Struggling Entrepreneur

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have a discussion, presentation and interview with Matt Lyons, who is an attorney in Austin, Texas, with the law firm Andrews Kurth, LLP. He will share with us his perspectives of the top ten legal mistakes made by Entrepreneurs.

This presentation was first delivered during the RISE conference in Austin (A Relaltionship and Information Series for Entrepreneurs) earlier this year. (For the pdf of the slides from this presentation, click here).

What we deliver in this audio podcast episode is an interview with Matt, in which we discuss these top ten mistakes made by Entrepreneurs — and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

In addition, since Entrepreneurs are usually lacking in cash when they form their venture, Matt also describes for us a fixed-fee Startup package to begin their organization located at the web site of:

http://www.akstartup.com

This includes several benefits for the bootstrapping Entrepreneur –such as legal entity formation, contractor and other agreements, intellectual property and invention documents, as well as a legal consultation included, etc.

If you wish to contact Matt, please feel free to contact him at:

mlyons @ andrewskurth.com  [to prevent spam]

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

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver the next installment of the program for evaluation of the Apple(R) iPad(R) which is called PROJECT iPAD-DAY ONE. We investigate the iPad as a useful tool for Entrepreneurs on the go (i.e., “travelling entrepreneurs”), as the MOBILE environment lends itself to show off this device where it really shines.

As one “Apple-Fan-Boy”, Rob Walch (who has a podcast on iTunes(R) called Today in iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch), stated in one of his episodes, he sees a great use in using the iPad to READ articles, books and review web sites while he is resting in bed (after perhaps having watched some TV). This, he says, he can do before he retires for the evening–and without disturbing his spouse.

Well, for the traveling entrepreneur, this is one of the greatest uses of the iPad.

How so?

If you have had to live out of your suitcase (as I had to do for almost 26 years during my career in Corporate America), then the hassles of traveling become all to familiar–the airports all look the same; the cabs all feel the same; the restaurant food all tastes the same; the central city skyscrapers all look the same; the office conference rooms all look the same; and the hotels and its rooms all give the same experience.

The latter delivers television and fee-based programming, but this, too, becomes very boring and routine. Except for news, traffic and weather, the  “idiot-box” (aka television) becomes just another amenity in the hotel room.

However, with wi-fi enabled lodging, now the iPad can deliver some productivity for business and personal management, as well as entertainment, leisure and restful occupation.

How so?

As Rob Walch stated, the traveler may be resting on the sofa or a comfortable hotel bed. After working on the laptop to review the day and prepare for the next, the traveling entrepreneur may then use the iPad in a comfortable position to:

- review any last-minute or forgotten programs, data or tasks that may have been overlooked when the weary traveler finally closed the laptop or notebook;

- review personal email and reply to family, friends, community service-based contacts;

- manage personal business (and possibly finances);

- communicate with the traveler’s social communities and social media networks and contacts using the social media tools (e.g., twitter, facebook, etc.) that may not be available on the notebook system owned by the small business firm;

- relax by watching a movie (e.g., from the traveler’s Netflix account) of preferred choice, rather than the limited selection from the fee-based hotel programming;

- read magazine articles or review web sites of personal interest while relaxing or sitting up in bed. This is paramount, as the iPad has the ability to enlarge the text so that comfortable reading is a reality, especially in landscape mode;

- read a book (or continue the reading of the volume, perhaps book-marked from the time the plane was landing during the journey via air) from the ibooks application;

- listening to an audio book, audio podcast, recorded presentation or voice messages from apps such as Evernote, Quick Voice Pro, etc.;

- catch up on the news of the day from the personally selected profile and the traveler’s preferred news feed;

- continue personal development training by consuming video or audio training sessions or podcasts for free or fee–such as taking a course from iTunes University…

and there are a lot of other scenarios where the CONVENIENCE of the low-profile, wifi-enabled and mobile iPad can be worth its weight in gold. Not a second could be lost to non-productive boredom while in the hotel room.

