I have been busy updating the 10^th edition of my text book and thought I would share with you several print and video references that influence the Trends section  (Chapter 6) of The Career Fitness Program , Exercising Your Options:

1. The Economist (1-6-11) reviewed that fact based book on the Millenials:

Not Quite Adults: Why 20-Somethings Are Choosing  Slower Path to Adulthood, and Why It’s Good for Everyone. By Richard Settersten and Barbara Ray. Bantam; 272 pages; $15.

2. Go to http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66796/joseph-s-nye-jr/the-future-of-american-power for excerpts from Joseph Nye’s (Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor )  new book. … Read more

If you are an entrepreneur starting a company and you will be in a position to set workplace polices for your new organization, or you are an executive in an established organization and you have sufficient influence to shape human resource policies, I encourage you to create an organizational culture characterized by workplace flexibility, meaning that workers can decide when and where they work, to the extent that doing so is possible while still meeting business objectives. The most flexible workplaces focus on employee results rather than time spent in an office. Below are 10 reasons why I’m a strong proponent of workplace flexibility. … Read more

Today’s blog post continues my series of interviews with people who launched businesses because they couldn’t find a job, with the happy outcome that their businesses became successful and they wouldn’t accept a salaried job offer now even if they were offered it. This interview is with Sydney Weisman, a partner at WHPR (Weisman Hamlin Public Relations). Ms. Weisman founded WHPR with her husband, David Hamlin.

Sydney, what type of career did you have before you launched your business?

Sydney Weisman

My husband and I both had experience working in communications related to political campaigns. Prior to the political campaign work, we had been freelance writing and before that, back in Chicago, my husband had been an executive director for a non-profit and I had been a journalist and then retired from the profession to become an independent publicist.

Describe the circumstances of your job loss, how long you looked for a job, and how your job search went.

Following the end of the political campaigns in 1986, we began job searching in LA and across the country. We were in our 40′s and we had no plan to open our own PR shop. Quite the contrary, we didn’t want to do so. I had done it in Chicago, with limited success on my own, we didn’t have a client base with which to launch our own agency, and we were relatively new to LA. All those factors were against our considering opening our own PR firm. By mid-’87, after landing interviews for entry level or receptionist type jobs at PR firms, given the depth of our experience, we had no option but to consider opening our own shop.

How did you survive financially while you started your business?

We worked as Kelly Girls to support our burgeoning PR firm, which we opened in our two bedroom apartment.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

We have made a very comfortable living for ourselves and our family and I believe we are making more money with our PR business than we would have working for others.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that is helping you to succeed?

My husband’s skill as a non-profit executive and mine as a journalist have been the basis of our success as a PR firm specializing in non-profit PR.

What is the best part about running your business?

Being “the boss of me,” and working with my husband.

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

Maintaining our marketing edge and self-promotion.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

I had a skill set in place, i.e., the ability to stand in front of people and talk about myself (for networking purposes), but I had to hone each skill and adapt it to being an entrepreneur. Perhaps the most important skill I had to learn was how to be a business partner, even though my partner is my husband. When you work alone, it’s very easy to lose track of the need to collaborate and consult with someone else. I had worked alone in my own PR business prior to opening WHPR with my husband, so that was an important lesson to learn.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

Be sure, if you become an entrepreneur, to give yourself lots of free time away from your business. If you open an office in your home and you’re by yourself, make dates to get out and meet people every day, or at least three times a week. Be sure to access networking opportunities. Join networking groups and remember it takes a good two years before most networking pays off.

Anything else you would like to share?

Have fun!

ABOUT WHPR

WHPR specializes in non-profit public relations and marketing. The firm also has a reputation for working with law firms and they were part of an award-winning team on behalf of the 75th anniversary of the Original Farmers Market in LA, their longest and most enduring client.

Today’s blog post continues my series about reluctant entrepreneurs who created successful businesses after they couldn’t find a job. This interview is with Eric B. Heinbockel, Managing Partner, Chocomize.

Eric, please share with us your job search experience before you decided to launch a company.

For a full year after I graduated from Columbia University, I looked for a full-time job. During this time I worked as an unpaid intern at a structured finance firm in New York. I was offered three jobs during the year I spent looking but all were commission based with little or no base salary. I was interviewing for these jobs in the fall of 2008 and I interviewed on the days that Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers went under.

After you couldn’t find a full-time job, what did you do?

