Listen Up! The Difference Between a Successful Product Launch & a Total Flop

As serial entrepreneurs, we’ve all had our fair share of successes and failures.  But have you been able to identify the differences between your biggest successes and your most tragic failures?  Where did you make mistakes?  Where did you make the right decision? 

Sometimes it’s difficult to identify the moment our endeavors go from success to failure.  But on August 20, 2013 from 4:30-7:00pm, you will learn exactly what makes the difference between a successful product launch and a total flop at Listen Up! with Flux Forward. 

At the event, Daniel Vickers, Founder and Director of UX at Flux Forward will let you in on the secret to product development success through user research.  Knowing how to best engage your users as well as the right points to do it will help your team run a lean, fine-tuned product life-cycle that will take your end-product from good to great.  We hope to see you there!

Listen Up! How engaging your customers can save you time and money

August 20, 2013

4:30-7:00pm

1800 Baltimore Ave.

4^th Floor Kansas City, MO 64108

Register here!

043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

Google.  Tumblr.  Twitter.  Zaarly.  They’re all successful companies, but where in the heck did their names come from?  When determining the name of your startup, there are a lot of things to keep in mind.  Do you want one of these “whacky” names that mean virtually nothing, or do you want to keep it simple like AutoZone, Burger King or Stanley Steamer?  There are multiple ways to go about naming your business, but before you do, be sure to ask yourself these 9 questions:

1. What is your brand positioning?
2. Is the name too limiting (or too broad)?
3. Does the name make sense?
4. Is the name easy to remember?
5. Can people spell the name easily?
6. Does the name sound good?
7. Does the name reach your target audience?
8. Does the name look good on paper?
9. Is the name already trademarked?

So listen up, tune in and Think Big!  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison discuss the top 9 questions to ask yourself when naming your business.  Keep all of these questions in mind before you jot anything down on your formal business plan.

Follow Allison at @AllisonThinkBig & Derek at @DerekCOlsen.

Top 10 Ways Your Startup's Blog Will Fail

#BlogFail.  It's a hashtag that is used almost every day by a handful of people on Twitter.  That's because it is very, very common for a blog post, or even an entire blog website, to completely fail.  At the end of 2011, there were 109 million blogs on just Tumblr and Wordpress alone.  With the millions and millions of blogs on the Internet, many are bound to fail.  

Will your startup's blog be one of them? 

Fingers crossed you're doing everything you can to keep your blog on the fast track to success.  But if your blog struggling to capture the attention of readers, there are 10 huge mistakes you could be making in the blogosphere. 

1. No Keywords & No SEO 

No one said SEO was easy, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to create a keyword-driven headline and optimized content. Many novice bloggers enter the blogosphere with a "if I write it, they will come" attitude.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  Every blogger should do his or her best to incorporate effective keyword and SEO strategies.  How so?  Look up some strong keywords in the Google Keyword Tool by Google AdWords.  The keywords with low competition and high local/global monthly searches should be prominent in your blogs.  In addition, it's important to link your blog content out to other websites.  Share the Internet love (but remember, only incorporate 1.5 link per every 100 words, or Google will consider you spam!).  Build your SEO and your readership numbers will increase!  

2. A God Awful Template 

You've seen it before, haven't you? A really ugly blog?  Of course you have.  Many bloggers care so much about the content they produce and spend very little time on the blog's template.  Although a blog template isn't the most important piece of a blog (remember, content is king!), it sure doesn't hurt to be visually appealing.  Pump up your blog's appearance by hiring a graphic designer, web developer or just play around with the templates yourself! 

3. Irrelevant Content

If your blog is titled "Startup Marketing for Dummies", why would you blog about the health care system (unless for some reason, your post relates to inbound marketing somehow)? Your startup's blog should stick with a general theme.  At the same time, don't be afraid to let current events and trending topics become a piece of your blog.  If the Presidential debate is a hot topic on the Internet, but your blog is about social media, write a blog about how the Presidential debate is utilizing social media effectively (or ineffectively).  There's always a way to add a twist--just make sure it stays true to your blog's area of expertise.  

4. Lack of Pictures

Sure, we usually visit blogs to read content, but it doesn't hurt to have pictures incorporated as well.  A stimulating or interesting picture at the top of a blog post can actually do wonders (just look at what we did at the top of this one!  Did it draw you in?).  Much like your blog's template, your posts need to be visually stimulating as well.  Incorporate pictures when you can to truly paint a story.  

