The Ready Entrepreneur Podcast

What is it like to be a reluctant entrepreneur, and to continuously travel the entrepreneur's journey leading to success?  This extended interview episode with Russell Nohelty, USA Today Bestselling Author and Publisher at Wannabe Press covers his story about getting started, learning to repeat success, marketing books from flea markets to Kickstarter, building a loyal fan base, creating world-class products and much, much more. 

Russell provides great insight into developing as an entrepreneur, and a valuable list of go-to resources that you can find at the Ready Entrepreneur website.

Note from host: This episode was recorded before the shutdown.  Some of the book promotion tips will hopefully apply again when everyone is on the other side of the disruption.

The unprecedented upheaval of 2020 may have some aspiring entrepreneurs thinking the opportunity to start a business is over.  But the opposite is happening.  People with good ideas, innovation, drive and a penchant for risk are finding ways to help people by delivering solutions.  Case talks about how aspiring entrepreneurs should not only keep their business dreams going but also accelerate their effort to deliver a product or service of value.  At a time when leadership is needed, entrepreneurs can set an example for how to move forward.

Aspiring entrepreneurs who have faced pushback and negativity about their plans, may take comfort in knowing their work is supported by a global initiative to encourage more entrepreneurs.  In this episode, Case explains how despite on-the-ground pushback against entrepreneurial dreams, global multi-lateral organizations, funded by taxpayers, support entrepreneurship as part of global economic development.  Research, analysis and money are used to defend and promote entrepreneurship as an alternative to wage labor.

Knowing your effort has global support beyond the comments and concerns at home, may help entrepreneurs to understand you are part of a global movement that wants and needs the value you have to offer.

This episode is part of an occasional series that looks at government-backed entrepreneurial support.  The last comment was Episode 47:  What the UN Says about Entrepreneurship.   You can find more information at Ready Entrepreneur.

Aspiring entrepreneurs may have heard about online tools like the landing page, website and e-mail management, but what is the process for deciding when and where to use these resources?  This episode reviews the best practice use for the tools including when a landing page works better than a website, and when to start with an email service provider.  

The top considerations are:

• Type of web presence you want to manage
• Rate of growth and need for automation
• Value for money in using each tool

Listeners can get more information and see demonstrations of the use of these tools at Ready Entrepreneur Guides, a dedicated site for aspiring entrepreneurs to quickly set-up and use the most popular online tools.

Any idea for filling a gap in the marketplace may be an opportunity for a business.  But aspiring entrepreneurs should implement additional research approaches beyond completing an online search.  

Including:

• Consider the functional use of similar products or services.  Observe how the marketplace is really using the product or service.  Especially look at the difference (if any) between how the product is presented in advertising, and how people really use it.
• Speak to customers of similar products and services.  Operate in the real world where your business will live.
• Save the details for later.  Set a deadline.  Finish the initial research as soon as you have enough to move forward with your action plan.  

You can find more information on this topic at Ready Entrepreneur.
And connect @readyentrepreneur on Instagram; @readyentrepreneurHQ on Facebook and @caselaneworld on Twitter

As you are working to recast yourself in these unprecedented times, you can learn from others who can provide insight into how your unique skills may find a place in the market.  If you have specialized knowledge and skills, you can build your business on your own service offerings to potential clients and through referrals.  And you can be successful, and then go on to pursue other career goals.

In this extended interview episode of the podcast, Case has a conversation with Maurice Cherry, Designer, Podcaster and Creative Strategist.

Maurice discusses how he started as an entrepreneur, the ups and downs of his journey, working remotely, and the career he has now.  Learn how to leverage your opportunities in the available workplace by being ready, delivering outstanding work, and following up.   

You can learn more about Maurice at mauricecherry.com, and on social @maurice cherry.  And you can find his podcast Revision Path @revisionpath.

For a list of the products and resources mentioned in the podcast visit: Ready Entrepreneur

Aspiring entrepreneurs in the 21st century are active participants in the transformation of human labor from sweat to brains, by being the people who are actively thinking, observing and finding solutions to the wants and needs of the community.  Since knowledge workers and brainpower are the requirement for success going forward, those that position themselves as entrepreneurs are already utilizing the skills needed to move forward.  In this episode, Case Lane discusses how you can take advantage of this built-in opportunity, and thrive through the transition to the tech age by using your skill to bring products and services into the global marketplace. 

For the aspiring entrepreneur who wants to put a message and vision into the world, this extended interview episode provides excellent ideas and tips from Kaelin Vu, the founder of Dear Lovely Universe.  

Kaelin explains how she was inspired to tell her own stories, developed content for her blog, and went on to create a podcast.  She also provides insight into connecting with those who may be skeptical of your plans, how to find ideas, how to speak to your audience, attending meetups and other networking events, DIY vs learning technology tools, and having mentors.

Among her insightful tips are:

• Write about what you see and experience, from your heart
• Pay someone else to do unfamiliar tasks so you have more time for activities that matter most
• Love the work, and take a long-term view

You can find Kaelin at Dear Lovely Universe and on social media @dearlovelyuniverse

You can find links to the sources and resources Kaelin mentions in this episode on the Ready Entrepreneur podcast resources page

Aspiring entrepreneurs who have established professional and social lives have a difficult time breaking away to start a business.  Legacy obligations insist on participation in frequent events, old friends stay focused on dramatic but unhelpful stories, and guilt-trippers leave striving entrepreneurs trying to balance all requests.  In this episode, Case provides strategies for quietly and gently leaving behind these demands to free up time for a new business venture.

The strategies include:

• Communicate with those closest to you to let them know what you are doing
• Learn to say 'no' to the least important events
• Be present when attending the functions you have prioritized
• Use time at work to pick up new useful knowledge not just office gossip
• Schedule social texting and social media time to avoid constantly picking up the phone

While implementing these strategies may be challenging at first, an aspiring entrepreneur who pursues this discipline must look at the long-term goal of opening a new business.  Stay close to those who understand your aspiration, and walk away guilt-free from those who do not. 

What do you do when you have a business idea in your head but no family, friends or colleagues who want to hear about it?  How do you test your product or service, find your potential customers, and spread the word about your wonderful plan?

In this episode, Case explores options for aspiring entrepreneurs who cannot begin with the traditional advice to "start with family and friends."  Instead, you could build your own publicity machine through social media; use giveaways to prompt people to try your idea; develop a compelling message you can promote through online media; or form alliances through established online influencers where you can provide value to their audiences.

Learn these helpful tips for building your business without the benefit of a supportive community or active friends. Go directly to the platforms where your potential customers may be operating, and find them yourself.  

Be prepared to tell a story about your product or service that will intrigue your potential customers by making sure the material would attract you if you were on the other side of the offering.