A Swift Kick

On this one, the title of the post says it all. Networking should not be a pain in the ass. Look at networking as a game. The winner of the game is the person that makes the most friends.

It’s not about being the most popular, it’s about establishing relationships built on trust and confidence in your abilities and the abilities of your networking buddy.

I was once asked by a potential networking buddy how he could earn my business. I said it was simple. Be my friend.

We all like to do business with friends so why should real networking be any different? Learn to earn the trust of others by listening to their needs and doing your damnedest to help them succeed.

Remember, the initial overtures of networking are about GIVING, not receiving. Learn to give first, and success will follow.

Happy Memorial Day! God bless our Troops at home and abroad.

Semper Fidelis

When used efficiently, technology is awesome. It can make our lives easier and much simpler…or it can do the opposite.

If you’re thinking about downloading a new app, enrolling in another social network or upgrading your current computer software, make sure it’s a good fit for your current systems.

All too often we get hyped about a certain new technology, we run out and buy it, then realize it’s added 2 more hours of daily work. What a pain!

Luckily, innovated tech-geniuses are coming up with better gizmos, widgets and gadgets that integrate easily into your daily routine.

Here are some quick tips:

1. If you’re going to enroll in some new branch of social media, make sure it can either be fed or feeds into something you currently have in place. For example, your blog entries should automatically update your Facebook and Twitter accounts, thus eliminating two steps.

2. When buying new gear, make sure it either links easy to other gear you already have or eliminates the needs for two other things you’re currently using. For example, my iPhone freed me from having to carry around a separate camera and video camera.

In short, utilize new technology to SIMPLIFY your life, not to complicate it further. Because really, aren’t we busy enough?

As a Marine I was trained to take charge and lead from the front. Moving into the business world I took the same approach. Now, I’ve never been the egomaniac or hard-seller, but I think I do have the quiet confidence to face most obstacles and be the face of an organization.

What I’ve found is that sometimes being the face of the company can get tiring.

Some of you may have a fantastic idea but you either can’t or don’t want to be the everyday “face” of the company. That’s ok!

I’m now involved in a couple ventures where I’m the quiet guy in the background. And guess what? I actually enjoy it! It let’s me recharge because I don’t have to be shaking hands and kissing babies all day.

It’s ok to be the man or woman behind the scenes. Find a trusted business partner that can be your lead singer. It’s ok to be the drummer. The drummer does keep the beat, after all.

So don’t let a little thing like ego or fear of public speaking hold you back from pursuing your passion. You can still maintain control of your vision without being in the limelight.

I hate cold calling!

There. I said it.

Part of it may be my personality and part of it is from what I’ve experienced in sales. Personally, I’m a pretty busy guy and there’s not much worse than that guy walking into your office unannounced, while you’re on the phone, and he tries to give you his canned sales pitch. Look, I’ve got nothing against those guys and gals (I was once in their shoes), and I’m always nice because I know what they’re going through…but it still pisses me off!

More than anything I’m angry at their managers who told them that’s the way it has to be done. Cold calling is not the way you build trust!

Networking and pinpoint targeting is the way to start an effective marketing campaign from the lowest to the highest levels of business. Through effective networking we build goodwill and trust with our potential referral sources. Wouldn’t you rather have a hot referral than a dead-cold lead? I would!

Start local and spread from there. Get to know your target audience. Just go make some friends.

Checkout networking groups like BNI and start reaching out. Once you start networking effectively you’ll be hooked.

Even though I love technology as a way to enhance business and personal branding, I’m late getting on the video bandwagon.

Why is that? Like many of you I felt like:

A) I didn’t have the expertise B) I wasn’t an actor C) I don’t look like Brad Pitt

Funny thing is, none of that matters! I recently shot a welcome video for one of my businesses (after much coaxing) and I found out that the video allowed me to become a real person instead of just a voice on the phone or a computer on the other end of an email. People liked that they could see who I was.

I really thought it was crazy until I realize that I felt the same way. I love going in websites and searching to see if I can find a picture, or better yet, a video of the Owner. It allows me to “connect” with the business.

You should try it. You may not be an expert (if you want one hire one) but that shouldn’t matter. Practice makes perfect, and in an age where video is a huge factor in online conversations, don’t get left behind.

Too many times we’re told, “Go BIG or go home!” I tend to be a little more cautious with my dreams. I like to throw in a healthy dose of reality.

It’s easy to try out your new product or service on a small scale or at least do a little market research into whether you have a viable idea.

A lot of true entrepreneurs test their product viability by just trying to sell it. Have you tried that yet?

Let’s pretend that your life’s passion is scuba diving. Now let’s say you just developed a new gizmo to help scuba divers collect sea shells. You have a product that you’ve already tried on your last scuba trip to the Bahamas, so you’ve worked out the kinks and you know it works.

Next step? If you’re cautious, take it slow. Give some of your scuba buddies a demo in exchange for their feedback. Visit local dive shops and scuba training centers and see if they’ll put your product on the shelf on consignment. Troll the scuba blogs and forums and see if you can do some research (without giving away your idea) and become more of an expert.

By the time you’ve taken these steps, you’ll feel more comfortable about your product AND our ability to sell it.

Again, if you’re nervous about overextending in the beginning, start small and test the waters first.

My little girl is taking swim lessons for the first time this month. As we’ve dealt with the crying and nerves (and maybe a little dry heaving) I started thinking about the similarities between that scared kid and adults trying to follow their passions as entrepreneurs.

Do you remember that sick feeling you had the first time you were asked to jump in the pool? I do. It’s scary because it looks so deep and cold AND because we don’t know how to swim yet.

It’s very similar to when we start our first business. Remember that queasy feeling before you registered your business and you were “officially” a company? There’s so much unknown, and the first time we do it, it IS scary.

But what keeps us going? It’s our passion and drive for our product or service. At that point you better have a good one! Nothing worse than trying to get through the initial hurdles of business-hood and not having a burning passion for what you’re trying to accomplish.

So if you’re about to start a new endeavor, take a sec and figure out whether your passion can survive two or more years of real struggle. Will it be worth it? Will you survive if your business doesn’t?

Search your soul, Find the truth, Then jump right in…