Posts by Ted Jenkin
5 Things to Do When You Start a Home Business
Many people dream about starting a business that they can run while they are still wearing their pajamas. You may be a mom or dad who is wanting to run a little side business while your children are still growing up. Or perhaps you have come up with a special recipe for brownies or cookies…
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Can I Hire My Kids?
For most business owners, there is always a blurred line between your personal life and your business life. Despite your best efforts (or because of them) your children often end up getting involved somehow. But let me ask you a question: is your child better at Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms than you? What…
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The Financial Cost of Getting a DUI
Most people don’t think about how costly getting a DUI could be because nobody ever plans to get a DUI. We plan for retirement, we plan for our kids’ education, but it is absurd to contemplate setting aside funds for the unlikely event that we might get a DUI. In addition to the financial costs,…
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Passion, Persistence, and Perseverance
Lessons one through nine of my entrepreneur series were lessons extracted from my own business and other business owners across the country over the past 20 years. Undoubtedly, in your first year of business you will make your fair share of mistakes, just like anyone starting a new venture. There are so many valuable pieces…
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Business Execution Mistakes
I remember growing my career in management with a large Fortune 500 company, when my Executive Vice President told me something one day. He said, “Ted, execution is the one thing that separates the good from the great. Let me put it to you this way. If you don’t execute, you’ll be executed.” I guess…
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The Marketing Plan
Marketing your products and services is the lifeblood of a new business. While you can ultimately have all kinds of long term business strategies, without having a steady stream of new revenue your new business venture can close up in a short period of time. In my opinion, if you look at the three big…
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6 Important Lessons for Every Entrepreneur
Most people daydream about the idea of running their own business. The freedom to have no boss, set your work hours, and control your own financial destiny. However, running your own business doesn’t come without taking on some bumps and bruises. Here are 6 important lessons that every entrepreneur should keep in the back pocket. Entrepreneurs…
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Poor Staffing Decisions
One of the lessons I learned early in my management career is the phrase “you have to put the right talent on the bus.” While I understood its meaning, it took many years to realize how important hiring decisions are to grow an organization the right way. I also felt the pain of making poor…
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Avoid Rookie Mistakes
I am not a professional athlete. However, I would imagine that the rookie year on any of the professional sports circuits has to be daunting in nature. Not only are you in front of some type of large crowd, it takes some time getting used to all of the decisions you have to make to…
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Should I Lend Money to a Friend?
A late night call comes in from an old college friend of yours who now lives miles away. You spend an hour on the phone reminiscing about the good old days in the fraternity, and then your buddy hits you up with a question that comes out of left field. “I’ve kind of hit a…
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