Also, if the traveler would be attending a lunch or dinner meeting with customers, clients, teammates or other stakeholders, then the iPad sitting on the tabletop can deliver a handy (and non-intimidating) usefulness to the group by showing a presentation via Keynote, or showing a demonstration of a web site or application, or delivering a video for viewing, or just providing web access to the internet for looking up ad-hoc searches on-demand and visiting web sites that may come up during the discussion to validate cases in point or confirm other information.

And you can see that the other uses during the traveler’s itinerary may give additional uses for the iPad.

True, this CONVENIENCE comes at a premium price. But so did the Blackberry when it first came out — as it delivered mobility as a key benefit for email and other connectivity and communication when the laptop/notebook would not have been a realistic option.

With the advent of the upcoming version of the iPad on 30 April and 7 May delivery, we expect to see even greater uses as the wifi restriction should be lifted, and as more apps should be developed and available that take advantage of the features of the iPad (and are not merely iPhone(R) apps that run on the iPad or are ported over to iPad).

Upcoming episodes in The Struggling Entrepreneur Podcast, and the close of PROJECT iPAD-DAY ONE:

In the next episode, we will deliver an interview from Matt Lyons, a Partner in the law firm of Andrews Kurth, LLP. He will discuss the Top Ten Legal Mistakes Made by Entrepreneurs–and how to avoid them.

Then, after that, we will return to PROJECT iPAD-DAY ONE.  We will have an episode in which we will summarize the Meetup in Austin for the group called AUSTIN iPAD NOVICE USERS FOR BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. This has a free podcast on iTunes where you can get the audio info easily, and you can subscribe at:

http://www.entrepreneuripadusers.podomatic.com.

In this episode, we  will also have a live presentation (in which we will capture the audio) by Thomas Umstattd in which he will reveal the details and results of the study and evaluation of the iPad–and how it fares in the Publishing Industry, especially for writers and authors.

After May 6th, we will summarize our findings and close out PROJECT iPAD-DAY ONE with a final episode. The reason for closing this after only 30 days is because there are now so many reviews that are being published that we will refer to them with links, so that you can then look at the evaluations and comments from other bloggers–whether they consider themselves pundits or whether they are early adopter users.

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

Apple, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Keynote and, iTunes and  iTunes University are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

Blackberry is a trademark or registered trademark of Research in Motion.

All other names or trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of their respective companies in the United States and other countries.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver the third update in the series of app-and-resource reviews for the Apple(R) iPad(R) in the program called PROJECT iPAD: DAY ONE.

In this audio episode, we review, compare and contrast the following voice-recording audio apps from the Apple App Store:

- Caster Free

- Recorder - Voice Memos

- Evernote

- QuickVoice Pro and QuickVoice (free version)

- itextPlus

- Dragon Dictation

We also give a rough overview of the following apps, resources and information about on-location presentations in a business environment to customers, clients or other stakeholders:

- Keynote

- iTunes University

As you will hear in this audio episode, some of these apps can really provide a benefit for the Mobile Entrepreneur and actually be good business tools for a Small Business.

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

iPhone, iPad and iPod are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver a grave concern–almost an emergency for the Entrepreneur owner of an Apple(R)  iPad(R). This is a bonus episode in PROJECT iPAD- DAY ONE, in which we explore the initial iPad to see if it can be a business tool or if it is just an overpriced toy.

This deals with an incident where the iPad (which still indicated 70 per cent battery charge remaining) was completely DEAD within 18 hours after having powered off the device (that is, no further use).

As you will hear in this episode, there was a shocking surprise when the iPad was removed from its case and the user attempted to power it on to give a presentation to a business associate. However, within 18 hours, the battery had 0 per cent charge. No explanation. No usage for 18 hours after indicating a 70 per cent charge. No reason.

Not good.

Especially for an Entrepreneur who depended upon this portable device, possibly to give a table-top presentation in a coffee shop in a meeting with a business associate.

