Struggling Entrepreneur

 

 41- The Profit Repairman and why to run your business like a hotel [36:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you an interview with Tom Marquardt, who is an author, entrepreneur, marketing consultant and is known as “The Profit Repairman®.” The motto of this enterprise is to Reach, Teach and Send–as Tom explains in detail during this interview conducted on the Skype network.

Tom has written a book called My Little Black Book to Success©.

It is available on CD for listeners who prefer to consume books via audio; it is also available at Amazon.com, as well as paperback from the publisher, and as a pdf document via e-book format.

In fact, for the listeners of this Struggling Entrepreneur Podcast episode, the book is being given away free by Tom Marquardt– all you have to do is the following:

- send an email note to tomm@theprofitrepairman.com

- In the subject line, include “struggling entrepreneur”

- Tom will then send you a reply email with the link to get the pdf format full version of the book (approx. 154 pages).

We are grateful to Tom Marquardt for his generosity to deliver a free copy to the listeners of this podcast.

Also, Tom invites small business owners and entrepreneurs to engage live with him during his podcast on Blog Talk Radio every other Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. What this means for you as an entrepreneur is that you are welcome to interrupt the content of the show and ask Tom about challenges that you face as an entrepreneur. Tom welcomes this interaction and provides you with, basically, a free live consultation.

In addition, this interview also explains why Tom insists that one of the most successful ways to run your small business as an entrepreneur is like that of a hotel. Find out why during the discussion.

Copyright © 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 40- What the NME2008 Event can mean to the Entrepreneur [24:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we provide a sneak-peek or preview as a prelude to an upcoming event, a Business show in Las Vegas from August 14-16, 2008. This is the New Media Expo.

Yes, we interviewed Tim Bourquin earlier this year on this podcast series (episode 37). As you may remember, Tim is the founder and owner of this event. His audio podcast series of The Podcast Brothers does go into detail about the value of the event for the prescribed audiences, and his web site provides all the audio episodes, forum support, list of exhibitors and all the supporting information for the event.

We look at this event in the following way:

• A bit of the history and growth of the Business show with the targeted audiences and its popularity, now becoming “legitimate” because of the industry and the business show location in Las Vegas;
• A look at the five tracks that provide value in education, skills and information to various audiences;
• An insight to the paid conference speakers and the value of their sessions to the paid audience;
• A look into the free pass to the exhibition hall to see the exhibitors in the booths; and
• A new approach– an opportunity to attend the free sessions in the exhibit hall to hear the pundits and luminaries, subject matter experts and authority figures in the industry. Thus, the attendance and participation to this event does not even have to cost the attendee anything–for the value that will be provided.

For the Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner, this event can help both the aspiring “dreamer” or the recently-launched “newbie” with skills and information about the New Media industry and marketing tactics to use in their own business–but it can help them mingle with a flood of recent entrepreneurs and small business owners who have just entered the industry with their new firms.

As you will hear in the podcast episode, there are several key reasons why this event can be of significant value to the entrepreneur–for the community of this event will put the small business owner in the midst of knowledgeable and experienced peers that can help to confirm the entry into the small business environment.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 39- Business Building Academy [24:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Matt Beasley, one of the founders of an enterprise called The Business Building Academy.

This organization is dedicated to helping the entrepreneurs and small business owners to avoid the pitfalls of trying to implement marketing and sales tactics in the modern “real” world by just trying to use the techniques taught in outdated academic institutions that are in the business of “teaching” business from older and non-relevant paradigms.

In this interview, we discover how this interactive group takes the format of a local “Mastermind” group–but instead of a temporary duration, the learning is ongoing, and it really becomes the equivalent of “continuing education” for the entrepreneur and small business owner.

As you will hear in the audio podcast interview, the plans for taking this to a national (and later global) level are solidified by the upcoming virtual element that will include interactive and “intimate” conversation and sessions with the members who are going to participate remotely via online tools.

