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Measuring Startup Success: Being A Entrepreneur Is A Journey

Measuring Startup Success: Being A Entrepreneur Is A Journey

Fleeting, elusive or maybe just for fifteen minutes, success feels and looks different to every entrepreneur. For some it is a feeling, others a milestone reached (or valuation metric achieved). It is often tied to external recognition and feeling appreciated. When I asked the founder and CEO of Date My Wardrobe, Amrita Aviyente about her feelings on success, she replied it is “when people recognize your sincere efforts towards a common cause or a goal”.

Here’s how five other entrepreneurs answered the question “what does success look like for you”?

Success is something very elusive for me because I notice my benchmarks and my own expectations of myself increase quietly with my accomplishments. That’s very tricky, because it implies the danger of becoming restless. I try to remind myself that in the end, success is to be happy. I know, however, that I do need to feel accomplished to be able to be happy. The process of building something that is of value to a lot of people is one key ingredient to my personal happiness sauce. Another key ingredient is spending quality time with the people I love, my family and my closest friends. Most of the time both ingredients are very difficult to balance. The day that I’m good enough at business to allow myself to generously allocate my time, I can proudly say that I’m successful. – Felicia Schneiderhan, Cofounder of 30SecondsToFly @Felicia_S_

Success for me means accepting the responsibility to create and sustain happiness and fulfillment for myself and others. True happiness, not the kind that was stolen from someone else, or the rush of validation from flattery, or the situational exhilaration that comes when everything is going my way. The ability to be grateful, optimistic, resilient, productive, and kind when things are not happening the way you intended is possibly the greatest tool you can have in your arsenal. – Alex Merrell, Founder & CEO of TREC, DJ @alex_merrell

A launched platform with 10,000 successful syndicates under our belt, the leading portfolio of African startups, the highest conversion rates of any investor tours to the continent, and sustainably rising GDP rates in our target African countries. – Maya Horgan Famodu, Founder of Ingressive @mayahorgan

As an entrepreneur, I know I can be hard on myself, which I’m sure is common. I ponder to myself “Maybe once we get a certain investment or a certain amount of revenue or followers, then we have reached success”. The truth is, there is no one point that can measure success. We each as individuals determine what success means to us. Success is a process and a journey on a continuum. There are milestones along the journey that are benchmarks toward success but one can always keep going. It is when you know you’ve created something with passion and persistence and continue to grow and learn along the way. Knowing that you never gave up. Making your passion come to life and seeing your creation make an impact on others in a meaningful way is success. – Rachel Kimelman, Co-Founder of LGBTQutie @lgbtqutie

Success for me means enjoying my life as I go. Not building up to enjoy my life 20 years from now. It means feeling stretched and challenged, having enough time for my friends, my family and my passions–and it also means enjoying the challenges along the way. Never Liked It Anyway has opened doors I never dreamed of–we’re working on a TV show, a book, two products of our own as well as building the core business. Each of these pillars are a whole new world for me–full of new stuff to sink my teeth in to. It’s like one giant video game and every level feels like a new adventure. That alone is success–and the kind of success I try to give weight to. – Annabel Acton, CEO & Founder of Never Liked It Anyway @neverlikedit

Stressing about your startup success? Read the guidance of five young entrepreneurs on how they handle day-to-day startup anxieties.

28 Businesses You Can Start for Less Than $1,000

LIf you're looking to start your own business, think about what skills you havaura Cattano went from working in a restaurant to managing her own business in less than a year and spent “next to nothing” to get started.

Her biggest initial startup costs? Replacing an old computer and spending about $400 to create an LLC. Since then, Cattano’s client list for her professional organizing business has grown to be “in the thousands” and multiple major fashion magazines have featured her work.

“My advice is to go out there and do it,” Cattano said. “Starting a business is not easy. It’s a lot of hard work, but if you take your work seriously, people will notice.”

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Luis Alvarez | Getty Images

If you’re looking to start your own business, think about what skills you have, career experts said.

“Ask yourself, ‘What’s my passion?'” career and life coach Deborah Brown-Volkman said. “People want control over their career, and so creating their own business for under $1,000 gives them the ability to test it out, to see what works and what doesn’t.”

Experts say once you feel you’re onto something, purchase some sort of business insurance, which will likely be a big chunk of your costs. Basic business insurance usually ranges from $200 to $500 a month, varying depending on location.

1. Tutor

If you have a skill, teach it. The average wage of a tutor is $17.29 per hour, according to PayScale.

2. Dog walker

Love pets and getting some exercise? Dog walking is an easy business to start. Pet business insurance will make up the majority of your expenses, which usually cost $200 to 400 a month, according to onepet business insurance provider. Dog walkers typically make $8 to $20 an hour, with an average wage of $12.03.

