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	<title>YFS Magazine - Startup, Small Business News and Entrepreneurial Culture &#187; Lifestyle</title>
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	<description>Young, Fabulous &#38; Self-Employed</description>
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	<itunes:summary>Young, Fabulous &amp; Self-Employed</itunes:summary>
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		<title>15 Entrepreneurs Share How to Stop Self-Sabotage in Business</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/21/15-entrepreneurs-share-how-to-stop-self-sabotage-in-business/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/21/15-entrepreneurs-share-how-to-stop-self-sabotage-in-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business failure]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Entrepreneurs reveal the best ways to "get out of your own way" and stop sabotaging your business success.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Self-sabotaging thoughts, beliefs and habits can get the best of us.  According to Psychology Today, &#8220;Behavior is said to be <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/self-sabotage" target="_blank">self-sabotaging</a> when it creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals.&#8221; The dilemma is: most people are unaware that they are sabotaging themselves.</p>
<p>Self-sabotage prevents you from attaining what you want most in life and business. According to IQ Matrix, a website dedicated to maximizing potential through mind mapping and life coaching principles, suggests &#8220;Self-sabotage is any behavior, thought, emotion or action that holds you back from getting what you want consciously.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Moreover, it is the conflict that exists between conscious desires and unconscious wants that manifests in <a href="http://blog.iqmatrix.com/overcome-self-sabotage" target="_blank">self-sabotage patterns</a>. It not only prevents you from reaching your goal, but also becomes a safety mechanism that protects you against disappointment. In other words, your brain is protecting you from getting hurt by doing what it thinks is best, which is keeping you within your comfort zone.&#8221;</p>
<p>So, we asked 15 entrepreneurs to reveal the best ways to &#8220;get out of your own way&#8221; and stop sabotaging your business success. Here&#8217;s what they had to say:</p>
<p><strong>1. Stop procrastinating.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;The best way to get out of your own way in business is to stop procrastinating. If you have a great idea,act on it. You aren&#8217;t doing yourself or your business any good by sitting on the idea.  Make it happen.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Meagan Eagles, Owner of <a href="http://www.weddingstiedwithlace.com" target="_blank">Weddings Tied With Lace</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/WedTiedWithLace" target="_blank">WedTiedWithLace</a></p>
<p><strong>2. Make a to-do list.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Most entrepreneurs can&#8217;t get out of their own way because they are always reacting to requests. A quick solution is to plan your day the night before and create a tomorrow to-do list. Wake up the next day and stick to the plan.  If an urgent item comes up, <em>write it down</em> on the list and compare its urgency and importance to the next item on your list.  If it&#8217;s more urgent and important, do it.  If not, defer.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Greg DeSimone, Owner and President of <a href="http://www.gregdesimone.com" target="_blank">FocalPoint Business Coaching</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/gregdesimone" target="_blank">gregdesimone</a></p>
<p><strong>3. Don&#8217;t micromanage your team.<br />
</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Trust your team members to do their work well. You don&#8217;t need to manage every aspect of the work that they&#8217;re doing. You brought them on because they have the necessary skills; let them use them. You&#8217;ll also find that you&#8217;re a lot more productive when you aren&#8217;t micromanaging your team members&#8217; tasks.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Amie Darboe, Founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.theflairist.com/" target="_blank">The Flairist</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/AmieDarboe" target="_blank">AmieDarboe</a></p>
<p><strong>4. Stop over-analyzing.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Done is better than perfect. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs hum-hah about whether they are doing the right thing and end up doing nothing. Of course, doing it right the first time is preferred; However, it&#8217;s better to do something, learn from it, and do it better the next time than to do nothing at all.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Chris Miles, Founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.moneyripples.com" target="_blank">Money Ripples</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/chriscmiles" target="_blank">chriscmiles</a></p>
<p><strong>5. Recognize your weaknesses.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Sure, you <em>can</em> create a Web site, but do you really want a site that looks like a novice did it? About client generation work, I&#8217;m sure you know <em>how</em> to make phone calls, but do you consistently make those calls every day to generate the clients you need to grow your business?  If you find yourself putting off key business-generating activities because you know how to do them but you are not actually doing them, chances are you know these are your weak areas. Get someone else to do them. The sooner you do this, the better your chances for success.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Arron P. Grow, Dean of <a href="http://www.workplacesanity.com" target="_blank">Workplace Sanity Group</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/DrAPGrow" target="_blank">DrAPGrow</a></p>
<p><strong>6. Get out of your comfort zone.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;If you never take the initiative to get out of your comfort zone, nothing spectacular will happen in your business or personal life. There will always be difficulties you must face and you will need patience to get through them. Ultimately, it requires endurance and perseverance to pursue your business goals and realize them at 180mph.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Nadine Lajoie, President of <a href="http://nadineracing.com" target="_blank">Nadynn International</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/Nadlajoie" target="_blank">Nadlajoie</a></p>
