8 Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur
When you think about the people in the world who are highly successful, making money beyond their wildest dreams, and hear their success stories, do you wonder what it was that brought them success? Were they just lucky, or superbly talented, or did they just have a product that was seriously needed in the marketplace?
What exactly are the qualities these people possess that brought them success? Does everyone have those qualities, or is it just reserved for the few millionaires and billionaires who seem to turn everything they touch to gold?
Well according to Loral Langemeler, a financial coach and strategist, and founder of Live Out Loud: “You may think that successful entrepreneurs are free-spirits who despise structure and are renegades who would rather work alone, only reluctantly hiring a team because there’s no other choice.”
This is not the case – and it’s not as difficult as it may seem – most claim it is the behaviors that successful entrepreneurs possess more than personality, or intentions.
Behaviors that have proven to be successful, time after time. After all, an entrepreneur is just a businessperson with a belief in him/herself, who takes risks, has a mission, and organizational skills beyond the norm.
Have a mission:
Successful business owners had a mission, they knew what they wanted to do, and had a very detailed business plan in which to accomplish this mission.
Work on strengths:
In starting a business know your strengths and weaknesses, and rather than try to work on those weaknesses, build your strengths and hire your weaknesses according to Langemeler. Hire the people who can compliment those weaknesses making the business venture stronger, because your strengths are emphasized and your not so strong points are covered.
Courage:
Know that this venture is not going to be a cakewalk – in other words, it is going to be great some days, and really tough other days, but the conviction in yourself and your business will carry you through. Be fearless and strong and don’t let the little details that are mounting and troublesome get you down.
Set Goals:
Detail (on paper) the vision you see for the business, and measure your progress. If you don’t see progress it is typical to want to give up, especially on the most difficult days, but when you see progress, it inspires you to keep going.
Be Resourceful:
Use others successful business to model your own, not exactly of course, but keeping on top of who is doing what, and what brings success will allow you to spend more time building customer bases, than trying to figure out everything on your own.
Learn how to seek advice and guidance when you feel overwhelmed. Ask others for help who are successful, and more times than not, you’ll be surprised at how willing they are to guide you.
Persistence:
Never give up on your dream or vision. Many times things go pretty rough, and some people will think it’s time to throw in the towel, but if you have a great business, and know that it deserves success – stick with it through thick and thin and think positive. Never think that failure is an option.
Form the managerial mindset:
Find your driving force and realize that even though you want to break away from that 9 to 5, and do things your way, you cannot do it alone – you’re going to need a team, and some help. You cannot have that strong do it yourself attitude if you want to succeed. Be the manager of your business!
Most failures of the self-employed entrepreneur is that they try to do everything themselves – and burn out. And remember the strengths and weaknesses section? These are vital to the business mindset.
Design a business that can run with or without you, and remember that getting help is not failure, but the next step to entrepreneurial success.
Build your personal skills:
Successful business owners are relaxed and secure relating to others and building relationships in the business world as well as with employees. The more extroverted they are the more approachable and likable they are and in turn leads to people wanting to do business with them.
These attributes lend a better working environment, as well as success with employees and their needs to communicate and interact. It creates a strong team and allows others to flex their positive muscles, and be more apt to interact with customers in a more friendly way.
Of course not all executives possess all of the characteristic that bring success, but the ones who don’t make up for their shortcomings in hard work. They lean on the people on their teams who do possess what it is they lack, and are competent, supportive and great leaders.
They are respected, admired and looked upon as an expert in their field of business, through plenty shoe leather, or credentials, and never doubt their abilities.
Although there are tons of books written about being a successful entrepreneur, the basics are listed here to get you started, but attending a seminar or buying a great book would be highly beneficial – and having a good product and a good dose of self-respect doesn’t hurt either!
About the Author: This article is from Will from Credit Card Finder. Discover some of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs at the Credit Card Finder Inspirational Australian Female Entreprenurs Awards.
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Tebow Time for Entrepreneurs: 4 Ways to Peak Performance When It Counts
The craze sweeping the united states this winter season comes from the National Football League. Of course I’m referring to Tebowing, originated by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, and you either love him or hate him. Removing religiousity (my word) from the equation, Tim Tebow along with the Broncos have strung together a series of outstanding comebacks before recently succumbing to the superior Brady Bunch and the Patriots. Denver was left for dead on multiple occasions through three quarters plus in games, only to rise up like Lazarus to conquer the football Reaper and stand in victory.