This bonus episode is included just before the comparison and contrast of Mobile Entrepreneur tools for the iPad–including the voice recording, speech-to-text conversion, texting and presentation support apps for the iPad.

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

Apple and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we continue the series of the evaluation and review of the Apple(R) iPad(R) called PROJECT iPAD: DAY ONE, in which we try to answer the question: is the iPad today a toy or business tool?

As you will hear in this audio episode, this is the second update of this project that covers the following items (which unfortunately tend to be frustrations and “paper-cut” annoyances–as coined by Rob Walch of the podcast, Today in iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and author of the Tii app in the Apple App Store):

- lack of real printing (and faxing) support;

- lack of USB support for external storage devices and other USB-attached devices;

- lack of a real podcasting tool, and evaluation of the very primitive free app called CASTER FREE.

- lack of business basics (e.g., display/lens cleaner and even a pair of cheap earbuds)

[Note: the latter requires that the user of the iPad purchase or obtain a set of earbuds or headphones or some other audio phones to get quality listening of the audio/video files that a user would prepare and consume in the iPad’s standard app called “iPod.” We have had to use external headphones. And since this is a screen that will be manipulated by fingers touching the screen, it is frustrating that at least one display-cleaning or lens-cleaning resource was not included with the iPad. Yes, we had to purchase a separate cleaning resource, which we highly recommend. As you can see below, it is the 3M brand “Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth.”]

The next episode of PROJECT iPAD-DAY ONE will take into account a review of several voice-recording apps, including the email and speech-to-text capabilities of these–but more, how they can be used in a small business environment for a type of mobile entrepreneur.

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

iPhone, iPad and iPod are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver the first update and review of different applications that could be used on the Apple(R) iPad(R) by an Entrepreneur or small business owner.

First, we explore the reasons why the iPad is NOT a substitute for an industrial-strength personal computer (whether desktop or notebook) to run and manage the business with the key applications (e.g., CRM, accounting, sales force automation, etc.).

Then we delve into specific applications that may give an advantage in the area of mobile support for businesses that tend to have requirements requiring mobility and audio or speech notes in both capturing the information and routing it to a coordinator or “station” within the firm.

There are other perspectives of these types of business apps that will be explored more in detail, with another brief update in the next 2 weeks.

If you wish to see the YouTube video (10 minutes) that is an overview of the project, then  please click here:

YouTube video- Project iPad: Day One.

In the meantime, you may want to check out this blog article that discusses 6 applications of the iPad (several of which we have given an overview and which we will review in detail). You can see this article at

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/6-fantastic-ipad-apps-for-business-christina-warren

However, developers have their own questions, as they are now concerned for developing and maintaining apps for both the iPhone(R) and the iPad.

There is an article that tries to target the real market for developers; it is located at:

Don’t Lose Focus: the iPad is Cool, but the iPhone is still the real story.

In addition, there are questions that developers need to have answers for improvements on iPhone operating system features that are critical to developers’ success. You can look at the 15 questions that they are asking about features that they need in the article located at:

15 Features Apple Must Build into iPhone OS4.

(note: the above article is comes from 5 April 2010 time-frame and links to iPad-specific questions asked before the availability)

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

Apple, iPhone and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you an interview with Richard Ehrlich, a Vietnam Combat veteran who was with both D/325 AIR of the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as having been a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam. This interview was conducted at the time when Richard was standing in a long line for a long time as he waited to purchase the Apple(R)  iPad(R) on day one of its availability.

Richard Ehrlich is leading the way to have applications developed for mobile devices–like the Apple(R) iPhone(R) and iPad(R)–for productive use in the health industry by health professionals. What is most amazing is that he is trying to help disadvantaged veterans (i.e., those who are disabled, especially after returning from tours in combat zones and with service-connected combat-related complications)–but, instead of giving material goods or words of encouragement, he wants to help them to become web developers for medical applications.