<p><strong>7. Find a support network.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Especially when you&#8217;re first starting out as a small business owner, it&#8217;s easy to become a recluse initially and keep your head buried in business development.  By getting out, networking, and finding a support network of fellow small business owners, you can support each other and hold each other accountable.  This helps you not only foster relationships in the community, but it will keep you from not following-through on business plans.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Jill Schiefelbein, Owner of <a href="http://impromptuguru.com/" target="_blank">Impromptu Guru</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/impromptuguru" target="_blank">impromptuguru</a></p>
<p><strong>8. Delegate and outsource.<br />
</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;A successful business includes product/service development, sales, customer service, marketing, PR, bookkeeping, etc. It&#8217;s a lot and it&#8217;s overwhelming for one person. You need to hand this over to a manager, assistant, part-time employee or intern. Even if you only need a few hours per week from this person, it will help your business. The less time you have for the little things, the more productive you can be.&#8221;</p>
<p>-Belkis L. Cardona-Rivera, President and Chief Digital Marketing Specialist of <a href="http://belkismarketing.com/" target="_blank">Belkis Marketing</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/BelkisMarketing" target="_blank">BelkisMarketing</a></p>
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		<title>Head Down, Nose to the Grind: (Business) Dreams Are Made Of This</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/20/head-down-nose-to-the-grind-business-dreams-are-made-of-this/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/20/head-down-nose-to-the-grind-business-dreams-are-made-of-this/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Erica Nicole</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=20183</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Never forget that business dreams are made of these practical business lessons.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It comes easier for some &#8230; more so than others, but nevertheless it is necessary. I’m referring to the tactics behind every big dream. Head down-focus, nose to the grind-execution, <i>this</i> is what business dreams are truly made of. So while you’re plotting world domination remember: the abstract must be made plain. Your vision must have wheels. Your dreams will require you to plan, execute, rework, <i>rinse and repeat</i>.</p>
<p>Along the way, don’t forget that business dreams are made of <i>these</i> practical business lessons:</p>
<p><strong>1. Preparation is <i>never</i> time wasted.</strong></p>
<p>Much of the behind-the-scenes work that molds entrepreneurs is lost on spectators that gaze in awe of finished projects. But we recognize that no great idea is feasible without relentless execution – step-by-step resolute actions that take your highly abstract ideas from lofty visions to tangible results. Your highlight reel (i.e. public wins and results) is not feasible without behind-the-scenes production. And production, my friend, requires patience.</p>
<p>Case in point, take a page from a filmmaker’s playbook and consider that “Once a <a href="http://www.quora.com/Movie-Making/How-long-does-it-take-to-make-a-movie" target="_blank">screenplay</a> has been &#8216;green-lit&#8217; for production, a prep schedule is planned that can be between 6 weeks for low budget and up to 30 weeks for a large studio event movie,” according to screenwriter Simon Barry. They say, Rome wasn’t built in a day and by and large your business won’t be either &#8212; so cut yourself some slack and embrace the process of preparation. This brings me to my next point …</p>
<p><strong>2. Commit to the process.</strong></p>
<p>Why are <i>some of us</i> afraid of commitment? Entrepreneurship is a process – it is not an event. By its very definition a process is a series of actions or operations conducing to an end. This suggests that in order to act incrementally in business you’ll have to resolve yourself to commit to the process.</p>
<p>Yes! Entrepreneurship is freedom, but as novelist Paulo Coelho suggests, “Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose &#8211; and commit myself to &#8211; what is best for me.”</p>
<p>&#8220;Overnight success&#8221; make take months or several years. But remember, what you earn &#8212; you keep.</p>
<p><strong>3. Dreams won’t work unless you do.</strong></p>
<p>Leadership expert <a href="http://www.johnmaxwell.com/" target="_blank">John Maxwell</a>, has been credited with saying, “Dreams won’t work unless you do.” What he means is that your creative insights require plans and action. Entrepreneurship is work. Your passion will test your resolve. And behind every effortless and seamless display of ingenuity is a committed individual that has put in the work.</p>
<p>We glamorize entrepreneurship – and rightly so, because<i> it is</i> <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/01/18/20-reasons-why-being-your-own-boss-entrepreneurship-is-awesome-2/" target="_blank">insanely awesome</a>, but we’d do ourselves (and would-be entrepreneurs) a huge disservice to ignore the panoramic view of business ownership. The view is breath-taking from the top, but it is not without work: the work of enduring through valleys, besting failure, wielding tough decisions and embracing <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/02/19/21-entrepreneurs-share-lessons-learned-their-first-year-in-business/" target="_blank">challenges</a>.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, it is the culmination of all these things that makes entrepreneurship so sweet. Because we know that, “Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them” (Winston Churchill).</p>
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		<title>The Curator: Startups Face Patent Suits, SMB Loans, Fail Smarter, VC Mentality, #Smallbiz Mistakes, Cheap Office Space</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/17/the-curator-startups-face-patent-suits-smb-loans-fail-smarter-vc-mentality-smallbiz-mistakes-cheap-office-space/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/17/the-curator-startups-face-patent-suits-smb-loans-fail-smarter-vc-mentality-smallbiz-mistakes-cheap-office-space/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Curator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=20153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.</i></p>
<p><strong>Startups&#8217; Secret: More Are Facing Patent Suits</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;A 2012 study from PricewaterhouseCoopers found that the tech industry experienced significant increases in &#8220;identified&#8221; decisions in patent cases from 2006 through 2011. And according to a study of tech startups and patent suits published last year by Colleen Chien, assistant professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, companies with less than $100 million in annual revenue accounted for at least 66% of unique defendants in such lawsuits, and at least 55% of those defendants had revenue of $10 million a year or less.&#8221; (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324216004578480980625053070.html#" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Small Business Loan Process Could Ease</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;The Small Business Administration is hoping to make it easier for small businesses to secure loans. Earlier this year, the SBA proposed several changes to its loan programs designed to “expand program accessibility for more small businesses and streamline the paperwork burden,” says Jeanne Hulit, associate administrator for capital access at the SBA.&#8221; (<a href="http://www3.cfo.com/article/2013/5/credit-capital_sba-loan-changes-7a-504-personal-resource-9-month_rule-expand_credit" target="_blank">CFO</a>)</p>
