds harsh to suggest that we possibly take a step away from those who we’ve been closest to for most of our lives. However, when you consider your overall happiness, health and success – you cannot afford not to.
Close acquaintances who never say “thanks” or make you feel valuable leave you searching for fulfillment in other areas. People who actually put you down, talk behind your back or turn a cold shoulder toward you help deplete your self image. Furthermore, when you share no common goals, values or dreams with those in your “home” – you naturally begin to feel isolated. All of these factors add up and gradually, but successfully cause fatigue, stress, and anything from ulcers to mental illness.
Remember that just because you may have been born into a family or just happen to live next door to a certain group of people, it is not your responsibility to forge a strong bond with them. Striving to connect with the “unconnectable” leaves you too tired to connect with important people who can strengthen your self perception and overall health.
You are never stuck. But, sometimes friends need to be sought out. Once you begin eliminating the negativity – you will see how easily the doors will open for new friends to enter your life. Never underestimate the power of good human connection. In high school, it may have been about how many people you could get to come to your party. Now, your friend choices should reflect your personal values and interests.
Who makes you happy? Who stresses you out? Who completely irks you? Choose to surround yourself with only the best, and every aspect of your life will improve.
It’s summer, a perfect time to offer entrepreneurs and business owners a Mind Petals special advertising deal. For $50 you can advertise your company logo in a 125 x 125 (site-wide) box for 30 days. Text links will be sold for $20 / month. If you’re interested, please contact us at ads@mindpetals.com to secure a spot and get your campaign rollin’!
If you think like a winner everyday, then you are more likely to win. Here is my 10 step guide to thinking like a winner and kicking ass!
Know that the world will be against you when you think of a life-changing idea. People simply don’t like change. Understand that, and push through the doubters and rise above the noise.
Always listen to yourself before listening to anyone else. No matter if it’s your parents, professors, friends, or co-workers. You must to be your best leader.
Constantly dream big and don’t be afraid to set unfathomable and mind-boggling goals for yourself.
When you are on the brink of quitting because everything seems to be falling apart, pull yourself together and keep on fighting hard.
Don’t think of how much money you have as a measurement of success. Money will come – in large quantities – to anyone following their passions.
Never be scared to say no! No to a 9 to 5, no to a business deal, and no to anyone who tries to get in your way.
Dare to be different. Winners are usually the people who go down a different route than the masses, without looking back.
Be willing to put everything on the line for the chance to achieve massive success.
Set goals and follow-through with them. Ideas and thoughts mean nothing without action.
Never wait to start something. The longer you wait, the closer to death you are. Start now — not today — right now!
I spent the last two weekends camping in an area that’s blooming with small business success. The part of town recently gained popularity through countless radio and TV commercials. I went back twice to a place I’ve never visited before – even though it’s only a 90 mile drive from my home. I did the usual tree hugging, sun grabbing and fruit market shopping, but in between I caught glimpses of ordinary folks raking in some serious cash.
There was the firewood guy who made 32 bucks from us in the last 7 days. He sells firewood for $4 a bundle and easily sold 300 bundles on the fourth of July. He gets the wood for free from a carpenter friend, ties it up and sits it on his truck. Then, he drinks lemonade and pets his dog while firewood craving campers dish out their dough. He works about 6 months out of the year, and we figured he makes at least $40,000. On the side he sells $4 hot dog buns and $3 ice.
Then, we met the train store guy who converted the front of his home to a storefront in honor of selling his grandson’s favorite trains. His beautiful home, in the prime business district of town sticks out beautifully with its Thomas the Train paraphernalia. As we drove by it, my little boy yelled “Oh Thomas, Oh Thomas,” as I’m sure every little boy does. So, we bought him a $10 mini toy train to go with the rest of his mini toy trains that all connect together. Only this one was double the price of the ones we bought in Chicago. This guy is making a living selling toy trains right from his home. And he’s able to sell them for quite a bit more than competitors because of his location.
