Musicians: Forget the 90s and forget the traditional view that a band or musician must sign with a record label in order to release music. Release your own tracks through iTunes and promote it through social media while marketing into niche Internet radio communities like Last.fm and Pandora. If you’re a deejay, check out the multitude of DJ social networking communities and create a webpage for yourself.

Artists and craftmakers: You no longer need a physical location in some expensive downtown loft in order to promote your gallery. Put your work on Deviant Art or Etsy.com, where you can have your own online shop and do your own marketing. While traditional art collectors may still prefer only to buy their art in person, a new generation of arts and crafts enthusiasts is growing up online, where storage is much cheaper.

Writers: Don’t wait for a publishing house to come to their sense because you may be waiting forever. Self-publish your work with services like Lulu and Blurb and then get your work listed on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, Kobo Books and other e-book stores.

Innovators and Inventors: You don’t need to wait until you meet a billionaire investor lounging around in a bar, bored with his/her life. Raise your own money with the incredible online fundraising (popularly known as crowdfunding) tools like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Prosper, RocketHub and others.

The message here is that in the Age of the Entrepreneur anyone and everyone has the ability to use their talents to create a unique self-propelled business model, without the need of an intermediary agent or company. Whether you’re an artist, an inventor, a musician, or a craftmaker you have the ability to forge your own career path by taking advantage of online tools like social media, crowdfunding, e-commerce, and Internet radio.

Lawmakers are notorious for taking long vacations which go against the hardworking and dedicated work ethos of the American entrepreneurial class. While our elected representatives can afford long holidays in exotic locations, the people actually creating jobs are stuck managing employees and meeting the needs of clients going into the new year. It doesn’t matter if you run a search engine marketing agency or a small restaurant chain, not taking time off will cause you harm in the long run.

The common philosophy amongst small business owners is that if you are doing what you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. While that holds true to some extent, the fact is that starting a business and maintaining it will take a concerted amount of energy and effort out of anyone. If you are constantly working and worrying about only one thing, you will eventually suffer burnout and crash.

If you have set up your business at a strong point, consider taking time off in the summer or around late December. If you are feeling unsure about the strength of your company, this will give you a little bit of breathing room. Other, more established executives and owners will also be taking their vacations around these periods which will make you look sensible instead of weak.

According to JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC’s Your Business, taking time off is important not just for yourself, but for the strength of your company. Letting your employees handle things on their own will expose how steady your internal infrastructure is and will let you know how you can improve on any weaknesses’ within the company. It will also give a boost of confidence to those you choose to leave in charge in your absence.

When you do eventually manage to sneak away for a vacation, make sure you spend it doing something unconventional. Too often people just jet down to the Gulf of Mexico and get drunk on the beach for a couple of weeks. Instead of doing this, try visiting your dream locale. A trip to Japan, Ireland, or Turkey could rejuvenate your business senses and leave you more prepared to take on challenges.

Instead of succumbing to constant stress and the demands of work every day, make sure you are actually getting a chance to enjoy your small business success. Just make sure to leave your electronic devices at home so you don’t get sucked into telecommuting to the office instead of making the most of your vacation.

Crowd-source for seed money - Crowd-sourcing sites for independent funding are huge in the social media world right now. If your business is launched but you’re still looking for seed money, it might be worth pitching a campaign on IndieGoGo, Kickstarter or any of the numerous options out there.

Have scalable products - Don’t just go for cheaper or premium, offer different versions of your products for a wide variety of financial conditions. A lot of times clients may want your product or service but the price scares them away. Lure them back in with deals, demo offers, and promotions.

Bold experimental marketing - Social media’s not enough, you have to get really innovative in today’s business landscape, especially when you don’t have the money for traditional advertising on television. Create a QR code to try and drive traffic to your website, mail individualized postcards, reach out to the local community.

Shorter ads and more of them - If you do have a budget for advertising, go with the cheaper print ads and make several small ones. Having a single full page ad in the local newspaper will not be as effective as multiple small ads in well placed markets.

Cater to your existing customers - Obviously it’s good to bring in new customers but in the process you want to make sure you make your existing customers feel special. This will accomplish two things: it will retain them and it will help you to deputize them as mobile advertisements. Create incentives for them to spread the word about your business. Nothing beats old-fashioned word of mouth marketing.

Network with other business for dual promotions - You know the old platitude: if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. If your competitor just can’t be outpaced, play the smaller dog and mine them for trade secrets while riding their coattails.

Manage your reputation - Check Google and see how search engines are depicting you. If you are the subject of some scandalous blogs, you need to fight back. Don’t let a bad reputation precede you, especially if it’s inaccurate!

