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Nickname:Rich
Sonoma, CA
United States
Website:www.StartupNation.com
Twitter:@Startupologist
Blog:www.startupnation.com/blogs/index.php/author/rich-sloan/
Podcast:www.startupnation.com/media/
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Polls
  • RichBy Rich 2463 Days Ago
    1 point    

    I`m curious to know what draws you to the StartupNation community we`re working so hard to build. Your answers will help us understand more about what you are seeking and how we can provide even more value to you.

    Thanks!!!

    Rich


  • RichBy Rich 2463 Days Ago
    0 points    
    good point, jeff (as always).

  • kns93By kns93 2463 Days Ago
    0 points    

    I’m new to your site (just joined yesterday) and have already logged at least 8 hours!  I`m like a kid in a candy store darting from item to item.  I’m awestruck by the caliber of the members that SUN has attracted.  I’ve read many posts and am very pleased to see the tone is encouraging and intelligent.  I have yet to read anything condescending no matter how simple the question may be.

    I just finished listening to the on demand seminar “Create Your Life Plan” and about cried at my results.  It confirmed what I already knew; that my current job situation has me completely unmotivated and depressed.  It is affecting all aspects of my life in a negative way.  I’m ready for a new path!

    Thank you StartupNation!  Well done!  I intend to be part of your FAMILY for a long time!    

     

    kns932006-8-26 20:29:41

  • RichBy Rich 2463 Days Ago
    0 points    

    welcome to this community. individually and together, it`s amazing what can be accomplished.

    possibility begins with awareness, and the fact that you`ve completed your Life Plan and you became aware of some things that need to be addressed is ALL GOOD. it`s from the low points in life that we rise up.

    looking forward to interacting with you here.

    rich (and team)


  • iouone2By iouone2 2463 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Alright... I can`t decide... I think I am all of the above. So... I voted "other." I want to ask and answer questions, but I am also here because many of the members are full of motivation. I also hope to find new clients (which has happened on a small scale), but I think everyone would except new clients derived from this site. All in all, I am here because I find the SuN community to be inspirational and full of knowledge.

  • RichBy Rich 2442 Days Ago
    0 points    

    Well?

    (Should I have included "Bed and Breakfast"?)


  • TeleBoostBy TeleBoost 2442 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Hey Rich,

    Yeah, you should`ve definitely included Bed `n` Breakfast. That would get my second vote. My first went to the Restaurant :-)

    Have a Nice Weekend
    Nat

  • LogoMotivesBy LogoMotives 2442 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Rich,
      I voted for Online Retail. I like the fact that the overhead isn`t a big issue for small business starting out.


    Bingo!  I`m with you Kathy.  Besides, I`ve worked with people starting up many of the others on the list and seen some of the nightmares with businesses initiating a new physical location.

    - J.



  • RichBy Rich 2440 Days Ago
    0 points    

    folks, if you click "other," please post what you would have selected as your top choice. it would be great to see what people would pursue!

    i voted for import/export. businesses in this niche take advantage of huge shifts in opportunity and untapped opportunities at that! also, i like that, at its core, it`s a business that would connect me to people overseas (exotic ring to it), and possibly involve travel to those locations (very exotic ring to it).

    rich


  • RichBy Rich 2438 Days Ago
    0 points    
    how can it be in this day and age that NOBODY has voted for an ebay store business?!?!!??

  • RichBy Rich 2436 Days Ago
    0 points    

    If you selected, "Other"... please let us know what your answer would be...


  • MeitziBy Meitzi 2436 Days Ago
    0 points    

    I chose `other` which stands for:

    • all of the above
    • no need to report to anyone
    • won`t feel guilty if I have to attend any my son`s school events
    • take vacation whenever I want
    • work overtime only if I want to
    • if I am sick, I`ll stay in bed!
    • don`t need to deal with <stupid> office politics

    I am getting carried away here, aren`t I?


