Let Me Get My Coffee! Then We'll Talk Business And The Lessons I Learned as an Entrepreneur

Let Me Get My Coffee! Then We'll Talk Business And The Lessons I Learned as an Entrepreneur

Author: Wendy D. Steele

Publisher: BluePrint Publishing Group

Published: 2019-02-28

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 1732712212

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Let Me Get My Coffee! Then We’ll Talk Business And the Lessons I Learned as an Entrepreneur Don’t like your job? Start your own business! You are so good at that! You should start your own business! Stop slaving away 60-70 hours a week for them and start your own business! We hear something like this nearly every day. On the job, in church, and from family and friends. Today, there are more entrepreneurial programs popping up in colleges across the nation and experts everywhere telling you to just do it! You probably know a few people who at least have side hustles or a small business. They’re generally easy to start, but running and growing a business is whole different story! It’s not easy, but it can be very rewarding. Is it for you? Can you weather-the-storm to stay in business. What does it take to make a decent living and not throw in the towel? Let Me Get My Coffee! Then We’ll Talk Business is not about choosing your legal structure, writing the business plan, raising capital or bank financing. There are tons of books out there on this already. This book is about how I started my latest venture—Blue Print Resumes & Consulting, what I did wrong and what I did right to generate six-figure revenues, stayed in business during the most difficult times, and continue to make a great living 14 years and counting! I talk about: · Visualizing · How I Started with Just $500 and Grew to Multiple Locations Around the U.S. · How I Handled Down Times · Mistakes I Made with Advertising · Choosing the Right Clients to Work With · Growing Pains And More! Let Me Get My Coffee! Is the first book in my coffee talk series. If you’re a startup or an aspiring business owner, just let me get my coffee and I will give you an idea of some of the hurdles you may have to face and how to keep pushing through adversity. From my lessons learned, you’ll read how to be profitable and keep the lights on! Wendy Steele is the founder of BluePrint Resumes & Consulting located in Atlanta, GA. With multiple offices throughout the U.S. Since 2005, she has experienced nearly all aspects of what it’s like to start and run a small business, and is now on a journey to share her knowledge with you. For more information visit: wendydsteele.com or: wendyknows.net—a blog on what she knows about business and careers. To learn about BluePrint Resumes & Consulting visit: blueprintresumes.com.


Startup Communities

Startup Communities

Author: Brad Feld

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-09-06

Total Pages: 183

ISBN-13: 1118483316

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An essential guide to building supportive entrepreneurial communities "Startup communities" are popping up everywhere, from cities like Boulder to Boston and even in countries such as Iceland. These types of entrepreneurial ecosystems are driving innovation and small business energy. Startup Communities documents the buzz, strategy, long-term perspective, and dynamics of building communities of entrepreneurs who can feed off of each other's talent, creativity, and support. Based on more than twenty years of Boulder-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist Brad Feld's experience in the field?as well as contributions from other innovative startup communities?this reliable resource skillfully explores what it takes to create an entrepreneurial community in any city, at any time. Along the way, it offers valuable insights into increasing the breadth and depth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by multiplying connections among entrepreneurs and mentors, improving access to entrepreneurial education, and much more. Details the four critical principles needed to form a sustainable startup community Perfect for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists seeking fresh ideas and new opportunities Written by Brad Feld, a thought-leader in this field who has been an early-stage investor and successful entrepreneur for more than twenty years Engaging and informative, this practical guide not only shows you how startup communities work, but it also shows you how to make them work anywhere in the world.


The Startup Community Way

The Startup Community Way

Author: Brad Feld

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2020-08-03

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 1119613620

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The Way Forward for Entrepreneurship Around the World We are in the midst of a startup revolution. The growth and proliferation of innovation-driven startup activity is profound, unprecedented, and global in scope. Today, it is understood that communities of support and knowledge-sharing go along with other resources. The importance of collaboration and a long-term commitment has gained wider acceptance. These principles are adopted in many startup communities throughout the world. And yet, much more work is needed. Startup activity is highly concentrated in large cities. Governments and other actors such as large corporations and universities are not collaborating with each other nor with entrepreneurs as well as they could. Too often, these actors try to control activity or impose their view from the top-down, rather than supporting an environment that is led from the bottom-up. We continue to see a disconnect between an entrepreneurial mindset and that of many actors who wish to engage with and support entrepreneurship. There are structural reasons for this, but we can overcome many of these obstacles with appropriate focus and sustained practice. No one tells this story better than Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway. The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem explores what makes startup communities thrive and how to improve collaboration in these rapidly evolving, complex environments. The Startup Community Way is an explanatory guide for startup communities. Rooted in the theory of complex systems, this book establishes the systemic properties of entrepreneurial ecosystems and explains why their complex nature leads people to make predictable mistakes. As complex systems, value creation occurs in startup communities primarily through the interaction of the "parts" - the people, organizations, resources, and conditions involved - not the parts themselves. This continual process of bottom-up interactions unfolds naturally, producing value in novel and unexpected ways. Through these complex, emergent processes, the whole becomes greater and substantially different than what the parts alone could produce. Because of this, participants must take a fundamentally different approach than is common in much of our civic and professional lives. Participants must take a whole-system view, rather than simply trying to optimize their individual part. They must prioritize experimentation and learning over planning and execution. Complex systems are uncertain and unpredictable. They cannot be controlled, only guided and influenced. Each startup community is unique. Replication is enticing but impossible. The race to become "The Next Silicon Valley" is futile - even Silicon Valley couldn't recreate itself. This book: Offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, community builders, government officials, and other stakeholders who want to harness the power of entrepreneurship in their city Describes the core components of startup communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as an explanation of the differences between these two related, but distinct concepts Advances a new framework for effective startup community building based on the theory of complex systems and insights from systems thinking Includes contributions from leading entrepreneurial voices Is a must-have resource for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, executives, business and community leaders, economic development authorities, policymakers, university officials, and anyone wishing to understand how startup communities work anywhere in the world