Is there a leadership lesson in this over-hyped story for small company owners, entrepreneurs and corporate execs ?
Tebow’s type of play has been pooh-poohed as unsustainable, tagged as downright ugly, and lampooned on Saturday Night Live. It’s also been lauded by evangelicals, adopted by presidential candidates, and embraced by middle-America. Yet the most remarkable thing this sensation demonstrates is clutch performance, doing your best when it’s all that matters, and it has been on display in sports throughout the decades in names like Reggie, Jordan, Montana and Gretski. Tebow is the most recent, albeit more unconventional representation of clutch production in crunch time. But is it sudden, sacred intervention, or a predictable method?
Game Plan Your Strengths
If you’ve caught any of these Bronco games, you know that a few weeks ago, John Fox and the coaching staff kept if very basic, dumbing down the playbook, or so it seemed, so Tebow could get by. In a pass-happy, copycat league that is the NFL, Denver went almost wholly to a game plan of running the ball and shutting down on defense. With a few exceptions, it worked. The coaching staff made the unconventional routine, cut short the games, and stayed within striking distance.
Tebow isn’t Manning or Drew Breese, and their offense wasn’t constructed that way with the players around the quarterback. Tebow is a rough, solid, contact-loving player who thus far relies more on a big heart and hard work than traditional passing talents.
There is more than one way to succeed!
As a leader in business, you may not have elite level talent or the mix of people on your team bus that you may have wanted. So what? Take stock not only of what human assets you have and what they’re good at, but of the strengths you may have in plant and machinery, intellectual property and patents, pricing, operating systems and capital. This is basic SWOT analysis with a capital S folks. Be aware of your weak spots and seek to mitigate them right now by playing to your strengths. Nothing wipes out a business faster than striving to be what it isn’t.
Keep It Close Until the Very End
The Denver game plan is playing to the strength of a running game that grinds on the other team, shrinks the game by exhausting the clock, and keeps the Broncos within winning distance at the end. It’s this clutch time when Tebow magic happens, but that magic is almost expected. The other team is tired, frustrated that this bible-thumping character is even close after being statistically dominated for three quarters, and just a bit worried of being another statistic on the Tebow legend wall. Persistence wears down resistance like water in a stream smoothes over the stones.
In business if you have a target, focus on it like a laser beam, and keep striving again and again, prosperity is inevitable provided you believe it. Top performing sales folks know this when trying to crack the biggest accounts. Manufacturers demonstrate this every day by producing things smaller, lighter, quicker and cheaper that do things we didn’t think possible five years earlier. Set a business goal, establish a plan that minimizes risk and moves you steadily toward it, and seize the opportunity when it ultimately comes.
Raise Other People’s Performance
Now this is the leadership goal we all have, to raise the game of everyone in the company. Easier said than done.
I’ve heard dozens of analysts in recent weeks apologize for the Tebow success.
“He’s not the one kicking 59 yard field goals.”
“He’s not playing great defense.”
“He’s not making great catches on poorly thrown balls.”
Wow! That Tim Tebow– he’s a really lucky guy. Let me ask you this, do you think the fact that all of those other guys are stepping up is a lucky coincidence? Before the coaches put Tebow in as a starter, the defense was giving up a lot of points, the kicker was missing field goals, and receivers had their share of lapses and then some. So what happened?
Leadership by example happened. Nothing fires up the defensive side of the ball more than seeing their second-year passer trying to run over linebackers, and actually doing it. Tebow’s not a diva. He gets grimy and bloody, playing more like an offensive lineman than a quarterback. The last thing anyone else on that team wants is to be shown up by this kid in the hard work department, and suddenly, the whole team is leagues ahead of where it was to start the year.
How do you lead by example in your company? The ways you can are too numerous to list. Do whatevers it is you ask employees to do, or be ready to when a key employee calls in off work. Pay suppliers on a timely basis and watch the company virtues improve. Reward first-rate performance without being asked and everyone starts improving on the job. You are the leader of the company, and everything you do is being watched and emulated. Be aware of it and you ‘ll raise the game of your team like Tebow does.
