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Youth Entrepreneurship
A place to share tools and resources as well as provide peer-to-peer mentoring for the next generation of business owners.
Started by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)
Network Leader: Ryan Paugh
Mike Ambassador Bruny
Folks, I'm creating a 4-week online class on effective conference networking for young professionals (25-40yrs) with side-hustles (working 9 to 5 & building a business at the same time). I could use some assistance with the following 3 questions:
1. Do you know anyone who fits that description?
2. If that is you, what are your biggest challenges when it comes to networking at conferences?
3. If a class was offered to help with your challenge, what would you like to see in it?
A big Thank You!
2 weeks ago from Entrepreneurs, Youth Entrepreneurship and Ask A Coach1 more
Danielle Bullen recommended this
qingqing456:
9 Good Reasons To Have An Online Booking System vibram five fingers ukThe Internet is here to stay, and many businesses have made their first leap ...More9 Good Reasons To Have An Online Booking System vibram five fingers ukThe Internet is here to stay, and many businesses have made their first leap to the Internet with a web site, and many are now moving forwards using the Internet, not only as an advertising and promotion platform, but as an active business platform.You may have asked yourself why vibram five fingers shoes so many small businesses are so interested in getting an online reservation system on their web site. Here are 9 good reasons why!Many customers surf the Internet outside of business hours and they are Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek more likely to make reservations on the spot that trying to remember to call back the next day.Statistics show that more Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek and more bookings today are made during the evening at home online. If your normal business hours are 9 to 5, then you have no one to take bookings after 17:00, and this is when we now know most online bookings occur.An Online booking system allows you cheap vibram five fingers to receive booking 24 hours a day; therefore, your 揵ooking service?is always open.Whether you are paying for direct advertising, or paying a commission for bookings through booking portals, in either case, you are paying a portion of your income to these sources. If you have an online booking system on your Vibram Five Fingers Running own website, you have then cut out the middleman. A contact form does not provide your customers with a clear view of your availability. A contact form does not allow your customers to book directly and pay and get confirmed automatically.A proper online booking system must, at the least be able to perform these two tasks as they are core to providing good customer service.If you are not using an online booking system today, then you may still be processing all your bookings manually. A good online booking system will handle all the aspects of the booking. It must, at a minimum, do the following:- Automatically ensure that bookings can only be received vibram five fingers when you have availability- Get ALL the information required during the booking process so you don抰 have to waste time asking for more information- Send out an automated email to Vibram Five Fingers Komodo the booking party as a confirmation of the booking- Automatically update your availability when the vibram five fingers uk booking has been processedA good booking system will do all vibram five fingers shoes this.Also make sure your booking system doesn抰 just handle the online bookings, but handles email, phone and walk-in bookings as well. Vibram Five Fingers RunningIf you use a good online booking system which also handles the walk-in, email and phone bookings, then you will have all your previous customers data in a structured system. This is important today as it allows you to market yourself to your previous customers. This customer vibram five fingers list is often one of your best-valued resources in a business, and you want this data both accessible and structured.
2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago
Mehul Kar
I'd love to find some resources on gamification. What has worked, what hasn't. Examples of good/bad implementation, theory, psychology, etc. I think the hype is justified, it's such an interesting thing.
Kate Davids:
Try the book Reality is Broken, by Jane McGonigal. She's a game designer and does some really innovative stuff. The book goes into how games work, ...MoreTry the book Reality is Broken, by Jane McGonigal. She's a game designer and does some really innovative stuff. The book goes into how games work, making games out of some pretty interesting things, like graveyards with a game called Tombstone Hold'em.
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Mehul Kar:
Nice, will check it out. Been waiting for an excuse to get that Kindle, this might be it :)
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Dana Leavy
Hey you- the savvy aspiring entrepreneur with all that pent-up creative energy just waiting to BURST out of the corporate bubble... Want to get your business idea off the ground and working for yourself full time in the next 12-18 months? Oh yea, and in the cheapest (but not so cheap that it's not effective) way possible? I did it for my biz, and would love to share my tips to help you get there too! So... "Let's Get it Goin'!" http://tinyurl.com/6nldw9q
10 weeks ago from Copywriters, Graphic Design, Interactive Design, Upstarts! and Youth Entrepreneurship3 more
Dana Leavy
One of the biggest barriers to entry for young people wanting to start a business or strike out on their own as freelancers is finances: how to save/get the money to start up, determining how much you need to do so, and what to expect when it comes to properly managing and planning it. Some tips I found helpful for financing your first year in business as an entrepreneur or freelancer: http://aspyresolutions.com/2012/03/how-to-afford-to-work-for-yourself/
11 weeks ago from Entrepreneurs, Upstarts!, Youth Entrepreneurship, Young Professional Women (YPW) and Web 2.03 more
Kathy Ver Eecke
Quit now to ensure a great career later -- Would you quit school (or even your job!) to apprentice at a hot, funded, growing startup in NYC? New program offering 15 applicants the opp to do just that. Would you do it?
http://workingforwonka.com/students-must-drop-out-to-get-a-job/
Melissa Breau
What's the most unique marketing idea you've seen recently?
