Plan. Start. Grow.
“Experiment, Expedite, Iterate.” That’s Google’s mantra of new product development, and it closely aligns with one of the hottest trends in entrepreneurship today: the lean startup. As an entrepreneurship educator, you’re likely familiar with the lean startup movement, promoted by author Eric Reis. In a nutshell, the lean startup approach emphasizes speed: launch a product …
Lean Startup: Five Things Your Students Need to Know NowRead More
February is the month for Valentine’s Day, and all around, you’ll see hearts and flowers. But when it comes to starting and growing your small business, have you followed your own heart? Small business owners are notorious for sabotaging their own companies when they fall out of love with what they’re doing. Once you lose …
Santa Claus. Stop for a minute and picture Santa. I bet you’ve got a really clear vision: red suit with white trim, big white beard, and pretty chubby. You’ve also got a clear sense of what Santa stands for: giving, jolly, Christmas. And you know how Santa makes you feel: happy. Santa’s a branding genius. And you …
You’re excited about starting your new small business. You’ve got a can’t-miss idea, developed a business plan, created a prototype. You’ve even found a group of talented people to work with. There’s only one problem—you need money to make it all a reality. Money! You can’t start or run a business without it. Sure, it …
It’s the Fourth of July, and as you head to a holiday beach or barbecue, look around your town. Take a moment to notice and appreciate all the many small businesses—and large ones too—started by immigrants. As we celebrate America, we also celebrate what America has meant—and continues to mean—for immigrants from throughout the world. …
Is running a small business from your home a long-time dream? Or is combining your work with personal life your worst nightmare? For 14 years, I enjoyed running my consulting business from home. I could get up, go straight to work, wear what I wanted, and loved my “one-room commute.” When my business outgrew my …
Do you tinker, craft, invent, design? Would you like to make money from your creations? Perhaps start a business—whether a small business or giant enterprise? Then, you may be part of the growing breed known as “makers.” America seems to have become a nation of consumers—with far too few creators. We import too much; make …
Can you have kids and build a business? Small kids? Even a big business? This Mother’s Day, I’m saluting entrepreneurs and small business owners who combine motherhood and entrepreneurship, from micro-businesses to multi-million dollar enterprises. As I interviewed owners of three businesses founded and run by mothers, I realized that all were started when the …
“Whoops – did he really just say that?” When you’re just starting a small business or launching a startup, it’s easy to put your foot in your mouth. You’ll be meeting many people and telling them about your new entrepreneurial venture. You’ll pitch to investors or try to impress a banker. You’ll almost certainly be …
