As Texas continues to knock it out of the park with job growth, corporate relocations, and a pro-business environment, the Lone Star State continues to be a hotbed for entrepreneurship including startups, franchising, and business acquisitions. Acceler8Success Group is Texas-based, so we’re excited to double down on our commitment and efforts to shed even more light on the opportunities available to Hispanics throughout Texas.

After all, according to the 2021 American Community Survey, there are an estimated 11.86 million Hispanic Texans who comprise 40.2 percent of the state’s population. We’re proud to be able to help every one of them achieve the American Dream of business ownership.

To that end, Erik Premont, President of Acceler8Success Group will again be participating in panel discussions to increase awareness of the opportunities and benefits that franchises represent for Hispanic Entrepreneurs. The discussion is part of Franchise Expo Houston produced by MFV Expositions and sponsored by the International Franchise Association.

These efforts also complement our relationship with Michael Dermer and The Lonely Entrepreneur. The project we’ve been working on together, The Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative is certainly of major interest to Acceler8Success Group as we continue to build upon a growing list of clients from Mexico and Latin America whose interests are focused on entrepreneurial opportunities within the State of Texas and throughout the U.S.

With Hispanic Heritage Month continuing through October 15th, it’s the perfect time to once again share the following information about the Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative. Please share with anyone whom you believe would be interested in the initiative. It’d be greatly appreciated by all of us at Acceler8Success Group and at The Lonely Entrepreneur. Thank you!

Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative

With a goal of empowering 100,000 Hispanic entrepreneurs, Hispanic entrepreneurs will be provided with free access to The Lonely Entrepreneur Learning Community – a one stop shop for the knowledge, tools and support an individual needs to start or grow a business. This access is provided free due to the financial contributions of corporations, philanthropies, individuals, and economic development organizations. 

Supporters include UPS, Microsoft, US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, HISPA and Molson Coors and the initiative has been endorsed by over 50 Hispanic leaders including: 

• Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. (President, US Hispanic Leadership Institute, Recipient – Presidential Citizen’s Medal) 
• Luis Ubinas (Investor, Entrepreneur, Past President – Ford Foundation, Past President – Pan American Development Foundation)  
• Dr. Loui Olivas (Professor Emeriti, W.P. Carey School of Business At Arizona State University)  

The challenges for entrepreneurs in general are great. The challenges for Hispanic entrepreneurs are even greater. And there isn’t just one “Hispanic” entrepreneur – there are entrepreneurs from various countries that face some of the same – but some different – challenges and opportunities.

In addition to lack of access to capital, many Hispanic entrepreneurs possess passion and great ideas but lack access to the knowledge and support they need to succeed.

With the help from corporations, philanthropies, individuals, and economic development organizations, the Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative will change that by putting the tools in the hands of 100,000 Hispanic entrepreneurs.

How it Works

In this initiative, organizations sponsor a certain number of Hispanic entrepreneurs who receive free access to The Lonely Entrepreneur Learning Community – a one stop shop for the knowledge, tools and support a current or aspiring Hispanic entrepreneur needs to start or grow a business. The platform addresses both the business and personal issues Hispanic entrepreneurs face and provides multiple ways for Hispanic entrepreneurs to get the answers they need:

• Knowledge: 500 learning modules that cover both the business and personal issues entrepreneurs face including issues Hispanic entrepreneurs face

• Tools: 100s of templates (e.g., business plans, legal agreements) and reviews of the top vendors and solution providers they need (e.g., accounting software) including Ongoing Support via Two Channels: multiple ways to solve their pressing challenges, Guidance from the TLE Team in Our Community: where entrepreneurs can ask questions and get answers from members of the TLE Team, Group Coaching: entrepreneurs can sign up for an unlimited number of group coaching sessions on the various business and personal issues they face. If they miss sessions, recordings are available for future reference at any time.

• Funding Sources: 150+ funding sources available for entrepreneurs

• Vendors: 50+ vendor reviews, discounts and a list of “vetted vendors” (including some free resources)

• Procurement Opportunities: 150+ opportunities made available by large organizations

• Business and Personal Issues: our program not only covers business issues, but all the personal issues entrepreneurs face (dealing with stress, ego and humility, leading)

• Daily Perspective: an entrepreneurial “tip” sent to every individual each day

• Access: 24/7 access from any desktop or mobile device

Having the Learning Community at every step of the journey significantly increases their chance of success.

The Needs of Different Hispanic Entrepreneurs

There isn’t just one “Hispanic” entrepreneur. There are native born and immigrant entrepreneurs from various countries that face some of the same – but some different – challenges and opportunities. In addition to providing answers for the issues facing all Hispanic entrepreneurs, the initiative addresses the issues and opportunities faced by the different Hispanic entrepreneurs, including entrepreneurs from: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, Spain, El Salvador, and Peru.

Program Supporters

The initiative has gotten off to a fast start with programs launched by major corporations including:

• Microsoft empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs in El Paso Texas as reported in El Diario Mx and on television

• UPS launching its program at the L’Attitude 2021 conference to empower Hispanic entrepreneurs

• US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Benefits of the Program

There are multiple benefits to the program:

• Help Entrepreneurs: provide individuals with the knowledge, tools and support they need

• Proven Success: the program has been implemented successfully by a vast array of corporations, governments and charitable organizations

• Scalability: the ability to put the tools in the hands of a large number of individuals quickly

• Branding: various elements of the program would be branded including landing pages, access to the leaning assets and a group in the online community.

• Minimal Effort on Your Part: the program is turn-key and is executed with minimal lift on your part

• Turn-Key Execution: you are investing in a program that delivers turn-key execution

• Marketing Opportunities: making a program like this available and the success stories that come from it are powerful marketing opportunities

• Flexibility: to apply to the specific type, geography or group of entrepreneurs

• Measurement: the ability to measure activity and impact of the program

The program provides the opportunity to quickly get tools in the hands of a large number of current and aspiring small business owners.

