Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast
79 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 8 years ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsPamela Slim, author of the Escape from Cubicle Nation blog and coach of wannabe entrepreneurs, provides practical, how-to information to help frustrated corporate employees break out and start their own business. She covers the awkward area between deciding that you cannot stand being in a cube another day and figuring out everything necessary to make your new business happen.
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Episodes
Are you selling your entrepreneurial soul if you get a day job?
May 29, 2008 22:12 - 36 minutes - 8.31 MBI was really excited to do this interview with Andy Wibbels of www.andywibbels.com after I heard that he took a "day job" as Marketing Manager at Six Apart. I have known Andy for a long time and have always admired his candor, sass and brand, as well as his business sense. Since he has done almost everything right to create an effective business, like: Create a successful blog Define and own a particular niche Develop a huge mailing list of devoted followers Team up with great partners ...
How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
May 05, 2008 18:41 - 41 minutes - 9.48 MBFor this week's podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gary Schoeniger, founder of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. Gary has a really interesting story -- from dead broke desperate handyman to successful entrepreneur. Over the last 15 years, he has interviewed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs to discover which skills are critical for starting and running a business. Many are not what you think. My favorite advice from the interview: "Find a problem. Figure out how t...
Is it possible to have a cool job?
April 14, 2008 19:19 - 33 minutes - 7.68 MBMy friend Alexandra Levit just wrote a book called "How'd You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Jobs- and How to Get Them." Her book bubbled up from lots of conversations with friends at social gatherings where inevitably one person would describe a cool job that no one had heard of. Despite what you may think of my opinion based on my blog's name, there are certainly times and places for a "job," rather than striking out on your own. If you have to be your own venture capitalist for...
Realistic expectations for making money in your startup business
March 11, 2008 04:33 - 38 minutes - 8.84 MBSometimes I feel a bit schizophrenic, on one hand encouraging people to not stress so much about leaving their corporate job to start a business, and on the other hand feeling extremely uncomfortable about all the "start a business in 30 days in your bathrobe" nonsense that permeates the internet. Sparked by a blog post my good friend and fellow entrepreneur coach Philippa Kennealy wrote called Can you maintain your income as an entrepreneurial physician? , I invited Philippa as a guest for ...
5 reasons why entrepreneurship is the best personal development on the planet
February 26, 2008 17:46 - 9 minutes - 8.37 MBIf you want to grow as a human being, you could climb really tall mountains. Or run marathons. Or study the great written works. Or study yoga in an ashram. Or ... you could put your entire livelihood at risk and become an entrepreneur. I don't think running a business is for everyone. But I do think that it is the best way on the planet to learn about yourself. In this episode, I list 5 reasons why I feel so strongly about this. Listen in to see if you agree or disagree, then share y...
Embrace synchronicity in your business and enjoy the results
August 20, 2007 20:30 - 7 minutes - 3.5 MBYou may notice that the closer you get to your right life and business, the more frequently coincidence, synchronicity and serendipity occur. Once thought the purvey of mystics and dreamers, more and more business people are embracing insight and intuition as a critical business skill. In this episode, I share: My own frequent experiences with synchronicity Some "rational" reasons why it may occur Resounding encouragement to stop being so stuffy and embrace the benevolent forces of th...
What to do when you hit the "starting a business is too hard" wall
July 17, 2007 19:43 - 7 minutes - 7.12 MBEven the most optimistic and motivated aspiring entrepreneur will reach a point where frustration or anxiety grinds progress to a halt. This is otherwise known as "hitting the wall." It can happen when doing things you hate such as: Making sales and marketing calls Trying to crank out a first draft of a book or product Filling out government or legal forms Creating a business plan What can you do to not let frustration derail your dreams? My five recommendations include: Scream, whin...
How do you know when it is safe to call yourself an expert?
July 03, 2007 17:29 - 5 minutes - 4.66 MBIt is often tricky to know when it is safe to call yourself an expert in your field. If you have done any research in marketing and PR, you know the benefits of an "expert" designation: free press and the trust and credibility of potential customers, leading to more sales. But it can feel a bit presumptuous to call yourself an expert, right? This episode provides questions you can ask yourself to test your expertise, which go beyond the traditional formula of years of experience + number ...
Soul-wrenching insight on creative blocks from The War of Art
June 18, 2007 23:42 - 7 minutes - 6.99 MBI was stunned and awed this weekend when I read a great book on creative blocks called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Best known as a novelist of books such as The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and The Last of the Amazons, Pressfield writes a short but exquisite analysis of the source, purpose and solution to creative blocks. It was published in 2002, but is a timeless classic for anyone who feels blocked from starting anything. I chose a few key concepts to ex...
