Source: Mindvalley
Entrepreneurs are often tasked with writing their own e-mails, alerts, and proposals. Unfortunately this may cause repetition, and instead of writing purposefully, you end up writing insubstantially.
So instead of avoiding any and all writing tasks (because we know that isn’t possible) here are a few weak words to remove from your written prose to help boost strength and effectiveness.
1. “That” – Have you ever noticed people who have the habit of saying “um” while they speak? In writing, “that” is the equivalent of “um”, meaning it’s just being used as a way to fill space.
2. “Really” – This word is a form of boring emphasis. It also loses all of it’s meaning in writing because “really” is stronger with verbal intonation to emphasize the point you’re trying to prove. Instead of saying “this is really important,” trying saying “this is imperative.
3. “Stuff” – What does this word even mean? “Stuff” can encompass any number of tasks or items. When you’re writing for clients or employees, you need to concentrate on being concise and direct. Don’t rattle off a series of tasks to be done, and then end the e-mail with “please get this stuff done.” It doesn’t sound very professional, and loses its importance.
4. “Things” – Basically the same as before. “Things” is a generic and informal word that shouldn’t be used often, if ever. Try to remain exact when detailing what needs to be completed. For fear of your writing looking unpolished, remember this rule: when in doubt, cut “things” out.
These fours words are guilty of causing quality writing to diminish its impact. If you can, begin by being conscious of your use of these words. Like any habit, it will be hard to break, but once you notice, you’ll be on the right path to enhancing the impact of even the briefest e-mail.
© Zoe Begopoulos, DemGen Inc. 2013
As entrepreneurs, there is much to learn from this fable. Many of us run into obstacles daily and feel that there are only two methods of handling them: we either go around them or move them.
But what if there was another way?
As our businesses grow and often our ambition with it, we tend to have a lot on the go. We’re handling things we have no experience with and at the same time may be juggling various personal issues and trying to have time for ourselves. When we come across that boulder that is exactly what we see, something large that’s in our way. Rarely do we see it as an opportunity.
Because we aren’t entirely focused on our path at the time, the path that holds the boulder (or whatever the obstacle), it can sometimes seem as if this is just one more thing to add to all of the others that are keeping you from attaining your goals. If you look at it in a different way, this obstacle is only one thing and by focusing on it completely at the time you come across it, you will learn a valuable lesson for the future. That you are capable of handling many of the problems you come across and by doing so, you learn things that can be applied to your business in the future.
Obstacles in business happen to all entrepreneurs. It’s how we handle them that leads to our success or failure. Doing the same thing you have always done when coming up against obstacles will lead to the same result so it’s time to try something new.
Stick to what you do best and bring in a support team. A virtual team is well organized and can work together with you to solve your most difficult problems, while at the same time allowing you to work on the parts of your business that you excel at. They are used to challenges and can teach you new methods of dealing with problems that tend to arise repeatedly.
Whether your obstacle is one of a changing market, a competitor that has taken away many of your customers or an internal obstacle such as illness, a team can point you in a new direction and give you the support you need to get back on board and moving ahead once again.
Remember that whether or not your business obstacles occur because of others or through your own choices, you can cast aside blame and just get to work on them, one step at a time. It won’t always be easy or necessarily done quickly but the more you can focus on putting your effort into your goals, the sooner you will reap the rewards and learn from doing it.
© Pam Christie, DemGen Inc. 2013
Precept: a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought.
All of your actions will have a corresponding reaction.
For each move you make as a business owner, especially those that propel your business forward, your competitors will react. Much like a chess game, strategic moves that result in your business jumping to the forefront of your niche, will result in a likewise counter move from others who compete, with their products and services.
Expecting perfection is self defeating.
The more you strive for perfection in your business, the less happy you may be with your progress. Have you ever noticed the business owner who refuses to bring out a new product until everything is just right? The advertising, the messages they would like to get across on social media, their website – all of it must look just right, be the right color, have perfect wording, come across a certain way – all in the name of perfection. In the meantime, your competitors have already moved ahead with the same or similar services and products and are now the leaders in the same market.