Integrated Marketing to Highlight Impact

The TLE Team works with supporter marketing teams to maximize the impact on their public image:

• Public Relations: coordinated communications with media outlets to highlight supporter efforts

• Social Media: ongoing social media activities to show the impact supporter is having

• Success Stories: to be used in marketing and to inspire supporter audiences

Endorsements from Leaders

A coalition of stewards of the Hispanic community have endorsed the Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative:

• Yvette Donado (former Chief Diversity Officer of ETS; Hispanic Magazine, 50 Most Influential Hispanics)

• Marcel Portmann (Latin America Advisor for +70 global brands; liaison to Inter-American Development Bank (IADB); former Vice President of Emerging Markets, International Franchise)

• Dr. Pilar Nava-Parada, (Philanthropist and Leader For Women Entrepreneurs with Mexican Origin)

• Dr. Joy Nicole Martínez (Raised $240m for nonprofits; inaugural member of Peace50 Community; Director, World Woman Foundation)

• Andrés Guardado, (Mexican Football star and his wife Sandra De La Vega)

• Sheila Ivelisse Borges, (Managing Director, Research, at Rutgers University; former Assistant Director – NYU Adjunct Professor/STEM Educator/Diversity & Equity – Columbia University in New York City)

• Gabriel Brodbar, (Social Impact Leader; former Executive Director, NYU Social Entrepreneurship Program)

• Nepherter Estrada (Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree)

• Catherine Milone, (President, Junior Achievement of New Jersey)

• Ivonne Díaz-Claisse (Founder/CEO, Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA)

… and other notable Hispanic leaders.

Measuring the Impact

Three different areas are measured to ensure that current and aspiring entrepreneurs are getting the value of the Learning Community and moving toward the achievement of business results:

• Engagement – engage with the Learning Community and fellow entrepreneurs

• Achieve Key Business Activities – achieve business activities and improvements that are necessary steppingstones to achieving business results (e.g., form a company, prepare financials)

• Achieve Business Results – achieve key business results (e.g., increase revenue)

Each day, entrepreneurs in the program improve their chance of success.

For more information about this exciting initiative, please reach out to me or Acceler8Success Group president, Erik Premont on LinkedIn. Or, if you prefer, please send either of us an email to Paul@Acceler8Success.com or Erik@Acceler8Success.com. We look forward to helping to make a difference for Hispanic Entrepreneurs everywhere.

Have a great day. make it happen. make it count!

Last night I read a post on LinkedIn from a person whom I noted from her LinkedIn profile is accomplished as a high-performance coach and trainer. The video on her page shows that she exudes a high level of confidence. As you might imagine, this person also has a large LinkedIn network with over 80,000 followers. I would make a calculated guess and say that she’s a people-person.

So, I was disheartened as I read through her post. She shared that she had experienced some recent health problems and had undergone an extensive battery of tests. “It’s been brutal,” she shared, “and yet, each day, I woke up and did my best for my children and for my clients.”

No doubt, she was going through a tough time. I stopped to think about how I would handle being in a similar situation. I do know my mind would be on others, and especially those that depended on me.

My daughter, Kristen’s recent experience involving a hospital stay and ensuing recovery also came to mind. Despite severe pain, her mind repeatedly turns to work and how she could help keep things running smooth in her absence.

I continued reading the LinkedIn post. She wrote…

“Unfortunately I encountered some rude, disrespectful and harsh people during this time when I was unable to respond to their immediate requests.

And it reminded me of an important truth. We all have lives outside the office, away from social media, behind closed doors and many people are experiencing hardships that we know nothing about.

Instead of making assumptions, try showing compassion and concern.

We can all be more intentional about treating people with kindness.

Wouldn’t you agree?”

I thought about the compassion and concern she was exhibiting on behalf of others despite her health issues and her feeling of being treated rudely and disrespectfully.

As I shared my well-wishes in the comments section below her post, I paused to reflect upon what I had just read. I thought about kindness, care and mutual respect, and how we’re seeing less and less of these traits in the world today. Why is that? I know, that’s definitely a rhetorical question that I won’t answer here as I don’t want to start a, long opinion-driven thread of comments and replies.

Instead, I immediately thought of John Lennon’s song, Imagine. I chuckled to myself as I thought about replacing Imagine in the song with Remember. Yes, I’m aware. Not all that Lennon refers to in his song was rainbows & unicorns in the past. But, no doubt, as I was growing up, I certainly remember more kindness, care and mutual respect than we’re seeing today.

Ironically, in my Facebook Memories this morning, I saw the following post from three years ago:

There’s so much hidden, unnoticed talent in the world and unfortunately, misused talent, as well. Imagine if all were able to be tapped for good how it might benefit all mankind. John Lennon’s, Imagine comes to mind, “Imagine all the people…”

Albeit, not about kindness, compassion and mutual respect, it did reference benefit to mankind, and the John Lennon song. Yes, imagine all the people… Imagine if all the people – all of us, and me included – made sure our actions and thoughts remained positive at all times.

Imagine kindness, care and mutual respect being the norm instead of a rare event that by the nature of being a rare occurrence that it has to be spotlighted on the evening news? What would be the benefit to all those around us? Again, a rhetorical question. Of course, there would be great benefit.

Imagine if it all carried over to everyone – pulling together – would/could it be for greater benefit? I’d say, yes, for sure. Are my thoughts [too] idealistic and/or impractical? Maybe so, but isn’t it worth a try?

And then, I saw this…

Imagine all the people… It’s easy if you try!

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

Yes, it’s a new week, a new month, and a new quarter. In fact, it’s the last quarter of 2022. As such, we have a choice to make. 

We can look ahead to the holiday season while remaining status quo and coast to year’s end. Although, I’m not sure anyone would consider this an option under any circumstances. But then again, I may be wrong and possibly, I just don’t understand complacency. 

Or…

We can double down and build upon a successful year thus far, or if the year has been less than successful, we can increase efforts and end the year on a high note. 

Let’s push complacency aside and focus on doubling down and increasing efforts in the fourth quarter. If not for a burning desire to succeed, at least as a counterattack on the perils of economic uncertainty. In either case, it’s time to make things happen!

While on the starting line of the race to a successful end of year, let’s begin with some motivation. Then, as the days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months, we’ll focus on the various action items necessary to help us achieve our goals, and without fail. 

Per the quote in the movie, Apollo 13 — “Failure is not an option!”

Starting Line Motivation

We must keep our wishes, hopes and dreams in mind, lest we forget our our objectives, and even our goals. It’s important we be open-minded with a strong desire and willingness to explore, dream & discover possibilities, and opportunities. In order to make things happen, we must understand our Why.