<p><strong>How Entrepreneurs Qualify for Funding from Banks</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;A common question I get is “How do I get a bank loan to fund my startup?” The default answer is that it probably won’t happen, because most banks just don’t make bank loans to startups. The failure rate is just too high, and startups typically don’t have the assets or revenue stream to back up the loan. That’s why Angel investors are so sought after by entrepreneurs.&#8221; (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-entrepreneurs-qualify-for-funding-from-banks-2013-5" target="_blank">Business Insider</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Lili Balfour: Three Ways Entrepreneurs Can Fail Smarter</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;There is no sure-fire way to prevent failure, but one can always fail smarter. Entrepreneurs fail smarter by understanding the basics of their term sheet, understanding how much capital is needed, and having an exit plan.&#8221;(<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2013/05/16/lili-balfour-three-ways-entrepreneurs-can-fail-smarter/" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Why Startups Shouldn&#8217;t Have a VC Mentality</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;If you have a business (or are thinking of starting one) that can only achieve financial security through investor fundraising, you do not have a good business. Worse than that is a good product/service idea that relies on investor funding to make it work. That&#8217;s a bad business model.&#8221; (<a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/The-Trouble-with-the-VC-Mentality-in-Startups-207217111.html" target="_blank">NBC Chicago</a>)</p>
<p><strong>The Top 5 Small Business Mistakes</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Nearly half of all new businesses don&#8217;t make it past their fifth anniversary, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. That makes it crucial for mom and pops to get basic strategies right from the get-go. Even though economists tell us the recession has been over for four years, banks remain as stingy with business loans as ever. There&#8217;s little room for error.&#8221; (<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100731741" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)</p>
<p><strong>How startups can get cheap office space</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re running your company from your kitchen table, you probably wish you could get out of the house and find more professional digs. But lining up space in an office building can be pricey.&#8221; (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/13/smallbusiness/office-space/" target="_blank">CNN Money</a>)</p>
<p>Connect with YFS Magazine on <a href="https://twitter.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>Did you enjoy this article? If so, <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/subscribe/" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to YFS Magazine and never miss an update. Don&#8217;t forget to make our friendship official and join Young, Fabulous &amp; Self-Employed entrepreneurs on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>Photo: <a href="http://www.clubmonaco.com/home/index.jsp" target="_blank">Club Monaco</a></p>
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		<title>Here&#8217;s Why &#8220;Do What You Love&#8221; is Bad Startup Advice</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/16/josh-heres-why-do-what-you-love-is-bad-startup-advice/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/16/josh-heres-why-do-what-you-love-is-bad-startup-advice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>YFS Small Business Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[starting a business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=19050</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“Do what you love” advice--given as a blanket statement--is completely wrong, and I have a very relevant perspective. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was recently asked to speak at an entrepreneurship-themed conference hosted by a university MBA program. There was an interesting divide amongst the speakers on the whole “Do what you love!” advice that’s often passed around in the small business community.</p>
<p>My take is this: “Do what you love” advice&#8211;given as a blanket statement&#8211;is completely wrong, and I have a very relevant perspective.</p>
<p><strong>Once Something Becomes Work, It&#8217;s Work</strong></p>
<p>It doesn&#8217;t matter what you are doing, once you are forced to do it it just becomes another job. People are terrible at predicting what will make them happy. Do you think pursuing your dream of hanging out at the gym all day playing sports will make you happy?</p>
<p>Wait, sorry, that’s what I did and it bombed (more on that below). In general, people have a hard time predicting what will make them happy because of what’s called impact bias &#8212; the tendency for people to overestimate the length or the intensity of future feelings.</p>
<p><strong>Hobbies Don&#8217;t Make Good Businesses</strong></p>
<p>When you poll a randomly sampled group of people on &#8220;what they love&#8221; most will come back with answers like: “Going to the park, playing sports, hanging out with friends, having sex, and sunsets.”</p>
<p>Now take a look at the list of Fortune 500 companies and let&#8217;s cross-reference their core businesses to the average person’s &#8220;what I love&#8221; list. Sure, you might love spending time on Facebook, but unless you’re a developer it’s probably not a feasible business decision.</p>
<p>So what’s the magic formula then, Matt? Now this is easy.</p>
<p><strong>Instead Do What You&#8217;re Good At</strong></p>
<p>This will afford you the most freedom and financial stability to <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2012/07/26/work-life-balance-why-entrepreneurs-need-stillness/" target="_blank">do <i>whatever you want</i></a>. I have a unique perspective because I took the statement “Do what you love” at 100% face value. In my second year of college, after hearing this advice, I sat back and asked myself, “What do I love doing that makes me happiest, that I could turn into a career?” Got it! Open a boxing gym. I love sports and fitness and being social. It’s perfect! Eureka! A couple years later Final Round Boxing was open.</p>
<p>So did my hedonistic Richter scale go off the charts and did I find myself live happily ever after? Not quite. What happened? I started to <i>hate</i> boxing. When you <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/04/11/three-ways-entrepreneurs-can-achieve-work-life-imbalance/" target="_blank">become a slave to something</a>, it doesn&#8217;t matter what it is. You’ll end up resenting and hating it most of the time.</p>
