article originally published on dalecallahan.com under the title “Finding Freedom as an Entrepreneur”

Have you ever been told you were wrong? I was — just the other day. I did a re-post of Jonathan Fields blog post called The 4 Delusions of Entrepreneurs.

A friend of mine who is an Internet marketeer very gently blasted me – privately. I was going to add his comments to the post as “comments”  — but I have to think he is so dead on that I just want to make them a new post.

Here are the comments from Patrick Cash.

“Wow. Glad I didn’t read that before I quit my j.o.b. In a way, he makes it sound so gloom and doom.
This little ‘work where I want, when I want’ life o’mine really ain’t that bad at all

I have to disagree with some of what he says. A brick and mortar business can be location independent if you work on your business and not in your business. – read Michael Gerber’s ‘The E-myth‘.

The CEO of Applegate Farms (they are an organic meat producer) only works in the office 1 day a week and has done it this way since the he started the business.

Freedom is the main thing everyone wants. They think they want money, etc but what you really want is the freedom the money gives you.”

I myself argued a bit with Jonathan on his post – pointing out that even working people with a JOB might experience some of the benefits of freedom – with some work. But hearing Patrick’s take on it really hit home – we might be delusional – but fact is that you can reach it.

The point is that I think Jonathan was making was that it is not often what we expect it to be – sometimes it is better.

Just in case you doubt – ask Patrick!

This all reminds me of the quote from the ancient Greek historian Thucydides

“The secret of happiness is freedom.

The secret of freedom is courage.”

So take courage and fight for freedom! Thanks Patrick for keeping me motivated!!!

How about the rest of you? What drives you to want to go it alone?

Freedom?

Money?

Just to know you can?

Dale Callahan is a contributing writer for the IEM Blog. Dr. Callahan is the IEM Program Director for the Information Engineering and Management Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His thoughts here represent the types of topics covered in the Entrepreneurial courses he teaches the clients of the IEM Program at UAB. Thanks to DaleCallahan.com for this article.

article originally published on dalecallahan.com under the title “Does it Pay to Be Green?”
A recent post by Small Business Trends hailed that businesses need to do more than claim they are green and environmentally friendly – now they need to show evidence to their customers of just how green. For example, I have seen some small companies participate in this thinking by posting on their website how many carbon credits they had purchased.

But I have to wonder —–

Do we really care? Really?

Here was my response/comment to the post:

Are we sure? I wonder if there is any research to show that customers really care. And do customers on the west coast care more than others?

And how are the challenges to global warming data changing this game?

On my side I find a lot of people who love the “green” stuff – but I also see people turned off by companies who think they are saving the world.

While I am not commenting so much about is global warming true or not (although as a recovering scientist I do have an opinion about the science) — I am just wondering … are we all jumping up and down thinking our customers care without knowing for sure?

For me, green used to mean you had an upset stomach – something I might relate to a rough ride while deep sea fishing. Back in the ’70’s Kermit claimed it is “not easy being green.”  How we moved from being hard to be green to it is “good to be green” and now it is “a must to be green” I really am puzzled.

But what I notice is all best intentions in the world – people end up buying value. The idea of being green presupposes customers place a high value on a company spending its money on being green.

I am bettering this is not true. What do you think?

Dale Callahan is a contributing writer for the IEM Blog. Dr. Callahan is the IEM Program Director for the Information Engineering and Management Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His thoughts here represent the types of topics covered in the Entrepreneurial courses he teaches the clients of the IEM Program at UAB. Thanks to DaleCallahan.com for this article.

article originally published on dalecallahan.com under the title “Grow In Business”

Have you ever earned a dollar that was not part of your salary? I have added this question to the list of many others I ask of those who approach me wanting help to break out of cubicle insanity and become entrepreneurs. Often the answer is no.

The $2500 goal

Here is another good question.

How long will it take you to make $2500 in revenue from your new business?

When I ask this question I can tell a lot about a person. Many people just look very uncertain – almost nervous. This question is serious – a real measurement – a real goal. While $2500 to most of us is not going to be life changing – it strikes fear into many aspiring entrepreneurs.

I can see the answers and the internal argument going on within them? Here is what I read on their faces – their internal conversation.

I have no idea, $2500 is a ton of money for what I do? Yet $2500 is really nothing. If I cannot get $2500, then how can I get $25,000 – or better the $100,000 I am after. This is overwhelming! I can’t do this!

Have you ever had these thoughts? Do you now? Seriously – this is common! If you have comment on where you stand!

Grow into business

Here is the thing – if you want to become an entrepreneur and have not had any significant part time business – you are approaching becoming a fool if you plan to quit the day job and go for it. You have too much to learn – and too far to go. And one of you biggest challenges is YOU.

So start today and begin. Get some money coming in – this creates HUGE momentum. If you can make $100, you can make $1000!

If you can make $1000, you can make $2500 – just keep doing the same thing!

If you can make $2500, you can make $100,000.

Momentum is the key!

Instead of going into business – which seems like a huge leap to so many – just grow into business. Start selling something – products, services, whatever on a small scale. Grow into business!

What are you doing?

If you have done this and met a $2500 mark – leave a comment and tell us how you did it.

If you have the fears I have listed above  – comment on that also!

Dale Callahan is a contributing writer for the IEM Blog. Dr. Callahan is the IEM Program Director for the Information Engineering and Management Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His thoughts here represent the types of topics covered in the Entrepreneurial courses he teaches the clients of the IEM Program at UAB. Thanks to DaleCallahan.com for this article.