So, these two men are happily supporting themselves through their own means. They are making more than others in their field, and it seems as though they’ve chosen businesses that are valued in the area. But, are they entrepreneurs? Are they business men? Or are they just lucky? There can only be one firewood guy per camp ground, so this one was at least smart enough to become the first one. I think we need to credit both men for using their resources and not having to put too much monetary investment into the start of their businesses. But, seeing as though there is not much need or plans for growth, can we really call them entrepreneurs?
A successful entrepreneur once told me that if I want to make it as a business woman, my very presence would need to command respect. He also stated that to him, respect meant fear. I saw his point and agreed with him to some degree – but I told him that I didn’t want people to fear me.
This same guy has a really cocky air about him. He’s the kind of person that you will definitely notice. He says it doesn’t matter whether people like you, what matter is that they pay you. For them to pay you must think strictly of business and forget pleasantries. Many people actually think this guy is a jerk — while others look up to him. Most of the people who know him, fear him at least a little bit.
He doesn’t agree that I will reach my full potential by doing occasional pro-bono work, and befriending my clients and partners. He says I’m soft.
Business is business and it requires all of us to put on a serious face and make demands from time to time. Some of our moves may need to be more aggressive than others. Even a person who is gentle by nature, like me, can make serious demands and decisions in a respectable way. Without strutting our stuff or trying to frighten others away.
Is it possible to be taken seriously, and make money, while still being kind to people?
After several years of seriously building my business – I further understand what he was trying to teach me. We cannot afford to be taken advantage of, and if people fear us, we don’t have to worry about that. But then again, if we don’t have any truly loyal customers, clients or partners we can fail at any moment. It seems to me that people who ACT like big shots are usually hiding something. And frankly, I choose not to work with people who don’t treat me well. But, what if we KNEW how good we were, KNEW that we were irreplaceable and portrayed that image?
I believe that confidence can be displayed in as many different ways as there are types of people. We need to command respect in our own ways. And, if we’re doing what we love, this usually coincides with the type of business that we run. Confidence and respect feed off of one another, and we build on them as our business grows. But, cockiness is one sided.
The old entrepreneur definitely had a useful lesson — demand respect. But, cockiness reflects a disrespect of others — including your clients. I’m still weighing the value of his theories. What do you think? Does cockiness pay off sometimes?
I know plenty of young entrepreneurs, most of which who run a service-oriented business such as: web development, marketing, web design, online magazine, blog networks, etc… I rarely hear about young entrepreneurs who run some sort of brick and mortar startup. You know… like a deli, super market, landscaping, or what about a construction company.
I think that we young entrepreneurs — myself included — are really riding this technological wave pretty hard. It makes sense since we are the first generation to harness the true power of the World Wide Web. We grew up using the net, so it’s only natural that our businesses will be an extension of that medium.
But are we locking ourselves in to this medium? Are we becoming overly focused on the Internet and automatically building businesses around it without even considering other sorts of ventures? Maybe.
I love the net, no doubt. But it’s always refreshing when I do come across someone who has chosen another path. I have a friend who runs a tea shop here in the city, and I give him a lot of respect for taking on such a venture. It’s definitely an entirely different playing field than running a website or web development company.
No matter what sort of business you run, having an offline presence is always a good idea. You need to play both sides of the board. If you run a web development company and are running it out of your room, aim to have a real office one day. A place where clients can actually come in and speak to you in person.
Sure, many of us can run our businesses from our rooms perfectly fine, but I don’t know about you guys… but having a legit office one day is definitely a goal of mine.
For those of you out there who run shop or some sort of business where you actually see and talk to clients all day, you probably have an office and without it you couldn’t run your business. Who knows, maybe you’re wishing the exact opposite and want to be able to run your business from a room without ever seeing a client in person.
Any brick and mortar entrepreneurs out there? Let’s hear it… what do you do and how do you like having an office and being able to see your clients in person all day long?
Ever have one of those days when everything seems to be falling apart? You server goes down, you lose a big client, or you forget to schedule that important meeting. It’s like the world is caving in below you and your business is in pieces. Those days absolutely suck.
We’ve all been there. We all have those horrible days as entrepreneurs. But here’s the funny thing: most of us never really appreciate the good days when things don’t fall apart and everything goes well. We just chalk it up as a normal day. A day when nothing falls apart.
