Bootstrapping with Beenken

• If you are looking for cash to start your business and getting sick of hearing “no” from Uncle Larry, the bank, your mom, and everyone else you have tried – give the clouds a go – seems to be working for others.
• I love these articles sharing tips on how to get your business off the ground while you get a paycheck from someone else.
• Quick advice on why a business plan is still necessary, even if you aren’t going after 3^rd party financing.  I wouldn’t say it needs to be a novel by any means, by a couple pages to keep you on track is going to be well worth it down the road.
• barCamp is coming to the Cedar Valley in a couple weeks – www.barcampcv.com   – I strongly encourage you to come- Feb 4^th.  Seth Godin does a great job of explaining what its all about, via the TED imperatives
• Here is a little motivation for all of you entrepreneurs-in-waiting
• This is a great piece on the crowdfunding revolution, where things are at in the U.S., and why it makes sense to give it a look – mostly from a marketing/pr point of view. 

• Are you sending out signals that your business is in trouble?  Customers aren’t going to flock to a sinking ship, so watch out for some of these red flags to keep your brand positive, even if your bottom line isn’t. 
• Starbucks and Howard Schultz are quickly becoming a new power player in peer-to-peer lending.  So if the bank turns you down, stop in for coffee and a micro loan to get your ideas off the ground.
• Looking to land some big VC money is 2012? Tom Kinnear has some advice on how to go about it.
• A new generation of Farm-preneurs is picking up steam thanks to the popularity of organic and other food trends. 
• One of Seth Godin’s latest posts caught my eye on the power of specialization – “the more or less choice”
• For many entrepreneur’s, sales is one of the least favorite parts of life on your own.  Shying away from it because of your apprehensions is always a fatal flaw.  Take a read of this for some ideas on how to make it happen.
• James Altucher with some great advice on how to survive year one at your start up.  Some good tips on the pecking order for raising capital and being there for your clients – all the time.
• Many startups struggle with the battle between doing it yourself and hiring someone else to do it, regardless of what “it” is.  This quick post doesn’t necessarily tell you how to handle those challenges as much as it does get you to think about them and realize them.
• Trying to figure out why to use Twitter for your business?  I think most can agree to the effectiveness of Facebook, but question “the whole Twitter deal”  Here are 3 quick tips on how it can return some ROI for you.

• As an avid The Office watcher (and I know the British version was probably better), this was a good read on the lessons we can learn from Andy Bernard’s struggles in management. 
• Google is buying companies at a crazy clip, so if you are looking to sell out, start there.
• Nice piece in the Times about the less-attractive side of entrepreneurship.  If you are looking at leaving the cubicle behind, read this first.
• Its December, which means year end is here (among other things), so if you want to avoid Uncle Sam in April, get your tax avoidance strategies in place now
• When getting ready to start up, here is what not to do.  
• A little love for Iowa’s start up culture.
• You can have all the drive and ambition in the world, but entrepreneurs also need these 4 things according to Glen Blickenstaff on Inc.com.  I tend to agree, especially in regards to making a difference.
• If you have thought about kicking off a pay-per-click strategy for your business, now is a great time as the big search firms are offering a ton of help and free trials to get you started.
• For those still trying to figure out how to integrate Twitter into your strategies, here are a few examples on how others are doing it
• Looking to go online with your business?  Might want to watch this for a few tips on how to draw customers.

Link-O-Rama for 11/11/11

• It’s often said, but not nearly often enough practiced that the best funding to get your business going is sales.  It’s always easier to head to the bank or your brother-in-law, but sales trump it all in my opinion.  Here is a pretty good primer on how to take a step back and look at your sales process to “Six Sigma It up” a little. 
• One thing that always amazing me when counseling with small business is their lack of process around collecting from customers.  If you have a business model where you can’t get cash up front or at time of service, you NEED to have things in place to keep the A/R under control.  Here is a great read on how to go about it.  Waiting it out and playing nice is not always the answer.  And when you’ve worked hard for the sale, the last thing you need is a deadbeat that doesn’t pay. 
• Jeff Haden over at Owner’s Manual always has good stuff to share.  Here he delves into the world of Linked In’s Groups service.  Most people end up with a profile and maybe do some reco’s and what not on there, but not enough of us utilize their Groups functionality, which is probably the most powerful piece of the whole site. 
• Again from Haden is a great piece for those in the customer service business, which is basically everybody but your brother-in-law the ditch digger. 
• With Deal Garden now in town, there are more and more options to participate in couponing websites.  The perception is that they can be a dangerous way to lose money fast.  Before you assume that, give this a read on ways to strategically do well on a group couponing site. 
• I should probably know who Neil Patel is, but I have no idea.  That said his list on lessons learned in business is right on the money.
• Good advice for those looking to keep their day job while also venturing out on a path with a start up business.  One of the better nuggets is to take a day or two off to work on it, and on those days, books as many meetings as you can.  No one wants to meet with you about your crazy start up at 7PM or AM for that matter.
• I love any list of suggested reading, this one is pretty complete.  At least I think it is, I haven’t really read any of them, but every list I see on this subject includes most of these.  I started Zen and Motorcyles sometime in July I think.  I’m about 60 pages in, so yeah, I need to turn the TV off.
• For those afraid of selling, but know they need to get it down, here are some ways around selling while still selling – I think that makes sense.  As a small business counselor I see a ton of people with the fear of selling thing going on, this is a good way to think about ways around that.
• I should have put this one higher up for the 2 of you who actually read this, but here are some awesome quotes on taking risk for those that might need to talk themselves into it

