Have you watched the show “Ludo Bites America” on the Sundance Channel? This reality show focuses on famous French Chef, Ludo Lefebvre, and his wife, Krissy, as they travel the US to set up pop-up restaurants by combining Ludo’s 5-star talents with local favorites. This helps inspire restaurant owners to shake things up and live outside of their comfort zone, while giving their customers a new taste on some of their local favorite dishes.

On a recent episode, Ludo and Krissy travel to North Omaha in search of local Americana cuisine. They stop in at Big Mama’s Kitchen. As a former owner of an award-winning fine dining establishment, I have a particular interest in the creativity of the culinary arts. As a business owner and marketer, I am always on the lookout for evolving ideas that are transforming the way people connect with their target audience.

In this episode, we get to know Big Mama, somewhat a local celebrity for her food and her charitable contributions. Intro the Lefebvres, a couple of no particular importance to Big Mama other than being paying customers. Ludo and Krissy propose their pop-up restaurant idea to Big Mama. She says she has to think about allowing them to invade her kitchen. As a former restaurateur, I can tell you, owners … especially owner / chefs … are very protective of their space and their customers. Couple this with the fact that Ludo proposes serving French infused soul food at Big Mama’s Kitchen when she finds French cuisine boring, and you’ve got the necessary drama for reality show success.

I recommend you check out the episode. It is entertaining. Plus, the culinary creations look incredible. However, as s solopreneur, you can learn so much more than what “a la minute” means in the culinary world.

Here are 5 key small business points to take away from this episode.

1. Put your assumptions aside.

2. Step outside your comfort zone.

3. It takes evolution to stay ahead of the competition and keep your customers interested.

4. Who can you partner with to introduce you to a new audience? And when it’s possible, partner with a recognizable, influential person or business.

5. Don’t assume social media won’t work for you.

All the Best,

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

Does the title of this post turn you off? When you attend a live networking event, isn’t it all about you and your goals? How can you “succeed” if you aren’t taking care of your needs?

My kids and I had the honor of participating in a recent charity event for Fish for Life, a terrific NPO whose tagline is “spreading the love one boat at a time”. Fish for Life takes special needs children and young adults fishing from the Dana Point harbor in southern California. In addition to learning about fishing, these special anglers participate in a communal experience of watching dolphin, learning about some of the different sea life they catch and feeling honored by Fish for Life’s special red carpet introductions and awards.

When you seek out various live networking events in your area, have you considered giving of your time as a volunteer for a charity event? You can still achieve your goals of connecting with other possible partners and customers while benefiting a worthy cause.

Here are just 2 networking benefits you can gain from participating in a charity event:

1. Meeting new people in a relaxed setting.
Have you attended live networking events where it feels as if all those attending have their guard up because they don’t want to be “sold”, all they want to do is sell to you? In these settings, many attendees (you included) gear up with the goal of knowing the people they need to meet. When you participate in a charitable event, not only do you get the good will, but you have the opportunity to bond with other local movers and shakers who share a similar passion and want to get to know you because you bond over something other than business … in the beginning.

No, I am not suggesting that you give of your time for charity events just to network and see what business opportunities can benefit you. Quite the opposite. If you participate with this mindset, you will flag yourself as selfish, turning off those that are at the event. You need to go with a giving heart and not worry about your business in the beginning. However, when you work these events, the conversation naturally turns to questions of “So what do you do?” … and the doors start opening.

2. Experience how you can make a difference.
While making a living is an important reward, seeing how your skills can positively impact those in need is a priceless payoff. This is especially helpful if you seem to have lost some of the luster for loving your business. Giving of your time for a charitable cause can help you regain focus on what’s most important … getting from giving your best to others. The same holds true for your service of your customers. If you go in with a passion for positively affecting the lives of those that you serve, your rewards will be far greater than if you simple want to get to the green in their pockets.

