Struggling Entrepreneur

 

 90- Quality at a Fair Price- David Post [56:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview David Post, a multi-decade entrepreneur who has had several businesses and who is now venturing into new small business endeavors.

His success in the clothing business, construction business, eBay online sales business, and design business have prepared him to venture into his next business–a NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL venture.

As you will hear in this audio episode, David attributes his success to several items during the years of lessons learned:

- Getting a mentor and listening to the advice of those who have been in the business before your arrival;

- Knowing and targeting your audience, then providing what they will be willing to pay for with Quality at a fair price;

- Seeking a passion first (instead of just focusing purely on the money) and then following that–for the money will follow;

- Knowing yourself to understand what you really want out of life, since the business is a means to obtaining your lifestyle.

David can be reached via email at

dpost @ austin.rr.com   [separation to prevent spamming]

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 90B- Jason Cohen- Smart Bear Software- Reaslistic Entrepreneur adapting to market needs [38:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Jason Cohen, the founder of Smart Bear Software. Although we had done a narration of one of Jason’s blog posts (see episode 89A- Why an Entrepreneur has to engage in Social Media, even though he may not want to), we go beyond the blog into Jason’s story as a founder of a firm and the entrepreneurial venture of Smart Bear Software.

 As you will hear in this audio episode, Jason has a successful business that is growing because he was able to adapt and change when he realized that his original business IDEA and product really did not meet the need of his customers. But by asking his clients about their need–and then developing and delivering the software product for allowing collaboration among developers–Jason was able to discover, confirm and then serve that targeted market.

Also, you will hear the recommendations that Jason gives to aspiring entrepreneurs–that is, the tough and realistic questions that you have to ask yourself before you venture into the small business environment. At least, you should have at least reviewed these issues with your “devil’s advocate”–so that you can enhance your chance of success.

What is incredible is that Jason has already reached the pinnacle of success that most entrepreneurs are aiming for–his firm was acquired, and he is now reaping the rewards of what he called “the pain” of building your business and making it successful.  However, a true entrepreneur is driven by the lifestyle of being a “builder,” and this “pain” is worth the end of the road of having built a successful small business.

Jason’s blog for Smart Bear Software also includes many posts that are helpful hints and ideas for the entrepreneurs.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 90A- Hall Martin - Austin Entrepreneur Network [22:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Hall Martin, the founder of the Austin Entrepreneur Network. Hall is providing a blog for the entrepreneurs in the Austin area in which he delivers some of the background and success stories of certain entrepreneurs and their tools. Case in point: In the first quarter of this year, Hall published a blog post about The Struggling Entrepreneur and how it helps other small business owners with its free content about lessons learned and resources for success (post was on 27 March 2009).

However, Hall also delivers fee-based training and education for those who want to create a startup firm from the ground up. However, the value of the course is in the live interaction in this classroom-centered environment.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the central network for those who want to create a startup includes multiple disciplines–from funding sources to structure and other topics relevant to startup entrepreneurs.  What is particularly interesting is that Hall Martin has a full-time day-job where he is working on Intrepreneur projects for his employer firm, and he sees his role as more of a part-time entrepreneur that mentors aspiring small business owners.

His current blog has been updated to include various topics of interest to the aspiring startup entrepreneur, and the network he has started is beginning to grow in the Austin area.

Copyright (c)  2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 89B- Content Marketing and Social Content- Social Media Breakfast Austin meeting [36:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is a bonus episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur in which we have an edited recording of the meeting for the Austin Social Media Breakfast group, which was held in May, 2009.

The theme of this meeting was Content Marketing — and in particular, Social Content within the Content Marketing initiatives in business– to help a small business to grow its visibility, grow its customer base, grow its trust with its customers, and grow its business by nurturing the relationship with the customers, who will then buy the goods and services from the business and become references and testimonials to others.

The Social Media Breakfast meetings are coordinated by Bryan Person, who is bryan@socialmediabreakfast.com. We would like to thank Bryan and the speakers (from whom we received written permission to publish this discussion).

The theme of this meeting created a very energetic response from the members–most of whom were small business owners.  The topics covered by the three panelists and the panel moderator included:

* How to bootstrap online community with professional content;
* Best practices and case studies from companies that are seeing measurable results;
* Content that spans the brand content continuum: lifestyle, category and product.

As Bryan Person mentioned in his web site:

In an age where more and more consumers are taking a “search and click” approach to buying new products, it’s becoming harder for brands to differentiate themselves from the pack.

As pricing pressures continue to mount, companies are turning to compelling online content as a way to drive ongoing, active engagement around their brands and products. The aim: increased customer loyalty.

Creating user-centric content requires a shift of traditional brand/product messaging and the development of a new communication approach.

The panelists

* Lionel Menchaca (@LionelAtDell), chief blogger at Dell
* Natanya Anderson (@NatanyaP), VP, content at Powered
* Simon Salt (@IncSlinger), CEO and co-founder of IncSlingers

As you will hear in this audio episode, the final request from the Moderator, Aaron Strout, is to formulate a summary of how quality content marketing can increase the beneficial relationship you have with your customers and grow your business.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 89A - Why Entrepreneurs have to engage in Social Media [11:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this bonus episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we narrate a blog post from A Smart Bear. This post goes to the heart of an issue that is still plaguing the Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs today — Why do we have to engage in Social Media, even if we don’t want to?

 Jason Cohen, the author of the article and the founder of Smart Bear Software, compares in this blog post the environment today to that of the 1990’s, when the Internet was a frontier and the urgency was to publish a web site for the small business owner.

In short: today, you may be able to publish your web site, but you will still be invisible to the world. What you will need is Social Media to give you the presence, exposure and visibility that your business will need.

In this audio episode, Jason Cohen provides several examples of success stories that used Social Media to enhance their business (both in revenue and customer relations)– from Rubbermaid to Zappos.

As you will hear from this podcast episode narration of this blog post, the many tools that are used by different businesses can help them to become the vanguard in success within their industry. And finally, Jason asks:

“Why not join the conversation?”

Copyright (C) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Smart Bear Software. All Rights Reserved.