Ghosts, Goblins, and Rejections-How to Get Over your Entrepreneurial Fears
October 31, 2007
I remember being terrified of Halloween when I was very young. I didn’t care if it was my cousin in a stupid gorilla mask. It was the mask that scared me! I couldn’t see beyond the surface. However as I got a little older, I started enjoying the holiday. I looked forward to dressing up as a princess or a princess bride (what else was there?). I imagined the hordes of candy my sister and I would collect before it was ever in our little pumpkin shaped baskets. My father joked that only America could make a holiday out of begging children, but I didn’t care. The same holiday that had caused me so much agony just a few years ago had turned into one of my favorite days of the year. I could now see beyond the gorilla mask.
Non-entrepreneurs are often like very young children-they are scared by the surface look of things. They can’t begin to imagine what thrill or treats await them. They don’t dare venture outside the door and into the ghoulish gates of their neighbors. They are rather content with a piece or two of the candy their siblings share with them. They tell themselves "that’s all I need anyway, I will get cavities like mom says, and well…there is always next year." New entrepreneurs are a little more courageous. They don a costume (a not so scary one) and go out into the world (with their parents of course), and are happy going down the street and back. They don’t risk going to the houses of people they don’t know and avert their eyes when they see the really scary costumes. Then there are the more seasoned entrepreneurs who know deep down that ghosts and goblins can’t hurt them. They go up to every house in the neighborhood and demand candy! Trick or Treat they yell! They smile and thank all those who fill their baskets. And at the end of the night, they end up with the greatest look. And everyone knows that only the coolest kids have the greatest loot.
No matter which category you fall into, you can always take the first step towards more treats!
Non-entrepreneurs- Are you really happy with a piece or two of someone else’s candy? (Yes, I know those bonus tootsie rolls can be tempting.) Going off on your own always looks and feels scarier than it is, but the truth is that once you get going-you will have a lot of fun! And guess what? The candy you get, is yours to keep!
New-entrepreneurs- Congrats on being half way there! To make it to the big leagues though you have to push the envelope a bit. Get out of your comfort zone. Go beyond your neighborhood. Allow yourself to get a little scared. Learn to ask for more candy!
Seasoned entrepreneurs- You really have this asking for treats thing down, but there is always more you can learn. And unless you keep pushing yourself to be the best, you may very well lost your spot as the coolest kid in the block.
Happy Halloween!
What’s Abraham Lincoln Got To Do With Marketing?
October 29, 2007
Abraham Lincoln said "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first four sharpening the ax." That’s also the key to smart small business marketing! You can do absolutely everything to attract attention, but if what you are attracting attention to is not worth people’s time and money-the marketing won’t matter. So here are three tips to make sure your marketing ax stays sharp!
1) Provide the RIGHT Value- Provide something of value and people will be attracted to it. It doesn’t have to be valuable to everyone (and practically speaking it can’t be). Your service has to provide the RIGHT value to the RIGHT people. And by right value, I mean it has to matter to your clients. For example, you can make yourself available to clients on holidays. This may work well if you clients need constant support, but it may not matter if your clients don’t work on holidays! A bank will not care if you are available on Christmas-they are closed. On the other hand, a business owner working from home may value that aspect a lot. What do your clients consider valuable?
2) Have a Kick-Butt Platform- What do you stand for? Who do you help? And the biggest question yet- Is that easily discernable? If a potential client was to visit your website or take a look at your marketing materials, would they know what it is you do and who you help? The marketplace is full of consultant, coaches, trainers, and other B2B specialists. What makes you stand out from everyone else?
3) Be an Expert in your Field- No amount of great marketing will make up for a lack of expertise, but luckily this is easy to fix. If you are passionate about what you do, the natural inclination is to learn all about it. Keep up with the trends in your field, so you can eventually become a trail blazer yourself. Read the top books, attend classes, get to know your colleagues-become an eternal student and your clients will reward you for your knowledge and expertise.
Around the Blog World…
October 27, 2007
- Reality vs. Theory in a high growth, bootstrapping business - Pam Slim looks at what becomes of high minded youthful ideals when reality comes to play.
- Teaching Sells (FREE REPORT) - Tony Clark of Success from the nest and Copyblogger Brian Clark teamed up to provide this free report on how to ignore Google and still make a profit online. Must read for any independent service professional!
- Eye Contact - Kavit Haria discusses the powers of making eye contact.
- Halloween Promotion Ideas to Generate Publicity - The Publicity Hound shows you how to use Halloween to promote your business!
- A Definition of Leadership- Jay Hargis presents us with a succinct but touching definition of a leader.
- Learn about Customer Focus from Big Business- Stefan reminds us to always focus on our clients!
- Want your Own Crystal Ball? - Heather Juma talks openly about her own personal vision for her business-empowering women to create six figure businesses. Heather is my kind of gal!
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