BTW – My SmallBizMedia.TV partner, Maria, and I are very honored to be a part of helping Fish for Life grow. If you have a passion for helping those with special needs, or simply want to help, check out Fish for Life’s Facebook fan page. Simply by liking the page, you are helping to grow its exposure to help others with special needs.

All the Best,

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

You don’t have to be struggling as a solopreneur pursuing a dream as a country artist to learn a lesson or two from the original Man in Black.


Whether you’re teaching people about the latest in social media strategies or transforming people’s lives as a small business coach, there are lessons for you to learn from Johnny Cash’s life story if you want to successful expand into new markets.


Especially if you’ve had some success and then saw a drop off in business. Chances are that you’ve been a little frustrated thinking up new products and services for your ideal customers, only to come to the conclusion that maybe you should start talking to a new group of prospects.


If you aren’t familiar with Johnny Cash, the country legend, let me run down a couple of quick facts about his career:

1. He had hits on both the country and pop charts. Few artists at that time had the same cross-over appeal.
2. Worked with and admired by some of the other top people in the business (and not just in country music) … from the King, to Jerry Lee Lewis, to Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, U2, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and many more
3. This is the man that penned and performed “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire” and “A Boy Name Sue”.
4. He had his own TV show, appeared on many other shows and in movies.
5. In 1980, he was the youngest living person ever inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the time.

Sounds like a great resume full of experience and credibility. Not bad for a guy who started working in cotton fields at the age of 5. Who wouldn’t want the same claims within their industry?


However, soon after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Columbia Records released him from his contract. Following that, he had a short, unsuccessful stint with Mercury Records.


Suddenly, this man that had accumulated such momentum, such fame, was struggling to get any attention. It would have been easy for him to disappear.


But instead of walking away on the industry that turned its back on him, Johnny decided to take his passion and his talents to a new market that new very little of him.


Don’t kid yourself, just because he had the fame doesn’t mean that a new market was ready to accept him. The industry that made him rich and famous and had inducted him into their hall of fame threw him out.


Since he couldn’t rely on his own name and his previous fame, he had to borrow someone else’s credibility.


This is when Johnny made the jump to work with Rick Ruben and American Recordings … a big stretch considering that Rick’s label focused on rap and hard rock. Not exactly friendly territory for a guy considered by many as a country music has-been.


His first album with American had him singing cover songs of other contemporary artists, ultimately winning Cash a Grammy. This was an excellent way for Johnny to get introduced to a fan base that knew little of him. By getting the rap and hard rock cred by Rick Ruben and by belting out favorite tunes from other artists, suddenly a whole new market took notice of him.


From there, his career went to a whole new high.


So what’s all this have to do with you, solopreneur?


If you find that you are having a hard time breaking into a new market, take a look at the people that hold influence over your desired target audience and see what you can do to leverage their credibility. This works whether you’re an establish pro or a start-up.


You have to find the benefit that you can bring those people of influence. Obviously, they aren’t going to lend their credibility to anyone. However, if you have a special talent … a product or a service … that can be of benefit to them, give it away. The payoff in credibility and instant visibility to a group of ideal customers can have you singing all the way to the bank.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

Sounds like a bold title, doesn’t it? Is this just catchy copy or is it truly possible that there are just seven essential actions solopreneurs master for breakthrough success?


The truth is many of these top small business pros worked very hard to get where they are today. Their success didn’t happen overnight. The honest ones will tell you that they struggled and made mistakes along the way. Some big mistakes. Costly mistakes. I sure have. More than once … and in multiple industries.


These are all talented people that have the entrepreneurial DNA, but before they achieved their breakthrough success, they had certain patterns or habits that kept them just on the other side of success. They fought through frustration, confusion, procrastination, small results and some degree of self-doubt … all at a cost of tremendous effort, personal pride, loss of money and cashing in a few favors with the people that supported them most.


Does this sound like your current situation?


If so, we want to help you.


My Small Biz Break partner, Maria, and I are hosting a live webinar on Tuesday March 1^st at 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST titled, “Discover the 7 Essentials for Going from Cruise Control to Crushing It in Your Business”. In this no-cost webinar, we’ll talk about the seven key actions that successful entrepreneurs mastered for breakthrough success.


