Vision to Reality: A Deliberate Journey

As many people who know me are aware, most everything I do comes about with a great deal of consideration and research, but not to the point of creating paralysis by analysis. Deliberate, yes, of course. My thoughts behind Acceler8Success were certainly no different. 

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Take a look at our logo. What do you see in the middle? 

Is it an 8? Yes, but it’s more than that as it represents balance. One part of the number shows a defined path with a hard barrier at each end of the path. The other path is open-ended. This represents balance and that there are options to achieve goals – to explore possibilities, opportunities. 

My research was extensive as to what I was trying to achieve. Actually, the number 8 was chosen before determining how to incorporate it into a brand name and logo. Research showed that number 8 seemed to align with my passion for entrepreneurship.

The significance of the number 8 should not be overlooked. Professionalism, material freedom, affluence, and self-confidence are all related to the 8-numerology number. But that’s not all; many numerologists believe that the number 8 is associated with compassion, freedom, and self-reliance.

Interestingly, all are key factors in being a successful entrepreneur! 

Spiritually, the number 8 is a potent number. It’s a spiritual number that symbolizes mental stability and a positive outlook.

An article about the number 8 refers to finding a balance in life and relying on intuition to make the best decisions, to have a positive outlook and belief in one’s own self, and despite the difficulties that may be encountered along the way, to maintain self-assurance.

Numerology of Popular Brands

Further, it goes on that to embark on a new journey, it’s necessary to be confident in actions and to maintain a positive outlook on life and begin new adventures by stepping outside of a personal comfort zone with the courage to face fear.

I’m certainly not a person to rely on horoscopes or act upon superstitions, but if something stops me in my tracks and simultaneously intrigues me AND spurs creative thinking (my mind running wild with possibilities), then I’m on it.

Please take a few minutes to read more about the meaning of the number 8 HERE.

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Upon reading the article linked above you’ll quickly realize the expansiveness of my purpose, my objective. Remember, this all started in 2014 with a year or so ramp up to introducing the theory behind the brand as a mindset of how to do business. The deliberate approach led to the creation of the Acceler8Success mantra that is often seen alongside a black panther whose approach in getting to its goal is nothing less than deliberate.

Recently, we were right at a tipping point. Sometimes, things happen for a reason despite the pain it may cause or challenges that may be faced. If things had gone smoothly with a particular project’s funding several months ago, we probably would not have shifted as strongly to a project that I strongly believe has far greater possibilities than we would have with that other project. 

With this new endeavor, which I look forward to announcing in the near future, it’s become more of an exponential opportunity with multiple revenue streams and profit centers, and one that will benefit a number of our clients. Whereas the other was somewhat more of a square peg in a round hole that may have actually prevented us from exploring this new concept.

Mind you, I still want to capitalize on opportunities with the other project, and we will but I’m super-excited by having been ‘forced’ to explore other opportunities. Garth Brooks says it best in one of his popular songs, Unanswered Prayers:

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs. That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care. Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

Perseverance. Commitment. Dedication. Focus. Combined, they will keep us on the road to success. Personally, I expect it to be so in a big way as all that’s been experienced is somehow all being tied together – nothing having been done over the past year or so that hasn’t contributed to what we have right in front of us, seemingly just inches away. 

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There is so much in alignment, in balance at Acceler8Success Group, a ‘Ying & yang’ of sorts.

You see, it’s certainly not a coincidence that the symbol for Ying & yang very much resembles the Acceler8Success logo. 

At Acceler8Success Group, we are laser-focused on connecting the right people, brands & opportunities. We believe it’s all about a right-fit mindset that is going a long way toward turning a vision to reality. It’s what we do for us, and for others!

The Path Ahead

Sometimes we can barely see across short distances such as is often the case with early morning fog. However, if we’re pointed in the right direction, having positioned ourselves just right, we’re aware of what lies ahead.

Whether it be from past experience, or by following a detailed map, or even by using our senses to realize points of reference, we must trust we’re moving in the right direction. Often, intuition kicks in prompting us to make slight changes in direction. We must trust that gut feeling and act accordingly — but we must prevent from wandering aimlessly off track and into the unknown.