Even when you fail, there is a lesson to be learned.
Without failure, there would be no risks. By taking risks, entrepreneurs innovate and this is how some of our greatest companies have come to exist. With risk, there is also the chance of failure and this is the way you learn what to improve, which things to change and how not to be complacent. Failure doesn’t necessarily mean that your product has bombed or your services are unneeded. It can also mean that your marketing campaign wasn’t quite right or that you are a little ahead of your time. It gives you a chance to stop and think…and improve.
Plans are made to be changed.
No one likes change. Though many say they thrive on it and apparently it is good for us, it still doesn’t go over well, especially with your customers. Marketing change as improvement has long been one way many large companies have managed resistance in their customers. Changing your plans doesn’t mean you slow down or become less productive. It means you have a better idea and want to move forward with it.
Measure success through your own eyes, not through the eyes of others.
If this is your first business, you know how far you’ve come. You know what you have learned since striking out on our own and though you may not know why everything is going well, over time you’ll learn that also! Don’t let others tell you how well you’re doing unless those others are your customers. You’ll know which of your actions have created the most welcome response from them, as all of your actions will have a corresponding reaction!
© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2013
Image courtesy of firstefc
I feel that as entrepreneurs, we accelerate our growth (personally and professionally) when we cultivate and surround ourselves with other entrepreneurs.
Personally, I’ve been in several networking, mastermind and peer/accountability groups. Currently, I’m in EO – Entrepreneurs Organization and have previously been a student at Strategic Coach, both of which I highly recommend.
And why wouldn’t we want to stock our company with a team of entrepreneurs/Intrapreneurs v.s. employees to help grow our business? One of my key phrases for our company DemGen, is that it’s all “co-created”, it’s not the workings of any one person. I’d go as far as saying I’m anti-employee. Sure, larger companies need people to follow a script, yet I believe there’s still room to support and encourage pro-active entrepreneurial thinking.
I thought of this when I was asked by our Marketing Goddess for an article about my experience, and specifically how many years I’ve been an entrepreneur. The answer was tougher than I imagined when I pieced it together over the years, yet the final official tally was 20 years which I skyped to her and then within a few minutes said…WAIT, I want it stated that most of my employment/corporate life was as an intrapreneur.
Then I said WAIT! to myself, I better do a little research on the technical term of intrapreneur. Definition of ‘Intrapreneurship’:
Acting like an entrepreneur within a larger organization. The term is derived from a combination of “intra” or internal, and “entrepreneurship.” Intraprenuers are usually highly self-motivated, proactive and action-oriented people who are comfortable with taking the initiative, even within the boundaries of an organization, in pursuit of an innovative product or service.
And while I still feel I’ve positioned my background accurately I would say that within the confines of the technical definition of “intrapreneur”, I was missing one critical element. That is, that I typically did not fully have the agreement and support of the companies I worked for to act intrapreneurially. In my view, I was basically bored with the confines of a typical job description and started to create additional value to motivate myself and keep the job interesting. In my employers view, I was often viewed as the trouble-maker or black-sheep of the corporate culture, stirring things up. I was disruptive, always achieved or surpassed my goals, had high-performing teams and more importantly created new revenue streams in those environments and continue to do so within DemGen,. Only now my actions are rewarded and usually appreciated.
I could write for days about this, and I won’t. What I DO want to write about is what sparked this stroll down memory lane.
Essentially, my current company, DemGen, sources intrapreneurial team members/collaborators and our job is to act intrapreneuirally for our clients. That is – we help them grow their business and realize their “ideal future vision for their business”. Intrapraneurs bring their capacity for action and innovation to the organizations in which they work, acting as inside forces for change.
Upon reflection of this, I now get that my team and I are equipped to work with this group of intrapreneurs. Whereas most traditional mindset companies and sadly even some entrepreneurial companies I know of are not. We understand, embrace and support them. Just as we do to help each other discover and work within our unique genius abilities. Interestingly, during my quick research I came across an article about former entrepreneurs looking for a job. There is significant data suggesting that potential employers favour candidates who have always been an employee over someone who has created or partnered within an entrepreneurial company. While the data didn’t surprise me, as having directly experienced this prejudice I have the opposite prejudice in that I’m cautious of bringing on team members without entrepreneurial experience.