We must look forward to each and every day, and with a positive mindset. Doing so will help us remain focused on our goals. This focus will help us stay the course according to plan. 

Moments are what shape and define our lives. They determine who and where we are today, where we want to go in life. It’s the moments that we win or lose. Live for the moments upon us, for they can change our lives forever so we must make the best of those that present themselves. Life is short, so we cannot go another day, hour or minute and regret a moment, any moment that could have changed our life. We must keep the fire burning, and our passion alive.

‘Opportunity’ is defined as, a favorable juncture of circumstances; a good chance for advancement or progress. We must keep our eyes open for possibilities, even if they’re disguised as challenges, issues or cases of failure. We must then aggressively exploit possibilities as opportunities. It makes perfect sense to do so, but without procrastination. 

Keeping the Acceler8Success mantra in mind will help us capitalize on opportunities while driving us to accelerate, and achieve success. Success being an achievement of goals in line with our Why. Our focus must remain as such!

Have a great day, a great week, a great month, and a great quarter. Make it happen. Make it count!

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, a time to recognize and celebrate women-owned businesses. It’s also a time to acknowledge the outstanding progress female entrepreneurs have made over the years. In fact, female entrepreneurs are creating new businesses, disrupting established industries and developing innovative products at a record pace.

The Facts

According to JuneCPA:

• There are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States (that’s 42% of all companies in the U.S.). They employ 10 million people and generate about $1.8 trillion annually. (American Express)
• 17% of Black women are starting businesses—faster than white women, at 10%, and white men, at 15%. (Harvard Business Review)
• Female entrepreneurs in the U.S. rank their happiness at almost three times that of women who aren’t entrepreneurs or business owners. (Inc.)
• In 2021, the number of women running Fortune 500 businesses hit an all-time record of 41. (Fortune)
• As of 2021, 90% of companies worldwide have at least one woman in a senior management role. (Grant Thornton)
• Companies with women in executive positions have a 34% higher total return to shareholders than companies that don’t. (Catalyst)
• Adding one more woman to a company’s board of directors, while keeping the board size the same, produces a return on investment (ROI) of 8-13 basis points. (Egon Zehnder via Catalyst)
• Female entrepreneurs ask for $35,000 less, on average, in business financing than do men—$89,000 on average for women vs. $124,500 on average for men. (Fundera)
• Between 2014 and 2016, the number of employer firms owned by women grew 6%—twice the rate of employer firms owned by men. The growth was driven mostly by a 14% increase in employer businesses owned by minority women. (U.S. Small Business Administration)
• In 2020, 28% of all business loan applications came from women-owned businesses. In 2021, 33% of all loan applications came from women-owned businesses. (2022 Biz2Credit Women-Owned Business Survey)
• The average loan size for women-owned businesses in 2021 was $49,712, while the average loan size for men-owned businesses was $83,198. Loan approval rates were 40% for women and 41% for men. (2022 Biz2Credit Women-Owned Business Survey)
• Women are globally paid less than men, earning on average only 77% of men’s wages. (UN Women)
• 48% of female founders say what holds them back is the lack of available mentors or advisors. (Inc.)
• The World Economic Forum calculated that the pay disparity gap between men and women would not close until 2157. (World Economic Forum)

Women in Business Trends

One of the most informative reports I’ve read about women in business is by Guidant Financial, 2022 Women in Business Trends. It’s part of their annual Small Business Trends Report that includes reports on Entrepreneurs of Color, Franchise Trends and Women in Business.

The report is chock full of information. But what really struck me as most interesting is the following from the report:

This year, 59.22% of women reported that their business was currently profitable. Given the challenges of the past few years, it’s little surprise that 35% of business owners report that their business is not profitable. Don’t fret too much, though — remember that more than half of businesses surveyed are 5 years old or younger. Given that folk wisdom states businesses usually take two or three years to become profitable, it’s too early to worry that many of them not to have hit that mark yet.

Thank you, Guidant Financial!

It’s Time for Women to Own Their Power

Earlier this year, Bianca B. King wrote a great article at Entrepreneur.com about women business owners. In the article, Women Business Owners, It’s Time to Own Our Power, King shares powerful advice for new women entrepreneurs that want to fully honor their ambitions and reach their business goals. I especially like the following excerpt from the article:

As more women embrace entrepreneurship, it’s time for us to own our ambition and honor it by being unapologetic about our dreams and stepping fully into our power to reach our personal and professional goals.

I have seen too many women entrepreneurs afraid or ashamed to own their power. After years of being guided by patriarchal societal rules to downplay our achievements and talents, I understand why and empathize.

But now we know better, so we can do better not only for ourselves but for the next generation of women business leaders.

Very well said, Bianca!

Latino Women Entrepreneurs

As we’re also in the middle of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15th, it’s fitting to share recent news about Latino women entrepreneurs and especially about disparities in business ownership for this group.

Why is it harder for Latinos, women to start small businesses? is an article written by Lau Guzmán of Record-Journal. Guzman shared:

Across the United States, it is harder for Latinos and women to start a small business and Connecticut is not an exception. A recent report from the SBA found that there is a large gap between workers and business owners for women and minorities, especially Latinos.

“Most of the people making decisions about who gets a loan are not women,” said JoAnn Gulbin at the Women’s Business Development Council of Connecticut. 

“Access to capital remains the single largest obstacle for women who are starting, trying to start or grow businesses.” 

Thanks for sharing this information, Lau.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

So, what can we do to help women entrepreneurs across our country – regardless of color, race & creed?

