Are Entrepreneurs Really “Unemployed”
By Cheval John
I saw a commercial during the Super Bowl on how a loan company simplifies the process of getting a loan for a home.
The comedian played the person who simplifies the complicated questions in relation to the company.
Video courtesy of Quicken Loans
What got my attention during the commercial was when a lady asked about a dating account when she saw entrepreneur and the comedian said, “unemployed.”
Are entrepreneurs really people who are unemployed?
— Cheval John (@chevd80) February 6, 2018
The truth: entrepreneurs create work for themselves.
Everyday, they have to go and find customers or clients in order for the business to thrive.
For example, a public relations agency has to look for clients and make a proposal in order to convince the person or organization on why they are the right fit.
The unemployed is searching for work with an organization hoping to land the job of their dreams so they can be have a salary to provide for themselves and their families.
They will attend networking events, volunteer for non-profits,participate in twitter chats or even do a live stream show to build long lasting relationships.
Sometimes the entrepreneur who does not have consistent cash flow will have to find part work in order to keep their business alive.
That does not mean they have given up on their business.
It only means they are reducing the stress of running a business.
Barbara Corcoran mentioned in a episode of Shark Tank she had to take a part time job in order to meet payroll for her employees in the early stages of her former company, The Corcoran Group.
If you are fortunate to pick up a second job while you are running your business, you are in luck.
You can build relationships with customers at your second job because that is what they pay you to do.
The thing is you should know how to use your time wisely and also use your common sense because you do not want to create a conflict of interest.
You should also have a positive attitude and see your second job as a venture fund because the company is “funding your business indirectly through a paycheck.”
Meaning you spend the money wisely and save up for expenses or courses which can allow you to learn a new skills that can benefit your business.
Instead of complaining about how much money you are making or why you are not where you are in your business, just be grateful.
You will end up learning valuable lessons.
I will share from my personal experience.
I had worked in a small coffee chain for about two years mostly in downtown houston.
The environment was not great for growth.
Though I could have brought value to them with social media in addition to the regular work duties, they did not give me the opportunity to run their accounts.
They did not allow me the flexibility to run my business whenever I was off because most of the time, they would try and call me in to work and expect me to drop everything for them.
Despite those challenges, I managed to learn everything I can from the business and also build quality relationships with the customers because most of them worked in corporate america in the downtown area.
When I left the coffee chain, I still see half of them whenever I am in downtown and they would ask how I am doing.
I thought I would not be an employee again because I like the freedom of running my business.
The problem was I was not making money consistently.
So when I the owner of a lodging company offered me work, I knew it was the right fit because it would give me the opportunity to learn more about the travel industry since I decided to pivot my business towards this sector.
I was a bit hesitant to take the work because I knew I would have to cancel some shows I had set up weeks prior for my podcast.
After talking to a few colleagues, I decided to become an employee again and work at the lodging company.
Since this business sector is new to me, I had to train on the basics of working in the lodging company.
I can say I had completed one month of working at the lodging company.
Though I am working every day in the night shift, I am very fortunate because I am learning from the owners on how to run a business the right way.
I am also learning more about the tiny details of how a business works including being a great sales person, how to be a supervisor to a degree and how to get back to saving money from the paycheck I earned.
Working at the lodging company allows me to be super focus on managing my time wisely so I can keep the business going.
If you think you are going backwards because you decide to get a second job while you are building your business, you need to get rid of that thinking.
Just because the super successful entrepreneurs says, “you are not an entrepreneur if you work part time,” does not mean they are 100% right.
Everyone have their own journey to success and these same entrepreneurs will not pay your expenses when you are fighting to build a good business.
So do what you need to do to keep your business afloat and treat your internal and external customers right.
You will learn valuable skills which will allow you to turn your business into a cash flow machine.
Rebekah Radice: The Master of Preparation
By Cheval John
Those who are great at their skill have one thing in common.
They are masters at preparation.
Peyton Manning, who won two Super Bowls, was very meticulous at preparing for each football matchup.
Another one who I believe is very great in this particular skill set is Rebekah Radice.
Rebekah recently made an appearance on my show, What’s The Word? to share about her newly launch book, “Social Media Mastery”
What I can say about Rebekah is that she is really great at social media because of her dedication to preparation.