<p><strong>Consider these Hygiene and Motivational Factors</strong></p>
<p><iframe src="http://prezi.com/embed/ebgdvm-itu2h/?bgcolor=ffffff&amp;lock_to_path=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;autohide_ctrls=0&amp;features=undefined&amp;disabled_features=undefined" frameborder="0" width="590" height="400"></iframe></p>
<p>Here’s a thought exercise:</p>
<p>Subject A is working in a field he/she doesn&#8217;t really care for &#8212; selling women’s health products. Subject B is doing something he/she &#8220;loves,&#8221; running her own yoga studio. Subject A makes a great salary (including sales bonuses), has little supervision, and flexible work hours. Subject B has to teach yoga all day, every day, and to make ends meet has to work 10-14 hour days 7 days a week. Which would you rather be?</p>
<p>This all comes back to what’s known as the &#8220;two factor theory,&#8221; a theory published by Fredrick Hersberg in the Harvard Business Review. In the article Hersberg <a href="http://www.facilitif.eu/user_files/file/herzburg_article.pdf" target="_blank">reasons</a> that there are certain factors that impact workplace satisfaction &#8212; known as &#8221;hygiene factors.&#8221; This includes pay, hours, job security, company polices, and supervision. If those aren&#8217;t done right then you’ll be unhappy (I think everyone can agree on that).</p>
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		<title>Take More Risks: 10 Articles Every Fearless Entrepreneur Should Read</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/15/take-more-risks-10-articles-every-fearless-entrepreneur-should-read/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/15/take-more-risks-10-articles-every-fearless-entrepreneur-should-read/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business risk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Risk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[risk management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=17580</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you ready to take more risks in business? If so, here are ten articles to inspire, catalyze and prepare you for the success that awaits you. “Freedom lies in being bold.” ― Robert Frost]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you ready to take more risks in business? If so, here are ten articles to inspire, catalyze and prepare you for the success that awaits you.</p>
<p><i>“Freedom lies in being bold.” ― Robert Frost</i></p>
<p><strong>1. Study: There’s Never Been a Better Time for Entrepreneurship</strong></p>
<p>As an experienced entrepreneur, I believe there has never been a better time to get in the game and start your own business, and if you’ve already done so, no better time to invest in powerful resources. Now is the time to be bold! <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2012/03/29/study-theres-never-been-a-better-time-for-entrepreneurship/" target="_blank">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong>2. Risky Business: You’re Not an Entrepreneur If You Don’t Take Risks</strong></p>
<p>Are you truly an entrepreneur if you don’t take risks? My simple answer… “No.” It’s a bold fact — not a theory or opinion. In application, observation and retrospect – I’ve learned that you can’t truly consider yourself to be an entrepreneur if you have not, do not and will not <em>ever </em> take a risk. <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2011/08/30/risky-business-you%E2%80%99re-not-an-entrepreneur-if-you-don%E2%80%99t-take-risks/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong>3. The Fearless Entrepreneur: Say Goodbye to Good Intentions</strong></p>
<p>Good intentions will put your life on hold. The best intentions will not equip you for success. Personal fulfillment is looking at your life and seeing results. If you don’t see results, is it possible that you stopped making decisions? The main reasons entrepreneurs delay decisions is fear of the unknown or a perceived deficiency in some area or another. <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2010/09/27/the-fearless-entrepreneur-say-goodbye-to-good-intentions/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong>4. 5 Ways to Increase Risk Tolerance and Become a More Successful Entrepreneur</strong></p>
<p>Young entrepreneurs are self-motivated and confident, but still lack some of the real world risk tolerance seasoned entrepreneurs have. The Entrepreneurship Alliance (EA) at the University of Missouri is an initiative to foster a culture of innovation and pushes to close the gap between young and veteran entrepreneurs. <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2012/04/21/5-ways-to-increase-risk-tolerance-and-become-a-more-successful-entrepreneur/" target="_blank">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong>5. Business Risks: Why You’re (Potentially) Running a Little Shop of Horrors</strong></p>
<p>We’ve all heard startup urban legends, or mind-bending stories of companies that suffered legal, operational or internal nightmares. And it’s easy to assume that potential problems are out of sight and conveniently out of mind. But unintentionally, your blissful business could be harvesting potentially devastating horrors … small missteps or blind spots that could cause unnecessary frustration down the road. <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2012/06/04/business-risk-why-youre-potentially-running-a-little-shop-of-horrors/" target="_blank">Read more</a></p>
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		<title>The Curator: Bitcoin Startups, Finance, Women Entrepreneurs, Startup vs. #Smallbiz, SMB&#8217;s Accelerate Hiring</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/10/the-curator-bitcoin-startups-finance-women-entrepreneurs-startup-vs-smallbiz-smbs-accelerate-hiring/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/10/the-curator-bitcoin-startups-finance-women-entrepreneurs-startup-vs-smallbiz-smbs-accelerate-hiring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Curator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=19993</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.</i></p>