  • EricBy Eric 2436 Days Ago
    0 points    

    Meitzi`s right (again)  They are all great things but I put down "Family" as the very best reason. Working from home allows me more time with them. Sure sometimes it can be too much but if your going to have a problem that`s the one you want.

    I will also add that it is especially nice to just walk away from what you are doing if you are having a particulary bad day. Sometimes it`s nice to just get outside, breath a little air, soak up a little sun, and remind yourself how lucky you are to be doing such a thing at that very moment.


  • mikechongBy mikechong 2435 Days Ago
    0 points    
    i voted for access to the fridge :p

    Family comes first for me, definitely.






  • RichBy Rich 2435 Days Ago
    0 points    

    i voted for access to the fridge :p

    Family comes first for me, definitely.

    hold it. did your stomach win out or your heart?


  • RichBy Rich 2140 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Here`s my situation: I`m meeting with Neil Cavuto this week in NYC. I am sure, knowing his schedule, that the meeting will be extremely brief. All you elevator pitchers who`ve pitched your business ideas on our radio show and got tough love from me and Jeff, well, now the tables are turned. I`m doing a pitch FOR REAL to try to get Neil interested in backing a weekend TV show hosted by my brother and me on his soon-to-launch Fox Business Channel.

    It`s one of those shots... one of those "chances of a lifetime."

    And I need your help to make sure I go in there with the best ideas possible.

    If you were to sit down in front of the boob tube and watch a TV show dealing with entrepreneurship and small business, what kind of show would you LOVE to see?

    Depending on how good your advice is, how well I integrate it into my pitch, how well I deliver my pitch, what kind of mood Neil is in on Thursday morning, and if the stars are all aligned... you just might see your concept come to fruition!

    HELP!
    Rich2007-7-15 21:18:26

  • candlelady2By candlelady2 2140 Days Ago
    0 points    

    Talk about what you know best and be your self and I can`t wait to see the show!  I know you will do just fine!  I love Neil`s show.Congratulations Rich!

    Best wishes,

    Gail

    candlelady2


  • theswaynesterBy theswaynester 2139 Days Ago
    0 points    
    I`m thinking of a version of "The Big Idea" with Donny Deutch. But a little more grounded.

  • theswaynesterBy theswaynester 2139 Days Ago
    0 points    
    How `bout a "Pimp My Business" type thing. At least a segment.
    You guys go in, advise, and help out a struggling business.


  • theswaynesterBy theswaynester 2139 Days Ago
    0 points    

    Possible title:
    Oh Brother, What Starts Thou?

     


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  • RichBy Rich 1946 Days Ago
    0 points    
    A very nice and persistent gentleman has asked me to ask you this question on his behalf - he`s dying to know the level of interest in our community on this topic but doesn`t want to break the "no solicitation" rules here in the forums.
     
    You can just vote in the poll above or add a comment if you have some thoughts you`d like to share about the nature of this challenge as a startup entrepreneur.

  • vapourlockBy vapourlock 1944 Days Ago
    0 points    
    I do understand the need to ask for a loan to finance one`s start-up. If I were to think as to why anyone would go through the sheer pain of starting a company, running it and become successful -- I would think it is for money, fame, being in control -- I don`t understand how taking a loan would meet his/her wants. Begging and borrowing for start-up cash isn`t what we should be looking at. This is the easy way out.
     
    So what is the way out?
     
    Earn money from elsewhere and run the run the start up at the same time -- get a job, be self-employed, save enough and then start -- one of these options should be a better alternative than asking for a loan.

  • shortcakeBy shortcake 1840 Days Ago
    0 points    
    I don`t think there`s anything wrong with asking for a loan to "start" a business. It`s not charity. You are paying it back plus interest. I know I would love to open a cafe, but there`s not just 50 to 100k sitting in my bank account. I do work, three jobs just to live and take care of my family. There`s also no extra time. If I could get a loan, then I could quit my other jobs, then I could open my own cafe and work there morning and night for myself instead of working that much for other people.
     
    You "Beg" for free money. You "Ask" to borrow. Borrowing is a business. If we don`t borrow, we put banks out of business. There`s nothing lazy about borrowning. You`ll be working more to pay it back!

