Welcome to the Social Media Marketing Success Series! There are 4 things you have to do in order to be successful in using social media to market your business; you have to Build a Web Presence, Build a Brand, Build a Base, and Ask for the Sale. We’ll go over each of these this week and give you everything you need to succeed in social media marketing!

Ready?

Let’s Go!

Note: The series recap - 4 Steps to Social Media Marketing Success is now available!

Part 2 – How to Build a Brand

Need to Build a Brand?

Social media marketing gives your business the opportunity to carve out a unique niche across the web. How are you going to represent yourself, business, services, or products? What image, feeling, or emotion do you want to convey whenever someone thinks about you and your business? This is the basis for branding.

In this short clip I’ll show you the 5 elements to building a brand for your business. As you watch, reflect on each and come up with a plan to take your business and brand to the next level. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below once you’re done. Once you’re ready, head on over to the next lesson and learn how to Build a Marketing Base for your business.

Note: I recorded the video in a different format than usual – call me adventurous – There may be some audio sync issues. Sorry.

Rod

Further Reading

• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• Services
• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale

Want to Present with Poise?

Speaking engagements are great marketing opportunities. To be a successful business person, you have to be able to clearly and effectively communicate about your offerings to potential clients, investors, and partners. One way to generate buzz for your business is to create and give presentations that highlight various aspects of your business. These presentations can help you seal opportunities for more sales in strategic areas.

I had the chance to see Ed Tate, the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking, present at a Toastmasters conference recently. He said that public speaking is the only form of marketing where you can build an emotional bond with your potential clients. Are you ready and willing to give a speech about what you do and the services you provide?

Preparation and practice are the keys to a poised presentation, but there is much more to giving a speech than just presenting your information. To showcase yourself and your business in the best light, follow these 20 principles to prepare a powerful, polished presentation with poise and purpose.

Purposeful Preparation

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)

1. Audience Analysis

DON’T: Give a canned speech without modifications.

DO: Consult the meeting planner/event coordinator to discuss your topic and tailor your presentation to a specific audience. You should consult with her well ahead of time to find out the audience’s needs, problems and concerns instead of just looking at things you can sell to them. Think of it as part of your ministry of service. If a group goes to a park for ministry to the homeless, they are likely to feed them and distribute supplies before talking to them about God, praying with, and reading Scriptures to them. Likewise, you have to meet people where they are, and speak to them on their level before you attempt to discuss any offerings. Once you build a rapport in this way, without a sales pitch, they will be more open to learning about your product or service.

A pre-event questionnaire is a great tool to gather information if you’re speaking to a company or organization. You can give the meeting planner the questionnaire to fill out well in advance. The details you learn from her answers will help you customize a speech, and build trust and credibility with your audience—the emotional bond that Ed Tate mentioned. Review their website, annual reports, newsletters, press releases, and brochures. Then check with the meeting planner to ensure that your stories and ideas are relevant to your points and not offensive. When in doubt, leave it out.

2. Figure Out Where You Fit

DON’T: Prepare your speech in a vacuum.

DO: Find out and consider the logistics of the event where you will be speaking. What is the specific purpose of the gathering? Will you speak from a raised platform, or be at the same level as your audience? How much time do you have to get your message across?

3. Start With a Bang

DON’T: Open your speech with something dull such as, “Hello everyone. Today I’m here to talk to you about…,” a long-winded thanks to numerous people, or an irrelevant story about what happened to you on the way there.

DO: Get your audience’s attention right out of the gate. Use a question, anecdote, startling statistic, paradox, or controversial opinion to draw in your audience and capture their attention. You want them to forget whatever is on their mind and focus on your message. You can also include an icebreaker to loosen up the audience and get them curious about what you will present.

4. Mix It Up

DON’T: Read to your audience or stick to one monotonous format.

DO: Use different elements such as humor, facts, quotes, and anecdotes. You can also engage your audience by:

· Telling stories. You can use a case study, a personal testimony that conveys how your business helped solve a problem or make someone’s life easier.  When you tell stories that involve more than one person you can make the scenes come alive by:

- Using dialogue (don’t speak in third person, speak as if you are each character)

- Using body language and gestures (make faces and relive the story)

- Varying your voice, tone, and pitch (don’t be like the teacher in The Wonder Years)

· Taking an audience survey by show of hands or applause, or use a white board, easel, or overhead transparency to write their responses.

· Doing a partner/small group exercise.

· Doing a skit using one or more audience members.

· Encouraging them to finish some of your sentences or repeat a phrase you use throughout.

· Use props. For example, you could toss an object around the room, and whoever catches it has to answer a question (and possibly gets a prize).

5. Beware of Information Overload

DON’T: Cram too much information into your presentation.

DO: Leave them wanting more. Consider your allotted time purpose when you design the breadth and depth of your speech. Is it a high-level presentation or an in-depth seminar? Do you have 15 minutes or an hour? Craig Valentine, 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, advises that you discuss no more than one main point for every 10 minutes of your speech. This is one of the rules I’m guilty of breaking. Take it from me—your audience will get frustrated if you try to pack in too much information in the time allowed, or skip over information because you’re running out of time.

If you want extra “insurance,” you can have color-code your speech or mark your notes in a certain way so you know which elements to add or delete as you go along, to fill the needs of your speech. If you find that your time gets cut short, you’ll know which key points to make, and if you gain time, you know you’ve got relevant stories and exercises available to fill it up.

6. PowerPoint is Not a Crutch

DON’T: Read your PowerPoint slides or cram them with too many words.

DO: Create only as many slides as you need to make your points, or scrap the slides altogether. Choose a prop or other visual aids.

7. Leave Them With Something To Remember You By

DON’T: Conclude your speech with a question and answer period.

DO: Prepare an actual closing to your presentation. You want to make a powerful, lasting impact on your listeners, since they won’t remember most of your speech. You can have Q&A, just don’t make it THE ending. Instead use a story to drive home your core message, or just a summary that brings your points together. You could also choose to end with:

· Advice

· An anecdote

· A call to action (signing up for email updates, inviting people to make a donation, visiting your website, buying your product, or supporting a cause)—just don’t make it a pitch

· Asking volunteers to tell what they learned and how they will apply it in their life, or to voice their objections or concerns about carrying out the advice presented.

8. Practice!

DON’T: Skimp on rehearsals.

DO: Rehearse several times, even if you have given the speech before. If this audience has not heard you speak about this topic, and you tailored it for them, you need to incorporate your “tweaks”. Record yourself and/or speak in front of someone if you can so you can check your performance.

