Struggling Entrepreneur

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you a summary of this podcast series, episode-by-episode in our first annual YEAR-IN-REVIEW. We give a brief description of each episode (as well as a summary of the bonus episodes.

In addition, we give you a preview of the 2008 scheduled interviews. These include:

- an interview with a successful entrepreneur whose background started as an audio engineer in a Music hardware firm. We will get his perspective of becoming a new media trainer and online/internet marketer–as well as a Podcaster and Podcast consultant. Quite a step from his background of being in a rock band, no?

- an interview with a professional Business Consulting group for Managers and Corporate and Small Business executives. We will discover the obstacles in going from a day job to going full-time into an Entrepreneurial venture.

- an interview with an individual in the high-tech industry. However, this perspective will be different, as he is into the new media industry and has his own podcast. But at this time, he feels he does not want to start his own business and go from his day-job to a full-time small business environment.

Thanks to all our listeners and subscribers in 2007. We have a great lineup for 2008, so please subscribe so that you can get all the episodes as soon as they are released.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview with Erin Potter, who started her own business in the area of Finance–in particular, real estate loans.  However, she did this after she spent a year in the industry in order to understand and to know the business.

At this stage, she and her husband have now teamed up to drive the business, Loan Star Processing, a family  entrepreneurial venture.

However, lessons learned from this episode include making sure that elements of a marketing mix for your business do include web presence and other new media extensions, e.g., podcasting.

Note: this was recorded at the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, in September of 2007. I did meet Erin during an interview with Megan Evans (who is the host for the podcast series called Podcast Junky), who also joined for a comment or two about web presence.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview with Megan Evans, the host of the podcast series called Podcast Junky.

Although this episode delivers a perspective slightly different than what we are used to delivering to you, I think that it is quite interesting how a mother of two toddlers finds great value and practicality in an efficient use of what podcasters refer to as “dead time“–that is, the time spent when one is doing tasks that don’t require much concentration or reflection or deep thinking. Examples of these for a mother would be washing laundry, folding laundry, doing dishes, cleaning–especially when the toddlers are at self-play or group-play and when there is very little or no interaction of the mother with the children.

Although today, Megan Evans does not plan to monetize the podcast or start her own business, I saw that she was alert and smart in many ways relating to business. My guess is that her passion of podcasting may well lead her into creating a business, where the podcast will enhance her marketing.

In any case, this perspective is from one who does not want to start a business — yet. And, as some of our email recommendations from our listeners tell us, they wish to listen to a perspective at times from one who has made a clear decision not to become an entrepreneur. Thus, here is the first of several of these episodes.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur Podcast, we have an interview over the telephone with Tom Connely, who began as a trumpeter, Orchestra conductor and then became the President and CEO of Q4 Systems, Inc., a professional development and training company out of Dallas, Texas. Q4 Systems is also the firm that owns the intellectual capital and the Personal Productivity Seminar offered in the other podcast series called Gain Control of Your Day.

In this interview, Tom Connely shares with us his background as a Trumpeter and his experience in the Orchestras. The lesson from him is clear–one does not need to have an MBA or Business degree in order to become a successful Entrepreneur. In fact, the qualities, strengths and personal traits that added to Tom’s success are highlighted in this discussion.

Tom Connely has also delivered a welcome address in the podcast series called Gain Control of Your Day. Here, Tom introduces the Personal Productivity Seminar to those who have signed up for the version that is customized for Entrepreneurs, Podcasters, Small Business Owners and Online/Internet Marketers.

Tom continues to contribute to the community, as well as expand the reach of the multiple businesses for which he is responsible. We thank him for his interview, for he has shared with us the obstacles which he overcame when he was a Struggling Entrepreneur.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we were fortunate to get an interview with Tee Morris, the co-author of the book Podcasting for Dummies.

Tee also told us that, in addition to another edition of the book, he and Evo Terra (as well as another co-author, Ryan Williams) will be launching ANOTHER book, Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies.

In this interview, we explore Tee’s entry into the world of being an independent contractor or free agent, and then his move into the world of entrepreneurship. He gives us the tales of his struggles in this environment–including financial, mental, emotional and family.

Tee’s real passion is creating content for science fiction and fantasy, including MOREVI: Remastered (Join Rafe & Askana again…for the very first time). He has come a long way since his first podiobook, Morevi: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana. However, his past experience includes being an actor, a trainer, an educator, a writer, a well-known author, a video and new media expert and a podcaster–just to name a few. He has been involved (as an author and contributor) in the start of Podiobooks (http://www.podiobooks.com) with Evo Terra. He has spoken and presented at many events, including the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario California.

His recommendations for the entrepreneurial lifestyle make this podcast episode full of great value.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Jan Triplett, the Chief Operating Officer of the Business Success Center.

As you will find out in this interview, the Business Success Center is a company that assists the Small Business Owner or Entrepreneur at the time after the business has been established, and before the critical stage when the business may be making its decisions which may determine its survival or its success.