Striking a balance between being rich and being famous
June 05, 2007 04:58 - 7 minutes - 7.24 MBPeople are drawn to entrepreneurship for a variety of reasons including work/life flexibility, the opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the world, the chance to make a lot of money or the platform to get known as an expert in your field. Regardless of your intentions, chances are you want to make money at what you do, and use the benefits of press and publicity to market your efforts. In my shorthand, I call this getting rich and famous, even if in your humble definition this m...
How to go from vague idea to concrete business concept
May 22, 2007 00:01 - 6 minutes - 5.88 MBA blog reader recently wrote an email and shared his frustration at being stuck in a corporate job and hating it, but not knowing how to begin a new business in a new field. To answer this question, I outlined a number of steps you can take to go from vague and fuzzy idea to concrete business concept, highlighted here: Step 1: Wrap your arms around the field. Learn as much as you can about all the ways this field is expressed in business, so that you know which area to focus on. Step 2: ...
Use classes and workshops to get stuff done
May 07, 2007 22:03 - 3 minutes - 3.45 MBMost small business owners have big plans to develop new services, re-invigorate marketing efforts or enhance online offerings. But if you are working alone, sometimes the tasks seem overwhelming. Participating in a group class or workshop can be a great way to: Develop a supportive network of peers that can provide insight, encouragement and motivation for your project Get expert advice from your instructor which can ensure you don't make costly misakes and do things right the first tim...
Controversy is good: go ahead, disagree with me!
April 24, 2007 04:36 - 6 minutes - 5.65 MBIf you were raised in a conflict-averse household like I was, you may find that your early training seeps into your business and you are afraid to upset anyone with a controversial product or service. Big mistake! The most successful (and interesting!) businesses take a stand and create something different, unique and meaningful for their target market. You should be no different. In this 6-minute episode, I outline why I think it is so important to take a stand and do the following thing...
Cash flow is king
March 19, 2007 22:49 - 7 minutes - 6.61 MBFor all of you who have just made your first sale, congratulations! You should jump up and down and dance a jig at your accomplishment. Very soon, however, you will discover that a closed sale does not equal money in your bank account. Based on personal experience and that which I have learned from smart friends, I share some guidelines for making sure that you plan and contract for a stable cash flow in your new business. They include things like: Carefully study your client's financia...
Networking tip: Use the phone!
March 05, 2007 21:58 - 4 minutes - 3.94 MBWe all get comfortable using email to introduce ourselves to people we find compelling or share common business interests with. It is a quick and painless way to connect with people all over the world. But with the influx of email in everyone's inbox these days, as an alternative, why don't you try picking up the phone? In this episode, I cover some tips for phone networking so that you: Know how to professionally and quickly get to the point of the call Respect the other person's time ...
Cut through work paralysis by replacing "perfect" with "good enough"
February 21, 2007 21:44 - 6 minutes - 6.03 MBIf you are anything like me, you sweat the details of your business, wanting to make sure that everything is flawless and of the highest standards. The problem is, in a rapidly moving world and life, it is impossible to be perfect at everything you do. In fact, you will most likely stress yourself out and get little done if your standards are so high that you get paralyzed. In this episode, I invite you to redefine your relationship with perfectionism and invite "good enough" as a new stan...
Small business marketing advice from expert John Jantsch
February 12, 2007 18:23 - 33 minutes - 7.7 MBIntrigued by questions from many of my blog readers about small business marketing, I thought I would get answers from John Jantsch, one of the most well-respected small business marketing experts in the world. Do any of these questions ring true for you? If I have never marketed myself before, where do I begin? What are the pieces of a total marketing system? Why is it so important to define a specific target audience or niche for my services? Won't this narrow my opportunities? What i...
Take the brute force out of your fears by dissecting them
January 29, 2007 21:01 - 6 minutes - 1.53 MBAll aspiring entrepreneurs have fears about starting a business. Such as: No one will ever buy my product or service I do not have enough experience to start a business All my competitors have superior products (besides which, they are smarter and/or better looking) Some people stay paralyzed and never move forward, while others find ways to overcome their fears and experience success. In this episode, I walk you through a specific exercise that you can use to diagnose and alleviate you...