I helped to co-found Chocomize, the first mass customization/co-creation chocolate company in the United States. Customers create their own custom chocolate bars by selecting their base Belgian chocolate (dark, milk, or white) and then adding up to five ingredients from a selection of over 100. Ingredients range from fruits and nuts to 23 karat gold flakes and even beef jerky.

That sounds delicious! How did you survive financially while you started your business?

We survived financially during the earliest stages of our startup by keeping our spending and costs down and figuring out creative inexpensive ways of spreading the word about our new and unique company. This meant taking full advantage of social media and pitching our story to journalists at as many and varied publications as possible. As a result we became profitable after four months and we have been featured in Oprah Magazine, CNN.com, Costco Connection Magazine, and many others.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

While we are not getting rich yet (we are re-investing most of our profits), getting a paycheck at all is an improvement from my previous predicament.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that are helping you to succeed?

The three skills that I think have proven to be very useful in running our business are critical / analytical thinking skills, writing skills, and sales skills. The first two I think were mostly developed during college. I developed sales skills through several jobs and internships.

What is the best part about running your business?

The best part about running my own business is that there are constantly new challenges that come from a wide variety of sources. Every day there is a new issue or opportunity that needs to be addressed, which makes things more exciting. I am not solving the same old problem with a formula; therefore, the job is never boring.

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

The most challenging thing about running my own business is also what makes it interesting. The variety of issues that come up often puts us outside our comfort zone. In order to become successful and hold our own in negotiations we have had to learn about other industries in our supply chain. An example is learning the language and process of cardboard packaging manufacturing. It can be difficult to constantly learn enough about other industries to make sure we get exactly what we want at a fair price.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

I think I have had to learn more organization and time management skills than I previously had. We always have a variety of very different tasks and issues to deal with simultaneously. This demands organization in order to get everything done properly and on time.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

The career advice I would offer for those considering their own startup as an alternative to a traditional career is to recognize that there is a great deal of risk associated with starting your own company, and those risks are increased as the economy is in recession. In my case, however, the risk wasn’t as great because I had no job to give up.

The other thing is that once you begin your own business, it is a constant part of your life. While you may be able to take off certain times and work on your own schedule, your work will always be there and often needs to be taken care of during times that in your previous job you could leave the work at the office. In most cases if you don’t do it, no one else will, either, when you are first starting out. This means in most cases you will be working more hours than you did at your previous job. Don’t start a business if you have a romantic fantasy that being your own boss means you can come and go as you please.

Thank you, Eric!

Lindsay Barron was an unemployed teacher who was first challenged by the stress of substitute teaching and then by temp firms where she was told, “You have no skills.” Lindsay decided to shape her own career destiny by launching The Whole Child Learning Company, which provides enrichment services for young children (age 2-5) in child care centers, preschools and other venues. Read my interview below about Lindsay’s journey to successful entrepreneurship.

Lindsay, what type of career did you have before you launched your business?

I was a Title 1 Preschool Teacher in Roanoke City Public Schools.  This was my first job out of college and I taught for 3 years until my husband accepted a new position with his company that required us to relocate. I absolutely loved teaching preschool and hated to leave my job, but we believed that his career needed to take precedence as his earning potential in his field was greater and we thought that I could teach anywhere.

Describe the circumstances of your job loss, how long you looked for a job, and how your job search went.

I resigned my position when we moved to Pennsylvania (in 1996). I had several months to prepare and I applied for certification in Pennsylvania and sent in for all the required clearances, fully expecting to have all my paperwork in order in time for the summer hiring season in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the required FBI clearance did not come back until late September so my application was considered incomplete and I was ineligible to be hired. Even if I had a complete application, I doubt that I would have gotten a job because the area where I lived (Chester County Pennsylvania) and some of the surrounding counties had a very competitive hiring environment. These districts paid very well and teachers did not leave their jobs willingly — there was a recession going on at that time, although not as serious as our current recession.

I began substitute teaching, which I found very stressful. I was still hopeful of getting a position for the next academic year and substitute teaching can be a great way to get to know principals and develop a good reputation. I was always anxious to do a good job and make a good impression; however you never knew what you would face each day when you walked into a strange classroom and if you would have a good day or a horrible day. Little things are not in your control. For example, a teacher might leave needed materials under a pile of papers, making them impossible to find, and then you look incompetent. I became discouraged with the substitute teaching route and decided to try temp work. This was even more discouraging because when I took the typing test and other evaluations I was informed, “You have no skills.” At this point I began thinking about doing something on my own working with young children.