Yes, his mission is to help them with training for applications being developed for the iPad. In this way, they would become web developers for these mobile applications–and his mission is to have 100,000 such veterans employed within the next 5 years.

What qualifications would the veterans need?

He is looking for those who were trained as Army medics or Navy Corpsmen–because they would already have the training and background  in the medical field to assist in the creation and delivery of the applications.

As you will hear in this audio podcast, Richard is not fooling himself with a grand design of a perfect environment. He will go to the greatest need first and then find, create and deliver the application to meet and exceed the requirements from the actual world of the reality of the environment. As he said, it is not that different from a military operation that is planned–and that planning goes out the window when the operation starts, and then the “LGOPS” (“little groups of paratroopers”) or the “A-Detachment” (i.e., a Special Forces typical team in Vietnam) will get the job done with the actual requirements.

Richard also cites the two best qualities of these disadvantaged veterans:

(1) They know how to follow SOPs (“standard operating procedures”). This is important with an ISO 9000 non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, such as his–www.veterantutors.org; and

(2) They don’t know the meaning of what spoiled or “entitled” civilian counterparts always use as an excuse: there is no such a phrase as “Not my job” in their vocabulary. These veterans will keep on going and be creative, and they will adjust, they will improvise and they will find a way to get the job done with superior results.

A great example is cited by Richard–that of Alan Babin, a hero Army medic who was severely injured in Iraq in 2003 while serving with Richard’s old unit, the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. His story was delivered in an earlier podcast episode in the series at the Combat Infantrymen’s Association which centered around the web-based videos “In their Boots.”

With a pool to draw from by getting the support of the Wounded Warrior Program from Fort Hood to Fort Sam Houston in Texas (a 200-mile area), it is easy to see how qualified candidates would be available for him to help.

The iPad and its possibilities from creative developers like Richard Ehrlich to help disadvantaged veterans show that technology could assist those who need it most at this time. As Richard stated in this interview: This country has a habit of easily sending off young men to war, but it has a hard time of taking care of them later when they need it.

Note: during this interview, there was quite a bit of Airborne and combat veteran camaraderie between the interviewer and Richard. However, it was all from the heart; and this spontaneous show of the respect, honor and trust between two combat veterans should not detract from the key messages of the audio podcast.

Kudos to Richard Ehrlich for his trust and support of these veterans.

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

Apple, iPhone and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you a “play-by-play” chronology (so to speak) which is the experience of one entrepreneur who went to pick up his pre-ordered  iPad(R) from Apple(R) on Day One (3 April 2010)–which was the wifi-only version in a 64GB configuration.

 

In addition to the overall episode 119C, below you also have the nine audio files that will walk you through as you accompany this entrepreneur on his JOURNEY TO PICK UP THE iPAD. You can select any of these “installment episodes”, below,  to listen to the audio narrative and discussions with others that give you a real-life account of what it was like to purchase this device on the launch day.

As you will hear in these audio “installment episodes” that describe the good, the bad and the ugly of the process and systems set up by Apple to serve the customers, there was a lot that was lacking in flow control and efficiency and effectiveness–all sacrificed so that the marketing hype and artificial perspective of scarcity was created by Apple that fed right into the media’s sensationalism of long lines and high demand. As you will see, this was not really the case, once you got into the Apple store and saw the “game” that was being played (and in which the customer suffered from a very unnecessary wait in long lines contrived by Apple).

