gdp's Comments

Venture Level : Where To Start A Startup?

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 05:39:33 +0000

Should work now!

Venture Level : Your Business Card

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:39:59 +0000

You definitely can have an effective business card under $4 per card. But business cards are important, especially at conferences when everyone is giving/getting hundreds...and if they want to stick out from the rest of the crowd.

Venture Level : Your Business Card

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:38:31 +0000

Nope, not kidding. I don't think that anyone needs to put a ton of money into their business cards, but at the same time they need to make it different so it stands out. Imagine getting a few hundred business cards at conferences, people only save the ones that are the ones that stand out. On another note, the video also shows a good point where he "tells what he does," and not just his title." So his business has to have value.

Venture Level : Can An Entrepreneur Take On A Large Corporation?

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:58:20 +0000

There will always be companies trying to reinvent what has already been invented, but I would say there are probably 1 in every 10 that are doing something different, so those are the ones that will probably succeed with their venture...but that's just my opinion.

Venture Level : My Friends Have Deep Pockets

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:02:06 +0000

To be honest. Most people think like that. Even if they look like they are interested, they are still thinking about what is in it for them. I always say everyone should be open minded when networking, but make the people that you can really work with and succeed with, your closer friends.

Venture Level : My Lawyer, My Banker, My Accountant

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:26:53 +0000

Sounds like your father taught you some really valuable lessons. Great to hear his story. I've learned a lot from my father also. As far as education, I think that people learn 2%-if that- from school. Everything else is "self-education" - where people have taken the initiation and found the information they should teach themselves. And that education is what counts. I've spent time with countless companies, where some recent graduated MBA student is telling me how to run my business...sometimes they have good thoughts, but no experience.

Venture Level : My Friends Have Deep Pockets

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:51:53 +0000

I'm just referring to friends. Not so much general networking. I've stated many times previously that you need to hear out everyone's thoughts. Read this: http://www.venturelevel.com/2009/04/from-clean-up...

Venture Level : My Friends Have Deep Pockets

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:50:11 +0000

Philip, Thanks for writing. I definitely agree that it is necessary to network within your industry. But I stress the point that people should start networking outside of their own industries, referring to their 'comfort' level. Both are important. As far as being a soldier or having someone else be your soldier, I think that in a friendship which leads to business, is more in the lines of two generals working together. The example above states that one of my friends could be a physician and I could be good at something else. Putting our knowledge together provides the best of both worlds and we can both invest capital equally- or close to it. The overall message I want to portray by this post is that people who I network with who become close friends, are the most valuable contacts I have. And having diversity in those contacts is also important. I totally get what you are saying also and you have extremely valid points. However, I think you are referring to just contacts who you do business with, instead of close friends...who are your friends first and your business partners second. Because honestly, friends would spread the word in the community regardless, since they know you well enough- to refer you to other successful people.

Venture Level : Marketing Mindset

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 05:44:25 +0000

Simple ideas are good- most of the time, but there are also complex ideas that prosper. I would definitely agree with you though, it is all about how they catch on and are viewed in the consumers eyes.

Venture Level : Passion Outstands Desire

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 05:41:35 +0000

I would say that he was passionate about the oil industry- or at least his company because he did run it until he retired. I wouldn't disagree that people enter an industry for desire and end up being passionate about it- that can happen.

Venture Level : Passion Outstands Desire

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 05:39:28 +0000

That is passion though. The software engineer is passionate to quit his job and get into nanotechnology. If he wasn't passionate, why would he quit his job? Right? I've seen many people leave their high paying corporate jobs to explore their entrepreneurial side. A lot of times it went well for people, a few went back to the corporate lifestyle. I think the people that went back might have lacked the passion for their business or might have just found more passion in the corporate lifestyle. Either way you slice it, passion is passion and it isn't desire. Whether someone works for their own company or another company.

Venture Level : As You Grow, Opportunities Shrink

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 05:23:34 +0000

Running a business or even starting one is never easy. The only easy part is selling it and sitting on that check. But sometimes people invest that check in the wrong way and end up losing a lot of it.

Venture Level : As You Grow, Opportunities Shrink

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 05:22:11 +0000

I've failed, but never truly. I will discuss more about it in an upcoming post.

Venture Level : As You Grow, Opportunities Shrink

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 05:21:21 +0000

By opportunities shrinking, I mean to say that it is difficult, if at all possible, to be involved with some small projects that many "rich" or "established" people could be when they aren't walking the line of paying huge bills, etc. Basically, one has more freedom to explore a whole basket of opportunities when they have nothing, but as they continue to build their portfolio, they are more likely to pursue big opportunities which come with a big price tag and can hurt more, if they fail.

Venture Level : Setting Up Good Pricing

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 01:15:13 +0000

I would price it at something people are willing to pay. I mean if you offer great content that people want, why wouldn't you charge as much as you can and still retain readers? -Scott (editor)

Venture Level : From Clean Up To CEO

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 01:14:01 +0000

Spoken like a true entrepreneur.

Venture Level : Doing Business With Family

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:39:43 +0000

Yes, I've done business with family before.

Venture Level : You Can Always Do Something

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:55:27 +0000

The field he was in- trading stocks, is very soft right now, so I'm pretty sure he will have the toughest time finding a job directly related to that. But other than that, I don't know if he is doing some other work in addition to the pizza delivery deal. In other words...he might have went on the record that he is working as a pizza delivery guy, to generate some buzz and get some offers to those who are hiring MBA's....you never know. But in the end, I'll still give him the credit he deserves because he took the initiative to do something rather than nothing.

Venture Level : Don't Create A Company To Sell It

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:59:23 +0000

Everyone should have a plan or thought about how much they would sell for if an offer were to come along, but that sometimes becomes the main focus for many business owners if they think much into it.

Venture Level : Credibility Houses ROI

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Done.