Community Newsletter
by Joshua Daniels

Entrepreneurial Initiative:
 Be a Contributor
 May 2013
"A machine has value only as it produces more than it consumes - so check your value to the community."  ~Martin H. Fischer 
 
To the reader, 
 
I decided to make this particular article's theme "Entrepreneurial Initiative: Be a Contributor" because it is such an integral part of commerce, community life, employment and social interaction. Taking personal entrepreneurial initiative is an especially important aspect of contributing to a community, and solidifies us as an innovative and valuable component. I'd like for you to consider the term "entrepreneurship" as more than just something practiced in a business setting, and apply the basic principals to becoming a better contributor as a family member, homeowner, employee or community member. Keep these thoughts in mind as you consider the different aspects of this newsletter, and I hope that what you find, provided throughout the article, to be informative, interesting, and helpful.
Calhoun County: On the Edge of a Business Boom?

     Stepping back and considering the economic, educational, and population conditions of Calhoun County, it is easy to come to the conclusion that big things are on the way for Calhoun County businesses. Already supported by a large industrial sector, Calhoun County workers have had access to well paying jobs, and their children the benefit of a well-funded education system for years. The tax base of local industrial plants alone has established a situation where coastal living coincides with low property taxes. Despite the poor economy in recent years, the Calhoun County median household income has grown by 20.67% since 2000, and outperformed the national growth rate by 1.5 percent. Industrial expansion in the area has created an increase in job availability to skilled workers, and the current population does not have the skilled labor force to support the job growth. The current housing available in Calhoun County is unable to accommodate the requirements of a growing population. If you need proof, just try and find an apartment locally. So, where is this all pointing?
 
   All things point to an inflow of skilled laborers looking to take advantage of the new jobs provided by the growing industrial sector. These prospective workers will bring families, purchase homes, and contribute to the local economy. The housing industry will have to grow to support these new additions, and will provide opportunities for further economic growth. Community growth means that there will be a higher demand for the goods and services necessary to support community members. In the midst of all this, there is opportunity for entrepreneurs who are willing to rise to the occasion, and find ways to capitalize on the growing economy, population, and regional affluence. I think that business in the coastal bend, in general, is heading towards a time of great success.

 

 

Affordable and Innovative 
Home Improvement Ideas:
Consider this, the building blocks of a community are the homes that it contains and the individuals/families that reside there. In effect, your home is one of the foremost contributions that you can make to a community, other than that of yourself and your family. Your home is a reflection of you, and the approach you take to community. Here are some innovative ideas to help you decorate and maintain your home. Don't forget to modify these examples when possible, so that they reflect you personally.
 Antique Dresser to Bathroom Vanity  
  
This is one home decoration idea that really looks nice, and can be pulled off on a tight budget. There are always solid antique dressers being sold dirt cheap at local garage sails, and you can typically get everything you need for this task for under $100- depending on if you hired anybody to help the project, and how patient you are in finding a good deal.The primary cost would be the time spent finding the right dresser (which you may have sitting in your garage already), and amount you spend during the actual conversion process. I think that, if you really get after it, this shouldn't take more than three weekends.

If you would like detailed instructions on how to convert an antique dresser into your own bathroom vanity then CLICK HERE.
  
INDUSTRIAL GRADE BAR-STOOL
These are stools made out of junkyard truck springs, and they are just too cool. This is a relatively easy and affordable project, and it shouldn't take more than a couple of weekends to complete. I think this would be the perfect idea to give your home or man-cave a tough industrial touch. Materials could easily be obtained at your local scrap or junkyard.

For instructions on how to make your very own bar-stools CLICK HERE.
  
INDUSTRIAL THEMED LAMP
Although this is not necessarily a piece that I'd recommend doing yourself, I chose to showcase this lamp because it represents an out-of-the-box idea that someone has devised to earn an income, and because of the innovative internet method that they are using to market it. This particular entrepreneur has created a unique product, that is made primarily of scrap parts, and is using a website called Etsy to market and sell their product. Etsy is a site that allows sellers of homemade products to conduct business from home. So, if you have a unique homemade product, but don't know how to go about reaching consumers, then Etsy is an option you should investigate. 

To check out the Etsy site that is selling these particular lamps 
 

WOODEN SIGNS- DISTRESSED LOOK
The "distressed look" is quickly becoming one of the more popular techniques for painting furniture and decor pieces. It does not take an artist to pull it off, and can be applied to just about any decorative piece you can paint. I'm particularly fond of the distressed signs because they are simple, and yet aesthetically pleasing. The sign in the photo on the left is one of my favorites, and I think that, coupled with some flowers, it is the ultimate project for any of you fellows who may be in the doghouse. I have done a couple of these signs myself and there really is nothing to it.
 
 
For details on creating your own distressed look decor CLICK HERE!
 

Cornhole
"An 
Olympic 
sport by 2024"
-Rhett and Link

Games are one of the best ways to generate community interaction, and cornhole has quickly become one of my favorite family games to play at a 
BBQ, beach day, or tailgating event. If you are not familiar with the game of cornhole, or you just want to see something hilarious, then click on this video by comedic musicians "Rhett and Link". It makes me laugh every time I watch it, and effectively explains the basic concept of the game. Making your own board is relatively easy, and can be accomplished over a weekend. I strongly recommend giving this game a whirl. Our family and friends LOVE it! 

