Struggling Entrepreneur

 

 129B- Enthusiasm helps Entrepreneur build business - the Ramen Noodle [39:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview with Daniel J. Lewis (no relation to the film actor) whose persona is  ‘The Ramen Noodle’ with his own New Media Network called “Noodle-Mix” at http://www.noodle.mx).

Although he has a full-time job, Daniel is a part-time entrepreneur who is a free-lance digital designer with the name of D.JosephDesign at www.djosephdesign.com. He also entered the world of podcasting. As a podcaster, he has seen tremendous growth, which has now also helped his business grow. At this time, he has three podcast series that he has published and for which he continues to produce content. As you will hear in this audio episode, he has had success in being highlighted by the Apple iTunes(R) podcast directory as a new entry that became a featured favorite. This, of course, gave tremendous exposure, awareness and reach for new subscribers.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the single most characteristic that has attracted people to Daniel’s podcasts is his enthusiasm and passion for podcasting. And we are sure that you will agree, once you listen to his episodes.

However, Daniel’s skills as a podcaster show very well with his emphasis and criteria for sound and audio quality in what he publishes on his blog or in the iTunes directory.

An interesting recommendation that this relatively young part-time entrepreneur delivers to us is his perspective of maintaining a life balance. This includes the ability to “close the door and leave work” from the business, even though his podcast studio and small business office is contained within his home. Thus, these mental and physical boundaries would always put his family first — even though it may mean giving up an opportunity for additional business and income.

You can subscribe to Daniel’s podcasts from his major web site with all the podcasts at http://www.noodle.mx (his New Media network). Or you can follow him on twitter with his handle of @TheRamenNoodle.

By the way, if you do engage Daniel as a digital designer to provide some of his services for you or your firm, he is generous enough to offer an incentive to the listeners and subscribers to The Struggling Entrepreneur podcast. You can use a coupon code (which is “noodle”) to get a special discount at D.JosephDesign for his services.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Apple and iTunes are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

 

 129A- Five legal mistakes startups make while raising capital [10:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you the audio narration of a blogpost (from a column delivered to www.VentureBeat.com) by Scott  Edward Walker, who is the founder and CEO of Walker Corporate law Group, PLLC (a law firm specializing the in the representation of entrepreneurs).

This column was submitted by Mr. Walker to VentureBeat.com.

Click here to link to the original post in the Entrepreneur Corner on VentureBeat.com.

What happens when your startup is running out of money?

Should you post something on your web site or twitter about selling your stock? If you do, you may be violating laws and putting your startup at risk–both legally and financially (in the area of valuation, for example). For entrepreneurs, this may be a financial and legal “land mine” which you need to avoid — especially if you were planning to “go it alone.”

As you will hear in this audio episode, the best thing to do is get advice from your legal counsel before acting on your home-grown plan to raise capital.

We thank Scott Edward Walker for his permission to repurpose and publish this post as an audio narration.

Disclaimer: This “Ask the Attorney” post discusses general legal issues, but it does not constitute legal advice in any respect. No reader –or listener– should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information presented herein without seeking the advice of counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. VentureBeat, the Author and the author’s firm expressly disclaim all liability in respect of any actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this post.

Copyright (c) 2010, Scott Edward Walker, VentureBeat.com and Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

 129- Launching a successful Joint Venture - ProductCamp [22:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver a summary of the ProductCamp sessions during this “unconference” (or also known as “user-generated conference”). The ProductCamp event was held in Austin and involved:

- product managers;

- product creators and developers;

- product managers; and

- product marketers.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the description of how a ProductCamp operates gives you a perspective of participating in this “unconference.”

Also, we then focus on the session which was given by Fred Castaneda on some tips and hints on how to execute a successful Joint Venture when launching an information product on the Internet.

For the pdf document of the slides used in the presentation at ProductCamp, click here.

These ProductCamp sessions that are scheduled in the US and other countries worldwide  give entrepreneurs an opportunity to network and form relationships with potential joint venture partners. They also deliver opportunities to present offerings, products, strategies and product-oriented topics. This will also give the Entrepreneur exposure, awareness, promotion (and possibly some forms of “advertising”) –and most of it at no cost.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

 128- Why Entrepreneurs lose traction and possibly fail [13:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver an episode by Chris Benjamin, the Rogue CFO, from his Podomatic Series of The Rogue CFO’s Expert Guide to Launching a Startup. The theme is why businesses can lose traction and “head south” — or,  stated in business terminology– possibly fail.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Chris Benjamin Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 Howzit- App developer entrepreneurs for the Mobile Marketing Space [32:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver an interview with a pair of entrepreneurs who have created a startup firm that will develop and publish apps for the growing iPhone and iPad market created by these devices from Apple, Inc. However, Ross Barbash and Gavin Todes, the founders of Howzit, are also exploiting the advantage of providing solutions for Advertising Agencies and other firms in the ‘Mobile’ space.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the market they have selected is very much a niche one–the mobile marketing space, especially with SMS.

And what is interesting is that these two have made the decision to relocate–one from the West Coast and the other from the East Coast–and settle in Austin, Texas, to pursue their entrepreneurial dream.

It is entirely possible that these two may be on the vanguard wave of “the next BIG thing in tech”–the mobile marketing space.
You may contact Ross Barbash at:

ross [at @] thinkhowzit.com  (to prevent spam)

or go to the web site of:

http://www.thinkhowzit.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

Apple and iPad and iPhone are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

 

 Why social media may be a waste of time for Entrepreneurs [07:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we present a bonus episode in which we narrate a blog post by Kelly Hodsdon of Intentional Internet Inc.