<p><strong>Bitcoin Startups Begin to Attract Real Cash</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Bitcoin startups are beginning to raise sizable investment capital even as industry leaders warn that hackers are abusing the Internet virtual currency for profit. In the past year, fledgling businesses Coinbase Inc., Coinsetter Inc. and CoinLab Inc. have raised millions of dollars collectively from prominent venture-capital firms and angel investors, adding credibility to a digital currency that isn&#8217;t backed by a central bank.&#8221; (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323687604578469012375269952.html#" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Startups need to collaborate with academia more often</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;How can entrepreneurs best harness the wisdom from academics, and the energy from students, in order to advance small businesses? Startups are successfully solving big problems, which is why people are moving here, taking risks, starting companies and creating jobs.&#8221; (<a href="http://www.boston.com/business/blogs/global-business-hub/2013/05/startups_need_t.html" target="_blank">Boston.com</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Why Entrepreneurs Can&#8217;t Just Hire A &#8216;Finance Guy&#8217;</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;First of all, the all-knowing numbers guru is a myth. And second, entrepreneurial finance is largely about asking the right financial questions at the right time. If you don’t know what questions to ask, your money whiz isn’t going to be able to give you an answer.&#8221; (<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/acton/2013/05/08/why-entrepreneurs-cant-just-hire-a-finance-guy/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Women Entrepreneurs: &#8216;Go Oprah, Or Go Home&#8217;</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Why do some women-run business rise like helium balloons while others remain tethered to a short string? Businesses with annual income of $1M+ are still only 1.8% women-run, though women own 30% of businesses in the U.S. This is poised to change, as women increasingly are taking part in Accelerators, Incubators and in workshops&#8230;&#8221; (<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/juliapimsleur/2013/05/07/women-entrepreneurs-go-oprah-or-go-home/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Startups, here’s your idiot’s guide to video</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Do startups need a video strategy? I’ve been in and around the “video for business” industry for the last six years and I get asked this question by startups quite often. The answer is always yes.&#8221; (<a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/05/startups-heres-your-idiots-guide-to-video/" target="_blank">Venturebeat</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Drawing The Line: Why Startups Are &#8216;Sexy&#8217; And Small Businesses &#8216;Meh&#8217;</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;A new report by the Kauffman Foundation underscores a simmering snobbery in the startup community: no matter which way you spin it, not all new companies are created equal. &#8216;People who use entrepreneurship as a ‘catch-all’ phase to capture a single economic activity make an important mistake,&#8221;&#8221; (<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2013/05/02/drawing-the-linewhy-startups-are-sexy-and-small-businesses/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Small businesses accelerate hiring, help drive unemployment down to four-year low</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Slowly but surely, small businesses are starting to accelerate their pace of hiring, helping drive down the overall unemployment rate to a four-year low last month. Small business owners increased employment by an average of 0.14 workers per company in April, according to the latest report from the National Federation of Independent Business.&#8221; (<a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-03/business/38997716_1_small-business-employment-nfib-unemployment-rate" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>)</p>
<p>Connect with YFS Magazine on <a href="https://twitter.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>Did you enjoy this article? If so, <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/subscribe/" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to YFS Magazine and never miss an update. Don’t forget to make our friendship official and join Young, Fabulous, and Self-Employed entrepreneurs on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>Photo: <a href="http://www.ardene.com/" target="_blank">Ardene</a></p>
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		<title>3 Ways to Become a More Effective Business Leader</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/06/3-ways-to-become-a-more-effective-business-leader/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/06/3-ways-to-become-a-more-effective-business-leader/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The YEC</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Running A Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[company culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=19823</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Follow this 3-step process to become a more effective leader.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Leadership has been and always will be the most valuable asset on earth. Without it, no amount of money, resources or talent will ever achieve sustainable success for any organization. But with it, all other odds and obstacles can be overcome.</p>
<p>Leadership is what moves us from point A to point B; leadership is what makes each of us all that we have the potential to be. Leadership is what gives us hope for a better tomorrow.</p>
<p>But no one ever said it was easy. Follow this 3-step process to become a more effective leader:</p>
<p><strong>1. Lead Yourself First</strong></p>
<p>The most important and most difficult person to lead will always be yourself. It is this aspect of leadership that will require the most discipline, commitment and determination. However, it is also an aspect that will reap the greatest rewards.</p>
<p>One of the most effective methods of leadership is to lead by example. Everything in an organization starts at the top; as a leader, the tempo you set will set the tone for how members within your organization interact with each other as well as others outside of your organization. This is a double-edged sword. It can give you great influence over creating a positive <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/01/22/three-ways-business-leaders-can-create-a-winning-company-culture/" target="_blank">company culture</a> within your organization. However, by the same token, the next time you are about to lose your temper towards an employee or counterpart, don’t be surprised when one of your employees decides it must be acceptable for him or her to do the same.</p>
<p>There is no simple and fast rule here, but generally speaking, not only should you know the difference between what is right and what is wrong (i.e. business ethics), but you should practice it and live your words each and every day. As a leader, you are on 24/7. There can be no transgressions. Conduct yourself with the same level of self-discipline and maturity that you expect from others — and you will get it.</p>
<p><strong>2. Cast Your Vision</strong></p>
<p>No matter how strong your leadership and persuasion skills are, without a <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2012/04/03/business-clarity-how-to-develop-a-clear-vision-for-your-company/" target="_blank">clear vision</a>, your team is going nowhere fast. One of the defining traits that separates leaders from everybody else is that they know where they are going two, five, 10, 15 and 25 years from now. They feel a strong sense of purpose, have a plan to get there, and most importantly, are able to communicate that to others.</p>