An article written by Terri Williams at Lendio.com, 5 Ways to Support Women Entrepreneurs, is a good place to start. The article’s list is as follows:

1. Seek Out Women-Owned Businesses Online and In-Person. Perhaps the most important way to show support for women entrepreneurs is to be committed to seeking them out. “We can support them by being conscious of how we are spending our money and intentionally supporting women-owned businesses, says Wendy Muhammad, a real estate developer.
2. Make It Easier to Find Women Entrepreneurs. Social media makes it easier to find women-owned businesses, but according to N. Damali Peterman, Esq., founder and CEO of Breakthrough ADR, this should extend beyond likes and shares by consumers. “For example, companies and influencers should highlight women-owned businesses in their networks and on their social media platforms,” she explained. “Online retailers like Amazon should have a symbol or identifying mark that indicates if a product is a woman-owned brand.” Peterman says she’s often been in a physical store trying to decide between 2 similar items and made her decision based on the “Woman-Owned” logo on the packaging.  
3. Share Experiences. The sisterhood of women entrepreneurs can create a level of support that is mutually beneficial. “Meet each other on Zoom, connect via email, write content that expresses how you are experiencing the pandemic that can be shared,” recommends Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.
4. Collaborate. Another way to show support for women entrepreneurs is to collaborate with them. Talia R. Boone, founder and CEO of Postal Petals, looks for ways to work with other women and support Black business owners to help them grow their respective businesses. However, she says it’s those collaborations with larger companies that can help change the trajectory of a small business. “Seek out opportunities to partner with and hire services of women-owned businesses,” Boone advises.
5. Provide Mental Support and Mentorship. Being a woman entrepreneur is exciting, but it can also be frustrating and mentally draining. “If you have a woman in your life who is leading a small business, you can support her by encouraging her to evolve, adapt, and expand with the changing business landscape,” advises Bri Seeley, business growth advisor and entrepreneur coach. “Encourage her to look beyond what her business has been and to begin looking at what it could be.” Sometimes, that’s hard for women to do when they’re struggling to stay afloat while juggling numerous other roles at home. “The best way to help women entrepreneurs is to provide mental support to lift them up when they hit challenges,” says Charlene Walters, MBA, PhD, entrepreneurship coach, business branding mentor, and author of Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur.

Your article is greatly appreciated, Terri. Thank you!

SBA Resources for Women Business Owners

In 1972, there were a little over 400,000 women-owned businesses in the United States. Until 1988, women needed a male relative to co-sign if they wanted to apply for a business loan. That same year, the Women’s Business Ownership Act increased SBA’s access to capital to provide financial assistance to organizations geared toward women-owned small businesses.

By 2019, women-owned businesses represented 42% of all U.S. businesses and generated $1.9 trillion worth of revenue. Today, there are over 13 million women-owned businesses and counting. This month, SBA honors the milestone achievements of today’s women-owned businesses. 

Explore SBA’s resources for women entrepreneurs:

• Enter your address to find your local Women’s Business Center 
• Learn how to grow your business with the free Ascent learning platform
• Take advantage of other SBA resources for women-owned businesses

Read more on the SBA webpage recognizing National Women’s Small Business Month.

Let’s all do our part to help celebrate Women’s Small Business Month. We can start by including #WomensSmallBusinessMonth when posting across social media. Please let us know what you’re doing at your company to celebrate the event. The more ideas, the better.

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

Oxford Languages defines Opinion as, a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Opinion is defined by Vocabulary.com as a belief or attitude about something that isn’t necessarily based on facts.

Both definitions, as well as others across a multitude of dictionaries are consistent about opinion as a view, belief, attitude or judgment about [something] that’s not necessarily based on facts. I believe the definition is perfectly clear.

An opinion expressed by me is mine, and when I express an opinion, I make sure that it is nothing more than an opinion. If I’m trying to make a point or to convince, I work extremely hard to back it up with facts. But an opinion is not fact. If facts are expected, then an ensuing discussion is needed and should be prompted as such.

I’ve personally written hundreds of articles, and especially over the past few years. As many are aware, I’ve hosted several podcasts that have spanned hundreds of hours. Possibly to a fault, I’ve also shared thousands upon thousands of posts across social media. And through it all, as my personal beliefs are of a conservative nature, I refrain from ranting about sex, religion and politics.

Mind you, there are times when I do express an opinion about politics but for the most part I typically preempt sharing my thoughts with a disclaimer such as, in my opinion, in my personal opinion, etc. There should be no doubt whatsoever that I’m very clear in my intent, just as the definition of the word, opinion is very clear.

Yesterday I wrote an article that was based upon my opinion. In fact, the title clearly defined it as such with the title, Opinion: The Case Against the [$15, $20, $25] Minimum Wage. Could I have been any clearer that the article was based upon on opinion?

Further, within the article, I stated what I was sharing as my opinion and from my own personal perspective with clear, concise language indicating as much. For example, the article began, Personally, I’m of the mindset… and again within the article, In my opinion…

As I was expressing my opinions, I was also including questions. In fact, I posed 18 questions in the referenced article – one that was comprised of 18 short paragraphs! Certainly, the tone of my literary voice was not commanding and it definitely was not being expressed in an influencing way.

The tone was soft and conversational, as is typically the case when I write as my objective is always to spur thoughts in my readers’ minds to encourage readers to engage and share their thoughts, and yes, opinions. My hope is that the interactions are always civil and respectful, and with exception of two particular instances, civility and respect have been the norm.

For that, I’m most thankful and especially since conversations and discussions need to happen in today’s world. If done in a civil and respectful manner, I do believe mountains can be moved. As such, I’m always happy to prompt the interaction and to do so across a wide array of topics.

Above, I mentioned two instances whereby interactions were less than civil and respectful. Before I share the exchanges, I’d like to clarify that I respect the opinions of others, even if opinions are shared from an emotional state of mind. However, when the tone is from a person that I can only describe as a bully, it’s akin to being attacked – an unprovoked attack.

When I read yesterday’s exchange, I immediately asked myself, Why was it necessary for this person to disparage me personally and not just express his opinion and leave it at that?

This person wrote, and I quote:

“There should be a dislike button in LinkedIn.

Most of what you wrote could have been copied directly from the rationale used by companies that employed child labor. A lot of what you wrote was addressed in the famous fable of “the sky is falling” and real world data also disproves a lot of what you said.

The big advantage you have is that you wrote such a long piece with such a huge amount of misinformation, disinformation, and just basically wrong stuff that no one in his/her right mind will take the time it would take to address all your wrong points one by one.

Just thankful you are not an influential anything: businessman or politician.”

I was truly fine with his opinion – although he did not share any facts, just arbitrary disagreement to my opinion. Okay, I get it but was it necessary to take a cheap shot by saying that I was not an influential anything? After all, it’s not like I jumped in his face and challenged his opinion, and in a disparaging manner which might have prompted a retaliatory attack.