For me, it would be the idea of throwing a party—a retailer in Fl. holds a huge party at a local park every year with vendors who provide various services / products to her target audience. By providing them with access to more than just what she provides and doing so in a fun setting, she's experienced great success.
Ryan Paugh
Great question asked on our YEC members-only forum today and I wanted to ask you guys for your thoughts as well: How do you define social entrepreneurship? Can a for-profit venture be social entrepreneurship or does it have to be a nonprofit?
16 weeks ago from Shotgun Startups, Upstarts!, Nonprofiteers, Entrepreneurs and Youth Entrepreneurship3 more
Lauren Bernstein:
I define social entrepreneurship as a field where financial, social, and environmental bottom lines are considered with the same amount of weight. ...MoreI define social entrepreneurship as a field where financial, social, and environmental bottom lines are considered with the same amount of weight. By that definition, a social enterprise should indeed be a for-profit venture, because the brilliance of social enterprises are their ability to turn a profit while creating social good. I think that a nonprofit social enterprise is a contradiction.
16 weeks ago
16 weeks ago
Ryan Paugh
What are your favorite books for entrepreneurship? Here are some faves from members of our YEC Women program: http://bit.ly/vnj75e What would you add?
20 weeks ago from Youth Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs, Shotgun Startups, Web Startups and Upstarts!3 more
Timothy Johnson III:
I'd add "The Personal MBA: Mastering the Art of Business", by Josh Kaufman and "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think" by Laura Vanderkam
17 weeks ago
17 weeks ago
Beatriz Alemar:
The E-myth and Get Clients Now. My personal favs about entrepreneurship.
16 weeks ago
16 weeks ago
Dana Leavy
Hey there aspiring entrepreneurs and creative freelancers! Thinking about flying solo, i.e. leaving the 9 to 5 and starting up your own business? Tune in to our interactive webinar on 2/22: Going from Employee to Entrepreneur: Breaking Free from the 9 to 5. We'll be talking about why now is actually a great time to start a business, and how to actually create more job & financial security for yourself doing so. Check it out! http://aspyresolutions.com/smallbiz-webinar/
16 weeks ago from Advertising Professionals, Career Changers, Freelancing, Youth Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurs3 more
Suzanne Kaplan
Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that I've got an interview with Penelope Trunk that I'll be featuring on my blog, http://jobtalknj.com/, on Monday 1/30. She was such a pleasure to talk to and so interesting!
Dana Leavy
2012 is the year of the entrepreneur! And even if you're not ready to jump into it full-on, I invite you try my new Small Biz StartUp e-course "From Employee to Entrepreneur", designed to give you a "taste" of what it's like to start your own biz and live the entrepreneurial journey!
Designed to help those looking to transition from one career to self-employment with everything you need to know about the small business & freelance venture startup process. https://ruzuku.com/courses/484/
17 weeks ago from Entrepreneurs, Youth Entrepreneurship, Freelancing, Creating a Life You Love and Career Changers3 more
Suzanne Kaplan
Is there anyone here who would be willing to do an interview with me for my nascent blog http://jobtalknj.com/? I'm particularly interested in interviewing entrepreneurs. Please let me know how to get in touch with you, or mention me on twitter @JobtalkNJ. Interview takes 30 minutes via phone. Thanks! Suzanne PS I can't pay you, but I'll make sure to tweet your praises!
Noel Rozny and Horus Chan recommended this
Ryan Paugh
One of the biggest issues that entrepreneurs of all ages have trouble with is dealing with problem clients who don't pay on time, don't respect scope of work, etc. My friend and fellow YEC member, Ashley Bodi, started an amazing business to help entrepreneurs deal with these issues. Tomorrow at 8:30pm est (5:30pm pst) we're producing a live video Q&A with her. Stop by and ask her your questions. Rsvp here: http://live.theyec.org/ashleybodi How do you deal with these issues in your own business?
