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!
Tax Day
(General)
Thursday, April 15. 2010
High and unfair taxes were a catalyst for The American Revolution. Fair taxation was a hot topic at the birth of our nation and continues to be a vital concern to our country today…at least to the 53% of Americans who actually pay federal income tax. You see, in today’s system, there are 47% of the folks who do not pay any income tax. In fact, only 10% of the top earners in our country pay 75% of ALL income tax for the country. Is that fair? Does that generate an incentive to be creative, innovative, and successful as a small business owner…or does it sound like the system...
I Hate To Interrupt...
(General)
Friday, April 09. 2010
Everyone knows the next word in that phrase. …BUT! Usually that phrase is completed with a variety to reasons that one might think of to interrupt a private conversation, a phone call, or yes, even a meeting. There seems to be a rising epidemic of reasons and/or causes that rise to the level of importance required to interrupt others… or could it be that our society has just become more selfish and rude?
Interruptions seem to relay the message that your conversation is not as important as my need to interrupt you. Maybe that should be inserted in the remainder of my opening...
This Is Not a Dress Rehearsal!
(General)
Friday, April 02. 2010
Those words were repeated on many opening nights for play productions while I was in college. This was a director’s saying to insure that all the actors knew that this was the big night, the real thing, and that there were no “do-overs” when you had an audience full of patrons. Opening night was the culmination of all your rehearsal, and now it was time to shine. Those words always gave me a sense of focus, anticipation, and a little bit of fear.
I have a big yellow button in my office that reads, “This is not a dress rehearsal.” I have carried it from job to job, office...
The Reality Of Birds & Business
(General)
Monday, March 22. 2010
I love to hear the birds in the morning as they welcome the dawn. With daylight saving time upon us, I am awake in the morning while it is still dark outside, so I have noticed the symphony of sounds that accompany each new day. We have owls, hawks, eagles, woodpeckers, mockingbirds, and a variety of songbirds that reside in the wooded areas all around my home. I am always entertained by the antics of how they all attack my backyard birdfeeder at feeding time. They are beautiful and they have provided a real source of entertainment and enjoyment for my family.
However,...
100 Club Has 40 Members!
(General)
Saturday, February 20. 2010
Our center recently launched an effort to raise operating funds for our center called the Disney Entrepreneur Center’s 100 Club. This idea came from a group of entrepreneurs who have been volunteering at our center from many years. They saw the need for us to broaden the base of financial support for our non-profit center, while increasing the business community input to our mission. The goal: find 100 community leaders who would donate $1000 each year to join in the funding of our efforts ...and in return we would limit this group to ONLY 100 members, provide some exclusive programming...