I'm currently learning to build some really fun websites and blogs using Wordpress. I tried once before and ended up frustrated that I could not get the code to do what I wanted. Today, with CSS, I am able to much more than before so I'm trying it again.

On top of the Wordpress code I am using a great theme called Thesis. I have enjoyed learning everything this combo can do and they can do bunches!

My first website is taking shape. It may not look exactly as it does now but it should stay pretty close. I'm combining my love of web design, amateur photography and entrepreneurialism to create my latest venture.

I am uploading many of my funnest and best photos, along with a collection of vernacular photographs, and will be offering low resolution images for free use on non-commercial websites and blogs. High resolution images will be available for print with just the click of a button.

Check out the site and give me some feedback! As I stated above, it is currently a work in progress... Life's A Photograph (www.lifesaphotograph.com).

Labels: entrepreneur, Internet, make money, niche, Photo

"Adventures with Travis and Presley, Part 1" is a DVD and book set that teaches children the importance of good manners while helping Presley find his bone. The series, the first of eight, is designed for ages 2 to 6, but it is entertaining and fun for all youngsters.

My company, The Curtoons Cartoon Company collaborated on the project to help bring it to market.

The DVD/book combo can be ordered for $9.99 at www.travisandpresley.com.

Watch the trailer here... http://www.youtube.com/user/travisbrorsen1

Labels: Cartooning, entrepreneur, make money

Have you missed me? I didn't think so. I have not been able to update much because I've been keeping myself busy. Wanna hear about my latest venture?

Well, you're going to anyway. My goal is to one day have a very large, thriving greeting card company. I started my little greeting card studio in 2002 and named it ChuckleBerry's. We've been taking orders and printing cards right out of our house for years.

I've sold cards in most every state in the Union and created a good wholesale business that has been supplying cards to gift shops, book stores, casinos, and hospitals.

To make a long story short, I've moved my entire operation from out of my little studio and teamed up with a company called Zazzle. Zazzle handles cards and merchandise for companies like Disney, Hallmark, Build-A-Bear and many others.

Zazzle.com now holds my greeting card catalog, takes my orders, prints my cards, ships the order and handles returns. I'm finally free to spend more time marketing and promoting my cards. I've actually only uploaded a portion of my entire collection but will have all cards online soon.

If you need a funny greeting card and would like to help out the little guy in the greeting card business, please consider buying some of my cards. You can see my live greeting cards here.

If you are remotely interested in investing in my growing little company please let me know. I know the ChuckleBerry's characters and brand will be a huge success in the very near future. If you need wholesale greeting cards or would like to earn extra money by becoming a rep visit this wholesale site and read all of the opportunities.

Thanks for checking on me! I appreciate it. I'll try to add more funny thoughts, photos, videos and more as I create a little free time.

Chuckles!

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, greeting cards, make money, Work at Home

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, make money

I've been busy trying to build up my cartoon empire. I will be releasing some fun new t-shirt designs with cute cartoon animals and funny sayings. They will be created under the brand WeinerDuck but will be sold through ChuckleBerry's. Enjoy the first design and order one already!

Labels: Cartooning, entrepreneur, make money

And now, a ChuckleBerry moment...



ChuckleBerry's Paper Card Co.

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, greeting cards, video

When the associate editor of Midwest CEO Magazine went looking for the latest professional to feature in his December issue, he went straight to the Internet. Dayne Logan was looking for a cartoonist to feature in the magazines Goatlocker section.

Each month a person is selected and their unusual or unique working environment is focused on in the magazine section. Logan ended up on MY blog and found several photos I posted showing my fun cartoon studio. I was contacted by email and agreed to a short phone interview about Curtoons and an in-studio photo shoot.

Midwest CEO Magazine is a regional magazine and can be found in most large book stores. From Denver to St. Louis, Kansas City to Oklahoma City, businesses in the Midwest all face a similar set of challenges and can learn from each others solutions. These solutions, tips and articles are what you will find in each issue of Midwest CEO. Visit their site.

Read the short article here.

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, Photo, Press

I was asked by an emailer this week what it is I do exactly. When asked that question I really have to stop and think. Depending on the day, the answer can be completely different. Here is an idea of what I TRY to do. I don't always succeed but this is somewhat close. These are the top 5 things I do daily.

1. I draw cartoons for clients worldwide. They are used for logos, illustrations and other marketing materials. I do not draw a cartoon strip.

2. I build my own websites and blogs, fill them with content and make money from Google AdSense, affiliate sales and outside advertising.

3. I create royalty free cartoon characters and clip art and sell them online.

4. I build, host, optimize and update websites for other clients.

5. I own a small greeting card company where I create, market, print and mail paper cards to retail and wholesale clients.