Although this is a fee-based offering, the Business Building Academy offers free introductory participation to prospective or interested individuals who are either thinking of starting their own businesses or have recently launched their business. By attending a couple of the interactive sessions, the entrepreneur can experience the value that this synergistic group discussion has to offer–in addition to the tools and resources on the web site for the official members.

For more information, you can contact Matt Beasley at the web site of http://www.BusinessBuildingAcademy.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 38- Whitepaper- Entrepreneur Issues [14:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we focus on answering the question from our subscribers that deals with the location of the free whitepaper called “Addressing the Issues Facing the Struggling Entrepreneur.”

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This is the free whitepaper that describes and discusses the top ten challenges that face an entrepreneur in the struggling phase. Now, the whitepaper is available in both audio podcast episode mp3 format (for either download or listening selection), as well as in pdf format. However, these issues are discussed in both a summary document, as well as in the full version (or detailed) document.

In this brief podcast, we list the topics and encourage you to get the whitepaper and review it, as many of our podcast interviewees have mentioned several of the issues and described their experiences in confronting them as challenges:

1. Financial challenge - access to money for stability and growth.

2. Finding and leveraging resources for assistance in a timely manner.

3. Eliminating that feeling of being overwhelmed - because you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them.

4. A poor feasibility plan - or no feasibility plan at all.

5. Creating an effective business plan with an exit strategy.

6. Interlocing and leveraging relationships with mentors.

7. Using key technologies and using the Internet to your advantage.

8. Leveraging your strengths while outsourcing effectively.

9. Creating and promoting your own brand (or brands).

10. Running (or managing) your business, not operating your business.

We will continue with more interviews from successful entrepreneurs in our upcoming podcasts.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 Tim Bourquin of www.newmediaexpo.com [47:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we provide an interview with Tim Bourquin, the founder and CEO of TNC New Media (for the New Media Expo), as well as the leading co-host of the Podcast series called The Podcast Brothers.

 As you will hear in this episode, Tim’s constant restlenessness for creativity, independence and “pushing the limit of some things new” drove him from what could have been a satisfying career in law enforcement to the world of being an entrepreneur.

From the early days of Internet-based “day-trading” of securities and the stock market, to the beginnings of podcasting for the Triathlon-bound athletes, and finally to the business of hosting and implementing Events, Business and Conferences — you’ll see the determination and focus of someone who was willing to invest, so that he could get the right offering to the right audience with the best value. And this is what started the Podcast and Portalbe Media Expo, which has now become the New Media Expo.

Making its debut in Las Vegas (August 14-17, 2008) and now it its 4th year, this conference provides education, training and networking value for paid conference attendees. Also, there is a free element of education and exhibits for the beginner or hobbyist (or those just plain interested in Podcasting, video, blogs, Social Media or New Media).  And the multiple free and fee marketing tactics that Tim uses to provide value for the customers show that he can integrate them into his Events Business for the Expo.

You will also learn how Tim had reached the “gold at the end of the rainbow” for Entrepreneurs–by selling one of his businesses for a profit.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 36- Jay Ehret interview- The Marketing Spot [38:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Jay Ehret, who is “theMarketingGuy” on Twitter.

He is a Texas-based Marketing Consultant and a full-time entrepreneur who provides value to small businesses by helping them to BRAND themselves and develop the best Marketing Plan in order to deliver a successful customer experience.  His web site is known as The Marketing Spot, and it is quite creative with the multi-spot model– including a Sweet-Spot, an Idea-Spot, and others that are discussed in the interview.

What is interesting during this discussion is that Jay is a self-made entrepreneur who jumped into the environment without having a detailed plan during the era when he started.

However, as you will hear, his strengths were in his expertise in communications and marketing. And by creating a business around his strengths, he is now progressing toward the position of becoming a successful entrepreneur–especially in the area of New Media and Social Media. This was very appropriate, since I had met Jay in a Podcamp conference in San Antonio (a “user-generated conference”–previously known as an “unconference”–where everyone can participate and share news and expertise with those in a common interest group).

