Struggling Entrepreneur

 

 98- unique value from www.European-bistro.com [43:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we examine how a Restaurant entrepreneur with a niche target market of European cuisine has discovered and implemented some unique items and incentives to deliver superior customer service and a rich customer experience–and this, at the same time while maintaining the quality of the food to an extremely high standard of authenticity and taste (which is verified by critical and demanding customers from the original ethnic homelands of Europe).

In this audio episode, Anna Zovek, the owner of the European Bistro,  shares her never-ending attention to the customer experience.

In addition to getting feedback directly from her customers, she includes new items in the menu which they requested (i.e., “enhancing the product”).  She also observes her competitors and includes best practices from other businesses that will work in her environment. And she also enriches the dining experience with live entertainment, as well as incentives for a dream vacation to visit the homeland and re-energize the roots for some 2nd- and 3rd-generation customers in America.

This business, the European Bistro, is housed in a quaint and historic building that is 110 years old.

What is incredible is that the value proposition to the customers is founded on the authentic taste and quality of the foods and dishes from mid- and Eastern Europe, that is, from French cuisine to the dishes of Germany, Hungary, Russia, and even the Balkans.

But the “product” of the food and dishes offered is not the only ingredient in creating a dining masterpiece for the customers. A rich experience is also provided.

How?

With live entertainment that suits the palette of the customers. When do you get to listen to a wandering minstrel and troubadour, dressed in the native costume of the homeland,  who knows the folkloric songs in 5 different languages from the home country? And this wonderful “voyage” to the homeland is captured as the singer, Shirley Johnson, plays at the customers’ table, to heighten the nostalgia for a return to the pleasant memories.

In addition, for the customers who love soft melodies of other music and ballads, there is a pianist that provides the background ambiance to allow a casual dining experience, so that the customers can have relaxed and soft conversations while enjoying their time at the European Bistro.

But Anna Zovek provides additional incentives to increase the value to the customers. This can range from lunch special menu selections at very affordable prices– to the contest winner of a free week’s stay at a time-share lodging in Budapest, for those who desire to visit Hungary and actually live the experience in the homeland.

Many other marketing items and best practices are also mentioned in this audio interview. One of them will definitely surprise you, as it did me–for it is an exclusive that provides care and attention to the customers.

In doing the due diligence for this interview, I went to sample the dishes at the European Bistro myself. I can truthfully say that the “product” is of the highest quality–even though it may mean importing ingredients from the East coast or the Midwest, if they are not available locally.

Thus, even in an economic downturn, unique values can be delivered in the customer value proposition of a rich experience–not only to heighten the brand awareness, but to gain and keep loyal customers, as well as referrals for a niche business in a terribly competitive environment.

For more information, you may go to the web site at:

http://www.european-bistro.com

Copyright (c)  2009, MatrixSolutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 97- UnintentionalEntrepreneur.com article- Was your layoff a blessing in disguise? [11:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver to you the audio narration of a blog post from the blog The Unintentional Entrepreneur, with a complete and unabridged article titled Was Your Layoff a “Blessing in Disguise?”

For those of us who have gone through the experience of a layoff, the results may have ranged from relief to frustration to anger to depression–and more.

However, in this article, we find some results from a survey at SnagAJob.com that deliver more of a positive look forward to potential opportunity rather than negative gloom-and-doom. In fact, the article says that a great many of those surveyed look upon the layoff as a silver lining, or a “blessing in disguise.”

In addition, the audio episode also includes the forthcoming announcement in September of Finance4Startups (at http://www.finance4startups.com). This site will provide the tools and training needed for those entrepreneurs who wish to form their own startup business, but minimize the problems with financing a startup, funding and money management.

This is important, because in a free whitepaper  from this podcast series, you can see that the top three challenges which face a struggling entrepreneur are:

1.  Money, finance and capitalization;

2. Resources — which are free and fee and available; and

3. Being Overwhelmed– i.e., having too much to do and not enough time (especially for Solo-preneurs). However, there is education and training that can deliver lifelong skills that form habits so that you can be able to:

- accomplish more

- in less time

- with better quality, and

- with reduced stress.