Beware of filler words, such as “um”s and “uh”s, which may come about if you don’t practice your transitions and pauses during rehearsal. Pauses allow you time to think about what you will say next, and they give the audience time to think about the last thing they heard, which provides emphasis to it.

9. Oration is Not Necessary

DON’T: Push yourself to memorize your entire talk.

DO: Familiarize yourself with the speech enough that you don’t have to rely heavily on notes (although it’s a good idea to have them close by in case you lose your place). Rehearsing and practice will help you memorize most of your talk, but you can still flow naturally and not feel pressure to remember your speech word-for-word.

10. Consider Evaluations

DON’T: Underestimate the importance of feedback.

DO: Create speech evaluations that people can fill out anonymously to gauge your effectiveness and make improvements for your next presentation.

Poised and Polished Presentation

“You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14a; 16 (NIV)

11. Let Your Light Shine

DON’T: Wear clothing or flashy jewelry that detracts from your presentation, however nice it may look on you. Image and first impressions are important.  Clothes that are wrinkled, too big, or too tight are not right. You don’t need to create any distracting visual barriers for the audience to overcome. And ladies—if you would find it questionable on another woman, then don’t wear it yourself. Modesty is never offensive. You are representing yourself, your business, and Christ.

DO: Dress for success. When you look good, you feel good, and your confidence will help you shine.

12. Stay Alert to Logistical Changes

DON’T: Assume that all your technical requirements will be good to go when you arrive.

DO: Arrive early and bring your own equipment. Stuff happens. Even if you requested specific equipment to be set up for you, arrive with ample time to set up if you are using PowerPoint slides, handouts, or other props, just in case “Murphy” shows up. Chairs may be set up differently than you’d like, or you may have to move to a different room. If logistics change, be flexible, and make do the best you can and work with what you’ve got.

13. Relax

DON’T: Be too serious.

DO: Smile. Regardless of the topic, there will be a time to smile.  Show your personality. If you’re nervous, everyone doesn’t have to know. Sometimes you have to fake it ‘til you make it, and besides, smiling is contagious. Let your light shine!

14. Pace Yourself

DON’T: Talk too fast.

DO: Take your time as you speak. It’s easy to talk too fast if you’re excited about your material or nervous, but try to keep a poised and relaxed or energetic composure—depending on what your topic calls for. If you’re concerned about time, keep a timepiece on the lectern or have someone signal you.

15. Keep Your Composure

DON’T: Get off track or get discouraged if something goes wrong during the presentation.

DO: Recover gracefully (or make a tactful joke) and keep it moving. It’s OK if you mess up or lose your place. The audience is on your side—they really want to see you succeed! They’re giving you their time and attention, hoping to get some important insight and information in return. Don’t let them down!

Powerful Presence

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

16. Move Around

DON’T: Stay in one spot or favor one side of the stage for the entire presentation, pace, or turn your back to the audience.

DO: Move naturally from time to time, with purpose, but not from nervousness or an abundance of energy.

17. A “Know-It-All”? Not!

DON’T: “Talk down” to your audience or position yourself as a person who has “made it” without any struggles.

DO: Demonstrate your expertise in a way that engages the audience and answers the question, “What’s in it for me?” Be relatable and show your commonalities. Why do you believe in your product or service? How has it helped others?

18. Take Charge

DON’T: Ignore a heckler or disruptive audience member, or respond with a rude or coarse remark.

DO: Stay in control of the room. Once you start your presentation, you are in charge. Ignoring disruptive audience members is not usually the best way to handle them. Address them tastefully without embarrassing anyone. People will respect you for taking control, and for your calm, cool attitude.

19. Hang Out for a While

DON’T: Do not make a long or pressured sales pitch. Once you turn off the audience, they’ll shut down and there’s no coming back.

DO: Remain accessible and approachable after your speech. Let people know a little about your business and how they can reach you. Give them just enough information to leave them wanting more. You can negotiate with the meeting planner to offer a service such as coaching sessions or back of the room sales for your products after your presentation has concluded. If you educate the audience and provide them with value, you can convince them why they need your services and convert some of them into paying clients.

20. Keep At It

DON’T: Let too much time elapse between speaking engagements.

DO: Continually seek out places to gain more exposure for your business. Get in where you fit in by checking out your local Chamber of Commerce meetings, Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, and other associations and nonprofit groups related to your target audience.

Find Your Rhythm and Put Yourself Out There

As you can see, much of the work that goes into presenting with poise is due to preparation. You have to find a rhythm when presenting information and it helps to start preparing BEFORE you see an opportunity to speak. Experts in their fields are often asked to speak at conferences and special events, but it’s better still to create your own presentations and opportunities as you network.

If you want to get more comfortable with public speaking on a regular basis and build confidence, join a Toastmasters club near you. It’s the most economical professional organization I’ve ever belonged to for the value I’ve received (it’s about $30 for a six-month membership at my club).

Who needs your products and services? I encourage you to share your expertise with them because no one can tell them about it better than you. The more you often speak, the better you will become, and the more personal success and business growth you can realize.

About the Author

Daree Allen

Daree Allen is a technical writer, freelancer, and motivational speaker. She is currently writing a self-help book for teen girls.  You can reach her at her website, “D.elivering A. R.ich, E.mpowering E.xperience” at http://DareeAllen.com, and her personal development blog, “Daree’s Insights” at http://dareesinsights.wordpress.com.

Further Reading

• 4 Pillars to Building a Successful Blog
• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Brand for Your Business

Need to Reposition Your Business?

Imagine sending out a mass email telling your clients that you’re quitting and closing down shop. You explain to them that you’ve decided to move on professionally and that you would no longer be available to work on their projects. Can you sense the hesitancy in pushing the send button? Can you imagine the nervous and worried expression that would be strained across your face? This is exactly what I did in early 2007 when I stopped doing graphic design and website development.

I was in a transitional period in my life where I wanted to teach entrepreneurs more and design less. I wanted to make money for my thoughts, experience, and wisdom and I just couldn’t do that designing logos and fliers. Some of my clients understood my position and others were really worried as to how they would keep their projects afloat. I had to explain that “when God is ready for you to move into new territories . . . you gotta drop everything and move.” When you get that feeling then you know it’s time to reposition yourself for success. Last week, I explained how to do just that within your career. Today let’s explore what to do when it comes to your business.

Why reposition yourself in the first place?

The whole goal of repositioning yourself is to #1 – maintain the success you’ve attained and #2 – make strategic moves to become more successful. Pretty simple, wouldn’t you agree?

As a graphic designer I had plenty of clients but I didn’t have a sense of fulfillment in what I was doing. I got more joy in teaching entrepreneurs how to market themselves and how to use the web in advertising their businesses. I wanted to make the change from graphic designer to business coach. In order to do so there were a few things that I had to do.

