Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

Regina Crandall from the St. Louis County Library talks about Small Business & Nonprofit Conference

Regina and Mary discussed the benefits of attending the St. Louis County Library's small business and nonprofit conference, highlighting the library's extensive business resources, networking opportunities, and community building. They also discussed upcoming conferences and events, with Regina mentioning a conference in St. Louis. And the business resources of libraries are available nationwide, so Startups should take full advantage of their local libraries, particularly if they have a Business Center.

St. Louis County Library Conference Benefits

Regina and Mary discussed the benefits of attending the St. Louis County Library's small business and nonprofit conference. Regina highlighted the library's extensive business resources, including free access to industry trends, best practices, and essential skills, as well as local experts. She emphasized the importance of networking and community building at the conference, and the opportunity to interact with other startups. Mary agreed, noting the value of in-person interaction and the opportunity to access resources that would otherwise be costly. Regina also mentioned the library's one-on-one assistance program, "Book a Librarian," and the availability of research databases for market research. Mary suggested that people could use these resources to create a business plan.

Upcoming Conferences and Event Planning

Regina and Mary discussed upcoming conferences and events. Regina mentioned a conference in St. Louis on October 8th, 9th, and 10th, with sessions on the 8th and 9th at the New Clark family branch and a virtual session on the 10th.

Tuesday, May 13, 9:30-12:30 STL BizConnect: Linking Entrepreneurs to Resources

At this business resource fair, connect and engage with organizations in the St. Louis area entrepreneurial ecosystem to learn about free or low cost support and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners. Adults. No registration required.

https://www.joshdixcounseling.com/career-and-workplace-challenges https://www.joshdixcounseling.com/training

Josh Dix from LeadershipXD talks about Staying Sane Wearing All the Hats

Mary Scott and Josh Dix discussed the challenges of wearing multiple hats in a startup, emphasizing the importance of mindset shifts, delegating tasks, and maintaining a healthy relationship with work. They also highlighted the significance of self-care, setting boundaries, and recognizing signs of burnout in maintaining a healthy work environment.

Maintaining Sanity in Entrepreneurial Chaos

Mary and Josh discussed the challenges of wearing multiple hats in a startup, particularly for founders. Josh emphasized the importance of mindset shifts, such as delegating tasks and trusting others, to prevent burnout. He also highlighted the need for a healthy relationship with work and a sense of self outside of work. The conversation focused on strategies for maintaining sanity and balance in a demanding entrepreneurial environment.

Work-Life Balance and Burnout Prevention

Josh Dix and Mary discussed the importance of self-care and setting boundaries in their work. JD emphasized the need to manage pace and volume of work, and to recognize signs of burnout such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of self-efficacy. He also highlighted the significance of healthy conflict resolution and communication in maintaining a healthy work environment. Mary agreed, suggesting the need for setting office hours and having a dedicated workspace to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Mary concludes the interview with Josh Dix, thanking him for his advice and mentioning that contact information will be provided in the comments. She then promotes her own services at https://businessriff.com, encouraging startups to book a call with her for success.

William Jordan from Justine Petersen talking about Credit for Startups

Establishing Business Credit for Startups

Mary and William discussed the importance of establishing business credit for startups. William clarified that starting a business does not automatically create business credit, as it requires affirmative actions to establish. He emphasized that business credit is separate from personal credit and needs to be built through a specific process, including opening accounts and paying bills.

Building Business Credit

The discussion focuses on building business credit. William explains that business credit is primarily based on timely payments and is a combination of personal and business credit initially. Mary emphasizes the importance of keeping personal and business finarnces separate, using different institutions for each. She also highlights the need for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) when opening business accounts, rather than using a personal Social Security number.

Improving Personal Credit Scores

William and Mary discussed personal credit issues and how to improve them. William suggested using credit builder loans to establish credit for those with no credit history. He also recommended seeking free services like those offered by Justine Petersen, funded by the Small Business Administration. Mary emphasized the importance of paying on time, even if less than the minimum is paid. William further advised on how to improve credit scores for better interest rates on loans, such as becoming a homeowner. He also highlighted the difference between car and house credit scores. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging new business owners to consult a credit counselor.

justinepetersen.org

https://calendly.com/businessriff/15min

http://websitesthatwin.com/

Philippa Gamse from Websites That Win talking about the Importance of Web Analytics & What They Mean.

Web Analytics Importance and Top Metrics

Mary and Philippa begin their meeting, briefly discussing Mary being snowed in at St. Louis. They then prepare for the recorded portion of their conversation, which will focus on web analytics. Mary introduces the topic and Philippa as an expert, stating that they will discuss the importance of web analytics and the top three analytics businesses should monitor.

Web Analytics for Business Investment

In the meeting, Philippa and Mary discussed the importance of web analytics for businesses. Philippa emphasized that understanding website analytics is crucial for effective investment of time, money, and resources. They discussed various analytics tools and how to interpret them, focusing on video consumption, blog post engagement, and keyword usage. Philippa also highlighted the importance of having multiple calls to action on a website to drive users to desired outcomes. Mary asked about the difference between impressions and engagement, and Philippa explained that impressions refer to when someone sees a website or ad, while engagement is when someone interacts with it.

