From Fred Smith, founder of Federal Express: - The first secret is to have a compelling business idea, one that is differentiated and sustainable.
- The second secret is to be a zealot.
- Third on my list of secrets is to have a conservative business plan.
- Secret number four is to work effectively with others.
- The last secret of truly successful entrepreneurship is to change and grow as your business grows.
Fred Smith Speech to Entrepreneurs: The Five Secrets of Entrepreneurial SuccessFrom David Newman, founder of Do It! Marketing:
I would suggest that these 5 secrets apply no more or less to entrepreneurs than they do to people working inside organizations. In fact, they may even apply
MORE so!
If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?
-- Will Rogers
To forget one's purpose is the commonest form of stupidity.
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
Trying to solve problems or find answers with the same set of information that got us "into this mess" in the first place indicates one of several things:
1. We are dangerously insane.
2. We are incredibly irresponsible.
3. We are sadly unaware of our own trailblazing and "off the charts" navigation capabilities.
What only a handful of very successful individuals realize is that, in fact, the current landscape, as perceived by others, is irrelevant as far as you're concerned.
One of the most powerful tools you have is self-knowledge. In the simplest terms, this comes down to answering these basic questions:
* Who am I?
* What am I all about?
* What do I love to do?
* Who do I want to be?
* What's the best way for me to get there?
* Where would I like the journey to take me?
Spend a few moments completing the following. Yes, you! Yes, right now.
Find a pencil. I'll wait...
Good. Here we go... 
Exercise: List 10 things you LOVE to do. Any context is fine. Use your personal life, professional life, with your family, friends, civic and church groups, anything:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Now review your list and summarize each of these ten items
into a 1-word VERB, such as "communicate" or "connect" or
"share."
These are ten of your core action words that define you at
your best.
How can you bring more opportunities to use these actions
into your life? In answering this question, please remember
that even a small change can have a huge impact.
You don't need to quit your job in an office in New York
and move to a kibbutz in Israel if one of your key words
turned out to be "share."
Why don't you share some of what you know with your
colleagues? Teach a class, write an article, start a
discussion group, create a lunchtime seminar series, or
start an interactive message board on your corporate
intranet?
So many people are unhappy because the opportunities to use these core actions have evaporated from their lives or have become blocked by schedules filled with "too much to do" and "never enough time."
But stop and ask yourself, "How effective is my mind if my heart and soul are starving?" And if you don't take care of them, who will?
THIS is your real work for 2010 - enjoy the ride!
As a marketing speaker, I'm often asked the question if I'm also a "motivational speaker" and my answer is no. Although I do admire motivational speakers and topics - and HAVE trafficked in a bit of leadership thinking and writing.
Here's an oldie but goodies from the archives:
===
There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you
damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human
duty, the duty to take the consequences.
-- P. J. O'Rourke
As a leader, I will expose you to the options and the
likely consequences of those options.
-- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
The Leadership 22
Leadership means...
* Exposing people to options
* Getting along with people
* Being a dealer in hope
* Sales (products, services, ideas, values)
* Teaching, mentoring, guiding
* Be the example
* Results, not talk
* Bringing sides together
* Being a dispenser of enthusiasm
* Solving problems
* Blazing the trail and leaving a path
* Producing more leaders
* Showing average people how to do the work of superior people
* Character and integrity
* Putting first things first
* The capacity to translate vision into reality
* Finding a parade and getting in front of it
* Your switch is never turned off
* The ability to communicate something people want
* Action, not position
* Backbone, wishbone, funny bone
* Doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons
What do YOU think? What would you ADD? Leave a comment below and share your opinion...
As a m
arketing speaker and marketing coach, I'm often asked for "key nuggets" for small business marketing success. Here's a short list for your consideration...
Rather than blather on in a long-winded marketing coaching session, here it is in bullet format. Quick. Simple. Just not easy!
Small Business Marketing 10 Commandments of Success
I. Take Responsibility
II. Raise the Bar
III. Dream Big
IV. Develop the Action Habit
V. Visualize your Success
VI. Associate with Winners
VII. Give Something Back
VIII. Embrace and be Flexible to Change
IX. Learn to Love the Process
X. Have Faith and be Patient
I got a phone call a few days ago from my friend Steve who is a fellow independent professional. He said to me at the beginning of the call, "David, I'm calling you as a reference."
So I'm thinking, "OK, he wants to hire someone I've worked with or someone I know - perhaps even a client of mine whose testimonial he saw on my website."
I say, "Steve, what can I do for you?"
And then he mentions someone's name. Let's call this person Larry. Now I like Larry and he's a good guy - perhaps a little confused about his marketing and messaging... and frankly that's OK because Larry is NOT a client of mine (although I've given him plenty of chances!)
Steve stops me and says, "No, no... I don't want to hire Larry. Larry wants to hire me. I'm calling you to ask you what kind of client do you think he would be?"
Wow. It's not a consultant reference, speaker reference, or service provider reference - Steve was asking me (essentially) "Would this guy be a good client?" FYI Steve saw me connected to Larry through LinkedIn and some other social media sites.
Lessons for YOU:
- We live in a hyper-connected world
- People DO read your social media profiles
- People DO judge you on the "company you keep" both online and off
- If you're a pain in the ass - as a consultant, speaker, vendor, partner, OR client... word will spread faster than you can imagine
- The top people in their field (ahem, YOU) do not have the bandwidth nor the interest to work with folks who are a pain in the butt
- YOU can't afford to be a pain in the butt on EITHER side of the professional services buying equation
Comments? What do you think? Have you had some experiences to share along these lines? Would love to hear from you in the Comments section below...