Go to the podcast of Gain Control of Your Day for information on how to help you get these skills.

However, we will deliver another podcast episode soon with all the details and links to Finance4Startups.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 100 Non-Business Books for Entrepreneurs- blogpost from www.onlineuniversities.com [18:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we deliver the audio narration of a blogpost titled 100 Non-Business Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read (and found in the online blog OnlineUniversities.com).

We thank this group for the suggestion to have this blogpost in this podcast series. Thus, this blogpost is complete and unabridged.If you go to the above link for the actual blogpost, you will be able to get to each individual book and review it in detail or even order it from such places such as www.amazon.com.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the major sections and categories of books are divided into the following:

- Communication

- Leadership

- Success

- Personal Development

- Relationships and Personality

- Psychology

- Finance

- Strategy and Innovation

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation and www.onlineuniversities.com. All rights Reserved.

 

 95- Gayle Temkin in reassessing your business as an entrepreneur [23:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepeneur, we interview Gayle Temkin, a small business owner and entrepreneur for over 30 years, who has had several business–one for profit and the other a non-profit firm.

Gayle’s web site is the Coalition for Emotional Literacy:

As the Founding Director, she is focused on trying to help the adults, adolescents and children to a better life–physically and emotionally–through her contracts with the education systems and also with her therapy business. You can reach her at her email of contact@theCEL.org.

We focus on the theme of re-assessing the business by an enrepreneur. We ask the question: what are the key things that should be examined that really determine the direction of the business during a re-assessment?

And when is the best time for an Entrepreneur to re-assess the business, in accordance with a solid Business Plan? In this audio episode, you will hear the story from Gayle Temkin, as she presents this challenge in the journey of a small business owner along the way of creating a business that will be meaningful, in addition to profitable. She also gives her insights as to the value of a realistic business plan that takes into account your own aspirations, goals and values.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 94- HYBRID ENTREPRENEUR coming from Academia- Mark A. Hernandez [43:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Mark A. Hernandez– a 15-year veteran of the world of Academia within the University circles. He is a published author, but now is striving to become a self-made “Portfolio-Career Entrepreneur” who refers to himself as a “Hybrid Entrepreneur.”

This individual has 3 years in preparing for the launch of his small business. Although having already participated in the entrepreneurial world as a part-time consultant for several businesses within the area of research, demographics and forecasting of diversity-and-inclusion topics for organizations to help with the recruitment and retention of Latino populations within the workforce, Mark  now is targeting a very niche market and customer set.

As you will hear in this audio podcast, Mark is now validating his value proposition, while concurrently drawing up a written feasibility study within his launch plan (which is set within the next 4 months). The methods for his validation and confirmation are in-person meetings and interviews, as well as the use of social media online tools (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, etc.).Mark’s skill set includes that of primary and secondary research, which is required by enterprise organizations and small businesses to analyze the target markets and populations that they can serve, in order to be successful in creating and marketing products suited for the consumers.  The evidence is clear in his published book, Figural Conquistadors, which is available at www.amazon.com.

 As you will also note from this interview, Mark has an extensive background of experience with entrepreneurs–all the way from his own family members that have their own small businesses, to the networking circles and relationships that he is currently nurturing.

Thus, his recommendations for those in Academia who want to venture out into the world of owning their small business are strong from his own experiences: know thyself and see if you are ready for what awaits the entrepreneur:

- possible financial hardships;

- uncertainty of future success;

- unstructured and dynamic environments;

- no “job security” as in a tenured academic environment.

But the rewards of success are also the driving forces that will drive those in Academia to emulate the role models, such as Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (as well as other books).

We will follow up with Mark A. Hernandez after his launch to see how he has crafted his value proposition and announced his entry into the world of entrepreneurs.

In the meantime, you may reach Mark in the following ways:

- email:   Mark.Hernandez2050 [at] gmail.com

- twitter handle:  mah2020

- also on LinkedIn.

Thanks to Mark for pointing out a resource to those in the Academic environment who want to explore postacademic careers and opportunities:

this is the book titled So What Are You Going to Do with That?: Finding Careers Outside Academia (available in paperback at Amazon.com).

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.