5. Inconsistent Posting

Nothing kills a blog like inconsistent posting.  If you post on your blog a lot in the beginning (let's say, 4-5 times a week), and then leave it deserted for 2 months, people are not going to continue to visit your startup's blog.  As a matter of fact, it's frustrating for readers to find that one of their favorite blog sites has gone completely dark.  Don't do that to your readers!  Keep your blog posts consistent--even if that means just one post a week.  It's better than going dark for 6 months!   

6.  Forgetting Social 

Remember that blog readers spend a lot of time on the Internet.  That usually means that they also spend a lot of time on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Always incorporate social media buttons that link your blog to your startup's social pages so that readers can follow you and post your blog to their social media accounts.  Now that's how you generate more readers! 

7.  No Call to Action

Many bloggers write their thoughts, feelings and expert opinions on a blog and leave no call to action at the end.  What can the reader actually do with the blog post?  Should they share it with their coworkers?  Vote in a poll?  Visit a website?  Call a number?  Tweet to their readers?  Like you on Facebook?  Be sure to instruct the reader on what to do after they have read the blog--even if that just means to sit and think about your content.  Every blog post should be written for a reason.  

8.  Unorganization

Is there anything worse than reading a bunch of blabber in an email?  It's all unorganized and we can hardly keep up with the run-on sentences, the scattered thoughts, the lack of periods.  The same goes for blogs. Keep your blog posts organized.  Use the miraculous paragraph, for example.  Space your blog out into a bulleted or numbered list (like this one--FYI, people LOVE lists).  Check your grammar and spelling.  And of course, don't write like you speak.  Make it easy to read! 

9. No Comments Allowed

One of the biggest mistakes a blogger can make is to not incorporate a Comments section.  A Comments section not only allows your readers to interact with your blog and voice their own opinions, but will also provide you with direct blog feedback!  Nervous that someone will post something unrelated or nasty in your comments section?  Many blog platforms allow you to approve or delete comments.

10. No Purpose 

As mentioned earlier, every blog post should be written for a reason.  The same goes for blogs as a whole.  A blog should have a purpose--whether that's to inform, vent, solve a problem, educate, make people laugh, drive traffic to a website, advertise or promote.  Make sure that your startup's blog has a purpose and define that purpose before you even write the first word.  

So the next time you think about sitting down to start a blog or write another Bloggies-worthy blog post, take a step back and see if you're committing any of these 10 startup blog sins! 

Thinking Big When Choosing Your Business Software

WRITTEN BY JESSICA SANDERS, RESOURCE NATION

If you’re starting a small business, chances are you’re going to need software. Email clients, word processing programs, POS systems and a variety of other types of software help your business stay organized, keep track of finances, and maintain communication.

No matter what kind of software you need, you’ll have a variety of options to choose from. And, the software you choose should be useful to your business now, but also be able to evolve with you as your business grows. It’s not only expensive, but frustrating as well, to have to overhaul your business software every year or two as your business outgrows it.

Plan for the Future

How big is your business now? How big would you like it to be in a year – or five years? Many kinds of software can become limiting once your business reaches a certain size. Examine your current business plan to estimate your business’ trajectory, and be sure to purchase software that can handle your estimated growth.

• Changes to your business size, structure, and productivity levels are inevitable. Your software needs to help you grow, not hold you back. If you currently have 40 employees and your payroll software is limited to managing 50 employees, you’re not leaving yourself much room to grow.
• Anticipating growth means you may need to purchase more expensive software up front, but doing so can save you time and money in the long run. That $300 software may seem like a good deal right now, but it’s a waste of money if you have to replace it with a more expensive model six months down the road.

Enable Integration

You use a number of different programs in your business that share overlapping functions. Connecting or integrating your software creates links between different programs to share data. Your business may use GPS tracking software that needs to connect to your accounting software, or you may have time and attendance software that shares with your payroll software. Choose software that has integration functions, such as add-ons or plugins, to save time and reduce duplicate data.

• The more your programs communicate and share data, the less time and effort you have to put into maintaining them. When you update an employee’s contact information in one program, the entire system is updated.
• Sharing data across programs makes it so that you only have to enter the information once. The less you replicate your date, the less likely you are to make an error. Integration can keep everything updated at the same time and enable you to access all the information your business needs.

Consider the Cloud

Cloud-based software is hosted on an independent server, rather than on your business’s computers or local server. This software is accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection. Mobile and off-site software accessibility will be great for your business as it you begin to hire outside of your office or become more mobile on work days.