I think that we need to change our mindset just a bit. We need to really learn to appreciate those days when things go well. Every time you have a day when things fall into place: you make some money, get some clients, and spread your business, you need to be mindful of that and really realize and recognize that you are having an awesome day!
It’s like losing a girlfriend or someone you really love. You really don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s really gone. Then you’re like: “wow, look at what I have lost! This sucks! I feel horrible!”
So you should think of your business in the same way. Every day that you are able to wake-up, get out of bed, work on your business, speak to clients, and make an impact on this world, you need to consider yourself lucky. You need to appreciate what you are able to do. And you need to always remain cognizant that being able to run a business and affect peoples’ lives is an amazing thing.
Appreciate your time as an entrepreneur. Embrace the good days. Understand that the bad days are just steps leading to the good days. Don’t take your business for granted, because it can be gone in a second.
I hope that you are either reading this from a computer on the beach, or that you’ll be off to a barbeque as soon as you’re finished. What? You have work to do? You can’t turn off thoughts of goals that you have yet to accomplish and projects that are due next week (or tomorrow).
As an entrepreneur, you should expect to have a constant stream of thoughts circulating through your mind. And, not just thoughts about beautiful trees and what you want for dinner — thoughts about your next moves in changing the world. But, just because this is normal does not mean that it is good for you.
I want you to consider making one of your daily goals to turn off your mind for a few hours. Actually free your mind from business thoughts. Free your mind from all thoughts.
It is in our nature to be slightly (or highly) unsatisfied with the conditions of the world. We are here to fix things, make systems run more smoothly and teach new concepts to the rest of the world. So, when we take a break, we often become more aware of how imperfect current systems are, and that forces us back to work. This is a stressful cycle that will eventually take years off of our lives.
We talk a lot about the importance of stress management and making sure to set aside time for ourselves. But, how many of us are still hashing out the daily grind in our minds while we are supposed to be relaxing? Our society does not teach us that it is okay to relax. We are taught that we must work quickly and study hard. We are taught that if we want to make something of ourselves, we cannot fall behind the competition. And, we are constantly being reminded of the competition.
Some of us actually need to be taught how to free our minds. I know, because I am one of those people. Other cultures that value meditation may actually have something to teach us. But, even studying yoga won’t help if you can’t let go. If you really have a problem quieting your thoughts, to the point where it causes you stress and affects your overall mood – you can consider starting slowly with some meditation exercises. Beginning meditation usually encourages you to focus on one particular thought or object in your mind (a whole lot better than a thousand, huh?).
Whether its yoga class or nature walks – the only way to clear our minds is to give ourselves a chance to do it. That means that it will need to become a part of your routine. It sounds ironic, but practice makes perfect in this as well. You will find that you become more relaxed and calm over time.
Turn off your thoughts and your mind will open even more.
Don’t we just love our networks… all of our business contacts, our friends, and acquaintances. Our networks are great, but we need to make sure that we nourish and maintain our networks, or they’ll wither away. Here are a few ways to keep your networks intact and healthy.
Make Connections:
Connect people with other people who are inside of your network. When you combine people and they go off to work together or help one another out, that’s a great way to expand your network and also increase your value as a connector, a linchpin that knows how to connect the right people with the right people. That’s what leaders do.
Educate:
If you just read an awesome article on jiu-jitsu and someone in your network absolutely loves practicing jiu-jitsu, direct them to that article — or if you read it online, send them a link. Feed your network with information whenever you can.
Give honest advice:
Always give direct and honest advice to anyone in your network. Never be scared to give your honest insight into something. Be real with everyone in your network and they will love you for that. They know that they will be able to count on you for your helpful and critical feedback.
Bring more people in:
Attend events and gatherings to meet new people. Get to know them and understand how they can bring value to your network and also your organization. When you actively work at expanding your network with new minds, your entire network benefits. Synergy. And guess what? You’re the one who was behind it all.
Keep in contact:
If you fall of the face of the Earth and don’t maintain communication between you and your network, your ties will become weak and your value to the network will diminish. Make sure to send out emails or pick up the phone to remain in the loop of things and what’s going on in your network.