Leave the extra baggage behind!

As I said, at the start of this article, I had to drop a lot of my clients in order for me to move on and get to the next level. I know what you’re thinking, “Rod, why wouldn’t you just keep them and offer your new services to them?” For the most part, these were established small business owners and churches outside of my target market. They just needed someone to design their fliers, logos, and work with their website . . . they didn’t want me to tell them how to be successful. So why bother? It’s better to leave extra baggage behind than let it slow you down if you’re trying to move. If you hold on to it, you might end up damaging it unnecessarily during the move. And that’s just a pain in the butt. So leave it! Here are a few suggestions on what to do once you’ve “left your baggage” behind;

• Keep in contact with your clients and maintain a referral network. This will allow you to pass new business to them and get business from them no matter what new product or service you’re offering.
• Don’t totally leave them in the dark, make recommendations of other vendors that can possibly take over their projects.
• Maximize social networking to keep in touch. I use Facebook to maintain business relationships and create a greater sense of community among my peers.

Money DOES Grow on Trees, Shake Your Tree of Creativity!

Feeling lead to speak and consult I had to create new products, services, and totally revamp my offerings. I didn’t look for affiliate products to sell or network marketing products (Most of you know how I feel about network marketing anyway). Instead, I created new products and services for my target market. The first was an audio book called, Leadership Wisdom from Proverbs. I started a seminar series which I derived from the content of the audio book. Both were pretty successful and I knew that I was were I was supposed to be professionally. Here are a few tips on creating products and services for your repositioned business;

• Do some research to find out what your market needs. Use tools like Twitter, polls, and surveys to listen and organize information for your benefit.
• Don’t just look for other people’s products to sell, look within your own talents, skills, and abilities. I made my audio book from my computer with software I already owned, you can too!
• Think outside the box! Come up with a combination of products or services and judge which ones will produce the best return on investment.
• Don’t totally discard your current offerings of products or services. You might be able to tweak them (add and subtract portions) to fit your new business model.

Take the iron out of the farmer’s hand and brand yourself!

Even though I turned over a new business leaf I still had people calling me to do design work for them. The phone conversations were pretty interesting, “Yes, I used to do graphic design, no, I’m sorry, but I won’t able to do that for you.” I had to stick to my guns and you will to. The best way to get your message across without hurting feelings is to brand yourself (or in this case, re-brand yourself). Personal branding gives you the power to control people’s perceptions of who you are or what you do. Here are a few basic tips to get you started;

• Set up your name as your domain (website address) – notice that The Success Center’s web address is rodkirby.com, I assure you that this wasn’t by accident. My thinking is, when people want to find success, they’ll find me. It’s got nothing to do with my ego and everything to do with how I want people to perceive who I am and what I do.
• If you’re already using social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook change your posting strategy to reflect who you want to attract. If you’re repositioning yourself to be a lawyer, find useful tips, articles, and things in your life to share that reflects that. You can read up on using Twitter for business here.
• Revamp your website or start a blog dedicated to your “new self.” Give people one dedicated place to connect with you, buy from you, or engage with your new “identity.”

Marketing isn’t Dead if you do it right!

If you’re going to position your business to be successful in a new market you’ve got to maximize every available tool to get the word out. This may mean investing in traditional avenues of marketing or giving your time to social media. Do whatever works for you. Here a couple of tips to help you make it through;

• Narrow down your social media tools to the ones you’ll invest the most time in. Having a wider range of tools and profiles only disengages you with your market and wastes time. Here are my Top 3 Social Media Tools for Business.
• Re-design your marketing materials to reflect your new brand and distribute them at conferences and events. Be sure to include your social media outposts so that people can reach out to you no matter what platform they’re on.
• Plan on attending industry events and conferences to enhance your profile, grow an email list, and make connections. Check out AllConferences.com for events listed in industry or area.

When in Doubt, Seek Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding

Whenever you’re in a transitional state of your life, your decisions will have an impact on your business. Whether it’s positive or negative will be determined on the quality of your decisions. So, go into your quiet space and pray for the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to make quality decisions.

Luke 11:9 says,

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace!

What else can be added to this list? What is your current position with your business? Do you feel like you’re being successful or is it time to reposition yourself for success? When I stopped designing and started speaking and coaching I knew that I had made the best decision for my life. Since that time things have grown, changed, and I continue to reposition myself and my business ideals.

I keep referring to my friend Latara because she actually gets the idea behind repositioning. She understands it and it’s exciting to see other people who “get it.”

LaTara Ham-Ying said,

As for me, I am continually in a repositioning mode because as an entrepreneur I believe that we must always be looking for something new and evolving so that your business stays fresh. As you evolve, God gives you new insight into what you need to do for your business.

Flickr image by Alejandro

Rod

Further Reading

• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
• The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Surviving Tax Season
• What Does it Mean to be a Flawless Leader?
• Services

Are you headed for success?

(This post was originally published in October 2009 and was updated with new content!)

If a media mogul, with a net worth of half a ba-jillion dollars, offered to share his or her secrets of their success, would you listen? I don’t know about you, but I’d be willing to listen and learn from any media mogul who wanted to share anything with me!

The wisdom, knowledge, and understanding you could gain from that person would definitely be worth paying for. However, there is one requirement to gaining access to this free knowledge, you have to sign-up for their newsletter and share it with all your friends. Would you do it?

I think the majority of you would because you want to take your business to the next level. That’s the place where opportunities come to you instead of you having to knock on doors to find them. That’s where success, prosperity, and the freedom to live your life the way you want is. How do you get there?

You Have to Make Strategic Marketing Moves

Getting the word out about your blog, website, business, products, or services is key to business growth. People won’t know who you are if you don’t tell them. Common sense right? Yet, the Small Business Administration says;

[In 2008] There were 627,200 new businesses, with 595,600 business closures, and 43,546 bankruptcies.

As an entrepreneur I have to believe that one of the primary reasons for all the closures and bankruptcies has  to do with their marketing plans. I can’t help but wonder, “how did they spend their advertising dollars?” Did they do what typical businesses do and overspend on print marketing and TV spots? Sure, the economy did make things harder for entrepreneurs . . . but not impossible. That’s why you have to make strategic marketing moves to position yourself for success.

Want to know the greatest marketing secret ever? You’ll be surprised along with some ways to maximize the technique.

So, what are the secrets to growing your small business?

1. Maximize tools, resources, and information that you already have

If you have a laptop, a mobile phone, and a car then you’ve got an office. Don’t limit your thinking to what you don’t have because God equipped you with everything you need to succeed. If there’s a piece of equipment that’s a “gotta have,” then continue to work with what you have until you can afford it.

