I have had quite a few requests for organizing some sort of networking event for the readers of SingleStartups and would love some feedback! PLEASE VOTE to let me know what ideas and geographical areas are of interest to you. While you are there, you will have the option to sign up for an interest list to be included if an event is planned.

Thanks!

Did you know that November 16th-22nd is Global Entrepreneurship Week?

Started just last year, the event is marked around the world by events designed to inspire youth entrepreneurship and connect hopeful young business owners with successful mentors. More information can be found on the official website, but watch the video for some inspiring examples of entrepreneurs making a difference in the global economy – nothing beats that plastic recycling guy…

So, the people at Pace University emailed me and asked me to post something about their annual elevator pitch contest in New York City with cash prizes this year of over $50,000. I’m pretty nice, so here it is!  (Although the event doesn’t take place until Thursday, December 3 in New York City – the deadline to register to compete is October 16).  All the details can be found HERE.

From the Pace website:

The Pace Pitch Contest is based on the Elevator Pitch concept, popular in the venture capital community. It is an extremely concise presentation of an entrepreneur’s idea, business model, marketing strategy, competitive analysis, and financial plan, which is delivered to potential investors. The premise is that it could be made in a few minutes, should the entrepreneur spot a potential investor on an elevator and have the opportunity to pitch their idea during the brief ride.

At this year’s Pace Pitch Contest, five finalists in the New Business Concept category and five finalists in the Social Venture category will each have exactly three minutes to pitch their new venture idea to a distinguished panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience. In addition to broad participation at Pace, we have been pleased to welcome student competitors from a number of other universities, including Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

If anyone goes, I wan’t to hear about it!!!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month (October), Mother Ink is now offering a brand-new pink ribbon temporary tattoo! Two sizes are available and ten percent of all proceeds will be donated to fund Cancer research.

If your business is doing something “pink” for October in honor of Cancer research, please leave a comment and let everyone know!

Robert Tuchman, author of Young Guns and Founder of TSE Entertainment, deserves a big high-five for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur, for starting his business while he was still young and single, and for his enthusiasm surrounding everything business, sports and capitalism.  If only he would have used his own business knowledge to hire a professional writer to guide him along, the insights and experience he has to share in his book would be better appreciated.

That being said, the underlying material in Young Guns is helpful, motivational, easy to read and asks all the right questions.  “Why not me?”, the title of Chapter One asks a great one, in fact. A question that warrants a continual answering as your business progresses (at some point there may be a reason it shouldn’t be you).  Going beyond that, the author explains what (besides a good idea and youthful enthusiasm) is essential to starting and maintaining a successful business using real world examples.

I generally love reading inspirational stories from entrepreneurs who have experienced it all, especially at a young age, and honestly think this book would be a great beach read for someone young, just starting out, or in need of general direction (who also doesn’t care if the writing isn’t exactly prize-winning). If you don’t mind excessive exclamation points and an overall “cheerleader” feel covering up what is essentially useful (albeit basic) information, then Young Guns could be just the thing.

Maybe I’m just too old and less of a cheerleader than I used to be.

Lash Fary, single entrepreneur and celebrity gift expert just sent me a WONDERFUL product!  (Trust me, I don’t use all caps often).  If you haven’t heard of Slimware, it is a fabulous line of melamine dinnerware with built-in portion control reminders.  Place your veggies on the largest design portion (in this case the biggest flower), your side dish or carb on the middle section, and protein on the smallest.  Personally, I am working up to staying within the lines starting an inch or two outside, which is still is an adjustment.  On days when you don’t feel like “controlling yourself”, just ignore the pattern size and enjoy the design.  Thank you, Lash, for making portion control beautiful!