I encouraged you to take some time to review some foundational questions before continuing on.

In this week’s webinar titled Discovering the Right Startup Idea for You, we’re going to take the next step and help you find the right idea that’s matched to your experiences and expertise, what you’re most happy and fulfilled doing … and seek to push you to design a business life around that.

This webinar is designed to help you firm up not only the right startup idea for you to chase, but what all you’re going to need.

***

Here is the video replay:

Here are the slides:

Download the audio recording here

Download the Slides here
StartupSofa - First Steps to Launching Business

Download the Audio here
StartupSofa - First Steps to Launching Business AUDIO

Although I’m not going to necessarily focus on web design businesses specifically, we wanted to make sure you had the opportunity to be a part of it.

This new community is called StartupSofa. We don’t want it to take away from the great conversations and community that has been going on here at WebDesign.com. It’s really a personal itch I’ve had to help budding entrepreneurs get their dreams launched.

But in the meantime, here’s the description for the first webinar at StartupSofa ….. called: First Steps to Launching Your Business Dream.

(Oh – and we’ll make the recordings available to WebDesign.com members here shortly afterward like our WebDesign.com official events.)

***

“I have a great business idea, now what?”

Over the last couple years since I launched my business, I’ve had countless friends and acquaintances ask me about starting their own businesses, only to find out that they did not have the proper motivation, clear goals and objectives or commitment necessarily to be successful in business.

Admittedly, often what some have asked was simply this: “How do I get rich without any effort?”

So I’ve refined that first meeting to hammer one big hairy thought home with aspiring entrepreneurs (or those who pose as them) … which is:

Starting a business has been the single hardest job I’ve ever had in my life. It’ll be the toughest thing you ever do. Wimps need not apply.

I do follow up this statement to a select few who I think have what it takes to launch a startup with this one:

It’s also the most fun, fulfilling and rewarding job I’ve ever had.

But if you’re looking for overnight success … you have better odds and will create less damage by buying a lottery ticket.

So I’ve learned if you don’t have a healthy respect for the task at hand at starting a business … and the passion and commitment to work hard, to put in the time and effort necessary to make it a go … then stop now before you get started.

Honestly, I’d rather you not waste the time of your family and friends (and potential customers) because odds are you’re going to fizzle out before you launch … or fall hard and take them with you.

In this inaugural webinar for StartupSofa, I’m going to attempt to scare you … humble you …. and force you to dig deep inside yourself (and ultimately with your significant other) to make sure you are committed to the startup task before you waste time or money.

Webinar: First Steps to Launching Your Biz Dream here
Jan. 14, 2011
11 a.m. Central Standard Time
(Check local time here)

Step-by-step instructions on how to convert your old HTML website to WordPress AND the iThemes’ Builder Theme. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/157511338

NEW – Friday – January 7th – 11am – WordPress 3.1 Walkthrough

Do you want to know what the new features in WordPress 3.1 are? Join us for an walkthrough of all the new features. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/551352866

NEW – Monday – January 10th – 1pm – Negotiating with Clients

Learn how to better communicate and negotiate with clients to not only close better deals but receive the compensation you deserve. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/928982946

NEW – Wednesday – January 12th – 1pm – Members ONLY Chat

This is a members only chat that happens twice a month. This is the time for members to ask their own questions and choose what type of training they want to receive. More info: http://university.webdesign.com/member-chat

NEW – Wednesday – January 12th – 4pm – Keeping your client’s security current.

Learn how to install the WordPress Status Dashboard, how to keep apprised of the current security concerns for your clients and ways to turn these skills into recurring income. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/552559955

NEW – Thursday – January 13th – Noon – BluePrint Basics – Convert your WordPress site to Builder

Step-by-step instructions on converting a WordPress site (any theme) over to iThemes’ Builder theme. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/593585042

NEW – Monday – January 17th – 6pm – Plugin Focus: Gravity Forms

Learn how to use Gravity Forms to generate content, sell products, register users, and much more. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/881636339

NEW – Tuesday – January 18th – 4pm – BluePrint Advanced – How to create stunning images for your site

Learn how to use resources to help you pick out the perfect color scheme, how to create attention grabbing headers and find the right images to illustrate your posts. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/322944443

NEW – Wednesday – January 19th – 11am – BackupBuddy can save your site

Learn how BackupBuddy can save your site and tips on using this powerful plugin. Reserve your seat today https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/905587099

NEW – Tuesday – January 25th – 7pm – Members ONLY Chat

This is a members only chat that happens twice a month. This is the time for members to ask their own questions and choose what type of training they want to receive. More info: http://university.webdesign.com/member-chat

NEW – Friday – January 28th – 10am – Builder Basics

Learn how to use the Builder theme by iThemes. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/963580546

NEW – Monday – January 31st – 3pm – How to setup a Live Chat Assistant in WordPress

Build an interactive communication tool to use on your site to assist in your support and collection of new clients. Reserve your seat today – https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/575872090

Because of you, we finished the year very strong and we’re pumped about 2011 and what we’re doing through WebDesign.com as well as iThemes and PluginBuddy.

As always, you are a gracious and awesome community! Let me know if I can do anything for you!

Here’s to an awesome 2011 for you and yours!