Cheni does a tremendous job explaining, in great detail, how to be a successful entrepreneur.

I took these notes for myself and hope they benefit anyone else.

-Be a “doer”… don't over plan and start doing
-Identify a niche or problem and offer a solution to it.
-Explain the BENEFITS of your solution.
-Don't try to be a 'jack of all trades.' Serve your niche well.
-Get, and act on, feedback
-Don't try to get too big, too fast. (Keep your overhead low)
-Evaluate your business decisions based on previous experiences. Don't take huge risks. Can you really afford it?
-Be a salesperson. Don't be afraid to sell your product. Networking is key.
-Get out of your house to get your product out and gain feedback.
-Attend meetups. (Meetup.com)
-Working from a Starbucks is difficult. Try to work with entrepreneurs and bounce ideas around with them.
-When forming a partnership, identify your flaws and partner with people who can complement that well.
-Partners may disagree on moral issues. Make a mission statement and STICK TO IT.

What do startups need to do to be taken seriously?

-Set goals, reach the goals to build a history of success. Meeting your timeline gives you credibility. Don't over promise, over deliver.
-Have a blueprint, and a vision for how you're going to achieve it. This helps your credibility tremendously.
-Leverage social media to help build your brand.
-Become the voice of your industry to build credibility.
-Have a clear message.
-Offer resources on your social media presence.
-Update constantly…be consistent.
-Deliver a story

-”Coworking” is a group of people who are working out of a shared facility that offers collaboration opportunities to entrepreneurs.
-”Incubator” facilitates the growth of small business owners who don't want to work from home. The goal is to out grow it within a certain time frame.
-”Sunshine” tries to solve problems that small business owners have.

-The time to start is NOW.
-Get an accountant to manage money if you don't have their skill set.
-The market is changing and evolving. Adopt or die. Try something. If it doesn't work, don't scale it from there.

-Explain your vision well. Realize that your family may not understand you. Get constructive criticism from other entrepreneurs and grow from there.

-Collaborate with others. Be willing to barter.
-iPads / tablets / mobile are going to change the industry. Leverage partnerships with them to grow your brand.

-Don't fear failure! When you get too comfortable, you're going to lose your edge.
-Minimize your debt / investors. This will help you stay lean and grow profit.

So great having you on the show, hope you are well and best of luck…love the site by the way!