Getting Down To Business: Put your biz idea through its paces

Coming up with a business idea is simple. Coming up with a business idea that works--not so much. After all, 50% of new small businesses are no longer around after five years: poor management, lack of capital, and lack of devotion are the leading causes of business failure. It's important to think and plan ahead before jumping in, not just to make sure you have what it takes to get it started, but how to keep it going. Take your idea, grab a napkin and a cup of coffee, and start making some notes. You'll need them later.

Find your inner boss
Entrepreneurs need skills that will help them in whatever business they decide to tackle. As your own boss, you'll have to be comfortable making decisions and taking risks. It's also important to be able to confidently talk about yourself, your business, and its products. And you'll have to be creative: keeping the business fresh and relevant requires ongoing creation of new products and services.

READ MORE:  http://www.brassmagazine.com/article/getting-down-business-put-your-biz-idea-through-its-paces

Bad PR: 4 Things To Avoid When Promoting Your Startup

Since some of us learn better by hearing bad examples, let’s talk about four critical things to avoid when trying to maintain a positive image for your startup. Luckily for me (because it makes writing this blog so much easier), BP gave us an outstandingly bad example of PR behaviors during its Gulf oil-spill crisis, which I alluded to in my last post. (So did Enron, but its scandal was beyond repair.)

1. If you’re at fault, admit it--quickly


 According to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the first rule in any crisis is to get out in front of the story early. For weeks at the beginning of the crisis, BP executives denied fault and tried to push the blame onto contractors. Rather than protecting their company’s image, these execs only made the company look more obnoxious and arrogant than the news had been saying.

2. Think before you speak


 Remember, the Gulf oil spill put 205 million gallons of oil into the ocean. Think about all of the communities surrounding the Gulf of Mexico that depend on the fishing industry for their economic stability. The oil spill was a pretty big deal. In fact, it was catastrophic.

READ MORE:  http://www.brassmagazine.com/blog/bad-pr-4-things-avoid-when-promoting-your-startup

An App-titude for starting your own business

Become your own boss. Set your own hours. Do what you really want to do. All of those are the perks of starting your own business.

These days, entrepreneurs are realizing that its a technology-driven world. Startups that are technology focused are becoming increasingly popular--so popular, in fact, that The Wall Street Journal ranked the top 50 startups of 2012, 29 of which were technology-based.

Here’s a look at five hot technology startups out there:

1. Smartphone repair: Almost everyone has one, and most of these phones have screens that can easily crack. Why not create a business that repairs those cracked screens for less than stores, such as Verizon and U.S. Cellular, charge? There are even classes out there designed to help teach you to fix those cracked screens. Wolfe Street Academy focuses on teaching people how to repair screens, as well as what it takes to start your own business.

READ MORE:http://www.brassmagazine.com/blog/app-titude-starting-your-own-business

Are You Entrepreneurial Material? 

Starting any business takes know-how, time, capital, and connections. It also takes the right psychological makeup. While no definitive list of successful personality traits for entrepreneurs exists, research and experience indicate a few must-haves.

Self-confidence.
Businesses fail a lot. And many that succeed do so only after years of not turning a profit. No matter what field you enter, you will meet complications--from family obligations to bleak finances, from gorilla-sized competitors to an anemic customer base. The challenges may be enough to leave people questioning their sanity, but the only way to succeed is to keep trying. Entrepreneurs have an unusually high ability to believe in themselves and their ideas independently of what others may think.


Truly successful entrepreneurs know they must temper this optimism with realism: having faith in your goals does not mean turning a blind eye to your shortcomings or external obstacles. Can you harness the optimist in you to cheer you on relentlessly while having the self-assurance to handle criticism well?


READ MORE:
http://www.brassmagazine.com/blog/are-you-entrepreneurial-material

The Not-So-Starving Artist Lifestyle

There are a lot of things I didn't learn in art school about making and selling ceramics and being a full-time artist. My teachers hadn't experienced a career making and selling art full time, so they didn't have much advice for me. From my own experiences and research I can confidently say I feel ready to turn this hobby into a flourishing business.

Keep Your Momentum Going:
 If you've recently graduated from school, find whatever kind of art-related job you can. Or find flexible work that will allow you to simultaneously create. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it! Galleries and employers want to see that you've continuously worked towards your goal. Your first job right after school may not be your dream job, but consider it a stepping stone, something that will help you get where you want to go.

Network, Network, Network:
You've heard it all before, but this is one crucial step for an artist-entrepreneur. When I lost access to a ceramics studio after graduation, I realized there were things I could be doing to set myself up for success until I was finally able to continue to pursue making ceramics. Use your "down-time" and join groups, email people who can provide you with advice, and get your name out there. I joined many social networking sites, started a blog, and stayed in contact with artists I admired. Seeing what worked for them helped me decide which steps to take for myself. I was able to build a following and create connections throughout the world before I even had a product to sell! Then, when I was ready to sell I had tremendous support from people I took the time to get to know.

READ MORE:  http://www.brassmagazine.com/blog/not-so-starving-artist-lifestyle