Resource: 5 Free Ways to Market Your Business

2. Build relationships with prospects and create clients for life

Don’t go for the quick sale. Take the time to get to know people, what they want, and what they need. Doing so positions you to generate long-term sales and success. Not doing that makes you sound like a pushy used car salesman . . . and no one wants to buy from that guy.

Want my best advice on building relationships? Check out 10 Ways to Build Relationships and Keep Clients for Life

3. Brand your company and distribute a unique message that declares who you are and what you’re about

What company comes to mind when you hear “We love to see you smile?” What about, “Just do it?” These are themes associated with company brands. You can have that same power but it doesn’t come over night. It’s something you have to build piece by piece consistently. When I went to Social Camp Memphis this year there were people who knew who I was before I said anything to them. That’s the power of personal branding. Make it work for you!

Resources: Check out How to Use Social Media to Build Your Brand Locally and listen to my show Personal Branding 101 with Ronald Wilsher

4. Leverage social media and traditional marketing in a way that yields real results

A real result is one that makes a physical impact on your local market. If you can network on Twitter and as a result create relationships that leads to business in your city then you’ve got yourself a real result. Whether you like it or not, social media isn’t a fad and it’s not going away anytime soon. Are you leveraging it to make real results for your business?

Resources: You’ll enjoy my post, The Recipe for Social Media Sales Success – in it I share how social media marketing can help you make real dollars and cents. Also, take a look at 35 Keys to Social Media Success by Chris Brogan. Chris shares some valuable info for entrepreneurs who are venturing into social media marketing.

The Bottom Line

You have to build your business with these four walls in order for it to grow and succeed. A tool that can help you build your business and take it to the next level is my newsletter, “Success Tips!”.  I mail out tips and advice on marketing and growing your business. If the Success Center is a grand buffet then “Success Tips!” is a plate full of meat that promotes strong business muscles. Each edition builds on one of the four walls of business success above. Don’t take my word for it, look at what others have to say about it;

What Should You Do Next?

So, you’re all stirred up and ready to take your blog, business, product, or service to the next level. . .now what? Remember the ba-jillionaire’s requirements for gaining access to his free knowledge at the beginning? The process is as simple as 1, 2, and 3.

Step 1 - Sign-up
Enter your email address below. I hate spam as much as you do so I WILL NEVER sell, rent, or abuse your contact information. Once you’ve signed up, check your email in-box for my welcome letter and be sure to add rodsuccesscenter (at) gmail.com to your safe list.

Note: You can read through the newsletter archives to catch-up on past editions. You’ll find tons of solid advice that will help you market your business.

Sign up for Success Tips!

Step 2 - Share
If you found this article helpful please share it with your friends by using the social sharing buttons at the end of this post.

Step 3 – Subscribe
The Success Center is a grand buffet chocked full of information and knowledge on being successful in many different areas of your life and entrepreneurship. You don’t have to sit down and eat it all at once . . . feel free to stay up-to-date on new dishes by subscribing to the RSS feed or via email. I’m proud to say that this blog is updated at least 4 days a week so there’s always something new here.

Your two cents

What else creates a strong business and promotes success? What are you doing to promote growth for yours or what tips have you learned from others? I would love to hear you thoughts in the comments section below.

Rod

Further Reading

• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• Review: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson [Plus Video!]
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing
• Services
• How to Make Your Marketing Dollars Work For You

Can This Guy Teach You How to be a Better Entrepreneur?

Did you know that stopping biological attacks, nuclear threats to American cities, or presidential assassination attempts in a 24 hour period could help you become a better entrepreneur? 24′s hero, Jack Bauer has been saving America’s butt for the past 8 days straight (the show is in “real-time” so the current season, which is 8, is the eighth day) so surely he can teach entrepreneurs something about business right?

For the uninitiated, I’ve included the opening trailer from one of the past seasons to give you an idea of just how cool, Jack Bauer is. We’ll count down the 24 reasons why he’s a better entrepreneur than you after the video. Enjoy.

And, without further adieu, here are 24 Reasons Why Jack Bauer is a Better Entrepreneur than YOU;

#24. Jack Doesn’t Play – If you had to stop an imminent nuclear attack on Manhattan within 24 hours you wouldn’t play either! Successful entrepreneurs are serious about taking their products, services, and businesses to the next level, are you?

Tip: Keep a business journal and keep up with your ideas, marketing plans, or whatever comes to mind with you at all times. Stop playing with your vision.

#23. He’s Intense! – One of Jack’s most loved attributes is his intensity. It’s said that intensity fuels your passion just as passion fuels your success (I said that by the way). Are you fueling the passion for your business with your intensity? That doesn’t mean you walk around screaming or mad. It means, your burning desires for success lights a fire under your feet!

#22. Jack is Extremely Passionate – Jack Bauer has been saving the world (without rest by the way) for 8 days straight . . . there’s got to be more than a little passion in him somewhere. How passionate are you about succeeding in your business? Are you willing to work long nights, sacrifice, and give more than anyone because you love it? If not, you just won’t be successful.

#21. He’s Resourceful – In almost every season of 24 you’ll see Jack get captured (or trapped) by terrorist and escape by using the environment around him. How resourceful are you? Are you maximizing the tools currently in your possession?

Tip: Don’t spend unnecessary money on a new computer, upgrade the one you have! It’s far cheaper to upgrade than buy a new one. Also, check out Dell and HP outlet computers. If you’re lucky, you’ll find an older model that can be upgraded and perform just as well as newer models.

#20. Jack isn’t Afraid to Ask for Help – Whenever Jack gets into a bind he looks to computer analyst and friend, Chloe O’Brian for help. She’s helped him get out of more jams than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Are you allowing others to help you on your road to success? It’s ok to ask for help . . . I promise it won’t make you look anything less than really smart.

Speaking of smart . . .

#19. Jack is a Smart Guy - I’m not sure if he’s got a college degree or not, but he always manages to come up with a solution on the fly and in the moment. Do your wits kick in when there’s an issue with a client’s order? Can you act quickly under pressure? Thinking on your feet will be key to being a smart small business owner.

#18. He’s Wise – Jack knows a lot about taking counter-terrorist action, he’s only gotten better at it through each season of the show. What’s great about this last season is that you can really tell that he’s the wise and trustworthy agent the entire U.S. relies on. As you gain some experience in operating your business you’ll need those lessons to help you in the challenges ahead. Remember, lessons learned in the past hold treasures more valuable than gold. . . or weapons grade nuclear material.

