– Course Overview
– Learning Objectives
– Pre-Assignment
– Pre-Course Assessment

– Pre-Assignment Review
– Traits of an Entrepreneur

– Introduction
– Friends and Family
– Books, Magazines, Industry Publications, and Social Media Training
– Mentors, Coaches, and Consultants
– Government Organizations
– Chamber of Commerce
– Business Groups
– Special Programs

– Finding Business Ideas
– What Other Skills Do I Have?
– What Can I Make Money At?
– What Problems Exist?
– What If I Already Have a Business Idea?
– Considering the Options, Part One
– What Other Skills Do I Have?
– What Can I Make Money At?
– What Problems Exist?
– What If I Already Have a Business Idea?
– Outlining Your Ideas
– How Much Research Should I Do?
– Asking Others for Their Advice
– Making Connections
– Considering the Options, Part Two
– Idea One
– Idea Two
– Idea Three
– Assessing Your Ideas
– SWOT Matrix
– Advanced Types of SWOT Analyses
– Considering the Options, Part Three
– Evaluating Your Capacity for Risk
– There Are Options!
– Caution!

– Developing Your Product Idea
– Problem Statement
– Functional and Non-Functional Requirements
– Features and Benefits
– User Stories
– Making Connections
– Identifying Your Target Market and Customers
– Step One: Theories
– Step Two: Testing
– Step Three: Take It All In
– Developing Your Value Proposition
– Creating Financial Projections
– Sample Sales Process
– Things to Consider
– Part Two: Sales Metrics
– Sample Sales Metrics: Bicycle Company
– Sample Sales Metrics: E-Commerce Company
– Getting it Right
– Part Three: Expenses
– Part Four: Calculating Ratios
– Operating (Net) Margin
– Head Count per Client

– Types of Business Ownership
– Speaking About the Entrepreneur
– Purchasing a Franchise
– Where to Find Franchises and Resources?
– Words of Warning
– Purchasing an Existing Business

– The One-Page Plan
– The Formal Plan
– Executive Summary
– Polishing the Executive Summary
– Pitch Deck
– Sample Pitch Deck
– How It Works
– 30-Second Pitch
– Pitch Template
– Practicing the Pitch
– White Papers

– The Basics of Financial Statements
– The Income Statement
– Income Statement Equation
– Sample Income Statement
– The Balance Sheet
– Balance Sheet Equation
– Balance Sheet Accounts
– Current vs. Fixed Assets
– Cash Flow Statement
– Statement of Retained Earnings
– Brainstorming Solutions
– Funding Options

– The Steps of Product Development
– Idea Development
– Planning
– Design
– Beta and Quality Testing
– Limited Production and Quality Testing
– Full Production, Quality Checks, and
– Product Release
– Protecting Your Intellectual Property
– What is Intellectual Property?
– Following the Rules
– What Should Be Copyrighted?
– Is It Worth It?
– Employee and Contractor Agreements

– Introduction to Marketing
– Cycle Overview
– Stage One: Consumer and Market Analysis
– The Buying Process
– Segmentation
– Stage Two: Analyzing the Competition and Yourself
– SWOT Analysis
– Next Steps
– Stage Three: Analyzing Distribution Channels
– The Distribution Process
– Stage Four: Creating a Marketing Plan
– Product
– Price
– Place
– Promotion
– Packaging
– Making Connections
– Stages Five and Six: Implement, Evaluate, Review, and Revise
– Leveraging Social Media
– Building Your Sales Force

– What Branding Is All About
– Why a Brand?
– What’s In a Brand?
– What is Branding, Then?
– Why Branding is the Most Important Investment a Company Can Make
– Developing a Slogan
– Types of Logos
– Letterform
– Wordmark
– Emblems
– Getting Creative

– Choosing a Location
– Finding Resources
– Asking the Right Questions
– The Pros and Cons of Home-Based Businesses
– The Roaming Entrepreneur

– Getting Off the Ground
– The Launch
– Setting Up Your Organizational Chart
– First Stages of Growth
– Next Stages of Growth
– Recruiting and Engaging the Right People

– Keeping Track of Your Business
– Other Considerations
– Growing Your Business
– Don’t Give Up!
– Coming Out on the Other Side

– Michael Gerber’s Three Perspectives
– Identifying the Activities
– Working It Out
– Case Study
– Activity

– Checklist for Success
– Entrepreneurial Traits
– Resources to Consider
– Business Groundwork
– Developing Your Product Idea
– Identifying Your Target Market and Customers
– Developing Your Value Proposition
– Creating Financial Projections
– Product Development
– Intellectual Property
– Sales and Marketing
– Branding
– Choosing a Location
– Getting Off the Ground
– Setting Up Your Organizational Chart
– Keeping Track of Your Business
– Entrepreneurial Leadership Characteristics

Session 17: A Personal Action Plan
Starting Point
Where I Want to Go
How I Will Get There

18. Summary
19. Recommended Reading List
20. Post-Course Assessment