Angrily, yet in what I believe was a professional manner, albeit with a bit of sarcasm, I responded accordingly:

“Again, it’s my opinion and I was crystal clear to state as such. Fortunately, we do have Freedom of Speech and I will always exert my rights accordingly. However, for the people that claim to have specific expertise, I will always state as clearly as possible when something is my opinion and not fact. I always err on the side of people not having the mental or intellectual capacity to distinguish one from the other.”

To which he replied: “sure, knock yourself out with your opinion. It’s just sad.”

Well, all well it ends well as another reader actually thanked me:

“Thank you Paul for this well-expressed bit of common sense from the voice of practical, day-to-day experience.”

I left the exchange by sharing an additional thought…

“What I always hope to do is to spur intelligent, practical discussion. I’m always open-minded and certainly I don’t have all the answers. However, I’m always happy to share my opinions in order that others might see a different perspective or to affirm their own thoughts on the subject.

Interestingly, common sense is typically a good middle ground provided a reader doesn’t want to take it to an extreme with no intent on participating in a discussion. Then, the purpose is to cancel the opposing perspective – mostly in a degrading manner. That is just sad!”

The other instance I was referring to occurred a year ago just ahead of Election Day. There was a discussion on Twitter about what was going on in California regarding the Governor Gavin Newsom recall. I was just following it along when the question came up about whether there would be a large number of people voting.

I’m not really sure what prompted me to chime in because as I’ve indicated above, I typically refrain from political discussions. Nevertheless, I did share my two cents but certainly not in a disparaging way.

If I recall correctly, I expressed my opinion that I didn’t believe there would be a large voter turnout. I also shared my opinion that Larry Elder would be a better governor for California than Newsom, much like I believe Biden not to be the best choice for America.

Keep in mind, Tweets are limited in the number of characters that can be shared so there was no elaboration of my opinion. Nor did I continue tweeting on the matter. It was a one and done tweet. Nothing more.

Here’s what I received [exactly] as it was sent through my company website:

“Paul, monitoring your tweets. You know nothing about Joe Biden. You, however are a slippery, SLIMY, just this side of the law franchise hawker, a mere salesman. I know you. You look like the Mafia. Re CA politics, you know nothing, dumb fuck. CA Dems do vote and you will see next Tuesday, you fat oaf.”

It was the first time in my life that I felt cancelled. Truly, I was speechless. But I took a screenshot of the message and have kept it as a reminder that although it’s okay to express my opinion, I need to realize, fully realize that others might have a different opinion – and that is the way it should be, but some people are just bullies.

Sadly, they just can’t help themselves and even more so when hiding behind a digital screen as evident in this case as the message was submitted with a fictious name and contact information. But then again, that’s just my opinion.

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

Personally, I’m of the mindset that if a person is not satisfied with the pay they’re receiving, maybe it’s time to look for another job or do what’s necessary to position themselves for a better paying job.

I know, as I had worked two jobs early on in my career as I had a family to feed. I just did what I had to do to provide. I had options available and choices to make, the same as individuals do today. So, I cannot agree that it is the responsibility of business owners to just arbitrarily increase wages because hourly workers want or think they “deserve” more pay.

And, a question that is mostly ignored is how a raise in minimum wage to let’s say $15 per hour affects those already earning $15 per hour? If someone’s pay is raised from $10 to $15, does that mean the other worker already earning $15 will be bumped to $22.50 or higher? The typical answer I’ve heard is a resounding, no!

Is that fair to the person that has been employed several years and has diligently worked to make his or her way up the ladder only to have everyone else see their pay increase significantly while his or her wages remain the same? What is their incentive to continue working to their fullest ability?

As for the fast food industry, one that unions are aggressively attacking because of the large numbers of employees from one chain to another, when was it determined that a typical job at a fast food restaurant would or should be one that would support a family? That was never a consideration in the development of the fast food business model.

If wages are just increased to what many claim would be a “fair” wage, what is the incentive for workers to excel at their jobs? What would performance reviews look like in the future? What’s next… guaranteed annual increases just because another year has passed?

Ultimately, businesses would have to pay their workers more and do one of three things: lay off some workers, cut already diminished profit margins, or raise prices. As a result of laying off workers, it would become more difficult for the minimum wage workers, who tend to be young and unskilled, to find a job in a competitive job market.

Furthermore, in order to replace lost profits, some businesses would have to raise their prices, causing the value of the dollar to decrease. It is likely that prices would rise as well, defeating the original intention of raising the minimum wage.

In the end, this movement will cost jobs and shutter once successful businesses. Those that survive will do so by adding technology to replace workers. In the end, the unions will benefit by collecting more dues, but the average worker will not benefit as many will have joined the ranks of the unemployed.

America is the land of freedom. From a business standpoint, that means individuals are free to accept or decline job offers. On the flip side, business owners should be free to offer jobs to whomever they believe is qualified for an open position and at the wage believed to make economical sense for the business. This should include the owner’s return on investment – provided of course, the wage offered is at or above the federally mandated minimum wage. After all, they’re the ones taking the risk of investing in a business.

Clearly, unions don’t see it this way as they’re truly only looking to add to their own coffers. To them, it really is not for the betterment of workers as much it is to strengthen the unions and its leadership. I have similar sentiment for politicians pushing this agenda, as well.

In my opinion, we’ll see higher wages that will do absolutely nothing for the wage earners in the long run as prices will have increased accordingly. A $25 per hour minimum wage does no good if the cost of a meal for a family of four at McDonalds rises to $75!

A few additional thoughts and questions…

Ironically, we’re at a time when customer expectations continue to set the customer experience bar higher and higher. Yet, with no incentive to excel, how many workers will just go through the motions and deliver lackluster experiences, at best? Will that further hurt businesses and possibly lead to more job loss?

With severe shortages of skilled workers in the trades, doesn’t it make sense to increase exposure to these opportunities AND provide more training opportunities to attract individuals that need higher paying jobs? How about bringing back shop classes to schools to get the ball rolling? Maybe it’s time to make trade schools free?

Has anyone given thought to the ripple effect to the younger generation as unemployment among teenagers continues to rise. With jobs previously earmarked for this demographic continuing to be filled by individuals raising families, what’s to become of the next generation?

With fast food jobs, as well as other jobs formerly held by teenagers including newspaper delivery, cutting lawns and even babysitting, where will teenagers find employment in the future? How will they be able to develop an ability to work with others? At what point will they be able to develop work ethic? And possibly the most alarming thought I have, How will they occupy their idle time?