• Web-based software is usually paid for on a monthly basis, rather than purchased in a lump sum. When you’re a new or emerging business, you may not have enough cash to purchase software up-front, so spreading out the cost over the course of a year makes a lot more sense, anyway.
• Cloud software often comes with varying levels of functionality depending on how much you want to pay. You can buy the basic software now at a low price, and then easily upgrade it as your company grows and requires more functionality.

Business software can help your company be more productive and efficient. But, you want your business to grow over time, so be sure to choose software that can grow with you.

Jessica Sanders is a web content writer for Resource Nation. She writes about small business, focusing on topics such as medical practice software.

029 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You

029 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison dive into something that many entrepreneurs want to know, but rarely ever get direct answers to.  It's the Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You.  Here at Think Big Partners, we want you to know what you're in for when you decide to enter the world of entrepreneurship.  This episode will help you understand the aspects of entrepreneurship that many founders, CEOs and startups may not tell you about.  It's the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You:

1.  "Our business is just as likely to fail as it is to succeed."
2.  "Sometimes, getting funding seems impossible."
3.  "Stock in the startup is probably not going to happen...at least for awhile."
4.  "We change the investment rules."
5.  "You probably don't want to work for us."
6.  "My parents invested money in my business."
7.  "I don't really have a life anymore..."
8.  "We hate our competitors."
9.  "I'm terrified to share my idea."
10.  "We have no clue what we're doing." 

Want to Think Big? It’s Time to Start Pruning Your Business

photo by ReneS via Flickr 

GUEST BLOG WRITTEN BY SHAWN KINKADE, KANSAS CITY BUSINESS COACH.

When an entrepreneur is just starting out, the instinct is to land any kind of business that will generate revenue. And for the first 6 to 12 months of your business, that’s a good idea—you started with a grand vision and now you need to prove out what your new clients are actually willing to pay for.

However, as you start to grow, that indiscriminate growth approach you had when you were getting started will choke your business. In his new book The Pumpkin Plan, author Mike Michalowicz was inspired by the pumpkin farmers who grow those monstrous award-winning pumpkins every year. That monster pumpkin is your business…or at least what you want your business to be when it grows up. It’s healthy, it stands out…and it’s bigger than all the other pumpkins!

In turns out there are a couple of secrets to growing those super size pumpkins—you have to start out with the right seed (a strong business idea), you have to constantly water (sell) and then once the vine starts growing, you have to ruthlessly prune back all of the weeds and the lesser shoots and pumpkins.

In business terms, that means you only sell your best stuff to your best clients and you get rid of the rest!

Your gut reaction right now is probably something along the lines of: “That’s crazy! I need all the revenue I can get…there’s no way I could afford to drop any of my customers!”

That’s the trap that almost every entrepreneur falls into at some point…and the same trap that ends up killing many businesses after years of struggling! Michalowicz makes this point very strongly…and it’s one that I agree with as well.

Here’s why it’s so important to prune back your bad pumpkins:

Bad clients are draining your resources

In the pumpkin field, the weak pumpkins drain the resources away from your potential prize pumpkin…which is exactly what happens in business, too. If you’ve been in business for a while, you have at least a few bad clients and they are draining you and your business in the same way. A bad client doesn’t pay quickly. A bad client requires a lot of extra hand holding. A bad client typically isn’t very happy…and certainly never refers you to others. A bad client resents every dime they pay you and tries to negotiate everything.  A bad client makes you feel exhausted every time you think about them.

Contrast that with a great client. A great client is the opposite of all of the above—they enjoy you (and you enjoy them), they invigorate you, they pay on time and they appreciate what you do for them. A great client will sing your praises, refer you and gladly pay you what you’re worth!

Great clients multiply your business and capabilities…bad clients act like an anchor.

Play to your strengths

Take the whole thing a step further—what do your great clients have in common? Are they in a particular industry? Are they only buying a particular service? There is some common ground between those clients?  Determine what that common ground is to establish your sweet spot. That’s when you’re in the zone, when you’re really playing to your strengths.

When you figure out what you’re best at and focus on that, it becomes very easy to sell and to deliver. You’re confident. The work is easy and you deliver great results. That’s what drives repeat business and word-of-mouth. That’s what your best clients love. That’s what really big pumpkins are made of.

Bad clients are not playing to your strengths…they’re looking for other things…things you’re not as good at (which is one reason why they’re bad clients). If you narrow your focus and only play to your strengths (get rid of those clients who aren’t in the sweet spot) then life immediately becomes a lot easier and more rewarding and you have more room for great clients!