Her attention to detail in everything, whether it is creating a blog post, preparing for a speaking engagement, or even recording her new podcast, allows her to stand out from her peers in the social media world.
Rebekah was part of the reason why a few twitter chats which she co-hosted became extremely popular during it’s time because she planned each of those chats for months before they were launched.
Another thing is Rebekah did not look for the quick success when she launched her blog in 2004 at the time when blogs was still a niche medium.
She basically stayed focused on growing her blog during the early years and the results started to occur.
Rebekah’s blog was named a “Top Ten Blog” in 2015 and 2016 by Social Media Examiner and she has spoken at their conference on many occasions.
Rebekah’s attention to detail and hard work allows her to achieve all of the success with her business.
Many should follow Rebekah Radice on all of her social media platforms.
Also, they should take a look at her blog because it is filled with rich information on growing a good business from scratch.
You can leave a comment below if you agree or disagree with this post.
Nothing In Life Is Free
By Cheval John
Lets say you send an top-leading expert in the business industry about the possibility of buying them coffee in order to learn how they overcame challenges to be successful in their business.
People like Mike Michalowicz, Author and Speaker
Or Felena Hanson, author of the new book, “The Flight Club and Owner of the Hera Hub.
Two likely scenarios will happen.
They will respectfully decline your offer to buy them coffee.
Or they will charge you a fee for about 30 minutes to an hour to learn about how they overcame the odds to become successful with their business for the better.
You might believe that the above is mean because you figure that they are nice people.
True, they are nice people.
But, you must understand that if they spend about 30 minutes to an hour of their time chatting with you about their business, they will be losing money in the process.
Because that same time they spent with you could have went into creating another business idea that would allow them to make money.
That is why the small percentage of the world are truly successful because they see their time as valuable.
They use their time wisely in order to keep themselves motivated to be successful in their business and aim to make the world a better place.
Now if you send these same entrepreneurs an e-mail invitation to spend 30 minutes to an hour as a guest on your podcast or “television” show, nine times out of ten, they will say yes.
The reason is because they will have an opportunity to share their story of how they achieved business success as a guest on your show.
They also know that they will not be losing money because they will attract a new (your) audience to their business.
That is why you see a lot of movie stars appearing on national television shows when they are promoting a new movie.
Or even music artists appearing on ESPN shows like “First Take” and “His and Hers” during the Super Bowl festivities when they are promoting a new album.
That in itself is why an entrepreneur or even a college student should host a podcast or a “television show.”
If you are just starting out, don’t send the invitation to a big name celebrity or rock star in the social media industry because you don’t have an audience yet.
Instead, start with the people you in your network who knows you and trust you because overtime, your podcast or television show will have a dedicated audience.
And a bonus that seems contradictory to the above advice, don’t waste your time chasing influencers because they are busy people and are receiving the same e-mail invitation from your fellow podcasters to be a guest on their show.
When you spend your time wisely and build your podcast/television show slowly, you will eventually gain respect from your audience that will eventually allow your business to be profitable for the better.
The Small Businesses That Won Big During the 2026 FIFA World Cup
By Cheval John | Vallano Media
Editorial Disclosure:
This article was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence for research, outlining, and drafting.
The author reviewed, edited, and verified the factual information before publication in accordance with Vallano Media’s editorial standards.
Video Courtesy of WFAA
Every four years, the FIFA World Cup becomes much more than a football tournament.
It becomes a global gathering that brings together supporters from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds, all united by the world’s most popular sport.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup raised that standard even higher, becoming the first tournament to feature 48 national teams and the first to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The expanded format brought more matches, more visitors, and more opportunities for communities across North America.
Much of the attention understandably centered on the action inside the stadiums.
The world’s biggest stars competed for football’s most prestigious trophy while billions of viewers followed every dramatic moment from around the globe.
Yet another competition quietly unfolded outside the stadium gates.
It wasn’t between football clubs or national teams.
It was between businesses trying to serve millions of traveling supporters.
Global corporations invested heavily in sponsorships, advertising campaigns, and worldwide marketing initiatives.
Their logos appeared on television broadcasts, inside stadiums, and across digital platforms throughout the tournament.
At the same time, local entrepreneurs found their own ways to participate.
Restaurants welcomed supporters before and after matches.
Hotels became gathering places for international visitors.
