Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D.: The Shades of Entrepreneurship

Jeff Standridge's Background @ 0:49

Jeff Standridge is a Texan by birth and an Arkansan by choice, with a diverse background spanning healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship. He has worked as a paramedic, respiratory therapist, professor, and corporate executive before starting his own entrepreneurial support organizations, the Conductor and Innovation Junkie.

The Conductor and Innovation Junkie @ 2:40

Jeff founded the Conductor, a statewide technology commercialization center in Arkansas, in partnership with the University of Central Arkansas and government agencies. The Conductor provides free coaching, consulting, mentoring, training, and access to capital for entrepreneurs across the state. He later started Innovation Junkie to serve companies that don't qualify for the Conductor's sponsored services.

The Importance of Mentorship @ 7:11

Jeff emphasizes the vital role of mentorship for entrepreneurs, but cautions against forced or inorganic mentorship programs. He believes the best approach is to teach entrepreneurs how to proactively seek out and leverage mentors in their areas of weakness.

Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes @ 30:12

The two biggest mistakes Jeff sees entrepreneurs make are: 1) Creating a product or service that not enough people want to buy at a profitable price point, and 2) Thinking that everyone is a potential customer rather than identifying a specific target market.

The Joy of Entrepreneurship @ 40:33

Jeff finds the most rewarding part of his work to be seeing entrepreneurs leave his office with renewed energy and a "twinkle in their eye" after gaining valuable insights, tools, and connections to move their business forward. He sees entrepreneurship as a form of "economic empowerment" that creates jobs and wealth in the local community.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs @ 42:07

Jeff advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus more on executing their idea rather than guarding it, and to seek out local entrepreneurial support organizations like SBDCs or SCORE chapters to get the guidance and resources they need to turn their idea into a viable business.