283 Week 8

$100 Entrepreneurial Challenge Update:

This week I am dealing with a lot of anxiety about my 100 dollar challenge.  I didn’t expect this to happen, and thought I had a pretty solid plan, but now I am feeling all sorts of anxiety.  I don’t really want to be an entrepreneur as I don’t like to ask people for money.  Maybe that is because I don’t live in a city with a whole lot of affluent people and I am a volunteer at heart.  I serve because I want to help people, not to get money.  This will be my greatest downfall in business for the rest of my life if I cannot get over it and realize that it is ok to expect compensation for a product or service.  

In addition to dealing with a whole lot of anxiety, I did reach out to a couple of trusted people and ask for ideas regarding an issue I have with one of my products.  I am making a meatless and a meat filled breakfast burrito.  I taste tested my recipes and felt like my meatless one was too bland and I’m not ready to sell that.  So, I have been gathering ideas for how I can spice up my recipe without changing my funding needs.  I think I have found a solution.  Now, I just have to do it.

Acton Hero Summary: Ken Zolot

Ken Zolot refers to his childhood as having been filled with “devilish curiosity” and an inability to fit inside the box of what his teachers and parents wanted him to do.  But this creative, out of the box thinking, with a hint of joy that comes from breaking and bending some of the rules, was key in helping him be successful as an adult.  This coupled with his ability to understand human nature, and his ability to relate to others and to understand others has helped him become a powerful leader and mentor.

He suggests that it is important to always ask the question “who cares and why”? This will help you to understand your market, your buyer.  You have to understand why people will buy what you are selling because it will help you have some empathy and will be able to connect, which will ultimately help you to be successful. 

He says, you have to be willing to break the rules just enough in order to show your customers what they should want, but not too much that you are not really listening to and hearing what they think they want.  There is a balance with the two, a sweet spot, that you have to find in order to really be great.

283 Week 7

$100 Entrepreneurial Challenge Update:

This week I have been considering the best methods of accomplishing my goal.  I have been talking with my friends and neighbors and trying to gauge where my target market is going to be for certain.  To do this, I am collecting pre-order requests so that I can determine the best delivery method.  For example, I am getting a large number of teachers at the high school that are interested.  I am discussing with my family (who is going to help me) if it would be wise to give them a delivery date and then just show up with a large supply and sell them on the spot, or if it makes more sense to take an exact order and money and then deliver.  Some of these details are a little harder to figure out than others because the decision will affect the product (will I have them hot and ready to eat, or will I deliver them cold and the buyer has to heat them up in an oven or microwave…etc…). 

Acton Hero Summary: Bud Brigham

Mr. Brigham, having come from a broken home, looked for mentors around him and sought to learn all he could because he “always knew [he’d] be an entrepreneur.”  Though his father was an alcoholic and died when he was just 19 years old, he determined to search for his own purpose.  Meeting his wife was also a catalyst for him finding meaning and purpose in life.  

He found philosophy regarding Objectivism, which had to do with rationalism, and reason, and living.  During his studies, he determined to be the best he could be, which he came to understand was a virtuous pursuit.  He learned that his biggest challenge would be himself.  So, he set out to overcome.  He believes that everyone should learn to tap into a higher power, of whatever philosophy you can feel passionate about.

Then, he says, you’ve got to surround yourself with others who, at their core, share the same philosophies and who can help you become the best that you can be.   For Mr. Brigham, this is his reason for being, to achieve his purpose in life, “which is to be the best that I can be.”

283 Week 6

$100 Entrepreneurial Challenge Update:

This week I refined a big idea elevator pitch as follows:

About 20 years ago, Colorado began offering charter schools as an innovative way to give parents a choice about schooling for their children.  These schools of choice are autonomous which often means they have no connection with teacher unions, utilize a curriculum of their own choosing, and though they are still accountable to local and federal education authorities, they govern themselves through elected members of their communities, such as parents of enrolled learners.  Such members rarely have past leadership experience, and many lack the knowledge and skills required to govern such an organization.  Leadership development is crucial if these schools are going to be successful in delivering a quality education to our nations kids.

My name is Sara Ker.  Over the last ten years, I have been serving in this community both as a board president and as a leader mentor where I have been intimately engaged in helping schools establish best practices in a field that is somewhat new. 

Currently, Colorado has a league of charter schools which offers training as part of a large and costly package of services. But for schools who must stretch every penny they receive; these solutions aren’t always attainable.

I have established a consulting firm to serve the charter school community that specializes in school governance.  My firm is focused on low cost, specified leadership training that guides teams through critical thinking processes to discover how they are applying policies, principles, and strategy in their organizations and to assist in establishing proven methods for success. 

Acton Hero Summary: Phil Romano

Phil Romano began his video with sound advice, “Don’t be like everyone else, have that point of difference”.  He goes on to say, “ I wouldn’t be successful if I didn’t do everything people told me I shouldn’t do.” In other words, he didn’t let fear or stumbling blocks in his way and he has always had an attitude of, “I can do it” no matter what anyone says. 

When he had a paper route as a young boy, he learned to upsell his customers by offering to put their paper in between the storm door and the front door to keep it dry from the elements.  Because he was willing to meet this need, his customers paid him extra.  He looks to this experience as the inspiration for much of the rest of his life. He learned to keep his focus on serving people, and not on profits, he said in his bio, “You never think about making a profit, …you think about service, giving people something they want, and you make twice as much profit.”

A health scare when he was about 50 years old, inspired him further to work harder and to serve his community.  He learned from this experience that fear is a motivator.  When he is afraid, he is motivated to make sure he doesn’t fail.  He sees fear as a positive thing that drives him, rather than disables him.  The motivation turned him to help homeless people and shelters in his community.  He credits this service as something that gives his life meaning.  He said he wants to make his mark and wants to be sure that his legacy is the things he’s done, the services he has rendered, the work he has accomplished.  He doesn’t “want a tombstone”. He is driven by the desire to make something of his life.