Struggling Entreprenuer

[display_podcast]

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver the audio narration of a blog post from Smart Bear Software.

The topic of this post deals with exhibition events, such as Trade Shows or Business Shows.

Written by Jason Cohen, the CEO of Smart Bear Software, this post provides recommended and suggested items that should be on your checklist when you decide to engage your firm in a Trade Show or Business Show. Not only does Jason cover the planning and preparation phase, but he also goes into the time-line planning during the trade show or exhibition, as well as follow-up and other items after the event.

This narrated post is complete and unabridged. As you will hear in the podcaster comments toward the end of this audio episode,  you should take this list and edit it or customize it to fit your needs.  It is a great–although simple–tool and resource for the Entrepreneur.

We thank Jason for giving us his practical experience in the form of this checklist, as it will help us to be better prepared when we decide that our presence is required at a trade show or business show to enhance our brand and our small business.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and www.smartbear.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[display_podcast]

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver an interview with David Barnhart, a successful entrepreneur with this website of Business Blogging Pros.com.

As you will hear from this audio podcast, Dave has been on the Internet since the beginning, when he was using powerful databases to help firms increase their marketing and competitive differential advantages.

A “Baby Boomer” himself, Dave has found a passion in assisting the Baby-Boomer entrepreneur audiences that are starting small businesses with the issues of using the new online and Social Media tools that have “leveled the playing field” in the world of competition for mindshare, awareness and marketing.

Besides the wealth of technical and marketing experience that Dave has under his belt, his work-ethic and dedication to his passion allowed him to bootstrap his own startup firm that initially focused on blogging (and how the Baby-Boomer audience could leverage that). Now, he has extended the focus to include the Social Media and New Media tools, such as twitter, facebook, video, etc.

Some key recommendations that Dave leaves with us are good food for thought–especially for the senior audience members that have spent a lot of their careers in ‘cubicle-nation.’

It was interesting to see that, in 2005 Dave – an avid gourmet chef – started a food and cooking blog, The Fumbling Foodie with an eye towards fully understanding how to leverage the power of the blogosphere for marketing and Public Relations. The Fumbling Foodie has been quoted on the CBS News website, and many Fumbling Foodie posts rank in the top 10 for Google searches returning over a million hits.

One last note of interest:  Dave’s challenges have never focused on funding, capitalization or money. With the understanding that he had to bootstrap a startup, he has managed to become a successful entrepreneur and trusted advisor.  The secret? Well, Dave knows his audience and provides solutions for their problems and needs–especially to the growing numbers of Baby-Boomers that are now starting their own small businesses as Entrepreneurs.

You can reach Dave via twitter with handle @dbarnhart, and you can get a sample of Dave’s “Social Media Slice” advice at:

http://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12624041e9e4e207

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[display_podcast]

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver a bonus episode, which is the narration of the blog post by Sam Thacker, a financial specialist.

From the www.allbusiness.com site, the blog post is titled “Hobbypreneurs turn Passion into Profit.”

As you will hear in this audio episode, there are several case studies and examples of how Entrepreneurs who create the business from a previous hobby are actually helping today’s economy.

Therefore, what hobby do you have now for which you have a great passion? Could it be that this may be your future small business and lead you to become a successful entrepreneur? Who knows what may be lurking in that exciting pasttime you may consider just “a hobby“–for it may be the future to your success.

The contact information for Sam Thacker is given in the audio episode.

Copyright (c) 2010, Matrix Solutions Corporation and www.allbusiness.com. All Rights Reserved.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[display_podcast]

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we begin the discussion of Entrepreneur traits for 2010 with a description from Chris Benjamin, the Rogue CFO. Chris has dealt for many years in delivering financial services and advice to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

He describes the 10 traits of Entrepreneurs in a casual discussion. As this topic is very relevant for aspiring entrepreneurs, they may ask themselves these questions:  “Do I have what it takes to enter the small business world and will I be ready for the challenges, as well as the excitement of owning my own business as an Entrepreneur?”

This episode has been repurposed from the podcast series, available on iTunes(R), from Chris Benjamin’s Rogue CFO’s Expert Guide to launching a Startup.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[display_podcast]

Happy New Year to you for 2010.

We begin the new year with an episode about an entrepreneur’s success in the area of Public Relations.

LuAnn Glowacz started her own PR firm at www.wordcove.com,  after having been an employee for several years in a Marketing Communications company that allowed her to grow and develop skills within one of the best working environments (led by its managing partner, Renee Delaune of Delaune and Associates).

What is remarkable about LuAnn is that her biggest challenge as an Entrepreneur is NOT one dealing with funding, capitalization or money–as are 90 per cent of all startups within the first year (and why they fail). No, her biggest concerns deal with the flexibility to keep her family as the highest priority in her life, as well as controlled growth of her business via word-of-mouth marketing with very loyal customers.

As you will hear in this audio interview, LuAnn has chosen a field that plays to her strengths–writing and Public Relations strategy and consulting. Her recommendations to others entering the world of entrepreneurs help us keep the right perspective on our priorities within the universe of small business owners. Included in these recommendations from her formula for success are:

- leveraging your strengths,

- delivering outstanding quality and timely service to delight your customers, and

- being open to use the social media tools for open and transparent collaboration.

These are elements that can easily be included in the Entrepreneur’s playbook.

LuAnn’s web site delivers an example of the success that her work has delivered to her clients in a video clip from TV station WGN.

In addition, LuAnn was deemed one of “100 PR People Worth Following on Twitter” by  Conversation Agent.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download