You may listen to any of the links by clicking the subject below:

(Please NOTE: Because I was out in the open air with my Zoom H2 portable recorder, sometimes I had to change my equipment and PC-case from one hand to the other. Also, I did not have my windscreen on the portable recorder, which would have minimized the noise and the high-sounding pops from the “p’s” and the “t’s,” etc. –these are usually called “plosives.” And I had the GAIN set on HIGH because I wanted to capture the soft-voiced responses from interviewees. Thus, some unpleasant plosives resulted from the high gain, and we apologize for that audio distraction)

1. INTRO to the Journey - then waiting in line to confirm the reservation. (1 min. 54 sec.)

2. Waiting  in line: feedback from a Disabled Veteran who sees this as a “toy” for tinkering. (2 min. 25 sec.)

3. Waiting in line - 10 meters from the store door - What about Accessories? (2 min. 25 sec.)

4. Waiting in line - seeing inefficient and ineffective flow control to get into the store. (1 min. 46 sec.)

5. Finally in the store - picking up the iPad and accessories. (4 min. 40 sec.)

6. In the store - waiting to complete payment transactions. (1 min. 11 sec.)

7. Inside the store - reflections  while waiting for payment transaction approval from Apple store manager. (3 min. 8 sec.)

8. Inside the store - Ensuring a working system and installing apps on the iPad. (8 min. 29 sec.)

9. Leaving the store with the iPad - Summary of experiences and END OF THE JOURNEY. (6 min. 20 sec.)

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

Apple and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we explore 2 interviews from different customers who are employees in the private sector, as they were waiting in line to purchase the Apple(R) iPad(R) on Day One.

Both Bill Ott and Greg Palmer admit that they feel that this device is not a business tool for Entrepreneurs or small business owners, but rather an expensive and overpriced TOY.

However, one of the above does hope that perhaps this device can be used as a remote desktop to his personal computer. But this seemed to be a dismal wish.

Please look forward to the next few episodes of The Struggling Entrepreneur that will continue with the interviews and events covering the launch of the Apple iPad:

- Episode 119C - this will deliver a chronological JOURNEY of one entrepreneur in buying the iPad on Day One. This will include waiting in line (in a type of “play-by-play” scenario), then going into the Apple Store,  getting the pre-ordered iPad, securing the accessories, completing the transaction for purchase, and then being helped by college-student Apple employees to test the system and install some free and fee-baased applications (in addition to the overall episode, there will be 9 separate audio “installment” episodes so you can also go along in the “journey” and accompany our buyer);

-Episode  119D - An interview with Rich Ehrlich, who is a software developer for mobile devices and envisions the iPad as a device to deliver value to the Health Industry and medical professionals, while at the same time providing employment for disabled veterans–with a target of 100,000 jobs within 5 years (don’t miss this one!).

-Episode 119A - in case you missed this one, it is an interview with Thomas Umstattd (an Entrepreneur) who has plans to use the iPad as a business tool rather than as a toy. Hear his perspectives and understand why he took the plunge as an early adopter on the “bleeding edge” of acquisition, testing and use of this device.

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

Apple and iPad are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

 

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we begin the series of installment episodes within our “Project iPad–toy or tool for the Entrepreneur?”

The first of these installments is an interview with Thomas Umstattd, who is himself an entrepreneur. He is a writer, a speaker, a web strategist, an instructor and social media specialist.

As you will hear in this audio episode, we interviewed Thomas as he was waiting in the long line to purchase his pre-ordered Apple(R)  iPad(R).

Among the several business applications which he envisions productive use and time-savings with the iPad are visual presentations, as well as apps to support writers and authors.

Thomas, who is himself an iPhone(R) user, looks forward to the convenience of having his iPad available and when he needs it in a mobile or semi-mobile environment, instead of having to lug around, set up and use a laptop computer (especially using the Keynote application for presentations).

From the private sector, this was one of the most positive references for this iPad device.

Most interesting was the reply that Thomas gave us when we asked why he was volunteering to be an “early adopter” on the “bleeding edge” of iPad use. His words were taken from a quote from Henry Ford:

“Successful people succeed in the time that others waste.”

He is hoping that the iPad will be a productivity enhancement and time-saver, just as his iPhone has been to him.

Thomas has a web site at:

http://www.thomasumstattd.com

and he provides valuable content at:

http://www.authortechtips.com.

 

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

iPad and Apple are trademarks or registered trademarks or service-marks of Apple Computer Corporation.