Empowering Young Entrepreneurs

0 UBC Post 11: Road Trip Day 5 – Happy to Be Home At Last!

I am so happy to be at home. As much as I love my mother and have a need to check on her every few months, I am always so glad to leave there. She isn’t able to get around well anymore so we spent a lot of time in the house, eating. She watches TV most of the day and I usually work when I’m there, but was not able to this trip. That left me bored for the most part.

Luckily I have the kindle app and can read books on my laptop. Of course, it’s difficult to read with mother talking at me like she does. I’m sure she must be bored as well although she says she isn’t. She does have friends that she visits with and does things with, but not as often because they are all in the same situation. Welcome to aging. It isn’t always wonderful.

I am happy that I was able to accomplish the most important things on my To Do list while I was away, in spite of not having easy internet access. Thank goodness for Starbucks.

I did think I had my problem solved when I called the cellular company and asked them to add the Hot Spot feature to my service. Turns out my new-fangled 3G Windows based phone doesn’t have Hot Spot Capability. So what good is the damn thing? I can’t seem to set up my email or get around on the internet very well either on the thing. I guess a trip to the phone store is in my immediate future.

All in all, I have two lessons to pass on to young entrepreneurs –

1. Google for alternate wifi hotspots before you travel and

2. Bring things other than work to keep you busy in case you can’t work

Only 48 hours left to be eligible for the VIP Upgrade at The Youth Empowerment Telesummit. Take advantage NOW, before the prices increase dramatically!

2 UBC Post 10 – Road Trip Day 4 – Back to Starbucks to Work

I am really experiencing withdrawal – I can’t stand not being able to keep up with the work that needs to be done. I’m in the last week of The Youth Empowerment Telesummit and need to get the emails done and do some promotion for the VIP Upgrade of the recordings. And my mother is driving me crazy as I try to write these journal articles, she is talking at me. I’ve asked her to give me a little time to get the work done and she agreed, so why is she still sitting here talking at me as I try to get this writing done and stay on track? I am so going back to Starbucks. I refuse to take her with me though, because last time I was there she kept asking me if I was ready to leave.

Now back at Starbucks having an iced Caramel Macchiado and egg salad sandwich. And no talking mother within distracting distance.

I managed to get some of the work done – got the follow up emails set for my own interview for the ending of The Youth Empowerment Telesummit at least and added the links on the speakers page. I was able to get some emails answered and check on the sales numbers. I am missing my friends on Facebook though – no time to do too much posting there.

Now that I know my mother can get around, is set up with lifeline and has an appointment to get her ankle re-x-rayed, I can go home tomorrow. Thank goodness. I am very much looking forward to going home and getting back to my regular posting.

4 UBC Post 9 – Road Trip Day 3 – the Computer Club

Today is the day I needed to do the interview that is to air tomorrow. George, the president of the computer club told me he would meet me there at the Club House at 11:30 a.m. to open the door for and find a place for me to set up so I can record the interview. At 11:45 I was still waiting for George to show up and I was getting nervous. I decided to boot in the lobby and found that I could easily connect to their hot spot.

As soon as I made up my mind that I could conduct the interview from the lobby, George shows up. I followed him to the club’s rooms and he showed me where to set up for my recording. He told me that no one would bother me there and it would be quiet. That’s when the fun started.

As I’m setting up a woman comes in and steps behind me. Turns out that’s where the sink is where they fill the coffee pots with water. I explained to her that I was going to be conducting an interview and recording my call. She said it would be okay, no one else would bother me.

Well, to make a long story short, people kept walking in and out of the room and even tried to talk to me in the midst of this interview. I finally made a sign that said, “Sorry, I’m recording a show and can’t talk right now.”

I thought that would stop people from trying to talk to me, but, no it didn’t. At some point I realized that there was no way to have control over the environment and what was happening, so I let it go, conducted the interview as if nothing was going on around me, and just had a good time with my guest.

