As Warren Buffett once said, “We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” In other words, now is a great time to invest in your business.
In even more words from Rebecca Lynn, Principal of Morgenthaler Ventures, “A recession is the best time to start a company. The opportunity cost is low, hiring good people is relatively easy, rent and equipment are cheap (sometimes free) and established competitors are focused on reducing costs & staying in business, not on innovation. The key is being in a … Read more »
If you don’t already use StartupNation on a regular basis, you probably live under the same rock as I do. I was a little appalled at myself to have just discovered the site this morning. It’s extremely comprehensive and well-written, but what differentiates StartupNation from other entrepreneurial web resources is its integration of information and services. For example, in an article about timing a good PR campaign, you can click right to a page that gets you quotes from pre-screened PR firms. … Read more »
Yesterday I went to see the owner of a local store, who commissioned some custom plush toy samples from me. He wanted animal shapes that could be sewn out of designer fabrics he carries. Though this store recently stopped carrying my Sweet Meats plush, I tried not to take it personally, but rather to see it as a new business opportunity. Clearly, they hadn’t rejected me or my taste, just one of my product lines.
I took care to design what I thought were modern, iconic forms, that would fit in nicely with the rest of the store’s collection. I also … Read more »
SCORE stands for “Service Corps of Retired Executives,” and is a volunteer organization dedicated to helping individuals start successful businesses by receiving advice from those who have already done it. I’ve taken a few SCORE-sponsored workshops in the past, and used their sample business plan to write my own, but today I discovered even more free, useful goodies on their web site.
I’m particularly taken with their “60-Second Guides,” which cover everything from pricing to hiring. Especially at this time of year, time is tight, and I love being able to learn how … Read more »
It’s seems that no other project racks up delays quite like a web site. There’s always something that could be added, or could use cleaner functionality, or doesn’t look quite right in Internet Explorer 18.3 for Windows WTF. But after six months of such delays, I am proud relieved to announce that Sweet-Meats.com 2.0 has finally launched! It’s as close to perfect (for my own purposes) as I’ve ever gotten a web site, so I’d like to share some of my steps with you, and review a few of the services I tried along the … Read more »
Once I got back on track, I tried tackling the 50,000 feet questions again, like, “Why does my business exist?” Though you’d think it would be the most fundamental thought driving your business forward, I had actually forgotten all about it. I got so caught up in the lower-level questions of, “Will I be able to roll out a new design in time for the holidays?” that I completely lost sight of my company’s purpose.
My company’s purpose is/was to be a springboard for bigger and better things. Sweet Meats are a trendy … Read more »