  • RichBy Rich 1565 Days Ago
    0 points    
    I am trying to develop data associated with whether a business will perform better financially (social impact aside) when there is a "cause" attached to the business that receives a portion of proceeds from that business`s revenue.
     
    I know that there are very significant, meaningful and genuine reasons to associate a cause with a business that go way beyond "making a buck," but for purposes of this poll, I simply want to take the temperature of our commmunity about opinion on whether having a cause attached creates a financial benefit for the business.
     
    Opinions are welcome! The stronger the better! But also, feel free to vote without leaving a comment. I am looking for quantitative as well as qualitative data here...
     
    I will publish the results at StartupNation and beyond if they become statistically interesting (in terms of total data points).
     
    Thanks!

  • teaiianoBy teaiiano 1563 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Hi Rich.  From personal experience, I`ve noticed that my business performs alot better when I give charitable donations.  And giving (to any social cause) always results in something of greater value being given to me. 
     
    For instance, this past Sunday I gave a little extra money to a cause at my local church.  And within an hour, an opportunity to speak on a local radio station opened up to me. 
     
    It was amazing, especially since I cut back in giving to charity at the end of 2007.  2008 ended up being my worst financial year since 2003 (another year where I drastically reduced in giving money to good causes). 
     
    Last week, my wife shared this analogy with me - and I`ll share it here.  When you give, your hand is open.  Open to give and open to receive.  Closed hands can`t give or receive.  So, an open hand coupled with a giving heart results in more being given to you. 
     
    That`s my story, and based on personal experience...I`m sticking to it :-)
     
    Thomas
    teaiiano2/11/2009 2:41 PM

  • MattTurpinBy MattTurpin 1558 Days Ago
    0 points    
    I think if you focus the help locally, it`ll be a big boost. So many of the larger charities focus on problems that most people can`t identify with. Lots of people throw their spare change in whatever tub is sitting near the register, but in many cases, it`s more that they don`t like pockets full of change. If you support local causes with the same amount of money that you`d give to a cause halfway across the world, the benefits will be fast and visible. People won`t just say "He gives food to poor people in 3rd world countries", which, while a clearly noble cause, isn`t relevant to your customers. They`ll be able to say "Children X, Y and/or Z are getting a chance at college because of him", or "Little Timmy got that transplant he desperately needed," or "Thanks to this company, our highschool football team got brand new uniforms they can be proud of." Keep your help focused on your community and you`ll get more word of mouth reputation than ever. That`s my take, and when I get my cafe started, that`s my plan. People all over the world need help. You might as well help the ones close to you. Noone else is. They`re all sending their cash oversees.

    In summary - it`s nice to be able to talk about problems you helped. It`s better to be able to talk about problems you solved. When your contributions lead to immediate benefit, I`m almost certain the benefits to your business are proportional.
    MattTurpin2/16/2009 7:27 PM

  • TheCompleteBusinessBy TheCompleteBusiness 1551 Days Ago
    0 points    
    Though I would not suggest giving to an organization solely for this reason, I have noticed that consumers relate more to businesses that give to charitable causes - especially in this day and age. Social awareness is becoming more and more important to consumers all over the world. It looks better for businesses that are not out gain profit solely for themselves. Ever noticed products that have the colored ribbon attached promoting various causes (most often the Breast Cancer Foundation). In talking with some major retailers, I have noticed that those particular products sell at least twice as much than the same product not supporting a cause/donating proceeds.



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_FieldCaption_My Business Interests_View
Headline:Help people be successful, lead a more fulfilling life
Description:StartupNation is a candy store for me! Every day I get the chance to help people move from questions to answers, from dreams to realities - and that`s incredibly gratifying. As you know, StartupNation is all about empowering people to be more successful in life through entrepreneurship.

Whenever I do business or consider getting involved in a new one, I always ask: Will I love it? Will it do `good` in the world? Ultimately, will it generate more financial resources so that I can do more of what I love in life?
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