Losers Have Hope – Winners Have Conviction
The Tebowing process of falling to one knee in prayer or thanks, the unpretentious pep talks in the huddle, and the poise under stress are the body language not of blind optimism, but of belief. When belief is followed by action, it becomes conviction, and that is contagious and hard to stop.
One of the biggest business clichés going is that Hope is Not a Strategy. Well here is the procedure of conviction, the outright certainty that things will work out as good as they can, and when they don’t, something even greater will come out of the momentary setback.
How would you run your organization if you really believe you couldn’t fail? What product lines would you expand? What people would you hire? The reality is that worry over possible outcomes put more stress on us than when the worst actually takes place. I’m not proposing being risky or silly with your money or time. What I am saying is that if you have outright conviction in your actions, you ‘ll begin to do the other three things we’ve discussed: you ‘ll focus on your strengths, keep regularly progressing toward your target, and improve the effectiveness of your employees and business partners.
Each of these 4 components tends to feed the other, and suddenly you ‘ll find out that your success is more formulaic than divinely inspired, although a little bit of divine help never hurts.
About the Author: Karl Walinskas is the CEO of Smart Company Growth, a business development firm that helps small to mid-size professional service firms build competitive advantage in an online world of sameness. His Smart Blog covers leadership, business communication, sales & service, public speaking and virtual business, and was recently named by Buyerzone as one of the Top 20 Business Blogs of 2011. He is the author of Getting Connected Through Exceptional Leadership, available in the SmartShop and Amazon.com, and has been a featured expert for Inc.com with articles published in Selling Power, America Online, and Site Pro News to name a few. Get your FREE LinkedIn Profile Optimization eBook & video course, Video Marketing video and course, or Mastermind Groups e-course & video now.
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6 Signs Your Small Business is Set Up for Failure
In a day and age when the economy is not being very kind to many companies, how can your small business get its footing, especially when just starting out?
As many small business owners know, starting a new company even in the best of financial times can be challenging.
According to numbers from the Small Business Administration (SBA), seven out of 10 new employer establishments survive at least two years and 51 percent survive at least five years.
While those numbers help to dispel the long-standing belief that many small businesses fail in their first year, the facts are many do just that. Oftentimes, it comes down to simple decision making items like finances, to grow or not grow the staff, being an online fixture and so on.
Challenges Facing the Small Business Owner
In order to get a small business successfully up and running, companies need to build a positive revenue stream, advertise their business, and in many cases hire employees and more. When all is said and done, it can be quite an expensive venture.
While small business owners need to be positive in their venture, they also need to look out for the traps that await them, potentially leaving them in financial peril for years to come.
Among the 6 challenges to steer clear of are:
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1. Beginning a business for the wrong reasons – The reasons can include wanting to have a business to make a bundle of money or getting away from micromanaging managers. While those may be popular reasons, they can also lead one to disaster;
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2. Not having enough financial backing – Too many small businesses start out with good intentions, but they don’t have the financial capital that is truly necessary to make a go of it. While putting one’s business plan together, make sure that the necessary financial capital is in place, including being able to weather some tough times and/or until sales outpace expenditures;
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3. Being a poor manager – Whether the new small business is a one-person show or will involve a number of employees, it is important that solid managerial skills are in place. As many small businesses that have gone under after a short period of time can note, the way things were run could have been better. It is important for small business owners to know how they want to run things from the start, be able to adjust to issues, and know how to manage people if part of the scenario;
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4. Locating the business in the wrong area–If one’s small business is easily accessible and in a high traffic area, the odds are obviously greater for more business. Being located off the main thoroughfare, meantime, can be the death sentence for even a well-planned out business. When shopping for a locale for one’s small business, it is important to determine foot and motor traffic, where competitors may be located, any crime issues in the neighborhood and more to put the business in the best location to succeed;
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5. Growing too quickly – While success early on is great, too many small businesses try and grow too fast, leading to financial issues. As part of one’s business plan, map out the goals of the company and when growth may or may not be a possibility. Sometimes it is best to hold off on expanding the company in order to build up reserve funds, and then expand when the financial timing is better. If thinking about expanding, determine if the current workforce can handle the added work before bringing on new employees and having to factor in salaries and healthcare;
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6. No or limited online presence–In today’s electronic age, too many small businesses still do not put enough emphasis on having a strong Web site presence with which to market both their products and services. By not doing that, they lose out on the ability to interact with both current and potential customers. As more customers turn to online shopping for their needs, small businesses that are hesitant to do so stand the chance of missing out on potential revenue.
