By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker In 1991 I started two businesses at the same time, USI Companies Inc and Sigma Communications. One went on to become a roaring success and the other a failure. Looking back, I realize these experiences gave me special insight into succeeding vs. failing. Sigma was a unique real estate [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Entrepreneurial branding is the highly personal process of creating a lasting imprint of your business vision in the mind of your customer.  A well-developed brand will motivate your customer to seek out your product or service for fear that they may otherwise miss out. A successful brand can work [...]

 By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Before you start your business, ask yourself: Can you secure pre-orders from your target customers? A pre-order is an informal commitment from customers to purchase your product. Pre-orders will validate your business idea before you launch. If you cannot secure pre-orders, can you partner with someone who can? I’ll [...]

By Ed McLaughlin and Wyn Lydecker Crowdfunding had been an unregulated, wide-open field in which artists, game creators, filmmakers, musician, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs could raise funding for their projects from fans, supporters, and followers. Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Fundly, RocketHub, and over 45o other funding sites have made it relatively easy to raise money for a passion [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Before you start your business, ask yourself: What differentiates your business from the competition? Does your value proposition give you a competitive advantage? You need to have a clear understanding of how your service or product sets you apart. Your competitive advantage can include the timing of your market [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? If you’ve been burning to start your own business, make starting up your number one resolution for the New Year. Do you have a new business idea? Or are you still searching for one? Have you seen a problem that needs solving [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Before you start your business you need to ask: What is your product’s unique benefit, and how does that benefit meet a critical customer need? The most efficient path to profit is a value proposition that clearly delineates what your customer will get. It clearly defines and quantifies how [...]

  By Ed McLaughlin and Wyn Lydecker Have you ever watched the TV show “Shark Tank”? Last week, we had the opportunity to attend an event called “Ultra Light Startups Investor Feedback Forum.” It was like a cross between “Shark Tank” and “American Idol.” Eight entrepreneurs had the chance to give a two-minute pitch to [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Did you know that giving back is good for you? In his best-selling book “Give and Take,” Wharton management professor Adam Grant uses empirical evidence to demonstrate that generous people – ones who pay it forward or give back – tend to do better in life and in business. [...]

By Ed McLaughlin with Wyn Lydecker Before you start your business, you need to ask yourself: Do you have a clear idea of who will buy your product and why? You need to be able to describe your target customers and their need for your product. You need to understand your customers’ characteristics, motivations, and [...]