Much can be said about life as a journey. It’s mostly clear sailing with occasional storms that can be navigated with minimal, yet steady effort. Until, of course, we’re faced with a category 8 hurricane or F5 tornado when just surviving becomes our primary goal.

We must have unwavering confidence in our plans and also in our abilities. We must listen to our intuition. We must make changes swiftly and decisively. We must make it happen. We must make it count!

“Confidence is something you create when you believe in yourself.” – Anonymous

7 Ways to Find the Right Direction in Life

Acceler8Success Cafe Small Business Weekly

Small Business Weekly

Are You an Entrepreneur? The Answer Might Surprise You! (credit: addicted2success.com)

They don’t wait to be told what to do, or for conditions to be perfect, or to be handed the resources they need on a platter. In the spirit of a famous slogan, they just go out and do it. End of story. Sounds simple, right? But it’s not an easy process by any means.

It’s this kind of spirit that sees success as inevitable after hundreds of failures, rejections and setbacks. It’s this kind of spirit that enables the entrepreneur to pick themselves up off the floor, dust themselves off, and start all over again, even where the outcome is uncertain. It’s this kind of spirit that can hold a dream in perfect suspension in the imagination, believing in it even in the face of all odds, until the day it’s there in solid reality.

And the best part? You don’t even have to be building your own business to have entrepreneurial spirit. You can be working to transform a business – someone else’s business, or even the ‘business’ of a non-profit, university or government. This is called being an intrepreneur.

Admittedly this can be extremely challenging. You often won’t have control over all the resources you need. However, don’t forget our definition! Entrepreneurs progress with determination towards their goals despite not having the resources under their control. That’s the entrepreneurial way.

Read more HERE.

4 Keys to Growing Yourself as an Entrepreneur (credit: startupmindset.com)

If you are considering the entrepreneurial journey, then you may have already weighed many of the pros and cons in taking on this new venture. From the financial aspect and its commitment, to the hours of hard work and personal time sacrificed, to finally the personnel and logistics that goes into a company, the entrepreneur’s path is not an easy one.

However, what’s the fun in taking the easy path in life all the time? Entrepreneurship is a challenge, one that can be daunting due to the weight of its expectations in the final result being a success for both yourself and the people you serve and employ. Regardless of all the scare tactics one can tell themselves when thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, there is so much more this journey offers than just a monetary benefit.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not just about the hard work you put into opening a business, but also about the personal growth one endures as well. The path of entrepreneurship is one that can test an individual in many ways, but ultimately, teaches invaluable life lessons that can’t be taught in a classroom or at a seminar.

Here are some examples where becoming an entrepreneur can grow a person in ways that one never thought possible, and why experience is so crucial in becoming a better leader and boss.

Read more HERE.

Ready or Not: My Experience Launching a Side Hustle in 121 Days (credit: success.com)

The handwritten check arrived in a plain envelope. I signed and deposited it right away. Normally I would have then shredded it. But not this one. I’m saving this one.

It’s from my friend Fred “Honey Pot” Williams, a 61-year-old gastroenterologist and beekeeper, and it’s the first revenue from a side hustle I started with another friend, the first check I’ve gotten since graduating college for producing anything other than words. It feels like the first check of the rest of my life.

That’s certainly an overstatement. But I’m excited to stretch out into something new and for conceiving, planning and executing the first product: an adventure I dreamed up called 50-50-50 in which Honey Pot, eight others and I hiked 50 miles, biked 50 miles and canoed 50 miles, all in one five-day weekend. The 50s were a hook to celebrate my 50th birthday and just happened to form a great marketing shtick for an adventure trip. 

I’ve had a thousand half-baked side hustle ideas; this is the first one I’ve allowed to cook until it was edible. The difference between all those half-baked ideas and this delicious one is simple: passion. I wanted, needed, had to try this one. 

