Last week Tuesday on September 25, 2007 we had our third Mind Petals NYC Chapter gathering in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan.
As usual, there was a myriad of innovative, insightful, and creative people who really made for an interesting and fun night of networking, brainstorming, and outright having a blast.
New York City is really growing with all sorts of thinkers and I’m just so proud and fortunate to be able to create an environment such as Mind Petals were such people can come and openly share ideas, discuss all sorts of topics, and get the support they need to push forward with an idea — no matter how “crazy” or “absurd” it may appear to be.
One particular conversation I had with a Mind Petals member that night really stuck with me. The conversation revolved around whether or not she should keep on motivating a particular person who she sees a lot of potential in, even though he can’t see his own potential.
My advice was to never stop trying to coax people into realizing their full potential — their limitless potential. We all have so much potential and no matter how old the cliché of “you can do anything” becomes, it’ll never be outdated in my mind.
If you see that sparkle in someone’s eye, even if they, themselves, can’t see it … do everything in your power to help steer them towards the light — the realization of what they can do if they believed in themselves.
Because 50 years later when they have done such big things, they’ll sit down in a chair one day an say “wow… imagine if Dave never helped me see my potential many years ago?”
These are the sort of discussions that occur during our gatherings and the sheer synergy and blending of our different minds, perspectives, and experiences simply cannot be described with words — words wouldn’t describe what takes place any justice.
Mind Petals NYC is going strong and I invite any Mindpetaler reading this to reach out to us the next time you’re in NYC — we’d love to have you a part of our gatherings (visit Mindpetals.org) Let us know and we’ll add you to our guest list. The more minds, the better! The more beautiful the painting we can create.
Thank you so much, Access Granted, for sponsoring the event. We appreciate your contributions
With today’s tech-savvy consumer jumping online to find local vendors and listings, the need to advertise in the ‘conventional’ YellowPages is steadily sliding. Even YellowPages.com is a limited directory compared to the options available on Google and Yahoo!, and it’s easier than ever for businesses to get online and start advertising for little or no cost.
However, another website offers a fresh opportunity for local business; MerchantCircle.com allows anyone to create a listing, get referrals and testimonials from customers and clients ‘live’ on the site, and even partner up with an existing Google Adwords or Yahoo! advertising campaign. While the advent of Google local allows businesses to put themselves on the map, there are still limits on how much a first-time visitor can learn.
MerchantCircle.com allows businesses to leverage the business website and supplement it with a blog, online coupons, and even a newsletter.
The merchant pages offer innovative features and an attractive interface. Each page contains:
A basic information section
Google map
Blog
Coupons
Newsletter for prospective customers
Photo gallery
Reviews section for a ‘rolling list’ of feedback
Bulletin board for other listings and news
Best of all, it’s free.
MerchantCircle.com is the next step for local advertising and a simple way to help increase exposure in your target market.
A business can even type in their business phone number on the main page and find out what other people are saying or writing about the business on the web. So far, over 215,000 businesses have signed up, and the entire process takes minutes to setup. Listings are sorted by state, city, and zipcode and the main page also posts the latest businesses who join the network, providing additional exposure when the listing is created.
Finding a way to reach your local target market, at no cost whatsoever, is simple with the options available on the site. Upgraded packages are also available if you’re interested in something more robust and comprehensive. Take a look around and see if MerchantCircle.com can help your business.
Have you tried it yet? Share your results, thoughts, or comments below:
While you already know the importance of time management and creating work flow for your daily schedules, sometimes burnout is inevitable.
Multitasking to the max, stressful schedules of juggling projects and checking off the to-do list, and unforeseen projects that are now burning a hole in your free time can quickly lead to overwhelm.
Burnout can happen to anyone, from the successful corporate exec to the stay at home mom who just has too many tasks at hand. Since cutting back usually isn’t an option for those with large servings of success on their plate, there are some practical solutions to avoid burning out which can improve the chances of getting into back-in-action mode after a period of stress. Here are some tips on avoiding premature burnout as an entrepreneur:
Make time for a break. When you’re putting in extended hours on a specific project or task at hand, make sure you give your brain and body some stress relief with a complete break. For every 1-1.5 hours in front of a computer, plan at least 10 minutes of fresh air or something that can take your mind completely off work. It’s a natural energizer and will help keep you focused and productive for longer periods of time.
Workout! Exercise is a natural brain booster, and can even help you tackle tough problems or challenges. Aerobic activities that last at least 30 minutes are a great way to let off some steam and help you re-energize for the next activity.
Become a list maker. One of the easiest ways to get through a tough project is to break it down into steps, and start checking off each item as you get through it. It’s a simple step that many people overlook; lists can really help you tackle large projects at a faster rate.
Eat like a superstar, not a rockstar. Improving your diet is good for your body and mind. Take the steps to learn what nutrition program works best for you and keep your health in tip-top shape whenever possible. Eating well will help you be more attentive, more productive, and even help you sleep better so you can maximize your work day.
Learn to say ‘no’. Taking charge of your schedule often means saying no to requests and sometimes even some opportunities. Learning to prioritize the ‘incoming’ flow will help you decide what stays on your plate—and what needs to go!
What are some other ways to relax and re-energize?
With the lemonade stand analogy firmly ingrained in many entrepreneurial spirits, it can be easy to think that any startup business can thrive in today’s competitive marketplace with ‘just the right’ business plan, or ‘just enough’ funding. With today’s advances in technology, the reality is that many conventional startup ideas are simply disappearing from view as online retail stores and services offer efficient distribution of some of the world’s most basic products.
Think of how quickly the rise of Netflix has almost removed demand for video store rentals, or the rise of travel sites such as Travelocity and Expedia have almost eliminated travel agent services. While travel agents can offer ‘specialized’ service and customized packages that a computer might not be able to tackle, the shift in consumer’s perspectives on how to get what they want, when they want it, has led to the downfall of many traditional businesses that were once the basis of many entrepreneurs and startup dreams. Here are just five startups that are no longer the in-demand business or shop that they once were:
The neighborhood bookstore. While antique shops and collectible books are still entities in themselves, a trip to the local bookstore—even if it’s a corporate chain such as Borders or Barnes & Noble—is slowly becoming less of a ‘need’ when customers can browse and explore almost every title online. Online bookstores are also starting to focus on hard-to-find titles and offering services where they can deliver used books from area bookstores. The need for another store in town rarely exists.
Photo development stores. With digital cameras, high-quality home printing, and digital photo sharing becoming a cultural norm, taking that roll of film to the neighborhood photo store just isn’t a part of life. Companies such as Kodak and Fuji are devising new ways to keep their customers with online services and touchscreen stations in stores where customers can upload and create their own CD albums.