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy; the key for small business owners is to be sure that they put themselves in the best position to succeed, something which is no small task in this day and age.
About the Author: Dave Thomas, who covers among other subjects vehicle insurancewrites extensively forwww.business.com an online resource destination for businesses of all sizes to research, find, and compare the products and services they need to run their businesses.
Photo Credit: Paul Keller
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4 Things You Will Need to Leave Behind in Order to Make it Big
Naysayers
First and foremost you will have to detach yourself from those people who do not believe in you, criticise your efforts or don’t support you when you need them. This may be your work colleges, your friends, or even your family or partner.
People have all sort of reasons for acting negatively when they see you want to better yourself, but nothing will bring you down with greater force than entertaining their efforts to keep you the same person they have always known. As harsh as it might sound, anyone who is not happy for you and your success does not deserve your time. A plant that wants to grow cannot live amongst the weeds forever.
Regrets
If ever there were a pointless and destructive emotion, it is regret. Regret cannot change anything. It cannot turn back time, it cannot repair relationships, and it cannot earn you back all that money you lost on a bad investment.
What regret can do however is rob you of confidence, make you an angry person and force you to live in the past at a time when it is more important than ever to keep your eyes on the future. That is not to say you shouldn’t learn from every mistake you make and remember all your loses along with your wins, but leave regret behind, you don’t need it.
Greed
Lots of people think that greed will drive them forwards and be their motivating resource when times are hard. It won’t.
Greed is defined as an “excessive” or “rapacious” desire, and anything in excess is never good. Indeed, excessive is defined “more than or above what is necessary”, thus greedy people are never successful people. They may make money, drive fast cars and have nice holidays, but as greed is an emotion that cannot be satisfied, they will never be a ‘success’. Instead, that greed will consume them and it will end them. Be ambitious, have dreams, but don’t let greed drive you.
Free Time
Few people realise just how hard you have to work to make a business succeed. In fact, I would say that it is only those people who have given it a go who truly appreciate the time you have to commit, let alone the blood, sweat and tears.
It is of course very important to give yourself breaks and still maintain a healthy work/life balance, but don’t expect to maintain your daily squash session or evening catch-ups with old school friends…at least not for a while anyway.
Author Bio: Duncan is a small business owner and blogger representing a poor credit credit cards company in the UK
Photo Credit: Mykl Roventine
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Three Keys to Startup Success
Once the lightbulb turns on, there is no stopping a determined entrepreneur. He works diligently, night and day, to outline the business plan, the product plan and brainstorms how to find funding. He bursts with excitement when telling others about his great idea, and quickly gets his business off the ground and headed toward startup business success.
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What’s missing from the scenario above? If you answered “everything in the middle” you’d be right. Within any startup business, there are many factors that go into ensuring business success. Each of these ingredients can be brought together to build one, solid business foundation to grow the success of the business as a whole.
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Assuming you already have a strong product or service offering and you have the resources to start the business, there are 3 key ingredients that can mean the success or failure of the business recipe: The Right People, The Right Tools and The Right Energy.
The Right People
Having the right people in your business is huge! When hiring a team to help bring your business increased success, make sure they have the following:
- A can-do attitude
- A roll-up-your-sleeves mentality
- The brains to improve the business and processes
- The guts to take chances
- The desire to succeed
This might seem like a lot to ask, but if you don’t see these traits in the people you are interviewing, do not hire them. It will cost you time, money and energy just to find out that the decision to bring them on board was a bad one.
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However, if you hire people who exemplify the traits above, you have just scored yourself a big win. These team members will work hard for you, will be dedicated to the business and the product and will bring your team forward toward greater business success.
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You can’t take chances here. Make sure you hire the right people right off the bat and watch how they help shape your business for the better.
The Right Tools
It’s no longer enough to give your employees a computer, a phone, an email address, a desk and chair and expect them to work efficiently. You now need to give them access to the right tools with which to communicate, stay organized and keep on task.
