Here is a story about a girl that simply took an entrepreneurship class and ran with her idea. It was great to read about many, many of the other stories as well. I think this can help us to open our minds and think of the many possibilities right at our fingertips.
~Armenta~
Emily Armenta
Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business
When Emily Armenta enrolled at Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business in 2002, her plan was to return to Morgan Stanley after she graduated. Her first sweat equity case in Professor Al Napier's The New Enterprise course changed that.
Napier instructed his class to create a business plan for a fictitious company. Armenta took it a step further and created a line of jewelry. along with a business plan for a fine jewelry manufacturer. The sample line sold out in a local Houston boutique. A few weeks later the buyer wanted to place another order. "I laughed and said the project was over," she says. "But the shop owner said, 'No, your jewelry is selling out. We want more product.'"
That's when Armenta asked school administrators if she could expand her project into all of her classes. The school agreed. "All of the sudden I had all these resources -- students and professors giving me feedback on this growing company," she says.
One of the most important pieces of advice she received was from her Managing Growth professor, Leo Linbeck. Within the first few months of making her handmade, precious-metal necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, retailers such as Neiman Marcus asked to carry her line. Linbeck told her to refuse all offers and instead focus on the company's infrastructure and business model.
Even years later, the jewelry line -- called Armenta -- is carried by nearly 100 independent boutiques and department stores, including Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. The company is projecting $4 million in revenue this year. Armenta has 30 employees and is in the process of hiring another eight to 10 employees in the next few months. "I had no idea this is what I'd be doing with my life," Aremnta says. "One entrepreneurship class completely changed everything."
http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/111066/college-students-have-startup-fever;_ylt=Ak22FM5sUGi5IunlS.wcj2VhrdIF;_ylu=X3oDMTE1c2YwcWRkBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNjZV9zZWN0aW9uBHNsawNzdGFydHVwZmV2ZXI-?mod=edu-continuing_education
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Dead, Dead Broke, or Still working at age 65...95% chance you will be!
Is America really the best country in the world to live in? Some people think so, some people know so. Do you ever wonder why so many foreigners come to America and become multi-millionaires? In America, we have political freedoms and economic liberty which is not often found in our world. In very few countries can you seek your own success! It's hard to believe and know this until you have traveled outside of the USA.
Sometimes we become victims of our own reality. Sadly, most people will never figure out how to become wealthy in the "wealthiest country in the world." A recent study shows that at age 65, 95% of people in the USA are either dead, dead broke, still working, on government assistance, or relying on their family. And, the scary thing is, THIS STATISTIC HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 1955. Fifty-five years later, people are still working on that same formula that simply does not work. Go to school, get a degree, get a good job, and work for someone else for 40 years. Corporate America, with seemingly secure salaries, health benefits and retirement plans have gotten us these results. Do you know anyone who has lost basically everything after working for a company 10, 20, 30+ years and now has nothing to show for it? President Truman said, “Recession is when your neighbor loses his job and Depression is when you lose yours." Okay, Okay, of the other 5% left, 4% can take care of themselves, and only 1% are considered to be wealthy. These 1 percenters are the top salesmen, top executives, professional athletes, movie stars, and business owners. 74% of the 1% are business owners. It is safe to say, that for you to have a fighting chance in this life, you have to start your own business!
Choose to be an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs create jobs all the while pursuing their passions. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7% of all employment, pays 44% of the total U.S. private payroll and creates more than half of the private gross domestic product. We fulfill the American dream!
Also, great news, there has never been a better time to become an entrepreneur! According to SUCCESS magazines July 2010 issue, at the beginning of the 20th century there were a mere 5,000 millionaires. By 1950 there were 100,000; 1980-1 million; 1990- 2 million! By the year 2000, that number had reached 7 million and today 10 million men and women are millionaires. And, that number is expected to double in the next 10 years. So, now is the time to “hitch your horse to a wagon”!
The company that I’m lucky enough to be a part of is breaking new ground with a proven success system, a life-changing product, and an executive team with over 100 years of industry experience! These leaders are the guys that have “been there, done that”. I can’t begin to explain or give justice to the caliber of people I get to work with and learn from daily. Many of them are multi-millionaires, philanthropists, and stay at home moms and dads. I truly believe in the power of associations. Pick great friends and you will get great results. Pick lousy friends and you will end up a lousy person with lousy results! Success is a choice.
Sometimes we become victims of our own reality. Sadly, most people will never figure out how to become wealthy in the "wealthiest country in the world." A recent study shows that at age 65, 95% of people in the USA are either dead, dead broke, still working, on government assistance, or relying on their family. And, the scary thing is, THIS STATISTIC HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 1955. Fifty-five years later, people are still working on that same formula that simply does not work. Go to school, get a degree, get a good job, and work for someone else for 40 years. Corporate America, with seemingly secure salaries, health benefits and retirement plans have gotten us these results. Do you know anyone who has lost basically everything after working for a company 10, 20, 30+ years and now has nothing to show for it? President Truman said, “Recession is when your neighbor loses his job and Depression is when you lose yours." Okay, Okay, of the other 5% left, 4% can take care of themselves, and only 1% are considered to be wealthy. These 1 percenters are the top salesmen, top executives, professional athletes, movie stars, and business owners. 74% of the 1% are business owners. It is safe to say, that for you to have a fighting chance in this life, you have to start your own business!
Choose to be an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs create jobs all the while pursuing their passions. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7% of all employment, pays 44% of the total U.S. private payroll and creates more than half of the private gross domestic product. We fulfill the American dream!
Also, great news, there has never been a better time to become an entrepreneur! According to SUCCESS magazines July 2010 issue, at the beginning of the 20th century there were a mere 5,000 millionaires. By 1950 there were 100,000; 1980-1 million; 1990- 2 million! By the year 2000, that number had reached 7 million and today 10 million men and women are millionaires. And, that number is expected to double in the next 10 years. So, now is the time to “hitch your horse to a wagon”!
The company that I’m lucky enough to be a part of is breaking new ground with a proven success system, a life-changing product, and an executive team with over 100 years of industry experience! These leaders are the guys that have “been there, done that”. I can’t begin to explain or give justice to the caliber of people I get to work with and learn from daily. Many of them are multi-millionaires, philanthropists, and stay at home moms and dads. I truly believe in the power of associations. Pick great friends and you will get great results. Pick lousy friends and you will end up a lousy person with lousy results! Success is a choice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)