Entrepreneurship Archives - Bourn Creative

How To Achieve Higher Profits While Working Less And Enjoying More Freedom

August 9, 2017 Jennifer Bourn

“I want to work less and make more money,” is a common desire among internet business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, but often with so much work to do, it seems next to impossible.

If you focus on sales and marketing, you end up falling behind on client work, and if you focus on client work, you risk losing potential new business. Sometimes it’s a struggle just to get ahead of the work you have so you can take the evenings or weekend off… and maybe you’re even so busy that things are starting to slip through the cracks? I have been there, and almost 10 years ago, it all came to a head one night when I realized that I had a big problem in a very embarrassing and public way, and that it needed to be fixed as soon as possible or my business would begin to suffer greatly.

After celebrating Bourn Creative’s twelve year anniversary this July, I decided to share my story, the lessons, learned, and how I overcame exhaustion and stress to run the streamlined, freedom-based business Bourn Creative is today.

Kyle Maurer Interviews Jennifer Bourn For WP Roundtable

November 29, 2016 Jennifer Bourn

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to chat with Kyle Maurer for the WP Roundtable podcast. Our conversation was really organic and natural and it covers some WordPress, some business, some personal stuff that I’ve never shared in an interview before.

I’m not sure how much caffeine I drank the day we recorded this interview, but this is probably my most honest, animated, candid, and feisty interview ever.

How Do You Manage The Work Life Balance Challenge?

March 23, 2016 Jennifer Bourn

We recently shared with you that Bourn Creative’s managing partner, Brian Bourn will be speaking at WordCamp San Diego 2016 on Custom Data Management Made Easier, An Intro To Custom Fields, and today we have more great news to share.

Jennifer Bourn will also be joining the lineup of speakers as part of the Sunday Business Track. Jennifer will be speaking on the topic of Balance: How do you manage the work/life balance challenge?

For years Jennifer has juggled several competing requests on her time. She’s a full time business owner, entrepreneur, wife, mom, writer and more. Yet, she’s also had time for family vacation, business travel and more — which raises a question. Is she cloned, or does she know something about how to manage the challenges of this thing we call a “work/life balance”?

Where do you get your business advice?

August 20, 2013 Jennifer Bourn

I am a firm believer that no one knows everything about building and growing a business — at least I know I don’t! In fact, most business owners and entrepreneurs (like me) start businesses not because they know how to run a business, but because they are exceptional at what they do and seize an opportunity.

In my experience, learning about business and how to run one effectively comes along the way. A few years into my business, I received a great piece of advice: Know the path you want to take and surround yourself with people who are farther down the path. In other words:

Find the people who have achieved what you want to achieve and learn from them.
Find out what they did wrong and what they did right; what worked and what didn’t work; what they wish they had done differently.
Find a mentor or mastermind group who can answer your questions and guide you in the right direction when you need it.

Closing the Gap Between Prospects, Patrons, and Profits

March 5, 2012 Jennifer Bourn

2008 was a year of near economic collapse in the United States. Americans in some sectors are still reeling from the great slump in the housing market, the widespread loss of jobs, and the ongoing outsourcing of work overseas, among other catastrophes. When it comes to our economy, unrest and uncertainty seem to be its calling cards. In such a climate, it’s easy for us entrepreneurs to focus on the negatives, mostly that consumers don’t have any money to spend on our goods and services.

But what about focusing on the positives?

Kiplinger reported at the end of last year that “Consumers are finally loosening the purse strings.”
Time magazine announced in January that 2012 is “The year of the entrepreneur.”

In fact, entrepreneurialism is at an all-time high. And that means that businesses, especially targeted, niche businesses, are continuing to push ahead, finding a steady stream of customers for their products and services. If you’ve been convinced by all the talk about the bad economy, you may be missing what’s right in front of you: money, ready to be picked up off the table, and leads and prospects who want to work with you. Eventually, if you do things right, they will give you their money.

If you shift your focus a little bit, you can close the gap between your prospects, patrons, and profits.

Business is Kind of Like Learning to Ride a Two-Wheel Bike

December 16, 2011 Jennifer Bourn

Brian and I love riding bikes, Carter loves riding his Lightning McQueen bike, but Natalie, not so much. In 2010 Santa brought Natalie an awesome big-girl bike and she spent (maybe) 20 minutes on it all year. To put it mildly, riding bikes hasn’t been a fun experience for all. Natalie was so afraid of wobbling and falling that she couldn’t even try to ride her bike. She would sit on it. Then it would wobble. Then she’d burst into tears and run in the house almost hysterical — and she couldn’t seem to control it.

When we rented bikes in Tahoe and did our 16-mile ride, she cried for the first 20 minutes or so begging us to return them.

Detours, Delays, and A Magic Escalator to Business Success

August 23, 2011 Jennifer Bourn

This past week we spent the day in Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. We sweat through a mid-day hike, plugged our noses at the sulfur springs, saw a mama bear and her two cubs play in the meadow, and played in the snow!

Our hike was the Kings Creek hike back to the Kings Creek Falls.

It was supposed to be a moderate, two hour hike — perfect for the kids! But that wasn’t exactly the case. Pretty far into the hike when we came across a trail sign telling us that the trail was closed due to all of the snow and that we needed to take a detour and hike the horse trail instead, adding about .2 miles to our hike.

Only .2 miles right? No biggie. So we kept on hiking, this trail was more rocky and much steeper. The kids were a bit afraid and we were all tired and hot. Then came another sign saying it was just .2 miles to the falls. We were almost there, or so we thought.

Lessons from my 16-Mile Ride: Tahoe City to Squaw Valley and Back

June 15, 2011 Jennifer Bourn

Last week was an incredible (and busy) week. It started with my trip to LA for the Platinum networking and mastermind retreat for Ali Brown’s Millionaire Protege Club. I was joined by 49 other entrepreneurs to work ON our businesses and our mindsets for two days and the experience was intense. I set some pretty brazen goals for myself and had a few personal ah-has that will result in some business adjustments too!

After LA, the family headed up to Lake Tahoe for a long weekend. We rented a very cute house right outside Tahoe City and we’re having a blast! Yesterday we took on a 16-mile bike ride from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley and back. The weather was gorgeous, sunny, and warm … and there is still snow ALL OVER!

Maker Faire San Francisco: You Don’t Have to Monetize Everything

June 7, 2011 Jennifer Bourn

This past weekend my family took a trip to San Francisco to visit my brother-in-law and to spend the day at Maker Faire, hosted by O’Riley Media and Make Magazine, was similar to a county fair or festival, but everything was hand-crafted or homemade.

There were people showing and selling everything you can think of — from robots and technical wonders with lights and sounds, to giant metal sculptures, giant flame guns, human/bike powered carnival rides, a life size version of the game Mousetrap, carved wooden bikes, Lego displays, crafters, engineers, and more.

Our favorite display and showcase was by the R2-D2 Club. The members were showing their working, life-size, remote control R2-D2 robots that interacted and “played” with the kids!

Maker Faire was full of amazingly talented people who were sharing their hobbies with all of us in attendance — hobbies that clearly take up a lot of time and money. When talking with vendors, I learned that for many (except the crafters), this wasn’t their primary business and it didn’t tie in with their job. They just do it because they love it.