Back to reality

Now you may be thinking: “Yeah, I have bad clients, but they do (eventually) pay me and some money is better than no money.”

Unfortunately that’s not true.

Those bad clients are slowly killing you. Think of it this way: You’ve got a finite amount of time and resources and when you’re spending it on a bad client, you’re not working with a great client. That bad client is directly keeping you from having a great client!

It’s time to step up and ruthlessly start cutting out those bad pumpkins. You don’t have to do it all at once. Develop a plan that lets you prune gradually over time, but take action now.

Imagine if all of your clients were great clients and all of your work was within your strengths! Not only would you have an awesome business that’s a lot of fun (who doesn’t love doing what they’re great at?), but you’d selling more with less effort and making more money!

Who are your bad clients? How quickly could you drop them?

Most business owners are really reluctant to make any cuts—what are your thoughts? Share your comments below.

Want to learn and discuss more great ideas from the Pumpkin Plan?  Check out Aspire’s Business Book Review series.

Guest blog written by Shawn Kinkade, Kansas City Business Coach. 

Happy Halloween! The Top 10 Fears for Entrepreneurs

Halloween is almost here, Kansas City entrepreneurs! October 31st will be the perfect night for walking through Kansas City haunted houses, pumpkin carving with the family, telling ghost stories, and of course, Trick-Or-Treating.  And although most successful entrepreneurs are not afraid of Grim Reaper costumes, “haunted” cemeteries and scary music, there are other fears that haunt Kansas City entrepreneurs every day in the workplace.  So, in honor of this spooky holiday, I have compiled a list of the Top 10 fears for entrepreneurs.  

Don’t be afraid, take a look:

1.  The Fear of Failure

Without a doubt, most entrepreneurs have a fear of failure.  When 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years, it’s difficult to overcome the fear of failure.  Instead of letting this fear define who you are and where your company is going, use the fear to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do.  Prove yourself (and the statistics) wrong—do not let failure be an option.

2.  Economic Uncertainty

Ten years ago, economic uncertainty was probably not a major fear of most entrepreneurs. The times have changed, however, and companies big and small, young and old, are worried about what the declining economy means for them.

3.  Being Your Own Boss

Being your own boss can be terrifying.  Not only do you have to keep tabs on your company, but you also have to keep tabs on yourself and make sure that you are doing everything it takes to create a successful startup business.  Entrepreneurs must be able to motivate themselves throughout each workday to see that all necessary tasks are completed.

4.  Raising Capital

Having enough money for establish a startup is one thing—staying afloat is another.  You will need money to start up, operate and grow your business.  To ensure that you have enough money to develop a successful startup, seek capital from a venture capitalist, angel investor, and the like.  Recently, the development of online funding platforms, such as peerbackers, KickStarter, Indie GoGo and Rock the Post have helped many entrepreneurs reach their American Dream.

5.  The Job Will Consume Your Life

It’s true: entrepreneurs can spend anywhere from 50-72 hours a week on their businesses.  In order to overcome this fear, be sure that you have your work-life balance in place even before your business starts up.  This means to prioritize what’s most important to you.

6.  High-Wire With No Net

When you have been in your own small business and survived the early years that weed out most startups, you have the fear that you can never turn back to “the devil you knew” (i.e. traditional employment). The struggles of entrepreneurship make you forget why you left corporate America in the first place and your memories become revised to dwell on how easy and happy it all was “back then”.

7.  The Length of the Process

Many entrepreneurs fear the overall longevity of a startup venture.  It takes time to grow a business so an entrepreneur must be extremely patient throughout the entire process.  And although your business may be getting more profitable every year, you look at your old car in the driveway and then your neighbor’s new Lexus and feel that if only you’d stuck to corporate, you’d have new toys, too.  Patience is virtue!

8.  The Merry-Go-Round Stopping

Entrepreneurs who already have an established company often fear that their company will slowly begin to fail.  Even though everything may be going well in the beginning, entrepreneurs always fear that the phones will go silent and that no one will want what they sell anymore.

9.  Getting Stuck

Although many entrepreneurs fear that their businesses will stop all together, even more seem to worry that their company will merely never make it to the top.  This entrepreneurial fear is that the company will never break through the wall of the business by being just “okay”.

10.  The Competition

Entrepreneurs always live in fear that someone else out there may be smarter than they are and therefore, develop a better product or service, consequently, blowing theirs out of the water.  It’s best to use the competition as a driving force for your company to become a better, more successful one instead.

During this Halloween, don’t let your fears impose on your entrepreneurial dreams.  Continue to reach for your goals, never let your fears bring you down, and of course, Think Big.  Happy Halloween, entrepreneurs!  

