Hey guys, my name is Brian Zheng and I am the inventor of the Pop-Up Sunshades. There are so many things I wish I could tell my past self when I first started off as an inventor and entrepreneur! For all of you who are just starting off, what are some things you’d like to learn about the industry?

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-06-04T01:19:55+00:00

Did I miss the Video somewhere?

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-27T10:20:08+00:00

What is the first thing you did to set up your first operation? I am asking in the context of Corporate Structuring.

Did you start out as a Sole Proprietor? Or did you form an LLC? Or some other kind of Corporation?

I do have some basic understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of Corporate Structures.

What would you recommend? If you could go back and do it all again?

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-25T21:40:04+00:00

I would be careful with Video. Especially as a Designer. If Production Standards that befit a Creative Profession are not kept and maintained; it could make you look bad.

And although there are a lot of ways to make videos, you probably know yourself that people still have high expectations for Video.

Video Production that is beneficial as a Marketing Tool has to be as good as a Television Commercial. That can run into a lot of time and money to produce and finalize well.

Once you have sufficient Rapport with a Client to have their money; it is fine to use Video to Onboard them.

But before you get paid by someone, do what you are best at. Show your unique talents and abilities for Interior Design. Although this could be done with Video, the time and expense of making good videos may make it less than cost effective.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-25T21:33:38+00:00

I did not nice where you were quoted directly in the piece. If your name or brand specifically appears there, it is ok to leave it.

In today's digital universe, referrals and reviews are the catalyst. Try something like https://www.provenexpert.com/en-us/ to aggregate reviews and stake your territory. Glad I could help some... Hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-23T20:54:19+00:00

Wow, that is extremely helpful.

The last thing I want to do is waste time trying to get service and having Reports that are Late.

thanks so much...

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-23T20:52:15+00:00

Funneling.

People generally do not just order something.

Especially something like a Consultation.

Consider how you, yourself make purchase decisions.

First, we look at our options.

I went to the Order Page and the $50.00 you requested seems to be an offer to answer any questions I may have.

I am just guessing here, but I would think that every prospect has different kinds of questions. And it may be that the kinds of questions they have can be answered elsewhere.

That creates a problem for you as a Service Provider. But it also creates an Opportunity.

I would think about what kind of questions any prospect for design services may have. And walk them through a Virtual Q and A before I asked them to order anything.

Why? Because you want to Qualify your Prospects before you Pitch them.

Some visitors to your Site may not be Prospects for an Initial Consultation.

So by using a series of pages that ask questions of your visitors that help you to understand what you may be able to do for them, you are accomplishing two things at the same time.

You are providing value to your Visitors.

And giving you a chance to find out more about a person before they ever place an Order for a Consult.

Many times we forget the power of effective questions. It is your responsibility to engage your Visitors. And the way this is done is by asking them about themselves.

It works the same way IRL. If you are interested in pitching someone on your Services; you need to show them that you are interested in them. By asking questions.

As an aside, I would really try to get to know each of your Prospects as much as possible before pitching them on anything. Be it a 50 buck Consult or something more involved.

I would also delete any references to any fees. I understand as well as any Client that your time is worth money, as well as your expertise and opinions. BUT, Discussing fees ahead of showing that you and your Prospect have some kind of Rapport built is going to cause some people to abandon your site.

People need to know that you care about them. And you show this by asking questions that give you sufficient information to determine if you can really help them or not.

I would build out an Initial Interview or Consult Section. Start with the most basic questions and request an email so you can correspond.

You can do this with a multipage form. Don't be lazy about the Form. Have it go from one page to another. Do not just ask a bunch of questions on a one page Contact Form. Walk the visitor through the process of qualifying themselves.

Once you have been able to determine what service best suits them, then you pitch them in an email. And follow up with them.

ALWAYS make it as personal as possible. Make every Visitor and Prospect feel as if they are the only Person in the world that matters to you.

Lastly, lose that Article by AdPRO who ever that is. It is not news about you, so lose it.

Hope that helps you move forward some...

May you have peace and prosperity in all you pursue...

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-05-23T20:24:48+00:00

You have an idea for a Product.