3. Professional organizer

If you have a knack for turning clutter into cleanliness, why not try turning that into cash? The median hourly salary for a professional organizer is $25.

4. Fashion stylist

A great place to start is by styling a few of your friends for a party, and then encouraging them to tell their friends, career experts said. Soon you could have your own fashion business and be making a median of $15 an hour to above $40 once as you gain experience.

5. Translator

Multilingual entrepreneurs, this business is for you. Whether you want to take up projects people post online, approach companies or start-ups that do a lot of international business or check local job postings, there are multiple ways to start building your own translation business. Translators make a median income of $20 per hour.

6. Photographer

If you’re a stay-at-home parent with a knack for photography, creating family portraits or photographing events for people in your neighborhood could be the start of a fruitful business. The trick here is that you’ll probably need to have a nice camera, a tripod and equipment insurance — the total cost of which will most likely exceed $1,000. If you can get a deal on a good camera at a lower price or already have the equipment, then the start-up costs are low. Freelance photographers make a median of $24 per hour.

7. Errand runner

Lots of people don’t have the time to run errands daily, and a local errand service business could be a great solution. Errand runners make about $11 per hour.

8. Transcriber

From video shoots to audio interviews or speeches, there’s a lot out there that needs to be transcribed. If you’re a good typist with a few extra hours and a computer, you could start your own transcription service. The median hourly wage for transcribers is $15.

9. Freelance writer

Companies and content websites need good content, and you want to start your own business. Consider starting your own business as a freelance writer. Freelance writers typically are paid by the post or project, so wages can vary.

10. Jewelry maker

Jewelry makers would most likely make money on sales and projects, as opposed to hourly wages. Platforms for selling homemade goods like Etsy are a benchmark of what you could expect to charge for your products.

11. Avon or Tupperware sales person

Independent sales representatives for companies like Avon or Tupperware don’t have to worry about creating a product or inventing a business structure. If you like talking with people, this social business could be for you. Incomes differ based on the company you work for and the amount of sales you make.

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Lew Robertson | Getty Images

12. Makeup artist

If you’re a professional makeup artist or hairdresser at a salon, you could earn extra income by setting up your own side business. If you love makeup or hair care but aren’t an expert, consider investing in a class or certificate program. Talk with professionals to find what they recommend, experts said. Makeup artists earn a median salary of $16per hour, while hairdressers earn a median of $9.

13. Virtual assistant

Organized self-starters could find good work being a virtual assistant, a person who does all the things an assistant would normally do, just via the internet and phone. Virtual assistants earn a median salary of$16 per hour.

14. Personal chef

Roll up your sleeves and break out the spices. A personal culinary business where you are a chef for private parties could be a delicious venture. Personal chefs make a median of $20 per hour.

15. Personal shopper

If you love to shop or are interested in fashion retail, starting a personal shopping business could be a great fit. Personal shoppers earn a median of $14 an hour.

16. Graphic designer

Graphic design has be frustrating for the nondesigner. While there are free design tools out there, many do not offer customization or the insight an expert would. That’s where your business could come in. Graphic designers make a median of $15 per hour, which you can factor into project prices.

17. UI/UX designer

This one’s a little more obscure to the average entrepreneur than the others. User interface (UI) design and user experience design (UX) make sure your website or app is user friendly, intuitive and visually pleasing among other things. UI designers make a median of $32 per hour while UX designers make a median of $35 per hour.

18. Social media manager

Many small companies or other entrepreneurs can’t afford to have a social media manager or marketing team. Starting a social media company where you manage part-time or full-time other people’s accounts could be a profitable gig. Social media managers make a median of $14 per hour.

19. Consultant

“Every industry could have a consultant. In order to be a successful consultant, you need to have some sort of success in that particular field,” career expert Jill Jacinto said.

As a consultant, you could help businesses make contacts, form deals and guide their strategic plan as a consultant. This job has a median salary of $20 per hour.

20. PR professional

Have experience in a particular field? Recently retired? You likely have a lot of contacts and expertise in a specific industry, which you could leverage for your own venture. PR managers work with the media, government agencies and advertisers. They typically make $20 per hour.

21. Wedding planner

If you love detail and decor and don’t mind the stress of dealing with last-minute changes, a wedding planning business could be a great fit. Wedding planners earn a median of $17 per hour.

22. Event planner

Weddings aren’t the only events that need planning. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties are just a few of many events people need help organizing. Event planners make a median of $17 per hour.

23. Property manager

This job is replacing what used to be known as the butler, experts said. A property manager looks after a household and ensures all property activities run smoothly. The manager would get the mail, do the laundry, stock the fridge, work with other professionals like gardeners and cleaning assistants. It’s especially helpful for people who own multiple properties and don’t have time to look after them. Property managers could make anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per year, experts said.

