Comments for Venture Kid http://venturekid.com Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:58:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on All Aboard the M.E.S.S. Express! by Matt Ackerson http://venturekid.com/2010/02/19/all-aboard-the-m-e-s-s-express/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Matt Ackerson Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:58:19 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=190#comment-133 Hey David, most incubators are "free" but you have to give up equity. I am not sure about the U.R. that Matt is trying to get into but I doubt he will have to give up much equity (if any) since he is raising the funds from friends and family. The point of Matt raising this money is not so he can "pay" to get in, he will invest the money back into his business AND it's an exercise in networking / pitching. Hey David, most incubators are “free” but you have to give up equity. I am not sure about the U.R. that Matt is trying to get into but I doubt he will have to give up much equity (if any) since he is raising the funds from friends and family. The point of Matt raising this money is not so he can “pay” to get in, he will invest the money back into his business AND it’s an exercise in networking / pitching.

]]> Comment on All Aboard the M.E.S.S. Express! by David http://venturekid.com/2010/02/19/all-aboard-the-m-e-s-s-express/comment-page-1/#comment-132 David Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:49:29 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=190#comment-132 Do most incubators cost money? The tech ones (Y Combinator, TechStars) are free. Do most incubators cost money? The tech ones (Y Combinator, TechStars) are free.

]]> Comment on All Aboard the M.E.S.S. Express! by Matt Ackerson http://venturekid.com/2010/02/19/all-aboard-the-m-e-s-s-express/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Matt Ackerson Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:21:58 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=190#comment-127 Hey Ryan, that's my mistake. You see, Matt is unable to use any of his own funds, he has to raise it by convincing friends and family members. That's one of the rules of the competition and rightfully so, since part of what makes an entrepreneur effective has to do with his or her ability to network and convince others to go his or her way. Hey Ryan, that’s my mistake. You see, Matt is unable to use any of his own funds, he has to raise it by convincing friends and family members. That’s one of the rules of the competition and rightfully so, since part of what makes an entrepreneur effective has to do with his or her ability to network and convince others to go his or her way.

]]> Comment on All Aboard the M.E.S.S. Express! by Ryan http://venturekid.com/2010/02/19/all-aboard-the-m-e-s-s-express/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Ryan Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:14:46 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=190#comment-126 Hi Matt, hope you're doing well on blue sky - I'm not sure I understand this - he generated >$100k in revenue but needs to raise $6.5k?? Doesn't seem to make sense to me?? Good business idea though! Hi Matt, hope you’re doing well on blue sky – I’m not sure I understand this – he generated >$100k in revenue but needs to raise $6.5k?? Doesn’t seem to make sense to me?? Good business idea though!

]]> Comment on The Symphany of Entrepreneurship by Richard http://venturekid.com/2009/10/27/the-symphany-entrepreneurship/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Richard Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:59:12 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=161#comment-122 I'm still learning a lot so I can't give a complete answer, but two of the most important things are careful hiring and giving employees the freedom to learn and have responsibility, even if they make mistakes along the way. Being careful to hire people who are smart and capable of learning, then letting them apply their intelligence to come up with new solutions, seems to be the best way to create an organization where people enjoy their work and deliver quality results. I'm always looking for examples of leaders who can step back even when they think they know better and inspire others to grow and exceed expectations. By the way, I just discovered your blog yesterday through Quick Sprout and it looks very interesting. If you want to discuss this further please feel free to email me directly! I’m still learning a lot so I can’t give a complete answer, but two of the most important things are careful hiring and giving employees the freedom to learn and have responsibility, even if they make mistakes along the way. Being careful to hire people who are smart and capable of learning, then letting them apply their intelligence to come up with new solutions, seems to be the best way to create an organization where people enjoy their work and deliver quality results. I’m always looking for examples of leaders who can step back even when they think they know better and inspire others to grow and exceed expectations.

By the way, I just discovered your blog yesterday through Quick Sprout and it looks very interesting. If you want to discuss this further please feel free to email me directly!

