Category: Small business

This month marks 4 years since I started Hot Pepper Communications, and earlier this spring, I passed the 2-year mark since I started doing it full-time. Even though I’ve been in business for myself full-time for only 2 years, I’ve been running businesses off and on for nearly 20 years. Here are 17 lessons about entrepreneurship… Continue reading 17 lessons I learned running my own small business

As I mentioned in recent posts, I have been working for myself for just over a year now. I’ve been a business owner off and on for nearly 20 years, but this is the longest stretch during which I’ve done it full time. It’s also been my most successful. I used to think working for someone else provided job… Continue reading 5 things I hate about working for myself

As I mentioned in recent posts, I have been working for myself for just over a year now. I’ve been a business owner off and on for nearly 20 years, but this is the longest stretch during which I’ve done it full time. It’s also been my most successful. I used to think working for… Continue reading 6 reasons I love working for myself

Last week, I finished reading Simon Sinek’s Start With Why. It was a fascinating read, and it made me reflect on what I do and why I do it. It’s effect was similar to the effect that Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crush It! had on me and the desire it instilled in me to find my passion. I… Continue reading Start With Why: Why I do what I do

I was listening to Terry O’Reilly’s “Age of Persuasion” last weekend. In that episode, he illustrated how good customer service leads to customer loyalty and profit. I was particularly drawn to his expounding on Zappos, an online retailer. Here are a few of the points that caught my attention.

This month marks a year that I went into business for myself full time. I’ve learned a lot about owning a business in that time. This is my 9th business. Our other 8 businesses failed for various reasons, and as a result, we learned a lot of useful (if not expensive) lessons. Finally having a… Continue reading 4 lessons I learned during my first year working for myself

When I started my business full-time nearly a year ago, I figured it would be pretty straight forward and I would implement common business practices. For the most part I have, but there are a few unconventional things I do that I wanted to briefly discuss. I don’t charge interest on past due accounts. Common… Continue reading 3 unconventional business practices I’ve been criticized for

From time to time, I blog about something other than writing or social media. In fact, before this site became my business site last year, it was my personal site, so there are quite a few personal musings in the archives. Today, I want to talk about entrepreneurship. Last month, I was a guest lecturer… Continue reading 8 businesses I failed at, and why your business will fail, too