I met Neptali through the Chicago music scene; he managed bands who were good friends of ours, including Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Brighton MA. As he mentioned during our conversation, his unique experiences as a designer, band manager, and talent buyer are the perfect for an entrepreneurial life. Tell me a little bit about the drinkware….

The views and opinions expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect any actual research or study of the literature on jobs vs. hobbies. Once upon a time, jobs were jobs and hobbies were hobbies. Electrician: job. Salesman: job. Firefighter: job. Making stained glass: hobby. Gardening: hobby. Keeping alpacas: hobby. But…

Today I talk with “Shark Tank” alum and quirky creative comedian guy, Steve Gadlin. We discuss keeping one’s energy up after over a decade of making artsy stuff, the logistics and finances of running a stage show in Chicago, and chasing down very exciting rejection letters. Elizabeth: I only kind of know you, Steve. You worked with…

I knew talking about money would be hard. I didn’t know HOW hard. Usually people like to talk about themselves, or want exposure for their work or product. I thought maybe some folks would like to vent about their struggles. Or share what they’d learned. My friends have agreed to talk with me (and for that, thank…

Today I talk with my friend and band-mate Ryan, who started in mini-golf course in 2012. I’m grateful for his honesty about his difficulties getting financing. Looking for a loan yourself? Then read on … Elizabeth: The tales you hear about entrepreneurs, or read in magazine articles about someone who starts a business, make success seem…

I ask folks to be honest and brave about money in my interviews. How did you price your sausage? Did you do a business plan? How are you supporting yourself right now? But I realized I’m not be honest about my own expenses for these very interviews. So it’s time for me to do what…

Many thanks to Tina Bartsch and Debbie Weingarten for an honest discussion of the realities of small-scale organic farming. A great read for anyone who wants to start a farm.  And for the rest of us, who need to start thinking about the financial sustainability of the food we want to eat. Quitting Season: Why Farmers Walk…

How do I know Ben? Back in 1997, I responded to his Craigslist ad. But not THAT kind of Craigslist ad! C’mon man. Ben was selling floral foam left over from his wedding, and I needed floral foam for my wedding. We met up and rode the El together to retrieve said floral foam, and…

Welcome to my interview with Alexis Leverenz, about starting her wonderfully successful shared-use kitchen and event space, Kitchen Chicago. Obviously I know quite a bit about Kitchen Chicago. But my dear lovely readers do not, so can you give an overview of Kitchen Chicago and what you do? Sure. Kitchen Chicago is a commercial kitchen…

I’m pleased to present my second interview with Zackery Belanger of Arcgeometer. Moving to Detroit … founding an acoustic architecture studio … getting one’s hair and wardrobe just right for a phone interview … all things we discuss below. Zackery: How’s my hair? Is my hair okay? Elizabeth: Oh it’s great. Yeah, your hair is fantastic. I…

Can you give me an overview of your business, what you do, what you make. My name is Lorelei H. Scott, and my company is Indigo Eden Arts. I make jewelry. Mostly silver, but I work copper and some brass in there, and I just did a little bit of work in gold. Right now it all…