Architects: What makes a creator an architect? These creators identify openings and as blank-sheet-of-paper builders, they construct solutions from the bottom up. They have the unique ability to see vacancies and envision how separate parts can fit together to form new logical designs. Continue reading
The need to protect the inventions and creative work of individuals has been recognized for centuries. The first modern patent was granted in 1421 to Filippo Bruneslleschi by the Republic of Florence for a barge with hoisting gear. Hundreds of years later, the United States Constitution affirmed the importance of protecting “writings and discoveries” in order to “promote the progress of science and the useful arts.” Continue reading
The overall theme of the Peter Thiel book, Zero to One is a study of what successful innovation looks like, primarily in tech start-ups. One of the main concepts in the book is that most of the really successful businesses have started by dominating a very specific and limited niche market.
Examples: Continue reading
I attended a webinar yesterday where the presenter spoke my language! It was with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing. Here are three questions that we should all be asking before we spend money on marketing. Once you are clear on your responses to these questions, your marketing strategy will be much more effective.
1. Why do we do what we do? Continue reading
Before a million pails of cold water brought amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) global attention, many people had never heard of the disease. After a summer of ice bucket challenges, the devastating motor neuron disorder has an astonishing level of awareness. Although the campaign didn’t originate as a deliberate marketing strategy, it’s a great case of the power of guerrilla marketing in the social-media age.
Inexpensive, small scale and non-traditional marketing tactics can be extremely effective ways to promoting your brand if the idea catches the public imagination and goes viral. Guerrilla marketing covers a huge variety of activities. Continue reading
I find business owners have a hard time keeping the gross profit margins on their product or service in mind when establishing pricing. To be able to maintain your gross profit margin, you need to know what your costs are. Continue reading
Crowdfunding data changes as quickly as you look it up. As of Monday May 26th 2014 at 6:30pm, the numbers across all categories of Kickstarter showed:
$1,131,653,455 total $’s pledged 62,426 successfully funded projects
6,246,534 total backers 1,858,760 repeat backers
15,390,660 total pledges Overall: 43.47% success rate of campaigns
Kickstarter is not the only option for crowdfunding. There are many choices for some of the categories, some better than others. Regardless of the platform you are considering there are a number of factors involved in a successful campaign. Continue reading
When you talk about your business with someone that might have an interest in loaning you money, or joining you as a partner, or buying the business, they will want to see the Cash Flow Statement. Continue reading
Funding can help you do things in your business that would otherwise be impossible with your current budget. If you need expensive equipment or workers, you may need outside funding instead of bootstrapping your business on your own. Continue reading