Wow – what a fantastic show.   Your Questions, Your Money on Fox Business Network is exploding onto the scene as the best show for budding entrepreneurs.   A week ago I was lamenting about the pre-emption of the show by Geithner and Obama – and the producers came back with a strong two hours on today’s installment.

Let’s start with the co-hosts.   Dagen McDowell started the two hour segment off with a passionate speech about the entrepreneurial spirit of America.  Dagen’s passion came across strongly when she remarked  “we are living and working in freedom and today’s show is about inspiration, not exasperation”  - Well Dagen, you inspired me!  As well as thousands of viewers.

Back on the show again was co-host was Tracy Byrnes.  Dagen and Tracy have a tremendous amount of synergy when they host the show together.  All of the other co-hosts Fox Business Network brings out every week pale in comparison to Tracy’s spirit – note to the executive producers – it should be Dagen and Tracy every week!

The guests for the two hour show were brilliant again.

First up was Marco Lentini, the founder and president of Avanti Foods.  Avanti is running or about to open six fast and casual restaurants in the Philadelphia area.  Marco’s claim to fame is he introduced President Obama at a small business symposium earlier this week.  Marco had a lot of great advice to small business owners about financing and running a business.  Marco’s main points were that 1.) There is a tremendous opportunity in the next eight to twelve months to get help from the government 2.) The silver lining in these economic times is that it has forced small business owners to learn how to run things better (a thought repeated by the second guest) and 3.) The small local bank has an important role in helping the entrepreneur.

The second hour of the show was dominated by Terrance Brennan who runs several restaurants, wine and cheese bars, and a luxury cheese business (www.artisanalcheese.com).   Terrance was brilliant.  He offered great advice, had tremendous energy and stimulated lots of conversation.  He even had the savvy to take on Dagen’s husband….oh, did I mention that Dagen’s husband Jonas Max Ferris was on the show?

Jonas added a lot of energy to the show because he played the role of “devil’s advocate” to almost every idea.   I enjoyed Jonas’ point of view – very pragmatic, intelligent and feisty.   I’d love to have dinner with Jonas & Dagen – heck, I’d even pick up the tab because the entertainment would be worth the bill!

And once again, Dr. Danielle Babb and Dr John Rutledge were their normal brilliant selves – Dani Babb, who also serves as the Dean of the College of Business at Andrew Jackson University, has become the ultimate resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs…as John Rutledge remarked – Dani’s got all the facts, website links and resources viewers need to take advantage of all the great advice.   In fact, Dani’s got so much information, Dagen has taken to stopping Dani mid-sentence and getting her to repeat the information.   One thing is certain, have pen and paper ready when Dani speaks, she’s going to give you something to write down….like her suggestion that entrepreneurs take classes at Andrew Jackson University to get practical and applicable knowledge about how to start and run a business (thanks for the plug Dean Babb!)

John was again his feisty knowledgeable self – and no, Dagen & Tracy, not once did he mention blue flames!   John had some really keen insight – like when he suggested a trend that all callers who were starting businesses were from states like Texas, Tennessee and Washington that are without a state income tax.  By the way, Dagen & hubby Jonas tag teamed against John on that point with Jonas implying that the most successful businesses are in California where taxes are high and Dagen supported him by claiming that the accents of the callers indicated that they had not moved to those states, but were clearly home grown – sorry John, they get you on blue flames and taxes?  But seriously, John is really the guru on the show – he’s the father figure and the truth is, he absolutely knows best.    Get it done is always his message.

So – another brilliant show on Fox Business Network - a great education for all the viewers every week.   So tune in next week and take the knowledge you gain with you – just like Andrew Jackson University, where you can Take Education Anywhere…ok, now for some reason I’m craving wine, cheese and bread!

Happy eating, watching and studying!

Don Kassner

Links

The Babb Group

Rutledge Capital

Max Funds

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