The neighborhood pharmacy. With the growth of big-box chains taking over the pharmacy department, consumers are finding one-stop shopping much more convenient when they have a prescription to fill. Online services also help promote prescription refills, reordering, and even finding information on drugs and related health topics.
Video rental stores. DVDs and downloadable movies have quickly become the way of life for many, and a trip to the store simply isn’t convenient anymore. Netflix and Blockbuster offer additional options of getting the movies we want, when we want them.
The CD or music store. While it’s still fun to spend time at the listening station at the local CD store or music shop, finding mp3 clips online or paying for downloads is much more convenient and efficient. The growth in iPod owners and shareable music puts traditional music stores at a significant disadvantage.
What are some other industries or services that are being replaced by online equivalents?
Entrepreneurship offers countless benefits for the business-minded, goal-oriented, and independent thinkers among us, and today’s increases in entrepreneurial endeavors are only further propagated with the internet.
Still, many business savvy troopers insist on realizing their dreams solo; the solopreneur is no longer a pipe dream for those with the talent, confidence, and fundamental belief in their success to really take a business from startup to success in no time flat! Here are just five benefits of being a solopreneur:
You’re the boss of all!
Every ‘department’ of your business is fueled by your own plans, strategies, and objectives. Not only is nobody answerable to you, but you’re only answerable to yourself. This can be too much for some people, and some people need a team to hold them accountable and work through different tasks and challenges. However, the solopreneur is often involved with networking and finding mentors to help them get ahead. At the end of the day, reporting to the home office simply means reporting to yourself!
You don’t need permission to change direction.
The solopreneur is at the helm of the ship, and can steer the business in any direction as needed. No forms to fill out, no authorization needed, and no other approval processes involved! Effective decision making is a necessary skill for the business to succeed in the long run, and the solopreneur makes every effort to fine-tune their skills and use them to their advantage.
You can accelerate your learning at your own pace.
Whether your business is at the launch phase or enjoying the first year of success, the learning process for you is adaptable to your working style and needs. You have the freedom to take classes, learn about all aspects of business management, and pick up new skills along the way. There’s no limit on who you end up becoming throughout the entire process.
You get to wear multiple hats.
From marketing to accounting, knowing how to run your business effectively and efficiently often means ‘moving departments’ on a regular basis. This often means tackling the learning curve at a higher-than-average rate, but the rewards include the freedom to explore every single aspect of your business—and take full control of its direction.
Your success lies solely in your hands.
Whether your business turns out to be a smashing success or a morbid failure, its destiny is truly in your hands. You can enjoy the high level of responsibility as CEO/Founder every step of the way, and even the ‘fear of failure’ mentality can spur you towards positive growth and success in the most testing moments.
What are some other reasons for ‘going solo’ with your business venture?
If procrastination is preventing you from reaching your goals, timelines, and due dates it might be time to develop a new strategy. Procrastination is usually the result of overwhelm; if you think something might take longer than expected or you just don’t know where to start, the activity or project is much more likely to be put off. Breaking apart larger projects into smaller tasks can really help you get one step ahead, and its a valuable skill for tackling the next objective.
Microtasking has been explained in great detail by Steve Pavlina in his article on Microtasks. The article explains how focusing on just the next step can keep you going towards the end of the process with much less effort than thinking of the end itself.
Visualizing the end is a great strategy when you’re confident and motivated to get the job done. But what happens if you’re less confident and even uninspired?
Sometimes you just need to get going on that first important step until the rest starts to flow. If you’ve been having trouble finishing a project lately, try using any of the following strategies and tips in microtasking, and boost your productivity:
Develop an intentions list at the beginning of the day.
Sometimes acknowledging your intention to do something can quickly turn into action. Write down what you intend to do at the beginning of the day—even if you think you might not do it—and then move ahead with the most interesting to you. It’s a simple way to get started on your to-do list with very little ‘direct’ effort.
Break down large projects into explicit details and steps.
This can take you anywhere from five minutes to 30 minutes, but the idea is to make yourself aware of exactly what it will take. After that, you can ‘see’ the blueprint right in front of you; and assess how much time it might take you to complete each one. Just having this mapped out in front of you can help you get going and motivate you to check each activity off the list when completed.
Make a list of action verbs for your list.
Consider this a set of instructions to yourself, a way to follow directions to keep yourself on track. Use solid words such as ‘publish’, ‘brainstorm,’ ‘write,’ ‘describe’, and ‘refine’ to give you a sense of movement and activity for each step.
Microtasking comes naturally to computer programmers and web developers, simply because most projects are completed using the same process. Process trees, GANTT charts, and other organizational tools can keep projects on track and moving ahead on a timely basis. Still, you don’t need a computer science background to develop some of the same valuable habits, and can learn how to think about your tasks and activities in the same way. Just start thinking along the lines of breaking down and identifying each element of your project; it’s a much quicker way to get through your most toughest assignments!
What are some other tips that help you with keeping up your productivity and getting through tasks you’re procrastinating? Share them below!
Are all great leaders loved? Are they all feared? Are they all respected? What does it take to be a “good,” “loved,” and “respected” leader? Do you need a level of fear to lead effectively? I’m not absolutely sure, but let’s talk about it.
Machiavelli states:
… it would be best to both be loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find the greater security in being feared than in being loved. Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present.
Think about some of the greatest (re: effective) CEOs and founders of our time: Steve Jobs, Howard Hughes, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Martha Stewart, etc… do you think that these people lead solely by love? Nah…. Fear was instrumental in their success and a part of what helped to grow their companies to where they are today.
Of course fear can come in many forms and levels. Fear of disappointment. Fear of being fired. Fear of not being able to eat. Fear of letting yourself down. Fear of you name it.
I’d venture to say that most movers and shakers in the world, whether they know it or not, are feared to some degree and in some particular respect. And is that such a bad thing? I don’t think so.
If all of your employees, team members, constituents, what have you, didn’t have any fear at all, then things could go wrong very easily. People wouldn’t care about the quality of their work; people wouldn’t try as hard as they could; people wouldn’t set high standards for anything.
I’m being hypocritical, because though I’m speaking in the context of business / entrepreneurship, I believe that reaching a level (state of mind) where you no longer fear anything in life, is ultimate freedom. But this hypocrisy also supports my premise: if you are part of a hierarchy in a business, movement, whatever it may be, you will need to adhere to certain standards and guidelines and if you don’t work up to your expectations, then the potential to be taken out of that structure becomes more apparent.
And that, my friends, is where fear is a critical factor to keeping people sharp and on point! That fear of being removed from that community. Without that level of fear, there would be no balance and the support beams would weaken and fall apart from underneath the community, business, following, etc. So, essentially, fear can play a positive role in keeping a company healthy and focused.