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How do you prefer to communicate with others in your business? Is email working as well as you’d like? My guess is probably not. Outline communication processes and look for online solutions that facilitate greater communication and collaboration. Social media-like services mixed with instant messaging and communication storage can greatly increase the outcome of each online conversation, and bring team members together.
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Find easy online solutions to store business documents, customer files and training information as well. And try to keep all this organized in the same system in which you manage work. Scheduling tasks, managing projects and organizing work with documents and communications only increases the efficiency of the work tools you use, and you will love the way it easily brings people and work together.
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Giving your team access to these types of solutions will start them off on the right foot and increase their ability to stay organized, on task and increase successful business communications.
The Right Energy
Startups thrive off of the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of their people. It takes a lot of nights and weekends to make a startup business successful, and without the right energy in your team and your business, that work either won’t get done or won’t be of high quality.
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So how do you keep the people in your business energized and excited to tackle the work at hand? Here are a few tips to do just that:
- Work together
- Stay organized
- Celebrate success
- Have fun
Building up the positive energy in your team and showing them the fruits of their labor can dramatically increase their desire to continue working and to put forth the effort it takes to increase your startup success.
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By ensuring you are including the right people, tools and energy in your startup, you are virtually guaranteeing yourself great business success. So roll up your sleeves, get to work and watch your business turn into something great!
About the Author: Dana Larson is the Marketing and Community Manager at OnePlace, an online business collaboration and organization solution that increases the effectiveness of business communications and team productivity.
A smart and outgoing gal, Dana and the rest of the OnePlace team blog regularly about team collaboration, business techniques and productivity solutions at http://blog.oneplacehome.com
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5 Survival Tips for Today’s Savvy Entrepreneur
My joy was short lived. After waiting about a month for a client to pay me on a (5 day net) creative project, the check came in the mail. I did the “happy dance” ‘til I was dizzy!
Getting paid would allow me to catch up on some of my obligations as a small business owner myself, already struggling in a struggling economy.
I began to figure out my bills and hope for a few left over dollars to do a
mini-splurge at the local thrift store.
Before the ink could dry on the check, the client contacted me. She asked me not to cash it, as the funds would not “officially” be available for another week due to an unanticipated emergency. Needless to say, I was shocked and devastated.
The check was already late, and based upon my income projections, I promised to pay several of my vendors. Her not honoring her word prevented me from honoring mine. And unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time.
Not long before that, a publisher with whom I had enjoyed a long-term business relationship, came down with a bad bout of the flu, and extended his apologies for not being able to issue checks because he was bed-ridden for two weeks.
Life happens. That goes without saying. But just because you’re a “small” business owner doesn’t mean you should be “small time” in the way you conduct your business or handle crisis management. In fact, you should be more prepared for mishaps due to fewer resources. The buck stops with you!
Not providing for “the worst case scenario” can cause irreparable damage and affect your ability to compete with larger businesses; ultimately costing you in terms of customer loyalty, client confidence, and bottom line objectives.
After all, folks figure if you can’t handle your business challenges, why should they trust you with theirs?
Whether you manage a staff of one or 91, here are a few business practices you should employ to cover your assets and protect your bottom line.
EXPECT THE BEST BUT PREPARE FOR THE WORST
Do you have a back up if your files are destroyed on your hard drive? Do you have systems and people in place if you become ill or need to take a vacation? Are your records well kept if someone needs to temporarily assume your duties, or establish a paper trail of your activities? Could your business recover if you lost a key client? These are all points to consider in your strategic planning. Always have a plan B.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND
“Save for a rainy day” has become more than a cliché; in today’s economic climate it’s as crucial as a commandment! Experts differ in the exact amount an “emergency fund” constitutes—some say the equivalent of three months salary, others advise six months. Apply it to your individual lifestyle and circumstances, then act accordingly. Today.
EMPOWER YOUR STAFF
Hire competent people and give them the training and resources to act independently in resolving small customer issues. Assigning them responsibility and accountability helps them to develop personally and professionally, and improves the efficiency of your organization. Understaffed? Hire an intern.
ESTABLISH SUPPORTIVE ALLIANCES
Don’t perceive all your peers as a competitive threat. Seek out owners with whom you have a compatible work ethic and similar visions and values, and find ways to enhance each other. This can be accomplished through online groups or networking associations dedicated to your particular field or trade.