I could probably make a descent 8 to 5 job out of any one of these but what fun would that be? Juggling ten things at once and staying up until 1 am every night has its rewards. Being an entrepreneur gives you the ability to make as much money as you are willing to put forth the effort to make. It can be a little addicting actually.

The key to being a true entrepreneur, which I am slowly finding out, is not working harder and longer, but learning to work less and smarter while maintaining the same flow of income.

Well, as of November 2008, that is what I do. What will I be doing in November 2009? That's the exciting part! I'll be doing whatever I want to be doing!! Is this a great country or what!!

Labels: Cartooning, Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur

After much talking, thinking and even more contemplating I've decided it's time to kick this thing I call ChuckleBerry's into high gear. I've been selling greeting cards on the side for years and have my designs scattered throughout the country and even a few corners of the world.

My goal is to keep my greeting card company small and innovative while at the same time growing it into a recognized national brand.

Help me out by buying some funny greeting cards, getting your friends to buy cards or even asking your local gift shop to carry my cards. I have added well over 100 designs to my collection and have put together a complete online catalog. Browse my cards and see if there aren't one or two that at least make you chuckle.

Also follow my entrepreneurial rise as I report my progress on my greeting card blog.

One of my most popular cards...

Labels: entrepreneur, greeting cards

Since May I have been asked and have given four speeches about myself and my businesses. I have spoken to two groups of sixth graders and two groups of AMBUCS. Although I'm not the most eloquent speaker I do have an unusual enough job that many people are interested in listening to my story.

Most people are fascinated by my path to becoming a freelance cartoonist but the majority are in awe of the fact that I can build a website, put a code on it and earn money. Google AdSense has created a few millionaires and helps thousands of people earn a full time living.

I really enjoy explaining how Google pays people money just for putting a tiny piece of code on their sites. I believe every person that can turn on a computer should have a website or a blog and should be earning some extra income on the side. I will have to admit that it is not easy and does not happen overnight. It may also be impossible for some people to earn a large income because it does take a large amount of traffic to earn big money. But! The opportunity is there for anyone that wants to give it a shot.

The reason for this post is to let my daughters and others know that I believe people should get out and give speeches any time they have the opportunity. It helps build confidence and also alerts others to the interesting facts about your life. Volunteer to speak at every chance you can. If you are truly passionate about what you are doing you will look for any opportunity to tell others about it.

On that note, I am available for talking to groups about entrepreneurship, cartooning, advertising and marketing, search engine optimization, web design or parenting. Please let me know if I can help, I especially like speaking to groups of young people and would like to inspire them to create a business of their own well before they have to get out and find a 9 to 5 job.

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, Speaking

I've often wondered if I'm an entrepreneur. As a kid growing up I never really thought about it because I had no idea what an entrepreneur really was. When I look back on the things my best buddy and I did I see that we had a hint of entrepreneurism all the while.

We both happened to be interested in magic and began doing magic shows in my garage in the sixth grade. We would charge a quarter a person and one time might have actually had five or six kids at one show. We eventually ventured into doing birthday parties and added a fun guitar/singing puppet show to the act. I did the puppets and he played guitar and sang. We did shows for our church (picture above) and other interested places.

We also had Kool-Aid stands, raked leaves, pulled weeds, cleaned garages and many of the other kidpreneur type businesses. We even put together a haunted garage every Halloween with a fun maze inside. We didn't charge money for that but it was quite an operation to put together.

As we got older we formed a garage band and became very famous for only playing in the garage. Again, it was not a money making venture but did teach us about buying equipment, organizing schedules and working together.

It was around this time, which was high school, that I began to doodle cartoons. When I went off to college I was doodling enough that I began to do small cartoon and logo projects. I also designed and had my first line of greeting cards printed, which I sold mainly to friends and relatives.

Once I started freelancing I never stopped. Even with full time jobs out of college I always looked for freelance projects on the side. Because of the portfolio and knowledge I was able to gain I eventually turned my freelancing into self-employment.

Self-employment freed me from working 8 to 5 but if I wasn't working money wasn't being created. That's when I turned to the Internet looking to become an entrepreneur.

As of today I am all three. I am self-employed as a freelance cartoonist. I earn half of my income from cartooning, web design, graphic design and a few other side things. I earn the other half as an entrepreneur. I have created a group of web sites that generate money whether I am in my studio or on vacation. I have also created a small greeting card company that sells itself online.

My goal is to eventually drop the freelancing all together because of deadlines, collecting money headaches and dealing with complicated clients. I will then be a 100% entrepreneur running multiple money making web sites and a growing greeting card business that will one day have a large number of employees.

Labels: Curtis Tucker, entrepreneur, make money, Memories, Photo