Life’s too short to pursue things you don’t love. If you’ve got that idea—that challenging, exciting, can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head-idea—I urge you to stop thinking about it, stop daydreaming about it, and start doing it

Maybe you can learn from my journey. Here’s how it went.

Read more HERE.

Have a great week. Make it happen. Make it count!

Learn about Acceler8Success Group services & resources for current and aspiring entrepreneurs by visiting our website at Acceler8Success.com.

Build Upon Change for Short and Long-term Success

Change is the New Normal. How are you currently handling it? How will you handle it moving forward? In the past, leaders predicted threats and planned responses with a risk-management strategy. Today, however, the nature of risk itself is different… It’s right upon us! 

The changes you’re implementing today to survive will continue to be necessary through recovery. Most likely, they will be key to your future success as customers and clients will become accustomed to the changes and look for them to continue even if it means the changes are to run alongside standard operations. For example, think about current focus on take-out & delivery in the restaurant industry. Customers will expect this to continue long after standard operations resume. Actually, it will help businesses to recover faster provided processes are perfected and improvements are made along the way, as opposed to current efforts being considered a temporary solution for the times. 

Despite being in survival mode, business must be thinking about the next steps, the next phase to recovery lest they fall short and lose the war despite winning battles along the way. In a world of constant change, non-adaptive behavior is a killer problem. 

Visit Acceler8Success Daily at https://paper.li/Acceler8Success-Daily

Visit Acceler8Success Group website at www.Acceler8Success.com

Acceler8Success Cafe Friday 11.13.20

5 Ways to Help Your Small Business Survive During the Pandemic

Covid has been the ultimate disrupter to the global economy. Fortune 500 companies and small start-ups alike have felt the blow, but it’s the small businesses that have suffered the most.

Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. According to the World Economic Forum, small businesses are responsible for employing nearly half of the private sector workforce. However, during these volatile times where social distancing measures have been put in place and mandatory shut-downs have happened, many small businesses have not been able to survive.   

In September, Yelp released its latest Economic Impact Report revealing business closures across the U.S. are increasing as a result of Covid. According to Yelp data, permanent closures have reached 97,966, representing 60 percent of closed businesses that won’t be reopening. Read more.

Veteran Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners Adapt and Overcome Unprecedented Challenges

“This year, military veteran entrepreneurs have seen their businesses shuttered or put on pause by the pandemic, faced supply chain issues, and have had to continuously adapt operations in response to changing realities on the ground. This year has also shown a spotlight on an issue that has persisted for too long: the systemic racism in our nation that creates barriers to entrepreneurship for entrepreneurs and small business owners that are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. With that awareness, Bunker Labs is creating a space that helps entrepreneurs overcome challenges posed by the pandemic and systemic racism by providing the tools, resources, and inclusive community that facilitate growth,” said Bunker Labs CEO Blake Hogan. Read more.

Survey: Small business owners’ uncertainty increased in October

More small business owners throughout the country expressed feeling uncertain about their economic future in the month before the election, although general optimism remained steady, according to research by the National Federation of Independent Business.

The NFIB’s Uncertainty Index increased by six points to 98 in October, while the Optimism Index held at 104. 

“Leading up to the presidential election, small businesses continued to focus on stabilizing their businesses but were uncertain about the future economic conditions due to COVID-19 government regulations on all levels,” said Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB’s chief economist. “We see solid momentum going into the fourth quarter, and another good quarter could get the GDP back to its 2019 closing levels.” Read more.

If you wouldn’t think about building a house without blueprints, why would you consider building a business without blueprints? Like plans for a home, business blueprints should include each component necessary for long-term benefit. Franchise Foundry can help ensure you have the right blueprints specifically for you as you explore the American Dream of business ownership! Learn more.

Five Emerging Disruptive Technologies For Entrepreneurs To Observe

While there are endless articles highlighting the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality and blockchain, there are other emerging technologies that are often neglected by entrepreneurs. These technologies have the potential to completely disrupt the aerospace, health and manufacturing sectors. In this article, will explore five potential breakthrough technologies and how I believe they will converge. Read more.