Interview with Martha Beck: Your left toe holds the clue to your right life
January 15, 2007 14:23 - 44 minutes - 10.1 MBDeparting from the regular, brief bursts of information in this podcast, this interview is a 40 minute conversation with Martha Beck, author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live and monthly columnist for Oprah's O Magazine. Martha provides lively and insighful information about how to figure out the work you are meant to do, a critical step in deciding which business to start as a new entrepreneur. Her approach may su...
Stop playing small
January 01, 2007 11:00 - 4 minutes - 4.54 MBIt is easy to get in the habit of being the "person behind the curtain," creating fame and glory for charismatic clients, executives and spouses. But when we choose to play small, we limit our lives to "next best" and miss the opportunity for great contribution to the world and personal joy and satisfaction. In this episode, I share some of my own experiences with playing small and the tremendous surge of energy and abundance I experienced when I decided to play bigger. Why not decide to p...
When is your brand "good enough" to start marketing?
December 18, 2006 21:53 - 7 minutes - 6.86 MBIf you are just starting to market your business, you might feel a little exasperated when trying to choose a perfect brand name. It may feel like until you do this, you can't move forward with any marketing plans and you feel stuck and frustrated. In this episode, I cover: What a good branding process should look like Which marketing activities you can undertake before your brand is fully baked Which marketing activities you should hold off on until you are 80% or more satisfied with yo...
Proud member of the Island of Misfit Toys
December 04, 2006 10:00 - 7 minutes - 6.78 MBDo you often feel like the oddball in your family, your job or your profession? Drawing on inspiration from the "Island of the Misfit Toys" from the 1964 classic movie Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, I outline ways to: Celebrate your unique quirks, differences and personal history Tie them in with needs in your market Be proud of the misfit you are and reflect it in an authentic and kickass brand! For those that are fans of the movie, I found a really fun link with some of the back story ...
The customer likeability factor
November 20, 2006 18:19 - 5 minutes - 5.1 MBKnowing what business to start is a huge question for many aspiring entrepreneurs. Aside from examining your own passions and interests, you can gain great insight into this question by thinking about your ideal customer in the following dimensions: Who would I genuinely like to work with? What characteristics do they share? What impact would my product or service have on their life? How does it feel to know I am having a positive impact? How would I feel talking about my business with ...
The curse of competence
November 06, 2006 20:41 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MBDo you do something very well, get recognition and rewards for it but feel very burned out and dead when you practice it? You may suffer the curse of competence, a deadly trap for aspiring entrepreneurs. This episode discusses how to avoid starting a business based on a skill or ability you are burned out on. It can seem the easy path to money, but often leads to real frustration and apathy. Some strategies discussed: Disconnect the ability from the job description Create a personal ...
Beat negative self-talk when starting a business
October 23, 2006 20:56 - 9 minutes - 8.25 MBTwo of the most critical elements of becoming a successful entrepreneur are developing a positive mental attitude and defeating negative self-talk. This is important to not only produce great business results, but also to enjoy the day-to-day process of building your business. In this episode, I discuss two elements of a postive mental attitude: Distinguishing between your "essential" self and your "social" self to ensure you are doing work you are meant to do Using a simple 4-question p...
Reduce your marketing dread
October 09, 2006 10:00 - 6 minutes - 6.26 MBIn this episode, I cover three things that help new entrepreneurs overcome their dread of all things marketing: Readjusting your marketing mindset Clearly defining a niche Selecting and creating a marketing plan I reference two helpful marketing experts: Robert Middleton from www.actionplan.com and John Jansch from www.ducttapemarketing.com
How do I choose which business to start?
September 25, 2006 19:46 - 6 minutes - 5.96 MBMany people have questions about which business to start. But most approach the task from the wrong angle, believing that if they just think about it enough that the answer will magically appear. In this episode, Pam covers: A myth about the process of deciding which business to start Insight into why it is such a difficult quest for veteran corporate employees A (fun) homework assignment to get some insight into the best business idea for you
Escape Podcast - Plan your life then your business
September 11, 2006 18:53 - 4 minutes - 1020 KBThis episode covers the importance of thinking about the kind of life that would make you happy, healthy, stable and fulfilled before you run down the road of creating a business plan. I include an easy-to-complete exercise with just enough "woo woo" to make you relax in your cube.
Escape Podcast - First episode
August 28, 2006 18:45 - 7 minutes - 1.75 MBThis episode introduces the purpose and intent of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast. It will build on content I write on my blog www.escapefromcubiclenation.com as well as include interviews with interesting, informative, passionate and creative people who know more than a thing or two about entrepreneurship.