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Getting Started as a Young Entrepreneur in the Midwest

WRITTEN BY RYAN FRANKLIN, BLOGGER AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

Are you a Midwesterner who has an amazing business idea, but think you might be too young to start working towards it? Don’t think that way! You’re never too young to start chasing your dreams. Plus, the Midwest is a great place to launch a business. Startups are flourishing all over the region, due in part to Midwestern values like an enterprising attitude and the willingness to help out our neighbors.

So you have your idea and you’re in a great location; what’s next?

Establish Your Business’s Name
Get the fun stuff out of the way first by letting your creative juices flow. Once you have your idea down, choose a business name and then get it registered with your County Clerk’s office. This way, no other company can come along after your business is established and use your business name legally. Remember, this is not the same thing as getting a trademark of your logo or a copyright of written content on your website. Look into the U.S. Patent Office for steps on doing that. Once you have registered your business name, get online and purchase a domain name. It should be as close to your business name as possible, though you may have to get creative. Set up the placement page so visitors will know your site is under construction, and then create a direct marketing channel by obtaining visitor’s information. This way you can send out a mass email promotion when the site goes live. Avoid spamming—your customers will appreciate it!

Write a Business Plan
Because you are young and have less business experience, it’s likely that you will have to raise some money to achieve your startup capital. Creating a good business plan will be essential for seeking outside funding of your business, and it will also keep you on track on those days when you feel in over your head (and there will be days like that!). Having a business plan will maintain your focus by laying out the future of your business step-by-step. Sections of your business plan that should be included are:

1. Cover Page – Business Name, Address, Phone Number, Website, Logo.
2. Purpose Section – A short summary of the purpose of your business and how it will stand apart from others.
3. Business Structure – How will your business structure be set up? Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, Corporation? 
4. Product or Service – Give more detail about your product or service. Include pictures.
5. Client’s Needs – How will you meet the needs of your clients? 
6. Financial Table – How much will you charge? Expenses of business?
7. Time Table – Break down by quarter what the goals and expectations are. Explain where funds will be spent in company.
8. Management and Staff – List founders, managers, staff, volunteers, vendors, etc. 

Start Marketing
Now that you’ve done all that hard work, there is still one more important thing to consider: marketing. Sometimes, the toughest part of getting your business off the ground is getting your name out there in front of those potential consumers. Plus, learning to set your business apart from the rest is an ever-changing process. However, there are a few tried and true methods to get going:

• Design business cards and flyers to advertise your website. 
• Link your website to every social networking site that makes sense for your business.   
• Create a legitimate SEO campaign to maximize your website’s traffic. 
• Generate traffic to your site through search engines and be select with the ads you allow on your site. 
• Produce great web content.  Remember, there’s nothing worse to an online shopper than landing on a page that’s cluttered with junk. Be mindful of your web content! 

Finally, it is extremely important to remember to take advantage of your supportive community. Don’t overlook any way to network and get your name out there. No connection is unimportant when you are getting your business off the ground!

Ryan Franklin is a blogger and young entrepreneur who writes on behalf of Ordoro.

Startup Lessons from Mad Men, Chopped and Other Awesome TV Shows

I'll admit it.  I'm a TV junkie.  But I like to think that the endless hours I spend DVRing my favorite shows and purchasing DVDs (not to mention the hundreds of dollars I spend a month on cable alone) aren't all for nothing.  The other day, while I was curled up on my hand-me-down couch watching one of my favorite TV dramas, Mad Men, I discovered that the episode actually taught me quite a bit about advertising and marketing.  I soon realized I could relate all of the lessons I learned from Mad Men to entrepreneurship.  And then it hit me: All of my favorite television shows can (believe it or not) teach me something about entrepreneurship.

Today, I want to share those lessons with you.  And although some of these television shows may have nothing to do with entrepreneurship (i.e. my favorite Food Network show, Chopped), every single one of these series actually can provide some insight into the unpredictable world of startups.

"Fear stimulates my imagination." - Don Draper, Mad Men

Fear of choosing the wrong business.  Fear of a startup's unpredictability.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of running out of money.  Fear of failure.  Entrepreneurs fear many things.  But believe it or not, it is fear that tends to drive these entrepreneurs forward.  Because of fear, entrepreneurs tend to work twice as hard with half the amount of sleep (and money) as their colleagues.  It's fear that keeps us motivated...it's fear that stimulates our imaginations.