But love and respect, in a perfect world, would be all you need to lead effectively. I’m sure that’s what we all want — for everyone to love and respect us, unconditionally. That is the world I’m living for. The world that I’d love to see. But let’s deal with the present and in the present world, things aren’t perfect and many people will show love selectively — when it best suits them.
I’m digging what Machiavelli said and think that leading with both fear and love is perfectly fine. Ideally, love and respect is all I’d want to lead by. And fear isn’t something that I consciously try to embed in the minds of those who follow me, but I’d be naïve if I didn’t recognize that fear is an element that resides in my leadership.
Most of us understand the value of forging ahead with our plans to overcome challenges, setting higher goals to climb the ladder of success, and moving on with words of encouragement that demand ‘quitting is not an option.’ But it’s interesting to learn that there are some instances where quitting can actually work in your favor.
The book identifies ways to become smart at quitting; knowing when to put the brakes on an idea or moving ahead with a deal, and evaluating signs, signals, and situations with better judgment. Here are some other useful suggestions gleaned from The Dip:
Don’t settle for being a copy just to play it safe. If you’re not going to be the leader of your market or what you do, don’t bother doing it at all. This may sound like harsh advice, but successful companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google got to the top by providing something unique and not playing the ‘me-too’ game. They became market leaders, not copycats.
Use quitting as an empowerment strategy. When you’ve reached your limit at an average or mediocre level, know that this is one of the best times to change. Quitting to move ahead can help you move towards mastery and avoid leaving you ‘stuck in a rut’.
Learn how to ‘stick’ as much as you ‘quit.’ The art of sticking is covered in ‘The Dip’, identifying how important it is to get through the dip by sticking with what works, and casting aside what doesn’t. At this point, quitting really isn’t an option; the Dip is the long climb (or valley in this case) towards the pinnacle of your industry.
Don’t be afraid to change course. Successful companies have changed their strategy and moved along as aggressively as ever; don’t be afraid to move ahead into new terrain and think you’ll lose your way. Having a solid reason for changing course is key, but once you decide to go, just go.
Create your own territory. As an entrepreneur, following your dream or vision gives you the freedom to take on new challenges and explore new territory as you see fit. If an obstacle or challenge presents itself, learn how to develop your own skills and strengths to overcome it, pursue it, or simply create a new market of your own.
When you refuse to settle for mediocrity, you can strategically plan a quitting schedule so you’ll know what you will settle for. This way, you’ll also know what you’re up against during every step of your success.
Browse through this powerful book and see what resonates with you; feel free to share your insight and comments below!
Getting through the work day on high power is a work habit that’s more common than not. From the espresso concoction from Starbucks to the green tea from the organic coffeehouse, there are plenty of ways to get the daily buzz. Today’s newest caffeine-infused products even include gum, chocolate, and caffeinated water. But could caffeine be getting in the way of your natural productivity?
Caffeine has long been used as a central nervous stimulant to provide mental focus, increased energy, and a convenient rush when you need it. However, many people are touting the benefits of a caffeine-free lifestyle, claiming that caffeine is counter-productive to thinking clearly, making us anxious, jittery, and contributing to our stress levels. But are we ready to forego that cup of java each day?
According to health researchers and physicians, caffeine is a major contributor of many health conditions and disease such as:
Severe stress
Mood disorders
Headaches and migraines
Diabetes
Irritable bowel syndrome
Indigestion and upset stomachs
Acid reflux and GERD
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Interstitial Cystisis
An increased heart rate and high blood pressure can also lead to increased stress; if you’re already experiencing a significant amount of stress in your life, caffeine might worsen the problem. Extreme anxiety can also be counter-productive; think about how difficult it is to focus if you’re constantly in fight-or-flight mode. Excessive caffeine also interferes with sleep and natural resting patterns. Sleep problems and mood disturbances can take a toll on your daily productivity, making it difficult to focus and even get up in the morning. Without a healthy sleep schedule, you can become irritable, anxious, and find it difficult to concentrate.
The coffee buzz that keeps you running on all eight cylinders may be great for your to-do list, but chances are it’s taking its toll on your health. Reducing the amount of caffeine in your diet might just offer some valuable benefits for both your brain and your body.
Have you kicked the coffee habit? Share your ideas and suggestions below:
When your to-do list starts to feel overwhelming, reorganizing the workspace might help you get through the pile much faster.
A clutter-free workspace also helps reduce your ‘mental’ clutter and makes it much simpler to finish a task.
Think about how many extra steps you have to think about when you can’t find a file or notepad. By eliminating the extra thought processes involved in finding what you need, when you need it, you’ll be able to think more clearly and get the job done! Here are some tips on making your workspace clutter-free and get into high-performance zone in no time:
The power of one. Start a fresh new habit this week, making sure you only touch or ‘mentally address’ each item on your desk once. This means paperwork is scanned quickly then filed away, a note or message is reviewed and posted where it needs to go, and letters are opened now and handled immediately–or set in the outbox for later. Making a habit of only touching each item once will stop you from wasting mental space checking, reviewing, and thinking about the same item over and over again.
Create an outbox for your desk. This pile is solely for letters, envelopes, and items that need to be distributed to other people or other rooms. You can organize this at the end of the day, and having it physically in front of you will help you get rid of excess material much more efficiently.
Invest in a storage system or shelving. If your work demands piles of paperwork on a regular basis, take the steps to create folders and files that keep the papers off your desk as much as possible. If you work in a paperless office instead, make sure that notes and other paper clutter have been filed or sorted so you don’t distract yourself while focusing on the screen.
Keep magazines out of sight. Unless you’re using the material for your work, magazines are an easy distraction when you need to focus on the job at hand instead. Magazines, media materials, and even books can be stored in their own shelf; and far from your peripheral vision!
Clean the desk completely at the end of the day. Organizing and filing for just 10 minutes before the end of the day will help you get a fresh start the following day and ensure that any post-it notes and simple notes have been transferred to your calendar, PDA, or other organizer; when you’re done, throw out the notes so you’re free of the excess paper.
Remember that efficient thinking requires you to take as few steps as possible to complete a task; the steps you take to make your work environment work for you, the easier it will be to get your projects done.
Many people assume that entrepreneurs are the extroverted, go-getter personalities that are raring to go with their innovative idea every single day. However, both introverts and extroverts have their fair share of the entrepreneurship pie, and living your dreams might just be as simple as aligning yourself with some specific qualities and characteristics.
Here are just six attributes of some of today’s leading entrepreneurs:
High anxiety tolerance
With insecurity and risk as a part of life, the skillful entrepreneur develops a high tolerance for anxiety and manages to keep stress at bay with ease. Getting comfortable just doesn’t come naturally; knowing how to work under pressure, assess risks, and make the best of anxiety may actually be a strong success driver.