There are two important life lessons to be gleaned from this experience for young people –

1. It’s important to be resourceful and

2. when you don’t have control over a situation, just do what needs to be done to the best of your ability and you can feel good that you didn’t let it throw you off.

The guest and I had a great conversation and it turned out well.

What would you have done in this situation? Would you have stuck with it until your solved your dilemma or given up and cancelled the interview?

0 UBC Post 8 – Road Trip Day 2 – Coffee and Internet at Starbucks

With only one day left to be prepared for the interview I need to do tomorrow for The Youth Empowerment Telesummit, I realized that I had to find a way to connect or I would have to arrange for the guest to record the interview, then somehow figure out how I could have access to it in order to set it up for the air time. Yikes, what to do? This is where resourcefulness comes in handy and I am certainly resourceful.

So I went to Starbucks to see if I could make that work. I had a fairly good connection there and my cell phone worked, however, it was so noisy that there was no way I could conduct a decent interview; it would have been too unprofessional and I would not have felt comfortable including it in the CD set I am selling.

Okay, time was going fast and I needed to create a plan. I went back to my mom’s house and pulled out the paper looking for computer services when she mentioned that the community where she lives has a computer club. Oh boy, that had possibilities. We went through their directory and found the phone number for president of the club. I called him and explained my dilemma and he told me I could come down to the computer club’s room at the club house at 11:30 a.m. and use their wifi connection and find a place to record my interview.

VIP Upgrade Prices disappear at Midnight on April 14th – order yours now. Ship date is April 15th.

0 Post 7: Road Trip Day 1 – No Internet Access

The next few days of postings are going to be a journal of sorts. I am on a road trip – had to come and check up on my elderly mother who’s overall condition is declining. She’s in fairly good health for the most part, but has arthritis in her knees and osteoporosis and declining short term memory. So needless to say I’m concerned that she remains steadfast in her refusal to consider assisted living. I have been able to convince her to get a lifeline type service where if she falls, she can at least call for help. Yay! One thing checked off the “Mom To Do List.”

I arrived here to discover that the wireless service I used to access the internet with no longer exists and there is no wifi connection that doesn’t require a password, so I’m out of luck for tonight. But, this is a blog challenge and I am going to have a post for every day, even if I have to post an entire week’s worth of articles on a single day.

I wonder how long it will take for catatonia to set in as I can’t check my email or Facebook. Or will I experience withdrawal symptoms like the internet addict that I am? I should be home promoting my books and CD sets from The Youth Empowerment Telesummit. How will I handle the stress of not working 18 hours a day? One thing is for sure, it’s going to be an interesting week.

Only 3 more days left to be eligible for the VIP Upgrade at The Youth Empowerment Telesummit. Take advantage NOW, before the prices increase dramatically!

14 Entrepreneurship Quotes By Teen Entrepreneurs

As this day comes to a close, with less than 30 minutes left before Day 7 in the UCB, I find I need a little inspiration. So, I went looking for some quotes about entrepreneurship that would mean something to me and to my young clients. And now I’m sharing them with you. I hope you enjoy them and that at least some of them speak to you.

“Everything started as nothing.” – Ben Weissenstein

“To any entrepreneur: if you want to do it, do it now. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it.” – Catherine Cook

“If you’re not doing the things that you love, then your life is not worth living. What are you here for?” – King Sidharth

“Manual labor sucks, dude.” – Alex Fraiser (I found this especially relevant today after spending hours planting the organic garden in gale force winds that suddenly started up.

