I'm not sure why I didn't write about this any earlier, but there is a great free resource for PR. It's called "Help A Reporter Out" (http://www.helpareporter.com). Basically every day you get 3 emails from "HARO" that contain stories that reporters need experts for. So lets say you just started a travel website that is like a TravelZoo for CrossCountry Skiing trips...and there is a reporter looking for sources for Winter Vacation ideas or something...you just contact the reporter and then if he/she needs your input, you get free PR. I've already tried using it a couple of times...I've been successful once.

So when I was first contemplating starting a business, I ran a couple of ideas by my boss at the time about what he thought. He listened to what I said and then wrote down my ideas in order from best to worst. I had an idea that I thought was great and was by far my favorite. To my surprise this idea showed up at #2. His number one was an idea I thought was good, but nothing great...his reason...I had industry knowledge and contacts. I knew these contacts and knowledge could probably help out...but I really had no idea until I actually got started. If you're thinking about starting a business first time, I totally recommend starting in an industry you know and knows you.

The economy sucks....which makes right now is a great time to start your business. Crazy? Nope. Sure money is tight and finding funding is going to be that much harder, but the good news is that your competition is feeling the same pinches. So why do I think now is a good time:

1.) Competition - As I mentioned above your competition is probably holding back on rolling out a new feature or product because the economy is so bad. But you're not going to do that...so you'll already have a foothold by the time they get rolling.

2.) Use the economy - The economy is bad for everyone...but using your product you can save 25% over comparable widgets...or your webservice can help you save hundreds! Whatever it is...find a way to use the economy to promote your service or product. And if you literally can't find one thing to promote...is this something you should really be selling anyway?

I'm a big fan of history. I always got A's in high school in it and I always believe that history can repeat itself. Take fashion for instance...how many styles do we see today that are practically direct rip-offs from the 70's and 80's? I'm surprised that more people do not pay attention to history, especially in the business world. Take a look at this housing melt down. Is it really any different than the Internet bubble? Sure its houses vs. stocks, but it still comes down to prices getting over-inflated on something because of speculation...and there is always going to be a crash. It is no different than the Florida real estate of the 1920's and no different than the tulip craze of the 17th century. Something gets hot and eventually its going to cool. As entrepreneurs we need to be aware of history and whats going on right now around us and with ourselves. Are we getting in at the beginning or at the end? Did we try this already? And if we did what happened? If it is the end, what type of position are we getting ourselves into? A lot of people make the same mistakes more than once because they didn't learn from history, either theirs or someone elses. And a lot of times repeating the mistake can be the difference between a successful company and a failure

When you're trying to start a business with basically zero money, one thing that gets very expensive is traveling all over the place to meet with investors or advisors or whoever. I've used two sites when dealing with travels, and I've saved a good amount of money using them. The first is Priceline.com. Yeah, they've been running commercials for ever...but guess what...when you use the "name your own price" for hotels and rental cars it's pretty awesome. I've definitely saved 30% - 70% over what orbitz or travelocity was offering me. If you don't care what hotel you stay in...use Priceline. Same with rental cars.

So its been a long time since I've blogged anything. Basically I've spent the past couple of months trying to find an investor and trying to find a way to pay the bills. After my last "handshake" deal fell through I couldn't last any longer without steady income, so unfortunately I had to bite the bullet and get a job. Fortunately, I am not giving up on the startup...I'm just not looking for funding any more. One thing about starting a business is you have to know when to stop looking and start doing. So I've worked out a deal with a delevoper to throw him a little cash and equity so I can get the site up and running...although pretty stripped down.

And yet help can come from the weirdest of places. One thing that I'm learning is that sometimes you need to be a little more patient than you want to be.

If you're starting a business or thinking about it...read this article.
...And then book mark it.

Wow...I knew from working in the VC industry that fund raising was a time consume process, but from a Founder's perspective it is a REALLY long process. People like your idea, but it is to early for them...People like your concept, but don't know if you can get the industry on board...People like your concept, but (insert reason here).

So I'm at a point right now where I need to keep looking for investors and wasting more time, or just screw investors all together and build something that isn't what I envisioned, but will work.

If this last potential investor says No, then I'm going it

I'm going to be the first to admit that the time table I had "alloted" for raising funds was not completely realistic. I figured that since I wasn't dealing with "professional" investors, but industry investors, the time for raising funds would be reduced. Well...so far this doesn't seem to be the case. One thing that is obviously extremely important when going off on your own is realism. Realism in your assumptions, in your forecasts, in your time table, etc. Unfortunately when you're expecting one thing and getting something else, that shot of reality hits you right in the face. But the real entrepreneur is able to shrug that hit off and go on.