The U.S. Small Business Administration has released the first report in a series on “trends in entrepreneurship.” The first report is called The Missing Millennial Entrepreneurs. It is an interesting read that is highlighted by the declining self-employment numbers overall. After reading the report, there were two things that stood out to me the most. First, self-employment … [Read more...]
10 Great Business Ideas for Couples
Do you love your spouse? Why not start a business together? Because of the growing trend for families to have both parents working, it is worth considering great business ideas for couples. Consider these 10 business ideas if you want to start a business with your spouse: 1. Coaching for New Couples Given that the first few years of marriage can be very challenging, … [Read more...]
10 Signs You Have What It Takes to be an Entrepreneur
There is one thing that is common about brands like The Huffington Post, Sun Media, Biocon, and HTC. They were all started by female entrepreneurs. All successful brands started as a light bulb in someone’s head. What sets apart an idea from a successful company is the person behind it. From Oprah Winfrey to Sara Blakey, entrepreneurs seem to be a different breed. Do you … [Read more...]
The Entrepreneur – Imperfection at Its Best
To err is to be human, as we are all told. How annoying – how presumptuous! Maybe some of us strive NOT to err, as a rule of thumb – maybe some of us are pretty faultless, and therefore our professional and personal lives follow suit. Everything planned and timed to perfection; no excuses….Except no; in fact, that’s actually a fantasy-world. No-one, no business, NONE of us, … [Read more...]
4 Misconceptions of the Entrepreneur Lifestyle
From the outside looking in, entrepreneurship seems to be a breeze. You are your own boss, you can set your own hours, and can work from anywhere. That sounds so amazing, and it is! However, there are some misconceptions. 1. You’ll Work Less Hours One of the most common phrases I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs that are currently in Corporate America is, “I can’t wait to set … [Read more...]
Top 10 States for Women-Owned Small Businesses
According to the Thumbtack Small Business Friendliness Survey, New Hampshire is the best state for a woman to open a small business. New Hampshire also ranked as the second friendliest state for both male and female entrepreneurs. Texas took the top spot overall and came in second for women-owned businesses. The researchers surveyed 18,000 small business owners across the … [Read more...]
3 Tips to Match Your Message to Your Market
You know that you must stand out in the marketplace, right? You know that the chances are there are innumerable people who sell what you have to offer, so the only way you can get their attention is to stand out boldly. How can you do this? You cannot just claim to be an expert and leave it at that. Lots of people do that, so how can people choose to work with you? Here are … [Read more...]
The Reluctant Entrepreneur
While for many, the career choice of entrepreneurship answers the call of destiny, for others there is no calling, until necessity knocks at their door. Often referred to as the ‘Necessity Entrepreneur’, (a purely descriptive term), those that find themselves on this path do so out of personal or professional circumstances that leave them no option but to work for … [Read more...]
You Cannot Baby Anyone into Being Successful
Sometimes, I speak to people who have dabbled at entrepreneurship and when you ask them why they did not succeed, they start to tell me about all the reasons why someone else is responsible for their failure and I listen in quietly. On the other hand, some days I speak to business owners who are building a team and trying to accelerate the growth of that team and they are … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurship – A Lonely Quest?
Undoubtedly, entrepreneurs are traditionally seen as singular in their role---the founder, the lone-ranger, the decider of all, the solitary leader. That’s a tough place to inhabit and it sounds very lonely! As they say, “It’s tough at the top!” However, in this day and age, there is no excuse to exist in isolation, even if you’re running a one-person entity or small … [Read more...]