“A lot of people have said that the internet is a teenager. Guess who understands a teenager best: a teenager.” – Syed Balkhi (This is why I empower teens to become entrepreneurs)

“Start today, not tomorrow. If anything, you should have started yesterday. The earlier you start, the more time you have to mess up.” – Emil Motycka

“There’s no committee that says, ‘This is the type of person who can change the world – and you can’t.’ Realizing that anyone can do it is the first step. The next step is figuring out how you’re going to do it.” – Adora Svitak

“Every single person I know who is successful at what they do is successful because they love doing it.” – Joe Penna

“Over-deliver every time.” – Alex Maroko

“There is no reason to be hesitant… becoming an entrepreneur is a learning experience.” – Savannah Britt

“You’ve got to stop doing all the things that people have tried, tested, and found out don’t work.” – Michael Dunlop (Duh, how much sense does this make?)

“I think what teenagers lack is the belief that they can be unique and extraordinary in life. Make the most of your age because you’re not going to be a teenager forever!” – Sabirul Islam

“You could have a million ideas, but they’re all worthless if you don’t get them done.” – Lauren Amarante

“Success comes down to hard work plus passion, over time. If you work really, really hard over a long period of time, it will pay off.” – Stanley Tang

“If you have a goal, be relentless in your pursuit.” – Keith J. Davis Jr.

“I’m going to reinvent the wheel. My vision of the wheel is unique.” – King Sidharth

“It’s not about how many years of experience you have. It’s about the quality of your years of experience.” – Jacob Cass

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions.” – Catherine Cook

“If you pursued something that you felt strongly about, then I call that success.” – Adora Svitak

“I like the idea of working hard now, so you can earn big later.” – Alex Fraiser

“The hardest part about being an entrepreneur is that you’ll fail ten times for every success.” – Adam Horwitz

“You always want to surround yourself with people who are rooting for you and who want you to succeed. Stay away from the naysayers who couldn’t do it themselves.” – Arjun Rai

“If you can’t communicate, you’re going to find yourself a lonely businessperson.” – Keith J. Davis Jr.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead. The journey is what’s happening right now, not what’s on the finishing line.” – Sabirul Islam

“Starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster. There are highs and lows and every turn you take is another twist. The lows are really low, but the highs can be really high. You have to be strong, keep your stomach tight, and ride along with the roller coaster that you started.” – Lindsay Manseau

“If you start with nothing and end up with nothing, there’s nothing lost.” – Michael Dunlop

“The biggest failure you can have in life is not trying at all.” – Emil Motycka

“If you can find people who think that what you’re doing is great, they’re going to do everything in their power to make it a success.” – Juliette Brindak (I have this kind of support right now.)

“All that you need to become an entrepreneur and change the world is a working brain – and pretty much nothing else.” – Adora Svitak

“Make it happen now, not tomorrow. Tomorrow is a loser’s excuse.” – Andrew Fashion (Amen!)

“I like computer games and I treat business a bit like a computer game. I count money as points. I’m doing really well: making lots of money and lots of points.” – Michael Dunlop (Hey, whatever works, right?)

“If you think that you are going to love something, give it a try. You’re going to kick yourself in the butt for the rest of your life if you don’t.” – Joe Penna

Do any of these strike a chord with you?

If you are interested in hearing some of the speakers from the telesummit, there are a few more days left and the replays will be available until until April 14^th. We are also pre-selling the recordings with three options at discounted prices. After April 14^th, the prices go up significantly. The CD package would make a great unique gift for anyone parenting (Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up), teaching or otherwise working with tweens, teens and young adults. It would also be perfect for counselors, therapists and coaches who work with families. You can find out more at http://TheYouthEmpowermentTelesummit.com.

In another note, I am offering a deep discount on my coaching program “The Monetize Your Passion Blueprint – Empowering Young Entrepreneurs” for anyone registered at the telesummit. That discount is good through April 14^th as well. Contact me via email at julia@julianeiman.com if you’re interested in more information.

6 Ask and Ye Shall Receive

I had a big win today. I got a quote from Bob Proctor to include in my new book, Pick From the Passion Tree – Empowering Young Entrepreneurs to Start a Business.