Election Results Frame Positive Future For Franchising

This 2020 election season has been one like no other. The months leading up to election day — and indeed the days following election day — have been both passionate and tumultuous. With the election now over, the future for franchising is predictable and promising. Read more.

Franchise Foundry represents a number of quick service restaurant (QSR) brands realizing year-over-year sales increases.- Low initial investment – Funding support- Site selection assistance- Small real estate footprint- Support & training- Multi-unit opportunities- Multi-brand opportunities. Learn more.

SBA Loans: What Is an SBA Loan?

When a small business owner needs financing, the first option to come to mind is usually a loan through the Small Business Administration (SBA). While many people are familiar with the term “SBA loan,” they often aren’t clear on what these loans are, or even how to get them. We’ve provided a general overview of the common SBA loan programs to help you decide which programs may fit your business needs best.

The SBA provides several small business financing options. The six most common loans offered by the SBA are 7(a) loans, 504 loans, CAPLines, export loans, microloans, and disaster loans. We have summarized the basic requirements, costs, terms, and application process for each of these SBA loans. Read more.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan

Benetrends has been securing SBA financing  for 35+ years and has one of the best loan approval success rates in the industry. With a large and expanding network of lenders, you will have choices when it comes to selecting a loan.  You’ll also have access to our dedicated staff – experts in loans for businesses – to ensure the fastest possible application processing, including a dedicated loan closer to assist with the closing process. Learn more.

Acceler8Success Cafe Thursday 11.12.20

How to Overcome First-Time Entrepreneurial Fear

Picture this: you’re swimming across the open ocean, but have no idea where you’re going. Slowly, but then all at once, the panic sets in. The sea is massive. It’s terrifying. Very quickly, it begins to swallow you up.

You need a plan, or you’re going to drown. Unlike a regular job where your boss gives you tasks to do every day, you’re your own boss. Read more.

The Voices Of Entrepreneurs, From Arkansas To Appalachia To Montana

When we lose small businesses, our divisions deepen. In the 30 years leading up to the Great Recession, fully 80% of metro areas experienced an increase in the number of firms annually. This trend was completely reversed by the Great Recession, after which only 20% of metro areas have seen an increasing number of companies created. New business formation has been depressed in most of the country. Read more.

Dark Truths About Entrepreneurship: What To Do When The Love Is Gone

So you’ve decided you want to be an entrepreneur, huh? City slicking between meetings at the pace of a cheetah and hunting to close the next deal, secure the next partnership, make the next sale. There was an allure to this life that drew you in. Or perhaps, you started simply because you wanted to support your family and being self-sufficient made sense. 

If you’re reading this, it’s highly probable that you’re already living the entrepreneurial “dream.” Yet, it can fast become a nightmare for some. There’s a dark side to this path — and plenty of struggle for those who choose to walk down it. Read more.

Are you ready to franchise your business or put your recently franchised brand on the right track?

10-Step Roadmap to Franchising Success

You’re intimately familiar with your starting point – the business you’ve nurtured and grown. You understand your destination – successful franchises around the country or around the world. You have the passion and the proof of concept, but you don’t have the roadmap to move from point A to point B. You’re not alone. 

Most business owners looking to expand into franchising are both anxious and excited, unsure and confident. It helps to learn from those who have traveled the road on which you’re about to embark, both to avoid the potholes and to recognize the markers that lead to success. Read more.

Follow This Entrepreneur’s 3-Step Approach to Cultivating a Killer Brand

Branding is the most commonly used phrase in business circles, but is also often the least understood.

For Jonathan Jadali, CEO of Ascend Agency, a PR form that works with top Fortune 500 companies, a brand is not a tangible thing. As he told me in a recent conversation, it is “a strong feeling that a business creates in the minds of its customers, that creates an emotional bond and passion for their businesses and produces loyalty.” Read more.

If you’re looking for a business lending source to help finance your start-up or manage your future wealth, contact us today. Benetrends Financial, a pioneer in the industry, has helped thousands of potential small business owners like yourself secure funding over the past 35 years. Learn more.