HONOR YOUR WORD
Many small business owners go to great lengths to overcome perception issues and convey a professional image. They invest in elaborate web sites, purchase fancy business cards, and go the whole nine yards to recruit clients and impress associates. But all these measures can be in vain if they establish a reputation of repeatedly not honoring their word– whether it’s to a client, a vendor, a business partner, or employee. Never over promise and under deliver. Don’t say one thing and do another. Always strive to keep your end of the bargain because ultimately your livelihood affects others.
Follow these five tips and you’ll successfully navigate the many “obstacle courses” that come with owning a small business, and you’ll breathe easier too.
About the Author: Jennifer Brown Banks is a veteran freelance writer who teaches at Coffeehouseforwriters.com and blogs at Bloggingpro.com
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8 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Twitter Effectively
Social networking can help a small business making more money. While having customers as friends on Facebook is great, Twitter is a tool that should not be overlooked.
8 great ways a small business can implement Twitter to increase profits are:
1. Growing Customer Relations
Being in business is all about people. Without them, there is no company to run. This is what makes Twitter so great. When people Tweet you and you them, they feel closer to you and your business leading them to your door because of the new personal relationship.
People like doing business with people they know.
2. Promoting Sales
Rather than let a stock item go bad and end up in the spoilage bin a message on Twitter might bring in some excited customers who would love to buy something at half price that they are going to buy anyway.
3. Getting the Word out About a new Product or Service
When something new and exciting comes in some people miss out on it. This is lost revenue that could be taken in as a result of building a relationship with clients through Twitter. Simply saying “Limited time new coconut M&M’s in stock” can go a long way compared to leaving coconut candy lovers out in the cold.
4. Special Offers Only to Those who Tweet
Twitter customers can become part of a special class of clientele. For example, you can Tweet to your customers “Bring this Tweet in for a free Father’s Day coffee.” Customers who see it will be there because they love free stuff, and those in the store who see it will want to be in on the special promotions as well.
5. Directing Customers to Product Reviews
When a new product comes into the store, business owners can sell them to customers by writing a review on their blogs. If customers like what they see they will either buy it from you or they can buy it through Amazon.com, which you can affiliate with to retain some of the profits.
This will result in satisfied customers to be very satisfied with you as their consumer advocate. Not only did you direct them to a product that you sell, but you offered them an online alternative to purchase it. The result is them saving money on the product and time by not having to go out to get it.
6. Cheap R&D
One thing businesses cannot often afford early in the game is research and development. The great thing about a small business, especially if it is local, is that owners and managers can use Twitter to gather information about customers likes and dislikes.
A gas station owner, for example, can ask his Twitter network, “do u like or dislike a full service pump option?” Some customers will reply that they like it in inclement weather, or that they do not like that it costs more at the pump and then they feel as though they have to tip the attendant. This feedback can be invaluable to the success of a business.
7. Special Customer Announcements
When a customer has a big event they may want to get the word out. You can offer free announcements to those on the network. This can be very exciting for those who get accepted into law school or want people to know they’ll be playing a concert at the park.
And when these people see that you care enough about them to help them get the word out, they’ll be loyal customers for life.
8. Promoting Worthy Causes
The best thing about influence is that it can be harnessed for good things. A compassionate capitalist will care about his community and support worthy causes in it. Simple Tweets like “Breast Cancer Walk Sunday, 9:00″ can go a long way in helping others and growing one’s business.
About the Author: Melissa Tamura writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. She most recently ranked the best psychology schools.
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Five Easy Steps to Successful Networking
Has it ever crossed your mind, folks, why some people achieve success while others languish and get left behind? Why did the “teacher’s pet” fail to make the grade later in life? By contrast, why did the dunce at the back of the class–who fell asleep after he was done drooling over the pretty girls–get to drive the BMW, own a private jet and a Hollywood Bungalow? My Dear Watson, the key to success or failure has to do with networking.
The best sort of networking is when you use it to gather information in order to help you make a decision about your career. The conversations you have, and the contacts you make, should lead to potential opportunities. Networking brings you into contact with people in the companies or industries you are targeting.
These people will be able to give advice about–and help you shape–your career plans and other related ideas. This will make it much easier to evaluate them. Furthermore, many of these contacts will know other people, who will be able to give you advice. Many of the people you meet will work for prospective employers too.