Please tell us more about The Whole Child Learning Company.

We have four programs: GiggleBytes computer classes, Little Amigos Spanish classes, BusyBodies movement fitness and health, and Great Minds. The first three programs are full service specialty instruction that child care centers do not have the expertise, staff , or budget to offer themselves. The classes provide a convenience for busy working parents who don’t want to add another activity in the evenings or on weekends. Great Minds, our newest program, is an in home customized tutoring service for children age 4 to college aged. We have expanded through franchising and have 35 franchises in various states.

How did you survive financially while you started your business?

We were fortunate that our business model is very low overhead. As a home based business, we do not require a retail location, or even commercial office space. Our classes are offered on site in existing locations of child care centers, preschools and private schools.
 Start up costs were relatively low as it was mostly just the cost of a computer and software, and the model also allowed us to begin generating revenue as soon as classes were started in a location. In the beginning, I would get schools started and teach them myself. Then, as we found additional locations to offer our services I would hire a teacher to replace myself and I would develop a new schedule of 5-7 locations, then hire another teacher, etc. We were aggressive about marketing our program to the venues that could offer our services and we focused on our quality.  We were very motivated, especially after my husband, Matt, quit his job and we decided to move to Texas for both of us to pursue our business full time. It was very much a feeling of sink or swim. We were relying totally on ourselves and we had burned our bridges so failure was not an option.  It was scary but we were totally focused. We used credit cards to see us through until we were able to replace our former income within a few months.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

Everyone knows that teachers don’t do the job for the money – the pay is relatively low compared to other professional fields. I definitely make more money as an entrepreneur than I would as a public school teacher but I’m still able to work with children and be a positive influence in their lives.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that is helping you to succeed?

My professional background as an educator definitely helped me relate to the Directors of the child care centers. I was also able to develop quality curricula and programs and parents really recognize the benefit of this.

What is the best part about running your business?

I love the fact that our business has a positive influence on people’s lives. The children who participate in our classes benefit from quality programs and learning important skills and concepts. The teachers who teach our classes benefit from a position that is a great lifestyle fit for the right person. All of our teaching positions are part time because of the nature of the preschool day — the kids nap for two hours in the middle of every day. We usually hire teachers who have left the public school system, often after they have children themselves and they want to work part time and be paid well for their time but still want to be able to pick the kids up from school or be home when they get off the bus. Our franchisees benefit from the opportunity to become entrepreneurs and build their own businesses. They can develop incomes that exceed the average income for most public school teachers and they can have more freedom and control over their time.

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

The franchisee/franchisor relationship can be challenging. The franchisor has a mentoring role as well as something of an authority figure role. Additionally it is important to serve the needs of your franchisees. Although the franchisor tells the franchisee what to do and how to do it, the franchisee is also, in a sense, a client or customer as they have purchased a business, so it can be a balancing act.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

I had to learn to do sales. As a teacher I never anticipated or wanted to do any kind of sales. I can remember sitting in my car outside child care centers working up my courage to go in and speak with the director. I’m really a fairly shy person and sales were very uncomfortable for me, but it was necessary and I learned to do it, and even enjoy it. The feeling of completing a successful sales call and establishing new business is fantastic!
 I also had to learn to delegate and to be an effective supervisor or boss — these are skills that I’m still working on!

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

Do lots of research. Research your market and especially your competitors. Don’t let competition scare you off of a good idea — if someone else is successful running a business then there is usually room for someone else who can do it better or at a lower price. You have to be careful to fully understand your costs so that you don’t put yourself into a situation where you can’t make a profit. When you start a business, your passion, enthusiasm and commitment can give you an edge in providing excellent service which can help develop loyal customers or clients. Expect to work hard in your start up phase. Starting a business is like having a newborn – it is 24/7 and all consuming in the beginning.

Anything else you would like to share?

I would not accept a salaried job now even if I were offered one, and neither would Matt. We are really excited about the future of the company! Last year through the economic downturn we saw a decline in franchise sales, which was not surprising and reflected the overall trend in franchising nationwide among all kinds of franchised businesses. However, our revenue from class tuition did not decrease. While almost nothing is truly a “recession proof” business, parents seem to be willing to reduce costs in other areas in order to provide educational opportunities for their children. We are making some changes to our structure to make our franchise more accessible including selling our four separate programs as stand alone franchises rather than a bundled package. The cost for a single program unit will be lower than our current model and franchisees can have the option of adding an additional program for flexibility in their markets. With many new teachers unable to find jobs and other experienced teachers taking early retirement packages, we believe this will result in lots of new territories being established. It is a great opportunity for those teachers.