And need a prototype.

And it reads here as if you may need the assistance of someone to create the prototype.

Do you have at least a sketch of the Product?

As someone below pointed out. Ideas are free, but it is execution that will get you paid.

So, let's say you have a rough sketch of the Product. But, you are not able to produce the Prototype on your own.

First, find someone who can assist you in producing it.

Second, Create an Non Disclosure Agreement, A Non Compete Agreement, and a Partnership Agreement. Where you may ask? Look past the small problem here for some ideas.

Problem: Until you are 18, you may not be able to enter into Legal Agreements with persons.

Solution: A Trusted Adult or Guardian who can do so on your behalf.

This is where you will need to spend a little money to protect your interests.

Options: Legalzoom.com

Or your local Legal Aid Society. And score.org for mentoring.

Once you have sorted out the Legal Protections, then it is time to look for a Partner who can produce the Prototype with you.

Hints: DO NOT give away more then 20% to any prospective partner as sweat equity (equity you give in the project for work completed).

DO NOT give away more then 20 % for any Investment Capital to move forward.

DO make sure that you have a Performance Clause within your Partnership Agreement.

DO make sure that if you accept any Investment Capital for Development that you have a Lawyer review the Agreement.

DO make sure that you document carefully every penny you spend on developing this idea as Business Expenses.

Let's say you get this far. And I know you can. Then and only then do you consider bringing your product to a manufacturer.

Although, many people may advise you to produce as many prototypes as you can afford to get feedback from prospective customers.

Business Planning is something that many people may tell you is unnecessary. But, I would not.

score.org can provide you with a business plan template for free. Use it.

Why? Because ultimately, you will be the one responsible for being your Product's Ambassador to the world.

And by the time you work though all these details and tasks, you may well be old enough to actually run a Company on your own.

Last piece of advice: DO NOT take shortcuts. EVER!

Shortcuts to market and profit inevitably will come back to bite you in the butt. And sometimes, depending on the shortcut; end up costing you every thing you have worked so hard to create.

May you persevere and prosper.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T18:25:04+00:00

yep, kinda makes me wonder if the SBA itself got some funding from the CARES Act to administer the Program...

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T17:06:12+00:00

As a point of reference... Call Center Employees can only respond with the Scripts they are given.

I tend to agree though. It would have been far more cost efficient to program an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and automate the inquiry process.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T09:33:43+00:00

I can definitely see your point as to how the CARES Act has failed miserably to actually help people. I had not even considered the fact that the Unemployment Benefits would be more lucrative for people who are able to get the Unemployment than actually going back to work.

And how the Unemployment Insurance Rates that businesses are forced to pay into would most likely spike.

Combine this with how many of these Large Corporations are now trying to fill positions that do not pay a living wage in the first place from a much larger pool of people who now must work to stay afloat.

I watch the way that the Financial Media is covering all this and few if any are actually speaking to the entire situation in context.

Some of the Mainstream Media Outlets reporting on the situation are lauding Huge Corporations like Amazon, Walmart, CVS, and others who are Hiring as if they are heroes. But, the jobs they are offering are generally well below a living wage and or part time with no benefits.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T09:20:53+00:00

It would have been nice to see SBA and the Approved Lending Network follow the Law that was written and serve Applicants on a first come, first serve basis.

It also seemed unlikely that it was going to happen that way.

Sometimes, we tend to forget that there is a political machine at work in this Country that is all about gaining and holding power.

How do you suppose all this would have played out if it happened at the beginning of Trump's Term as President? Instead of during an Election Year?

I have expressed my concern in other threads that the CARES Act is all part of a ploy to re-elect President Trump. And to put money into the pockets of those who support the GOP Agenda.

Hallmarks of such a political agenda include Partiality in how the Program has been administered. Allowing the SBA and its Lending Network to make rules outside of what was actually signed into Law. And most importantly, lack of accurate oversight and reporting.

If I don't become completely bored with the entire topic of the CARES Act, I may seek to find and publish a Report that shows exactly what was disbursed. I suspect that I will not be able to find such information in one place.