To broaden the lens further, being an intrapreneurial team is what DemGen brings to our clients. This is what they are looking for and in fact if they are still looking for that “one” or a “few” select individual staff members, then they are not a fit or an ideal client for us and vice versa. We are looking for progressive entrepreneurs that understand how fast things are changing and understand the value we bring.
There are three types of companies that we support.
We supply talent virtually, so I understand that Type 1. will require some traditional hires to staff their offices, while augmenting their team with our services in areas deemed unnecessary to have any or all in-house team such as sales, customer service, some areas of admin, phone reception, appointment scheduling, marketing/social media/web. Obviously Type 2. and 3. are easier and direct fits.
Are you actively engaging intrapreneurs (hidden goldmine) within your company?
© Gary Evans, DemGen Inc. 2013
November 18-24 is Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013! This infographic explains the history of its origins.
Meet David Karp, not your average young entrepreneur
What would you do if you were a young, successful, computer programmer worth about $200 million dollars? If you’re anything similar to David Karp, the founder of Tumblr, your answer would be spending the weekend at home, or laying low in general.
If you aren’t sure what Tumblr is, a brief explanation would be that it is one of the world’s most used online blogging platforms; and the reason Tumblr is so interesting to the business world is because 27-year-old Karp signed a $1.1 billion dollar acquisition deal for his company to Yahoo earlier this year.
To call Karp a modern day child wonder would be, well, the right title. Dropping out of high school at the age of 15, with the blessing of his parents, Karp spent his last years of adolescence being homeschooled and interning for Frederator Studies, directly followed by landing a job at online parenting forum, UrbanBaby. Definitely not what the regular 15-year-old with no school obligations would spend his time doing, but it seems to have paid of exponentially since then.
Karp eventually started his own software consultancy company, Davidville, which later turned into Tumblr, Inc. after the launch of the micro blogging website with the same name. Surprisingly, the most interesting thing about Karp is not the start of his million-dollar company but instead, how he spends his time being a millionaire.
A simple web search will provide the link to Karp’s personal Tumblr, David’s Log. This might be the best source of proof that Karp spends the majority of his time like just about every other young adult. On the blog you can find links to articles Karp finds interesting, various quotes, and personal photos, which include Karp, his girlfriend Rachel, and their French/English Bulldog, Clark. Other pictures on Karp’s Tumblr reveal a sparsely furnished apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and a love for small things – like taking Clark on walks through the park, and spending time with close friends.
What you slowly learn about Karp is that he is an entrepreneur that sincerely loves his creation, and intends to continue building and growing with Tumblr for the rest of his life. Instead of moving on from his business like some entrepreneurs do when a certain status is reached, Karp negotiated to remain as the CEO of Tumblr when it was acquired by Yahoo, and doesn’t intend to pursue any other business interests in the future.
Who’s to say that Karp’s dream was to build a social media platform that would become the meeting place for millions of artists, musicians, graphic designers, bloggers and fans? Even if it wasn’t, he has done an amazing job of growing and supporting the users of his creation. Karp has even reached a point in his career that most entrepreneurs strive for: he sincerely loves his creation. So while Karp’s life may look similar to perfection, it’s also a good reminder that achieving a balanced and happy lifestyle is capable, with plenty of time for dog walking along the way.
© Zoe Begopoulos, DemGen Inc. 2013
Images courtesy of BetaBeat and David’s Log
Whether you’re a busy entrepreneur – or just busy in general – you’re probably no stranger to writing things down to help yourself complete them. The to-do list is a productive technique that people do without even realizing their doing it. The problem is, most to do lists are a jumble of half-finished tasks and large assignments to be accomplished. As with almost anything, there is a science behind an affective to do list. Here are a few tips to help you control those little slips of paper.
