Although in my ideal world people give themselves breaks and don’t worry about productivity over the holidays, we don’t live in a society that rewards sabbaticals. Thus, the general consensus is that rather than focusing on how to relax, we need to focus on how to work diligently (though maybe slightly less) through break time.
Home for the Holidays: Getting things done on vacation
November 21st, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
On Timing: “It Is The Best Time Over The Past Decade To Be An Entrepreneur”
November 20th, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image via Wikipedia
Jim Breyer, interviewed by Erick Schonfeld of TechCrunch, is quoted as saying,
“It is the best time over the last decade that I can think of to be an entrepreneur. The collision of mobile and social platforms and the need to build these companies from the ground up—whether it’s a game, a healthcare application, an education application—building these from the ground up is what allows entrepreneurial activity to be unleashed. And it’s as good an opportunity from a time standpoint as I’ve ever seen.
The entrepreneurship he’s referring to, of course, has to do with the tech industry – apps, sites, services, and so on.
However, not all entrepreneurs work in the tech industry, nor do they want to. Thus, he is neglecting a large part of the demographic of “entrepreneurs,” meaning his statements aren’t entirely valid. Based on my experiences of small business work and looking into news on venture capital (even within the tech industry), I also beg to differ that this is a Golden Age of launching. Rather, I think the successes of businesses and larger companies is based on the mother of invention: necessity.
I think most companies are not thriving because they’re brilliant or advantaged – I think they just have to, or they’ll die just like the rest.
I’d like to hear your opinions on what he’s said – regardless of where and in what industry you work. Do you think this is a good time for start-ups? A bad time? Why?
Your “Oh Sh-” Bar: Who Do You Grab?
November 18th, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image via Wikipedia
I feel the need to be excruciatingly honest (or hopelessly pessimistic, depending on who you ask) with myself a lot. I check in with myself, with my family and friends, and with other people I respect to see how I’m doing from time to time. Okay, so it’s more compulsion than reason.
From time to time, we all get a little insecure and decide to check in with other people. We ask, “Would you buy my product?” “How could I improve my marketing?” And, of course, “Do you love me?”
Okay, so maybe that last one has a hint of undertoned craziness. It doesn’t make it any less pressing when you’re feeling insecure.
Insecurity and checking in are two human limitations that keep us from ever becoming our businesses. Your business doesn’t cry. It doesn’t feel hopeless or scared. It doesn’t feel anything. You do, though, and remembering and recognizing that make up the first step.
Fortunately, I have a lot of people in my life that can help me through basically everything that gets thrown at me. I have a wonderful supportive husband and parents, insightful and intuitive friends, and knowledgeable colleagues. I want to say thank you for all that they do, here.
In this time of Thanksgiving, I want all of you (even the non-Americans) to take a moment to think about your so-called Oh Shit Bar (You know – that bar in automobiles that you can latch onto to keep from bouncing around)… Who in your life do you turn to when you’re having issues? How do you stay sane? How do you keep your cool, so to speak, and get back to your happy place when the going gets rough?
Clients balking? Competition laughing? Keep up the good work.
November 13th, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
I don’t normally write about benchmarks of success. I decided to start changing that today. This is a post for those of you out there who have recently had an “oh shi-” moment but haven’t yet come to the conclusion that panic is excellent fuel for success.
Topic Inspiration for the Uninspired
November 1st, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image via Wikipedia
Or, You can bet your sweet ass you know what to write about
Because I do not write nearly enough, I have become rusty at coming up with topics. Indeed, though I have been venturing into blogging for a couple years now, I still have a lot of trouble pulling ideas out of my head. While the follow through is strong when I do have a topic, it’s not the writing itself that is at an impasse. This became remedied, recently, through a couple different variations of the same method. Some people apparently call it riffing. I prefer to call it the genius method. As in, “talent borrows; genius steals.”
Save Money: Know Necessities!
August 28th, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image by .nele via Flickr
No such thing exists as the silver bullet to being successful. In personal finance, one becomes successful by making more money than is spent. In business, the principle is the same: make a positive return on your capital investment (preferably while paying your own bills), and you can be seen as successful – at least, in a financial sense.
Sell Your Product, Not Your Price
August 25th, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image via Wikipedia
Although some people are particularly gifted when it comes to sales and pitching a product, others are mystified by the process. As sales are important in business, I plan to cover sales quite often. I won’t claim to know everything about sales, or even that I’m good at it, but I do know one thing my managers and educators have taught me continuously: when it comes to selling, sell your product, not your price.
Yes, No, Maybe So: Decision Making for Business Owners
August 23rd, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
I work from home.
Well, for right now.
This means any number of things from day to day, but mostly it means I have a hell of a time trying to find paying work, and that I have a challenge ahead of me for keeping business separate from family and home life.
I Said Networking, Not Selling
July 3rd, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image via Wikipedia
If you read pretty much any career/small business blog ever, or – god forbid – you’ve paid attention to this blog, you’ve probably been ranted to about the importance of networking.
As an example:
Promoting yourself
Another benefit of networking is the ability to promote yourself and get your name out there. Especially if you are new to a community or new to web design or development, networking allows you to link to other people in your profession, which can help you get more well-known in the field.
Unfortunately, that’s approximately where the detail ends. Usually the post then goes into the gritty details of how to actually go about networking (hand out business cards while spouting your elevator pitch and asking if they know anybody who needs your services…) because nobody actually knows how to do that naturally.
I’d like to meet the person who first came up with this process. So I can smack him. No, seriously.
You Need Help: On outsourcing
June 22nd, 2011 :: 0 comments :: permalink
Image by Scott Ingram Photography via Flickr
Things become overwhelming. I’m not being negative; I’m being honest. And what do you do when things become overwhelming? Besides cry, that is… You ask for help! And no, I don’t mean seeing a psychiatrist and asking for a healthy dose of Xanax (although, you could do that, too). Today I’m here to talk to you about outsourcing your work.