Thank you, Lindsay!

To read more about Lindsay’s company, please visit WholeChild.com.

Today’s blog post continues my series of interviews with people who started businesses after a career challenge. I am excited to tell the story of coffee entrepreneur Forrest Graves from JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters.

Forrest, what type of career did you have before you launched your business?

I was a Business Consultant for a well known Fortune 5 company. I was part of a broad team that sold capital equipment to the print industry. My career has spanned sales, marketing, and sales operations.

Describe the circumstances of your job loss, how long you looked for a job, and how your job search went.

I was laid off along with countless others in response to the economic downturn of October, 2008, with my employment actually ending the day after Christmas, 2008. I was seeing job openings after I got word, but to me, the jobs were actually false indications of opportunity because I was also seeing “hiring freezes,” a steady rise in unemployment, and fewer “new postings.” While I kept looking for several months, I was more aggressive in deploying my plan “B”…to hang out my own shingle. While I searched and considered my options, I simply felt a knowing that I would be better off to do my own thing.

Please tell us about the business you started.

Our flagship business, JumpinGoat, is coffee and tea, but more specifically, it’s “Coffee Roasting.” We purchase green coffee that comes from the 10 major coffee regions around the world…we roast it fresh, and we sell it via retail, wholesale, and over the internet.

It’s a very exciting time for our business, and due to an overwhelming response we are currently developing a JumpinGoat license business opportunity. The most unique aspect of our coffee shop business plan is that we don’t actually vend coffee by the cup. When they come into our store in Helen, GA, we offer our patrons a free cup of specialty gourmet coffee. Our business model success is driven by the simple fact that customers can brew at home for much less than they pay for a cup of coffee at big box retail.

How did you survive financially while you started your business?

I was raised in the country, and subsequently I was taught some pretty basic values about self reliance and survival. I was taught that survival is largely about good planning, tools, and resources.

Community is also a great thing. For instance, with barn raising, if you help raise a barn when you yourself don’t need help, more than likely when you need help to raise your own barn, you will get the help you need. I also get a lot of inspiration about survival from observing nature. Even a squirrel will bury nuts for a hard winter and that behavior is innate. I can not imagine a squirrel trying to outsmart Mother Nature, meaning, since we can not possibly know the future, it’s best to be well prepared.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

I was at six figures prior to starting JumpinGoat, but I was way underpaid and even more underutilized at my former job. I don’t fault anyone for that; its just an unfortunate fact and a testament to me of how easily large corporations can lose sight of what’s important to people. My passion and income are now fueled with the truth that I’m actually building something sustainable. I am now the benefactor of a few additional streams of income: a better “work life balance,” freedom to make my own mistakes and failures, and the notion that there is no cap on my financial well being.

JumpinGoat outperformed my previous income after only six months in business.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that are helping you to succeed?

Perhaps my most appreciable skill is listening. My wife may disagree, but when I’m not waiting to hear myself speak, I can be one of best listeners on the planet.

I also love people, too, and I’m experienced with dealing with people. I fashion myself a pretty good life observer
of sociology. I think when you put that together with hard work, execution, and the ability to envision what success actually
looks like, you have a fair chance to realize your own rendering of success.

What is the best part about running your business?

When I see the customers happy, I’m at peace.

If a happy customer tells someone about our products and that customer also became happy, I’m ecstatic. If that second person tells someone, and they also become happy, at that point, I have reached one of my most important business goals. I’m not sure I can describe how that makes me feel, but it’s really, really good!

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

Bridling growth. I am always balancing top line revenue with bottom line cost while scaling the business. It’s easy to want it all, but it’s not sustainable or practical.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

I reached an appreciable level of success as a person and in business when I learned how to “execute.” I fundamentally believe this is one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can have. Without execution, all you have are perhaps a few ideas, or worse yet, unrealized ambition and dreams.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

The new paradigm in business, marketing, and web 2.0 is the social media revolution where everybody seems to be an expert. I’ve been in computing for perhaps 30 years…I’m a certified network technologist, and I believe that social media can be a huge gotcha for many people starting out in business.