These tips are not universal truths, but if approached creatively and passionately the issues they inform should dramatically improve your sales figures. A small business needs to think outside the box. Master these strategies and watch your company grow.

There’s no need to choose between being a parent and running your dream business. Female entrepreneurs have been phenomenally successful in the recent past, with more than 8 million women-owned businesses in the United States.

This trend doesn’t seem to be a blip on the radar; in fact, women entrepreneurs are poised for continued growth over the next few years. Women entrepreneurs in the United States will create more than 5 million new jobs by 2018, which is more than half of the new jobs the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects to be created over that time, according to the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

When women do make the leap to start their own businesses, research shows that they may be more successful than their male counterparts. The Institute also found that female small business owners may succeed because they are more engaged in strategic facets of their business, more committed to creating opportunities for others, and more customer-focused than their male counterparts.

Becoming a mompreneur is exciting, but your dream business won’t start itself. BizFilings, an online incorporation provider, offers the following business tips for mompreneurs, both aspiring and current.

Start a business that lets you follow your passion. If you plan a business around a hobby or something you enjoy, work can be fun, and you may not mind putting in the extra hours it will take to make your endeavor successful. BizFilings has helped over a million entrepreneurs start a business, and has incorporated businesses large and small, from fabric stores to Facebook. Starting your business gives you the freedom to choose your dream job or something that lets you spend more time with your family.

This past year saw continued growth from “digital moms,” or women bloggers, turning their blogs into businesses. If you have a blog, you can draw revenue from companies who agree to advertise or promote their products or services on your blog, turning something you love into a successful business model.

If you have a soft spot for our four-legged friends, consider capitalizing on the millions people spend each year on their pets. Start a pet care business for busy pet owners who don’t get a break in the day to take Fido for a walk. If you’d rather take your pooch to work, opening your own pet store (or pet bakery, a rising trend) can give you that flexibility.

Starting your own bakery or restaurant may seem daunting – but a food truck presents a unique opportunity to break into the food industry. Food trucks are popping up in cities nationwide, with Americans embracing the trend of mobile eating. Serving everything from crepes to cupcakes and sushi to sandwiches, this trend may be perfect for food-fueled entrepreneurs.

Create a business plan that works for you. This can be one of the most important first steps to starting a small business. Business plans aren’t tailor-made – everyone considers different things to be important. Use the Small Business Administration to help you write yours by visiting your local chapter or by using the resources available on http://www.sba.gov.

Consider incorporation to protect your family. When you’re starting up a business, you may have to rely on your family’s savings to get the business off the ground. Incorporating your company can protect your family’s assets and savings by providing a layer of liability between your business and your savings. If anything goes wrong, your family’s home, vehicles and even your child’s college fund could be at stake – but not if you’ve incorporated.

Incorporation can also grant you a better financial foundation when getting your business off the ground. Women are more prone than men to finance their business on credit cards – a risky gamble that often backfires with bad credit and steep interest charges. Getting a loan from a bank is a much savvier business decision, and incorporating your business can be a crucial factor in showing the bank that you take your business seriously.

“If you have a dream business, we’ll incorporate it – it’s that simple,” says Karen Kobelski, mother of two and a member of the leadership team at BizFilings. “And as a supporter of mompreneurs, we help our customers pick the business structure that’s right for them and their family.”

Becoming a mompreneur can have many benefits other than spending more time with your kids. Working from home can come with its own set of tax breaks, as long as your designated home office meets certain specifications. The government also provides specific programs to help women entrepreneurs, including grants and loans as well as specific contract work not available to other entrepreneurs. To find out more about government assistance for entrepreneurs, visit the SBA’s website, http://www.sba.gov.

Ries’ forthcoming book, THE LEAN STARTUP, is anticipated to be a bestseller and is already among Amazon’s top 100 in the management category months before its release.

Meanwhile, ultra-successful companies like Groupon and Dropbox are putting Ries’ ideas to work to remarkable effect, and the likes of Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus, and Brad Smith, CEO of Intuit, joined Ries as keynote speakers at Lean Startup’s 2nd Annual Startup Lessons Learned Conference on May 23rd in San Francisco.

But for Ries, who co-founded IMVU, a social entertainment company with 40 million users and $3 million in monthly revenue, the real barometer of Lean Startup’s success are the 100,000-plus people who have created their own “Lean Startup Meetups” in cities around the world. At the Meetups, entrepreneurs gather to apply Ries’ approach to their own business projects, posting videos, projects, and results on Ries’ http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/.

“Startups are the lifeblood of the American economy,” says Ries, “In the past two decades, they have accounted for nearly all the net job growth in our country.”

