This blog was started on a whim. Since I spend a lot of time reading various online and offline publications, I am aware of and follow a few blogs. All of them are dedicated to business, entrepreneurship and the like. Make no bones about it, this blog is not going to have much of a social conscience – its here to talk about business. I am doing this primarily to help with my Adult ADD (undiagnosed, but it will become clear after a few posts that I do have it). My brain just doesn’t know how to slow down, let alone shut off. I don’t get enough sleep. I like to sleep – it relaxes me when I make time for 20 minutes of neurobiological refreshment (a term my Dad invented) – but I just don’t get enough of it. Maybe this blog will help me download some of my thoughts, ideas, concerns and other things that fill up this fat (fat as in overweight, not fat as in full of knowledge) little head of mine.
Either way – I should probably start by introducing myself to some of the new readers that have found me thru Twitter and other means. Why would anyone read what I have to say about being an entrepreneur, about business, about my experiences and more? I have owned and own businesses with hundreds of employees and double digit millions in sales. I also am completely self-made. No inheritance from Grandpa, no silver spoon from Dad (although he has taught me more than money could ever provide). I am a boot strapper. If I don’t make it, I have no fallback. That makes me a little bit interesting (maybe). I find that a lot of successful entrepreneurs that I come across have a dark secret that they want to keep hidden forever; they had their Daddy give them money to start their business (or even worse, their father-in-law). I don’t see what the big deal is; but I do think it makes their stories and experiences as an entrepreneur a little less interesting. Back to me…kidding. Actually, I’m not. Let me get a few more things out of the way about me that may or may not compel you to follow this blog. I have been involved in some successes and failures, both of which I will chronicle in some detail, but not excruciatingly personal detail. Even though I am active on Twitter and have this blog, I am a somewhat private person.
I am 35 years old. I am happily married (my wife is one of the main reasons I have had any success at all) and have one little girl. I have a BS in Management as well as an MBA. I am not the best employee (that’s why I am an entrepreneur) and was an okay student during my undergrad. I got my MBA to try and change that, and enjoyed that experience. It’s funny how I enjoyed my MBA much more and that equaled better results. Either way, I wanted to shed the “dropped out of high school” image that so often accompanies successful entrepreneur stories. I am tired of those. What is wrong with putting yourself through school, even graduate school, while you start and build your companies? I think there is way to much romanticism put into the gun-slinging dropout that makes it big. To be honest, I haven’t used my college education all that much, but I would do it all again in a second. Not for the intellectual knowledge, but because it helped teach me how to be organized (somewhat), how to be more disciplined, how to do things that you don’t want to do and do them well, how to get along with people you don’t like and wouldn’t normally associate with, and more. So, would-be entrepreneurs, go to school (unless you start Google in your dorm room – then you can drop out).
That’s enough about me for now. I am sure much more will naturally come up as the blogs continue. I will tell you about some of the deals I am working on as they come along. Until then, good night and thanks for listening. I feel better already – maybe I will get a little sleep???? Maybe I will lay awake thinking about my next post. I hope this doesn’t backfire on me!
Thanks again for reading and following. I hope to have you comment when you want to. I read and ponder EVERY comment as they are all interesting to me. Please talk with me, communicate with me and help us to make this a place of discussion. Thanks again!
-Alex
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These are the kind of blogs I really enjoy reading. They are rare in the business circle but are a fresh reminder that you don’t always have to so “branded” and all that garbage. Great stuff.
I got tested and diagnosed with ADD a year ago. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule is the hardest part for me and I REALLY try. I took the psychologist’s advice and went to a naturopathic doctor but it didn’t work out too well. I finally went to my regualr doctor and got some meds (Concerta). Wow. This has increased my productivity, focus, and lessened my frustration more than I can say.
Also, organizing my time with Stephen Covey’s four quadrants and separating my work space (I’m an entrepreneur as well) from where I do homework has had a big impact. I’m planning on writing a blog about it in the near future.
I feel better now too!
One more thing, I appreciate what you said about college. I recently (2wks ago) moved away from the “I don’t need college, I’m an entrepreneur” mindset I had for a few years and have decided to pursue a 4yr degree instead of just a 2yr… but I’ll still take your permission to drop out when my Google-ish business takes off.
-Ryan
Hey this is fitnessupermom from Twitter and I am just starting this blog thing and I was hoping you could tell me how do i get people to read the darn thing??? I am almost done with my e business site so I was hoping to generate leads from the blog for the business. I automatically started following you on twitter- how does this happen? I want that to happen for me.
Thanks for sharing who you are and your journey to being a successful entrepreneur many times.
It shows spirit and most importantly tenacity and drive. Your words help those of us new to that journey to keep trying no matter what.
I think one of the most important ways to get and keep customers is by building relationships. After all, people do business with people they like.
Hi Alex,
Your profile, background and thoughts are inspiring. You said you are
a Bad employee. I wanted to know what does it mean by a Bad employee and
how it is the sign that one is an Entrepreneur?
Thanks
Guri
“No Topic In Mind…”
Hmmm… I feel it is hilariously honest which is a plus that you speak about yourself in truth without flinching and express your thoughts. However, I did not graduate from college either. Iwould like to say congrats to you on your accomplishment but here is my situation. When I could sleep through every class and ace each one of my tests and assignments without trying very hard I knew that my professors were students aswell. They said that I wouldnt last one year with my 4.0 GPA. I still have it! When I ended that year of bad wishing and failure warnings I ended it at the top off my class.
I say that to say I was paying my way through school with my own marketing and promotion company called “Guerilla Marketing and Promotions”(GMP). I had 7 contracts for radio stations, nightclubs, restaurants and clothing stores to fulfill during the night. Why was I going to school? To learn how to be the best worker bee I could be. When at night I employeed over 35 of my fellow students to do what I was destined to be…The Boss!
By the way..I never received my associates…Do I still want it? Only to add to my list of accomplishments. Other than that its as useless as the american dollar bill being printed. Follow me on twitter: @powermagboss and my models: @powergirls .
Antoine Robinson
Alex,
How long have you had this here?
It is a strange admission to see a business blog mention “adult ADD” so flippantly, which I guess automatically sets you ahead of the pack on the honesty front. That, of course, is refreshing in a sea of business BS.
I like it.
@adrigonzo
Alex,
Thanks for the follow on twitter. With health care in the air, a fun topic is: What would health care look like if it were not dominated by big government and big insurance.
This is more of a fantasy project, but I have been working on a site called Medical Savings and Loan which discusses the radical transformation that would occur if, instead of pooled insurance, everyone had a private accout where they built up and spent resources as needed.