[eBook Code] Small Business, Big Vision (eBook Code, 1st)

Foreword Gary Whitehill xi

Preface xvii

Acknowledgments xxi

Permissions xxii

Introduction 1

Why You Need This Book and Why You Need a Big Vision 1

Our Story 3

Chapter 1 The Importance of Having BIG Vision 9

Entrepreneurial Profile: Dan Schawbel of Millennial Branding, LLC 13

Fuel Your Fire with Passion and Perseverance 16

Entrepreneurial Profile: Siamak Taghaddos and David Hauser of Grasshopper Group 22

Chapter 2 Rethinking Your Business Plan 25

The One-Page Business Plan 29

Entrepreneurial Profile: Brent Oxley of HostGator.com 35

The Finance-Centered Plan 38

Entrepreneurial Profile: Brock Blake of FundingUniverse 46

Chapter 3 Investors Out—Collaborators In! 51

Investors: A Question of Need versus Want 54

Entrepreneurial Profile: Gabriel Shaoolian of Blue Fountain Media 58

When Your Needs Call for Investors 62

Collaboration Is Key 63

An Advisory Board as a Replacement for Investors 65

Entrepreneurial Profile: Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends and BizSugar.com 69

Chapter 4 Hiring Employees: The Good, the Bad, and the Alternatives 77

The Magic of Leveraging Your Time 79

The Downside of Hiring Employees 80

Entrepreneurial Profile: Ali Brown of Ali International 83

The Best of Both Worlds 89

How to Find the Best Outsourced Workers 94

Entrepreneurial Profile: Daven Michaels of 123Employee.com 96

Chapter 5 Laser-Sighted Marketing through Social Media 101

The Magic of Social Media Marketing 106

Entrepreneurial Profile: Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV 108

Four Keys to Social Media Marketing Success 111

Entrepreneurial Profile: Mike Roberts of SpyFu.com 123

Chapter 6 From Entrepreneur to Icon: Achieving Expert Status 129

Embracing Your Expertise 132

Building Your Information Empire 133

Entrepreneurial Profile: Shama Hyder Kabani of The Marketing Zen Group 139

Chapter 7 The Socially Responsible Entrepreneur: It’s Not Always about You 143

Social Entrepreneurship Is True Entrepreneurship 146

Entrepreneurial Profile: Adam Braun of Pencils of Promise 148

Sustainability Is the New Bottom Line 151

Entrepreneurial Profile: Scott Harrison of charity: water 155

Chapter 8 Pulling a 180: The Business Turnaround 159

Flexibility Allows for Transformation 162

Entrepreneurial Profile: Matt Mickiewicz of SitePoint and 99designs 167

What to Do Before You Give Up 171

Entrepreneurial Profile: Mike Michalowicz of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur 177

Afterword 183

Resources 187

Epigraph Sources 195

Index 197