Learning from mistakes
Most successful people will tell you that learning is part of the process, but successful entrepreneurs develop resilience and fortitude when they’ve made a mistake—no matter how serious they may be. Overcoming obstacles and challenges comes naturally, and thinking ahead for progress is almost a goal in itself.
Delegating with effectiveness
Successful entrepreneurs know how to delegate and share the workload when needed; instead of taking on a martyr-style role of doing everything on their own, they hand off assignments and projects to others. Doing this with clear direction and flexible timelines can lead to exceptionally powerful work teams.
Critical thinking
Critical thinkers by nature, successful entrepreneurs know how to filter out information and look for quality; being able to judge both objectively and subjectively takes practice, and having a grounded perspective requires a healthy level of critical thinking.
Communication skills
Both introverts and extroverts adopt essential communication skills and strategies to work with others. From customers to clients, knowing how to deliver and articulate a message is an asset to any venture.
Flexibility
Taking nothing for granted, the successful entrepreneur can adapt quickly to a challenge and look for opportunity when faced with a struggle. Being flexible requires an open mind and plenty of ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, but there are many advantages of adapting a think-on-your-feet mindset.
Which attributes inspire you? What other characteristics do you have or admire that define the ideal entrepreneur personality?
By now you’ve probably heard about the Law of Attraction, the idea that what you focus on the most will bring the most significant results. The Law of Attraction in business has been addressed by authors such as Rebecca Hanson, and marketing coaches such as Jen Blackert in her article, Law of Attraction: 8 Manifesting Must-Haves for Entrepreneurs.
Knowing how to apply these principles correctly could yield some interesting results; here are a few simple ways to apply the Law of Attraction to get the right clients:
You might ‘call’ your clients in innovative ways. Instead of reaching out to your customers and clients in traditional forms—e-mail, voice messages, or even IM—think of ways you can make an appearance in their daily life instead. This is the basis of branding, but can be used in creative ways. Try a hand-delivered thank you note for a recent lunch, or a unique gift after a presentation that you both attended. Making sure the client has you on ‘top of mind’ can help generate further business with very little effort.
It’s also advantageous to be genuine with your marketing efforts. Much of marketing yourself may seem like ‘schmoozing,’ but being genuine in your relationships and partnerships will help things flow with ease. When you both have a goal or intention in mind, the process is much simpler and much more natural.
You can also try predicting the response you want. If you have a ‘gut feeling’ that your client, or prospective clients, may be interested in something you can provide, find a way to highlight the value for them and send it their way. Sometimes simply spelling out how something can help them is all it takes to capture their interest.
Finally, look for ways to move towards a richer relationship. Attracting clients doesn’t always lead to a direct sale—maybe you can reach out to them for referrals, building your portfolio of other work, or simply as a resource. Knowing how to nurture and maintain relationships involves a positive, growth-oriented mindset and your intention can help guide you towards long-term clients with much less resistance.
What are some other ways to attract clients? What strategy works best for you?
More than money, more than new services and products, and more than office supply, investing in people rains supreme. This concept cannot be ignored. Spending time, each an every day, investing in your employees, partners, and clients is absolutely essential to running a successful and healthy company.
Investing in your Partners
This may seem counter-productive to many of you, but having daily meetings to keep everyone on the same page is really a big thing. Going over the monthly plans, goals, and progress is necessary to keeping the entire team tight and cohesive.
One of the great things about having a team is that everything starts to become compartmentalized as each partner takes on responsibilities and projects of their own. This can also be a bad thing if it creates wall amongst the team. Sure, you want each partner to be focused on their individual projects, but you also want to have meetings where everyone is able to obtain an understanding of what everyone else is up to. Otherwise, poor communication will prevail which will result in a lack of productivity, morale, and focus.
Investing in your Employees
This will either break or make your company. As a founder or partner of a startup, you must have the patience — and even “ability” — to effectively teach. And let me tell you, it takes a special type of person who is able to explain a concept over…and over… and over… again until some learns what you are trying to each them.
All too often, people become angry and annoyed when someone isn’t learning something as fast as “you” want them to learn it. This isn’t fair. And someone who doesn’t have the skill, patience, and sincere desire to want teach, isn’t going to make for a good founder / partner.
You have to think of your employees as your greatest assets, even more than your clients and customers. Your employee are living extensions of your business — they will be on the front-line of your product and the ones with the closets relationship to your clients. You MUST not underestimate the art of grooming quality employees. Be patient, and take the time to really instill a sense of passion, motivation, and company pride in your employees. Do that, and your company will shine.
Investing in your Customers
Obviously, make the necessary monetary investments in improving the product and releasing new services. That’s a given. What I’m talking about, here, is taking the time to constantly reach out to your employees.
For gosh sake will you start replying to those personal emails you’re always getting from customers who simply want to chat with you! When was the last time you had non-business related chat with a client? Do you personally know any of your clients? Do you even care about your client’s lives / well-being?
If you don’t, you should! Always, always, always invest time in getting to know your clients. Of course you won’t be able to know everyone, but that’s not the point. The idea is to continually, whenever you can, reach out to your clients and let them know that you care about them. Yes, I said it: “care.” Founders and partners have this false belief that you have to be “hard and serious” all the time. Bollocks! This sort of caring positive energy will go a long way with growing your company. People want to know that you care about them — that you are thinking of them. You’re clients are real people, not “things” that pump money into your bank account.
Power to the People
So if you thought investing money back in your business was the most important investment, I hope you’re thinking on a new level right now. Invest in people. The people will take your business to new heights, not the products, services, or ideas. The power lies in the people…in the people….
Even though 2008 seems far, far away, the holidays and New Year are quickly approaching–and will probably leave you with less time to catch up on some good reading! Picking up some entrepreneurship books can give you a boost of motivation and help you get your brain working on some fresh ideas before the year is over. If you’re not already well-read on the following top five, be sure to pick up a copy from the local library or online:
Think and Grow Rich
The inspiration for hundreds of entrepreneurs around the globe, this book was originally written in 1937 but continues to offer valuable insight on the power of your thoughts for entrepreneurial success. It’s a quick and simple read that will leave you with a fresh perspective on making money.
The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing
A valuable refresher on word of mouth marketing, and how it can help you generate a community for your business. The book is written in a fun and informative tone, and you’ll understand how to create your own ‘buzz words’ or campaign.
The Millionaire Mind
Some valuable lessons on understanding how to think with a millionaire’s mindset. The book discusses the differences in thinking between the intellectual, the leaders, and highly successful people. With plenty of examples and insightful quotes, this book is chock full of strategies for applying ‘wealthy thinking’ to your life.
You’ll find valuable profiles of successful entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, along with insightful stories and experiences of today’s most successful. The book outlines the journey of twelve young entrepreneurs who ventured forth with their dreams and picked up some secrets to their success along the way. Examples include Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm and Jim McCann of 1-800-Flowers.