Rejection Proof

Rejection Proof

Author: Jia Jiang

Publisher: Harmony

Published: 2015-04-14

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 0804141398

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The inspiring, relatable, and sometimes outrageous true story of how one man used 100 days of rejection therapy to overcome fear and dare to live more boldly “Rejection Proof smashes fear in the face with a one-two punch. You’ll laugh out loud at Jia’s crazy social experiments, but you’ll also go away thinking differently about what you can accomplish.”—Chris Guillebeau, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Pursuit Jia Jiang’s TEDx Talk, “What I learned from 100 days of rejection,” has amassed over ten million views! Jia Jiang came to the United States with the dream of being the next Bill Gates. But despite early success in the corporate world, his first attempt to pursue his entrepreneurial dream ended in rejection. Jia was crushed and spiraled into a period of deep self-doubt. Jia realized that his fear of rejection was a bigger obstacle than any single rejection would ever be; he needed to find a way to cope with being told “no” that wouldn’t destroy him. Inspired by rejection therapy, which uses similar modalities as exposure therapy to desensitize you to the effects of being rejected, he undertook the “100 days of rejection” experiment, during which he willfully sought out rejection on a daily basis—from requesting a lesson in sales from a car salesman (no) to asking a flight attendant if he could make an announcement on the loud speaker (yes) to his famous request to get Krispy Kreme donuts in the shape of Olympic rings (yes, with a viral video to prove it). Over the course of one hundred rejection attempts, Jia realized that even the most preposterous wish might be granted if you ask the right way. He learned the secrets to making successful requests, tactics for picking the right people to approach at the right time, and strategies for converting an initial no into something positive. More important, Jia discovered ways to steel himself against rejection and live more fearlessly—skills that can’t be derailed by a single setback. The changes Jia experienced from his rejection therapy experiment went far beyond becoming more successful in business; he realized that he could apply these techniques to get more out of his relationships with friends, family, and even casual encounters with strangers. Filled with great stories and valuable insight, Rejection Proof shares the secrets of Jia’s rejection journey, distilling each lesson into a strategy that can be used in any negotiation or pitch.


Single. Women. Entrepreneurs. Second Edition

Single. Women. Entrepreneurs. Second Edition

Author: Erin Albert

Publisher: eBookIt.com

Published: 2017-01-28

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1456605496

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The number of unmarried adult women actually outnumbers the number or married women for the first time in US history, according to the Population Reference Bureau, in October, 2010. Women are now earning more, going to college and graduate schools more, and finding ways to become more independent. Also, according to the Kauffman Foundation, single, divorced and widowed women start more businesses as entrepreneurs than men in their respective categories. This book interviews over 30 single women entrepreneurs throughout the US to discern why they started their original businesses, what the perceived advantages and disadvantages are for the single woman entrepreneur, what they each learned from the experience, and what advice they have for the next generation of women solopreneurs. The first edition of this book has been reviewed in The New York Times, Entrepreneur and author Dan Pink's blog.