<p>The practice of casting a vision as a leader is two-fold. First, you must have a vision to begin with. But secondly, you must be able to clearly and vividly <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/04/30/do-employees-trust-you-11-entrepreneurs-reveal-how-to-build-credibility-as-a-leader" target="_blank">communicate this vision</a> to others in a compelling way that will persuade them to follow you. They have to believe in what you are proposing. You need to communicate to them why their lives will be better off for having achieved your vision.</p>
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		<title>13 Must-Read Business and Leadership Books for Entrepreneurs</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/03/13-must-read-business-and-leadership-books-for-entrepreneurs/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/03/13-must-read-business-and-leadership-books-for-entrepreneurs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 19:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[startup books]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=18733</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We asked entrepreneurs to divulge where they find their startup wisdom, leadership tips, business advice and much more. Here's a look at 13 must-read books they said we shouldn't overlook.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What books are you reading lately? We asked entrepreneurs to divulge where they find their startup wisdom, leadership tips, business advice and much more. Here&#8217;s a look at 13 must-read books they said we shouldn&#8217;t overlook:</p>
<p><strong>1. <i>4 Hour Work Week </i>by Timothy Ferriss</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;The book helped to show me the importance of working smart and not hard. The regular work week is 40 hours, but usually, if you master your time, all you work can be done in 4, [thus] leaving you time to connect with those you love and much more.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Casandra Roache, Life Coach for Female Entrepreneurs of <a href="http://www.InspireMany.com" target="_blank">InspireMany</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/InspireMany" target="_blank">InspireMany</a></p>
<p><strong>2. <i>Nature&#8217;s Secret Messages: Hidden in Plain Sight</i> by Elaine Wilkes</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Your intuition is profound for decision making. To access this wise guidance, unplug! Have nature be your reset button. Einstein said his most important discoveries were literally [made] outside the lab. When you discover nature, you get a clear head and greater perspective.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Elaine Wilkes of <a href="http://www.elainewilkes.com/" target="_blank">W2</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/elainewilkes" target="_blank">elainewilkes</a></p>
<p><strong>3. <i><strong>Good to Great</strong> - Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don&#8217;t</i> </strong><strong>by</strong> <strong>Jim Collins</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;This massive best seller is popular for good reason; Collins sets out a compelling, scientifically backed, argument as to why some companies far outperform others in the marketplace. If you want to know the real secrets behind business success, along with the sort of leader you should aspire to be and how to build a company that trumps the competition, whatever sector you are in, then this is essential reading. For me, reading this book helped me identify what I was really passionate about, challenged many of my business assumptions, and inspired me to start my own business. &#8221;</p>
<p>- Simon Ash, Founder and Director of <a href="http://www.therightquestions.org" target="_blank">The Right Questions</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/TheRightQs" target="_blank">TheRightQs</a></p>
<p><strong>4. <i>The Go-Giver</i> by Bob Burg</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all about being amazingly helpful, even when the immediate payoff is not apparent. This opened my eyes to the obvious-in-retrospect fact that the universe has a way of taking care of those who provide huge value to others.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Nick Loper, Founder of <a href="http://www.shoesniper.com" target="_blank">ShoeSniper.com</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/nloper" target="_blank">nloper</a></p>
<p><strong>5. <i>Business by the Book</i> by Larry Burkett</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Today&#8217;s consumers make purchasing decisions based on a company&#8217;s core values, and Burkett gives entrepreneurs a template for ethical business success. Another classic must-read for any small business owner is <i>The E-Myth</i> by Michael E. Gerber; if you don&#8217;t know the difference between &#8220;working on&#8221; and &#8220;working in&#8221; your business, you owe it to yourself to read this book.&#8221;</p>
<p>- Eric Koby, Principal of <a href="http://www.fatrabbitcreative.com" target="_blank">fatrabbit CREATIVE</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/thefatrabbit" target="_blank">thefatrabbit</a></p>
<p><strong>6. </strong><strong><i>The Work Revolution</i> by Julie Clow.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Whether you work for yourself as your own boss or work for someone else, there&#8217;s a <em>ton</em> of advice on increasing productivity while focusing on not only the right things, but what&#8217;s important too. Some of us entrepreneurs might not be ready to quit our full-time jobs yet, and this book will help us flourish in whatever business capacity we&#8217;re [currently] in. It&#8217;s all about changing the way the world sees work!&#8221;</p>
<p>- Carrie Smith, Digital Strategist of <a href="http://www.carefulcents.com" target="_blank">Careful Cents</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/carefulcents" target="_blank">carefulcents</a></p>
<p><strong>7. <i>7 Habits of Highly Effective People </i>by Stephen R. Covey</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Follow the 7 tips, [the most important of which being] &#8216;Begin with the End in mind.&#8217;  As entrepreneurs, we can sometimes be opportunistic with the clients we work with.  To begin with the end in mind, a client must match up to your longer term objectives and goals to be a good fit now.  It requires a lot of discipline. &#8221;</p>
<p>- Chris Malloy, Event Producer of <a href="http://www.ChrisMalloyEvents.com" target="_blank">ChrisMalloyEvents</a>: @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/ChrisMalloy" target="_blank">ChrisMalloy</a></p>
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		<title>The Curator: UK vs. US Startups, #Smallbiz CRM, Coworking, Corporate Ecosystem, Business Plans, Make Change Happen</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/03/the-curator-uk-vs-us-startups-smallbiz-crm-coworking-corporate-ecosystem-business-plans-make-change-happen/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/03/the-curator-uk-vs-us-startups-smallbiz-crm-coworking-corporate-ecosystem-business-plans-make-change-happen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Curator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yfsentrepreneur.com/?p=19881</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.</i></p>
