Surfing the entrepreneurial wave on the web

There are a lot of websites out there. A LOT. There are also a lot of business and entrepreneurial websites out there. How do you know which ones stand out amongst the rest? We’ve compiled a list of 10 great blogs to get the entrepreneurial juices flowing.

Onstartups.com – Run by HubSpot co-founder Dharmesh Sha, On Startups offers advice and insights for entrepreneurs.

Startuplawyer.com – An invaluable source for entrepreneurs, Ryan Roberts’ website breaks down the legal issues of startup life.

Venturehacks.com – Solid, no-nonsense advice for startups from entrepreneurs turned investors.

Quora.com – This question-answering style website has some great responses from established entrepreneurs and techies.

Bizfilings.com/toolkit – A how-to guide for entrepreneurs, this site serves up advice for running a business.

Allbusiness.com – Chock full of small business advice, this site offers tips on topics ranging from SEO to office etiquette.

Escapefromcubiclenation.com – An inspirational blog from a founder who left an office job for entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneur.com – Always a classic, this online magazine offers a mix of business news and strategy.

500Hats.com – Founder of accelerator 500 Startups, Dave McClure’s blog covers entrepreneurship in a personable way.

BlogMaverick.com – Billionaire Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban writes blog posts in his distinct, no-nonsense tone.

EO Detroit March Accelerator Spotlight: Todd Rammler, Michigan CFO Associates

Meet Todd Rammler, EO Accelerator and President of Michigan CFO Associates! He’s this month’s Accelerator Spotlight! Get to know more about Todd, his company and his experience with Accererator!

What has been the most important thing you have taken away from the program?

As a finance guy, I am very left brain-oriented. Facts & figures rule, so I hadn’t spent much energy on what I viewed as the fluffy stuff – core values, company culture, mission statements, etc. When we began the quarterly day covering these topics, I was pretty skeptical that I would get anything really useful out of the session. But our facilitator, Scott Fritz, did a fantastic job of presenting the material in a very compelling and practical manner. Getting clear on these issues and integrating them throughout our company really is the first step to solving our challenges with scaling the business. This has been the most important takeaway so far, and really changed my thinking.

Have you noticed a change in your business so far?  

Yes. We have taken significant time to define our values, culture, mission etc., for practical use in creating a deliberate recruitment & hiring process as well as employee evaluation process. We are already using it when interviewing potential new hires, and it is helping us make better hiring decisions.

What were your biggest fears going into the program? how have you dealt with those fears? 

Honestly, I’m a few years older than most of the other participants, so I had a few hang-ups wondering if my business would be as big, as profitable, or as “successful” as other’s in the room. Frankly I didn’t want to be the old guy in a room with younger people who were more successful and running better businesses than I was. This of course was all head-trash. We are all in the program with the same goal – accelerating the growth of our businesses. It doesn’t matter where you enter the program; it matters where you are going tomorrow. And everyone in both Accelerator and EO has been incredibly warm, welcoming, supportive and willing to help.

What advice do you have for future accelerants?  

Get started and get involved. The way to grow personally and professionally is to expose your own limitations and address them. We all have different areas that are holding us back – some we know about, some we don’t. The content of the program is excellent and will expose those limiting areas and encourage you to address them. And the peer interaction with other entrepreneur’s is priceless. The motto, “Own your own experience,” is frequently repeated in our group, and the meaning is to get involved and take initiative to get the most out of the program. You will get out what you put in!

What has been your favorite exercise your group has participated in?  

Our Accountability Group leader (Darton Case) had us create an org chart 2-3 years into the future. It sounds simplistic, but it really got us thinking about exactly what resources we’re going to need to hit our revenue goals. It was a great exercise.

The other ‘favorite’ so far was the Thrive event in Columbus. The Detroit chapter (both EO and Accelerators) chartered a bus for the 4 hour trip, and we rode together to the event. The event was a great experience, and the bus ride was a terrific opportunity to get to know a bunch of really great people!

Focus on your strengths

“My bad habits aren’t my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.” — Layne Staley

Think about something that you aren’t good at. Now forget about it. Don’t think about it, don’t look at it, don’t even mention it. Now think about something you ARE good at. Something that you enjoy. Something that fulfills you. Focus on that. Focus on growing that strength.

It seems counterintuitive to discard a weak skill, but think about it like this: Why spend your valuable time and energy trying to groom a skill from bad to average when you could focus on turning something good into some great? Do you want to be the world’s most average at something or the world’s greatest?

Exactly.

When running a business, it’s so important to recognize strengths and weaknesses to build your company into the best it can be.

You don’t like proofreading?
Donna LOVES proofreading?
Let Donna proofread.

In the long run, you’ll have more time to devote to the things you’re the best at and your employee (Donna) feels fulfilled knowing she’s contributing something she loves doing.

If you’re team is having trouble identifying their strengths and weaknesses, consider a program like Strengths Finder. The book features an online test to assess strengths and how to capitalize on them.

EO Detroit March Member Spotlight: Andrew Milia

Meet Andrew Milia, EO Detroit Member and President of Franklin Property Corporation. He’s this month’s member spotlight and he’s filled with insight. Get to know Andrew, his company, and his experience with EO and entrepreneurship!

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? 

Tenacity, passion and the emotional capacity to take huge risks.

How do you generate new ideas?

I love to read and to study businesses of all kinds. I try to think outside the box and apply concepts from other industries to our real estate business.

Name one business failure and what have you learned from it?

During the past real estate recession, there were several real estate deals which required the restructuring of debt and equity. Although restructuring is technical and financial in nature, it is really a business of managing human interaction, emotions, and a long drawn out negotiation process with an ever changing set of circumstances. I learned that this process, like most other issues in business and life in general are successfully handled with forthright communication, persistence, and diligence.

What is your greatest business fear, and how do you manage it?

The real estate business is fraught with extreme risk.  Our industry is subject to severe and unpredictable cycles which, I believe, are more relentless than in  most other industries. There is always a fear of failure in managing during  downturns or even believing that there will be an upturn again.  I manage this fear through faith, prayer and a steadfast effort of coming to work every day and trying my best.

How do you define success?

Having a strong relationship with the Lord , having a happy family life and having a business where I enjoy going to work every day.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

Although it was an extremely stressful and time consuming endeavor, my most successful business moment was the successful outcome of taking on a large public company for breaching a contract.  The company had unlimited legal and financial resources and we ultimately prevailed through sheer tenacity.

What is one thing that no one knows about you?

I grew up across the street from a kid named Tommy Mapother.  He shortened his name later in life to Tom Cruise.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

Quicken Loans in Detroit, Michigan.

What is your favorite EO memory?

Meeting a fellow EO member at an EO social event and ultimately putting together a large complicated land deal from that initial meeting.

What is your favorite thing or place in Detroit?

Events at the Detroit Athletic Club.

In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.

Engrossing.