In this interview (which was done over Skype),  Jay emphasizes the importance of perpetual learning in order to keep your competitive differential advantage before your customers, thus demonstrating your value.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 35- New Media Entrepreneurs- Alysan Delaney-Childs and Richard Galvan [26:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

or-

to listen to the audio podcast, click here.

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we had the opportunity to interview two individuals at a conference on New Media and Podcasting (i.e., Podcamp San Antonio)– Alysan Delaney-Childs of Buzz for Business and Richard Galvan of Clifford Sound.

While Richard Galvan has a day-job and is employed by a large corporate telecommunications firm, he has started his own firm and is a part-time entrepreneur. Meanwhile, Alysan Delaney-Childs has reached 80 per cent of the way to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. These two individuals are part of a New Media and Podcasting network in the San Antonio, Texas, area and are a great pair for referencing and promoting each other. They do this because of the knowledge and respect that each of them has for the strengths of the other.

What is interesting is that while Richard Galvan is a technically oriented Podcast consultant, Alysan prefers not to be involved with the technical aspects of New Media. Instead, she focuses on her strength–which is promoting a client’s firm and delivering the best message to the market.

In this interview you will discover the early mistakes that entrepreneurs may make in trying to be all things to many clients, instead of specializing their offerings to leverage their strengths.

Also, a key theme that Richard mentions is that of trying to stay ahead as an “early adopter” in the high-tech or New Media space–so that you do not become “obsolete” with your skills, and thus dilute the value you would deliver to your customers.

Since this interview was conducted onsite in the location of the Podcamp San Antonio conference, there is a bit of ambient noise from the hotel audio sound system. However, the lessons learned and the forward thinking of these two individuals for the direction of their small business ventures can provide the aspiring entrepreneur with the ingredients to prepare a recipe for success.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 34-Mark Horstman- the next "Peter Drucker": Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Mark Horstman, the subject matter expert and co-host of the Manager Tools podcast.

Mark Horstman is a graduate of the military academy at West Point (USAMA), where he met Michael Auzenne, whom we interviewed earlier in episode 30 of The Struggling Entrepreneur. Mark also has experience in Management with top Corporations like Procter & Gamble.  In addition to having been a corporate recruiter, he has been a successful entrepreneur with his own Business Consulting firm for over 15 years. Yes, Mark is no stranger to the world of running his own Small Business.

Both Mark Horstman and Michael Auzenne deliver a weekly podcast series called Manager Tools–which is also the name of the firm which they own. This company delivers consulting services, as well as hosting and running a series of Effective Manager Conferences both in the U.S. and overseas. In addition, the free weekly podcast series available via iTunes also has a registered members site, as well as premium content for the managers and executives who wish to get the templates and tools that are described in the podcast episodes.

What sets this podcast apart from the others in the genre of Business Management is that Mark Horstman delivers tools, techniques, processes and steps, as well as the concepts and background needed to successfully implement the practices for excellent and effective management by Business Executives and Managers. In fact, the Manager Tools podcast was recognized at the 2007 Podcast and New Media Expo as the Podcast Winner for the category of Business Podcasts. This is an impressive win, considering that over 3280 sites were nominated.

I myself have listened to all the podcast episodes in both the free iTunes subscription, as well as the registered members area. Let me just say that the value delivered by Mr. Horstman is outstanding. I can only remark that we should be grateful that his successful entrepreneurial model delivers the content free to those who want to listen– while the others who desire to become more effective can subscribe to the premium content, as well as register for the Effective Management and Effective Communications conferences.

You can find out more about these events at http://www.managertools.com.

What makes Mark Horstman an interesting and dynamic individual is his energy, his drive, his passion and his expertise in the area of Leadership and Management.

