The Freestyle Entrepreneur

“If you don’t drive your business, you’ll be driven out of it.”– Malcolm Forbes   I’m John R. Ingrisano, founder and president of Custom Communications and owner of The Freestyle Entrepreneur (www.TheFreestyleEntrepreneur.com).  I’m a marketing strategist who has helped businesses survive, grow and make money for 35 years. What you do (and let’s see if [...]

“Because there’s only one thing worse than working for yourself … and that’s working for somebody else!” – JRI As you well know, unless you’re in the first-blush start-up phase as an entrepreneur, business is tough.  It can wear you down.  Long hours, customers/clients who keep forgetting how much they love and need you, employees [...]

Great ideas are like secrets to success: Everybody has a dozen or so, and most don’t hold up well to the TGSWWC test (short for “That’s Great!  So What?  Who Cares?”).  That’s also the mistake a lot of business owners make when it comes to their marketing.  They waste a ton of money promoting vague, [...]

There is an ongoing political debate in our country about whether gays should serve in the military; and an even bigger debate as to whether they should profess said sexual orientation to their superiors. Frankly, I have no strong feelings one way or another about the issue. However, I am fascinated by Bill Clinton’s second [...]

by John Ingrisano, President You’re a consultant wrapping up a big project.  Don’t just submit your invoice and say thanks.  Suggest that now is a good time to discuss that next project. You’re a retail vendor ringing up the sale and handing your customer his or her change.  Don’t just say thanks for shopping here.  [...]

Although the incident occurred twenty-five years ago, I remember it as if it was yesterday. My business mentor, Jim, and I were meeting for breakfast at a nationally-known franchise in a central Iowa town. It was his turn to order for both of us as we each had our usual—a bacon & egg biscuit with [...]

I once set a goal to become a millionaire within five years.  It was the most boring, painful two weeks of my life.  Why?  No, it’s not that I achieved my goal.  It’s that the goal didn’t excite me.  I really didn’t care about it.  Oh, money is fine, but it’s the things money can [...]

HOW TO BEAT BUSINESS BURNOUT The Freestyle Entrepreneur is pleased to announce the first program in the TFE Business Presentation Series:  How to Beat Burnout!  This program, presented by entrepreneur John Ingrisano, can be tailored for your individual for business, entrepreneur, executive or inventor group. The premise:  Burnout and boredom are among the top reasons [...]