What's Your Inspiration II

Lou Bortone

Lou Bortone is a long-time marketing consultant and branding coach who helps entrepreneurs build breakthrough brands on the Internet. As an online video branding specialist and award-winning marketer, Lou provides services such as video production, brand development coaching, creative support and web copywriting.

Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and later served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising for Fox Family Worldwide, a division of Fox in Los Angeles. Lou is an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach. Lou also produces a light-hearted videoblog called LouTube and a website .

What was the inspiration for starting your business?

For me, the reason to leave the corporate world and start my own business was not a question of why, but why not?! I’ve had the entrepreneurial bug for years, but the timing never seemed right. Finally, two years ago, when my contract with a local radio station was up, I figured it was now or never! I had been freelancing for years, but I wanted to give it a go full-time.

I was one of those freelance writers who always talked about writing a book, but never made the time. Once I went into business for myself, I was able to write and ghostwrite extensively. In fact, in the two years I’ve been “out on my own,” I’ve ghost-written four full-length business books, and co-authored another.

In the meantime, I’ve been helping other entrepreneurs and solo-preneurs brand their businesses with copy writing and online video production. These days I’m doing less ghostwriting, but a lot more online video and brand development. My only regret about going into business for myself was not doing it sooner!