1. Entrepreneurship & Networking Allen Perk, President, XLNsystems – Class of 1978

2. Is this you ? ! ?

3. Before you quit your Job …. 1.Check your Attitude 2.Get as much Business Experience as possible 3.Sales = Income 4.Be optimistic BUT brutally honest. 5.Spend $$$ wisely. 6.Start a business to practice on. 7.ASK FOR HELP!! 8.Join an “Entrepreneur’s Network” 9.Be Faithful to the Process.

4. The Entrepreneurial Process 1.Start the Business 2.Fail and Learn 3.Find a Mentor 4.Fail and Learn 5.Take some Classes 6.Fail and Learn (again) 7.Stop when successful 8.Celebrate 9.Repeat the Process

5. Safety – Flexibility – Comfort – Ownership – Speed

6. If Possible - Start Small Start up businesses can include: 1.Video Photography 2.Personalized PC Instruction 3.Buy-Sell-Trade Sports Tickets 4.Teaching Others about Business 5.Flip Houses 6.Car Repair – one to two bays 7.Buying an Existing Business from an older Business Owner 8.Buying an Existing Business from Motivated Sellers

7. Cash Flow An entrepreneur raises money: 1.From Friends & Family 2.From Banks (Ha!) 3.From Customers 4.From Suppliers 5.From Investors –Venture Capitalists 6.From Public Markets

8. Entrepreneurship Don’t give up too soon. –The way to success The story of ‘splat’

9. Entrepreneurship Plan Ahead Financially –Two Entities to Pay For Business Personal –Cash Flow Considerations –By the way … Profit is not a dirty word.

10. Entrepreneurship 3 Qualities. –First, they learn more things –Second, they try more things –Third, they persist longer than most. i.e. You’re a Risk Taker

11. Entrepreneurship Risk - Reward –The Higher the Risk, the Greater the Reward –Practical vs. Theoretical Multi-dimensional People –Willingness to move on an idea Speedboat Freighter

12. As proposed by the project sponsor. As specified in the project request. As designed by the senior analyst. As produced by the programmers. As installed at the user's site.

13. As proposed by the project sponsor. As specified in the project request. As designed by the senior analyst. As produced by the programmers. As installed at the user's site. What the user wanted.

14. Entrepreneurship Cycle –Envision –Learn –Experience –Network –Capitalize –Re-Invest

15. Entrepreneurship Reaping the Rewards Financially –The difference between Micro / Macro CEO of a large conglomerate CEO of a small business –Moral Considerations Spreading the Wealth Spreading the Misery –Laying people off

16. Entrepreneurship Name Recognition –You are no longer …. I B M A T & T Boeing –Instead, you are an ‘unknown’ “Who are you”? -and- “Why should I care”?

17. Entrepreneurship Sales & Marketing –You are your company’s best Sales Rep –Network … then Network even more –Web Site is Critical –Business Address is a Reflection on you –Network to those who have Networks

18. Entrepreneurship You ‘Can’ do it all …. –But this leads to stagnation Eventually, you will need to trust others –This will lead to business growth

19. The Product/Service Process Product Legal Systems Communications Cash Flow

20. Red Flag – Good vs. Bad Expenses There are Good expenses… –Training –Equipment –People –Attorney Fees There are Bad expenses –Lavish dinners –Unnecessary trips –Marketing during the Super Bowl

21. Networking & Help SCORE – Senior Corp of Retired Executives The Learning Café – http://www.thelearning-cafe.com/html/entrepreneur__groups.html Dayton IT Alliance Columbus Technology Council

22. C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n Allen.Perk@XLNsystems.com 614.430.0198