475 post: Erik Hanberg’s Talk

Erik Hanberg is an entrepreneur, author, Metro Parks Tacoma Commissioner, Side x Side Creative Partner, and Downtown Tacoma resident. He shared with us his experience as a small business entrepreneur.  Hanberg argued that to be an entrepreneur is also to be “a starter”. Many people have ideas but hesitate to use them to start a business because of their fear of emotional labor. Starting and seeing your business all way through completion would be a business starting point. The Social Network documentary supports this first step which was already endorsed by people like Seth Godin or Thomas Edison.

Being an entrepreneur also involves enjoying what are doing although the rewards may be uncertain. Hanberg will have soon six works published. Although the effort was not easy at the beginning, Hanberg enjoyed the process of writing, marketing, and publishing his works. Sometimes entrepreneurs get unintended revenue and surprises abound. For instance, Hanberg’s wife is a graphic designer and together they created Side X Side Company, which was originally known as Mary Holste Design. The company started when the wife was making her portfolio to apply to graduate school and become teacher. She enjoyed making her portfolio so much that she decided to make it a full self-employed job.

Ultimately there are two jobs one can do: sell time or sell something else. No one gets paid without working. Hanberg advises entrepreneurs to go to parties –to pass their business cards – and limit the time they spend watching TV.