#17. Jack is Trustworthy – Everyone, even the President of the United States trusts Jack Bauer to get the job done. In seasons past his name would issue doubt but now, it’s the only name anyone trusts. How trustworthy are you?  Do clients have any doubt that you’ll do exactly what you say you’ll do? Remember, it’s hard to earn someone’s trust but it’s easy to lose it . . .

#16. Jack Doesn’t Trust Anyone – On the other end of the trust spectrum, Jack doesn’t have any for anyone other than a select few (less than 4 people in this current season – the President being #4!). With plot twists filled to the brim with double-crosses, back-stabbers, moles, and shady characters can you blame him? As an entrepreneur it’s extremely important that you don’t trust your visions (business ideas) with everyone.

A Short Story: I once started a video-game tournament company (playing console games tournament style with live entertainment) and I shared my idea with a mentor. Months later my mentor had successfully implemented my idea. I was beyond sick once I got wind of the news. So, be careful with who you share your ideas with.

#15. Jack Knows How to Use a Weapon – I’m not a gun advocate or anything, but a weapon is a tool to a means to whatever end you will it to be (whether it be to defend or destroy). Are you maximizing tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and others to reach your target market? If not, you may be missing out on conversations your customers want to have with your business.

#14. He Is a Great Leader – Jack Bauer is used to issuing orders to local police, CTU (Counter-Terroist Unit), secret service, and FBI officers. He leads by example and with a “my foot first” mentality. Being a small business leader is more than barking orders, it’s about putting your people first; and your needs second.

#13. Jack is Always in the Company of Great People – The company you keep says a lot about you. I’ll go so far as to say that they will have a direct effect on your success. Jack always has his trusted CTU (Counter-Terrorist Unit) friends near-by or a phone call away. In many instances they were the ones keeping Jack from going too far off the deep end. . .

#12. Jack’s Network is Presidential – If Jack Bauer needs to get a full pardon for a terrorist who is going to spill the beans on an impending attack he calls the President of the United States directly. As a matter of fact, I believe, Jack has the President of the United States, FBI, and NSA directors all on speed dial. Who’s in your network? Are you maximizing your connections? Engage with your fans on Facebook, followers on Twitter, and local network groups and foster the value of powerful connections!

#11. Jack Is Learning to be a Better Family Man – Family has always been a touchy subject for Jack Bauer. In season one his wife and daughter were kidnapped and he’s fallen in and out of favor with them ever since. Many times the issue was of him saving the world instead of his marriage and family. Don’t get so caught up in your business that you don’t handle business at home. Period.

#10. Jack Knows When to Say No – If Jack knows a better solution to a problem, it doesn’t matter what government organization you’re affiliated with, who you represent, or your title . . . he’s going to do it his way. Sometimes the customer is not always right. It’s these times which you have to use your best judgement for the benefit of your client.

A Short Story: A customer wanted me to design a logo and requested some off the wall colors and graphics to be included. I totally neglected the client’s ideas and ran with my own (hey, my name was going to be attached to the work!) and needless to say, they were shocked, a little upset that they didn’t get what they wanted, but LOVED my design. Sometimes it pays be a rule breaker. Speaking of breaking the rules . . .

#9. Jack Doesn’t Play by the Rules - Jack following the rules of engagement is like putting out Thanksgiving dinner in front of me early and telling me not to touch it. . . it just won’t happen! As it pertains to entrepreneurship you can’t always play fair or by the rules because your competition isn’t either. Sometimes you’ll have to deviate from the plan, chart a course off map, or find a loop hole to stay in the game.

#8. He Has a Sixth-Sense for Danger – It says a lot if you’re capable of ambushing Jack Bauer. The guy’s spidey-sense tingles on a rate that puts Peter Parker’s sense to shame. In business not everyone has your success or best interest in mind. Stay alert and watch out for get rich quick schemes, pyramid schemes, or other ploys to get you to surrender your dreams.

#7. Jack Knows how to Defuse a Bomb – I’m definitely not suggesting you take any bomb defusing classes, but surely, it’s a skill that would come in handy, right? There will be times when a situation will have everything it needs to blow up in your face. It could be an irate customer, accounting errors, or technology woes. Whatever the case may be, stay calm and maximize every reason to defuse it!
#6. Jack Is willing to Sacrifice to Win – There’s been more than one occasion where Jack was willing to sacrifice someone’s life to save another. You definitely don’t have to go to such extremes to be successful, but you must be willing to sacrifice to make it to the top.

#5. He Doesn’t Negotiate with Terrorists – In the world of 24 Jack is always sticking a gun to a terrorist’s head and the President usually issues full pardons to get the job done. He’s a non-negotiable kind of guy and that’s why we love him. Whatever decisions you make on behalf of your business, stick to your guns and stand your ground. If someone wants to give you a couple thousand dollars for a 50% stake in the success of your business, maybe you shouldn’t negotiate. . . just saying . . .

#4. Jack is Persistent – It doesn’t matter if you’re in a hospital dieing, just been shot, or involved in a car crash, you’re going to tell Jack what he wants to know! He doesn’t stop until you do. If you need funding or seeking any other resource for your business don’t stop until you get the results you’re looking for. Persistence pays off in the end!

#3. Jack Bauer is Driven – In the world of 24 Jack has been running for 8 days straight saving the United States from unimaginable acts of terrorism. There’s something to say about a guy that keeps going even if he’s having the worst week ever. How driven are you? Are you truly working hard to achieve the vision, God gave you?

#2. Jack isn’t Selfish – The only reason Jack Bauer saves lives is because he understands what’s really at stake. If he fails it’s not just a few people that will die . . . it’s thousands. There is a universal key to success and that is the understanding that your gift, ability, business, isn’t about nor is it for you. It’s to bless and benefit others. Keep this in mind the next time you “don’t feel like working . . .”

#1. Jack Can Stop a Terrorist with His Bare Hands! – Ok, so this doesn’t really relate to anything entrepreneurial . . . but, how cool is that?!

Jack Bauer has been handling his business (as far as stopping national terrorist acts) for quite a few days now. I hope you’ll take the examples and entrepreneurial lessons here and apply them to your life and business. Success is yours if you really want. The question is, how bad do you want it? Bad enough to stay up 8 days straight and save the United States from biological, nuclear, and other terrorist attacks? What are your thoughts? Chime in and leave them in the comments below.

Rod

Further Reading

• Services
• Review: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson [Plus Video!]
• 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing
• Quit Your Job and Make Millions

Farewell Customer Service...