Coffee shops filled with traveling fans and journalists planning their day.
Transportation providers helped visitors navigate unfamiliar cities.
Independent retailers introduced tourists to products that reflected the character of their communities.
While official sponsors helped tell the story of the tournament on a global stage, local businesses helped visitors experience each host city in a personal way.
That distinction matters.
The World Cup is often measured by television ratings, attendance records, and sponsorship revenue.
Those numbers are important, but they tell only part of the story.
Every supporter who travels to a match also needs somewhere to sleep, somewhere to eat, transportation around the city, and recommendations on what to see and do.
Those everyday decisions create opportunities for thousands of businesses that have no official relationship with FIFA.
This is where the local economy comes into focus.
Unlike global brands that spend years planning international campaigns, small businesses often succeed because they can react quickly to changing circumstances.
They understand their communities, know their customers, and can adapt almost overnight when demand changes.
That flexibility became one of their greatest strengths during the tournament.
The World Cup Economy Extends Beyond the Stadium
For many visitors, purchasing a match ticket represented only one expense during their trip.
Travelers also booked hotel rooms, dined at local restaurants, used public transportation and ride services, visited museums and attractions, shopped at neighborhood stores, and attended fan festivals even on days without matches.
Host cities recognized this long before the opening match.
Local organizing committees, tourism agencies, chambers of commerce, and business organizations spent years preparing for the influx of international visitors.
Their goal extended beyond successfully hosting football matches.
They wanted visitors to explore the city, support local businesses, and leave with positive memories that could encourage future tourism.
That broader economic activity is one reason governments and host cities invest significant resources into hosting major sporting events.
The matches may last only ninety minutes, but visitors often spend several days exploring the city around them.
For many small businesses, those extra days matter just as much as the matches themselves.
Houston’s Unexpected World Cup Hero
Video Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle
Perhaps no story illustrates that opportunity better than one that unfolded in Houston before Brazil’s Round of 32 match against Japan.
Thousands of Brazilian supporters gathered for a festive march toward the stadium.
Wearing the country’s famous yellow jerseys and carrying flags, fans filled the streets with music and chants that reflected one of football’s most passionate supporter cultures.
Unexpectedly, the planned musical group leading the procession became unavailable.
That could have disrupted one of the day’s signature fan events.
Instead, organizers turned to an unlikely participant.
Local pedicab driver Frank Pipkins had equipped his bicycle with speakers.
Rather than simply transporting passengers, he accepted the opportunity to lead the procession through the streets, playing Brazilian music while thousands of supporters followed behind him toward the stadium.
What began as a normal workday became one of Houston’s memorable World Cup stories.
Pipkins was not an official tournament ambassador.
He was not part of a multinational sponsor.
He simply recognized an opportunity, solved an unexpected problem, and became part of the fan experience.
His story captures one of the most valuable lessons in business.
More often, they appear unexpectedly, rewarding those who are prepared to adapt quickly and provide value when circumstances change.
That lesson extends far beyond football.
For entrepreneurs, flexibility is often just as valuable as financial resources.
For small businesses, being able to respond immediately can become a competitive advantage that much larger organizations struggle to match.
Where Hospitality Became the Home Team
If the matches created unforgettable moments inside the stadiums, the businesses surrounding them helped shape everything that happened before and after kickoff.
For many visitors, the World Cup experience did not begin when the referee blew the opening whistle.
It began when they checked into a hotel.
It continued over breakfast at a neighborhood café.
It took shape while asking for directions, finding transportation, discovering a local restaurant, or meeting fellow supporters at a fan festival.
Those moments rarely appear in tournament highlight reels, yet they often become the memories visitors carry home.
That is where local businesses played one of the most important roles of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Restaurants Became Gathering Places
Video Courtesy of CBS New York
Restaurants have always been part of the football experience, but during the World Cup they became something much larger than places to eat.
They became meeting places.
Supporters from different countries gathered to discuss matches, celebrate victories, and experience the culture of the host city.
Some restaurants extended their operating hours or adjusted staffing to accommodate increased demand around matchdays.
Others benefited simply because thousands of additional visitors were exploring nearby neighborhoods.
Houston offered several examples of how local restaurants responded to the tournament.
Some restaurants near fan activity and stadium-related events reported stronger business during the World Cup than they typically experienced during the summer.