It’s a surprising realization: American job growth is no longer driven by steelworks and car plants, as it once was, but by innovation and entrepreneurship. Today’s biggest job-driving companies – Google, Yahoo, Intel, eBay – were born as startups. As America’s economy continues to shift, jobs and growth will depend on startups to an even greater extent.

This shift has put the spot light on Reis who has caught the attention of President Obama who asked the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra to specifically ask Ries to advise on ways the government can successfully create entrepreneurship initiatives.

What this also means to Ries is that revitalizing the U.S. economy is really about maximizing every American startup’s chances for success. Lean Startup is the first business movement to do exactly this, and it’s doing it with a surprising degree of success – even for a startup.

But how can an aspiring entrepreneur go about starting a business when the market seems against them? How can someone with big plans and new ideas ensure success in a dramatically different economic atmosphere? There are two things that will always be essential in getting a new business off the ground; a water-tight business plan and capital.

From Drawing Board to Blackboard
Those possessed by the entrepreneurial spirit and raring to get their business up and running sometimes find it difficult to translate great ideas into a well-thought-out business plan. For those, a trip back to the classroom may be necessary. Many entrepreneurs consider enrolling in an MBA program in order to fine-tune business practices and methods before a real-world launch.

“I get to see people who are very talented walking in the door a little lost — perhaps lacking some skills, habits or practices — become great business people,” says Phil Siegel, a successful serial entrepreneur and teacher at the Acton School of Business.

While traditional MBA programs have faced criticism for churning out risk-inclined financial speculators and investment bankers that led to the near-demise of Wall Street, other MBA curriculums with a focus on sound business practices and principled entrepreneurship are seeing a spike in interest.

“An MBA isn’t just for someone looking to land a job on Wall Street anymore,” says Siegel. “There are a few great schools offering an education that teaches how to really start and run a business from the ground up.” A handful of respected schools focus on the skills necessary to build and operate a business by offering MBA programs with entrepreneurship-specific tracks. Acton, where Siegel teaches, furthers the trend with their intensive one-year MBA in Entrepreneurship, an entire program focused on developing principled entrepreneurs and teaching them the tools, skills and judgment they need to run their own businesses.

Finding an Investor
For those who have the entrepreneurial enthusiasm, the know-how, and the structure in place to start building a business, but don’t yet have the funds to do so, the next step is finding an investor. Siegel says not to get discouraged even though investors may seem more tight-fisted given the economic downturn. “If you’re looking for money for a new venture, there are plenty of investors out there,” says Siegel. “The current economy hasn’t really affected the enthusiasm for great ideas.”

However, he cautions that all the normal “do’s and don’ts” of seeking funding are magnified in this kind of environment. Siegel urges entrepreneurs to:

Have a plan. “Come up with a business plan that is clear, concise, internally consistent and reasonable for the market opportunity.”

Know your customer. “Understand your customer and know why they would buy your product or service instead of what they buy today. Do market research, and have customer ‘pilots,’ if necessary, to prove that your product has value.”

Seek out experts. “Bring experts to your aid; they can help increase your credibility. In good times, people tend to believe your story, but in bad times, they’re more skeptical.

Prepare for profits. “Having done your business planning and preparation, ask yourself how you’re going to spend the money you are seeking. Who do you want to invest in your venture? What milestones are you going to reach in this round of investment capital? What will you need in terms of financing after you achieve your initial goals to get cash flows to break even?”

There will be many stops along the path to any entrepreneur’s first ribbon-cutting. Whether an MBA, an investor, both or neither are in their future, the advice given here should help any startup weather the economic storm.

“People are still willing to write checks,” concludes Siegel, “they’re just a little bit more careful, and a lot more cranky.”

For more information on the Acton School of Business’ one-year MBA in Entrepreneurship program, please visit http://www.actonmba.org.

Popular blogger and speaker Jon Acuff says don’t quit that day job! In his latest book, Quitter, Acuff writes that there’s a smart way to go after your dream and quitting isn’t the answer.

Jon used to be a serial quitter. He jumped around to 8 jobs in 8 years thinking the next one would be “the one.” He discovered that in fact keeping his day job actually gave him the security to pursue his dream. This book is all about hustle and hope and how to avoid the most dangerous type of failure by going all in on your dream.

For anyone who feels caught in the tension between a day job and a dream job, the book, Quitter, by popular blogger, speaker and author, Jon Acuff, should be added to your “must read” list.

Acuff says it’s time to bridge the gap between what you do and what you want to do, and there’s a smart way to do it! As a serial quitter, having jumped around to eight jobs in eight years, Acuff learned quitting is not the answer! With the wit and insight gained from a dozen years of cubicle living, Acuff shows his readers why they don’t have to become the “I’m, but” generation. I’m a teacher, but I want to be an artist. I’m a project manager, but I want to start my own business. Quitter offers practical insight to be successful at chasing your dream.

