Financing a small business is stressful for everyone; there’s just no point in sugarcoating it. The “How will I fund my business?” question carries pressure, uncertainty and real consequences, especially when you’re making decisions that affect both your business and your household. It’s a big hurdle, and most people feel it. Here are four grounded ways to approach it: Expect your first dollars to feel personal. Most founders start with savings, part-time income or sweat equ

Most people don’t start a business because they have a grand plan and a sure route to success. They start because they’ve hit their limit: the paycheck, the boss, the bureaucracy. Frustration, it turns out, is one of the best startup fuels there is.   The fuel is so potent it’s practically an economic engine. Just look at what it’s set in motion:   About 5.5 million new small businesses launch in the U.S. every year. Those small companies make up 99.9% of all firms nationwi

If you’re running your business from a kitchen table, garage or spare bedroom, you’re in good company. According to the SBA, about half of all small businesses start at home in the U.S. In fact, some of the world’s most recognizable brands began the same way. Apple started in a garage, Amazon in Jeff Bezos’ home and Clif Bar in its founders’ home kitchens. Even Google began in a dorm room (and later, a rented garage) before turning into what it is today. These stories prove t

Every business starts with a vision, but even experienced professionals can lose sight of the basics when things get busy, challenging or frustrating. Those are the times when we tend to skip past the hard questions and focus more on day-to-day activity versus real direction. In Your First Business Blueprint  I challenge my readers to stop and assess their foundation first (even if they’ve been in business a while). And this isn’t about mission statements or big-picture strat

Behind every thriving business is someone who stayed the course when others decided to go back to their 9-5 jobs. The people who succeed aren’t always the most creative or well-funded. They’re the ones who stay focused, keep learning and take consistent action. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to stand out. The basics, done well and done consistently, make all the difference. Here’s what separates the entrepreneurs who last: They know their “why.”  Purpose fuels them when

Shark Tank is fun to watch, right? Well, it’s not exactly the full picture of what starting a business looks like.

If you’ve been thinking about starting something of your own, now might be the time to take that idea seriously.

If you’re serious about starting a business, here’s your task: Stop spinning your wheels and start asking yourself the hard stuff.

Starting a business is hard enough. Don’t make it harder by believing things that simply aren’t true.