The Innovation Stack

The Innovation Stack

Author: Jim McKelvey

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2020-03-10

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 0593086740

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From the cofounder of Square, an inspiring and entertaining account of what it means to be a true entrepreneur and what it takes to build a resilient, world-changing company In 2009, a St. Louis glassblowing artist and recovering computer scientist named Jim McKelvey lost a sale because he couldn't accept American Express cards. Frustrated by the high costs and difficulty of accepting credit card payments, McKelvey joined his friend Jack Dorsey (the cofounder of Twitter) to launch Square, a startup that would enable small merchants to accept credit card payments on their mobile phones. With no expertise or experience in the world of payments, they approached the problem of credit cards with a new perspective, questioning the industry's assumptions, experimenting and innovating their way through early challenges, and achieving widespread adoption from merchants small and large. But just as Square was taking off, Amazon launched a similar product, marketed it aggressively, and undercut Square on price. For most ordinary startups, this would have spelled the end. Instead, less than a year later, Amazon was in retreat and soon discontinued its service. How did Square beat the most dangerous company on the planet? Was it just luck? These questions motivated McKelvey to study what Square had done differently from all the other companies Amazon had killed. He eventually found the key: a strategy he calls the Innovation Stack. McKelvey's fascinating and humorous stories of Square's early days are blended with historical examples of other world-changing companies built on the Innovation Stack to reveal a pattern of ground-breaking, competition-proof entrepreneurship that is rare but repeatable. The Innovation Stack is a thrilling business narrative that's much bigger than the story of Square. It is an irreverent first-person look inside the world of entrepreneurship, and a call to action for all of us to find the entrepreneur within ourselves and identify and fix unsolved problems--one crazy idea at a time.


The Naked Entrepreneur

The Naked Entrepreneur

Author: Troy Hazard

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-01-26

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 1118319532

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Isn’t it about time you got ‘naked’? What would happen if you began to examine your whole life, like re-evaluating a business plan, and changed the way you live? After all, anyone can get rich. The ultimate challenge, however, is to create wealth, prosperity, fame and fortune, without losing your soul along the way. Burnt-out businessman Troy Hazard wanted to find his soul again. Maria Elita, a sought-after spiritual coach, wanted to help him. The Naked Entrepreneur is the true story of Troy’s journey away from fear and Maria’s efforts to guide him towards his own ‘naked truth’. This revealing book will leave you contemplating what true wealth really is, as you too begin to face your fears and live a life of truth.


Partners in Life and Work

Partners in Life and Work

Author: Elma Levy

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-07-29

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 1000614719

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Providing candid advice on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, this book interweaves the world of tech start-ups, the American immigrant experience, and the realities of running a business with your life partner. Across two decades as entrepreneurs, Elma and Dov Levy faced economic recessions, government shutdowns, work-life balance issues, leadership conflicts, and the emotions of letting go of their company Dovel Technologies – a technology consulting firm that they grew from a space in their attic to a multimillion-dollar operation with major government contracts. In this conversational and practical book they share insights on: How next-generation entrepreneurs can develop business relationships and networking skills, and maintain a high level of risk tolerance and manage risks strategically, including how and when to scale the business. How to stay true to guiding principles as co-owner spouses and woman-owned business entrepreneurs. What trends and opportunities to watch out for in a post-COVID-19 world. Aspiring entrepreneurs, growth-focused founders, family business owners, and government and technology professionals will especially value the Levys’ business and personal success stories, with guidance on how to manage a marriage and business simultaneously, creating boundaries with a home office, and showing mutual respect in the boardroom.


The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship

The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship

Author: Andreas Widmer

Publisher: BenBella Books

Published: 2022-04-05

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 1637740700

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How many times have you heard someone say, "It’s not personal; it’s just business"? That attitude reflects a belief that business needs to be cut-throat, that it’s a dog-eat-dog world, that the pursuit of profit is the only thing that matters, and that the only way to succeed is to beat the competition. But none of this is true: business doesn’t have to be that way. The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship is a prescription for living the American Dream and for finding the fulfilment that comes from helping employees and customers improve their lives. In his 30-year career in international business strategy, economic development, and entrepreneurship, author Andreas Widmer has seen firsthand numerous companies both succeed financially and also build a people-centered venture in the process. He shares his favorite success stories and details five key principles for conducting business in ways that combine personal virtue, the latest entrepreneurial tools, and long-term perspective in order to make business a win-win proposition for everyone. At a time when the number of new business startups is at its lowest point in 50 years and more than half the workforce at existing businesses struggles with motivation, finding a better way to do business is more urgent than ever. For any entrepreneur, manager, employee, or business student seeking to build people-centered businesses and teams, The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship is an insightful, practical guide to how businesses can be run to be both virtuous and profitable.


Education and Female Entrepreneurship in Asia

Education and Female Entrepreneurship in Asia

Author: Mary Ann Maslak

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-09-06

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 1137554835

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This book examines policies and practices that relate to the education of female entrepreneurs in China, India, Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan. Through both textual and interview data, the book reveals the importance of initiatives that structure entrepreneurships for women, and informal learning through networks in a variety of settings which promotes their understandings of business. Part I offers an overview of the formal and informal sectors of the economy and the international development plans related to each. Part II proffers national development plans and business policies related to female entrepreneurship in each of the five countries. Part III provides stakeholders’ perspectives of entrepreneurial learning in each country. Part IV presents conceptual and theoretical models which offer a visual representation of entrepreneurs’ learning process. Finally, Part V grapples with the inclusion of informal learning and networking experiences for female entrepreneurs.