The controversial topic discussed continues to be an item of concern:

Is Social Media just a waste of time for the Entrepreneur who has a LOCAL BUSINESS?

 In this audio narration of the blogpost, the key points that are discussed are:

- how local businesses with a geographic limited reach may want to evaluate the use of Social Media marketing;

- the question for Entrepreneurs: Is Social Media marketing the best use of your time and resources? or is it just a waste of time with no real ROI?

You may visit the blog post at the Paul Colligan blog at:

http://bit.ly/azrInU

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Paul Colligan. All rights reserved.

 

 Paul Colligan's perspectives on iPad for business [32:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you a teleconference discussion by New Media pundit Paul Colligan in which we hear an update of his OPERATION iPAD evaluation, as well as his perspectives of how the iPad(R)  fares as a tool for the entrepreneur.

Delivered initially to the Metropolitan iPad Users Meetup, Paul dialed in on a cell phone to the meeting location (1500 miles away). Thus, the audio was captured from the telephone-quality teleconference call with a Zoom H4N portable recorder. And thus, we apologize for the “telephone-sound” quality of the reception.However, some of the topics discussed during this telecon were:

- perspectives of the future for the iPad for the Small Business;

- the controversial change in data plan charges by AT&T–and how that may or may not affect the future of the iPhone(R) and iPad; and

- how the iPad is a great CONTENT CONSUMPTION device now, but also how it lacks as a CONTENT CREATION platform.

For more information, please visit Paul Colligan’s blog posts about the iPad for business at the OPERATION iPAD  web site at:

http://www.paulsipad.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Paul Colligan. All rights reserved.

iPhone and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

 

 126A- The Rise and Fall of twitter- part 2- by Marc Gordon [11:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we narrate the blog post from Biznik Articles by Marc Gordon called The Rise and Fall of twitter-part 2: twitter is changing; should you?

Marc highlights the phenomenon of the growth of the “twitter gurus and experts” who would not otherwise be known to others. Also, many of them made their claim-to-fame by seeking a large number of followers.

However, Marc gives some recommendations to make effective use of twitter for your business and determine what is right for you.

What is interesting in the content of this episode are the 9 different groups of twitter “tweeters” and 11 different tips to incorporate twitter in your marketing programs. Marc does give you some food for thought.

As an entrepreneur, speaker and marketing consultant, Marc Gordon of Toronto, Canada, has this series about this twitter theme in the Biznik articles.

In a prior episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur,  which was episode 121A, we delivered Part One of this series, which is titled “The Rise and Fall of twitter.”

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation, Marc Gordon and www.biznik.com. All rights reserved.

 

 126- Entrepreneurs succeed with fast start in crowded market- CoSpace [37:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Andrew Bushnell and Kirtus Dixon, the founders of the startup firm called CoSpace.

These hese two entrepreneurs recently started a small business in which the market is growing–and which may already be crowded with the recent popularity of community venues called co-working environments.

How  did they manage to succeed in this challenging arena?

As you will hear in this audio episode, Andrew and Kirtus differentiated themselves and their Cospace ‘product’ as a unique experience for a business-related entrepreneur. As they mention in the podcast episode:

“Cospace exists to build a community through collaboration around people, space and resources.”

Cospace now offers a free week of coworking to a prospective member-entrepreneur, so that this individual can then experience the environment and internalize the value of collaboration and community, as well as the shared resources.

Several of the key resources they offer are:

- an Apple(R) iPod(R) Touch for productive use, demonstration, usage and business evaluation onsite;

- an Apple iPad for hands-on usage, demo ad business evaluation onsite;

- weekly or bi-weekly morning free seminars to educate the membership about entrepreneurial resources and tools;

- ‘jellies’ (informal coworking meetings, as explained in the audio episode);

- flexibility to address the needs of members in a dynamic manner–from facilities to meetups to strategic partnerships and educational offerings.

For more information, you can contact Andrew or Kirtus at Cospace:

- web site:  http://www.cospaceatx.com

- twitter:  @cospace at http://www.twitter.com/cospace

- Meetup sessions for both jellies and other educational offerings at: http://www.meetup.com/cospace

(Note for listeners of The Struggling Entrepreneur:

there is a discount for coworking membership by using the discount code of:  struggling-entrepreneur-coworking.

Please contact Kirtus or Andrew for more details).

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

Apple, iPad and iPod are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

 

 Switching from full-time employee to Entrepreneur [15:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we bring to you an audio episode repurposed from Chris Benjamin, the Rogue CFO, from his Podomatic Podcast Series called The Rogue CFO’s Expert Guide to Launching a  Startup.

In this audio episode, Chris discusses the elements needed to switch from being a full-time employee in either Corporate or Public Sector America to a full-time Entrepreneur in forming and managing your own Startup firm.

This is a straightforward (and sometimes very blunt) discussion that brings up the attributes, character, risk, sacrifice, dedication and commitment needed by a present full-time employee (that may be an aspiring entrepreneur)  in order to become a successful full-time Small Business Owner.

Do you have all these traits? And do you think that these will give you the basic foundation for success as an Entrepreneur?

See what Chris Benjamin presents to us in this delivery.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Chris Benjamin Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.