 

 

For step-by-step instructions how to create your own cornhole board, and what supplies you'll need CLICK HERE.  

 



I hope you enjoyed this newsletter, and I look forward to hearing any feedback you have to offer. There is a link to a reader feedback survey on the right hand side of the newsletter. This survey makes it easy for me to compile and assess reviews, and I'd love to hear what you've got to say. Also, feel free to respond by email, and I'll do my best to answer your questions and comments in a timely manner. If you know of anyone who might enjoy reading this article, or receive future articles, then please feel free to forward or share on personal media venues. Thank you for reading, and I can't wait to send out the next newsletter!

p.s. Don't forget to take a second and think about how you can apply information from this letter to your personal business/life. Application is key.
 

Sincerely,
 

Joshua Daniels  
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Getting Down to 
Business
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Joshua Daniels

Many businesses start as one person's idea. The creator is often an entrepreneur who spots a gap in the market or a commercial opportunity. S/he turns the idea into a marketable product or service. There are four main types of business: manufacturing, wholesale, retail and service. Of course, you don't have to set up your own enterprise to be an entrepreneur. Being entrepreneurial simply means developing the right skills, attitudes and initiatives to make an innovative contribution to an organization. Some characteristics found in successful entrepreneurs, show they are:

  • Calculated Risk Takers
  • Achievement oriented
  • Willing to push through adversity
  • Highly motivated
  • A step ahead of competition
  • Innovative
  • Need based Contributors

Small businesses are vital to the success of the economy. Not only as they provide the success stories of the future, but also because they meet local needs (i.e. hairdresser, financial consultant, emergency plumber). They serve the needs of larger businesses through services like photography, printed stationery, catering and routine maintenance. Most United States businesses today are small. Two thirds of U.S businesses are owned and run by one person, and  90% of businesses employ less  than 6 people. They are also an important source of employment, and account for 57% of the American private-sector's employees. It is from these small companies that tomorrow's big names will probably arise. Indeed, even names like Bill Gates, Oprah, and Vera Wang were originally enlisted in the ranks of small business entrepreneurs. The bottom line is that these people saw a need, developed an innovative way to meet that need, and did the ground work to get their method to consumers. My question is why couldn't we do the same? Even in smaller towns, where the variety of needs is much smaller, there is opportunity in the unique characteristics of your community that can give you leverage over a broader market. For example, locally we have the resource of being located on the Gulf Coast. According to the Census Bureau, 39% of Americans live in coastal counties, which is large given only 10% of counties are classified as coastal. However, that means 61% of Americans would consider access to the Gulf a commodity. 61% of Americans is nearly 191.5 million people. A good entrepreneur could easily find a way to access that market through services like: beach rentals, guided fishing excursions, or the sale of beach memorabilia. This is where entrepreneurs have to find ways to market their business to customers. More and more small businesses are turning to the Internet as a marketing device.  When living in a small town, It is easy to forget that there are prospective clients out there both nationally and globally that can't access your local advertising. Businesses miss out on these potential clients when they only advertise at a local level. The web is a great tool to cost effectively access and engage those prospects. If your business does not have some form of website, then you are missing out on customers. According to a recent government survey, 60% of Americans have internet access, and 63% say they expect to locate information and services they are interested in via the internet. So, without a website you have lost influence over sixty percent of the American market, and that doesn't even compare to what you are leaving on the table globally. E-Commerce was reported to top 1 trillion dollars in sales this past year, and is projected to grow over 18 percent in 2013. What does this mean for you, the reader? I think that there are two very specific things that this information should cause you to consider: 

 

First, you need to find ways to make your business a factor in the world market. Even though your primary source of income may be based locally, you should have some aspect or sector of your business that is accessible on a global scale, and it may take you stepping back and taking some time to discover something to offer. Setting aside some time in your work week, just to brainstorm for marketing ideas, should be a line item in your business plan. 

Second, you need to realize that a website simply is not enough. You need a marketing strategy for your website. Your website is representing your business at a 24 hours a day/365 days a year capacity. It needs to be up to date, and it needs to be maximized as a resource. In 2013, more people will use their phone to access the web than their PC, so your website should be smartphone friendly. Also, social media is growing on a global scale, and your website needs to be a part of that because, especially at a local level, it allows your social life to broadcast your business. Another important thing to keep in mind, is that If you are experiencing a low amount of traffic, then you need to consider ways to make your website more searchable. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of making your website more likely to appear on search engines like Bing or Google. For many people, SEO is a completely foreign concept, but is is one you should become more acquainted with because it will only continue grow in importance. You can access an article that does a great job of explaining SEO and why it is important by clicking here

 

Some additional resources that can help you accomplish web-commerce are sites like Etsy,Word PressEbay, and Constant Contact. Don't forget to utilize social media like Facebook and Twitter by linking them to your other web ventures.

 

There are no substitutes for having an excellent product, or providing excellent service, but hopefully I have provided you with some solid supplements to both. Be sure to let me know what you think of this article. I would love answering any questions you might have, or addressing topics you are interested in for future articles.

 

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