Bet you a dollar you do not know it.

Stop! If you want to take my bet, write down your answer. I'll pay you via Paypal if you get it right (not kidding, I really will).

Let me share something that drives me crazy (my wife will tell you, it's not a long trip). Entrepreneurs often start ventures with the goal of gaining more freedom, fulfillment and an overall better lifestyle. Okay, now for the frustrating part. They usually spend no time -- zero -- explicitly thinking about how a start-up idea will (or won't) lead to these goals, even though they often invest months planning a venture. Forgetting to plan to make sure your idea will lead to a better lifestyle is the biggest mistake you, as an entrepreneur, can make. If you don't even consider something, how can you accomplish it?

Making matters worse, while many reputable resources help entrepreneurs in a variety of ways, none focus on this issue. But you can shape an idea so it is more likely to achieve your lifestyle goals. Here are just a few ways:

1. To make sure you will enjoy the daily activities inherent in your idea, job shadow someone in a similar business.
2. To reduce risk, secure advance orders AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to confirm actual demand. Your life depends upon it! Don't, like most entrepreneurs, just make "educated" guesses.
3. To generate more leisure time, systematically choose the right activities to outsource. Outsource them in the right way.

This entire site is 100% devoted to providing step by step guidance on how to implement these and many other actions that can improve your lifestyle as an entrepreneur. I've gathered the information over decades, in my role as a Professor of Entrepreneurship and as an entrepreneur (See about the Author, Mark Simon, Ph.D.). In part, this website contains:

1. An ever growing free resource section with exercises, research findings, and easy to apply articles.
2. Free chapters and other information regarding my book, The Balanced Entrepreneur.
3. This blog, Perfect or Find for Startup Ideas to Improve your Lifestyle

I will constantly be updating this website with NEW information that helps you find and shape ideas to generate the life you want.

If you knew the number one reason an entrepreneur's startup generates an awful lifestyle then email me at DrSimon@TheBalancedEntrepreneur.com and I will send you a dollar via PayPal!