1. Make daily and weekly lists
Different tasks run on different timelines. If it’s a particularly busy week, sit down and map out when certain tasks need to be completed, so it’s easier to prioritize the tasks that need to be completed quickly.
2. Prioritize with high impact tasks at the top
Tasks that will either lose or gain you money should always be placed at the top. As finances are key for entrepreneurs and small business, tasks that directly correlate to a financial value should be of high importance.
3. Break down large tasks
Tasks that have multiple parts within them should be broken. If the task is to “Complete Proposal,” be sure to mark down each component within that proposal that needs to be completed. This allows your mind to focus on tasks that can be completed quickly.
4. Sort everything
Don’t throw all your everyday and work to do’s on the same list. Things like grocery shopping and laundry pick up should stay off your lists dedicated to work items, so the lists don’t become jumbled.
5. Don’t jump from task to task (this is science!)
The science of to do lists lies behind the Zeigarnek Effect. This theory concludes that people have a hard time focusing if they began a task they are unable to complete. Jumping between tasks will hinder your productivity because while you’re trying to complete one thing, your mind will remain focused on the unfinished task you left behind. By breaking down larger tasks (tip #3), you’ll find you begin to feel more accomplished and will work through your list quickly.
As an entrepreneur of the 21st century, you may feel slips of paper floating around are a bit unorganized. Try downloading an app to your smart phone that will help you keep everything in order. A well-built, sleek To Do App for iPhone is Any.DO by Any.DO Inc. The app is beautifully crafted and lets you create folders to organize tasks by theme or day. You are able set timers, importance of tasks, make notes, and push back items if timelines change. Any.DO is available in the App Store for Free.
© Zoe Begopoulos, DemGen Inc. 2013
There is no definite answer for how to become an entrepreneur. There are many paths that can lead to success.
Entrepreneurship isn’t limited by age, gender, education or location. In fact, the only barrier tends to be your own fear of failure.
There’s no room for fear in entrepreneurship.
If you really want to be an entrepreneur you have to truly commit to your vision.
Unwavering belief in yourself and in your business are essential traits. Mastering your mind to think correctly is the key.
Let’s be honest, the journey won’t always be easy or fun. It’s a winding road full of peaks and valleys. But, if you are truly committed to your business and have the determination and persistence to see your idea through – you will succeed. And it will all be worth it in the end.
Getting the right supporting team will also help you achieve your goals faster. You have inherent genius abilities and that should be your primary focus. Delegate the rest to others, like us!
Surrounding yourself with the best will make you even better.
This video will show you that anyone can build a successful business and might make you shed a few happy tears…
© Tamara Smith, DemGen Inc. 2013
Image source: ALU
Though entrepreneurs spend more time working and in activities that are connected with their work, they are much more satisfied and content with what they do than those who work at a job in which they are employed by someone else.
Because business owners tend to spend a lot of their time learning new things, they expand their interests. This can lead to taking courses in something which could be completely unrelated to their business, totally outside of the realm in which they are familiar but it brings a lot of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. As their business expands they do new things. This helps them to keep mentally alert as they age and they are more apt to start a hobby based business when they “retire”.
Business owners find satisfaction in their achievements but also know the difference between success and trying too hard. The flexibility that owning a business brings and also being able to schedule their work around activities they love to do makes for a happier and healthier lifestyle. They know what is most important to them: family, close friends and time for themselves and their hobbies. The decision to become an entrepreneur quite often is based on their desire to be in control of their time, not have an employer controlling it for them.
Entrepreneurs realize they are in pursuit of their own version of excellence. Though they may start out with a typical business plan in mind, over time this changes as they focus on one idea, product or service and become the best they can be. As they mature and their business matures right along with them, their vision of what their business can be may change but their decision to live their life as a business owner doesn’t.
Overall, the idea that entrepreneurs spend all of their time struggling is a myth. What others see as a struggle is well worth it to those who own their own business. They see it as part of the price to pay in order to achieve a well balanced, content work and home life.
© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2013
Image courtesy of gapingvoid