To address the needs and challenges of the Small Business Owners at this stage of the Business, the Business Success Center provides programs for both consulting services, as well as its award-winning Virtual Incubator Program and its Owners’ MBA program.

Especially interesting is the perspective that Jan Triplett provides in NOT preparing a feasibility study or Business Plan until the right time–so that the plan will be more meaningful and based upon realistic experience. This is another key to successful growth for the Entrepreneur.

The Business Success Center is available to assist Small Business owners anywhere, as it has been a virtual partner, mentor and consultant for several years already. You may wish to take the free quiz mentioned in the podcast called the Business Success Potential; or you may want to contact the Business Success Center for a free consultation.

In addition to authoring the work titled A Networker’s Guide to Success, Jan is also the co-author of Think Big, Stay Small, a 4-year study with the International Association of Business Communicators on best practices in communication in small organizations. In addition she earned a PhD. in Communication. Jan was instrumental in her acquisition and management of a prior company, the Entrepreneurs’ Association, which she then “morphed” into the current Business Success Center.

To view the transcript of this interview, click here.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview once again Elizabeth Harrington, but this time within a teleseminar environment. This is the second of three episodes dealing with a real-world and current example of an entrepreneur that has targeted a market of huge potential–the 80 Million Baby-Boomers in North America.

The first episode focused on Elizabeth Harrington as an aspiring entrepreneur. This episode goes deeper into her past experiences that led her to narrow down the focus of her dream and get ready to launch her business. Thus, in this episode, we catch Elizabeth Harrington at the staging phase, ready to launch the business of The New Prime Time early in 2008–and the web site will be http://www.thenewprimetime.com.

Elizabeth also shares with us the key obstacles that she faced–some generational, from the Baby-Boomer perspective–and how she overcame them to prevent losing momentum in driving her business forward to launch.

She also gives us some lessons learned in the preparatory phase of preparing to launch the business, especially in the education/training and outsourcing areas. In this discussion, she mentions the help that she received in the course she took (Podcast Secrets) from her mentor, the Industry Pundit, Paul Colligan.

For the future, we will have one more interview with Elizabeth in early 2008, after the launch of The New Prime Time. We will be interested to see the results of the launch, the potential revenue and direction of the business, as well as new lessons learned and resources for success.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the Struggling Entrepreneur podcast, we begin a 3-episode series that will track the progress of a real-world entrepreneur, Elizabeth Harrington.

Listen to the dreams of this Baby-Boomer now retired, but pursuing her second career, which is her entrepreneurial dream with her new venture that will help other Baby-Boomer audiences by enrichening their lives — especially with setting up their own small businesses as entrepreneurs. The new venture will be launched in early 2008, and it is called The New Prime-Time; it will be on the Internet at http://www.thenewprimetime.com.

Note: There is ambient sound in the background, as this interview was conducted right next to the show floor of the Exhibit area during the 2007 Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, right after the gathering for the Podcast Secrets reunion.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights reserved.

This is a bonus episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur podcast, where we bring you news of a FREE CD that is available to you at no charge (even the shipping is paid for), as well as a limited time offer to the listeners and subscribers to this podcast series for a valuable Personal Productivity Seminar. This limited time promotional and introductory offer is available to the listeners and subscribers to this podcast series–and it is available from now until 5:00 pm or 17:00 hrs. Pacific time USA on Monday, December 31, 2007.

You can find out more of the details in the audio portion of this episode or at offer details page of Gain Control of Your Day.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview with Douglas Welch. I had the opportuntity to meet him in person at the Podcamp Arizona unconference in November, 2007. Doug is a high-tech consultant and recent New Media Entrepreneur. Coming from a corporate IT environment and also being a writer, Doug shares with us his road to becoming a successful entrepreneur. As a family man, he does this in concert with his wife and her career, as well. What is interesting are 2 areas that are mentioned in this 40-minute interview:

1. The need for the entrepreneur to be aware of the obstacles with affordable health care; and

2. How being a successful entrepreneur can enrich your personal and family life by “buying yourself time” for a quality life.

Doug has six podcasts currently. In his web site of Welchwrite.com, you can find these podcasts:

- Career Opportunities

- Careers in Podcasting and New Media

- Technology IQ

- Mortgages Made Simple

- Gardener’s Notebook, and

- My Word.

Note: in this podcast, we also mention the following examples of other successful entrepreneurs:

- Dave Jackson, the headmaster of the School of Podcasting, as well as Your Personal Podcast Coach; we focus on his latest personal improvement podcast, Logical Weight Loss.

- Paul Colligan, who set into motion from the beginning of his Podcast Tools Weekly Podcast, a model for the 5-minute free podcast for a targeted audience (and led to recognition, awareness, inbound links and podcast subscriptions);

- Evo Terra, who attended the Podcamp Arizona conference with myself and Doug Welch, and who is the co-author of the book Podcasting for Dummies; he is also the founder of Podiobooks.com.

- Tee Morris, the other co-author of the book Podcasting for Dummies, as well as other podcasts in the realm of Science Fiction.

For the transcript of this podcast, click here for the PDF document.

 

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights reserved.