Acceler8Success Cafe Veteran’s Day 11.11.20

On this Veteran’s Day let’s keep in mind the following quote by George Washington…

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

Veteran Entrepreneur Portal

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP) is designed to save time with direct access to the resources necessary to guide every step of entrepreneurship. It also makes it easier for small businesses to access federal services, regardless of its source—and quickly connects Veteran entrepreneurs to relevant ‘best-practices’ and information. Learn more.

Entrepreneurship Center offers help as businesses adapt to the pandemic

After a spike in unemployment due to the pandemic, many businesses and entrepreneurs are still trying to catch up.

Kristin Gaspke, who leads WCC’s Entrepreneurship Center, said there’s help for new and existing businesses. Last month, Gaspke and the EC team hosted a four-week Zoom webinar titled “How to Start and Optimize Your Business.”

“99% of what we do in the Entrepreneurship Center for the WCC family is free. We offer all of our programs to everyone. If you look at the pictures on our website, I can tell you the story about each student in the center at that time and where they are now,” said Gaspke. “Today, some of them are still local business owners.” Read more.

The story of the Shop Small® Movement

Small Business Saturday continues to be an annual holiday shopping tradition — just one part of the larger Shop Small Movement that supports small businesses every day and everywhere. Because shopping at a family-owned framing spot or buying a handmade ring from your favorite online small business helps to promote more vibrant communities. Learn more.

Over the next two weeks leading up to #SmallBusinessSaturday we’ll be posting photos like the one below to continue to create awareness that franchises are small business just like Mom & Pop businesses on Any Street, USA. And, just like those independent business owners, franchise owners take entrepreneurial risk, invest their life savings, work long hours, give back to their local communities, compete with big box retailers and much more. Please help in this cause by sharing these posts across social media. #ShopSmall #ShopLocal #ShopFranchise

How Small Businesses Can Adapt to Changing Consumer Behavior

Small businesses have faced immense challenges as they’ve been fully or partially shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. According to U.S. Census data, nearly 80% of small businesses reported a moderate or large negative effect from COVID-19 as recently as of mid-August.

But after a difficult spring and early summer, during which time one in five businesses reported applying for and receiving loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the landscape is beginning to look up. Small businesses are increasingly reopening, with 86% reporting that they are either fully (52%) or partially (34%) open. Read more.

The Secret to Business Survival in Today’s Tough Market

As we were ringing in 2020, it’s safe to say that nearly no one could have imagined the novel year that was virtually at our doorsteps. Like a monsoon, Covid-19 arrived. And with it a plethora of changes to not only how we live and work, but how business is conducted.

Quarantines and lockdowns became a way of life, forcing companies to transform how they operate. Office staff, sales reps, and others who were considered non-essential workers began working from home. In person meetings and sales calls became a thing of the past, replaced by collaboration tools to boost the efficiency of virtual teams. Read more.

Accelerating Success for individuals and brands alike!

Acceler8Success Cafe Friday 11.6.20

5 Important Lessons About Becoming an Entrepreneur

Here’s the simple truth: becoming an entrepreneur isn’t easy. After all, if it were easy to launch a business, everyone would do it.

I run my own business and people frequently ask me about the best way to start a business. Here’s another truth for you: there is no miracle step-by-step process that will automatically catapult you to success. While I can’t offer an instant secret recipe for success, I can share some of the lessons I have learned. Read more.

How to Start a Business in a Day

You can start a business with a limited budget and a very short turnaround time. In fact, you can start a business between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to sleep that night. You just need a list of resources and tools, and a lot of focus.

There are a few things that will make it easier to start a business and scale it quickly. First, it will help if you already know the type of business you want to build and have a basic understanding of the target market you’re seeking. It can also help if you choose a service-based business, such as a marketing firm or consultancy, rather than one that specializes in products. Product-based businesses require prototypes and plans for manufacturing and distribution, which can take time to set up. However, if you already know the types of products you want to sell, or if you want to open a retail shop or an e-commerce site, it can be done as long as you know where to find the products you plan to sell. Read more.