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

As many that know me are aware, I am an avid reader. Mostly, I read about franchising, small business, entrepreneurship, business & restaurant ownership, self-help and just about any related topics. I’m a sponge for information and resources that I can use in my life as well as in my business, and also for my team and clients.

I typically arise by 4 AM on the weekends and spend 4-6 hours reading through the 300+ digital publications, newsletters and blogs to which I subscribe and that I’ve bookmarked throughout the week. Some I file away for future reference. Others I save to share across social media. And a few I share with friends, colleagues and clients as may be appropriate and relevant based upon a recent conversation or as information, motivation or inspiration I believe will help them.

Over the course of a year, I will read between 35-50 books relating to the same topics I’ve listed above. Some I read and they’re one and done. Others I refer to as needed for reference or as a resource for a particular project. I also have a few go-to books that I refer to quite often for my own inspiration and motivation.

I do love biographies and autobiographies about entrepreneurs, successful business people and leaders. I marvel at these recounts of both success and failure. I’m intrigued by the journey of these individuals. I’m motivated by their passion. I’m amazed by the obstacles and challenges they’ve faced and overcome. And I’m inspired by the possibilities that come to mind as I relate their stories to present day times.

Why do I have such hunger for the written word? Well, my formal education is limited. I never graduated from college as quite frankly, I found it boring. I was not interested in the typical basic courses and although I always looked ahead to the courses I knew I would really enjoy, I fretted about the prerequisite courses that were required before being able to take the courses of which I had the most interest.

To compensate for not having a formal education, I knew I had to work my ass off to get ahead. Marrying and raising a family at an early age was a choice, and a great motivator. It was an experience of which I take great pride, especially as my wife and I have been married for 45 years. We have four great children, their wonderful spouses, and four – and soon to be five – extraordinary grandchildren.

Sure, I regret not completing college and although I have given significant thought on numerous occasions about going back to school, life always got in the way. So, early on when I read Lee Iacocca’s autobiography, Iacocca, I was inspired to learn more about this great man and leader. I read his second book and sought out to read all I could about other successful people.

My motivation to read all that I could was driven by an explanation by Iacocca that still resonates with me to this day. To paraphrase… A man is not as smart by what is in his head as he is by the information he could put his hands on, and that information is in books. And so began my quest for information to educate myself as much as humanly possible.

Oh, I do wish I had complemented it all with a formal education but there’s no use crying over spilt milk, right? There’s no reason to look back. Although, the “what if” questions do haunt me at times, yet they inspire and motivate me just the same.

No doubt I was self-reliant, so when I first heard about the book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, I knew I had to read it. When my daughter, Jennifer asked me what I wanted for Christmas two years ago, I asked her for this book. Maybe the method to my madness was to start out making this book special as it was a gift and one that I knew I would treasure.

Well, as you can see in the image at the top of this article, the book sits at the top of a handful of books that sit on my desk at all times. These books are rotated quite often from the one I’m currently reading to others that I may be referring to for a special project I may be working on. Yet, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur always sits atop the pile. Why? Because the book is meant to be read each and every day.

But what really makes the book very special is the author’s commitment to helping others. You can just tell he put a great deal of thought into the book. But to me, it’s even more than that as evident by an experience I had yesterday on LinkedIn when I posted the following:

This is my second year reading through the book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur by John Jantsch (author of Duct Tape Marketing). The book is comprised of 366 Daily Meditations to Feed Your Soul and Grow Your Business.

Today’s meditation is very spot-on in light of current challenges and economic uncertainty and especially the following sentence:

“As entrepreneurs pushing through fear and trying so many new things, we feel so intoxicated by the sensation of new that we are tempted to hold on and loiter – breathe it in, remember it, then turn the page and grind on.”

I highly recommend entrepreneurs everywhere purchase this book AND diligently follow the daily meditations. The book is great for aspiring entrepreneurs, as well.

Well, the author, John Jantsch personally responded, asking me to share my experience. I mean, who does that? Who takes the time to genuinely ask for your input? Well, it spoke volumes to me, as does this fantastic book.

John asked me, How are you finding you have changed this go around? I responded:

The first time I felt I was just reading. Sure, I always took away something from the various passages but I never seemed to give them much thought afterwards. This time around, I’ve found myself applying what I’ve read, or even like today, I found that it actually reinforced the message I shared in my daily LinkedIn newsletter, Acceler8Success Cafe.

More so, as I often write about what’s going on in my own mind, many of the passages either reinforce my own confidence or motivate me in my own writing as well as in my business. To summarize, first time around I’ve read to read. The second time, I’ve read to apply.

One more thing… For anyone that wants to learn about entrepreneurship or expand skills as an entrepreneur, this book is perfect because so many feel they don’t have time to read a book, but with The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur that’s all they have to read is one page each day. It’s the best 5-10 minutes I spend each and every day!

Interestingly, this morning’s meditation is titled, Original Giftedness. Well, I was already given a gift of John’s response yesterday, so today’s meditation is an appreciated extension of the same. Thank you, John.

If you’re interested in purchasing, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, you may do so on Amazon. I highly recommend you do so today. Also, I also believe it’s a great Christmas or Graduation gift that’ll make a difference in someone’s life. I know it’s made a difference in mine.

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

As I stated in yesterday’s article, Have you ever needed a little push to start your day?, I felt I really needed a bit of a pick me up as I was having difficulty getting focused. Quite frankly, that doesn’t happen often but when it does, I attempt to be proactive by seeking out something that will change my mindset and get me back on track.

Today, I feel my focus and positive mindset have returned but in light of one news story after another referring to economic uncertainty and signs of the times, I’m concerned about how others will be affected – or may be sidetracked by worry.

Adding insult to injury, Hurricane Ian is barreling down on the Florida Coast and there’s bound to be a ripple effect that will affect many people including those, albeit indirectly, outside the Sunshine State.

So even though I’m [mostly] back to focusing on tasks at hand, my mind is drifting back to yesterday’s thoughts about motivation and inspiration. I recalled an article I had written some time back and thought it appropriate to share again today.

In any event, I pray those in need find the inspiration and/or motivation necessary to survive and recover from whatever challenges they may be facing.