Finally, if you made to the bottom, we’ve got a little Mumford & Sons to get your weekend rolling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZzRd3q9pEM&ob=av3n

Link-O-Rama for 9/23/11

I’ve been on hiatus with the ol’ Link-O-Rama for a big chunk of the summer. Since I have gotten so many notes asking to revive it (thanks to the both of you) – I thought I better get back on the blogging bus.

• Some good quotes on leadership by a few folks who know it cold
• Nanovox looks to bring upper Midwest states together around nanotechnologies/jobs, nice to see some regional efforts going on – regardless of how small they are (get it?) My apologies for the bad pun.
• Who doesn’t love a few extra tips on entrepreneurial success – these are cheap and easy ones.
• Well done quick read on picking the right key words/search terms to build into your web or e-commerce strategy
• I was out in Detroit earlier this summer for a trip to Comerica (one of my life goals is to see all of the MLB parks – I’m up to 18). The stadium is amazing, but 2 blocks away it’s amazingly crappy. A lot of ink has been spent talking about renaissance initiatives in the Motor City. Here is another one.
• Most of the time I focus on tips and info for growing your business. Fact of life is that over half of all businesses fail in the first 5 years. What can you pull from the wreckage of a business failure? Two words – Entrepreneurial Acumen.
• Out of the gates but need a few ideas on how to grow your firm – here are a few ideas and here are a few more.
• Looking to start your business in Iowa, luckily its one of the happiest states in the nation. I have to admit, I would have never guessed most of the states that appeared here.
• A few tips for the non-technologically gifted on how to enhance your web presence.
• I’m a big advocate for developing an Advisory Board for your start up, here are a few reasons why and how to go about setting one up.

•    In some ways, this video isn’t too far off from the truth on today’s tech start ups – obviously I am generalizing – please don’t send me a bunch of hate mail on how your start up is different.
•    Looking for a way to manage social media?  Check out the Roost.
•    Who doesn’t love a good freebie now and again (or in my case, all the time)?  And if you are going to the trouble of using a promo item for your small business, read this first for a few tips.
•    This one doesn’t have a ton of great stuff in it, but I mention it based on the sheer power of all things Harry Potter.
•    If you are constantly hearing “no” as you look for a lending source for your start up, don’t overlook the credit union industry as a source.  Chad Lyons has a good piece here about CU’s as a viable source for business loans.
•    Not really sure if I am a Mark Cuban fan or not, but he has some good advice for those looking to pitch a VC
•    Iowa’s new economic development arm, IPEP, is taking some pretty big hits to their operating budget.  Over the last several years they have trimmed it from over $30 Million to just $8.55 Million for fiscal 2012.  It will be interesting to see how this meshes with the Governor’s plan to create 200,000 jobs.
•    Chris Yeh wrote a nice piece for Mashable this week on firm valuations, and why seed stage investments are getting out of whack.  He has some insightful metrics to back things up.
•    Looking for ways to connect with entrepreneurs all over the globe?  Here are a ton of places to connect, share ideas, get info, and maybe find some VC – all online.
•    Start Up Weekends have been around for a little while, but have really gained steam of late and have also broadened their audience beyond the “hacker” community.   Anyone interested in putting one on in the Cedar Valley?

•    If you think start ups are just for young, newly graduated types who have much less to lose (at least financially speaking), this may open your eyes.  So if you have been using age as an excuse to yourself, eliminate that one and start something!
•    Lynn Hicks has a nice article on the challenges start ups face in Iowa. He did a great job of providing awareness to the vast network of service providers out there willing to help.
•    Cedar Rapids’s own Bob Parsons has a little more cash in his pockets after this deal with KKR and others.
•    A couple of the tech firms from my incubator got some pub this week, so of course I need to spread the good news here.  They have merged an SEO firm and a web marketing firm under one umbrella, TargetClick Marketing.
•    I watch a little Pawn Stars from time to time on History, and am a pretty big fan of Rick Harrison.  He’s actually got some great advice on entrepreneurial success.