Someone asked me how I was able to manage this. The truth is I just asked. A few months ago I asked if I could include an excerpt from Bob’s book, You Were Born Rich about attitude. Bob said what I wanted to say and probably better than I could have said it. I blindly reached out through his website and connected with his assistant who was able to get permission for me to use the excerpt.

They wanted to see how the piece was being used and what else was with it in the chapter. I sent it to them immediately and within a short time I received permission to use the excerpt as long as I quoted it properly.

Once that book was finished, I sent the entire book so they could get an idea of what they agreed to be included in, and it was well received.

When I started collecting praise and testimonials for the book, I again reached out and asked for a quote. I sent a suggestion, a sample really, of what I was looking for and told his assistant when it was scheduled to go to the printer.

Lo and behold, I received an original quote for the “praise” page of the book this morning.

I am a big believer in “ask and ye shall receive.” If you have don’t ask, the other person doesn’t even have a chance to refuse.

This is a great empowerment lesson for young entrepreneurs and for anyone for that matter. I learned a great lesson on my first job when I was 18 from a fabulous mentor who was the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation who told me that everyone is approachable except for maybe middle managers as they often have ego issues. No offense meant to anyone reading this who is, who knows or who was a middle manager. I think my mentor was referring to the fact that some middle managers are afraid to make the wrong move because they are insecure.

We can see that in coaches and internet marketing in the folks we approach for joint ventures who see us as competitors rather than co-creators so they refuse to be a part of whatever program we are creating.

I would like to encourage you to ask so that you may receive. Asking often requires suspending your disbelief, being courageous and just going for it. It gets easier, believe me. And so what if you get rejected? Just move on and ask someone else.

Thank you for reading.

4 More Lessons Learned From Holding a Telesummit

In my last post I talked about learning that I should have been more focused – laser focused on my theme. While all the interviews were top quality, some were a bit off topic.

The next lesson I learned was that for a first event, it was too big with too many speakers. I chose to air three calls a week so with 18 speakers, the telesummit ran (is still running actually) for six weeks. That’s a long time. It’s is a real challenge to keep people coming back for that long. On the other hand, it’s a selling point for them to purchase the recordings.

I chose to run three calls a week because I was doing most of the work alone. With having to conduct the interviews, scheduling them to air, uploading the recordings after each interview, sending out the many emails involved in an event like this, including the daily emails with the replay number, and doing all the promotion, I felt like it was more work than I could do. (Taking a deep breath here). I do have other projects I’m working on simultaneously. That’s why it stretched out to six weeks.

Perhaps for the next one I could either have less interviews or run more than one per day. If I can afford to hire help to manage this part of it, I can run two interviews a day, five days a week for two or three weeks. That would be ideal because the more interviews there are the better value for those who purchase the recordings.

At least now I know what is required to have an event like this one and I’ll be able to make better choices next time.

8 Self Reflection on Lessons Learned

Today I want to talk about the things you need to think about when considering putting together a telesummit. First of all, if you have done a telesummit before, you know, but if you have never done one, you may not have a realistic picture about how much work this involves. I went into The Youth Empowerment Telesummit knowing that it would be a lot of work, but oh boy, was I surprised at just how much there was to do and how many things could go wrong. Perhaps my experience can help you make a good choice in the future.

The First Step: Finding clarity.

You must start with being clear about the following things before you do anything else: your purpose for the telesummit, your topic or theme and who your target audience is. Everything else is built around these three questions.

I would have done things a bit differently for The Youth Empowerment Telesummit if I had known what I was doing. My purpose, which I am happy with, was to bring current trends, strategies and action steps with regard to training life skills to teens and young adults. That will remain my purpose for the second annual event next year (yes, I am going to do it again).

What I would do differently is to stick more closely to my theme – to be laser focused on it. I ended up with too many parenting experts talking about parenting strategies rather than life skills strategies. The guests were all fabulous and I love each and every one of them, however, I allowed the telesummit to get off track by adding the parenting topics. Well, it was a good lesson learned. I believe the outcome of that is that some of the content wasn’t that interesting to the life skills professionals in the audience and the life skills professionals are my main target audience for my business, at least for now.