Inspiration vs Motivation

I’ll admit, I often interchange motivation and inspiration. Actually, because I do, I find that I use both words together in a sentence. For instance, what motivates and inspires you? Maybe it’s because what motivates me, typically inspires me, as well. And what inspires me, often motivates me. Is that wrong? Maybe it is according to the definition of both words, but I find it works for me. It’s akin to a 1-2 punch. They work well together. In any event, it works for me. However, maybe it doesn’t work for you.

Inspiration is defined as, the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative; a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea.

Motivation is defined as, the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way; the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

Kelly Slater, an American Surfer states, “Motivation is temporary. Inspiration is permanent.” A very concise message, to the point. Six simple words. Yet, I believe there’s much more to the spirit behind being motivated or inspired. Or should I say, motivated AND inspired?

The following quote from Dean Bokhari, a writer & speaker about personal development, meaningful work + mastery presents a different perspective:

Some may look at Bokhari’s quote and think it’s just Salter’s quote further defined. I don’t see it that way. I believe Slater’s point is more a black & white issue, an either this or that scenario. Bokhari’s quote speaks to me of a yin & yang (most think it’s ying & yang) scenario, working together, complementing each other, reinforcing, if you will.

According to Wikipedia: in Ancient Chinese philosophy, yin and yang is a Chinese philosophical concept that describes how obviously opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.

From World History Encyclopedia: The principle of Yin and Yang is that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites, for example, female-male, dark-light and old-young. The pairs of equal opposites attract and complement each other. 

As the Yin and Yang symbol illustrates, each side has at its core an element of the other (represented by the small dots). Neither pole is superior to the other and, as an increase in one brings a corresponding decrease in the other, a correct balance between the two poles must be reached in order to achieve harmony.

I read an interesting article, “The Important Difference Between Motivation and Inspiration” by Rob Holman. He is an internationally recognized leadership expert, executive coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author who has a heart for authentic relationships and a true talent for equipping people with the skills and the knowledge necessary for their success. He states:

“For years I thought that inspiration and motivation meant the same thing. But the more I thought about it, did some research, and became a student of people, the more I came to believe there’s a very important distinction. The subtle difference between the words can make a world of difference in leading people.

Merriam-Webster defines inspiration as follows: “Something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create.”

Here’s what it says for motivation: “The act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something.”

Inspiration is more a person reaching a point of wanting to act, whereas motivation is more of giving people reasons to act. That’s the difference between babysitting and empowerment, incentives or influence, fire-starters and fire extinguishers.

There is a need for both inspiration and motivation. But to lead effectively, knowing the difference makes a tremendous difference.

When we try to motivate people by using positive incentives, and perhaps even some negative tactics, that’s using outward things to enter the heart where real change takes place. This can work to some degree, but the effect is often temporary.

When we try to inspire people, we’re reaching for the heart in a way that the person is changed from the inside out. When people want to change because there has been a deep stirring in their heart, it’s sustainable and leads to long-term vibrancy.

There was a time in my life when I consistently sought encouragement from others as my main source of motivation. Sometimes I’d get it, other times I wouldn’t. I needed the encouragement to perform well.

Then I began to be inspired by a purpose-driven challenge in my life, as well as some individuals who helped me understand that what I do should not define who I am. This changed everything.

With motivation, I was looking for reasons to be a better me to maximize performance. With inspiration, I understood who I was and, as a natural byproduct, I was able to accomplish things that I never thought were possible.”

Maybe I’m off base here, but I’m starting to realize a difference in the meaning of both words but only as it applies to the act of doing something for the benefit of others as opposed to for one own’s benefit. Meaning, to motivate and inspire others appears to be different than being motivated and inspired.

In any event, when I feel inspired, it motivates me to do something. When I see that my coaching creates excitement for my client or even just a glimmer of hope, it motivates me to expand my reach to help others. If I’m motivated by a motivational speech, it inspires me to take my own personal thoughts regarding the speaker’s topic to a new level. In both cases, I feel both inspired AND motivated.

Is there a difference between inspiration and motivation? Yes, I know there is. But does it matter when in the moment of being inspired and/or motivated? I guess it comes down to something that is quite simple which is whether it provokes thought and confidence in taking action.

There are a lot of things that can provide inspiration AND motivation – seeing other people accomplish great things, seeing others overcome adversity, speeches & quotes from great people, the written word (books, blogs, etc.), and even the sheer beauty of nature can inspire and motivate us… while also reminding us just how lucky we are to be alive.

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

This morning, I feel like I need a little push to jumpstart my day. Have you ever felt that despite feeling good physically and mentally, that your mind is a bit foggy and out of focus? That you know what needs to be done, yet you find yourself staring at the screen, staring at your calendar seemingly in a trance?

Well, I feel that way today and as I have done in the past, I turn to motivational and inspirational quotes. So, as I focus on my own motivation and inspiration, I’m happy to share the same along with some of my thoughts. I hope it helps you as much as it helps me.

New Beginnings

If we focus and think deep enough, we know when the time is right. It’s when we listen to what presents itself as our intuition, that feeling in our gut, that we know it’s time to pivot, to change course, to take action. We must not fight it.

Instead, embrace it as part of the great journey called, life. The wonder of it all are the powers around us, spiritual as they are, they actually provide signs, messages that move us, sometimes by force in the direction intended for us, chosen for us.

It’s then up to us to face, address what’s in our path — to tackle challenges and capitalize on opportunities, listening carefully, watching attentively and acting decisively… essential to not ignore what is evidently clear.

Possibilities

This is one of a handful of quotes that I keep close by to motivate, inspire and remind me to realize opportunities, consider possibilities and explore options – All part of the drive to achieve success at the highest level possible. Sometimes it means doing it for me. Other times it’s for someone else. But the most rewarding is when it helps another person while also producing benefit for me. Truly a win-win.

Balance

This one really hits home on days like today… Successful entrepreneurs have a passion for what they do, so working hard is part of their DNA. But anyone who is successful also recognizes that life and work are a marathon, not a sprint. Even they need some downtime every now and again.

The Future

With two plus years of the Pandemic in the review mirror and all that had adversely affected business as we knew it, and despite current economic uncertainty, it’s time to look ahead to the future. In doing so, we must keep this Peter Drucker quote in mind and act accordingly.