Don’t operate with the belief that if you build it, they will come. Be cautious about search engine optimization and social media pitches. Instead, focus heavily upon “cost.”  Controlling cost is one of the most important thing you can do for a new business.  Don’t start out with the notion that you need three rounds of funding to start your business. Instead, try to begin where you are, and where it’s appropriate, to keenly identify your market and build your brand.

Once you define your market and you have proven beyond any doubt that that there is a demand for your product or service and that people want to purchase your product or service, write a detailed “go to market strategy,” and then execute! The free enterprise system is built around supply and demand, and it’s best to validate both components before you engage in business.

Anything else you would like to share?

Yes, thank you for asking. I extend my sincere thanks for the opportunity to share with your many readers. I appreciate the valuable contribution that you folks are making in providing tools, resources, and community…that is such a valuable contribution. Keep up the great work!

Thank you, Forrest!

Please visit JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters and buy some coffee beans!

This blog post continues my series of interviews with people who started businesses following job loss. Today’s interview is with author / infopreneur /coach Melanie Jordan.

What type of career did you have before you launched your business?

Melanie Jordan

I was a marketing professional for over 20 years (including being a former VP of Marketing for one of the country’s largest banks). I also did a fair amount of sales training.

Describe the circumstances of your job loss, how long you looked for a job, and how your job search went.

I was laid off for the second time in my professional career when a private financial education company I worked for had over expanded and had to reduce its sales force. As the second trainer hired, I was the first to go — exactly one day after I got the highest possible review and raise! I did look for a job for well over a year, but knowing that it was unlikely, given the economy and workplace changes, that I would get anything commensurate with my talents or pay level, I focused just as hard on working on taking my sideline business that I had been moonlighting with, full-time. I wasn’t counting on others to give me a job – I was making my own job!

While I hadn’t planned to go full-time with my business at that precise time, getting laid off again was to me a sign that maybe it was the right time.

How did you survive financially while you started your business?

I had savings — I was never one to live from paycheck to paycheck. Plus, unlike others, I viewed my unemployment as a “federal grant” that would help tide me over until I could get my business going strong enough in the event I couldn’t find an appropriate job.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

I’m not at the level of my prior income…yet — that should occur next year. But I’m completely self-sufficient, and making enough that I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay my bills, and can instead focus on my business.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that are helping you to succeed?

My extensive marketing, sales and training experience were a natural fit and gave me skills that I could instantly offer to others on a select basis. And then all my experience online since 2001 as a writer and publisher, and in doing online marketing, which eventually evolved into original content infopreneuring gave me the experience I needed to take my own work to the next level.  I divide my time between client work, and furthering my own original content information products and services.

What is the best part about running your business?

The freedom to have a completely flexible lifestyle as a home-based entrepreneur. If I want to work from anywhere in the county, or the world for that matter, as long as I have my laptop, a good Internet connection and a phone (and I don’t always need the phone), I’m good. I love to be able to go the gym when it’s least crowded, and to get time off from the boss (a.k.a. me) at a moment’s notice. I never have to ask to take a vacation, and I can take one whenever I want.

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

I’m my own toughest boss — very self-motivated and I love what I do — so sometimes it’s hard for me to stop working and disconnect for awhile.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

Managing my cash flow, social media / new media and to stop looking at the job classifieds when the going got tough and just persevere.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

Make sure that you are honest about your financial situation first. Don’t just pull a “Jet Blue” and be the flight attendant who pulls the emergency chute without first deciding if you can afford to outright quit your day job. The least stressful way to take an entrepreneurial path is to make your business a sideline first and then go full-time when it makes sense, or at least have it as a “Plan B” so that if you lose your job, you’re already well on the way to being able to stand on your own two feet in case you can’t get another job, or you simply don’t want to. That’s one of the reasons I believe that original content infopreneuring (what I do and is discussed in my latest book – see author bio below) makes a great moonlighting venture since it’s virtual, can be done from a home office or really anywhere, has flexible hours and low start-up costs.

Anything else you would like to share?

Most people think being an entrepreneur is risky, but I think being an employee is far riskier because you are never in control of your own destiny — today’s workplace bears this out. If you have the ability to approach your entrepreneurial path the right way and stay the course, it’s so worth it!

Thank you, Melanie!

