Like many creative people, I have a learning disability. Specifically, I have dyslexia, which means I cannot make out the differences between and among the sounds of letters in the alphabet. As a result, spelling is nearly impossible and pronouncing words correctly is...
I’m Different. Get Over It. I Did. (Stephen’s Learning Disability)
I remember realizing that I was different from the other kids in the second grade. I couldn’t pronounce words that my peers could. As I struggled to read and express myself verbally, I grew terrified of being called on in class. It felt as if I couldn’t get a word out...
How to Take a 5-Star Vacation on a 3-Star Budget
Traveling has been a passion of my family's for many years now. One of things I like the most about the licensing lifestyle is that it's given me the freedom to pick up and take off at will. That's the beauty of passive income, really. My bucket list is a mile long....
How Gardening Feeds the Soul of an Entrepreneur
It's a well-known fact that creative spaces are energizing. But rarely do we have full control over the environments that surround us, including our workspaces and homes. The opportunity to design and develop an environment over which I have full control is just one...
The Secret to Staying Married While Starting a Business
Later this month, I’m going to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary with my lovely wife, Janice. I’ve been a self-employed entrepreneur for nearly my entire adult life. It hasn’t been easy balancing my passion for my work and my relationships with my family. In fact,...
You Can Do Anything With the Right Attitude
At my daughter’s recent graduation, a commencement speaker kept reiterating, “You can do anything with a degree in philosophy.” To which I thought, you can do anything with the right attitude. For all of you entrepreneurs struggling to make ends meet but committed to...
Why You Should Think Twice About Marrying an Entrepreneur
I can remember the first time I met my wife Janice like it was yesterday. It was the late eighties, and we were working at Worlds of Wonder, a startup toy company. When our departments got together to discuss the launch of a new product -- Lazer Tag -- I was taken...
The Number One Reason You Should Hire a Family Member
Many small businesses have and continue to be run by family members. For a long time, I doubted how well that really worked. I care about my work deeply -- too deeply, some might argue. Did I really want to risk bringing any more responsibility or stress into my home?...
Becoming an Entrepreneur Takes Courage — Marrying One is Even Braver
When my wife and I began dating, I remember the picture I painted for her. We were standing on a rooftop in San Francisco when I whispered to her, “Imagine sitting on a beach far, far away. The royalties I collect on my products are supporting us. We can live...