24. Caterer

While a personal chef usually caters to smaller groups, caterers prepare meals for big events. If you’re a great cook who can handle multiple meals cooking at once, you could start your own catering business. Personal caterers make a median of $11 per hour.

25. Personal trainer

Insurance is something you’ll need at the outset with this business. If you love to work out, look into certifications you could get to become a personal trainer. If you’re already certified, even better! Personal trainers make a median of $18 per hour.

26. Accountant

If you’re a certified accountant, you could start your own practice. Accountants make a median of $18 per hour.

27. Copy editor

Business pamphlets, grant proposals and blog posts all need copy editing. Why not take your literacy and grammar skills to the market? Copy editors make a median of $18 per hour.

How to Do Business With Local Governments Workshop and Mini Trade Fair

Small business owners are invited to join SCORE and the HCC NW Center for Entrepreneurship as we host our second annual How to Do Business With.. Workshop and Mini-Trade Fair.  Come connect with key representatives of the City of Houston, the Port of Houston Authority, HCC Procurement, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and the Houston Independent School District (HISD).  All are all expanding and they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on products and services….. and they want to do business with local small business owners.

 

More on Session Topics & To Register

 

REMINDER Watch Live Podcast Awards Slate Announcement This Sunday

REMINDER Watch Live Podcast Awards Slate Announcement This Sunday

I wanted to send you quick reminder to join us this Sunday night at 6 pm Pacific 9 pm Eastern for our live broadcast announcing the slate of finalists for the 10th annual Peoples Choice Podcast Awards. Just go to www.podcastawards.com to see the live google hang out.

We had over 65,000 nominations and almost 6,000 podcasts nominated this year! That is more podcasts nominated than ever before.

If you nominated your favorite podcasts, or if you are one of the nearly 6,000 podcasts that were nominated, on behalf of myself, everyone at NMX and all of the podcasters I want to thank you for all of your support of the Podcast Awards over these last 10 years.

Please be sure to join us this Sunday Night March 1st as we announce the finalists in all 22 categories on www.podcastawards.com

Sincerely,

David Jackson
Founder
SchoolofPodcasting.com
Director of Podcasting
New Media Expo #NMX

Celebrate the 2015 Markie Award Finalists!

Celebrate the 2015 Markie Award Finalists!

Celebrate the 2015 Markie Award Finalists!

Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:23 PM PST

It’s that time again! Finalists for the Markie Awards have been announced! Winners will be revealed at the Markie Awards ceremony at during Modern Marketing Experience, April 1, 2015 in Las Vegas. The Markies honor strategic, collaborative, and tactical marketing and sales innovation. Check out the 2015 Markie Award Finalists:

Best Audience CreationCetera Financial Group | Dell Inc. | Sage | Thomson Reuters – Tax & Accounting

Best Cross-Channel Marketing ProgramCetera Financial Group | Chicago Bears Football Club | Rautaruukki | Twitter

Best Data Activation: Ingram Micro | IHS | Rautaruukki | Viajanet

Best Digital Marketing Ecosystem: comScore, Inc. | Dell Inc. | FIS | Rockwell Automation

Best Integrated Ad CampaignCole-Parmer | CSC | Klick Health | LifeSize

Best International CampaignADP | F-Secure | Lectra | Rockwell Automation

Best IT-Marketing CollaborationAer Lingus | Dell Inc. | Realestate.com.au | Western Union Business Services

Best Lead Nurturing Program: ACTIVE Network | DocuSign, Inc. | LinkedIn | Polycom

Best Social CampaignAmadeus | LifeSize | Metia | Micro Focus

Brand Experience of the YearKlick Health | Mack Trucks | Thomson Reuters | Twitter

Content is KingGood Technology | Optum | Telstra | Thermo Fisher Scientific

Customer Centricity: Audible.com | Lojas Colombo | Western Digital

CMO’s Marketing Team of the YearCetera Financial Group | LifeSize | Penton | SHIFT Communications

Extraordinary EmailAirWatch by VMware | B&Q | Telstra | Twitter

Going MobileDell Inc. | Rautaruukki

Metrics That Matter: FIS | IHS | Nuance Communications, Inc. | Optum

Modern Marketing Leader of the Year: Tim Dubroy, Western Union Business Services | Megan Lueders, LifeSize | Neil Rongstad, Rockwell Automation | Rhonda Wunderlin, Penton

Most Creative Marketing Campaign: Alaska Communications | Atmel Corporation | Eaton | Zumba

Revenue Growth: Chicago Bears Football Club | Cole-Parmer | FIS | Ingram Micro

Rookie of the Year: BT Business | ClubCorpUSA | comScore, Inc. | Wiley

Thank you for your submissions. Congratulations to the finalists! Follow the Modern Marketing Experience discussion on Twitter with the hashtag #MME15.

