Most Clicked SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs Stories
1. 12 entrepreneurial no-no's
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 02, 2009
Do you obsess over making your product perfect? Do you give out big titles in place of big paychecks? Do you plan to defy the conventional wisdom as Twitter did? If so, Guy Kawasaki has one word for you: don't. From family relations to venture capitalists to partnerships, there's a "don't" for every situation. OPEN Forum blogs (06/30)
2. Overcoming entrepreneurs' top 5 fears
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jun 29, 2009
Entrepreneur magazine surveyed business owners about their greatest fears, then asked several experts to weigh in on the top 5. For those who fear the instability of being their own boss, experts say goal-setting is the key. As for fear of failure, which ranks No. 1, business psychologist Colleen Long recommends regularly making a list of accomplishments. "Whenever those fears crop up, you've got a point of reference [that shows] you're actually achieving something," she says. Entrepreneur (07/2009)
3. 9 ways to blow a pitch
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 02, 2009
If you manage to get yourself in front of investors for a pitch, remember you'll have no more than one hour -- including chit-chat -- and only 10 minutes of that should be focused on the product. Poor time management is just one of the nine mistakes covered in this article and slide show. Among the others: failing to research your prospective investor's specialty and overstating the size of your market. Forbes (06/29)
4. 10 top cities for retired entrepreneurs
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 01, 2009
Over the past decade, members of the 55- to 64-year-old age group established entrepreneurial ventures at a higher rate than any other age group, a trend that's likely to continue as baby boomers retire, according to this article. With that in mind, U.S. News & World Report picks "10 great places for entrepreneurs to retire," giving weight to cities with universities and tax incentives, rather than golf courses and symphonies. U.S. News & World Report (06/29)
5. Writing, marketing content are key to boosting business
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jun 30, 2009
Aside from having a Web site and a blog, the key to marketing your business is to create useful content -- and to market it. Many people are also using www.conduit.com, which enables them to create custom toolbars that their customers can download and use to get their content as it is updated. USA TODAY (06/29)
6. Saving the world, 1 task at a time
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 02, 2009
You've got 10 minutes of downtime and a smartphone. Do you a) destroy digital zombies or b) save the world? Jacob Colker is betting people will choose the latter. His company, The Extraordinaries, matches smartphone-wielding do-gooders with worthy tasks that take just a few minutes to complete. Colker says "microvolunteerism" is perfect for introducing the Facebook generation to the "warm fuzzy feeling of doing good." National Public Radio (07/01)
7. How to get customers back in the habit
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 01, 2009
The economy has even the most habitual customers rethinking what they buy -- forcing you to win their loyalty all over again, according to this article. Neale Martin, author of "Habit," writes that this trend has an upside: Your competitors' customers "have changed their purchasing habits, too," giving you the chance to lure new buyers who might never have considered you otherwise. Entrepreneur (07/2009)
8. Time to rethink Generation Y?
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 02, 2009
This essay in Advertising Age looks at psychological changes the recession may be causing among members of Generation Y, widely regarded as being spoiled and self-involved. "We can't afford to have the world revolve around us anymore," writes the 25-year-old author, urging harder work, greater innovation and a dose of humility. If those feelings are catching on, the workplace could be in for a change. Advertising Age (07/01)
9. In praise of routine
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jun 30, 2009
Leaders are often praised for shaking things up, but author and consultant Sangeeth Varghese argues that adhering to a routine can have its own rewards. Routines help us learn, reduce unnecessary risk, save time and build group identity. By creating safe, comfortable routines in some areas, he writes, bosses allow their employees to embrace change in other aspects of the business. Forbes (06/29)
10. Jacques and the chocolate factory
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jul 01, 2009
Jacques Torres left his prestigious job as pastry chef at New York's Le Cirque restaurant to launch an eponymous chocolate company in 2000. He spent $1.5 million to build a glass-fronted factory with an on-site retail store, but he admits that's more about promotion than profit. "It costs me less to buy chocolate than to make it," says Torres, who sold some $10 million in sweets last year. Next up: five varieties of chocolate ice cream sold from a truck equipped with a church bell. Forbes (07/13)
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