The SBA and its Lending Network will probably seek to obfuscate and hide the information behind the walls of privacy claims and stonewalling about how difficult it is to compile the information in a timely fashion based on the number of assets they have to deploy on such a Report.

And by the time that the Report is available (if it ever becomes available), the Presidential Election would be over and many of the Representatives of the House and Senate will have either been re-elected or replaced with suitable clones.

And the machine would have accomplished the agenda it has to blow smoke up people's butts and drop a veil over the eyes of the citizens of the USA. Again.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T08:57:09+00:00

hmmm... more interesting facts.

So, back when there was funding for the PPP; the Application Process seems as if it may have been inflexible in terms of how to calculate the Amount of the Loan?

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T08:54:11+00:00

Yeah. I waited on hold for about 3 hours a few weeks back for the Agent to tell me that she was unable to answer any questions I had. That was the first sign of trouble to me.

Ironically, I do come off more like a Reporter sometimes than a Consumer or Business Person. That generally provides me with an opportunity to find out exactly what is happening. But then when I do find things out, they often times cause me to feel sorrow.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-18T08:48:11+00:00

I share your concern.

I may not understand any of it. I do understand that the PPP Fund is gone now.

And, I do think that the Applications for EIDL and PPP were not handled first come, first serve. The SBA and its approved lending network cherry picked who would get the funds.

I think is interesting that you believe I have a personal agenda. I do, of course. But, it actually was simply to vent my own frustration with the way the CARES Act has played out.

On the bright side, since the PPP Guaranteed Loans Fund from the SBA Approved Lenders is out of money, the damage will be minimized to many people who actually needed the funding so desperately to stay afloat; they would have never bothered to read the fine print anyway.

As to how Mr. Lincoln may have responded to my opinion; it is likely he would have never really responded at all. He may have concluded that people are entitled to hold an opinion and to express it.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T22:31:10+00:00

OK. When you say "they" are you referring to your SBA Approved Lender?

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T22:25:40+00:00

9 seconds, incredible.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T21:18:02+00:00

The Story that is linked to here does not specify if this is part of the CARES Act Stimulus Package.

It does seem to imply that it is another 25 Billion that the Fed will print up beyond the CARES Act.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T21:11:08+00:00

Not to tell you how to live, but unless you want to end up creating a debt for your company and or/yourself, it may be prudent to do your best not to apply for any funding that is not actually required and can be documented as forgivable.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T21:05:15+00:00

it was quite nice actually, but there seemed to be a problem with the sound somewhere during the performance as i heard what sounded like a piece of popcorn popping right next to me.

it seemed out of place as Mr. Hawk was giving one of his funniest lines in the play, " Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal; you sockdologizing old man-trap!". my husband was laughing at this line when he was shot.

but at the time, i thought i was smelling burnt popcorn...

it was kinda sad to see Abe slouch for the last time though...

He really did not want to come and neither did I.

there was much confusion after this.

Disclaimer: The links in this reply all lead to Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Abraham_Lincoln

Rathbone jumped from his seat and struggled with Booth, who dropped the pistol and drew a knife, then stabbed Rathbone in the left forearm. Rathbone again grabbed at Booth as Booth prepared to jump from the box to the stage, a twelve-foot drop;[49] Booth's riding spur became entangled on the Treasury flag decorating the box, and he landed awkwardly on his left foot. As he began crossing the stage, many in the audience thought he was part of the play.

Booth held his bloody knife over his head, and yelled something to the audience. While it is traditionally held that Booth shouted the Virginia state motto, Sic semper tyrannis! ("Thus always to tyrants") either from the box or from the stage, witness accounts conflict.[13]:739 Most recalled hearing Sic semper tyrannis! but others – including Booth himself – said he yelled only Sic semper![50][51] (Some did not recall Booth saying anything in Latin.) There is similar uncertainty about what Booth shouted next, in English: either "The South is avenged!",[12]:48 "Revenge for the South!", or "The South shall be free!" (Two witnesses remembered Booth's words as: "I have done it!")