Had I stuck to my topic like super glue, I would have brought in less parents and more life skills professionals and perhaps increased my list much more than I have or at least in a more advantageous way. And while I have new names on my list, I am concerned that some of these people will never be my clients as they aren’t interested in teaching entrepreneurship to teens and young adults from a life skills perspective.

On the other hand, I did attract some fantastic life skills professionals and a few coaches, one of whom is interested in my coaching program and we have sold several recording packages because after all is said and done, the interviews were really good and had great content, even if they were somewhat off topic.

My advice, if can’t already guess, is be clear on why you are doing a telesummit, what you hope to accomplish and who you are doing this for, and what will it take to get them to come to the event.

More on lessons learned from the telesummit tomorrow. Thank you for dropping in.

If you are interested in hearing some of the speakers from the telesummit, there are a few more days left and the replays will be available until until April 14^th. We are also pre-selling the recordings with three options at discounted prices. After April 14^th, the prices go up significantly. The CD package would make a great unique gift for anyone parenting (Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up), teaching or otherwise working with tweens, teens and young adults. It would also be perfect for counselors, therapists and coaches who work with families. You can find out more at http://TheYouthEmpowermentTelesummit.com.

2 Success is Relative

Day Two of the UBC. No need to leave a comment today – that function is still being fixed.

Currently, I am hosting The Youth Empowerment Telesummit. It’s a gathering of 18 parenting and life skills professionals who are talking about current trends and strategies in parenting and life skills training. The interviews have been great and the information shared is fantastic. In that aspect, it was a huge success.

However, success is relative – relative to what the goals are. Obviously the overall mission was to get this information out to the people who need it – parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and anyone really who works with tweens, teens and young adults. One of the business objectives was to add 1000 names to my list. That didn’t happen. There was a gain for certain, but not anywhere close to 1000. Considering some of the speakers, that was an entirely obtainable number.

So what happened that we didn’t have a lot more registrations? After all, the event was free and we offered replays. Well, some of the speakers may not have promoted as much as they could have, I think that much is obvious. Some simply clicked like every time I put something on the Facebook page. I started posting on the speakers’ Facebook pages and that always got one or two more registrations.

Could it have been the copy? Very possible. I used to be a great writer, now not so much. My coach and fellow classmates have been great about feedback and suggestions. I sort of have to march to my drum because my business isn’t about helping others break through to seven figures or get more clients. I am trying to attract the people I mentioned above. Maybe I didn’t make it interesting enough. Most days, it was all I could do to get those emails out with the call in information and replay links.

The event isn’t over yet and I’ll continue to analyze the numbers and figure out why there wasn’t more participation. I can say I learned a lot of lessons so far and there are more to be learned before this over. The feedback from those who listened to the talks was very positive and that makes me feel great. The Youth Empowerment Telesummit website turned out great – the art work was from Fiverr, and the graphic for the CD package we’re selling looks great. All the systems I need to do this again are in place so there will be a lot less work involved for the next time. I’ve developed some great relationships from this project and added to my professional network and support system. So all in all, I think this was a huge success and there will be a next time.

So what does this have to do with empowering young adults to develop an entrepreneur mindset? I’m sharing my experience so they can see what is involved and how to look at things that don’t work out the way you want them to. There’s success even in things that don’t work out exactly the way you want them to and it’s all about attitude.

I will be blogging more about the event and may even turn this into a Kindle single entitled How To Have a Telesummit Without Exploding Your Head.

If you are interested in The Youth Empowerment Telesummit, you can find the link here – http://TheYouthEmpowermentTelesummit.com. And you can also reach it from our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Youth-Empowerment-Telesummit/158566284296005.

If you’d like to purchase the recording of the event, you can find that information on either one of those pages and be eligible for our VIP discount through April 14^th when the price will increase by a lot.

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