Most of you know that I’m a full-time flight attendant. I was on a plane ride back to Memphis yesterday and I noticed something the working flight attendant did that bothered me. In the course of a 2 hour flight she only served the cabin once. Can you imagine sitting on a plane and only getting one cup of water or soda, some pretzels, and nothing else the rest of the way there?

Maybe you’re used to that already, I don’t know. But, when I work a flight, I take care of my passengers. I don’t bend over backwards and give them everything they want (limited supplies), but I make sure they’re well taken care of. Depending on the flight time I typically do a general service with the beverage cart, go back through the cabin every 15 minutes with snacks, and offer water once the sodas are put up. Am I required to do this? Absolutely not, but it’s so rewarding when I’m told, “This was the best flight I’ve ever been on!” or “You were the best flight attendant I’ve ever had!” (And I get told that a lot!)

Yes, I’m gripping, but customer service is a big issue for me when I don’t receive the attention I deserve or when I see someone else not getting it either. Before flight attending I worked in retail for years so “mister customer service” was my middle name.

What does my experience on an airplane have to do with you or your business you may be wondering? EVERYTHING! If customers are the life-blood of your business then giving excellent customer service is the IV that continues to pump them into your business’s veins. Let’s explore this, shall we?

What Does Customer Service Really Mean?

It’s called customer “Serv-US” for a reason (Ironically, many southerners pronounce it just like that). As an entrepreneur if you want to keep your business going you’ll have to focus on who’s buying your products and services and not just selling them. When you feel yourself being too pushy or aggressive with trying to make the sale, take a step back and ask yourself, “how can I best deliver value to this person?”

Why Is it Important for Your Business?

There are a million reasons why customer service is important to your business. I’m going to share two really good ones with you;

Steve

Steve Borgman said, “It is invaluable as a means of making a personal connection with the customer, learning what her/his needs/thoughts/wants are…”

LG

LG Reilly said, “Customer services drives repeat business (if good) and dooms by word-of-mouth (if bad). Crucial to any business is gr8 CS.”

I love Steve’s comment because when you learn what your customer’s needs and wants are it puts money in your pocket. It makes it so easy to serve them, to deliver real value, and get a great return on your investment (investment of time of course).

How Can You Deliver Excellent Customer Service?

It’s not rocket science and you certainly don’t need to take a college course on it. But here are a few thoughts on how you can deliver excellent customer service;

• Be a good listener – How are you ever going to know what someone needs if you’re doing all the talking? Be quiet and let your client tell you exactly what he or she needs.
• Put yourself in your customer’s shoes – You know exactly how your client feels because you’ve been there before. That’s why you’re good at what you do, right? Now get out there and solve their problem!
• Pay attention to details – When I see someone, on my plane, with a short sleeved shirt on and they’re folding their arms to keep warm, I get them a blanket. I don’t ask them if they want one, I just do it. Pay attention for opportunities to serve and jump on them!
• Go the extra mile – Don’t you love it when someone goes above and beyond what they’re called to do for you? Do the same for someone else and deliver real value into their life.
• Anticipate Needs – A butler knows that the master of the house needs to take his medicine and has it prepared for him at the exact time he needs to take it. Anticipating customer’s needs builds a relationship that no competitor can ever break!

What Are the Rewards for Delivering Excellent Customer Service?

Sometimes when people board my plane, they’re upset because of the inconvenient security screening process, weather delays, or maybe because they’re not allowed to bring a bag on-board. But, when I deliver excellent customer service for the hour or two that they’re with me it all goes away.

Delivering excellent customer service will create a deeper relationship with your clientele and ensures repeat business for the future. It’s a guaranteed win for both parties and is highly rewarding.

Spiritual Connection

Did you know that humbling yourself and serving others is by far the quickest way to be promoted by God? Jesus is a prime example. He took the very nature of a servant and, according to Philippians 2: 1-11 (NIV),

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”

Can you imagine God taking you to the highest plateau of your life, career, or business and making your name great? That’s what delivering excellent customer service will do for you.

Is Customer Service Dead?

Despite the header for this blog post, I actually don’t think it’s dead. I just think a greater level of service lies dormant within us. One that can propel us to greater heights of humanity and business. What are your thoughts on customer service? What else can we do to deliver excellent customer service? What lessons have you learned from your past experiences. I really want to hear from you on this, leave a comment or two below.

Want More? Check out some related blog posts on the subject:

Attention Small Business Owners, Customer Service is Crucial

10 Ways to Build Relationships and Keep Clients for Life

Rod

Further Reading

• Review: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson [Plus Video!]
• 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing
• 5 Free Ways to Market Your Business – Introduction
• 3 More Top Social Media Tools for Business

Need Help Growing Your Business?

In April 2009, Facebook, the social network of choice by over 300 million users, became cash flow positive. After 5 long years Facebook, Inc. finally turned a profit. Twitter is poised to finally make a profit this year with the launch of it’s @anywhere platform only 4 years after its debut. How long will it take for your business to become “cash flow positive?” . . . only time will tell. It’s what you do before that time that prepares you for success.

My Blogging Short Story

I’ve been blogging for a year now and I have yet to turn a profit from my online endeavors. Yes, I’ve made a little money here and there from Google Adsense and success coaching specials that I’ve run, but the fact remains; I don’t make enough to cover my expenses and go full-time. However, that’s definitely something I’m working towards.

You may not have the capital you want, the cash flow you desire, or that downtown office by the ocean you’ve dreamed of, but neither did the founders of Facebook or Twitter early on!

Today, I want to share a few things that I’ve done, am doing, and think you should do before your business generates a sizable return on investment. Here are 4 easy ways to grow your online business. . .

Establish Your Brand

A brand is what a potential customer thinks of before they dial your number, sends you an email, or requests your services. It’s not just a slogan or eye catching logo, it’s the problem the customer thinks you can solve for him or her before they meet you face-to-face. Facebook’s brand is that which connects you with people you care about [or don't know for that fact] and Twitter’s objective is to help you share what’s happening anywhere in the world. How can you establish your brand? I’m glad you asked!

Offline – Web 2.0 is flourishing and web 3.0 has its foot in the door, but don’t forget about “old fashioned” methods of branding that will never retire.

• Create a Logo – Your logo should be your business incarnate [Figuratively speaking]! It’s an image of what your business represents. A custom logo is best for trademarking and a “template” [or pre-designed] logo is cool for temporary use. I hear, Logoworks does good design work, so check them out if you need one.
• Nice Business Cards – Yes, people still pass out business cards so, yes, you still need them. It’s a snapshot of who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. Try having yours printed double-sided and include where people can find you online such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. Add a picture of yourself and make it harder for people to toss your card into the trash.
• Google Voice Number - I used Google Voice to secure my own name as a phone number—> 1-415-ROD-KRBY Is it because I’ve got a big-head? Not at all! It’s simple, if you stick your name everywhere, people will remember it [and you] easier than any catch phrase you can come up with. I’ve got friends that can’t remember my local phone number, but they remember my business number at the drop of a hat.

