Posts for November, 2008

It’s amazing to realize that the biggest barrier preventing us from moving forward is often ourselves! If we could just let go of our doubts and have faith in ourselves, we would be a lot better off and on our way to experiencing an amazing life! What is holding you back? Is it fear of failure [...]  Read more »

I am so flattered and thankful for the many people who read and participate in the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog. To be honest, as I sit here at my keyboard, I am choking up a little bit.  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES Jacob and Susan, Founders of Doody Calls Company DoodyCalls Started January 2000 Service Clients: We scoop the poop so you don’t have to! Franchise Operations: We currently have 36 franchises across the U.S. Startup cash We started DoodyCalls with very little money but lots of hustle; we didn’t have much money at the time. To launch the franchising operations, we initially [...]  Read more »

Shoe string budget or not, miserable economy or not, your long term entrepreneurial success is contingent upon making more than you spend. At the end of the day, all that matters is if you are profitable or not. You get there by making more and spending less. Here are tips for the spending less part:  Read more »

There are songs about it (think U2), there are stores named after it (think Pier 1) and every sports team on the planet says they are number one when they have a good day. It’s good to be number one. Now think about two. There are few songs about number two, fewer stores and I don’t believe any team marches around proudly cheering “We are number two.”  Read more »

Company Logic Wear, LLC Started Formed April 2008 and launched website/e-tail store November 2008. Start Up Cost $700 Favorite Food Mixed bag on that one…I like southern cooking and Filipino food. A Great Night Out $200 Favorite Movie I have more than one: The Thomas Crown Affair, The 300, Matrix, Godfather (all of them), Scarface, Star Wars (all of them), Batman and Ironman. Fly, drive, bike or [...]  Read more »

Company Scent-Sations, Inc. Started September, 2002 Service Scent-Sations offers 3 “sheets” of service 1. Provides scented candle lovers with the best performing scented candle on the planet 2. Provides the opportunity for anyone who needs to earn extra income 3. Provides a gateway for the entrepreneur minded person to develop a business with unlimited potential for limited expense Startup Cash $399.90, the fast pack was [...]  Read more »

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received didn’t come from a person – it came from my truck. In fact, everyone who has ever driven has gotten this same advice. All you have to do is look at the side view mirror. “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.” As an entrepreneur I like to add in one word – "Shiny".  Read more »

“Your idea is stupid.” Has anyone ever told you that your business idea won’t make it? That your idea is too odd, too unique or too different? That you need to stick with what is proven? Here is the dealio, your entrepreneurial success is almost exclusively determined by following your passion, servicing the living hell out of it, and staying committed to your own success, relentlessly. Outside of you, the only other thing that matters is that you find customers willing to spend enough to healthily grow your business. And you can figure that part out using the Focus Five Strategy.  Read more »

// --> // --> // --> Entrepreneur Strategies For Growing In The Down Economy (Part II) from Toilet Paper on Vimeo. LINK TO PART I of Series – How to Start & Grow a Healthy Business in a Recession Subscribe to Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Blog and you too can get this crap delivered right to your bathroom (or [...]  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES Luke Walling, Founder of Walling Data Corporation Company Name Walling Data Corporation Started Walling Data began in August of 1994 as a young teenagers dream, in the basement of his parent’s house with no startup funding. Age 30 Service Walling Data represents a group of divisions that offer technology distribution and support services throughout North America, traditional break/fix repair services [...]  Read more »

For me and so many of my friends, this is the first time in our adult lives that we have experienced such an economic crisis. All around me I hear stories of cutting back, friends losing jobs, 401K's vanishing. We are a people so clearly without control of our financial destinies! ...Or so it feels...  Read more »

Most people know how they would answer the question, “What would you do with a million dollars?” The replies are usually about stuff – new house, new car, bigger this, bigger that. Or experiences, such as travel, staying home with the kids, or getting a college education.  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES Christopher Boucher, Founder of Prince Consulting & Services Company Prince Consulting & Services Started May 2006 Age 24 Service Quality delegation of services Startup Cash A bunch of credit cards. I had no cash. I had to pay for my business cards, I made my own website, and needed to pay for gas and transportation to the city everyday. College La Salle University Favorite food Free [...]  Read more »

A funny top 10 list, contributed by TPEs.  Read more »

In this season of economic and social turmoil, how can we stay optimistic about our future? How do we maintain focus on our goals…our dreams? Here are seven (cheap) tips: 1. Go on a technology and/or news “fast” A news fast – avoiding newspapers, the Internet and TV – can give you a much-needed break from draining, disheartening [...]  Read more »

VIDEO - Mike's Vlog on Impatience  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES Ryan Coleman, Founder of Nextforce LLC   Company Name Nextforce, LLC. Started Fall 2006 Start-Up Cash $1,300 Founder Ryan Coleman Favorite Movie Toss up: 300, Usual Suspects, Good Will Hunting Biggest Complaint There are too many people who are afraid of being creative and taking risks. Biggest Accomplishment Launching Nextforce despite the naysayers!  Putting on the war paint, checking my pride at the door and moving toward [...]  Read more »

Here are 54 PR tips, that TPEs have shared. Pick the ones best suited for you and get some front page PR.  Read more »

Change sucks. Strike that. Waiting for change, sucks. Once we know we want something, we want it instantly. We don’t want to wait for graduation, for choice clients, to buy a house, to find a new relationship. We want what we want and we want it NOW.  Read more »

This is a recording of a guest call in from Mike Michalowicz, on Ciari Daykin's Rockstar Wedding audio program. Audio includes tips & tricks to navigating the down economy and guests pose questions.  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES Lindsay Harvey, Founder of Loverly Ink Company Name Loverly Ink Year Launched October 2007 The Founder Lindsay Harvey Age 20 The Product We create and hand screen-print bags, fabric, patches, and other accessories. Startup Cash About $200 (theexcess from my financial aid). College Junior at UCLA. The Pet A stuffed dinosaur named Heartasaurus. He’s a trouble maker that one. (Just check the photo). Favorite Quote “The opposite of war isn’t peace, [...]  Read more »

In 2001 I moved from Boca Raton, Florida, to Montreal to study business at McGill University. Within a few weeks of my freshman year it became clear that my parents were no longer able to offer me financial support and that I needed to find a job. I cringed at the idea of working nights and weekends, between classes, and felt that my passion for business would be wasted serving coffee at the local meeting place. Instead I decided to launch a company in my spare time.  Read more »

VIDEO - Mike's Vlog on Believe It to See It  Read more »

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES David Brundage, Founder of Surface Pros Laser Etching, Good Plant and Exuve Company Name 1. Surface Pros Laser Etching, launched September 2007 2. The Good Plant, launched December 2007 3. Exuve, launched July 2008 The Guy Behind It All David Brundage Age 26 Surfce Pros Service Large format custom laser etching. Startup Cash Just the monthly payments on the laser etching machine that we financed. Pet I [...]  Read more »