Rich Gross: Freeman’s Journal, a Tool to Help Entrepreneurs to Organize Their Business Ideas

Richard E.B. Gross is a native of Alpharetta, Georgia. He is an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for helping others succeed. 

On February 10, 2023, Rich Gross, author, and creator of The Freeman’s Journal, will host an official Launch event for this amazing journal.

Join Richard and his team for a fully curated evening in Smyrna, GA for a fun filled event with specialty cocktails, networking, and good music.

The Freeman’s Journal is a tool that allows you to quickly capture, organize, and catalog your business ideas in one place. It also serves as an ideal development tool that walks you through the creation of a basic business plan using terminology that most people can understand. The journal is formatted in a way that encourages you to fully get your ideas down on paper in a way that you can understand and forces you to think hard about your ideas in a business-minded manner. It asks a series of questions that follow the formula of “why”, “how”, and “why you” that, if you answer fully, will render a basic business plan, and automatically give you a leg up into making your business dreams a viable reality.

FMM: Share your experience as an entrepreneur. 

Being an entrepreneur has been a truly rewarding experience. It has challenged me to think creatively, work hard, and persevere through tough times, empty stomachs, and empty bank accounts. But the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up, seeing it touch people, and watching it grow and succeed is truly unforgettable.

One of the biggest challenges I faced as an entrepreneur was balancing risk and caution. On one hand, I wanted to take bold steps to grow my business and stay ahead of the competition. On the other hand, I didn’t want to make impulsive decisions that could harm my business or my financial stability. Through trial and error, I learned how to strike a balance and make smart, calculated risks.

Another key aspect of my entrepreneurial journey has been learning to work with others. Whether it was finding and hiring the right employees, or collaborating with other businesses, I quickly realized that success as an entrepreneur often depends on building strong relationships and working as a team.

Overall, my experience as an entrepreneur has been a thrilling journey filled with challenges and triumphs. It has helped me develop as a person and a business leader, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

FMM: When you were starting out, how did you organize your business? 

I was always writing, getting all my ideas and supporting ideas out. After I knew I had enough to work with, I set out to acquire the things I knew I needed, whether it be I made them or bought them. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with a background that allowed me to produce most of the things my business needed, the finances to handle the things I could pay for, the courage to ask for the things I needed help with, and the mindset/curiosity to always be researching how I can be more solid. For the most part, I’ve been ready when something comes my way.

FMM: Tell us about the Freeman Journal and the thought process behind it.

As stated previously, I was always writing because I always had a lot of ideas. When I would want to focus on one idea and develop it into a business, I’d have to turn my apartment upside down and search through my own “chicken-scratch” on hundreds of pieces of paper just to have something cohesive. Eventually, I came up with the idea to put my own approach to business ideation into a system contained within a journal. I then sought to make it accessible as far as verbiage, ease of use, and resources contained so that the Journal might reach everybody that needs it.   

FMM: How does the Freeman Journal serve as an ideal development tool? 

The Freeman’s Journal is a system within a journal that is built for you to get your ideas out in a business-minded manner; a business idea portfolio. The system then forces you to think about your ideas within a format of “why is this idea needed?”, “how will you execute this idea?”, and “why are you the one to carry this idea out?” that if you follow as detailed in the journal, will render you a basic business plan. The Freeman’s Journal is worded in a way that most people can understand without assistance. This means that even people as young as a third grader can start building a business plan off of their ideas. In addition, the journal has a glossary of around 200 business terms that, while not exhaustive, serve as a means to inspire more research.

FMM: What are the key areas of the journal for organizational success and business planning? 

The whole system is key. Every message and directive in the Journal is placed with intent and serves to complement each other.

FMM: What’s next for you? 

I’m constantly looking for ways to grow and evolve, both personally and professionally. In the near term, I plan to focus on scaling my business and expanding into new markets. This will require continued innovation, effective teamwork, and a commitment to providing exceptional customer service.

In the longer term, I have several exciting goals and aspirations. I’m interested in exploring new industries and developing new skills, such as public speaking or investing. I also plan to give back to my community by mentoring and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Ultimately, my goal is to create a lasting impact and leave a positive legacy in both my personal and professional life. Whether it’s through my business, my community involvement, or my relationships, I want to make a difference and help others succeed.

INSTAGRAM: @thefreemansjournal, @badmanrich

Website: www.freemansjournal.us