Online – The web is a breeding ground for success simply because you can create your own opportunities. Establishing your brand online is no different. Here are a few tips on what to do.

• Secure Your Name as a Domain – Remember the last offline tip I gave? The same rule applies here as well. My domain name is rodkirby.com because when people look to be successful online [or off] I want them to find me. Get it? To brand oneself you have to be consistent in your delivery.
• Start a Blog – Blogging is a great tool that can reinforce your brand by helping you to expand your message, start conversations, and grow community. Of course, you can start a free WordPress blog. But, I highly recommend dropping a few bones and self-host your blog. When you spend money on your site you’ll be more serious about it becoming successful. Check out the guys at Woothemes for awesome WordPress blog templates to get you started [proud affiliate link - where do you think the Success Center's look came from?!].
• Set-Up Outposts - You’ve got a blog – and that’s nice – but, where are your readers? An outpost is where you go to reach blog readers, potential customers, and make connections. Get on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Digg, Delicious, etc. Don’t go over-board and join every site, but pick at least 2 that you’d be willing to invest some time in developing relationships there. I highly recommend jumping on the twitter band-wagon for connecting, sharing, and building community.
• Need Help? Download my free e-book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success, for help maximizing Twitter for your business. Are you a real estate professional and new to social media? Download Naomi Trower’s e-book, Social Media Marketing for Real Estate & Mortgage (aff link) This book is actually pretty awesome for real estate professionals and social media newbies alike. Check out my video review for more information.

Generate a Marketing List

Why tire yourself out going door-to-door asking for sales when you can build a list of people that want to hear what you have to say? Marketing lists aren’t new, but the way you build them determines how successful you’ll be with them. You could buy a list from a marketing company that will deliver you one based on your target market (sales results will vary). Or, you can start your own. Here’s how;

• Start a Newsletter – Establish a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter and give your best advice, tips, or “how-to’s.” I use Constant Contact (aff link – signing up will get you and me a $30 credit added to our accounts.) as my email marketing provider of choice. They even have a tool that lets me capture contact info from my computer when I’m at events.
• Create an E-book – It’s super easy to do and you can gain new email contacts by offering it at the point of subscription for your newsletter. Read 7 Lessons Learned from a Successful E-Book Launch for my best advice on creating one. Also, check out 10 Steps to Success with E-Book Publishing from my bi-weekly newsletter.
• Host a Seminar or Workshop –  Feeding a man by teaching him to fish has always been more valuable than simply feeding him. Feed participants knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and they’ll gladly give you their contact information.

Build Credibility

When I transitioned from being a graphic designer to speaking and coaching I didn’t have any clientele. So,I built credibility by volunteering my time, energy, and resources and I was paid in testimonials. Twitter didn’t become a credible service until it debuted at the SXSW conference in 2007. By the time, Oprah sent her first tweet the service was a credible global phenomenon. But they did it by offering the service to the public for free and letting users make it their own. Follow Twitter’s example and build your own credibility before your business goes before the global spotlight.

Quick Tip #1: If your clients or customers are signed up with Linkedin have them write you a testimonial after using your product or service.

Quick Tip #2: Record video testimonials for greater effect and to use Youtube to post them on your website or blog.

Create buzz

Become your own PR and marketing machine and get some “buzz” going for your business. It’s not hard but it’s not easy either, here are a few suggestions;

Offline

• Reach out to the Local Media Outlets – Contact radio stations, TV stations, newspapers, magazines and offer your expertise on specific subject matters. Become a valuable asset by offering story ideas and becoming a credible source for information.

Online

Reach out to Your Networks – Writing guest blog posts or being interviewed on blogtalkradio can extend your reach, generate traffic, and win you new fans. These activities increase your credibility and are viral forms of word-of-mouth marketing.

Quick Tip #1: Don’t save your best work for your own blog, offer it to other blogs (big ones and small ones). The more links that point to you in a search engine the easier it is for others to find you.

Quick Tip #2: When being interviewed relax and be yourself, stay on topic (no rambling!), and speak in sound bites. These are the keys to a great show and will get you more interview requests.

Final Thoughts

Facebook and Twitter weren’t always house-hold web 2.0 names, but they stayed in the trenches before they became profitable. You’re going to have to do the same with your business. Did I miss anything in this guide? What would YOU add? How are you maximizing online social networks and offline tools to grow YOUR business? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Rod

Further Reading

• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• Interview: Maximizing Social Media with Naomi Trower
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale

Last week, I explored the concept of how fear can hinder your success. Because of fear, we limit God in moving on our behalf which limits our success. Sometimes we don’t believe in the vision He’s given us and we place a cap on what can or can not happen in our lives. Well, today, I want to present proof that there really is NO excuse for any of us to NOT become successful in the thing God has called us to do.

Watch the video below and tell me if you’re not inspired!

If Ephren can make a million dollars at age 16 there really is no excuse for any of us to not make our own dreams come true. So, are you limiting your success? What’s holding you back from achieving all that God placed on your heart to accomplish? Sound off in the comments below.

Rod

Further Reading

• Vision – Fuel for the Future
• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• Services
• 4 Steps to Social Media Marketing Success
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale

Need to Get More Done in Your Day?

Once upon a time I had plenty of time to update my blog 5 days a week, interview guests for my podcast twice a month, shoot an episode for my video podcast once a month, work a full-time job as a flight attendant, and live a [somewhat] regular life. Now-a-days, I can barely spend time with myself or afford to keep in touch with close friends.

My Secret Weapon to Being an Over-achiever

People asked me all the time, “Rod, where do you find the time to do all that you do?!” My reply would be, “you just gotta make time and go with what you’re passionate about.” However, I had a secret weapon that allowed me to eat, sleep, and work every waking moment on my business. . . I was single.

No kids, no girlfriend, no wife, no family to tend to . . . totally free to give all my time to being an entrepreneur.

Now?

Not so much.

A Snap Shot of the Real World

Presently, I’m in a relationship with someone pretty awesome, I’m flying more than I’ve ever been, and I still have a blog/business to run. When I’m with my girlfriend I don’t handle business, get online, or anything. I give her my undivided attention and at work I haven’t had much downtime. Lately, I feel as if I’ve been neglecting my entrepreneurial duties.