Local reporting highlighted businesses that welcomed visitors from around the world while adapting to increased customer traffic during the tournament.
Not every customer entered because of a marketing campaign.
Many arrived because another visitor recommended the restaurant, a hotel employee suggested it, or they happened to discover it while exploring the city.
That kind of organic visibility is something money alone cannot easily buy.
It reminds business owners that exceptional service often becomes the most effective form of advertising.
Hotels Became the First Welcome
For international visitors, hotels often created the first impression of a host city.
Front desk employees answered questions that went far beyond check-in procedures.
Where is the nearest train station?
Which restaurant serves local specialties?
How do I reach the stadium?
What attractions should I visit before tomorrow’s match?
Those conversations happened thousands of times throughout the tournament.
Hotels became unofficial visitor centers, helping travelers understand cities they had never visited before.
This role is sometimes overlooked because it happens quietly.
Yet hospitality professionals influence the visitor experience in meaningful ways.
A helpful recommendation can lead a guest to a family-owned restaurant.
Clear directions can reduce the stress of navigating an unfamiliar city.
A friendly welcome can shape someone’s perception of an entire destination.
Major sporting events remind us that customer service is not simply a transaction.
It is part of the product.
Coffee Shops and Neighborhood Businesses Benefited
Coffee shops also became part of the daily rhythm of the tournament.
Supporters stopped in before early matches.
Journalists worked on stories between games.
Volunteers, transportation workers, and local residents shared space with visitors from around the world.
Independent cafés offered something many travelers appreciate during long trips: familiarity combined with local character.
The same was true for neighborhood bakeries, convenience stores, pharmacies, and other small retailers.
These businesses may never appear in official World Cup advertisements, yet they provide many of the services that make a visitor’s stay comfortable.
In many ways, they represent the everyday economy that powers every major sporting event.
Local Retailers Offered Something Different
Official FIFA merchandise remained popular throughout the tournament, but many visitors also searched for souvenirs connected to the cities they visited rather than only the competition itself.
Independent retailers offered locally inspired apparel, artwork, gifts, handcrafted products, and city-themed memorabilia that reflected the character of each destination.
For tourists, purchasing from a neighborhood business often meant taking home something unique.
For entrepreneurs, it represented an opportunity to introduce visitors to the local culture while supporting the regional economy.
This highlights an important distinction.
Official merchandise celebrates the tournament.
Local businesses celebrate the host city.
Together, they create a richer experience for visitors.
Small Businesses Moved Faster Than Large Organizations
One of the greatest strengths of small businesses is speed.
Large corporations often require multiple approvals before launching a new campaign or changing an existing strategy.
Local entrepreneurs usually do not.
A restaurant can adjust staffing after seeing increased reservations.
A transportation provider can position vehicles where crowds are expected.
A retailer can highlight products that appeal to visiting supporters.
These decisions can sometimes be made within hours instead of weeks.
The World Cup demonstrated how valuable that flexibility can be.
While multinational companies excel at global reach, local businesses often excel at responding to immediate customer needs.
Neither approach is inherently better.
They simply solve different problems.
Success Was Never Guaranteed
Video Courtesy of CBS Texas
It would be easy to assume that every business located near a World Cup venue benefited from the tournament.
The reality was more complicated.
Some businesses experienced increased customer traffic because of their location, preparation, or ability to adapt.
Others encountered unexpected challenges.
Video Courtesy of Global News
Road closures, security perimeters, changing pedestrian routes, and transportation adjustments affected how visitors moved through host cities.
In some cases, businesses located close to event zones actually found themselves harder to reach despite being physically nearby.
These contrasting experiences offer an important reminder.
Hosting a global event creates opportunity.
It does not guarantee success.
Businesses still need planning, flexibility, and a clear understanding of customer behavior.
Those that adapted to changing conditions generally positioned themselves more effectively than those that relied solely on location.
That lesson applies long after the World Cup ends.
For entrepreneurs in any industry, success often belongs not to those with the biggest budgets, but to those who recognize changing circumstances and respond before everyone else.
The greatest lesson from the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not that small businesses replaced global brands.
It is that they complemented them.
Official FIFA partners played a vital role in making the tournament possible.
Their investments helped support the competition, global broadcasting, fan engagement, and the infrastructure that allows an event of this scale to reach billions of people around the world.
