I am a lifelong entrepreneur and I love the challenges and opportunities presented by operating a small business enterprise.
Today, I am honored to manage an amazing resource for small businesses in Orlando, Florida, called the Disney Entrepreneur Center. I love my job!
This blog is an outlet to share my thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on small business with you. Please feel free to comment, add your perspectives, or just drop in occasionally for some food for thought.
I have worked for the largest business in the world (AT&T) and the smallest (my own), but I don't have all the answers! I do have lots of opinions, questions and ideas to ponder...so I hope you come back often to enjoy the journey into the mind of a serial entrepreneur!
A Is For...
(General)
Saturday, February 14. 2009
Attitude... You alone control your attitude. Regardless of the negative news that dominates our newspapers, radio, and television, you choose how you will view that news, and how you will react to it. I read once, that your thoughts, (your attitude) actually cause your body to react as if those thoughts were real. If your are stressed, your body produces chemicals to react to that stress (real or manufactured) as if your were facing enminent danger! So, how you think, actually affects how your act… Conversely, when you take control of your attitude, and refuse to...
Back To My Abc's
(General)
Friday, February 13. 2009
Some of you know that I love to do lists that relate to business topics using the ABC's. I put some of them in Maverick Business Magazine that I used to publish, and I was asked to put a few in the book that I am struggling to write. Recently, as I have been out speaking to community groups, there is great interest in how to navigate these tough economic times, and true to my roots, I have already begun to develop my ABC listing of things that may help a small business make it through a difficult time... whatever the reason...
SO, over the next few weeks, I will share...
Spending, Stimulus,or Bailout? Who Knows?
(General)
Friday, February 13. 2009
Do you know anyone who can explain what is contained in the latest spending/stimulus/bailout (SSB) bill, or how it is going to specifically help your business? Now, I am not talking about the usual talking points that each side uses to defend or vilify the package, I am looking for straight-talk, actual detail, no hedging facts that really matter to those of us on the front lines of small business, the so-called foundation of the American economy. “Main Street” businesses are struggling to keep it together on a daily basis, while the representatives of “we...
Carpe Sales
(General)
Monday, January 19. 2009
Among the other unexplainable things I did in High School, I took Latin for two years. From that painful experience, I have only retained a few phrases, but I can utter them with such eloquence it would make Caesar Augustus pause and reflect on the greatness of Gaul. “Agricolae in agro est.” means “The farmer is in the field” which I am sure is related to my high school employment. “E Pluribus Unum” means “Out of many, One” which undoubtedly relates to my life long fascination with making money. (It is printed on our money)
While...
Dance With Your Date!
(General)
Sunday, January 11. 2009
Dance with your date! That sage advice was from my mother and she always had those sayings that covered a multitude of situations to provide guidance. “Dance with your date” was mom's way of saying, "when you ask a girl out on a date, you pick her up, take her to the dance, you dance with her, you do your best to insure she has an enjoyable time, and you return her home safely…at a reasonable hour". That advice also included a list of don’ts!... You don’t cancel your date if something better comes along, you don’t run off with...