Ask The Entrepreneurs

Disregarding the decidedly skeptical tone in which this question was posed, I thought it would be a great thing to ask a few entrepreneurs and independent workers that I know.
Here’s a sampling of what they told me.

A few things stood out to me:

Everyone works, a LOT.
But everyone’s also highly engaged in what they’re doing.
Work flexes [...]

A while back, I met Steven Fan, CEO and co-founder of the startup HelloMovies (http://www.hellomovies.com), site that helps you to figure out what to watch, and where to find it.
During our conversation, I was particularly struck by Steven’s personal likeability, openness, and willingness to invite people - even relative strangers like me - into his [...]

A friend of mine is contemplating grad school in order to adorn her wall, and her resume, with another glowing degree.
Back when I was working my Google dronejob, feeling overqualified, and hating every moment of my forty hours, I thought about grad school too. I figured that an MBA would be my easiest ticket out [...]

WHAT: Know your geographic advantage.
Sandbox is an offline social and professional network of “extraordinary achievers under 30.” Sandbox is also a for-profit company currently in the process of filing for incorporation under Swiss law.
How does a company make money from being a “network of extraordinary achievers?”
Here’s Sandbox they stacked up in terms of geographic [...]

WHAT: Be a really good networker.

Unless you plan to start a business sending mail bombs to people, you’ll need lots of company – partners, advisers, colleagues, and customers.
Antoine grew Sandbox from a spark he saw in one of his earliest network-building experiences:
“The first time I realized the power of networks was when I was 16. [...]

Emily C. Morgan is a calm lady, not at all the  kind of loud-talking, forceful person who you might assume would go the intrepid route of writing off her company and boss and starting her own business.

Emily’s virtual assistant business, Delegate Solutions, started from her home when she was pregnant AND working full time as [...]

When a friend first recommend that I talk to Chad Hartvigson for this blog, I was skeptical.
A guy who runs a business selling screenprinted t-shirts for high school sports? Not sexy enough. For someone like me who mingles in the self-absorbed, “[NOUN] 2.0″ buzz of Silicon Valley all day, every day, the idea of debuting [...]