4 Things To Keep In Mind During National Entrepreneurship Month

As the calendar turns to November and National Entrepreneurship Month, business owners have an opportunity to celebrate and reflect. It undoubtedly has been a taxing year for business founders, but those challenges haven’t dampened the overall entrepreneurial spirit.

Don’t believe me? Just look at the numbers. According to Yelp, Covid-19 caused more than 163,000 businesses to close as of the end of August, representing a 60% uptick compared with the middle of July. But with more than half a billion new companies setting up shop each month and 24 million people planning to become self-employed in the coming year, it seems like plenty of people are willing to take the leap to become their own bosses. Read more.

Escaping the Cube:  Why, When, and How Workers Leave Corporate America to Pursue Entrepreneurial Ambitions

According to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, despite economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.8 million still people left their jobs voluntarily in April of 2020. Economists generally consider “quits” an indicator of healthy optimism, as a good number of those who leave choose to start their own businesses.

The rise of the freelance economy has contributed to the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans, and by 2019 there were more than 57 million doing some form of freelance work either full time or as a side hustle. It is estimated that the number of freelancers in the US will exceed 64.6 million this year and 90.1 million by 2028. Read more.

If you’re looking for a business lending source to help finance your start-up or manage your future wealth, contact us today. Benetrends Financial, a pioneer in the industry, has helped thousands of potential small business owners like yourself secure funding over the past 35 years. Learn more.

The 30 Best Ways to Promote Your Business in 2021—With or Without Money

In order to survive and grow, your business needs customers. In order to get customers, you need to promote your business. In the good old days, this was a matter of deciding between a flyer, a brochure, a postcard, or an ad in the local newspaper.

But in today’s digital world, the possibilities are endless (read: overwhelming). Read more.

4 Sure-Fire Ways to Crisis-Proof Your Startup

Being in startup mode can be exciting and crippling at the same time! On one hand, you may feel a sense of triumph over the challenges thrown at you. On the other hand, the inability to manage crises effectively can make you wonder how you’ll keep your dream venture afloat.

Scaling a startup isn’t easy. Every entrepreneur aims at building a successful business; yet, the bitter fact is that startups often have to face hurdles that threaten their existence. The recent Global Startup Ecosystem Report reveals that only 1 in 12 are able to steer their venture towards success. So, a whopping majority of startups do not know what it takes to survive the odds of failing. Crisis is inevitable! Read more.

The Acceler8Success team focuses on helping entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, restaurateurs, brand founders, business partners, professional services providers, freelancers and multi-level marketers achieve their entrepreneurial goals while building and strengthening their personal brands. Learn more.

Acceler8Success Cafe Thursday 11.5.20

People, Business, Strategy: Defining The Pillars For Entrepreneurial Success

A fresh approach to establishing a new company begins with an optimistic mindset, followed by a strategic plan. Establishing your market position as an entrepreneur requires insight into your leadership style and characteristics, as well as an awareness of your personal brand and its position in the market. Having a solid business strategy that is aimed to define, stimulate and advance your company’s purpose, progress and profitability is also a key aspect of entrepreneurial success. 

Outlining and developing these pillars will highlight your organization’s value proposition and create brand awareness for a competitive advantage. Read more.

4 Small Business Lending Trends to Watch in 2021

Small companies have a big impact on the U.S. economy. Business Insider says small companies make up 99 percent of all private sector businesses and they employ 60 percent of all the workers in the country.

These companies are particularly vulnerable to cash flow issues, so fluctuations in the small business lending market are vitally important to the economy. What small business lending trends are affecting American entrepreneurs through 2021? Read more.

If you’re looking for a business lending source to help finance your start-up or manage your future wealth, contact us today. Benetrends Financial, a pioneer in the industry, has helped thousands of potential small business owners like yourself secure funding over the past 35 years. Learn more.

How Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Can Hire and Retain Top-Notch Talent

Lifestyle entrepreneurs who have built a business that suits their needs and feeds their passion are in the ideal position to make it in their industry. After all, it’s not just that they’ve chosen to do what they love – they’re experts who have taken their corporate experience and poured it into an innovative business model.

However, the time comes in every entrepreneur’s life when they realize that they can’t take care of business all on their own. And that’s where talent acquisition comes in. Read more.

The Best Small Businesses to Start in a Recession

Yes, you can still start a small business during a recession. Some small businesses even thrive in a difficult economy. These businesses are called counter-cyclical or recession-proof businesses.

Starting any small business during a recession is a baptism by fire, but if you can survive, you will thrive as the economy recovers. Read more.

This year’s theme is #VetBiz Resources in Your Local Community which highlights the breadth of free to low-cost entrepreneurial resources that veteran and military entrepreneurs can access right in their neighborhood. Find events near you.

Acceler8Success Cafe Wednesday 11.4.20

11 Entrepreneurs Discuss 2020’s Biggest Challenges And Opportunities

There’s absolutely no doubt that 2020 has been a year like no other. Thanks to COVID-19, many businesses around the world have experienced loss of income, staff and general day-to-day operations. A large number of businesses have had to shut down, either temporarily or permanently. There aren’t many industries that will be heading into 2021 unscathed.

Entrepreneurs and start-ups in particular have had to face challenges they weren’t expecting – and many have had to change the way they operate, both internally and externally. Here’s how some top entrepreneurs have made it through: the challenges they faced and lessons they learned along the way. Read more.

The #1 Business Mistake That Can Ruin an Entrepreneur’s Personal Finances

I have been wanting to write this post for a very long time. Out of hundreds of business owners—either current or prospective—that I speak to on a regular basis, nearly one-half tell me they are about to commit the mistake I discuss in this post without realizing how it can set back their personal finances. In fact, you might consider this post a public service announcement, because the ease of making this mistake, coupled with its long-term effect on your personal financial well-being, is shocking.

I am talking about using a personal line of credit to fund your business. On paper, this process does not sound catastrophic, dangerous, or worrisome. In fact, it sounds logical and easy. Read more.

The Art of the Pivot: Heidi Clear, CenterPoint

What happens when your industry is completely stalled due to the pandemic? You pivot—which is exactly what Heidi Clear of Centerpoint did to keep revenue coming in and to show up for what was needed.

As the owner of a company that produces exhibits for some of the country’s biggest and most crowded trade shows, Heidi Clear’s operation was hit very hard at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Read more.

How to Develop a Strong Online Presence for Your Startup

Founding a startup during COVID-19 has its share of challenges. If you manage to identify a need and finance the launch of your company in this tumultuous time, a new set of challenges awaits: bringing in new customers. Shifting consumer behavior means that you’ll want to look closely at your online presence and digital marketing opportunities as you launch, allowing you to gain traction in the current market, but also positioning yourself for post-pandemic success. Read more.

An innovative approach to funding your small business.

Benetrends Financial knows innovative funding – they were the first to introduce ROBS (Rollover as Business Startups) with their
Rainmaker Plan®.   While there are competitors offering similar funding solutions, only Benetrends has the breadth of funding opportunities and the experience to successfully launch the dreams of
entrepreneurs – 17,000 and counting. Available options.

31 Quotes About Fear

Don’t let the things you are afraid of—failure, change, adversity, the unknown—stop you from going after the things you want most. Instead, find the courage to do what scares you. Face your fears, and you’ll uncover new and great opportunities. And it will feel good. Read more.

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” 

Helen Keller

Are you ready to own your own business?

Are you thinking of going into business for yourself and learning how the choice of a franchise can “jump-start” the process and your earning potential?  Well, Franchise Foundry can help. Working with in-house franchise professionals you will work one-on-one in determining if you’re right for franchising and whether it is right for you.  If you determine that franchising is a path to consider, you will be introduced to various industry segments and ultimately, brands that could be a “right-fit” situation . . . all to help ensure your future success! Read more.