<h4>Survey Finds UK Startups Upbeat On Growth And Revenues, Downbeat On Fundraising</h4>
<p>&#8220;Startups in the UK are upbeat about the future and usually more profitable (comparatively) than their US counterparts (which tend to focus on growth over revenues). But they find raising Series A money difficult, with 90% of entrepreneurs saying the UK fundraising environment is “challenging” &#8230;&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/01/survey-finds-uk-startups-upbeat-on-growth-and-revenues-downbeat-on-fundraising/" target="_blank">TechCrunch</a>)</p>
<h4>Why Your Small Business Needs CRM</h4>
<p>&#8220;A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is probably one of the most valuable systems that any small business can implement. It is as important as the people that are hired and will have a more significant effect long term than any one employee.&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/aileron/2013/05/01/why-your-small-business-needs-crm/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<h4>Five Reasons Startups Should Consider Coworking Spaces</h4>
<p>&#8220;Co-working schemes are on the rise, which is great news for startups looking for their first office space. They are a fantastic alternative to leasing your own office, which brings with it long term contracts that can be impractically inflexible for a small business.&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://www.techvibes.com/blog/five-reasons-startups-should-consider-coworking-spaces-2013-04-30" target="_blank">TechVibes</a>)</p>
<h4>What Startups Need to Understand About The Booming Corporate Entrepreneurship Ecosystem</h4>
<p>&#8220;Every year, large corporations spend billions of dollars on supporting, investing in, marketing to, and donating to small businesses, startups, and the organizations that support them. These numbers are rising dramatically as interest in the entrepreneurship ecosystem rises. Startups who understand this new landscape stand to save money via discounted products and services, receive money via loans, investments, licensing, procurement, and acquisition, build brand &amp; customer base via partnerships, and access startup support.&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelsimmons/2013/04/25/what-startups-need-to-understand-about-the-booming-corporate-entrepreneurship-ecosystem/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<h4>Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans</h4>
<p>&#8220;Steve Blank pities those poor professors stuck teaching tired business plan courses. &#8216;I’d be embarrassed if I was on a faculty teaching ‘How to Write a Business Plan for New Ventures,’ says the serial entrepreneur turned business school professor. Blank is at the forefront of a growing movement of B-school professors teaching the next generation of Mark Zuckerbergs. Entrepreneurship, he argues, is about getting out into the world and doing—not simply researching and writing.&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-25/real-entrepreneurs-dont-write-business-plans" target="_blank">Bloomberg Businessweek</a>)</p>
<h4>10 Questions Startups Use to Make Change Happen</h4>
<p>&#8220;Change is hard. I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. In both cases, it’s easy for them to become frustrated and give up, since most have never been trained in change management, and don’t even know what questions to ask.&#8221; (<a title="Startup and Small Business News, YFS Magazine" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/martinzwilling/2013/04/19/10-questions-startups-use-to-make-change-happen/" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)</p>
<p>Connect with YFS Magazine on <a href="https://twitter.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>Did you enjoy this article? If so, <a href="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/subscribe/" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to YFS Magazine and never miss an update. Don’t forget to make our friendship official and join Young, Fabulous, and Self-Employed entrepreneurs on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YFSMagazine" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>Photo: <a href="http://www.truereligionbrandjeans.com/" target="_blank">True Religion</a></p>
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		<title>Headliners: Latest News About Startups, Small Business and Epicness</title>
		<link>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/01/headliners-latest-news-about-startups-small-business-and-epicness/</link>
		<comments>http://yfsentrepreneur.com/2013/05/01/headliners-latest-news-about-startups-small-business-and-epicness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 19:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Staff Contributors</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[headliners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business news]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[YFS Magazine's Headliner's roundup delivers the best news bytes -- reporting on the people, places and small businesses that make the entrepreneurship ecosystem thrive. We'll cut through the clutter and keep you connected with news-worthy people and highlights. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>YFS Magazine&#8217;s Headliner&#8217;s roundup delivers the best news bytes &#8212; reporting on the people, places and small businesses that make the entrepreneurship ecosystem thrive. We&#8217;ll cut through the clutter and keep you connected with news-worthy people and highlights. If you’ve got news to share, <a href="mailto:editorial@yfsentrepreneur.com?Subject=Headliners News Tip" target="_blank">get in touch</a>.</i></p>
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<h2>The Young and Funded</h2>
<p>Kickstart Seed Fund recently closed its Fund II in the amount of $26 million. <strong><a href="http://kickstartseedfund.com/" target="_blank">Kickstart Seed Fund</a> syndicates seed-stage investments in tech companies</strong> across the Intermountain West. The fund has invested in 24 companies to date, including Needle, Ecoscraps, and Chargeback Guardian, and has already experienced two exits with Panoptic Security in November of 2012 and GroSocial in January of 2013.</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-19760" style="margin-right: 10px;" title="Leap2" src="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Leap2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Kansas City-based startup <a href="http://www.leap2search.com/" target="_blank">Leap2,</a></strong> a mobile search startup that  raised $380K in angel funding last July, recently announced that it has closed $1.6M in a new seed round from individual and institutional investors led by <a href="http://www.dundeeventurecapital.com/" target="_blank">Dundee Venture Capital</a>, with support from <a href="http://www.openairep.com/" target="_blank">OpenAir Equity</a>, <a href="http://linseedcapital.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Linseed Capital</a> and <a href="http://wichitatechnology.com/" target="_blank">Wichita Technology Corporation</a>.</p>
