Start Now

Building on yesterday’s post,
you likely have a huge project,
a big change
you’d like to see
in this wonderful world.

It is so big;
it’s daunting.
You might be tempted
to focus
on easier, smaller projects
right now.

But as Seth Godin
mentioned,

that big project
is a work of a lifetime.

If you delay it by a day,
the ‘completion’
will be one day later.
That day might make a difference.
You might run out of time.

Start your huge project
today.
You might need
that extra day.

The Long Haul

Client K (formerly Road To Forbes)
has been in existence
for over 11 years.
That’s over 4,000
posts.

Is this blog making an impact
on the world?
I don’t yet know.
It has a readership
and that readership is taking action
but I won’t know for decades,
if ever,
whether or not
your actions
are making an impact on the world.

I have faith
they will.
I believe in you.
That’s why I post every day.

Seth Godin
shares

“Creating impact,
building something of substance,
changing the culture…
this is the work of a lifetime,
not merely a fun project.

It’s not easy,
but I have a feeling you’re up for it.

Because it matters.”

Change the world.
Make my work
and your work
matter.

The Tolerance Advantage

The competition for talent
is always fierce
and many of us,
beginner business builders,
folks who haven’t yet built
huge businesses,
might feel like
we’re at a disadvantage.

We might not be able
to offer the big bucks
or the big name on the resume.

However,
we CAN offer talent
a safe place to work,
a place where their views
are valued
and they’re not judged by
the color of their skin
or whom they’ve married
or the religion they practice.

A year ago,
I would have said
that wouldn’t be a differentiator.
Almost all large companies appeared
to be tolerant.

Today,
the world is different,
especially in America.
We now know
that tolerant folks
are the minority.

Being able to work
in an environment
in which you know
EVERYONE accepts you
is a huge benefit.

That’s something
only a smaller company
can offer.

Tolerance can be an advantage.
Use it to build your business.

Asking For Help

Right now,
somewhere in the world,
there’s someone
who has been
exactly where you are now
and has tackled
the big challenge
you’re now facing
(and ALL business builders
are facing some sort
of big challenge).

That person will help you
if you ask her or him.

Clint Greenleaf,
serial entrepreneur,
shares

“The general progression
from Marine
to accountant
to book publisher
to peanut butter CEO
is less than standard,
so I’m willing to admit
what I don’t know.

And when you ask for help,
people are more than willing to give it,
rather than getting in the room
and telling everyone how smart you are.”

Ask for help.

The Freedom To Start A Business

I’ve been pushing it,
writing my March release
(developing product).
I’ve also been busy
with marketing
and sales.

It is easy to forget
that the ability
to build a business
is a privilege.

Naa-Sakle Akuete,
Founder of
Eu’Genia Shea,
shares

“They [her parents] couldn’t find
the same socioeconomic level
of jobs here
that they had there,
so [they] were starting from scratch.

They did everything that they could
to make sure
that we all went to good schools,
so I could have the ability to say,
‘I don’t want to work [here].
I want to start my own business.'”

Having the ability
to start a business
is a gift
not everyone is given.
Don’t squander it.

Published
Categorized as General

The World Is Diverse

At the moment,
the US is predominately white.
As of 2012,
72.4% of residents are white.

However, in 100 years or less,
that number will drop below 50%.
That’s simple demographics.

Even if those demographics don’t change,
the rest of the world
is diverse.
(I don’t need a link for that.
It’s a truth no one can argue with.)

That isn’t going to change.
Ever.

I write my books
(develop my products)
to exist in a diverse world.
I want sales on them
to continue for decades.

I craft my marketing
and my sales copy
to appeal to everyone.

I look at the entire world
for new product ideas,
tracking trends, etc.

The world is diverse
and will become even more diverse.
If you’re not building your business
to embrace diversity,
you’re limiting its potential.

As an aside:
If you’re not raising your kids
to live in a diverse world,
you’re severely limiting their potential also.
I doubt they will thank you
for that.

Empowerment With Boundaries

My cover artist
(the equivalent of a package designer)
is brilliant.
She knows how to craft
a selling cover.

I usually give her
quite a bit of freedom
with my covers.

However, I also give her
guidelines.
I fill out a cover request form.
I tell her the constraints.
(I’d like the hero on the cover.
I’d like X in the background.
No pink covers, etc)

Elsbeth Johnson
shares

“Empowerment is critical.
But, as my own research shows,
in order to be meaningful,
empowerment requires some boundaries,
some rules that have been decided on
within which empowerment
can be exercised.”

Give your employees,
your partners
freedom
but within some constraints.

Business Building And The Glass Ceiling

I was groomed and mentored
when I worked for
a large beverage company
to be an executive.

I had to work constantly
to be respected,
to be taken seriously,
to be heard,
simply because I was female.

At first,
I liked the idea
of breaking the glass ceiling,
paving the way for other women.

But then reason kicked in.
Why fight the establishment
to run someone else’s business?
Why not take the energy
I’m using to fight this fight
to build my own business instead?

When we build our own businesses,
there are no glass ceilings.
We start at the top.
We can craft the culture.
We can hire anyone we wish.
Be an example to others.

Building your own business
is always an option.

Control Over Creativity

One of the biggest struggles
in the Romance Novel Industry
is the control over story.
Who decides
what story
a bestselling writer
will write?

Publishers want control
over this.
Agents want control
over this.
Writers battle
to keep their control.

Why is this key?
Because story decides
everything else.
It is the beginning.
And it is often
the most unique piece.

Lawrence Levy,
Former CFO
of Pixar,
shares

“I can say that
whether you’re making
bottled water, mobile games,
or computer chips,
the decision of
who has control
over the creative elements
is among the most important
any team will make.

Fear and ego conspire
to rein in creativity,
and it is easy to allow creative inspiration
to take a back seat to safety.

It is one thing to cite the adage
“Story is king.”
It is another thing entirely
to live by it.”

Decide who has control
over the creative aspects
of your business.

Hand Picking Your Customers

There are a dozen or so
key influencers
in one of the niches
I play in.
When I entered this niche,
I courted them.
I basically hand picked them
as customers,
catering to their tastes.

They then promoted my books,
sharing them
with their followers.

Clay Trainum,
co-founder of
Autumn Olive Farms,
did the same thing
with his first customers.

“We were looking
for compatibility
and menu price points
that would match the fact
that our products are never going to be
inexpensive.
It made sense to sit at home
and do that leg work
versus driving to DC
to stay in hotels and
hoof it up and down the streets.”

Consider hand picking
your first few customers
to give your product or service
the best chance for success
and sales-driving buzz.

Published
Categorized as Sales