How to Make Millions with Your Ideas: An Entrepreneur’s Guide by Dan Kennedy
Sometimes putting your dreams and ideas into action is the hardest part; this book can help you hash out all the details for your future business and get started with your launch. It’s a great book to skim over if you need some motivation to get going on an idea you’ve been incubating this year.
What are some other recommended reads from your bookshelf?
As you toil away at the details of your marketing plan—reviewing advertising options, timelines for ad campaigns, and strategic online marketing opportunities—it can be challenging to put it all together into a cohesive plan. A marketing plan can really help guide you through the budgeting and strategic-thinking process. Instead of throwing all sorts of ideas on the table, a plan can help you navigate through each step with much more flexibility. Does your marketing plan include these five components?
Marketing mission statement. This is different from the mission statement on your business plan, focusing on exactly where your market segment is, and where your products or services fit here. An example marketing mission statement might be, ‘our lifestyle products are designed for 18-24 year old college students to improve learning rates.’ This will help you narrow down exactly what you’re bringing to market, for whom, and most importantly, why.
Situation analysis. This can be drawn out using a SWOT analysis method. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; addressing all of these areas makes it much easier to see where you stand amongst the competition, and which new territory you could potentially call your own. The situation analysis can also include a market forecast or segmentation.
Expense budget requirements. The marketing budget is often overlooked during the startup phase, but it’s an important factor to consider as you start launching campaigns and programs. You may need to pull together potential proposals for a realistic idea of what your marketing projects will cost. Setting a budget will help you filter out items that can wait for a later time, and just help you prioritize your marketing plan so it works as you grow.
Sales forecasting. Put together a spread sheet that outlines what you expect each month, and plot an ‘actual’ column as you move ahead. Knowing how closely your forecast matches actual results is a critical part of growth, and can help you change and shift your strategy as needed.
Risk and contingency report. This can quickly become complicated without the right approach, but it’s well worth the effort to put something down in writing. A risk and contingency report helps you highlight your minimum and maximum investments (based on your budget) for each marketing strategy; it can help you calculate your return on investment, and identify which ones are the most risky.
From sharing your latest sales strategy, to convincing potential investors to fund a new venture, knowing how to deliver your ideas with a persuasive message is the first step of any presentation. Public speaking or just presenting in front of an audience can be intimidating at first, but practicing your routine beforehand is a surefire way to get through it. Try some of these tried-but-true techniques on delivering your next killer presentation with ease:
Watch your posture. Slouching can make you look intimidated, and standing up straight with shoulders back and chin up high will give you the confident look immediately—even if you’re feeling less than confident underneath it all. Think about how people are perceived on stage; how do they stand? Do they look poised and confident, or seem to be shrinking away? Your overall presence in front of the group will help you carry and deliver your idea with much more promising results.
Use your hands to convey the message. Body language is everything when it comes to presenting to an audience, and you can use your hands to demonstrate and ‘show’ your ideas. Too many movements can be distracting, so keep it simple and practice in front of a mirror if you need to.
Vary your volume (voice inflection). Maintaining a monotone voice is boring and encourages the audience to simply tune out. Keep things upbeat and move through your list of topics by varying your pitch and speed.
Keep it short and simple. You’re delivering a message, not reading from a script! While it’s a good idea to use flashcards or notes as prompts, avoid reading directly from anything when you’re trying to explain something. Try ‘reading’ your audience instead, and talking as if you’re having a conversation.
Breathe! It’s common to feel nervous at the prospect of speaking in front of people, and rapid breathing or shortened breathes can end up leaving you speechless. Breathe deeply and calm your nerves naturally. You’ll be much more likely to speak clearly and openly when you’ve got a steady flow of oxygen running through your system!
Add some humor. This will depend on your audience and topic, but adding humor to your presentation is a great way to ‘break the ice’ and help people become more responsive and open to what you have to say. Laughing itself is an instant stress reliever and makes people relax; the more relaxed the audience is, the more likely they’ll be to tune in and listen. Successful marketing campaigns have plenty of humorous qualities—look at some of the most effective viral and ad campaigns, and you’ll see how humor is used to make people notice and deliver the marketing message.
A winning presentation can help you score that next deal and lead you to success, helping you overcome that next hurdle. A poor delivery can lead to less positive results, and probably leave you with less resources than you would have hoped.
What are some other ways to create a presentation that delivers results?
If you’re already on Squidoo, you’ve probably started building your lens and attracting like-minded readers, potential customers, and new fans. Squidoo has quickly become a growing blog and website community, allowing users to build a lens on a very focused topic that’s searchable with a simple keyword search. Now we have SquidWho, another opportunity to get involved with the vast world of the blogosphere. Plus, getting yourself onto the list offers many benefits.
The goal of SquidWho is to create a series of ‘fan pages’ on anyone and everyone. Just type in a famous celebrity name, and you’ll see a listing of where you can find information on that person is immediately available in a blog-style format. SquidWho pulls information from eBay, YouTube, Flickr, Amazon.com, and existing lenses on Squidoo. It’s a simple way to glance over anybody’s profile, ‘wikipedia-style.’
So how can this help you?
The user-created community allows anyone to create a fan page—even your own. If you’re looking for a fresh outlet to spotlight your blog, website, or just yourself, this is a great place to start. SquidWho can be helpful for any entrepreneur or business owner for the following reasons:
It can increase search engine rankings
It can help drive more people to your site, making you more discoverable on Squidoo and related blogs
Any news about you will instantly be sent to this main page for easy discovery
You can personalize the page to include logos, images, or anything else you might want to share with your potential audience
You can discover your target market through browsing and exploring the site itself
If you’re looking for a fresh outlet to spotlight your blog, website, or just yourself, this is a great place to start. Type in your own name first, and see if someone has already started a fan page for you. If not, you have the right to ‘claim’ the page and get it going. SquidWho asks you to fill in and edit these key areas on the main page:
Three reasons to love (you)
(You) at a Glance—a wikipedia article
Great (you) stuff from Amazon
Quick, what do you think of (your name)—this is a poll that can be edited later
The Latest Yahoo News on (you)
(Your name) videos
Shout out For (You)—this includes stories, bog posts, rants, raves, etc.
(You) on Flickr
Test out SquidWho and tickle your curiosity. . . then tell us where you are on the SquidWho map!
With the increasing numbers of young and successful entrepreneurs in the self-employed sector, it makes us wonder how much of their success can be attributed to educational background and knowledge. Elite universities might offer a solid education, a social network, and access to resources that complement your studies, but how much can you take out into the ‘real world’ to apply on your own?
