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!
Welcome To Jamaica
(General)
Saturday, July 12. 2008
I arrived in Jamaica yesterday and was immediately in love with the culture! Everyone was smiling, warm, and seemed to be genuinely pleased that we were here. Coming from a tourist destination, I understand how important it is to make visitors feel welcome, and believe me, I have felt welcome since stepping off the plane… even the customs agent said, “Welcome to Jamaica!”
With tourism being such a big part of the economy in Jamaica, and in Orlando, it is interesting to see that on this island, the word is out… make the tourist feel welcome! We do that in Orlando too. However,...
Can You Hear Me, Now?
(General)
Saturday, July 12. 2008
Listening is a verb and requires action, effort, and is essential to communication. Without truly listening to our clients, we can never be sure that we are providing for their needs, or if we have met their expectations. Many salespeople fail to listen to the customer, and as a result they end up presenting the wrong solutions or even worse, doing a sales presentation to a prospect that is not qualified, or interested in what they have to offer. How many times do we say, “How are you?” to people every day and never wait for the answer? …or actually hear the response? ...
You Never Know!
(General)
Monday, June 30. 2008
You never know…
I attended an event this weekend in Ohio and was fascinated to learn of a young entrepreneur who lived in the area. He attended a local technical school and learned all about computers and circuits, but his real love was racing. He is mechanically inclined and loves working on cars and watching them race.
Today, he has combined his need for speed with his need for cash: he is self-employed and loving it. He works out of his basement (they have basements in Ohio) and manufactures a cool gizmo (technical term) that controls air/vacuum input into racing...
Airline Worries
(General)
Monday, June 30. 2008
Well, I did it again… I flew this weekend. While I could fill pages with my
rants on how frustrated I get when I fly, I have something else on my mind
today as I sit in the boarding area, waiting for my delayed flight.
Can our airline industry continue as we know it? We have the best transportation system in the world! Everyday, we have trains, planes, and automobiles whizzing across our country like roof shingles in a hurricane… and we take it all for granted. We demand strict time schedules be met, complete safety and comfort, and then we complain because the lines move too slowly. Are...
Graduation
(General)
Monday, June 16. 2008
If you ever need a lift, just attend a graduation ceremony. Triumph, achievement, overcoming adversity, and pride all rolled into a 2-hour ceremony. Better than chocolate!