]]> Comment on The Symphany of Entrepreneurship by Matt Ackerson http://venturekid.com/2009/10/27/the-symphany-entrepreneurship/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Matt Ackerson Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:09:02 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=161#comment-121 Thanks Richard! You're correct, it's difficult to achieve at first because there are so many instruments or roles to be filled. But when you do achieve it, it's sweet music to your ears! Do you have an example from your own business in how you learned to do it the first time or potential pitfalls you came across? Thanks Richard! You’re correct, it’s difficult to achieve at first because there are so many instruments or roles to be filled. But when you do achieve it, it’s sweet music to your ears! Do you have an example from your own business in how you learned to do it the first time or potential pitfalls you came across?

]]> Comment on The Symphany of Entrepreneurship by Richard http://venturekid.com/2009/10/27/the-symphany-entrepreneurship/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Richard Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:46:01 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=161#comment-120 That's a good way to put it - and when everything is happening in the right way at the right time it sounds great :) While you need to understand each part when you're getting started, as your business grows you need to learn to think like a conductor. It doesn't look like they're doing much but they make sure everyone is going in the same direction. The conductor does everything through other people, so they can make beautiful music without a sound. It took me some time to learn this, as it does for everyone the first time, but in the end you want to do it right instead of playing 100 instruments! That’s a good way to put it – and when everything is happening in the right way at the right time it sounds great :)

While you need to understand each part when you’re getting started, as your business grows you need to learn to think like a conductor. It doesn’t look like they’re doing much but they make sure everyone is going in the same direction. The conductor does everything through other people, so they can make beautiful music without a sound. It took me some time to learn this, as it does for everyone the first time, but in the end you want to do it right instead of playing 100 instruments!

]]> Comment on Persistently Positive: Character Lessons from My Friend, Kerry Motelson by John Exley http://venturekid.com/2009/11/13/persistently-positive-character-lessons-from-my-friend-kerry-motelson/comment-page-1/#comment-113 John Exley Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:22:50 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=182#comment-113 I'm glad you shared this story of your friend Kerry, Matt! She exemplifies some terrific qualities that we can learn from. I like the second lesson a lot, "the rule of positive attraction applies in life". I find that I am drawn to people whose high ambitions are matched with positive, energetic personalities much like my own. I think that goes a long way in sales too, as customers are more likely to buy (at least based on what I have read) when the salesman is passionate, enthusiastic, and trustworthy. Good stuff Matt I’m glad you shared this story of your friend Kerry, Matt! She exemplifies some terrific qualities that we can learn from.

I like the second lesson a lot, “the rule of positive attraction applies in life”. I find that I am drawn to people whose high ambitions are matched with positive, energetic personalities much like my own.

I think that goes a long way in sales too, as customers are more likely to buy (at least based on what I have read) when the salesman is passionate, enthusiastic, and trustworthy. Good stuff Matt

]]> Comment on 6 Reasons for Not Starting a Business that You Should Overcome by Matthew Turcotte http://venturekid.com/2009/10/01/6-reasons-for-not-starting-a-business-that-you-should-overcome/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Matthew Turcotte Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:05:46 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=111#comment-104 A few good reads that I've come by: For Teens: -The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of By Dave & Tom Gardener and Selena Maranjian -Teen Entrepreneur Success Secrets by Shonika Proctor Real Estate: -Trump Strategies for Real Estate: Billionaire Lessons for the Small Investor by George Ross -The Complete Guide to Investing in Rental Properties by Steve Berges Investing: Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life by Jim Cramer A few good reads that I’ve come by:

For Teens:

-The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of By Dave & Tom Gardener and Selena Maranjian

-Teen Entrepreneur Success Secrets by Shonika Proctor

Real Estate:

-Trump Strategies for Real Estate: Billionaire Lessons for the Small Investor by George Ross

-The Complete Guide to Investing in Rental Properties by Steve Berges

Investing:

Jim Cramer’s Stay Mad for Life by Jim Cramer

]]> Comment on 6 Reasons for Not Starting a Business that You Should Overcome by Matt Ackerson http://venturekid.com/2009/10/01/6-reasons-for-not-starting-a-business-that-you-should-overcome/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Matt Ackerson Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:50 +0000 http://venturekid.com/?p=111#comment-103 Thanks Matt! The library, that's an interesting suggestion that you don't hear too often these days. Would you recommend readying anything in particular? Thanks Matt!

The library, that’s an interesting suggestion that you don’t hear too often these days.

Would you recommend readying anything in particular?

]]>