The more you work at your network, the more powerful you will become as an entrepreneur, as a connector, and as someone who is in the know of everything that’s going on. It takes work to maintain a network, but it’ll pay off big time.
When the time comes for you to collaborate with a copy writer to tighten your web content, or consult with you on your company’s written image, you will need to understand a few basic trade concepts.
Copy writers are not like graphic designers in that their talent is not as subjective. We know exactly when we’ve found the right designer because their images speak to us. Writers can do that too. But, you’ll find there’s a bit more science involved in deciding on which one is right for you.
A good copy writer must have a command of the English language. You must be able to read and understand their work samples. Nothing should sound jumbled or unclear to you.
When you contact a copy writer for assistance they should send you a note and work samples that relate to the job you are asking them to do. If you are requesting web copy – they should not send you samples of product reviews. The writer may make an exception by noting that they are sending extra samples to acquaint you with the range of their work.
Good copy writers should ask you tons of questions in the beginning. You want them to be interested in your company and get a feel for your tone. They must be able to adapt to your tone.
Sometimes copy writers exist to completely create concepts and tone for your site, and you should expect to pay more for this. But, oftentimes, in the beginning of your business career – you will only need them for consulting and editing purposes.
A good copy writer usually has a range of prices that they can charge for a given project, and should be able to work for an hourly or per-project fee. Remember, that when paying someone to write copy, you are also paying them to study your business, your competition and any other pertinent research that will make that copy shine. Copy writers paint in written words and can be a bit uneasy on the phone.
Make sure that you connect with your copy writer on the phone at least one time per project. But, the good ones don’t need to be babysat. Let them know what kind of updates you need and they should follow suit. For the most part, you should expect to connect with them through e-mail.
When you find your perfect copy writer, establish a slightly candid relationship with them. This gives them an insight on what you really want and helps them serve you best. No copy writer is completely free of mistakes. But a good copy writer includes second drafts as part of their fees and fixes mistakes quickly.
When I went home for Christmas last December, the first thing my parents said when I got off the plane was “It looks like you’ve grown, did you get taller?”
I hadn’t grown at all, not one inch. So why was this their first reaction after not seeing me for sixth months? One word: I had become more confident.
Confidence is a funny thing in human beings. When you’re feeling confident you tend to stand taller, hold your head up, and walk differently. It affects all areas of your body (eye contact, breath, stride, voice tone, etc).
What my parents were picking up on was not a change in my height, it was a change in confidence, and I believe Toastmasters was one important contributor to that improvement.
For those who don’t know, Toastmasters is an international non-profit organization that helps people improve their public speaking. It is fairly inexpensive (less than $100 per year), and puts you in a supportive environment with other people who are learning to speak in public, become better leaders, an improve their social interactions.
Last week we offered you some pointers on how to determine which lawyer is best for you, but what about actually finding a lawyer. If there’s one thing that entrepreneurs aren’t short of, it’s lawyers. 
If you had 15 minutes to kick back and chat with any entrepreneur in the world, who would it be and why? For me, I’m going with 
Have you ever been fired from a job? I have. Actually, once or twice. I’m not exactly proud of it, but the longest 9-5 job I’ve ever had lasted only 3.5 months. I would either quit or become so unenthusiastic about what I was doing, that I would end up — essentially — provoking my boss to fire me. I simply could never hold back my desire to run my own business and be my own boss.
If you’re like me, you have tons of books all over your room, office, desk, bathroom, all over the place. You probably don’t have a clear-cut system of organizing your books and are content with them living all over your office/house/apartment. If you’d like to throw some organization into the mix and actually start using those vacant bookshelves, there’s no better time than now. Sometimes things can become too messy and we’ve all experienced that time when we couldn’t find that one book that we absolutely need. 
While it’s a good idea to be knowledgeable about rules and regulations for your business practices, finding the right legal help at the right time can be a little overwhelming. You’ll find plenty of lawyers ready to jump on board with your entrepreneurial venture, but overspending on legal assistance is an easy mistake. Finding a good lawyer will take time and possibly some interviewing; you’ll want to develop a detailed list of objectives to learn what information and assistance you really need.