"If we can't live together, then we're going to die alone." - Jack Shephard, LOST 

As one of the most famous quotes in television history, this blurb from Jack Shephard of LOST can teach us a lot about entrepreneurship.  But I interpret this quote in two different ways:

First of all, LOST can teach us an overwhelming amount about teamwork.  If it weren't for the teamwork put forth on the island, the group may have not survived (SPOILER ALERT: or were they even alive in the first place!?).  Every single person on the island brought a unique talent that helped the entire group survive--from Jack's medical knowledge and skills to John Locke's hunting abilities--the stranded group had only two choices: to live together or to die alone.  A startup can either thrive or die because of the team that's behind it.  It is the individual people, each with their own unique talents, that move a business forward.

Secondly, this quote in particular can teach us a lot about coopetition.  Coopetition is a word to describe "cooperative competition".  Coopetition happens when competitors work together because  they do not believe they have competitive advantage and because they believe they can share common costs. Entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses have found that coopetition is extremely beneficial for the growth of startup communities.  

"Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle...but what makes him a man is at the midst of that battle he does not lose himself.  The game is not over, this battle is not over." - Coach Eric Taylor, Friday Night Lights

Many people may have seen Friday Night Lights the movie.  But in my opinion, Friday Night Lights as a television series can teach us much more about entrepreneurship.  One of the biggest lessons an entrepreneur can learn while watching Friday Night Lights is that at some point in his startup life, he will fail.  Football teams lose games, entrepreneurs lose opportunities.  It's the way of life.  But, it is important to learn from those mistakes and failures and remember that even when all seems lost, the battle is not over.

"Ted, your problem is all you do is think, think, think.  I'm teaching you how to do, do, do." - Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother

Any fan of How I Met Your Mother knows that Barney Stinson is a "doer" (in more ways than one).  Entrepreneurs should take this "do-do" (hehe) mentality from Mr. Stinson.  When you're an entrepreneur, it's important to continue to move a business forward.  Progress is not going to happen by holding pointless meetings or assigning goalless projects.  Be like Barney; be a "doer".  Other advice we can learn from Barney Stinson?  Every once in awhile, it is important for an entrepreneur to "Suit Up!".

It's high energy.  It's fast-paced. - Chopped

For those of you who are not familiar with the popular Food Network series Chopped, allow me to explain.  Chopped takes four chefs from across the country and gives them a basket of wacky ingredients.  Each ingredient must be made into a delicious meal in a short amount of time.  Then, each plate is judged by a panel of famous Food Network stars. Chefs compete in three rounds (entree, appetizer and dessert) with one chef eliminated every round.  The winner receives $10,000 and ultimate bragging rights.  

Doesn't sound a whole lot like entrepreneurship, does it?  Think again!  We can learn quite a few lessons from my favorite Food Network show:

• We don't get to choose the ingredients:  The Chopped competitors do not have the luxury of choosing the main ingredients for their meal, much like entrepreneurs do not get to choose the main ingredients to build the perfect startup.  Sure, entrepreneurs can choose the startup's employees, culture and office space.  But oftentimes, an entrepreneur cannot choose their startup's source of capital, its media coverage or its overall outcome. 
• There's always a curveball: In every episode of Chopped, there is at least one ingredient that throws the competitors completely off.  Jews Mallow?  Sea urchins?  Gummy worms?  Sometimes, the basket ingredients seem impossible to combine. Entrepreneurs often face similar situations when they are thrown startup curveballs.  The best way to handle them?  Expect the unexpected and roll with the punches! 
• Time is precious: Chefs competing in Chopped only have 20 minutes for the appetizer round, 30 minutes for the entree round and 30 minutes for the dessert round.  Without a doubt, time is precious. Time is an entrepreneur's most precious commodity as well.  Use it wisely--there's never enough of it!  
• Winners don't play it safe: Oftentimes, chefs are "chopped" because they play it too safe.  The same thing goes for entrepreneurs.  It's important to step outside your comfort zone and take chances.  Don't let your fears get in the way (see quote #1!).  

"Chris, everything I say is a lie.  Except that. And that. And that. And that. And that. And that. And that." - Peter Griffin, Family Guy

Many of you may not think that the animated television series Family Guy can teach us a whole lot about entrepreneurship.  And in all honesty, it really can't.  But as one of my favorite TV shows, I had to add it to the list.  In my opinion, the one thing we can learn from Family Guy is to not take life too seriously.  As an entrepreneur, chasing your dream should actually be fun.  Enjoy the ride.  Soak up the great moments.  And most importantly, don't forget to laugh along the way.  

