In our IEM class on entrepreneurship (personal entrepreneurship where we cover the Company of One concept) we provide a straight-up challenge.
Increase your income by $6000 over the semester.

In our IEM class on entrepreneurship (personal entrepreneurship where we cover the Company of One concept) we provide a straight-up challenge.
Increase your income by $6000 over the semester.
Most people think their paycheck is their lifeline. It’s the thing that keeps the bills paid, food on the table, and maybe even a little left over for fun. But the truth is this: your paycheck is the most expensive thing you own.
Not because of what it gives you—but because of what it costs.
When you think of yourself as just an employee, you hand over control. You assume the company owns your future. But companies cut costs, restructure, and outsource all the time. Job security is a myth.
Everyone thinks the “big idea” is the secret to starting a business. The million-dollar app, the product no one’s ever seen before, the magic invention. The idea doesn’t matter. I’ve seen too many people sit for years waiting on the perfect business idea — while...
As an IEM client (class of 2013), I took this challenge seriously and while it took some time to put things together, I have embraced (for the most part) the notion of reaching out of my comfort zone and becoming more entrepreneurial. As part of my IEM metamorphosis (or as some would call it-a shift in thinking and doing), I have had the opportunity to see a notable increase in revenue.
1. After entering IEM, I shared many of the class discussions and readings with my wife. We both were in a lull in our careers and wondering what/where to direct our efforts in the coming years.
2. We set goals, spoke with others (simple networking), performed reverse interviews, attended conferences out of pocket and generally took the advice given to “do something”.
3. As a result, things have improved markedly across the board. While there have been many challenges of relocating, buying an investment property, and each of us changing career paths-the resulting pay-off should be nice once we complete the transition.
4. From April 2012, we generated enough income from our investment property to cover the note for 2012. We planned to keep our payments within our budget/income means; so essentially, this money has been untouched and available for re-investment in the near future.
5. My wife worked very diligently to shift career focus and entered a field which we knew would challenge her, but in doing so, she has a more flexible schedule and a 20% increase in income.
6. I negotiated a position in which the first few years involve an income plateau, with marked increases in income thereafter. Also, my new company has paid the remainder of IEM tuition…great benefit there! And yes, I am counting that.
I am currently keeping my eyes and ears open for the next fruitful venture. I continue to network in and out of my field and consider each lunch conversation a worthwhile investment. I feel strongly about the mantra “do something”. I have been surprised to learn how effective many of the seemingly simple suggestions from this IEM experience have proved.