So you want to be an entrepreneur. You've come to the right place. I'm Ty Freyvogel and I've been my own boss practically since birth. I believe there is no better way to make a living (and, as the cliché goes, to make a life). Entrepreneurship is more than a job. It really is a way of life - an addictive, stomach-churning, intense-to-the-point-of-exhausting roller-coaster ride that makes a "regular job" feel like the most placid ride in the kiddie park. Once you make the entrepreneurial leap, you'll discover that nothing else compares.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying you'll never go back to the nine-to-five life. You may well decide that having a job is a better fit for you. But if you've got the entrepreneurial bug, you have to find out. You'll hate yourself if you don't. I'm here to share what I know about entrepreneurship. I have no secret agenda or hidden motives. Frankly, I've already built my nest egg and, odd as it may sound, I want to help other people build theirs.

Oh, I've made plenty of mistakes (and you'll read about them on this site) but my journey has been a successful one. Read on to discover some lessons I've learned along the way. Don't consider them gospel truth (in entrepreneurship there is no such thing) but do consider them. Each word is backed by a lifetime of experience. — Ty Freyvogel

A Guide to This Site ...

If you're just starting to consider whether to become an entrepreneur, just starting out, or trying to figure out how to grow a business, this is the site for you. For the past several years I've been writing about entrepreneurship extensively. I've published several books and created this website. I've been interviewed and quoted in numerous business publications here in America and around the world. If you have a question about running your business I've probably covered it.

To learn more about my story, click here.

To browse a selection of useful and interesting articles on entrepreneurship visit the links at the top of the page, or click on: Getting Started, Managing Money, Getting Customers, Building Relationships, Managing Yourself, and Planning Ahead.

To review some of the numerous media interviews I've given and published articles about my experiences, then click here to visit the Press Room.

INTRODUCING MY LATEST BOOK:

Smarts, Guts, and Luck: Straight Talk for Entrepreneurs

This forthright book is a "must-read" for anyone either thinking of starting a new business or anyone already running a small enterprise. It's brimming with sharp insights and practical advice to help you navigate the road ahead. Smarts, Guts and Luck has already become a "bible" for entrepreneurs who want to avoid the pitfalls and seize the opportunities of small business ownership.

According to Cindy Potts of The Retailer's Advantage ...

"Ty Freyvogel has a formula: 1/3 Smarts, 1/3 Guts, and 1/3 Luck add up to exactly what you need to make it as an independent business owner.
In a short gem of a book, Freyvogel delivers countless secrets for success, ranging from developing one's intuition to recruiting the ideal employee and balancing life and work. While the book isn't aimed specifically at retailers, there's a lot of powerful advice in here that speaks directly to the reality of being an independent business owner."

To Learn more about Smarts, Guts and Luck click here.

Need a LIttle Help? Let Me Throw You a LIfeline!

Over the past 30 years it's been my pleasure to help beginning entrepreneurs with getting their businesses off the ground or guiding them as they wrestled with difficult problems. Usually my informal"consulting service" took placeover lunch with me patiently listening as they explained their problems. (I usually even picked up the tab!)

But I didn't mind giving free advice. I considered it a way of "giving back" in gratitude to those individuals who helped me early in my career as an entrepreneur. I only wish I could continue talking to new entrepreneurs and helping them with free advice.

But ever since I began writing and speaking on entrepreneurship the requests for my advice have become too numerous to fulfill. But I also didn't want to leave people hanging so I came up with a solution. The Small Business LIfe Line is a simple and straitforward way of giving you the help you need -- when you need it -- without the expense you don't need. Best of all you can take advantage of this help at no risk to you.

To learn more about the Small Business Life Line click here.

Ty Freyvogel's book It's Not Your Smarts, It's Your Schmooze uses humor and compelling anecdotes to explain why old-fashioned “people skills” are more important than ever. In this fast-paced, high-tech, gadget-filled world, far too many people have allowed technology to get in the way of authentic human relationships!

Ty’s message is timely and valuable. He explains why:

• Business is about people ... life is about people ... and schmoozing is
  about people!
  
  
• Networking is no longer working ... schmoozing gives you the edge you
  need to succeed!
  
  
• Schmoozing also gives you the skills to reach beyond superficial small talk and passing acquaintance!
  
  
• Schmoozing is simply the art of building relationships by creating long-term
  bonds of trust!
  
  
• Everybody has the ability to succeed, and it doesn’t require brains, beauty or bucks!
  
  
• Schmoozers are excellent communicators who know how to listen effectively
  and focus on others!
  

Click here to learn more about It's Not Your Smarts It's Your Schmooze

ASK TY

This month's question:

Dear Ty -- Personally, I'm at the ripe age of 63 and have been involved in real estate for nearly thirty years. But to be honest with you, it isn't my passion. I never jumped out of bed wanting to do this. My wife does the same (we are both realtors and appraisers). I have read and done self examinations and everything possible to try and understand what my passion is and I'm afraid I will never know and that's sad. I have read several books that tell you how to go about finding one's passion and I never did. I've done some exciting things...flying airplanes, producing and directing radio and television shows as well as on air work...but I found no passion for these occupations. At my age, my wife often tells me just continue working a few more years and then in retirement I might become passionate
about something!? Anyway, I thought I would just throw that out to you. Any thoughts? -- George

To read Ty's response (or to pose a question for Ty yourself, please click here.