•    One of our former tenants, Cohesive, did a hilarious re-make on The Office in honor of their big move to Hudson – check it out
•    Ever wonder who the big timers on Twitter are – at least in the small business world – here you go
•    Seth Godin has a huge following, and for good reason.  With this one he takes a quick look at “FEAR” and its strong abilities to slow you down.  It’s a very quick read for those looking for a little motivation to jump in the deep end of the proverbial entrepreneurial pool.
•    I put this one up only for those who can’t think of a solid business idea themselves.  It’s mostly a play on trends – aging population, crappy economy – nothing too earth shattering, but a decent starter for those looking for a business idea to run with.
•    A quick 101 on QR codes for your business.  This is a great guide for a soup to nuts list of how to launch one at your start up.

•    Sean Eichenberger offers up his top 35 movie quotes on business.  It’s a little weak, but sometimes I think that is the point with these guys who want to get some comment traffic on their posts.  How you can have a list like this and leave out “Listen, here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker.”   (Rounders) is beyond me.
•    A little primer on why cash flow trumps profit for a start up.
•    I’m not a Thomas Friedman reader, but I know I should be.  He wrote a nice piece earlier this week in the Times, mostly covering Linked In founder Reid Garrett Hoffman’s new book.  But aside from the obvious book push, he offered up some great insight on how the job search game is changing, and for that matter so is keeping a job.
Finally the video of the week courtesy of Zac Brown and Jimmy Buffet – enjoy the weekend kids

•    For those of you looking for outside cash to fund a start up, here is a little Angel Investor 101
•    This is pretty basic, but it’s also right on the money in terms of a guideline for putting an investor pitch together.
•    Most of the info I highlight is about growing your business, but not everybody makes it.  If you are looking at closing up shop – read this first.  I really like the point about knowing what parts of your business are profitable/unprofitable.  If you don’t know that, I think there is still time to resuscitate.
•    Corporation or LLC – this piece offers some high level advice on what to consider.  For most firms, taxes play the biggest role, so start with your accountant.  Of course, they’ll just tell you to talk to your attorney.
•    Iowa stays in the top 10 of USA Today’s best states for business, though we dropped a bit.
•    Looking for a small business loan, and having trouble coming up with one?  You’re not alone, deal flow is way down.   If you have had the door slammed in your face, try a community bank or Iowa MicroLoan as a great option as well.

This blog is a repost from MyEntre.Net, read the original post here.

•    3 easy steps to becoming a millionaire.  Not sure how “easy” they are, but yeah, these are the steps.  I don’t know if LUCK is considered a step, but having a ton of that sure helps too.
•    Be sure to read the fine print as you explore crowdfunding options for your start up.
•    A few nuggets on some of the most successful start ups ever.  Dare to dream kids.
•    Are you suffering from PPD – Pathetic Presentation Disorder – with your PowerPoint decks?  Guy Kawasaki is the man when it comes to this stuff and offers a few tips to Lisa Nirell at Fast Company.
•    Its been 100 years since IBM opened its doors – much has changed, but the mission never has.  According to The Economist, that’s what has kept them around so long.  I guess the message here is to focus on your people and your processes as the product will always change.
•    I’m not on this list, but I completely agree with most of the bloggers mentioned here.
•    Is Googlelytics – I just made that word up – telling you that your site has high bounce rates?  Take a breath – and then check out these tips.
•    Its official, mobile app consumption has now surpassed web surfing in terms of daily consumption of each.  Does your business have a mobile-friendly presence yet?
•    A few ideas on free and near free web services to help you get your start up off the ground on the cheap.
•    Finally, our video of the week to keep with the “becoming a millionaire” theme, courtesy of BNL with a little help from Weird Al of all people http://youtu.be/NhqyiqUe7uE

This blog is a repost from MyEntre.Net, read the original post here.

•    Tony Hsieh is an amazing entrepreneur made very famous by his work with Zappos and their corporate culture of customer service and creativity among other things.  Here is a quick Q&A about some of that.
•    Are you doing your own book keeping?  Here is a little advice on booking sales. 
•    Ranking last in anything is usually not so great.  For women owned businesses in Iowa, it’s something we need to work on.  American Express OPEN just finished a nice piece based on new census data related to women owned businesses and will open some eyes here in Iowa.  I get that we have a slow-paced population growth, Midwestern aversion to risk, et cetera, but other states also fit that mold and seem to be doing better (the Dakotas, Wisconsin). 
•    Guy Kawasaki offers some tips on how to be likeable on line.  Most of it is the same as how to be likeable offline.  Don’t be over the top, offer something of value, simple stuff that I guess people forget when they are online. 
•    Prospective small business owners are always on the hunt for cash, and grants from the government always seems to be the implied place to get it.  The truth is, there isn’t much there, and what is there is really focused on specific industries.  The question mark suit guy doesn’t help in terms of propagating the myth that the government has hand outs for small business.  The Journal recently did a piece on the whole small business grant game. 
•    While Uncle Sam might not have cash for your small business, crowd funding sites are a much more realistic option.  And there are tons of them out there now.
•    Finally, the video of the week in honor of my fishing trip to Canada this past week is a little Brad Paisley- I’m Gonna Miss Her

This blog is a repost from MyEntre.Net, read the original post here.