Many elite colleges take pride in job placement either during school as an internship, or immediately after college graduation. The corporate world is seemingly attractive to many fresh-out-of-college applicants, a place to get started on a lifelong career and climb the proverbial corporate ladder to get ahead. The idea of earning an MBA and then being offered a higher-paying job is also attractive to many; it’s usually the reason for pursuing graduate school in the first place.
Still, many graduates find great value in turning entrepreneurship and self employment instead. Learning to build and grow a business can be just as satisfying, (if not more in some cases) than working for a company or organization. It takes time, effort, and a strong work ethic, but the rewards often go well beyond a simple paycheck.
Not every entrepreneur is interested in working alone either; building a brand new company also involves creating jobs, training others to become leaders, and building an enterprise that provides value for the social community. Can this be learned in the classroom? Not necessarily, although many colleges and universities now offer entrepreneurship and ‘creative business development’ classes as part of their business curriculum.
While thousands of college-bound students complete a degree in hopes of landing their ‘dream job,’ others are turning to the lifestyle of entrepreneurship and growing businesses independently instead. Budding entrepreneurs have found their niche through simple trial and error, pursuing their passion and then finding out how to build a business around it. Others have an idea of building a company of their own—perhaps during college–and proceed by applying fundamental business skills learned in school to support their venture. Even without formal education, a smart and savvy entrepreneur can choose to take classes offered at community colleges or vocational schools and start to apply the skills directly.
Formal education may not be the cornerstone of entrepreneurship after all; it may even create risk aversion, as outlined in this Business Week article titled ‘Who Needs the Ivies?’. If you think you need a 4-year degree or 6-year education program before ‘making it’ as an entrepreneur or business leader, you’re missing out on an opportunity to simply get started, NOW!
Support for education, growth, and ongoing learning is available through many local and community organizations; the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and even programs funded by corporations make it easier than ever to launch that dream business with a strong foundation of resources. You can start online by exploring entrepreneur blogs, websites, and other free resources—college degree or not!
Over the weekend I saw the magnificent movie Peaceful Warrior which focused around a young gymnast who was cocky, complacent, and arrogant; ultimately leading to his demise. Through time, patience, and understanding, he comes to learn some of life’s most precious truths. This movie is tremendously inspirational and insightful. Below are some concepts and ways of thinking that I derived from the movie and can be applied to your business:
Clear Your Mind
There so much garbage in your mind. No, really, there is! Garbage like: “when will I be a millionaire” “my company sucks, why can’t I close a deal?” “Why can’t I get immediate results!?” You need to clear your mind of these distracting thoughts and remain focused on what’s presently going on — which leads to…
Staying in the Present — The NOW
It’s perfectly fine to dream about the future you want, but you need to constantly live your life in the present moment — what’s going on right now. Not what’s happened and not what will happen. Focus on now. Focus on the present moment. Who are you right now? What is your company doing right now? How are people using your service right now? What are you doing to advance your company right now? Work with the NOW.
Wake UP and SEE Life for what it is — for what’s GOING ON
Most of us spend our entire lives sleep walking; waking up every so often to notice a few things here and there, but quickly falling back to sleep and going through life in zombie mode. “There’s never nothing going on.” Think about this in terms of your business. Literally, there’s never nothing going on with your business. People are interacting with your service. People are subscribing. People are terminating their subscription to your service. People are cursing your company. People are praising your company. Your company is making a positive contribution to society. Your company is hurting society and exploiting people. And the infinite list goes on. As the company founder, you need to constantly be awake and remain in-tune with with what’s really going on. Wake up!!! And “remain” awake! Train yourself to notice every (little or big) thing that’s going on with your company. Actually live with your company. Your company is your friend, your buddy, your pal. Experience every moment of him and you’ll unlock the doors to infinite potential and possibilities.
The Answers are Within You
Everything you “really” need to know in life lies within you — I strongly believe this. This may be a difficult and disruptive concept for many people to grasp, but once you do, you are free. You are free from doubt. You are free from uncertainty. You are free from the naysayers telling you what you can or can’t do. You can do ANYTHING. Imagine a world with no boundaries. A world where you could manifest anything. Your business can be a part of such a world — if you allow it. If you accept it. The implications of thinking on this level are manifold and mind-boggling. Spend time looking within yourself and not outside of yourself.
Ponder these concepts and think about how they can be applied to your life, your business. Entrepreneurship, like anything else in life, is a journey. And that journey should be what brings you joy and happiness. Nothing else should matter. The journey is all that is needed. So strap in and getting ready for the ride of a lifetime.
As you’re preparing for that killer presentation, you soon find your focus is elsewhere and your mind is distracted with anxiety and tension. It’s a common case of nervousness, and you might need to learn some effective ways to calm down to present with confidence and ease.
Try any of these simple action steps before getting up on that podium or special event that puts you in the spotlight!
Concentrate on your message.
Keep in mind that you’re delivering the presentation for a reason; whether it’s to motivate, persuade, encourage, or share some news, focusing on the reasons behind your appearance will help give you some purpose and direction to keep on moving ahead.
Learn to channel.
Nervous energy can actually be something positive when you learn how to harness and channel it effectively. Try upping your enthusiasm or confidence factor by redirecting your extra energy, and you’ll breeze through that presentation much more successfully.
Don’t forget to breathe.
Breathe deep, inhale, and exhale for a count of eight. This can instantly relax and ‘center’ your body, and will give your brain a fresh dose of oxygen to deal with the tasks at hand. Bottling up your energy or shallow breathing can make it very difficult to communicate with ease; take a few minutes before starting the presentation to simply breathe deeply and relax yourself.
Get there early!
Getting situated in the room and being well-prepared will boost your confidence level immediately. Setting up with the right tools and resources you need will make sure your presentation runs smoothly, and you can even take a walk around the space to settle in.
Release tension in your shoulders.
Many people don’t realize they’re doing this, but tension in the neck and shoulder area can give you a hunched posture and make it difficult to speak clearly. Pull those shoulders back, stretch your neck upward, and release any tension in your upper body so you can stand and speak clearly.
Try visualization practices.
Even if you’re rehearsed your script and overall presentation points, visualize yourself actually delivering the presentation itself. This will help you preview how you’ll get through it, and makes the actual presentation much more natural.
Yawn.
Not during your presentation of course, but definitely a few minutes before heading out on stage. A yawn can help relax any tense jaw muscles and give you a fresh dose of oxygen. With your facial muscles more relaxed, you’ll find it much easier to speak and easily calm your nerves in the process.
Even the most experienced presenter isn’t immune to anxiety, stress, and feelings of fear during their event. Confident and professional speakers have simply learned how to manage and calm their nerves as they move through their topics. Building up skills for public speaking and giving a presentation are great ways to boost your business opportunities, and getting over any personal obstacles offers a variety of benefits. Practice makes perfect, so get used to the idea of presenting as often as possible for ongoing success.