Saida Cornejo Zuñiga from WEPOWER talks about the KIVA program for startups

Mary Scott and Saida Cornejo Zuñiga discussed the Kiva program, a partnership between WEPOWER and Kiva, which provides 0-interest loans for entrepreneurs with no minimum credit score or business plan required. Saida also mentioned that We Power focuses on supporting black and Latino entrepreneurs

SummaryKiva Program for Entrepreneurs Discussion

In the meeting, Mary Scott from BusinessRiff and Saida Cornejo Zuñiga from WEPOWER discussed the Kiva program, a partnership between WEPOWER and Kiva, an international online crowdlending platform. Saida explained that the Kiva program provides 0-interest loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 for entrepreneurs, with no minimum credit score or business plan required. The application process involves sharing personal and business information, focusing on social underwriting rather than financials. Mary emphasized the importance of building business credit for startups. Saida also mentioned that WEPOWER focuses on supporting black and Latino entrepreneurs and that their accelerator program will open applications later in the month.

wepowerstl.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frupinter/

https://fru.plus/

Fru Pintér, branding expert, talks about Creating a New Category to Market Your Brand.

Creating Unique Branding Categories

Mary welcomed Frupinter for a discussion on creating unique categories for branding. Frupinter explained that many businesses have innovative ideas that don't fit traditional branding strategies, thus necessitating the creation of new categories. She shared two examples of services that required new categories, one combining dancing and knowledge management, and the other a food innovation that doesn't fit existing buckets. Frupinter also offered a branding tip for startups, suggesting that they create solutions to their own problems rather than seeking them elsewhere.

Branding and Marketing for Startups

In the meeting, Mary and frupinter discussed the importance of branding and marketing for startups, emphasizing that it's a team effort requiring intrinsic motivation. They highlighted the need for creativity and not being afraid to go beyond established categories when introducing new products. They also touched on the concept of brand archetypes and the potential for new categories to align with different customer desires. The discussion concluded with an exchange of contact information for potential collaborations and referrals.

https://www.yarusiholdings.com

instagram : jasonyarusi

Jason Yarusi from Yarusi Holdings talks about how to start a Real Estate Investing business

Real Estate Investing Journey Discussed

Mary Scott from BusinessRiff interviewed Jason Yarusii from Yarusi Holdings about his journey into real estate investing. Jason shared his story of leaving college with a business degree, feeling lost, and eventually making a change after an accident. He started working various jobs, including bartending and construction, before deciding to invest in real estate. He found the model of buying apartment buildings highly attractive due to its potential for economies of scale and the ability to set up a team to implement a process. Since 2017, Jason's company has acquired over 3,000 units in the southeast. Mary expressed her admiration for Jason's story and asked about the necessary steps to start buying buildings like that.

Focusing on Specific Real Estate Types

Jason discussed the importance of focusing on a specific type of real estate, such as apartment buildings, to achieve success. He emphasized the need for a clear understanding of the target market and the ability to underwrite properties effectively. Jason also highlighted the importance of having a well-rounded team with various skills, including property management, marketing, and construction expertise. He suggested that individuals without the necessary financial commitment or experience could still start a real estate business by partnering with others who have the required skills.

https://linktr.ee/deborahivanoff

https://TheBEINGCoach.com

Deborah Ivanoff The BEING Coach, talks about Mastering the Overwhelm for Startups

Managing Overwhelm in Startups and Entrepreneurs

In the meeting, Mary Scott and Deborah Ivanoff discussed the topic of overwhelm in the context of startups and entrepreneurs. They identified three signs of overwhelm: feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks, difficulty in focusing or organizing, and a sense of helplessness or giving up. They also discussed the different types of entrepreneurs and how they may experience overwhelm differently. Deborah emphasized the importance of helping the body feel safe as a first step in managing overwhelm, suggesting techniques such as taking deep breaths, drinking water, and getting enough sleep. She also stressed the importance of asking for help and delegating tasks to others. The conversation ended with Deborah sharing her personal trick of acknowledging the change and reframing the mindset from "I have to do this" to "I get to do this".

https://parux.com

Ken Mocabee from Parux talking about Falling in Love with the Problem

Startups' Focus on Problem Validation

In the meeting, Mary Scott and Ken Mocabee from Parux discussed the importance of startups focusing on the problem they aim to solve rather than just an idea. Ken emphasized that many startups fail because they haven't validated their idea or considered potential blockers and hidden costs. He suggested that startups should concentrate on the things that might cause their failure before building their product. Mary agreed, adding that investigating competition and being realistic about existing solutions are crucial. They both agreed that startups should prioritize validating their idea and addressing potential issues before launching their product.

Validation and Design Thinking in Startups

Ken discussed the importance of validation in product development, emphasizing that many startups fail due to a lack of understanding of their market and competition. He highlighted the value of design thinking, which involves understanding customers' needs and problems before creating solutions. Ken also stressed the importance of prototyping and iteration to validate solutions before investing in engineering and launch. He suggested that startups should engage with potential customers more, using online platforms and social media to build relationships and gather feedback. Mary agreed, noting the difference in marketing strategies today and the need for collaboration with potential customers.

Exploring Tools and Future Collaboration

Mary and Ken discussed the use of certain tools for fact-finding and the potential for future collaboration. Ken mentioned his company's website, https://parux.com as a useful link.

https://businessriff.com

https://www.roniibartles.com/

Ronii Bartles, Business Strategist talking about Doing Less to Gain More

Prioritizing Revenue-Generating Activities Discussed

In the meeting, Mary Scott and Ronii Bartles discussed the importance of prioritizing revenue-generating activities and cutting back on "busy work" that doesn't contribute to revenue. Ronii shared her personal experience of cutting back on marketing and networking activities, which led to increased revenue. They emphasized the importance of in-person networking for professional services and suggested that once a successful strategy is found, it should be doubled down on rather than experimenting with other methods.