Melanie Jordan is the founder of SunLover Publishing LLC, a publishing, media properties and marketing coaching / consulting company.  She is also a 6-time author, with her latest being What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) – Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know!, an empowering how-to book that teaches others how to monetize the unique knowledge they have from a profession, hobby or life experience by creating original content information products and services on topics that others would value learning.  Melanie Jordan wrote this book shortly after she was laid off.

This blog post continues my series of interviews with people who started businesses following job loss. Today’s interview is with Steven J. Ferrusi, inventor of FitDesk.

What type of career did you have before you launched FitDesk?

Prior to taking my invention to market, I worked as a sales rep for a large company that has 3 M’s in its name.  Our target market was high end residential.

How long did you search for a job and how did your job search go?

There was no reason to search for jobs as 8 months prior to getting laid off it was clear that the job market had been narrowed and job search would be futile. I didn’t search for jobs…I went straight to plan B: bring my product to market.

How did you survive financially while you started your company?

I planned ahead by selling my expensive home before a market downturn and I bought a smaller home with a small mortgage.  Also, I had a small rental in my new home that paid the mortgage each month.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to FitDesk that are helping you to succeed?

I had basic life skills such as managing money, living within my means, and making it a priority to save.  These skills are always needed to manage a start up.  Also, organization and patience have helped with the daily chores of running a start up.

What is the best part about running your company?

The best part is that I believe in this product as a way to help others who have a hard time getting a fitness program started and sticking to it. I had always heard that belief in what you are doing is important when you launch a new venture, but now I completely agree and I suggest that this be part of your decision factors.  Sales are always welcome because they validate your efforts.

This would be a good point in the interview to describe FitDesk. What is it?

FitDesk™

FitDesk is a product that comfortably allows a person to exercise while using a computer or video game.  It offers a solution for the problem of not getting enough movement into our lives. I took something that people love to do (computers and gaming) and made it a part of what people need to do (exercise and movement). This increases the likelihood of consistency.  After a year and a half of trying many different designs, I decided to go to market with a method that was patentable, cost effective to produce and easy to install and modify.

That sounds genius! You solved the “When and how do I exercise?” problem suffered by so many sedentary people!

Yes, I believe I did.

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

The most challenging thing about running a new company that has no products like it are PR (no one knows you exist and no one knows how your product will perform) and balancing advertising costs with income. One of the first challenging tasks is to develop a list of resources for potential sales/referrals.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

Read books and information on topic. Write a business plan that is flexible. Start slow while you learn about resources that will produce results. Expect highs and lows. Bring all your energy to the table. Make sure you have enough capital to survive 6 months minimum.

Anything else you would like to share?

When people tell you that you have a great idea, expect most to give verbal appreciation but not actually part with their money. People take time to make a purchase. Do not take everything personally. Keep pushing your product with utmost confidence.

What new skills did you need to learn to be an entrepreneur?

I had to learn the difference between public relations, marketing, and sales.  These may seem similar but are very different and need to be understood before you spend time making a business and marketing plan.

I also had to make sure my organizational skills are top notch.

How does your current income compare to your previous income? (not numbers, of course, just generally)

Income is down only slightly because I’m keeping my start up costs low. I’m using discipline to start out slow so that I can build my resources with the goal of realizing profit and minimizing marketing mistakes.

Any other words of wisdom for people who have recently lost their jobs?

Find a way to make it positive. Personally, I was able to triumph. I would not change it for the world.

Thank you, Steven!

If you would like to purchase a FitDesk, you may do so through amazon.com

This blog post kicks off a series of posts where I will feature success stories of people who wanted to find a job but when they couldn’t do so, they became reluctant entrepreneurs who succeeded beyond all their original expectations. Today’s post is my interview with Ben Coleman. Ben created a business around his love of origami, the art of folding paper into objects.

What type of career did you have before you launched your business?

In my previous job, I worked for a manufacturer of propane trucks. I managed the production schedule, handled inventory, and also wrote the manuals for our trucks as well as about a thousand other duties. It wasn’t an easy job but I liked it. Then I was laid off. Prior to that job, I taught high school math, and before that I ran a computer retail sales business.

How long did you look for a job and how did your job search go?

I looked for a job for about a year. I sent out between 325 and 400 resumes. It was really depressing because not only was the labor market dead, but lots of new unemployed were entering it. I fell through the cracks in terms of COBRA, and all the unemployment extensions because I had been laid off a few months prior to the “official” recession. It was clear to me that if I continued to seek employment as part of the conventional work force that I would become homeless in a matter of months.

