How do you get a small business grant?  Most aspiring solopreneurs have heard about the government giving away millions of dollars to help small businesses start and grow. The tale of available grants for small business is like a favorite bedtime story we hear as kids or a kind of folklore passed from one business owner to another. We’ve all heard the story, and we just know it just HAS to be true. Here is the thing that might shock you: It is true! There are grants for small businesses available out there. I managed a nonprofit for over ten years that offered small business gr ..read more

You're having a bad cash flow month. Revenues are down, and you have bills to pay. What do you do? You have two choices in business (and in life): bring in more cash or cut expenses. In a down month, you need to do both.  Here's how.  Optimize Your Current Cash Flow 1. Focus - Don't panic. Fear makes you freeze up and switches off your higher cognitive functions. Stay calm so you can work the problem. The goal is to close the cash flow gap as fast as possible. Control your emotions and look for the positives each day.  2. Brainstorm Options - What can you do in the next 30 days ..read more

The critical processes that will decide success or failure for startups are their lead generation and conversion tactics. For a startup to succeed, each lead generation and conversion tactic results in month-over-month increasing sales from launch to the breakeven point. Most lead generation and conversion tactics will not work right after launch because they are based on flawed assumptions.  To create lead generation and conversion that will result in breakeven sales, you must start testing them as soon as you launch your business. The Firs ..read more

Most new businesses are started with an untested business idea. An entrepreneur connects the dots between a customer's need and a way to fill that need. Business ideas can be as simple as doing what you love to do, firing the boss, or more intuitive, like seeing a new connection in how to do something. Once making the connection, the pressure to start building the business begins to mount.  Should you get to work right away and start drumming up business?  No, not yet.   Think of starting a business like running a marathon. It's a road race that unfolds over time. You ca ..read more

One of the fascinating discoveries working with small business owners is how small businesses evolve.  To this day, I see very little written about it, particularly for aspiring solopreneurs.  That is a disservice to aspiring solopreneurs because it leaves them without a critical road map to know where they are on their business development journey.  A good roadmap should tell someone where they are on their journey, how to avoid the many pitfalls, and what they need to do next.  I have developed several road maps over the years, but this one hasn't changed much.  ..read more

 If you're at a crossroads in your life and thinking about a lifestyle business startup, then this post is for you. I want to catch you now before you start sinking money and time into your dream. If you can wrap your mind around what I'm about to share with you, it will change the course of your business and your life for the better.  In this post, I'm going to share some lessons from the startup battlefield. After working with hundreds of lifestyle entrepreneurs, I have seen the pitfalls and the promise. Despite the struggles, I firmly believe that anyone who learns business fund ..read more

Looking for small business grants?  A small business grant might be just what you need! How can you argue with free? And your business needs the cash, right? Most aspiring solopreneurs have heard about the government giving away millions of dollars to help small businesses start and grow. The tale of available grants for small business is like a favorite bedtime story we hear as kids or a kind of folklore passed from one business owner to another. We’ve all heard the story, and we just know it just HAS to be true. Here is the thing that might shock you: It is true! There are grants ..read more

If you would ask me today where you should focus to make your solo business successful, I would probably answer that you should focus on many things to acheive financial sustainability. Business is complex and involves many skill domains. Today, I will give you eight things that I know will matter to you as you grow your solo business. Purpose What is your purpose in creating this business? It never ceases to amaze me how few people have a clear sense of purpose starting a solo business. Don’t make this mistake! Know why you’re in business and what motivates you. Purpose represents your ..read more

How do you describe your lifestyle?  What are the important parts of it?  Do you have a clear vision of it? The picture above is a reminder of what my life is about. It’s from a beach my family visited on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. We played in the sand, swam in the warm water, drank some of the most exotic cocktails around, and made memories together. And when the sunset, we were ready to go home. We were happy and had made some of the most beautiful memories in our lifetimes. To me, life is about family. That’s the purpose of my business. To spend time with my family and make t ..read more

One of the fascinating discoveries working with small business owners is how small businesses evolve.  To this day, I see very little written about it, particularly for aspiring solopreneurs.  That is a disservice to aspiring solopreneurs because it leaves them without a critical road map to know where they are on their business development journey.  A good roadmap should tell someone where they are on their journey, how to avoid the many pitfalls, and what they need to do next.  I have developed several road maps over the years, but this one hasn't changed much.  ..read more