"There's always money in the banana stand!" - George Bluth Sr., Arrested Development   

I'm just as happy as the next person that Arrested Development is coming back to the small screen (and eventually, the big screen).  As one of the funniest television shows of all time (in my humble opinion), Arrested Development can also teach us quite a bit about entrepreneurship.  For one, it can teach us that when life brings you down, it's important to face problems head-on, attack the tough situations with your head held high and lean on your family and friends when you need it most.  Although there may not always be money in the banana stand, we always have our friends and families to support us (even though they drive us crazy sometimes).

"Some individuals, it is true, are more special.  This is natural selection. It begins as a single individual born or hatched like every other member of their species.  Anonymous. Seemingly ordinary. Except they're not." - Mohinder Suresh, Heroes

This quote from Mohinder Suresh of Heroes is spot-on.  Not everybody is a natural-born entrepreneur.  Entrepreneurs are unique, extraordinary people with even more extraordinary ideas.  Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur.  Are you one of the chosen ones?

"This question comes from Twitter, because apparently that's something which happens now." - Gwen, Parks and Recreation

Last but not least, I had to throw one of my favorite lines from Parks and Recreation into this list.  As one of my favorite comedies on television (alongside The Office and 30 Rock, of course), this quote from Parks and Recreation can teach us just how important social media is.  Entrepreneurs, use your social media resources!  You never know who's watching out in the Twittersphere or on Facebook.

Who else out there is a TV junkie?  What are your favorite television shows?  Can you learn something about entrepreneurship and startups from those series that make you laugh, cry and wonder?  Share below.  

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig 

How to Throw a Killer Startup Launch Party

Your launch party isn’t just a fun night of drinking and schmoozing with friends, family and potential customers—more importantly, it’s your startup’s first impression.  And like the old adage says, you only get one first impression.

Your startup’s launch party is one of the most important days of your business’s life.  It’s technically your startup’s “birthday” and it’s a chance to find potential customers, interested investors and brand advocates.     

So how can you make your startup’s launch party truly stand out?  We’ve got six important tips for you to get it right the first time! 

1.  The Perfect Location

No launch party is complete without a kick-butt location.  But just because a location is modern and swanky, doesn’t mean that it will fit your business’s voice.  Some startups need to launch during the day at a local coffee shop, others are more fitted for the bar scene, and still others should look into modern business-oriented event spaces in the area.  It all depends on what you want your startup’s message to be and the vibe that you want to give from the start. 

Looking to save some cash?  Many startups opt to throw their launch parties at nonprofit locations or  schools.  These options often have the most reasonable pricing opportunities.

2.  Marketing

No one will show up your launch party if they don’t know it exists!  That’s why marketing your startup launch party is critical to its success.  Blast out an email to your contacts about your launch party, add it to your startup’s website, Tweet it, Facebook it, blog it!  Do whatever it takes to get word out about your startup’s launch.

Another great marketing tip?  Get in touch with online calendars (like through your city’s newspaper) and add your launch party to the list.  Newspapers reach a large amount of people, and oftentimes, adding events to their calendars is free!

3.  The Right Guests

Speaking of marketing...it’s important to get the right people to your startup launch—more specifically, potential investors, potential clients and media.  Therefore, when marketing, make sure that you’re using the correct platform to get the right people.  One of the best ways to guarantee that the right people will show up is by using a tool called EventBrite.  It’s a social-media-friendly event management site perfect for any launch party.  Another tip?  Send out a media advisory to important media resources like local newspapers, television stations and bloggers.

4.  Entertainment

Keep in mind that sometimes, it takes a little more than rockin’ music and an open bar to keep launch party guests entertained.  You want to keep guests engaged not only in the party, but in your product as well.  We recommend featuring a live demo of your product or service as one of the main focuses of a launch.  Other great ideas?  Live bands, contests, keynote speakers and raffles (plus, if you ask for business cards during a raffle, you automatically have some leads!). 

5.  Swag

What launch party is complete without swag?  Every guest loves swag, especially when they may not expect it!  Swag could be as simple as a few pamphlets about your startup, a stress ball with your startup’s logo or a discount coupon.  A lot of the time, you can get another partner to sponsor your launch party’s swag!  And that brings us to number six...

6.  Generous Sponsors

Donations are life-savers for startups...especially during the beginning phases.  Sponsors can play a major role in your startup’s launch party—from providing food and beverage to purchasing swag to donating event space.  Get in touch with the movers-and-shakers in your city and try to get your startup’s launch party sponsored! 