<p>Entrepreneurs, Toby and Josh Simmons are “all in” on the <strong>online sports betting industry</strong> with the recent launch of <strong><a href="https://www.favourit.com/" target="_blank">Favourit</a></strong> – a web and iOS social sports betting platform that enables fans and bettors to wager virtual currency or real cash (in regulated markets) on the most popular sports all over the globe, while enabling users to share and access information with other fans and expert tipsters. The startup has raised $3.6 million in funding to date, and <strong>just launched a Series A investment round hoping to secure another $5.3 million in capital</strong>.</p>
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<h2>Startup Experiments &amp; Studies</h2>
<p><strong><img class=" wp-image-19761 alignright" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="SpareFoot" src="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/SpareFoot-300x198.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="158" />Austin-based startup <a href="http://www.sparefoot.com/" target="_blank">SpareFoot</a></strong> launches <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpareFoot?sk=app_228910107186452" target="_blank">social marketing experiment</a> to make a boring niche industry (self-storage) fun with creative marketing, by giving one lucky college student the chance to expand their horizons beyond ramen noodles with a fancy mini-fridge from Nostalgia Electrics. They&#8217;ve decked it out with custom SpareFoot decals and stocked it full of Monster energy drinks to reach out to stressed and hungry students during college move-out season.</p>
<p>An <a href="http://www.kauffman.org/research-and-policy/kauffman-legalzoom-startup-confidence-index-first-quarter-2012.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom study</strong></a>, released this week, suggests early-stage business owners’ confidence is climbing, according to the first-quarter 2013 reports. Eighty-four percent of entrepreneurs said they are confident or very confident in their companies’ prospects for profitability in the next 12 months, which is the highest confidence level since the survey launched early last year and reflects a 1 percent increase over the fourth-quarter 2012 survey.</p>
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<h2>Disruptive Founders</h2>
<p><strong>San Francisco startup <a href="http://www.coworks.com/" target="_blank">Coworks</a></strong> launches as the first and only online platform connecting freelancers and buyers based on recommendations from their professional and social networks to help businesses in search of the most efficient way to find high-quality freelancers.</p>
<p><strong>Chicago-based startup <a href="http://hallmadden.com/" target="_blank">Hall &amp; Madden</a></strong> just launched their designer men&#8217;s clothing site out of beta. Branded after co-founders, Richard Hall and McGregor Madden, the two entrepreneurs have blended vertical manufacturing and AutoCAD technology to laser cut men&#8217;s dress shirts to designer perfection &#8212; a process allowing them to reverse engineer quality shirts for a quarter of the price, but at the same if not better quality than that of Burberry or BOSS brands.</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft  wp-image-19762" style="margin-right: 10px;" title="legalforce" src="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/legalforce-300x200.png" alt="" width="270" height="180" />The legal world&#8217;s new retail experience.</strong> <a href="http://www.trademarkia.com/bookflip/" target="_blank"><strong>LegalForce</strong></a>, a Palo Alto web startup founded by trademark and patent attorney Raj Abhyanker, is now available as a downtown 10,000 sq ft retail store that allows locals to stop by the shop for walk-in legal advice, browse tablets, grab a cup of coffee or join a seminar in the friendly, coffee-shop style setting. Their located one of the most sought-after blocks in Silicon Valley: University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto (directly across the Apple Store).</p>
<p><strong>Hit or miss? <a href="http://www.hitbliss.com/" target="_blank">HitBliss</a></strong> husband and wife team, Andrew Prihodko and Sharon Peyer, launch an online video streaming service that allows consumers to watch specific ads that interest them to earn money that they can use to purchase and view the latest hit movies or TV shows. HitBliss allows consumers to watch ads on their time and be rewarded with popular viewing entertainment.<br />
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<h2>Business Book Crush<strong><br />
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<p><strong><img class="alignright  wp-image-19763" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="What’s the Future of Business" src="http://yfsentrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/What’s-the-Future-of-Business-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="179" />[WTF] What&#8217;s the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences </strong></p>
<p>Brian Solis (<a href="https://twitter.com/briansolis" target="_blank">@<em>briansolis</em></a>), a globally recognized thought leader in new media reveals: <a href="http://www.wtfbusiness.com/" target="_blank">What’s the Future of Business?</a> is not a question— it’s an answer. Solis suggests that survival requires constantly adapting as your customers’ behavior changes. You need new systems, processes, and intentions in place to recognize disruption as it happens, assess new opportunities, and quickly test new ideas. He&#8217;s inspiring business leaders to rethink business models and customer and employee relationships in order to create amazing, real-world experiences.</p>
<p><strong>Sales Seduction: Why Do You Say Yes?</strong></p>
<p>Rhondalynn Korolak (<a href="https://twitter.com/rhondalynn" target="_blank"><em>@rhondalynn</em></a>), the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sales-Seduction-Why-You-Say/dp/0980557860/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1354483198&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank">Sales Seduction: Why Do You Say Yes?</a>, shares a practical step-by-step strategy that small business owners can use to make their marketing messages (no matter which channel they advertise in) more effective and impactful. Neuromarketing is an expensive and technically complex science &#8212; and big brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Apple have been using these insights for years to seduce and persuade us. Korolak aims to convey this knowledge and a practical strategy to small business owners.</p>
<p>Connect with YFS Magazine on <a href="https://twitter.com/YFSMagazine">Twitter</a>.</p>
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<p>Photo: <a href="http://www.blanco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories1_11202_13554_-1__B" target="_blank">Blanco</a></p>
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