What type of business did you start?

Origami

My business is focused on making origami more accessible and more desirable to everyone. Perceptions of origami vary, but many people consider it useless and complex, and therefore a waste of time. I use technology and innovation to make the art form more accessible, and I’ve developed applications that make it useful. In fact, my first book “Origami Bonsai” (Tuttle 4/2010) was reviewed by a reader on Amazon calling it “the first practical use of origami.”

I released my second book “Advanced Origami Bonsai” electronically after the publisher rejected it as “too specialized” in June of 2009. And I released my third book “Origami Bonsai Accessories” electronically in March of 2010. I sell all three books on my website and I also sell the first mass-produced, pre-folded origami flower in the world (my patented invention) there as well.

How did you survive financially while you started your business?

When my own money ran out, I had help from my parents. I expect to have repaid them (with interest) in full in about two months.

How does your current income compare to your previous income?

Companies are now coming to me to write books for them! In the past eight weeks I made more than I made in a year working for the propane truck company. My second and third books are selling well all over the world, and because they were too “specialized” for the publisher, all the profit from their sales is mine.

What skills and previous experience were you able to bring to your business that are helping you to succeed?

My business is customer-driven. I learned that from working at the propane truck company. I think it’s really important to answer customer questions quickly, and in a coherent and respectful manner, and then to confirm with the customer that you answered their question satisfactorily. The same customer that gets their questions answered goes out and tells three friends what a great book they bought. If I ensure that my customers are successful, then I’ll be successful automatically!

I also think that having taught math brings a unique skill set and perspective to the table when it comes to explaining things that seem, at first, to be complex. After having learned how to explain concepts to teenagers, I’ve learned to innovate, and bring some fun into the learning experience. And I’m sure that my experience as a small businessman in the early days of personal computing helps a lot with day to day operations. I recognize that taking chances, carefully, is part of the entrepreneurial process.

What is the best part about running your business?

Figuring out what needs to be done next. It’s important to remember that there is always something that needs to be done, it’s just a matter of finding it. I don’t like doing things like paying sales tax, but I love making sculptures. The sales tax isn’t going to pay itself, and if I don’t pay it I won’t be in business for long. So the chores come first so I can free my mind to work on the creative stuff.

Believe it or not, I’m not sure I like writing the books. I’m really hard on myself, constantly asking questions, “Will they understand it?” “Does it make sense?” “Can’t I find an easier way to represent that?” When I’m working on a book or magazine project I work about 14 hours a day, with real high intensity, until the project is done. Once it’s done I can make some art!

What is the most challenging part about running your company?

Success hangovers. I’ll sell a record number of books, or I’ll be in a newspaper, or something else important to the growth of my business will happen, and then it will be weeks or months before something better happens. I start to think I’m depressed, but in fact I am frustrated. I have to constantly remind myself that the most important thing is slow, continuous growth, not instant fame. Instant fame comes and goes, and that’s not what I’m in business for.

What new skills did you need to learn to be a successful entrepreneur?

People. I don’t know how to say this, but I had to learn how to deal with people in a more coherent manner. I used to always say things like, “Your business is appreciated.” Now I say, “I appreciate your business.” If you can’t see the difference, then you’ve got the same problem I used to have. I have learned to make a person to person connection, almost emotional, but professional, with customers. I make it clear that I care. It’s not just about making customers the number one priority, it’s about connecting with them on a whole new level.

What career advice do you have for job searchers who may be considering an entrepreneurial path?

Just because you’re starting a business doesn’t mean you have to give up your job search. In fact, I’d argue that you should continue your job search until your entrepreneurial venture starts paying the bills. My parents insisted that I continue looking for a job even though it was clear that my business was supporting me. It’s not called the conventional job market for nothing. Wives, parents, children, friends, are all a lot more comfortable if you’re looking for a job, so avoid the controversy and continue. But start your business venture. Start it right now. The world market is huge, and I believe there’s room for everyone in it. This is the first time in human history that a specialty business in Akron, Ohio, USA can be found easily by a customer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And it costs nothing to make your presence known. Get your product or service on the web. Start manipulating search engines. Put a brochure on Scribd.com. Give people a way to find you and they will find you.

Anything else you would like to share?