18 weeks ago from Youth Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs, Shotgun Startups, Web Startups and Upstarts!3 more
Noel Rozny and Horus Chan recommended this
JRandom42:
You mean that businesses can get paid by their customers on time without having to send out Uncle Dominic, Cousin Carmine and Cousin Vito to ...MoreYou mean that businesses can get paid by their customers on time without having to send out Uncle Dominic, Cousin Carmine and Cousin Vito to sprain their thumbs? No Way! :)
18 weeks ago
18 weeks ago
Coach Al Johnson
Just read a great article that I wanted to share with this group from Mark Cuban on entrepreneurship: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/222524
Dave Rothacker:
Man, do I love #9! And #12, ironically just yesterday I had a conversation with a middle manager, who I know to be excellent at what he does. His ...MoreMan, do I love #9! And #12, ironically just yesterday I had a conversation with a middle manager, who I know to be excellent at what he does. His main beef is that he is under-appreciated and under-valued.
Nice work on finding this resource Coach Al!
18 weeks ago
Nice work on finding this resource Coach Al!
18 weeks ago
Coach Al Johnson
BRANDING: When you start a new company where you are a coach or consultant...should you brand yourself, the company name, or both? Open to thoughts...
Dave Rothacker:
Here's a thought Coach Al - As a consumer, if I am dealing with the employee of a company, that company's brand no matter what they want it to be, ...MoreHere's a thought Coach Al - As a consumer, if I am dealing with the employee of a company, that company's brand no matter what they want it to be, takes a backseat to the employee.
In a one person gig, I would work like crazy on consistent & appealing communications, image & service. I consider this tactical work. As far as individual branding, I believe good values, ethic and service fortifies the tactical side, so that in the end, there's really only one brand.
18 weeks ago
In a one person gig, I would work like crazy on consistent & appealing communications, image & service. I consider this tactical work. As far as individual branding, I believe good values, ethic and service fortifies the tactical side, so that in the end, there's really only one brand.
18 weeks ago
Coach Al Johnson
How many folks here are located in Chicago? I'd like to try and connect with a few folks in the Chicagoland area for a live discussion in February. Any takers? I really want 2012 to be the year I challenge myself to learn from others vs. trying to do so much on my own.
Coach Al Johnson
QUESTION: I spent some time talking with a business consultant I met at a friend's b-day party this weekend. The question of the hour was, as a young entrepreneur, when you full time day job potentially holds you back due to time commitments there, how/when do you know when the right time is to leave your comfortable corporate job and go ALL IN with your start up? What do you guys think?
Jay Neely
If you're interested in entrepreneurship, I would love to get your feedback on a site I've created to list all the startups in the Boston area, sortable by industry, neighborhood, hiring, etc. Working on a redesign now. http://www.StartupsInBoston.com
Ryan Paugh:
Looks great Jay! Have you thought about working with DartBoston or a similar group to make this list more accessible with startup people in the ...MoreLooks great Jay! Have you thought about working with DartBoston or a similar group to make this list more accessible with startup people in the city? There are so many excellent groups here doing amazing work that you could partner with.
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Jay Neely:
Thanks for the idea Ryan; I'm friends with Jake and some of the other Dart Boston folks and believe they're aware of it, haven't thought about a ...MoreThanks for the idea Ryan; I'm friends with Jake and some of the other Dart Boston folks and believe they're aware of it, haven't thought about a more directed effort toward co-promotion yet. Will mull it over. =)
19 weeks ago
19 weeks ago
Edward Antrobus
I recently started a new company doing ebook file conversion and publishing.The conversion aspect I started 10 months ago but never had any customers. Last month I relaunched adding the publishing side. So far I've signed on author had made one sale. What I need help with is the marketing, to get the word out, but I only have ~$25/month I can put towards the effort. I need to find somebody who can do the marketing and advertising on that budget.
Ryan Paugh recommended this
Edward Antrobus:
JRandom, That's a great question. The short answer: quality. The long answer: Any software-based conversion tool is going to be inherently limited ...MoreJRandom, That's a great question. The short answer: quality. The long answer: Any software-based conversion tool is going to be inherently limited in producing quality output by how close the input file resembles what the programmer coded for. The less formatting the source, the better looking the final product.
I'm a big fan of Calibre, I use it to manage my own library, and it does a decent job of converting files from one ebook file to another. If I get a Kindle book for my personal library, I'll use Calibre to turn it into an epub. But it tends to fall down on the job on odt/rtf files (it doesn't support doc files as an input file). Even Amazon's own conversion tool won't produce a file that Amazon will accept if the source file isn't just so.
If somebody wants a file that is going to look right on readers screens, will validate on validation tools, and will be accepted by ebook retailers then work and knowledge has to go into formatting the source document. That's 90% of what I do. And if you're not familiar with the rules, it can take a lot of time. The first ebook I ever did, it took me 10 hours to get right.
