tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41160075639253902722024-11-01T05:43:25.052-05:00The next generation's approach to creating the life you want through owning your own business.Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-28476031401844649372009-02-11T15:49:00.009-06:002009-02-15T17:25:28.068-06:00

There is no doubt that today "green" initiatives are becoming more and more common in the marketplace. Consumers are becoming more aware of their impact on the earth, and are making decisions based on this knowledge. So it is wise to consider "greening" your company prior to startup.There are many different steps that you can take in every business to be more environmentally conscious. By

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-48661077316290759642008-11-07T12:45:00.005-06:002008-11-08T01:52:22.531-06:00

Whether or not you have felt the effects, there is no denying that these are tough times, financially speaking. Many fingers have been pointed all across the US as to who is to blame for the downfall. Many look at the mortgage industry, Mark-to-Market, FIFO accounting practices, and even you the consumer.The answer is all are to blame, but in my opinion credit use is public enemy no.1. America

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-78078798169807839552008-10-08T22:27:00.003-05:002008-10-08T23:38:47.611-05:00

Wow, what a past couple of weeks it has been. First, Hurricane Ike, which we survived intact. Though, with almost 2 weeks without power and water, it was a mess. I have a much greater sense of respect for those that lived before the introduction of running water and electricity. However I do realize that they were set up to cope with this, not shoveling water from bathtub to toilet or taking

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-36354425076633397202008-09-12T12:08:00.003-05:002008-09-12T12:26:08.903-05:00

For those of you who don't know I am in the Houston area. I will not be posting anything for the next couple of days due to Hurricane Ike.I have been watching the news since last night and the track for the storm has shifted so the eye of the storm will be coming directly over my house. My family and I have taken precautions to be safe.I will let you know any updates on conditions here from my

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-39344921770851397752008-09-07T21:37:00.006-05:002008-09-07T23:32:05.737-05:00

I don't think I can sing praises enough for networking. Networking is extremely important for any business owner or employee. The more people you know, the easier it is to find the resources you need.I recently encountered this when trying to research licensing requirements for my business. No matter what search terms I used, I came up with nothing. It wasn't until I met someone through my

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-17620600257104729532008-09-02T18:57:00.005-05:002008-09-02T20:58:24.920-05:00

With so many companies and organizations out there that specialize in certifying you, how do you know which one to choose? It is easier for some to choose, since some professions have notable certifications (i.e. CPA). For others who are more specialized, like me, the alphabet soup can be pretty confusing.As a valuations analyst alone there are more than 10 to choose from, but what in the long

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-47561574197356464882008-08-30T18:46:00.009-05:002008-08-30T21:16:58.018-05:00

I have been reading a lot these last few weeks. Blogs, articles, books, reports, you name it, I have probably read it. I am trying to summarize for you the things I find that are helpful along the way.I am sure that most people do not want to sit down and read 10 books in 1 week, while spending countless hours on the internet researching. I do think it is advisable to read up some on small

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-12376416726104055652008-08-29T20:31:00.009-05:002008-08-30T21:14:53.834-05:00

Almost certainly as important as developing your life plan, owning up to your weaknesses, strengths, likes, dislikes, needed skills, and goals is integral in the process of planning your business. When you are completely honest with yourself and any partners you may have, your business will come out stronger.It is definitely hard for anyone to admit that they don't have everything that it takes

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-9834650501627850312008-08-26T16:15:00.013-05:002008-08-30T21:13:19.309-05:00

My partner and I sat down yesterday to start planning the marketing strategy for our company, which brought us more into an integration discussion, since the general vague idea for the company is combining two very different disciplines of marketing and finance.The exciting news which I have not discussed here is that we should be able to get a government contract for services offered by one part

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-55573932236811011702008-08-25T06:30:00.003-05:002008-08-25T20:07:40.613-05:00

I was watching a video yesterday that my local SBDC published called “Do You Have What It Takes?” As I was listening to him rattle off a list of traits that any successful entrepreneur should have, I began to think about myself. (I sort of think that was the point.)Anyway, as he got to the point about persistence, I made myself laugh out loud with the visual imagery I gave myself. I am persistent

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-15509614321222407262008-08-22T22:28:00.010-05:002008-08-25T19:44:34.811-05:00

I was reading through Matthew Lesko's Free Money For Entrepreneurs, when I read some very interesting facts about women entrepreneurs. "75% of new businesses started by women succeed, compared to only 25% of those started by men."Why exactly is this? Perhaps it is due to risk tolerance or diferences in thought processes. I am typically not one to make sweeping generalizations about groups of

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-26904564416751909732008-08-22T10:12:00.004-05:002008-08-25T19:43:03.693-05:00

I have updated the blog site and would like to hear your feedback on the changes. Let me know what you think.