I don’t think there has ever been a better time to start a business. The web changes everything. Individuals have never had access to markets like they do today.

Thank you, Ben! Your story is amazing. I’m sure most people would not have guessed you can make a living from origami!

Please visit Ben Coleman’s website at OrigamiBonsai.org

Sooner or later in your career, you will run into someone whose personality is so difficult, you will despair about ever finding a way to work with that person in any productive way. One of these types of difficult people is the narcissistic personality. Narcissistic personality is characterized by an unrealistic or inflated sense of self-importance, an inability to see the viewpoint of others, and hypersensitivity to criticism.

The mental health community has made strides recently in learning how to effectively treat narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic features. In less severe cases, executive coaches with training in working with narcissistic personality structure can minimize the workplace damage done by people exhibiting destructive narcissism. Consulting psychologists can help organizational leaders to make better hiring decisions or to contain situations where one person’s bad behavior is putting the entire organization or team at risk.

But this blog post is about situations where the narcissistic person is not interested in change or the organization is not actively working on damage control. In an entrepreneurial environment, the narcissist may be your boss, your co-worker, your venture capitalist/investor, or someone on your board of advisors. In these situations, you need some skill in dealing with a narcissistic personality.

In the short-term and when everything is going their way, narcissists are often charming, charismatic, compelling, and persuasive. In fact, a little narcissism may provide surface advantages to succeeding as an entrepreneur. The problems arise when the narcissist feels challenged or threatened. If the flow of admiration from others starts to slow down or stop, if funding fails to materialize, if the marketplace doesn’t behave as the narcissist hopes, narcissists are prone to angry outbursts and attempts to retaliate. Narcissists specialize in making everyone else’s life miserable, so how can you avoid having your career trashed by one?

Here is expert career advice for dealing with narcissists at work:

• Be genuinely helpful. Because narcissists are preoccupied with looking good and with getting what they want, aligning yourself with their goals will buy you some time before conflict heats up. If you can make the narcissist’s life easier, work can proceed smoothly, at least for awhile.




• Appeal to the narcissistic person’s self interest. Dr. Vicki Vandaveer of The Vandaveer Group, advises, “A leader – even a narcissistic one – is keenly interested in his/her ability to get results or have an impact. We can help polish the image…help them find more effective ways to achieve goals.”




• Accept that you will probably not receive credit for your accomplishments. Dr. Rob Kaiser of Kaplan DeVries Inc. observes, “You can get anything done, if you don’t mind who gets the credit. (It’s always the narcissist’s idea, no matter where he picked it up).”




• Don’t take anything personally. The narcissist doesn’t view you as a human with wants and needs but as a source of self-esteem for herself. “It is never about you,” says Dr. Kaiser.




• Lower your expections. For example, you aren’t going to get consistent care and support from a narcissistic boss. Dr. Ben Dattner of Dattner Consulting comments, “Gordon Gecko articulated the narcissistic boss’s worldview when he advised Bud Fox in Wall Street: ‘If you want a friend, get a dog.’”




• Avoid making yourself a target. Criticizing a narcissist can result in “narcissistic rage,” where a narcissist wards off shame by retaliating against the person who caused the narcissistic injury. These reactions are extreme and out of proportion to the trigger event. Dr. John Deleray of Deleray & Associates advises, “Don’t talk about their one big flaw unless they bring it up first.” Dr. Carl Robinson of Advanced Leadership Consulting adds, “The best way to deliver advice is with a neutral voice stating the facts as your perception and interpretation of things, not as a truth. This gives the individual wiggle room, room for face saving.”




• Line up emotional support. It is draining to clash with narcissists and interacting with a narcissistic person can leave you feeling like you did something wrong or make you question your own competence or judgment. Often this is because of an unconscious process where a narcissistic person manages to transfer their own bad feelings onto you. To stay psychologically centered, you’ll need help to reality test and to process negative emotion.




• Prepare for the worst. You may lose a power struggle with a narcissist, so you should be prepared to find another job if a situation escalates and you find yourself fired. While still employed at a workplace made toxic by a narcissist with power, quietly network and build your professional community so that you will have job-related connections if you need them.




• Try to muster some empathy. Even though narcissists are terrific at appearing as if they are on top of the world and as happy as they can be, it feels awful to be a narcissist because they need constant affirmation of how good they are. “You get to go home at the end of each day, but they have to live with themselves all the time,” notes Dr. Lynn Friedman.