Through systematic exposure to these people, you can get closer to possible employment. As your network of contacts widens, more and more people will keep you in mind when possible opportunities arise. Most networking is initiated with existing contacts. Generally, this is the most effective way to network as you are likely to get more committed help.
However, sometimes you don’t know anyone with connections to industries or companies you are exploring. In that case, you may need to network speculatively. Rather than initiating the process by contacting somebody you know, you first need to identify potential network contacts who you don’t know. You can do this through research.
Networking works because it is collegiate. The person you are talking to knows that when they need to, they can also get in touch with you: to get advice, information or contacts who will be able to help them with their career. Networking also works because it is empowering and a bit subversive. Companies may be in competition with each other, but you are talking to people at a human level.
Networking gives both parties an opportunity to break out of the formal constraints of being a company employee, and to talk openly and honestly.Your network comprises not just business contacts, but also friends, family and anyone else you know. A good career consultant will also connect you to their client network. A good way of building your contact list is to draw up category headings and list the people you know in each.
Five Easy Steps to Successful Networking
So, what are the networking steps:
Initiate Contact
E-mail can be both direct and immediate, provided it is read. Don’t expect to always receive a reply, though. If you haven’t heard in a week, follow up with a phone call. Telephone risks getting blocked by a gatekeeper–for example, a PA, receptionist or secretary. The best way around this is to have an introduction, so the person is already expecting the call. Make your call or email brief; outline your situation and what you want in about 20 minutes of their time.
Don’t send a CV
Even if it might help them to understand the situation, it may cause them to assume you want a job and could make them feel uncomfortable. Or they may simply tell you that the expertise you have picked up in your earlier career is not something they can help you build on.
Plan
Before you go to the networking meeting, it is essential to plan thoroughly. Remember, you may not get a second chance with this contact. After all, this contact may turn out to be the most important person you have met in your working life. So, don’t waste the opportunity.
Identify the Objective
What do you want to achieve from the meeting? Information about the industry, work and further contacts are all positive outcomes. Moreover, think about the possible contacts your contact will have. Maybe they have colleagues or clients who work in the sector you are exploring? Prepare for the meeting. Do your research about the organization. Think in detail about the questions you want to ask. How are you going to present your situation? What messages are you going to project?
At the Meeting
Remember, this is your meeting. After all, you initiated it and the agenda is yours too. So, feel free to take the lead. Start with a very brief presentation of yourself.
Outline your strengths and try to establish how well your contact feels these fit the needs of the industry. Try to find out what other skills are important and what training or formal education you might need. Ask for names of other people who would be worth meeting. You may have particular companies in mind but no names. Do they know anyone in these companies you can contact? Leave your own contact details in case they have any other ideas. Do not leave a CV unless they ask for it. Above all, be persistent in your efforts.
About the Author: Archan Mehta is a professional writer and hobbyist. Feel free to contact Archan at archanm@hotmail.com at your own convenience.
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Photo Credit: NomadicLass
Why do Small Businesses #Fail at Using Social Media?
When you were a kid, do you recall standing on a dock overlooking a lake and wanting to dive in but you were afraid to, for fear the water would be too cold? You were faced with a dilemma: jump in, absorb the shock, and get used to it, or slip into the drink slowly one body part at a time. The experience for small businesses eager to get a handle on using social software is similar.
And it’s a sink or swim scenario. Diving headlong into using social tools and networks has its benefits and risks but preparation is essential. In a nutshell, social media involves engaging people via online social networks to generate exposure, improve customer satisfaction, and grow sales.
Managing Resources
Rob Enderle, principal analyst, The Enderle Group, says like anything else when one is starting from scratch, the problem initially is making good decisions with regard to resources.
“However you can, use social networking to find others like yourself that have already gone through the process in your industry and you can see what they have done and the success they have achieved,” he said. “From that you can determine what will work for you . . . social networking requires some study and work to both determine what works best for your industry and what works best for you.”
To that end, Enderle recommends reading “Engage: the Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success on the New Web” by Brian Solis. The book is focused on social networking and it is a great starting point, he added.
Which Network is Right for You?