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-11963921429424091902008-08-21T12:04:00.010-05:002008-08-25T19:42:29.558-05:00

You have probably heard the term before, and whether it is something you actually do or wish you knew how, networking is essential to starting a business.Throughout my life I have heard the term, but thought it was for sales people or those type personalities. Until recently I did not think it was something I could or should do.If you have friends, you are a networker. That's it. Networking is

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-21783010014372408862008-08-20T07:08:00.005-05:002008-08-25T19:39:31.721-05:00

If you are even considering applying for financing or bringing on equity investors a business plan is essential for you. Most people basically think of a business plan as a long book written about your company; this is not always the case.It is important when writing your business plan to be concise in your writings. Length wins you no points. The point is to accurately convey your ideas and

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-46008893791953782902008-08-19T09:40:00.006-05:002008-08-25T19:37:02.549-05:00

No matter how you choose to go into business or what you intend for your business to sell, you have to go about it in a way no other person before you has.Whether you are opening a restaurant because you have a killer recipe or you plan to deliver a service you are good at, there has to be a reason your market will come to you instead of your competitor.This is a major pitfall for most consulting

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-85671936342736081322008-08-16T22:45:00.007-05:002008-08-25T19:35:12.221-05:00

Choosing the right legal structure for your business is a complicated decision, but not necessarily as important as you might think.Your decision should be directed mostly by two factors, liability and taxes. The important thing to remember is that you can change this at any time during the life of your business. So if you choose one it does not mean you are stuck. So the best advice to follow is

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-39602693917670997282008-08-15T18:02:00.006-05:002008-08-25T19:32:50.097-05:00

Life always throws you unexpected curveballs, and as an entrepreneur you have to be willing to explore every option and make the necessary changes.Parts of your initial plan will unravel and alter as you put yourself out there and start networking or researching. Changes are not bad to make, but rather alterations to the plan that you understand will help you succeed.I recently encountered this

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-7441249396512485072008-08-14T17:25:00.005-05:002008-08-25T19:31:40.782-05:00

I was having trouble thinking of a topic for today's post. Then I was out eating dinner with my extended family and the subject was brought up of my impending plans to venture into the world of entrepreneurship. Everyone immediately turned to my husband and asked, "are you on board with this?" He silently nodded with pursed lips, not too convincing. I explained to everyone that I really hadn't

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-61768838683235303902008-08-13T01:49:00.004-05:002008-08-13T01:55:55.834-05:00

The next important step of starting your own business is to decide what kind of business that you want to have. There are many types to choose from, although your structure may be dictated by your product/service. There is still some degree of choice with every venture.You may have already thought about where you want to do business while creating your life plan, as I did. I knew that I enjoyed

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-18691935447618246432008-08-12T07:01:00.009-05:002008-08-12T16:50:30.795-05:00

You may have thought about going into business because you had a revolutionary idea, or because you do something really well and wanted to answer to no one but yourself, both of which are very admirable. Though you could be like me and you just have the desire, but no direction.Choosing your product or service is a big decision. What’s important is to look at the big picture, your life plan.

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116007563925390272.post-61901121730731996772008-08-11T09:12:00.005-05:002008-08-11T16:42:50.262-05:00

There are many reasons to go into business for yourself, and not every reason is a good one. The first step in the process for starting any company should be answering the question “why?” Why do you want to start your own business? Most advice givers call this step formulating your “life plan.”Here’s a little background on myself…I’m in my late-twenties. I hold both an Associate of Arts and a

Becky Farrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166755379517905129noreply@blogger.com0