Obstacles to Starting Your Own Business

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Permalink Reply by Mitchell York on December 5, 2008 at 12:13pm

Rory I am smiling as I read this because it sounds like where things were in 1994. That year, I started CMP's internet business, TechWeb. The internal conflict with all of CMP's print publications was unbelievable. Everyone was in a "kumbaya" spirit publicly ("let's all work together to create a win on the Internet") but the backroom brawling was the real story. There was almost no cooperation and lots of anger. So here we are 14 years later. CMP figured out TechWeb--or I should say UBM, its acquiring company, did. They operate independently from the print publications as far as I can tell. But for many B2B publishers who still have a horse in the print race, it's an ongoing battle. Ultimately the print versions of everything go away, but will it be this year or next--it's only a question of time. So you are exactly right that re-invention -- creative self-destruction perhaps-- is the only thing that will save the legacy B2B players.

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Permalink Reply by Shumon on December 2, 2008 at 5:53pm

I've actually started my own publishing company and my first publication BRANDONmag took me nearly a year to launch. The obstacles I faced, was finding the right people for the job, and through trial error, finding the right talent that met my needs. After launching the preview issue I feel comfortable enough in moving forward with the product. I also realize that I don't know everything, although at times I feel guarded in letting out to other what I'm working on, but I'm working through this.

I guess the irony in all this is that I teach small business management and entrepreneurship to high school, so one would think I would have everything under control...not always the case!

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Permalink Reply by Melisa Breau on December 22, 2008 at 2:39pm

I'm looking at starting a digital only magazine - (check out more details in my thread here) and for me the biggest obstacle is finding the time ! I work full time as an editor now while working on my Masters in Publishing (Pace University) so, while I think that my idea is very feasible, finding the time is frustrating. I have a good network to call on for people, at least initially, and would love to get some of these people on board. One that happens, I think I can 'find' the money - or promise it in the future if things take off to those who are willing to get involved just to see something like this and how it will work.

I'm sure ill run into all sorts of other problems as things get underway, but fortunately, i already have most of the actual goods in place. time and sweat are mostly what i need. :-)

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