Noel, Any company that has a "zombie" level of service desserves some consideration. I'll have to look into them more. Thanks for the link!
20 weeks ago
I'm a big fan of Calibre, I use it to manage my own library, and it does a decent job of converting files from one ebook file to another. If I get a Kindle book for my personal library, I'll use Calibre to turn it into an epub. But it tends to fall down on the job on odt/rtf files (it doesn't support doc files as an input file). Even Amazon's own conversion tool won't produce a file that Amazon will accept if the source file isn't just so.
If somebody wants a file that is going to look right on readers screens, will validate on validation tools, and will be accepted by ebook retailers then work and knowledge has to go into formatting the source document. That's 90% of what I do. And if you're not familiar with the rules, it can take a lot of time. The first ebook I ever did, it took me 10 hours to get right.
Noel, Any company that has a "zombie" level of service desserves some consideration. I'll have to look into them more. Thanks for the link!
20 weeks ago
Coach Al Johnson
Curious how other young entrepreneurs who also hold a demanding full time job split their time. There is marketing, operations, content development, website maintenance, strategic planning, and the list goes on when you are an army of one. I've learned to split my time by category, but I'm curious how others spend their time to generate success.
Dave Rothacker:
In another lifetime Coach, I had a twenty-five year relationship with your day job company. (You can just imagine how skinny the catalog USED to ...MoreIn another lifetime Coach, I had a twenty-five year relationship with your day job company. (You can just imagine how skinny the catalog USED to be :-) What is your company's attitude towards your coaching gig?
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Coach Al Johnson:
Dave - I'm impressed each year that they find a way to add more to it! They are fully supportive and my coaching and mentoring background has led ...MoreDave - I'm impressed each year that they find a way to add more to it! They are fully supportive and my coaching and mentoring background has led to many opportunities within the company as a result. Great to place to work - as they reward me with more there, I feel punished that I have less time to devote to my own business. It's tough!
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Dave Rothacker
For biz development, advice and resources, I recommend checking out Pamela Slim and her work at: http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/
Sign up for Pam's newsletter and read posts of interest from her blog. Then sign up for her free monthly Q & A phone call. I listened in on these calls a couple of years ago. I'd known of Pam for a few years before that, so I had a feel for her expertise. I was still blown away by her ability to answer questions in such a clear, concise & informative manner.
Ryan Paugh recommended this
Dave Rothacker
For biz development, advice and resources, I recommend checking out Pamela Slim and her work at: http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/
Sign up for Pam's newsletter and read posts of interest from her blog. Then sign up for her free monthly Q & A phone call. I listened in on these calls a couple of years ago. I'd known of Pam for a few years before that, so I had a feel for her expertise. I was still blown away by her ability to answer questions in such a clear, concise & informative manner.
Jana Schuberth
I know it's tough to find the perfect VA because I have been looking for a long time before I found Jessica, so I just wanted to share that I know someone who is amazing and reliable in case anyone is looking, I think she's got space for one or two more clients max at the moment. She lives in the ET time zone. Pls PM me if you want me to pass on her details!
Ryan Paugh
Starting a new group to help young entrepreneurs find resources to support their business development. Please join up and tell me about your business to get the conversation going.
Juha Liikala recommended this
Allison Cheston:
@Emma @ Edward My working title is In the Driver's Seat: Work-Life Navigation Skills for Young Adults. I have an agent and am looking to go the ...More@Emma @ Edward My working title is In the Driver's Seat: Work-Life Navigation Skills for Young Adults. I have an agent and am looking to go the traditional publisher route, although I do understand the pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing. Any ideas are welcome!
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Edward Antrobus:
@Allison, Well, best of luck. I do know a few people that have gone the traditional route and it's probably still the better route for those who ...More@Allison, Well, best of luck. I do know a few people that have gone the traditional route and it's probably still the better route for those who can get in. But if you ever push out any follow-up books that you do self-publish, I'd love to help out.
20 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
Dana Leavy
Great article, thanks for sharing! I agree 2012 is going to really spike the movement for entrepreneurship. As a consultant, I work with folks who are making that exact jump, from full time "underemployment" to starting up small businesses and creative freelance ventures. With the lack of security in the traditional job market, people are taking their skills, talents and creativity elsewhere, doing better work, and making it the new lifestyle. It's really exciting to see the traction!
Recent Network Activity
Jay Neely said If you're in the Boston area and interested in startups, you might find this resource I've put ...
Jay Neely said Forbes covers 10 jobs that didn't exist 10 years ago, including social media managers: ...