“This is not the standard “sell everything you own, move to Guam and get an apprenticeship as a glass blower” chase-your-dream kind of book,” says Acuff.

From figuring out what your dream is to quitting in a way that exponentially increases your chance of success, Quitter is full of inspiring stories and actionable advice.

About Jon Acuff:
From writing advertising for The Home Depot to branding for companies like Bose and Staples, Jon Acuff is no stranger to the cubicle. In 2010, he closed the gap between his day job and his dream job when he joined the Dave Ramsey team to become a full-time author. He has contributed to CNN.com, speaks nationally on a variety of subjects, and is author of three books: Quitter (Lampo Press); Gazelles, Baby Steps And 37 Other Things Dave Ramsey Taught Me About Debt (Lampo Press); and Stuff Christians Like (Zondervan®). Jon’s wildly popular blog, StuffChristiansLike.net, has more than 2 million readers. He lives in Nashville with his wife and two daughters.

For more information visit http://www.jonacuff.com.

A Huggies-commissioned study also cited access to financial resources (65 percent) as the No. 1 barrier preventing moms from turning their business ideas into a reality. Other significant barriers include risk of failure (43 percent) and not knowing where to start (36 percent).

As Maria Bailey, mother of four and founder of working mother resource http://BlueSuitMom.com, explains, “Moms are some of the most inventive people I know; they develop great business ideas but lack access to the financial tools necessary to launch a business.”

Bailey offers prospective entrepreneurs these tips to getting started:

Determine dedication level. Decide whether your passion is a business or a hobby to determine the time, money and resources that you are willing to dedicate.

Do your homework. Search the Internet and store shelves to see if your idea already exists. If so, think about how your product can answer a need that existing ones don’t.

Test the idea. Get the input of your target consumers by hosting an informal focus group.

Write a business plan. Even if it’s a simple one-page outline, consider the following: What will you produce? How will you manufacture it? How will you market and sell it? What is your exit strategy for the business?

Find a mentor. Online communities of successful women can offer support, insight and guidance.

Discover capital in untapped sources. Look for unique funding sources such as brand-sponsored grant programs. Huggies offers grants, annually awarding a total of $250,000 to 12 mom entrepreneurs. Named “MomInspired,” the program provides resources and funding to women-owned business startups and new products inspired by motherhood. Leslie Espowe, one of the first grant recipients, recognized a parenting need and developed a solution with her hands-free, waterproof WateRoo infant carrier, now marketed under the Lucky Ducky Baby brand thanks to her grant money.

To be considered for a grant, moms must submit an application online by June 30. Twelve individuals will receive $15,000 in funding to support their idea or business. Interested moms, 21 or older who live in the U.S., can visit http://www.HuggiesMomInspired.com to apply.

“I am proud of my family’s optimistic and entrepreneurial spirit that has served as the foundation for Mirassou Winery,” said David Mirassou, wine expert and sixth generation family member. “We’re celebrating that spirit and paying it forward by supporting the best and brightest ideas through our first-ever national grant program.”

The Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting superior wines in California since 1854, earning them the distinction of being America’s oldest winemaking family. Today, the Mirassou wine style is refreshing and fruit-forward. Mirassou’s premium wines – Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – retail for approximately $12 per bottle and are widely available in all 50 states, as well as on their website, http://thebarrelroom.com.

Mirassou’s Bright Ideas Grant Program will award five $3,000 grants to individuals with bright ideas to help turn their ideas into reality. In addition, the five grant recipients will also be voted on at the Mirassou Winery’s Facebook page, with the highest vote earner being awarded an additional grant of $5,000.

From now until October 31, 2011, applicants may submit their bright idea (large or small) at http://www.facebook.com/MirassouWinery for consideration. Applications may not exceed 1,000 words and will be judged on criteria that includes relevance of the bright idea to the Mirassou spirit of entrepreneurism, innovation and empowerment.

To apply for a grant and view the official terms and conditions, please visit http://www.facebook.com/MirassouWinery.

Henok Tesfaye’s dream to be a parking operator all started on one of the most historic and prestigious streets in the country. U Street in Washington D.C. is known for its vibrant culture and world famous restaurants. This same street, however, had a distinct lack of parking available. Henok recognized this as an opportunity to service the community and embark on his life long dream. The first asset acquired by U Street Parking was incorporated in 1998. Today, U Street Parking Inc., has matured into the leading minority owned parking management firm in the country.

Henok resides in Virginia with his wife and two children.