What are you waiting for?  Now that you have the six tips to blow your launch party out of the water, it’s time to get planning!  Best of luck, not only on solidifying your startup’s inception, but also on throwing a party that potential clients and investors will never forget! 

024 Think Big Radio: The Top 13 Things Entrepreneurs Cannot Live Without

At Think Big Partners, we try to accommodate to entrepreneurs as best we can.  So we asked people on Twitter and Facebook what they cannot live without as entrepreneurs to gain a little more insight.  Listen to episode 24 of Think Big Radio to find out the 13 (plus some!) things that entrepreneurs cannot live without.

Click to listen:

024 Think Big Radio: The Top 13 Things Entrepreneurs Cannot Live Without

Take a look at our full list below:

1. A sense of humor (from @AllisonThinkBig)
2. A great team (from @AllisonThinkBig and George Brooks of CremaLab)
3. Goals, direction and focus (from @beatnikbusiness)
4. Work-life balance (from @joshmccleary)
5. Passion (from @gimmetim)
6. A challenge (from @Dan_Via)
7. Coffee! (from @Dan_Via)
8. An unfiltered critique of plan, process and product (from @mrjerryjonesjr)
9. Social media (@donpower, @JoinSaloveiTeam, @RexTullius)
10. An iPad (from @EBuckIII)
11. A smartphone (from @KcMoboss, @srfuller, @K12Cloud)
12. Flexibility (from @beatnikbusiness)
13. Apps (from George Brooks via Facebook)

Plus, we have a few extras!

14. Exercise
15. Books
16. Sleep, vacation and breaks
17. High-speed Internet
18. Networking
19. Headphones
20. Ongoing, great ideas
21. Podcasts (and other ways to gather information and advice)

A huge thanks to our Twitter followers and Facebook fans who let us know what they cannot live without!  As an entrepreneur, what could you not live without?  Comment below and let us know!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

What Do You Believe In? Mingo Ink Makes It Known

Picture a yard full of 50 pink flamingos. Chances are, you can’t help but smile...or at least feel a little warm and fuzzy inside.

That very image inspired Tiffiney Baumgarden to create a new clothing line known as Mingo Ink. Mingo Ink is a t-shirt line that encourages people to be their unique selves—and proclaim exactly what they believe in.  Each Mingo Ink shirt displays a quote on its front that explains what each wearer believes in most.  The t-shirts are adorned with quotes such as “believes in possibility”, “believes in happily ever after” even “believes in karma”.

And apparently, Tiffiney, founder of Mingo Ink, should bear a shirt that reads “Believes in entrepreneurship.”  As a part of her clothing line’s mission, 10% of all Mingo Ink profits go straight to the support of local startups.  Yeah, we think it’s safe to say that Tiffiney means business—and believes in it. 

The Face behind the Ink

Tiffiney Baumgarden grew up in an entrepreneurial household, so she’s no stranger to startups or hard work. Her mother is part-owner of a local Kansas City boutique known as La~de~da. With exposure to the worlds of entrepreneurship and fashion at a young age, Tiffiney quickly gained the confidence to start her own clothing line. Tiffiney said she loved working in the boutique, but “wanted something that was completely mine”.

Thinking Big

Tiffiney plans to expand the Mingo Ink clothing line in the coming months. “I want to start a winter line and a children’s line”, she explains. “How cute would a onesie be that says ‘I believe in fairy tales?’”

Adorable, of course.  

Right now, Tiffiney’s main goal is to build up Mingo Ink’s brand recognition. She wants her shirts to be instantly recognizable so someone can see a shirt and say, “Oh, that’s a Mingo Ink!” We like that Think Big approach.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll purchase a t-shirt that proclaims “believes in Thinking Big” to help spread the word. 

Words of Wisdom for Entrepreneurs Everywhere

When asked what advice she would give other entrepreneurs out there, Tiffiney responded:  

“You have to 120% believe in what you’re doing.”  

Regardless of the stories we all hear of failed startups, it’s important to believe your business will be the one that makes a difference.  Tiffiney also added a more humorous approach to her entrepreneurial advice: “Don’t be afraid of being that annoying person!”  Wherever Tiffiney goes, she tells people about her new product. Outreach is critical—and if she wants brand recognition, that’s how she’s going to get it!

Tiffiney knows what it takes to start a business. She grew up always hearing, “go big or go home”...and most importantly, she listened. Tiffiney is thinking big, are you?

What do you believe in?  View the Mingo Ink store and purchase your belief today: Mingo Ink store.