Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Diamonds-in-the-Rough.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Diamonds-in-the-Rough.html Developing an idea takes strategy, research, commitment and money. Likewise, someone with raw talent must invest in training, preparation, industry savvy and networking before she is likely to get noticed. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/It-Takes-Planning.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/It-Takes-Planning.html Some companies hit on just the right product or service and find success, business plan or not. But generally, operating a business without a business plan is a mistake. A business plan gives you a blueprint to follow during the life of your business. If you update it frequently, it will tell you when, where and how to implement changes that will make your business more profitable. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Ive-Got-An-Idea.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Ive-Got-An-Idea.html What do you do with a great business idea? Forget about it until someone else runs with it and hits it big? Or do you have the commitment, time and energy to really do something with it? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Another-Day-Another-Rip-Off.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Another-Day-Another-Rip-Off.html Why do people think they can swipe Internet content and use it - without credit or permission - on their websites or blogs? Is there no ownership of intellectual content online - or no shame? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/PR-Peeves.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/PR-Peeves.html There are some pet peeves that arise again and again - not only for me but for many journalists - in dealing with publicists. So here are a few "do's and don'ts." http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Take-the-Oath.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/Take-the-Oath.html Honor. It's a word that you don't hear much anymore, except maybe in reference to antiquated notions of chivalry or, horrifically, as an Orwellian descriptor for murder in repressive, male-dominated societies. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/A-Reality-Check.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/A-Reality-Check.html Entrepreneurs are notorious optimists - they almost have to be, to take the risks required to start their own ventures. I'm an optimist too, but I temper my sunny outlook with a large dose of realism. (It doesn't always save me from making dumb decisions, but it helps.) http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/No-Shortcuts.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Women-Entrepreneurs/2880/No-Shortcuts.html Understanding that there are no shortcuts is the first step to starting and running a successful company.