You’ll discover the primary secrets of:

1. How to change your thinking to achieve bigger results

2. How to avoid procrastination, a lack of confidence and burn out while keeping focused on specific actions to achieve your desired success

3. How to attract more of the right customers

4. How to avoid multiple false starts

5. How to replace your busy work with results producing action

6. How to rally others to your cause to achieve greater success faster

… and …

7. How you can capitalize on your current achievements for greater future success


We don’t believe in taking up your time with fluff and only talking about theories. We are committed to introducing you to new ideas so you can see new possibilities. We will discuss why they’re important and we back that with practical, how-to steps so you can start taking action right away.


The first action you need to take is to register for this event. At the bottom of our Small Biz Break Events page, you will see a registration form. When you sign in your name and email address, not only will you reserve one of the limited spots to:


1. Our live 60-minute free webinar on Tuesday, March 1^st

… but for a limited number of take-action entrepreneurs who register early, we will give a complementary bonus  …

2. A one-on-one 30-minute private strategy session. We are only offering this for a limited number of people, so take action now before the other action-oriented entrepreneurs beat you to it!


We’re excited to get the opportunity to help your business reach its full potential!


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

 If you’re like me, one big reason why you decided to become a solopreneur was you were tired of being tied to someone else’s vision … whether a boss’s or a partner’s.


You had a passion, a vision that no one else seemed to share with the same intensity, dedication, and desire that you did. So, why should you marginalize your solopreneur startup by having to answer to someone else, right?


But then, somewhere along the way, you got a case of the lonelies. You missed the energy, the brainstorming, the creativity that others contributed.


For the most part, we are social creatures. We thrive when we interact with other people. In business, interaction keeps our energy up, our competitive nature strong, our accountability in check, our focus laser-like, and our creativity pumping.


So as a solopreneur, what can you do to be part of a group without sacrificing your individuality?


Build your support system.


1. Loved Ones
Always start with your loved ones … and primarily your significant other. Nothing will drain your focus and motivation faster than a partner that is non-supportive. It isn’t that you need your partner to take an active role in your business, but you do need to know that they are willing to give you the time, support and space to accomplish your goals at a minimum. This may include your partner bearing the brunt of the financial burden until you become self-sufficient.


2. Mastermind Groups
If you aren’t familiar with mastermind groups, they typically consist of a handful of other entrepreneurs who have a common energy level and commitment to achievement. The group meets regularly (in person or online) to discuss everyone’s current projects, the problems they’re experiencing for achieving their goals and what they are committed to do about improving their situation. The other group members will share their perspective, provide their insight, and hold each other accountable for their action items. Often, members of a mastermind will pick a project or projects that they can work on together as a joint venture.


3. Networking Professionals
Hopefully, you have set a goal or networking with other solo professionals and small business owners. There can be people that you meet at live events or that you connect with in online forums. People you network with can be an additional source of feedback on your vision, your strategies and your tactics, plus they may become people you partner with on a joint venture or outsource some of your less-than-favorite tasks.


4. Mentors
Mentors give you insight, knowledge, and an additional level of accountability. They provide you with an example of what can be possible if you make the appropriate adjustments to your business model, strategies and tactics.


When building your network of support, you’ll look for people who fill the following 4 roles:

• Motivators
• Teachers
• Partners
• Cheerleaders

And here’s a key to remember: if you want to attract the right people to you and get them to invest their interest, time and energy into your vision you need:

1. A clear vision
2. A passion or your purpose and the people that you are helping
3. Strengths and experience that support why your vision has the likelihood of succeeding
4. Clearly defined, objective goals
5. To give back
6. Clearly communicate the previous 5 element to your support system

Being a solopreneur is an extremely rewarding journey. But if you are struggling along the way, invite the motivators, the teachers, the partners and the cheerleaders to get involved.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide