Entrepreneurship Programs Are About Business Plans …
The Focus Program Is About Entrepreneurs Finding THEIR Logical Path To Self-Employment
Welcome to a unique and needed approach to entrepreneurship in which the mission is quite simple: Help prospective entrepreneurs better understand themselves and their potential fit in the world of business ownership BEFORE taking action. The Focus Program achieves this by addressing two critical questions: Should I really be self-employed, and if so, what type of business environment might best fit who I am? The philosophy driving the program is also simple, namely: Personal Planning Should Always Precede Business Planning.
There are 36 well structured lectures plus additional reading materials. There are no quizzes or tests in this course. Instead, students reflect on and write about a number of subjects with the goal of creating a ‘Personal Entrepreneurial Portrait’℠, a word picture of the prospective entrepreneur in action. The portrait results from complex personal decisions every entrepreneur must (or should) make before launching into self-employment.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS INDEPENDENCE AT WORK℠
Course Outline
| Section 1: Orientation & Introduction | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stating The Problem | 04:44 |
| 2 | Foundation of the Focus Program | 04:52 |
| 3 | A Fundamental Truth About Self-Employment | 03:17 |
| 4 | A Formula for Successful Planning | 03:31 |
| 5 | Self Knowledge & Independence | 08:41 |
| Section 2: Entrepreneurial Types | ||
| 6 | Defining an Entrepreneur | 05:42 |
| 7 | Employee Manager, Intrapreneur, Franchisee & Business Opportunity Buyer | 05:59 |
| 8 | Independent, Practical Visionary & Summary | 04:31 |
| Section 3: Pathways to Ownership | ||
| 9 | Defining the Pathways | 07:47 |
| 10 | Purchased Format as a Start-up | 04:12 |
| 11 | Purchased Format as a Takeover | 03:01 |
| 12 | Independent as a Start-up | 02:32 |
| 13 | Independent as a Takeover | 03:16 |
| 14 | Special Considerations for Takeovers | 06:09 |
| Section 4: Aptitudes | ||
| 15 | Defining & Using Aptitudes | 04:20 |
| 16 | Aptitudes & Gifts of Intelligence | 05:39 |
| 17 | Generalist & Specialist | 07:36 |
| 18 | Introvert & Extrovert | 03:22 |
| 19 | Personal Frames of Reference | 06:49 |
| 20 | Spatial vs. Abstract Thinking | 05:16 |
| Section 5: Purchased Formats | ||
| 21 | Defining a Franchise | 02:43 |
| 22 | Traits of ‘Quality’ Franchises | 05:05 |
| 23 | Examining the Heart of a Franchise | 04:26 |
| 24 | Advantages of Franchising | 02:22 |
| 25 | Disadvantages of Franchising | 01:51 |
| 26 | Investigating via the Marketing Department | 04:56 |
| 27 | Final Thoughts on Franchising | 05:07 |
| Section 6: Case Studies | ||
| 28 | Using the Case Studies | 01:43 |
| 29 | Case 1. Delivering on an Entrepreneurial Vision | 08:39 |
| 30 | Case 2. Gradual Steps to Self-Employment | 04:43 |
| 31 | Case 3. Corporate Manager Finds an Entrepreneurial Home | 06:25 |
| 32 | Case 4. A Cautious Move to Independence | 05:40 |
| Section 7: Group Work, Planning Guides & Summary | ||
| 33 | Group Work | 05:33 |
| 34 | Personal Planning Guides 1 – 2 | 04:27 |
| 35 | Personal Planning Guides 3-8 | 03:55 |
| 36 | Summary | 02:49 |