In this interview, you will see why his co-host– as well as other authority figures and leaders in the area of Management consulting–refer to Mark as the next “Peter Drucker” when it comes to insight and vision for Management.

Besides Mark’s story of success and his recommendations to those who wish to become entrepreneurs, we included a spontaneous application of one of the key tools described in Mark’s podcasts–namely, the Feedback Model.  Not only is this interesting, but it serves as a case in point that these tools do serve to enhance the skills and professionalism of those in Business–whether corporate, non-profit, public sector, or Entrepreneurial.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 33- Scott Whitney of PodWorx, Inc.: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we had the pleasure of interviewing Scott Whitney– the CEO of PodWorx, Inc.

Scott’s story is quite amazing because his history is proof that a determined entrepreneur can start a successful business in various industries and can always be profitable after the first month from the launch of the business.

Scott’s exceptional story…

Scott has started several successful firms in the Internet Web Presence and Design business, the Music business and the New Media and Business Podcasting environment. His current company is called PodWorx, Inc., based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. This firm provides the complete line of services for businesses that want to create a presence in the marketplace by using the vehicles and channels of Podcasting–especially audio (or, as Scott has described it, an “Internet Radio Show”). His firm’s success speaks for itself with the large business clients that use PodWorx, Inc., to deliver its audio presence in the Podosphere–especially the Podcast show for Polycom (which is available for free subscription on directories like iTunes and is titled “Polycom On Demand”).

Industry Authority Figure

In just less than 2 years, Scott has not only become a full-time podcaster that delivers value to Businesses that want to extend their reach and audience in the New Media “space,” but he has also become an industry authority figure in the world of Podcasting. Case in point: Scott will be giving a workshop-style presentation titled “Plan, Produce, Publish and Promote: The Four Keys to Podcasting Success” at the 4th annual conference called the New Media Expo (on August, 14, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada). This is quite an accolade, as only 46 people were chosen to deliver a session at the conference from well over 700 application entries. Thus, by the measure of success and experience of providing value, Scott has become and Industry Authority Figure (many in the Press call this type of individual an “industry pundit“).

For those interested in creating podcasts for business, Scott has a deliverable of great value in the form of a CD that is called The Four P’s of Podcasting® (which can be ordered at this PodWorx Blog web link).

The audio episodes on the CD are also available on the PodWorx, Inc. Blog, as well as iTunes — if you want to get a specific episode. (By the way, I highly recommend this for aspiring Podcasters as a blueprint to implement a podcast for your business). His series on iTunes is called the Podcasting for Business Podcast.

Scott is a role model of an experienced corporate professional who was able to become a successful entrepreneur, with his track record of delivering profitability after the 1st month. He is a key case study of someone who is currently making a full-time living as a podcaster by providing value to other businesses while simultaneously providing implementation roadmaps to others in his industry.

For a transcript of this interview, click here for the pdf file:

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 New Media and Productivity for Small Business: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur is the audio content from the presentation delivered by Fred Castaneda during a luncheon meeting of the Austin Northwest Chamber of Commerce in Austin, Texas, on 28 February 2008.
The slides are available in the pdf document, below.

Click here for the charts presented .

This presentation consists of 2 topics:
(1) Why Personal Productivity is critical for the Entrepreneur and the Small Business Owner.

- How to avoid becoming overwhelmed;

- Productivity Hint: How to Deal With–and overcome–Procrastination.

(2) Why New Media is important to Small Business and How Podcasting can increase your business.

- eMarketer reports: the growth of Podcasting and New Media;

- How Podcasting can increase your business and become a revenue-generating tool;

- The low-cost entry of Podcasting and some Podcasting resources.

A free whitepaper with a Personal Productivity Hint is included in the discussion of Part One of the presentation. The title of the whitepaper is “A Productivity Hint: How to Deal with–and overcome–Procrastination.”

For access to the whitepaper as an audio mp3 file, click here.

or

To access the whitepaper as a pdf document, click here .

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.