At the same time, local businesses delivered something those global campaigns could never fully provide.
They gave each host city its personality.
Video Courtesy of CBS Boston
A supporter may remember watching a dramatic goal on television, but they may also remember the family-owned restaurant where they celebrated afterward, the hotel employee who recommended a hidden local attraction, the neighborhood café where they met fellow supporters, or the pedicab driver who unexpectedly became part of Brazil’s march through the streets of Houston.
Those are experiences that cannot be mass-produced.
They are created one customer at a time.
Local Businesses Sold the City
One of the biggest misconceptions about mega sporting events is that only the largest corporations benefit financially.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup showed that the economic story is far more complex.
Every visitor arriving in a host city created demand that extended well beyond the stadium.
Visitors needed transportation.
They needed accommodations.
They purchased meals.
They visited local attractions.
They bought souvenirs.
They asked residents for recommendations.
In other words, they participated in the everyday economy of the city.
This is one reason economists and tourism officials often evaluate major sporting events by looking beyond ticket sales alone.
The impact of visitor spending reaches restaurants, hotels, transportation providers, entertainment venues, retailers, and numerous service businesses that may have no official connection to the tournament itself.
The World Cup became an opportunity for communities to introduce themselves to an international audience.
Every positive interaction helped shape how visitors viewed that city long after they returned home.
Why Experience Became the Real Product
One of the strongest themes to emerge from the tournament was that businesses were selling more than products.
They were selling experiences.
A restaurant did not simply serve lunch.
It became the place where supporters celebrated a last-minute goal.
A hotel did not simply provide a room.
It became the starting point for a family’s World Cup adventure.
A transportation provider did not simply offer a ride.
They helped visitors navigate an unfamiliar city with confidence.
Frank Pipkins’ story illustrates this perfectly.
His pedicab was originally intended to transport customers.
Instead, it became part of one of Houston’s most memorable fan celebrations.
That transformation did not happen because of an expensive marketing campaign.
It happened because he recognized an opportunity, solved a problem, and enhanced the experience of thousands of supporters.
For entrepreneurs, this may be the tournament’s greatest lesson.
Customers often remember how a business made them feel long after they forget the transaction itself.
A Blueprint for Future Host Cities
The lessons from 2026 extend beyond football.
Future Olympic Games, NCAA championships, Super Bowls, FIFA Club World Cups, international festivals, and other major events will continue bringing visitors into local communities.
Each event presents similar questions for entrepreneurs.
How can we better serve new customers?
How can we showcase our community?
How can we create experiences that visitors will remember?
Businesses that begin answering those questions before an event arrives are often in a stronger position than those that wait until crowds appear.
Preparation matters.
Flexibility matters.
Hospitality matters.
More Than an Economic Story
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for historic matches, unforgettable goals, and the successful expansion to 48 teams.
It should also be remembered for something less visible.
The tournament highlighted the important role that local entrepreneurs play in the success of global events.
While international sponsors connected billions of viewers to the competition, neighborhood businesses connected visitors to the communities that welcomed them.
Those businesses transformed ordinary transactions into memorable experiences.
They helped visitors discover local culture.
They answered questions.
They solved problems.
They created moments that could never appear on a sponsorship billboard.
Final Thoughts
The hidden winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup were not measured solely by revenue or customer counts.
Their success was reflected in the experiences they helped create.
From Houston’s pedicab driver unexpectedly leading thousands of Brazilian supporters through the streets, to restaurants welcoming fans from around the world, to hotel employees offering directions and recommendations with a smile, local entrepreneurs became an essential part of football’s biggest celebration.
The World Cup lasted a month and about two weeks.
The relationships, memories, and goodwill created by those businesses have the potential to last much longer.
For entrepreneurs, the message is clear.
You do not need a multinational marketing budget to make a meaningful impact during a global event.
Sometimes the greatest opportunity comes from doing the small things exceptionally well.
And in 2026, while the world’s attention was fixed on the pitch, countless local businesses quietly reminded us that football’s biggest tournament is also a celebration of the communities that open their doors to the world.
Sources:
FIFA – 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Official Information
FIFA – Houston FIFA Fan Festival™ Guide
Houston Chronicle – Did the World Cup Live Up to Its Economic Promise for Houston’s Restaurants?
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