Now that you’ve settled on your entrepreneurial venture and are ready to take the steps to get started, the inevitable Business Plan anxiety has probably sunk in. Business schools and textbooks identify the business plan as an ‘essential’ element for any business, and there is an ounce or two of truth behind their suggestions. After all, a business plan can help you outline your mission statement, identify objectives and goals, and even hash out preliminary financials. Still, it can all seem like too much work when you’re anxious to just get started. You know you shouldn’t put it off, but can’t seem to buckle down and just finish it.
Here are four signs you’re procrastinating on making your business plan:
You’ve convinced yourself there just isn’t enough time. With your non-stop ‘to do’ list and action steps outlined in your notebook, who has time to look at the bigger picture?
Reality check: the business plan can help you identify some areas of business operations you may have missed, and actually guide you through your ‘to do’ list much more effectively—and efficiently, saving you time of back tracking your thoughts and decisions as you move ahead.
You’ve settled on a ‘working budget.’ This is the vague notion that when money starts coming in, then you’ll have time to start organizing and distributing it.
Reality check: a comprehensive business plan can help you identify how you will create revenue and distribute it for expenses. The more you define your objectives here, the easier it will be to see how much you really need to cover expenses, and how much you might need to get it from other resources. Consider the business plan a working guide that can help you strategize and forecast more easily.
You’ll get it done after the website is launched/first employee is hired/pigs start to fly. The excuses to put it off until a later date are endless, and there’s no reason why you should wait on getting some organization and structure in order for your venture.
Reality check: The sooner you get down a basic plan in writing, the easier it will be to grow and develop ideas with a solid foundation. Use your business plan as an informal guide that you can reference on a regular basis.
You already know how to raise capital, and have investors lined up. So what? Even though you have your funding lined up and in order, you never know what could happen 3-6 months down the road.
Reality check: You may need to convince other lenders and investors to set your sights on your business, especially if any of your initial candidates fall through; save time and energy of explaining your business and goals all over again, and create a definitive business plan that is readily available for your next presentation.
Getting your business plan done may require some motivation, but the payoff will be well worth it. Consider it a work-in-progress; it can always be tweaked, edited, and re-developed should you need it!
Many business leaders quickly realize that entrepreneurship is a mindset, a lifestyle that can be carried through in almost all areas of personal development.
From daily self-discipline strategies to enhancing mental flexibility, the traits of a successful entrepreneur often lead to simple ‘truths’ in how they perceive and manage money. Becoming wealthy with your business isn’t based on the ‘greed’ mentality, or even the old-fashioned concepts of competition and battling for scarce resources. Understanding how to build wealth involves a few fundamental principles such as:
Creating something of value to others, something that cannot be found anywhere else
Finding a way to build residual income from this value
Taking steps to maximize your productivity so you work less but still make more
Setting goals to achieve higher levels of income
Learning how to manage income so you can generate wealth 24 hours per day
Personal development gurus such as Steve Pavlina offer some valuable insights and commentary on how to practice ‘wealthy thinking’ on a daily basis.
But there’s one simple action that you can take to get started: begin by carrying more cash in your wallet.
The premise behind this is actually quite simple:
When you surround yourself with money, you subconsciously don’t have a ‘need’ to spend.
Try it now, and you’ll see this working even in its most subtle forms. Credit cards and even debit cards can give you a false confidence in ‘access’ to money; when you find yourself going out and spending away, it’s probably in some form of plastic payment. Switch to cash instead, and you can become more mindful of the entire process of thoughts about money, as it happens.
You’ll also find yourself feeling abundant. You will have cash in your hands that has potential to be spent, but you are much less likely to actually go ahead and spend it.
You’ll start changing your beliefs of what you consider to be a large amount of money: try carrying around a week’s worth of income for a while and just take note of how you feel. This makes you much more mindful of what your weekly income is worth to you, and can even help you organize your priorities for expenses and spending around it.
You’ll quickly become less attached to money; since you know you have it, it won’t be something that you’re constantly grasping for. This will give you breathing room to set higher goals, and make it easier to visualize larger sums of money beyond your current level.
The act of simply carrying more cash in your wallet can help get you started on your wealth building strategies. Feel free to share your results, tips, or how you made it work for you!
David Ponte of Operative recently told me about a new community that profiles startups. Killer Startups is a directory of startups where the community can vote on and discuss the potential of various startups, trying to locate the next big thing! On a weekday basis, Killer Startups profiles 30 startups.
The site is using a mock digg model of voting on the companies by adding a “killers” voting widget on the side of each startup entry. Obviously, nothing unique or special about that, but it’s cute nonetheless.
Bottom line, the site does around 1 million visits a month so from a marketing standpoint it would be nice to have your company profiled on the page. Go kill ‘em!
Now that your ‘Eureka!’ moment has come and gone, you’ve probably got some vague idea of a business plan in the works. Channeling that spark of creativity into a full-fledged business can be daunting, but thanks to marketing gurus such as Seth Godin,turning your innovative idea into a reality may be easier than you thought.
Still, thousands of creative, intelligent, and aspiring entrepreneurs come up with their million dollar idea, only to see it fizzle away at the overwhelming part of getting started. If you’re ready to crack the millionaire code and get started on your business launch, here are a few tips:
Get it down in writing.
While not every business needs a business plan, creating some form of organized plan will help you more often than not. Even if it’s just a simple brainstorming session with notes and references, take some time to put down the key elements of your business. You’ll see this evolve very quickly, and can always turn to it for touch ups and enhancements as needed.
Look around.
If you’re stuck on ways to find customers, solicit businesses, or just define your target market, take a look at the competition—and start taking notes. Learning more about who your competitors are already targeting is just one way to build upon a similar strategy. Alternatively, look for the community that will find your business the most valuable.
Get a mentor or coach.
Mentors can be very powerful motivators to keep you on track with your plan, and will help you bounce ideas, lead you to resources, and help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Look online for local resources in your community—many small business administration offices offer coaching sessions and other valuable options for up-and-coming businesses in their district.
Build your team.
Not every entrepreneur needs to go at it alone; start recruiting talented entrepreneurs that have the skills you might not have, or don’t have time or resources to learn. The more you can share the workload (within budget), the easier it will be to make progress. Consider a deferred payment plan for solid candidates who are interested in jumping on board—just make sure everything is clearly written in writing, and settle on a fair and negotiable payment structure.
Get a second (and third, and fourth) opinion.
Sometimes your most novel idea is only the Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread for a party of one—you. Running your idea by some positive and trustworthy people is a great way to get some objective feedback. Even though your opinion about the idea matters in the end, it can help to get some open discussion going about the viability of your ideas before you plunge ahead.
Even if your business is a one-person show, chances are you can maximize your gains by leveraging your relationships.