Michelle Warren, principal, MW Consulting & Research, advised carefully choosing which social networks to utilize. Because many social media tools are ‘free’ there is a misconception that a strategy isn’t required; that the value is guaranteed because the cost is minimal and that’s untrue.
“A plan is important. Think of it as a map — if you are unsure about your destination, how will you get there?” she asked. “Partnerpedia.com is worth checking out for a B2B network. Otherwise, Twitter and LinkedIn are worth investigating. And since these can be linked together, they are worth considering.”
Use it or Lose It
Warren stressed getting involved though. Small businesses have much to gain from using social tools in a concentrated fashion.
“Using some social media tools for marketing and business opportunities is wise, but have a grasp of what to expect and know how to measure the results,” she advised. “Like any initiative, it takes some planning in order to achieve desired goals.”
Ultimately, strategy requires goals. Without a goal, your business is rudderless and diving into social media might do more damage to your brand and image than good.
“The first step is to learn a bit about social media. The second is to set a strategy. Then you can best determine the tools and resources you need to achieve that strategy,” Enderle said.
About the Author:Liam has been a journalist for more than 12 years. His media career began in the late 1990s as a beat reporter for the North Shore News in Vancouver. Since then, he’s written for ComputerWorld Canada, Computing Canada, eChannelLine.com, ConnectITnews.com, Computer Dealer News, and several others. A man of many interests, Liam is easily wowed by new technologies, retro video games, and the multiple positions his cat can fall asleep in.
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Photo Credit: Gamma-Ray Productions
7 Secrets to Keeping Your Start-Up Supercharged
When you start a new business, there is a certain “energy” in the air. Although there is a lot to get done, you and your team are excited about the work. How do you keep that energy going?
Here are the 7 secrets to keep your start-up supercharged through team collaboration and business organization best practices, so you and your team can focus on moving forward and increasing your business success.
1. Work Hard
With a start-up, you know you will have to work your tail off to build your business, brand and success. Know that the blood, sweat and tears that you put into your new business will be well worth it in the end. That’s enough to keep you energized and working toward your goals.
2. Have Fun
Never stop having fun. This is the best way to keep that energy up. Learn how to mix business with pleasure. If playing pranks on your teammates gives your office that lighthearted feeling, go for it. Maybe even take an afternoon off every once in a while and go on an all team activity or dinner. Find ways to inject some fun and excitement into your business, and the energy will skyrocket.
3. Stay Organized
One main benefit of keeping your business organized is that you won’t be distracted by the chaos and mess of disorganization. Store your business documents securely, manage projects and tasks with an online project management system and keep communications and collaborations in the same place as the work that is being done. You will save yourself a lot of searching time if you organize everything well right off the bat.
4. Collaborate
Work together. Talk to each other. Include all hands on each project. Find ways that bring team members together and listen to everyone’s suggestions on how to make the business better and more successful. This way everyone has a hand in the success of the business, and the pride they feel will keep them working hard toward future success.
5. Keep Learning
Business techniques, strategies and best practices are changing all the time. Continue learning – either through additional business classes or hands-on trial and error – to keep your mind active and the better ideas flowing. Offer continued education opportunities to your employees as well, to make sure you have the cutting edge of business knowledge on your team.
6. Hire Good People
Don’t be afraid to invest in the right talent. Having good, dedicated and intelligent people on your team will only better the organization as a whole. Along with almost guaranteeing great business success, the right team members will encourage and excite others to reach their greatest business potential as well.
7. Celebrate Success
Excellent – you’ve achieved a goal! Good for you! Don’t forget to celebrate that success by honoring the team lead or those who worked hard on the project with recognition or a small token of appreciation. And here is another great opportunity for a team event to celebrate that success, and inject a bit of fun and energy in your day, to keep your team working hard toward even greater success.
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With continued high energy in your office, your people will have fun while working hard toward increasing your business’s success. Whether your company is still in start-up mode or has been going strong for 20 years, following these steps will inject some productive energy into your team and you’ll love the outcome you see!
About the Author: Dana Larson is the Marketing and Community Manager at OnePlace, an online collaboration and business organization solution that increases the effectiveness of business communications and team productivity. A smart and outgoing gal, Dana and the rest of the OnePlace team blog regularly about team collaboration, project management, business techniques and productivity solutions at http://blog.oneplacehome.com
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