Campers Everywhere!

MAKE Camp 2016 CollageThe Cumberland Business Incubator was full of young life last week. We hosted two different youth camps – Make Camp, our 3rd annual week long camp, and Maker Girl, a special 3D printing camp for 1st grade to 6th grade girls. Continue reading

Entrepreneurs Among Our Founding Fathers

1200

We all think about Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin being true entrepreneurs before the word was even in use. But what about the other Founding Fathers?

In an 1829 book, Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich we learn more. As it turns out, most of those who signed the Declaration of Independence were entrepreneurs. Continue reading

A Test: Take a Vacation!

bike

On a bicycle wheel the hub and spokes are critical components, though one is clearly more significant than the other. If one spoke breaks, the bike will still function, but if the hub fails, it’s all over. The ability for the wheel to spin is dependent on the hub. Continue reading

Altered Ego Design – A Maker Space Business

We are excited to have Christien Fontaine of Altered Ego Design creating his custom laser cut arts and automotive accessories at the CBI Maker Space. Christien owns the same Full Spectrum laser that we have in the Maker Space and has been making some of his creations and volunteering to help others learn what the laser can do. Continue reading

Your Invitation to Pitch Night

no-sharks-allowed-624x573

The Cumberland Business Incubator invites the community to attend the Crash Course MBA Accelerator Pitch Night, May 3rd at 6pm, Roane State Community College, 2569 Cook Road, Crossville. Presenting will be the participants completing the 15 week long Crash Course MBA program. Pitch Night is the final night of the program where the accelerator participants will share their ideas with the community, answer questions and accept feedback.

Participants in Pitch Night will include: Continue reading

Planning for What You Don’t Expect

stay_cool

Planning is difficult for any business. It takes time and intention – and knowing the results you want and how you’re going to get them. How often has one of your plans fallen by the wayside for unforeseen circumstances and pivoting meant starting over from scratch? If you’re like most business owners, that scenario is probably more true than not. So what can you do to reduce your vulnerability? How can you plan for the things you don’t expect?

The answer….you don’t, and yet, you do. Continue reading

How to Use Birdseed to Get Clients & Customers

birdseed

I think it was a scene in a movie, but something made me think about how that scene related to getting clients and customers.  Picture in your mind you are watching people in a park feeding the birds.

Children are chasing after the birds trying to catch them.  Almost every child eventually starts to chase the birds. It was quite amusing because the birds always scattered away! Camera pans and now we’re watching the adults interacting with the birds and noticed something fascinating… Continue reading

Introvert Entrepreneurs’ Marketing

hat

We all know that marketing and promotion is an essential part of business – but what if it takes you well beyond your comfort zone and seems to conflict with the essence of who you are?  I found this article by Amanda Jesnoewski has some good pointers.

This is for the shy, humble and introverted entrepreneurs among us – the ones who would rather stay in their office than get out and network, and the ones who feel inauthentic and at times even arrogant when singing their praises. Continue reading

Mark Your Calendars!

289

Roane State Community College’s Cumberland Business Incubator (CBI) will be hosting an Open House on April 13th from 1:00-3:00pm Central Time. The community is invited to the Open House to network, meet CBI entrepreneurs and business representatives, mentors and volunteers, tour the Maker Space and see samples of the projects completed in the Maker Space. Continue reading

Direct Selling Update

direct selling 1

The following is a summary of an article that appeared in the March 2016 issue of Direct Selling News:

What is the promise of the opportunity offered by any direct selling company? Direct Selling News (DSN) Ambassador John Fleming: “Direct selling companies offer an opportunity to people from all walks of life, regardless of background, education or skill level, the chance to own and operate their own business backed by material support from a larger brand and supported by a pathway of training.” Continue reading