The business without any employees is still involved with networking, making relationships, and communicating with dozens of people. Whether you’re working with vendors or potential investors, learning how to schmooze can lead to fresh opportunities and even a higher chance of success. Building relationships is a mindset that can offer many entrepreneurs a chance to create a solid network of resources. Here are some tips on learning how to schmooze like a pro:
Focus on the goal of your connection.
Knowing what the purpose of your prospective relationship is before you make an approach will keep you on track for the positive. Understanding how both of you can benefit from the potential partnership makes it much easier to break the ice, and foster a relationship built on respect for each other’s needs. Putting yourself out there first by offering something of value to the other party puts you in a great position to learn how they might reciprocate; and it’s the basis for plenty of negotiations as you move ahead.
Ask lots of questions.
Schmoozing requires listening and feedback, but you need to be in the position of ‘very interested learner’ as often as possible. Asking questions lets the other person share and talk with ease, and will keep the conversation moving along much more naturally. Avoid dead-end questions that are likely to result in one word answers. You may need to practice this a little, but learning how to get other people to chat away is an easy step to schmoozing success.
Be a reader.
Get into the habit of reading, studying, and even researching your prospect before hand. If you don’t have anything in common, it’s much harder to carry on a conversation that will lead to results. Find out what your base knowledge needs to be, and think of two to three current topics on the subject that you can discuss with ease.
Carry your business card at all times.
The opportunity for schmoozing can strike at any moment, and having your contact information readily available makes it much easier for prospects to get in touch. Just a simple contact card will do; when it’s easy for others to get in touch with you, you’ll instantly become more approachable.
Extend a favor.
Offer to do something for the other person, and make it clear that there are no expectations for reciprocation. You’ll need to be genuine with this strategy, and make sure you have some credibility with the other person or your maneuver could backfire if it seems insincere. Extending a favor can help you become, well, favorable.
Follow up.
Sending an e-mail, a brief note, or even a ‘Thank You’ card if the event necessitates one, are great ways to make a statement that you’re serious. Following up after the 24-48 hour mark makes it clear that you’re in business, and appreciate your initial meeting. Leaving a lasting impression can help you build your credibility, especially when the prospect has you ‘on top of mind.’
Business Week is running its third annual Best Entrepreneurs 25 and Under contest this Fall, with nominations due by September 10. The five winners will be announced online in November, and the selection process involves identifying savvy and talented entrepreneurs who have launched or are operating their own companies. Passionate business leaders under the age of 25 are encouraged to have a mentor or colleague send in a nomination form, explaining why the nominee deserves the award, and what they have achieved thus far.
Business Week sponsors this contest each year to highlight America’s brightest, innovative, and talented leaders. A look at last year’s winners reveals the following key traits. Each entrepreneur is identified for:
Strengths in leveraging technology and tools to build their business
Making the most of their budget—shoestring, venture capital funds, or personal savings
How they created value in their industry
Any indications of innovation and leadership
How they managed their marketing plans and objectives
Long-term potential for sustainability and profits within their industry
BusinessWeek.com reports that a 2006 poll of 1,474 middle and high school students found that over 71% are interested in self-employment at some point in their lives. With extensive opportunities for launching businesses online, the dream of being self-employed is becoming a reality for many. Web-based businesses are becoming a stepping stone for those interested in launching a concept with minimal upfront investments; reduced overhead costs and building networks online make it easier than ever to bring an idea to fruition.
More and more colleges are offering entrepreneurship programs, and even MBA programs address the need for independent business building strategies and understanding the workings of a startup. Whether online or offline, businesses built enthusiastic entrepreneurs is becoming a trend in itself.
Is your entrepreneurial venture nomination-worthy? Send out the nomination link to friends, family, or mentors and encourage them to nominate you as the newest leader among Business Week’s best!
I have compared the first year of running a solo operation to the last few months of running things with a team, and let me tell you, having a solid team is definitely essential for any successful startup.
One of the hardest things that any entrepreneur will have to face is building the team. Finding the right people to be a part of your startup isn’t an easy task. It took me years to find the right niche to explore, then a few more years to begin finding the right people to be a part of the startup.
How have things changed from being solo to having a team?
Ideas that were good, become great when more minds are working on them
Having people to keep you from becoming too grandiose or passionate about something
Being able to have people by your side for extreme brainstorming sessions — priceless
Synergy: exponential brainpower!
Human Capital Trumps Ideas
When I think of a startup team, I think of “Human Capital.” Human Capital is all about mind power; what people can bring to the table with their intellect, insights, and ideas. That’s the real value in having a team.
You can have a poor product, but with the right team anything is possible. When you have a group of people working together on a project, magical things can happen.
It’s a cliché, but two minds really are better than one.
Never Stop Searching
If you’re serious about your service/product, then you should never stop looking for the killer team to complete your startup. Seriously, never stop searching no matter how tedious, hard, and aggravating it may become. It’ll be worth it!
“A great team is a team that will always beat a mediocre team, given the same market and product.”
Time management isn’t just for the busy executive or project manager; it can work wonders for the everyday entrepreneur, and the road to success is much easier when you learn the art of multitasking.
Critics of multitasking claim that doing just one job at a time will save much more time, helping you focus and stay on task until the project is complete. However, people who truly thrive with multitasking take a different stance; they’ve learned how to make multitasking work by optimizing their tasks for efficiency.
Need some help with your workload? Here are a few ways to make multitasking work for you:
Manage your inbox like a pro.
Set up filters and folders for e-mail so that incoming mail is sorted automatically. You can focus on each folder during different parts of the day, or on an as-needed basis much more easily. It’s much simpler to check your e-mail 2-3 times per day, and respond to important messages through an instant messaging service when it’s available.
Learn to delegate.
You can ‘run’ multiple activities much more easily with the help of others; train the right people, provide clear instructions, and fire away! Consider it an ‘indirect’ form of multitasking.
Leave emails for yourself.
If you’ve got a constant to-do list, hit the send button to yourself with a list of outstanding items that you can catch up on later. This can help you unload when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and make it much easier to get your priorities in order.
Become a checklist enthusiast.
Listing out what your next action steps are is an easy way to ‘see’ your priorities; checklists also give you the satisfaction of crossing off your latest assignment as you speed on through to the next one. Then you can accurately gauge how much you’re actually getting done within a specific amount of time.
Time yourself.
‘Give’ yourself a specific amount of time to get XYZ and ABC projects done. For example, set yourself up with ‘I have one hour to complete both of these projects’, and you’l
Last week Tuesday on September 25, 2007 we had our third Mind Petals NYC Chapter gathering in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan. 
, there are some specific personality traits of the talented and most successful. From inventors to artists, learning how to turn a dream into a business involves some essential habits, and a different mindset than just being an employee.
