As of next Tuesday, May 27th the new Utah County  ELP site will be at the Stevens-Henager Provo/Orem Campus located at 1476 South Sand Hill Rd., Room 223.  This location is less than a mile south of the old BRC and a little south of the Walmart.  Our new time will be 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.

There will be a person at the entry.  If you say “ELP” or Entrepreneur Launch Pad, they will know immediately what you’re there for and where you should go.
Please get the word out our …

What does the ice cream shop clerk and the secretary of your potential buyer have in common?  They both have something you want.  And if you approach them like everyone else, chances are you’ll get the same minimal results from them.  There’s an easy way to get much more from them than that.
I have a frequent bet with friends when I go to the ice cream shop.  I bet that I can get 50-100% more ice cream than they can from the same person, for the same price, in the same amount of …

Rowan Atkinson plays an under-qualified spy in Johnny English

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it.” It’s almost a mantra for entrepreneurs, and I see a smile from whoever says it. What makes me pause for thought is the realization that people have to smile when they mention that phrase. Why is that?
There are different ways that I’ve seen people “fake it.” A designer suit bought at Ross, non-prescription eyeglasses, a used luxury vehicle, complex …

Guest post by Roger Koyle, Kaysville Site Leader
Ron Baron spoke to our ELP Kaysville members last week and did a tremendous job.  At the time of my asking Ron to speak to our Kaysville group, I had never heard him speak more than a few words.  I had been told by other people that he did some public speaking and in fact just recently spoke to an organization in Las Vegas Nevada.  I admit I was concerned with giving Ron a full hour to speak.  Sometimes I worry for the speaker that one hour …

Too often cities trying to build high-tech startup communities make one or more key mistakes that keep their plans from reaching fruition. Here are the six common problems that afflict — but don’t have to squelch — startup communities:
1. The Patriarch Problem: If your ability to get funding depends on who you know, where you went to school and where you’ve worked, your city might be suffering from the Patriarch Problem. If funding is based solely on what you do, congratulations – …

Dear ELP Members,
My name is Roger Koyle. I am the new site leader for the Kaysville Entrepreneur Launch Pad.  I am a business owner and moved here about six months ago from Boise, Idaho.  As a business owner and entrepreneur, I have been overwhelmed with the resources available to entrepreneurs and business owners in Utah.  I find ELP to be extremely valuable for those who wish to launch or expand their business ideas or resolve issues relating to their current business or project.
At …

I will continue on the topic of evaluating the value proposition we offer in our businesses in my next post, but tonight I want to offer my own value proposition to some of you ELP members with businesses up and running and also to some of the others associated with ELP who want to talk about their programs or services.  I finally received full approval and a start date to launch my own daily radio show on 1480 KHQN as a partnership project between KHQN and the Department of Workforce …

The first question in business is the value proposition and the question comes from the consumer as he asks “what can your product or service do for me”.  A marketing company would try to convince businesses to use them because their methods are diverse and effective at generating interest in the companies they represent.  Restaurants offer new foods, fresher foods, great sit-down ambiance, or customer service that brings you back.  Maybe you just offer a coupon that says “we’re …

I have a cautionary tale to share with all you entrepreneurs.  At the family dinner on Sunday night my sister-in-law told us all about the exclusive Salt Lake City arts event held last Saturday, which she was invited to by the event organizers.  The Salt Lake arts community recognizes exceptional artists across various categories every year and they bring those artists to this event to promote their work.  In the case of my sister-in-law, she and two friends make masquerade masks, jewelry, …

I came up against a universal truth today as I reflected on my entrepreneurial goals and activities.  I’ve had business ideas and I have made small attempts to start my business outside of my day job and family responsibilities.  But I haven’t succeeded yet because I haven’t been consistent, so my business has not grown because, as many of you already know, consistent effort is a key ingredient to the success of any business venture.  After all, we wouldn’t shop at a grocery store …