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Sales Coaching Training

 Sales Coaching Training

Hey Timothy,

Sales Managers who spend only 2 hours of coaching/month achieve 90% of sales goal.  Those who spend more than 3 average 107% of goal.

If you want to grow sales invest in your sales management teams ability to coach.

The Sales Management Academy and Coaching Summit are designed exclusively for executive sales leaders and front-line sales managers who are looking for proven ways to coach, lead and manage their sales teams to increase performance.

Below are some helpful links for you:

Hope you can join us and so many other amazing sales leaders from North America this May. Email info@ecsellinstitute if you have any questions.

Will Kloefkorn

Director of Business Development

P 402.805.4238  M 402.890.9165

E wkloefkorn@ecsellinstitute.com

Download your sales coaching e-book “Sales Performance Made Simple: Three Drivers of Effective Coaching How to build, maximize and sustain sales performance”

New Oracle Modern Sales Speakers. OneRepublic Entertains

Exciting Speaker Highlights for the Modern Sales Experience Conference

Modern Sales Opening Session

Nelson Kunkel, Director, Deloitte Digital
Nelson Kunkel
Director
Deloitte Digital
Scott Creighton, VP Oracle Sales Cloud, Oracle
Scott Creighton
VP Oracle Sales Cloud
Oracle
Data Intelligence Workshop Susan Etlinger, Altimeter Group
Susan Etlinger
Altimeter Group
Modern Sales Closing Session
Tim Handorf, Co-Founder and President, G2 Crowd
Tim Handorf
Co-Founder and President G2
Crowd
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Register Now to Save Red-arrow

Discover Topics Focused on CPQ

In addition to the full schedule of analyst and visionary content, the Modern Sales Conference will dive deep intoCPQ topics based on distinct roles. Discover which track is best for you, or mix-and-match as you go:

  • Business Users: Join us for two full days of CPQ-specific content featuring customer discussions and best practices on many of today’s most demanding sales process challenges.
  • Administrators and IT: Technical folks just want to know how it works. This track shows you how to get it done.
  • Mid-Market Sales: Oracle Express CPQ (BMX) is the best mid-market CPQ tool on the market. Express CPQ customers and prospects will enjoy a variety of content.
View All Sessions Red-arrow
Just Announced! One Republic is Rocking the 2015 Customer Appreciation Event!
Customer Appreciation Dinner
Join us at Madame Tussauds for a night of great food, networking and fun with your peers.
Date: April 1, 2015
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Venue: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
Madame Tussauds, Las Vegas
The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas
Want to see a document that will help you make the most of your time at the Modern Sales Experience by providing a roadmap to must-attend sessions, demos, partners, exhibits, and networking events? Check out our Focus On Documents
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SBA Seeking Nominations for Annual Tibbetts and SBIR Hall of Fame Awards

SBA Seeking Nominations for Annual Tibbetts and SBIR Hall of Fame Awards

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for its annual Tibbetts and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Hall of Fame Awards.

For details on how to submit nominations, visit http://www.sbir.gov/news/2015-tibbetts-and-sbir-hall-fame-award-nominations.  The deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT, April 10, 2015.  Please note that for the first time, there is an option for nominations to be made by video presentation.

The Tibbetts Awards are presented to those small businesses, support organizations and/or individuals who are judged to exemplify the best in the SBIR program. The award is named for Roland Tibbetts, acknowledged as the father of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, and is presented to a company or individual that has leveraged the SBIR/STTR investment in a way that has generated a measurable return in value to small business innovation and the national economy.

The SBA administers the SBIR and the STTR programs for small businesses seeking to advance their technological inventions in the commercial marketplace. The SBIR program is a highly competitive three-phase award program that encourages small businesses to explore their technological potential and helps them profit from their inventions.

There are two types of Tibbetts awards. One prize goes to businesses that have participated in the SBIR or STTR award programs. Another award goes to organizations and/or individuals who have not received SBIR/STTR funding, but who have contributed significantly in implementing the programs or in supporting program participants.

 

The SBIR Hall of Fame, started in 2011, recognizes previous SBIR awardees with a long period of extraordinary success in research, innovation, and commercialization within the SBIR program. Past SBIR Hall of Fame winners include IRobot, Qualcomm, and Symantec.

 

All Tibbetts and SBIR Hall of Fame award winners will be selected by the SBA based on the recommendations of a panel of judges. The winners will be invited to an awards program held in June during the annual SBIR National Conference at the National Harbor.