Cameron Johnson's Blog

In the midst of difficulty

"In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity" -Albert Einstein.

There is a lot of doom & gloom talk about our economy these days. I think it’s a bunch of garbage and we’re seeing a correction not a recession. Nevertheless if you spend all your time listening to these dire predictions, you'll soon convince yourself that it's the wrong time to finally act on that entrepreneurial urge that's been steadily growing inside you. Don't fall for it!

Sure, the economy may not be heading in the direction we'd all like it to, but as Albert pointed out- this may just be a better time than ever to start your venture.

Back in 1929, right after the stock market crash, a lady named Margaret Rudkin was not only in the midst of challenging financial times, but she was caring for a son who suffered from severe allergies and asthma.  To treat him, she needed a healthy, non-processed, organic bread that would not trigger his respiratory problems. So, she started baking her own bread and started a little company called Pepperidge Farm.  Her story is a great example of someone who overcame not one, but two obstacles and in doing so, wound up building an institution that is still going strong 80 years later.

Starting a company is more and more the way young people are beginning their careers, and that trend is nowhere near stopping. Today's business climate and the incredible tools provided by the internet give you infinitely better odds of succeeding than someone striking out on their own in Margaret's time, so don't let the scary predictions hold you back. Your time is now.

How in the world do I...

So you have an idea.  What now?  How do you make the first step toward realizing your goal?  What have others done? Help!

Hang in there, you're not alone.

With every passing week, there are more and more resources out there for those of you who want to put the effort into making your dream a tangible reality.

Striking out on your own can be a lonely venture.  Knowing that other people just like you are on a similar path can be a comforting reassurance that, hey- you're not crazy! You're one of a proud new breed of business people fuelling the engine of the future.

As always, the net provides a wealth of resources.  I've noticed a few sites that do two things that everyone in the business world, me included, needs:  A peer group- knowing that you're not alone!  And- legal & business help with the mechanics of starting and running a successful business.

A few links that do both:

• http://www.youngmoney.com/entrepreneur Some great stories, and helpful information on writing your business plan.
• http://www.sitepoint.com/article/top-tips-young-entrepreneurs  This rings a familiar bell. Eight great tips from another young success-story.
• http://www.entrepreneur.com/youngmillionaires Read about people who took an idea and ran with it- successfully.
• http://www.sba.gov/teens/  The US Small business Administration. If you're new to the world of business, this is an excellent site on the nuts & bolts of it all, and it has some inspirational stories of people who have done it.
• http://www.score.org/young.html  Great Resources on starting your business.  And, to add a sense of urgency- entrepreneurial competitions. 

With these and many more resources at your disposal, there's no reason you can't start on the path to your success today.  Fear of the unknown shouldn't be an obstacle to making that first jump.  To the contrary, it should be the added rush that makes you GO FOR IT!

Extreme Success Summit - Register Now for May 31 in DC

Extreme Success Summit Provides Stepping Stone for the Nation’s Future Business Leaders

Apr 07, 2008 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – This May, motivated students from around the country will converge in Washington, D.C. to take part in a unique opportunity – to learn from and interact with some of the nation’s top young business leaders. The Extreme Success Summit provides a forum where ambitious self-starters can garner the knowledge and expertise of entrepreneurs who have gone before them.

During this one-day conference, keynote speakers Jason Ryan Dorsey, best-selling author and entrepreneur; Cameron Johnson, well-known entrepreneur and author of You Call the Shots; and Kendra Todd, real estate investor and the first female winner of The Apprentice, will share their experiences and explore a broad range of topics, including working with corporate America, how to start a business and developing leadership abilities in a professional setting.

Students attending the Extreme Success Summit will participate in an interactive Q&A session with each speaker as well as engage in problem-based learning activities with other attendees. Participants will gain rare insights into the business world and obtain invaluable information on how to go about pursuing their own dreams.

The Extreme Success Summit is sponsored by the Extreme Success Society, an organization dedicated to providing young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs with the resources, insider advice and network of contacts they will need to succeed in today’s competitive business world.

For additional information, visit us at http://www.ExtremeSuccessSociety.com

Put Yourself Out There!

Everybody has one: That million-dollar idea no one else seems to have thought of.  All you have to do is act on it and you'll be the next success story on the front page of the business papers.  But have you acted on it?  Like 99% of the population, you probably haven't.

After the initial rush of that great idea, the excitement can be dulled when you look at the seemingly overwhelming task of actually moving ahead with it, to the point that you never do move ahead with it.  Where to start?  Who to talk to? There are so many ways you could start, that you just bog-down and don't start at all.  Or you'll start tomorrow...always tomorrow.  Sound familiar?

Start today.  Do one thing today that will begin the road to realizing that great idea.  It doesn't have to be huge.  You don't have to build a fusion reactor in your basement before lunch; you don't need to create a sales & distribution channel for a new line of running shoes overnight.  But you do need to do SOMETHING.  Perhaps the best first step is simply to take 25 minutes in a quiet room with a cup of coffee and a pen & paper, and just write down your thoughts.  There's a great saying I share frequently, "To me goals are just dreams taken seriously."  So, that first step for you could simply be to turn that lofty dream into a goal, right there in black and white.  You may be surprised to find that the next steps become clearer and easier after you've done that first job of pulling your idea out of the clouds and putting it on your desk.

So go ahead and put yourself out there. If you've read You Call the Shots, then you may recognize this title as the first chapter in my book. It's also the most important step, if you aren't willing to put yourself out there - then the other 18 chapters are pointless.

Microsoft Small Business Summit - Next Week!

If you haven't yet signed up for Microsoft's Small Business Summit, do so now. It'll be broadcast worldwide via www.sbsummit.com. Best part, it's free. I'll be speaking on Day 2 and Day 3.

Register today, and mark your calendars to tune in and watch live worldwide.

Brand New Website

There's an all new www.cameronjohnson.com - be sure to check it out!

Got a question? AskCameron.com

Are you stuck along the way, while starting your new business? Or maybe you're a struggling entrepreneur trying to increase profits in your business. Or maybe you just have another question about my new book, You Call the Shots. We've created a free way to ask me your questions and I'll answer them on a monthly teleseminar. That website is AskCameron.com. Submit your questions today!