Most Clicked SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs Stories
1. How Walt Disney built his World
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 05, 2009
When Walt Disney wanted to build theme parks in California and Florida, the corporation that bore his name decided the move was too risky. Undaunted, Disney financed the parks out of his own pocket, then sold them back to the company that was too timid to believe in his vision. Having "the courage to innovate" is one of six lessons entrepreneurs could learn from Disney's life, John Sviokla writes. HarvardBusiness.org (12/30)
2. Trimming the fat -- and frills -- from fitness clubs
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 02, 2009
There are no smoothie bars or steam rooms in the average 2,500-square-foot Snap Fitness club -- just lots of busy folks looking for a quick workout that won't bust the family budget. Peter Taunton planned his bare-bones fitness empire back in 2002, but he says the concept is perfect for these tough economic times. "We offer a fitness product that screams value," he says, and more than 800 franchisees seem to agree. Forbes (01/12)
3. What does your desk say about you?
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 06, 2009
Looking to clean up your act in 2009? Experts say a cluttered desk is often just a symptom of poor work habits. For instance, too much junk on the desk might indicate that you need to delegate more. As for the old rule about touching a piece of paper only once: That's "probably true only of toilet paper," says one professional organizer. Financial Times (01/05)
4. Generation Y Me
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 02, 2009
Chastened by the recession, Millennials may be losing the sense of entitlement that irked so many business owners, but realism comes at a price. "The recession is creating lower turnover, but also higher frustration among young people stuck in jobs," warns one inter-generational consultant. Economist, The (12/30)
5. Small sales, big growth
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 07, 2009
If your startup fails to meet growth projections, many consultants will tell you to focus on big, strategic accounts to pump up your numbers. But business guru Guy Kawasaki disagrees, because small accounts can turn into big ones, and small successes build confidence. "Get any kind of sale you can. ... Beggars can't be choosers," he writes. It's one of four tips Kawasaki offers for startups that fail to take off as expected. Entrepreneur (01/2009)
6. How to start over
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 07, 2009
When faced with a crisis such as a layoff or illness, true entrepreneurs find a way to reinvent themselves. Former cheerleader Paula Deen transformed herself into a celebrity cook through sheer hard work after a divorce left her destitute. And designer Sigrid Olsen channeled her creative energies into an art gallery after a corporate strategy shift closed the chain of clothing stores that had made her famous. Forbes (12/30)
7. Where VC funding is likely to go in 2009
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 06, 2009
Venture capitalists this year aren't expecting a "next big thing" app such as Facebook or YouTube, but instead are looking to Web properties with revenue models that go beyond selling ads, according to this article. Other potentially appealing segments for VC funds include personalized health care sites, mobile hardware startups and firms developing cloud-computing-based applications. New York Times, The (01/04)
8. Bringing the entrepreneurial mindset to life
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 05, 2009
"Life Entrepreneurs" by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek argues that the entrepreneurial mindset is about more than building a great business -- it's about building a great life. In an interview, Vanourek says "tapping into their passion" gives entrepreneurs a competitive edge, allowing them "to do something better, to do something more efficiently, to do something exciting, to do something that benefits humanity or their community." Austin American-Statesman (Texas) (free registration) (01/04)
9. Working in greener pastures
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 06, 2009
For green-focused businesses -- or simply green-minded entrepreneurs -- where you live can make all the difference. From LEED-certified buildings to environmental laws to green networking groups, Entrepreneur magazine picks America's Top 10 earth-friendly cities. Entrepreneur (01/2009)
10. Would anyone notice if your company went away?
SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | Jan 02, 2009
Cost-cutting will be necessary for most companies in 2009, says entrepreneur and author Bill Taylor, but smart entrepreneurs will balance those cuts with a "burst of creativity" to forge stronger bonds with customers. "Small gestures of kindness, good cheer, surprise and delight, can send huge signals -- especially in perilous economic times," he writes. HarvardBusiness.org (12/23)
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