Entrepreneurship

One of my favorite images that really gets me thinking and wondering. It makes me think about the complexity (or perplexity) of entrepreneurship. The universe is in sight, almost at the entrepreneur’s fingertips. The entrepreneur, tired and weary is still standing.

Like the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, is the light shining outward and as such, getting brighter or is the darkness overtaking the light? And as may be reality or perception, is the entrepreneur looking at the bottom of what’s closing in from above or is the entrepreneur on top of the world taking it all in.

Such could be the majesty or travesty of entrepreneurship. Or, could it be the basis of loneliness experienced by many entrepreneurs?

And One Last Push for a Great Day!

Today is a new day and with it new beginnings, albeit with potential of different perspectives on first impressions or just seeing things in a different light. Life is great that way!

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

There are many different types of entrepreneurship. From traditional startups to business ownership to today’s popular side hustles. There are also many more in between including entrepreneurship involving personal artistic and creative skills such as being an author or artist whose sole business is to create and then sell their books and paintings.

Some might argue that being an author or an artist is nowhere near being an entrepreneur. I’d argue that they’re mistaken. If the individual with a creative talent uses that talent to earn income, and over time develops a business from his or her efforts, they’ve then become entrepreneurs. In fact, part of the Wikipedia explanation of an entrepreneur’s purpose states:

“An entrepreneur uses their time, energy, and resources into creating value for others. They are rewarded for this effort monetarily and therefore both the consumer of the value created and the entrepreneur are benefitted.”

Artist Entrepreneur

One such Artist Entrepreneur was Leonid Afremov. He was a Mexican–Israeli modern impressionistic artist who used to work mainly with a palette knife and oils. He had developed his own unique technique and style which is unmistakable and cannot be confused with other artists.

His paintings were mainly landscape, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits. Most of his work is considered very colorful and politically neutral.

Afremov was mainly known as being a self-representing artist who used to promote and sell his work exclusively over the internet with very little exhibitions and involvement of dealers and galleries.

Before the advancement of online sales and eBay, Afremov was a struggling artist. He was born in Vitebsk, Belarus, and lived there until 1990. Between 1990 and 2002 he lived in Israel, and from 2002 to 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida.

According to the Leonid Afremov website, during the cold Russian winter, Afremov stayed at home painting. He was not allowed to participate in government exhibitions because of his Jewish roots and was not allowed to be a member of the local art associations.

His early work was sold privately via family and friends and was not seen by many people. A lot of his work in the 1980’s was just given away for free. He did not keep records of his work then and not much of it survived. The family currently has only one painting that was made before 1990.

In 1986 the Chernobyl disaster happened. Vitebsk was only a few hundred kilometers from Chernobyl, close enough for radiation to travel with the wind and rain. The ecological situation in the area worsened, local crops and water becoming contaminated with radioactive fallout. Small children were affected strongly, including Afremov’s two year old son.

At the same time Leonid Afremov was experiencing serious discrimination and insults for his Jewish heritage. The liberal politics of Mikhail Gorbachev allowed Jewish soviet citizens to migrate to Israel in the late 1980s. After being fed up with anti-semitism and problems caused by radiation, Leonid decided to move to Israel without hesitation as soon as the doors were opened.

On 14 May 1990 the Afremov family left by train from Minsk to Warsaw where they stayed in a hostel for 3 days. Then on 17 May 1990 they took a flight to Israel provided by the Israeli immigration authorities. The Afremov family was among the first to migrate from USSR in the Russian–Jewish immigration wave of the 1990s.

Today, original oil paintings, original recreations, studio recreations, prints, giclees and much more can be purchased directly from the family of the world renowned Leonid Afremov at https://afremov.com/.

Author Entrepreneur

Another creative entrepreneur is author, Joanne (Jo) Rowling, better known as J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. However, one might wonder how Rowling, the author, could possibly be considered an entrepreneur. Yet, considering the tremendous value of the Harry Potter franchise of books and movies, it’d be difficult to dispute.

We often learn about an entrepreneur’s humble beginnings such as Steve Jobs dropping out of college, living on friends’ couches, and sneaking into classes that he enjoyed despite not being enrolled.

Or, the early beginnings of Hewlett-Packard as Bill Hewlett and David Packard started the business out of a garage in Palo Alto, California. And the list goes on from Walt Disney to Daymond John, founder of the Hip Hop apparel company, FUBU.

In the case of J.K. Rowling, how is this for a humble beginning as described in an article at InsideBusiness.com?

After her mother’s death, Rowling moved to northern Portugal for a fresh start and taught English as a foreign language. She started dating a man named Jorge Arantes, became pregnant, and moved into a small two-bedroom apartment with Arantes’ mother.

The couple miscarried, but they married in October 1992. Rowling later gave birth to a daughter, Jessica, in July 1993.

The rocky marriage lasted a mere 13 months, and Rowling and Jessica returned to the UK to live in Edinburgh, Scotland, not long after. She carried three chapters of “Harry Potter” in her suitcase with her.

Living in a cramped apartment with her daughter, jobless and penniless, Rowling fell into a deep depression and admits she even considered suicide. She was forced to rely on state benefits and spent much of her time writing “Harry Potter” in cafés with Jessica sleeping in the pram next to her.

“An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless… By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew,” Rowling said during a 2008 Harvard University commencement speech.

Today, Harry Potter is a global brand worth more than $15 billion dollars.

Arts Entrepreneurship

According to AmericansForTheArts.org, Arts Entrepreneurship is nothing new. It is fair to assume that artists have always been entrepreneurial. Educators in higher education have been earnestly addressing this topic as early as the 1970s, first at the Eastman School of Music.

However, what is new is a formalized system of education that teaches artists how to, specifically, act entrepreneurially. Today, there are over one hundred colleges and universities addressing the topic, and at least 33 Master’s programs around the world focused on arts, creative, or cultural entrepreneurship.

In academic literature, there is absolutely no consensus as to what “entrepreneurship” means, much less “arts entrepreneurship.” Similarly, there are no agreed-upon definitions for “creativity,” “imagination,” or “art.” These phenomena are complex and subjective.

Regardless, at Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (SMU), in a course, Arts Entrepreneurship, students are taught that entrepreneurship is defined as follows: 

“The creation of opportunity and value with intent to profit financially, socially or otherwise through the assumption of risk and effort.”

In the context of arts entrepreneurship, the value created is art.

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