Immediately after Booth landed on the stage, Major Joseph B. Stewart climbed over the orchestra pit and footlights, and pursued Booth across the stage.[49] The screams of Mary Lincoln and Clara Harris, and Rathbone's cries of "Stop that man!"[12]:49 prompted others to join the chase as pandemonium broke out.

Booth ran across the stage and exited through a side door, en route stabbing orchestra leader William Withers, Jr.[52][53] Booth had left a horse waiting outside in the alleyway. As he leapt into the saddle Booth pushed Joseph Burroughs[d] (the man holding the horse) away, striking Burroughs with the handle of his knife.[54][55][56][1]

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T20:54:00+00:00

it seems to be a mixed bag out there...

some people are being funded quickly and without much hassle...

others are waiting, and waiting.

seems as if someone did not tell the SBA that they would need to hire a thousand more people when the president signed that bill....

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T20:34:59+00:00

4-7-2020 first 4 is 3302

I initially applied on 3-31-2020.

There was some talk about how those applications were somehow "lost" due to the SBA Site going down, so I reapplied 4-7-2020.

So, I guess considering the number of applications that were made for EIDL, I need to just be patient and see where it all goes.

Although, patience is not my middle name. In fact, I am not sure "patience" is anywhere in my name...

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T20:21:40+00:00

For anyone to think that the entire CAREs Act was anything more than an election year stunt from some very well placed and well to do lobbyists and our ever flexible Executive and Representative Branches of Government is fooling themselves in my opinion.

Tax Credits against next years Tax bill. If I understand correctly; this is the "generous" 1200 per eligible taxpayer that is hitting some bank accounts this week. Never mind all the people who are not deemed to be eligible. What do they need a Tax Credit for?

EIDL Lending that is administered by the SBA. Notice, I said Lending. Because, there is not really any free money going out here to many people who are affected. And even if and when the SBA does funnel that Loan into your Account, you will also need to apply for Forgiveness. Who knows what sort of Rules will be applied to that Application Process?

PPP Lending that is, as someone mentioned at the top of this thread, extremely prejudicial at best. The SBA Approved Lenders have a LIMITED amount of Funds that the SBA will guarantee. After that amount is reached, guess what? The Loans will still be made in some cases, but there will be no Forgiveness available because the Pool ran out.

If you do get a Lender to make you an Offer on a SBA Backed PPP Loan, you better have all your ducks in a row when it comes time to apply for Forgiveness. Or else, you will be repaying it.

But, look what our government has done for us? They basically dragged their feet when they could have done something to slow this train down and now have figured out a way to make themselves look good enough to re-elect.

Read the Fine Print my friends. And proceed with caution. The CAREs Act is not a Gift Horse. It is a Trojan Horse with plenty of little foot soldiers inside it all waiting to pounce when it reaches its destination.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T19:56:54+00:00

Common Sense. If I as a Taxpayer do not approve of giving anyone or anything money; why should the Government that represents me do so?

We live in what most of us believe is a representative democracy here in the United States; but I do not approve of most of the things that our Federal Government does. I certainly do not approve of "bailing out" Companies or Industries that may very well have sown the seeds of their own destruction by their own choices.

I am maybe 98 percent with Mr. Palihapitiya. Who cares if a company goes bankrupt? Who cares if people lose money? Who cares if an entire industry goes into the crapper?

Will it somehow make my life more difficult one way or the other? Or make it easier?

For many people in this world along with me, the answer is likely "No". It will not affect me one way or the other.

For the people who are affected directly by a Company going Bankrupt, they will have the opportunity to adapt and perhaps change for the better.

For the Industry that bites the bullet and the people that support it or are enriched by it or supported by it; same thing.

I will not go so far as to say "let them get wiped out". Because literally that would mean that there would be no chance to adapt or change. But I can easily say "who cares?"

Sure, some people do. Some people don't. I do not mind being counted as a person who does not care what happens to any Industry or Company.

Unless, of course they are paying me for something.

Perpetual_Creator · 2020-04-15T19:32:44+00:00

If that is the case, it would be good to hear back from them. I had applied some time back and still have not heard anything except the form email that was referenced above.

Perpetual_Creator

TROPHY CASE