Quality vs. Quantity

It’s tough out there at the moment, from an economic standpoint people are looking for Quality over Quantity. People are seeking superior goods and services that will last for the long haul. We are obligated to fulfill their needs and must figure out how to give our customers, clients and investors exactly what they are looking for. Then we need to figure out how to market these products and services to them. High quality will last forever and so must your marketing campaign.

·         Get training on the latest social media strategies

·         Make use of your local advertising pros, they can give you the best bang for your buck and in today’s economy are willing to negotiate on costs

·         Secure your email list and keep it up to date and in good standing with your clients, do what you say you will do and always follow up and follow through

·         Establish a 100% return or refund policy, this gives your customers and clients the confidence to do repeat business as well as make referrals

·         Remember you are your best advocate so put yourself out there, be your own brand

·         Be selective and specific on your goods and services, this sets you apart from your competitors

·         Promote your customers and share their knowledge, this will establish a lasting relationship

·         Host a private event; this makes your high end customers feel exclusive and pampered

·         Remember money matters to all of us, especially those on a budget but even for high end clients

Discovering the Core of Entrepreneurial Women in America

As I traveled along the interstates, highways and more often than not the dirt roads of America I  watched the scenery pass through my windshield and I thought about the women I have encountered in the small and sometimes unknown communities I visit. I reflect on the women who have made their small town a better place to live because of their commitment to prosper and be enterprising in America. This commitment to success is a phenomenon I have seen over and over again, and each time I come across it I’m truly astonished.

It is the enterprising and productive women of America who are paving a new and powerful approach to supporting life in a small town. These women are a strong and often subtle presence in every state. Each one enjoys an absolute passion for their community and an unwavering drive for success in their businesses. Their sustainability in an environment where small business enterprise can be daunting and unreliable brings a sense of strength to many towns on the verge of extinction. As I visited with these amazing women in each new community, who ranged in career diversity from Icelandic Sheep Farmer to Highway Patrolmen, I realized the women of rural America are some of the finest gems we possess.

A day spent traveling along these roads takes my mind down many thoughts and to many questions. Why are they thriving in rural America? Were they born in these communities? If not then what brings them there? What keeps them there? And what inspires them to stay there? Is it their commitment to small town America where living is safe and secure or is it the love of the land and the wide open spaces? Maybe on a broader scope is it just a strong sense of themselves and the passions they possess. What gives them the confidence they have to see their passions come to fruition? Even in the face of a harsh and brutal economy, and in many cases seclusion in a small town where a shopping center can be many hundreds of miles away and the closest social gathering spot runs into the next county. It must be that they have discovered the core of entrepreneurialism, a place not many are willing to go but those that do achieve great rewards.

These women are pioneering new and industrious avenues to create a sustainable living in rural America. Trust me when I tell you what remarkable lives they live. Upon meeting one of these outstanding women who has made a success of her small business or who has accomplished great things in a non-traditional sense, it is truly an enchanting experience. One common factor all these women have as a collective entity is their passion. A passion about what they do, a passion for where they live and a passion for the people they do business with. They are truly an incredible and remarkable feature of the American landscape.

The Definition of Entrepreneur

Merriam Webster: One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise

Wikipedia: An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative. The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to help launch a new venture or enterprise and accept full responsibility for the outcome. Jean-Baptiste Say, a French economist, is believed to have coined the word "entrepreneur" in the 19th century - he defined an entrepreneur as "one who undertakes an enterprise, especially a contractor, acting as intermediary between capital and labor

However it is defined, entrepreneurs are the frontrunners of our economy, those people who are willing to take the risks necessary to generate viable and progressive ideas, turning those ideas into practical businesses. Those businesses in turn affect our nation’s success and create a strong workforce in any economy.

The Entrepreneur is the foundation of all populations, so thank you for your contributions.

The study of the Entrepreneurial Brain

The subject of the "entrepreneurial brain" has been studied in many ways and many forms for many years. The foregoing conclusion being this. We are enigmas! We are sideways, backwards, upside down and spinning. We are solid, precise, influential and steady.
We wear many different hats in many different arenas, and our success is dependent upon our ability to be multi-dimensional. Entrepreneurs typically have three strong traits. The need to be creative, a high tolerance for risk and a strong desire for accomplishment. We are the ADD subjects of success. Our brains run in so many different directions it is often times hard to keep the focus on the challenges ahead when we are 10 steps beyond the next challenge.
Carl Silverstein of BizTimes categorizes the different types of entrepreneurs and how their brains function. See if you or your boss fits any of these categories:

The Trailblazer: These individuals are described as being independent, persistent, decisive, and fast. They are not happy unless they are in charge. They demonstrate their calculated risk-taking by basing their decisions on facts, rather than feelings.

The Go-Getter: These generalists are very driven, independent, and have a high level of dominance and sociability. They are very competitive, strong motivators, and leaders. They manage both process and people effectively. Even though go-getters are very driven to succeed, their competitive nature is tempered by a concern about others.

The Manager: These individuals are very goal-oriented and quite analytical, which leads them to focus more on processes than people. They understand that some projects take longer than others and look at people as vehicles for them to accomplish their goals. They tend to offend people by their straightforward style of communication. At the same time, they consider their staff an extension of their family and are very loyal. Their biggest strength is the ability to grow the business. They enjoy working by themselves and managing others can be a challenge.

The Motivator: This individual has the highest level of sociability, an above average level of dominance, and is driven and independent. They work well under pressure, can build consensus quickly, and tend to collaborate with others. They are the change agents, and are skilled in motivating people. They avoid confrontation by being able to create a strong emotional argument. They have mastered the three “Fs,” feel, felt, and found. They excel at leadership and at selling.

In organizations, it’s important to be able to align your personality type with the goals of objectives of the business. Those people that can do this effectively are usually successful. If you are an entrepreneur, you will likely only find this alignment in taking risks and accepting leadership roles within your group or company.

It’s been said that being an entrepreneur is like jumping out of an airplane with all of the tools and materials needed to make a parachute on the way down.
Now that is certainly not a leap that everyone would take. But if it sounds like fun to you, there’s a good chance you’re functioning with an entrepreneurial brain.