A few years ago I was really into bodybuilding. Back then, to me, it was all about building muscle and getting bigger and bigger and bigger…. At one point, I was approaching 220 pounds. I was huge and I knew that the only way to get bigger was to continue to overload my muscles with more resistance. As my muscles became accustomed to a certain weight, I would add more.
If you aren’t down with VoIP yet, where have you been hiding out? With Vonage expect to pay $30 per month (actually mine comes out to $32.50) and relax with unlimited calls in the US. Get rid of that outdated land-line and upgrade to an Internet phone connection. It’s faster, clearer, and cheaper.
One of the best online invoice systems on the market would have to be Blinksale. With their user-friendly and intuitive design / functionality, you can easily send professional invoices to all your clients. And when it comes time for taxes, just print out an excel sheet that the system can produce for you.
I’ve used a lot of hosting companies over the years — most of them have been very disappointing and unreliable. But Media Temple has never let me down (well, at least not with their dv (dedicated virtual) servers.) Their customer service absolutely rocks! 24/7 I can give them a call and they’re always up for helping me out with anything. I highly recommend them as your hosting provider. [*** If you only have one small site and don't expect a ton of traffic, then go with 
From newsletters to surveys, IConact makes it super easy to build a list of subscribers for any sort of content that you wish to share. I use them for my monthly magazine and their service has been on point. Packages start at $9.95 and scale up from there. If you’re thinking about starting a newsletter or online mag, then give iContact a shot.
For $29.95 use Skype to make unlimited outbound calls from your computer. I like to use this service in conjunction with my Vonage because there are times when I don’t have my business phone with me — like in a café or on the road. All I need is an Internet connection and I can use my SkypeOut to make unlimited calls. Also, I can use an app called 
…some white tileboard from the bathroom section of Home Depot will work just as well. 4×8 sheets are under $20, letting you cover an entire wall for less than the cost of buying something off-the-shelf. Cover that woodgrain panelling with dry erase paradise using the tips from 
I admire Gate’s zombie-like intelligence. He is, without a doubt, one of the smartest leaders in the computer industry. And it’s ironic, because his brilliance lies in his ability to surround himself with people smarter than him. He’s always been hungry and willing to do anything to see his dreams of Microsoft realized. Gate is definitely a powerful nerd.
It’s funny because Oprah doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur at all, but I think that we can all agree that she is. I respect Oprah so much for having such a big heart! She truly cares about those less fortunate than her. Her charity and causes to help the poor and impoverished have changed the world. And not to mention her ability to shine light on real issues that matter — that spark positive change.
Sam is the man! When nobody believed in his dream to open up Walmarts in small, no-name, towns, he pushed forward anyway and relied on his gut. He saw an opportunity that everyone else thought was a business pitfall. He took a risk and made it happen. Now look at what he’s created, the Walton’s are one of the richest families in the country and Walmart is deeply engrained throughout the world. 
I love Job’s energy. Yes he’s an ass and he is what some would call a despot…but therein lies his brilliance. He fights so hard to push his ideas unto Apple, because he truly believes in himself. And guess what? He’s proven himself to be right most of the time. Jobs is — hands down — one of the most creative people in the industry. That’s why we love him.
From Edison, I learn that failure isn’t “failure,” it’s just a way to get closer to success. Edison didn’t fail 10,000 times before creating the light bulb, he “ just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Entrepreneurship is all about experimentation, and you have to be willing to keep on trying new things — new techniques — before you find something that works…. even if it takes 10,000 tries. You only have to be right once.
Hughes was one of the weirdest but one of the most innovation entrepreneurs in history. At a young age he acquired his father’s tool company and quickly turned it into the top aviation company on the planet. Without a formal education in engineering, Hughes was able to dream up and help develop some of the most sophisticated aircrafts at the time. His company, Hughes Aircraft provided the government with countless aircrafts and vessels that helped shape the course of combat and travel in America. However reclusive he was, Hughes was simply one of a kind!