I asked God, “How do I find the right balance of time to spend in my relationship, with family, friends, and business?” I’m going to share exactly what He told me in Wednesday’s post, but for now, here are a few things that work for me and will help you maximize your time.

Become an Early Riser

I didn’t become an early bird until I became a flight attendant. When I’m off I’m usually up by 8 in the morning and earlier than that when I’m on duty. Working in the morning time is a great strategy to deploy since you don’t have as many distractions and you’ll have the rest of the day to relax. Just get ready for early bedtimes!

Become a Night Owl

Some people prefer the night-time to get things done. You’re more awake, alert, and active at night than early risers. The still, peace, and quiet of the night makes it ideal for people who stay up late and enjoy burning the midnight oil. The only down thing is, if you’re not used to staying up late, prepare to get really sleepy really fast!

Unplug from the Matrix

When I had the time I would spend hours on end online checking news, reading blogs, on Facebook, Twitter, etc. It’s still important that you engage wherever your market is online, however, it’s not important to do it at all times. Instead, choose strategic times to work offline and engage online. If you know you’ll be distracted at night with Twitter and Facebook then get off early and get some work done. Be smart and play your cards right.

Check Email Once a Day

I used to be email crazy, checking it more than a few times a day. And then things got really “convenient” with my Blackberry delivering emails to my phone. However, stopping to check it from the phone or even a computer only wastes time you could be using for something else. Instead, check all your mail at the beginning or end of your day. Sure, they’ll be waiting for you in a big stinking pile, but you’ll be focused and ready for it.

Note: Gmail is my webmail client of choice. I love the ability to “star” messages which saves important emails for later. You can do the same by setting up special filters and folders for important emails. Sort them in the morning time and respond to them at night.

Get ahead of Your Work Days

I would consider this to be a power tip so pay attention! I’ve started to write blog posts a day or two before my due dates [I used to write each on the day it was meant to be published]. Not only does this save time, but it frees time up for me to focus on other things. Beyond time, it’s a great feeling to know that you accomplished something off your to-do list a day early.

Work out of the Office

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners work out of a home office. Unfortunately, many times you can’t get any work done because of family needs, lack of quiet, or other unique home distractions. Pack up the office [aka, your laptop] and head to your nearest coffee shop, library, or bookstore. You’ll find the atmosphere more tranquil, peaceful, and enables you to concentrate more.

No matter where you are in your life you’ll have to find that perfect balance between business and other obligations. I hope I’ve shared a few useful tips to make it a little bit easier for you. Of course, I don’t have all the answers. How do you maximize your time and get more done when working on your business? Share your best tips, practices, and advice in the comments below.

Rod

Further Reading

• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• How to Make Your Marketing Dollars Work For You
• HOW TO: Reclaim Your Privacy Online
• Review: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson [Plus Video!]
• Poll: Is Traditional Marketing Dead?

Andrew Carnegie

I’ve always enjoyed reading about great leaders (especially business leaders). I love reading about their triumphs, failures, strengths, weaknesses, wisdom, folly, and their overall contradictions. That’s why I loved reading Carnegie by Peter Krass. It’s an excellent biography of Andrew Carnegie, the man who created his fortune in the steel industry and gave it all away at the end of his life.

Admittedly, though he had good business practices he had questionable ones too:

1. He made his first fortune through insider trading
2. He saw his workers as costs to be managed
3. He was known to “influence” a politician or two

And etc…

“So what exactly could he teach Christian entrepreneurs?!”

Well remember: he also “had good business practices.”  His garden had both wheat and tare. We can learn from the wheat.

• He always practiced his ABC’s–ABC is an old sales acronym: Always Be Closing. Carnegie was a consummate salesman. He was always out looking for business, he never waited for it to come it him. He knew this: if something was to happen it was up to him to make it happen! Know this: “A dream comes with much business.” (Ecclesiastes 5:3 English Standard Version) Nothing happens unless you make it happen; and nothing happens without a sale. If your dream is to become reality it’s going to take a lot of business to make it reality.

• He surrounded himself with the best– Carnegie had a knack for attracting and retaining the most talented and competent people. Many historians believe Carnegie was a management guru–but many of the management innovations he’s famous for were thought of by his lieutenants. He always tried to find the best partners, best managers, best workers…he always looked for the best! Saul and David had that same characteristic: to find and recruit the best people. Saul’s problem was that while he wanted the best he was intimidated by the best. David, on the other hand, was comfortable with having Mighty Men around him. To become the best, you have to find the best, and get the best out of them.

• He found his greatest success through focus not diversity–Early on he had holdings in oil, sleeping cars, railroad, iron bridges, bonds, and telegraphy. But he was wearing himself thin (and he knew it) so he focused all his efforts on one industry: steel. Diversity has its merits– “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (Ecclesiates 11:2 Today’s New International Version)–but true success will be found in focusing your efforts on one thing that has the greatest rate of return. Warren Buffet once said, “Diversity is protection against ignorance. It makes very little sense for those who know what they’re doing.” In other words, “If you don’t know what you’re doing: diversify; if you do: don’t.”

• He was rabid about costs–He instituted revolutionary accounting methods that detailed the cost of every item–even small nails. He accounted for every single expense and then found ways to reduce them. One exasperated partner said, “Carnegie never wanted to know about profits. He always wanted to know the costs!” This cost cutting practice gave him immense power to set prices and gain new market share. He knew that if he took care of the costs the profits would take care of themselves.

• He was willing to sacrifice short term profit for long term gain– He constantly reinvested: in new machinery, the latest technology, in improved practices, and etc. In fact, sometimes he would find it “exceedingly difficult” to convince his partners to fore go the short term gain. They wanted their money now, he wanted more money later. Unlike a wise man that reinvests“…a foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20 New International Version) When it came to money Carnegie was no fool!

• He saw the end first–Carnegie started out with this end in mind: be the best steel company in the world. All resources, capital, labor, intellect, time, and etc were geared toward that goal (and the smaller goals leading up to it). Vision is a necessity for business leaders. The Bible says, “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it.”(Proverbs 13:16 The Living Bible)  In other words, a fool brags about not having goals!! Carnegie saw greater and therefore pushed his company to greater heights.

While Andrew Carnegie  was not a “saint” in his initial business practices there still is a lot we can learn from him. List a few business moguls that you’ve learned from in the past. Who are your favorites? What do you think about Andrew Carnegie? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author

Mike Holmes

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

Further Reading

• How To: Manifest Your Success by the Power of Your Words [plus video!]
• My Secret for Proven Business Success
• How to Stay Focused on THE Main Thing
• Can I Build You a Brand, Blog, Online Business, or All the Above?
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale