Month: August 2013

Categories
Sales & Marketing

Is There a 2×4 in Your Future? 3 Signs that the Universe Is Getting Tired of Waiting For You To Step Into Your Greatness

universe

Ah yes, the 2×4. The Universe’s version of tough love.

In case you aren’t familiar with the concept of the 2×4, let me explain. The 2×4 happens when all the gentle nudges and taps are being ignored, and the Universe decides sterner measures are necessary. 

Basically you have a feeling there’s something you should be doing — starting a biz, changing your biz, taking your biz to the next level, stepping out and becoming a speaker, writing a book, etc. — and you’re not doing it. Oh sure, there are plenty of fabulous reasons WHY you aren’t doing it (time being the biggest culprit with money coming in a close second — not to mention “getting ready to get ready” lurking around out there ready to pounce) but at the end of the day nothing is getting done.

So you live with those niggling feelings. Maybe you push them down. Maybe you make plans to start on that magical “someday.” But the end result is still the same. You aren’t moving forward.

Worst, you do all this despite the nudges and taps. Sometimes they’re positive — 3 people in one week confirm you should be offering a new program without any prompting from you; you get 2 requests for speaking gigs in one day. And sometimes they’re negative — your boss announces there’s a hiring freeze, which means you need to put in more hours at the same pay, so even though you hate your job you can’t possibly now find the time to start your biz because you have to focus on doing what you hate. Or maybe one of your core programs (one you know you really need to retire but you’re very nervous about the new program you’ll replace it with) is slowly losing steam — fewer and fewer people sign up for it, and the ones who do aren’t your perfect peeps.

So you make your excuses and keep on walking that path you’re on, even though you really don’t care for that path at all. It’s rocky and full of weeds, beer cans, broken bottles and cigarette butts. But hey — it’s the one we know and it’s better than that mysterious vine-covered trail peeking around the corner.

And that’s why the 2×4 needs to come out and give you a whack — right onto that enticing but oh-so-scary path you know in your gut you need to be on. 

Perhaps you break your leg so now you have a whole bunch more time to work on that book. Or that core program finally, completely, bombs in your last launch and now you have no choice but to do something else to bring some cash into the biz.

Whatever it is, if you’ve been ignoring the nudges and taps, the 2×4 may be right around the corner.

So how do you know if this is you? Well, here are 3 signs to watch out for:

1. Is there something in your life you know you need to be doing and you aren’t? (And if this is something that you have lots and lots of excuses for why you aren’t doing it, definitely listen up — I’m talking to you.) Or are you feeling like something is off — there’s something missing inside, you don’t feel complete or you keep wondering if this is “it” — this could also be you.

 2. Have you been getting nudges or taps to move you toward this path and you’ve been ignoring them? (It could be months or even years that you continue finding all sorts of reasons not to move forward.)

3. Something is upping the pressure. Maybe the nudges and taps have intensified, maybe you’re feeling like you need to do something NOW or maybe you’re in a funk. Whatever it is, something has changed.

So, if this is you, what do you do? Well I wish I could confidently tell you that I’ve managed to keep the 2×4 from hitting me, but alas you can’t really prove something that didn’t happen. But what I CAN say is if you recognize yourself here, get prepared. Start taking solid steps toward the path you need be on. Develop a plan, write down action steps and start IMPLEMENTING.

You may not be able to avoid the 2×4 completely but if you at least start changing directions you’ll probably lessen the blow when it does come.

Categories
People & Relationships

Built Trust with Social Media Marketing

 trust-socia

Article Contributed by Walton Walker

‘The number of active users on Facebook has reached over 665 millions’; ‘Twitter witnessed 44% growth from June 2012 to March 2013’; ‘LinkedIn is enjoying over 200 million users’.

All the above mentioned facts about social media are quite sufficient to justify its impact over the World Wide Web.

In the SEO world, social media is one of the prominent tools for increasing search engine page ranking. However, the impact and importance of social media marketing is much larger than mere rankings. Presently, this booming medium is used for creating and boosting brand image among customer. With the right approach, a business can built in high trust in the market and thus can generate long run profit.

Read below to know how one can manipulate the social media platforms for building and enhancing brand image.

Schedule posts on the right time

Post content when it has more chances to be seen. Yes, this will certainly demand time and efforts. One needs to observe the timing of the users, thereafter post accordingly.

Remember, don’t post too much on the profile as no one would like his newsfeed to be over-flooded with just brand related updates. Moreover, users might regret their decision of joining the community.

Keep consistency in postings, so that users stay updated. Simultaneously, make sure of not over doing it.

Come up with something unique

Wish to get lost amidst thousands of social media posts? If the answer is no, come up with distinctive ideas. Keep the best foot forward and create a unique post, something informative and attractive.

At the same time, make sure not to burden the users with all heavy facts. Bring in something light hearted, yet informative and present it an attractive manner.

Consider the negative feedbacks equally

It’s not a thumb rule that all the users would give only positive feedbacks. At least a few could be the unsatisfied customers, and they have all the rights to give their opinion even if it is negative. One must not delete the negative comments; rather, should politely reply back.

These comments can be really helpful in making improvement in products and services. Further, ask the user for his recommendation. In this way, the user would feel contented for being heard. While the opinion would get noticed, his trust would come all the way to the brand.

Answer those questions immediately

Genuine customers will surely leave queries that must be resolved at the earliest. Late response means disappointed customers, and there can be nothing worse than that.

The faster the questions will be answered, the strong the image it will get.

Think above promotions

“You are what you share.”                                                                                                                                                      ? By Charles Leadbeater

Every second, every other brand is promoting itself, either join the group and disappear in the crowd, or be a different kettle of fish. Don’t just always blow your own trumpet, post something useful.

Use infographics, facts, graphs, videos, banners, contests and so on for luring the users. Users are very well familiar with the fact that the brand has the social media presence for promotion, so surprise them by giving something different. Even if you can’t surprise them, present in a different packaging.

Embark on interesting discussions

“A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.” – By Scott Cook

To keep the conversation rolling, one needs to be a part of it. With genuine reply from the expert, the customers would feel content and satisfied.

The more one converses the more trust of the customers it earns. Further, be sure to stick to the topic, as any promotion in between could be a big turn off.

Conclusion

Social media is just an ingredient of internet marketing, but certainly a pivotal one. It not only helps brand in building an online reputation but also supports the real time recognition and credibility.

Though these are very simple things to implement, if one feels that it is not his cup of tea, the option to seek advice from social media marketing consultants is always there.

Categories
Entrepreneurship

What Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland Can Teach Small Businesses about Charitable Contributions

What Joelle O'Reilly-Hyland Can Teach Small Businesses about Charitable Contributions

To help you engage in impactful charitable programs that builds your brand and your business, here are some tips from philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland for your business to engage in charitable actions that is most relevant.

Consumers nowadays are savvier with higher expectations of companies due to presence of tools that give them greater access to company information. Instead of merely doing “goodwashing” (doing a few virtuous things to bolster their reputation), consumers now expect companies to start having more real impact on society.

Community Relevance

It is important to support the organizations and causes that are relevant to your local community. For example, women education is a decent cause for companies to lend their support to. According to philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland, without a decent education, it’s unlikely that women will enter leadership positions, contributing to another gender equality gap in the United States. Women tended to work the same hours, and just as hard as men do. Yet, women aren’t fairly compensated for the work they do.

Hence, by supporting education for women, companies can demonstrate to consumers their commitment to reducing income inequality for women.

Target Relevance: Examples from Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland

Your philanthropic efforts should resonate with your target audience. By supporting the things they care about, you gain their attention, respect, and trust. So research the events that trigger your targets’ charitable donations and the appeals that motivate their participation, and then align yourself with them.

If your target market cares deeply about child rights, then make it a point to support programs an donations that contribute towards the protection of rights for children. Philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland has visited exhibitions which aimed to raise awareness of child marriage in developing countries. Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland believed that we can do more to advocate for change within these countries. Specifically, companies and social workers should do all they can to ensure that girls in these countries obtain a full and decent education, so they can speak out on their own behalf and fight back against the oppression placed upon them by an early marriage.

Charitable giving and actions have a tangible impact on company branding. By supporting the things your target demographic cares about, you gain their attention, respect, and trust, as demonstrated by Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland’s practices.

About Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland

Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland is a philanthropist with a big heart. And, in order to maximize her ability to provide aid, Joelle O’Reilly Hyland is partnering with the very best non-profits. Currently, her main interest is in Educate Girls Globally (EGG), a non-profit that has helped educate girls in India and is looking to expand as she and the founders believe the model will work anywhere, no matter how difficult the environment. As EGG looks to branch out into Africa, Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland, has forged an alliance with Africare, which was founded by former Peace Corps members in 1970.

Africare are operational on the ground in 27 countries throughout Africa. Their focus is on hunger but they were looking for an educational component to their work. Women are typically the farmers in Africa, and women who can read make better farmers, not to mention mentors to future generations as the family educators. The results for educating women are exponential and expand well beyond learning metrics.

Categories
Recommendations

Business Book Review: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

final-cover

This book review is part of #curatedbookshelf, a selection of business startup books by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, organized by The Formations Company.

All entrepreneurs start with big dreams but most end their startup ambitions in heartbreak. Eric Ries, author of “The Lean Startup”, is on a mission to save entrepreneurs from such a fate. Ries, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded IMVU, an online social network that made the Inc. 500 last year. Whether you are a business person or technologist, the book “The Lean Startup” is a must-read for any entrepreneur.

This bestselling book begins with a note that the lean startup method is for entrepreneurs and the people who hold them accountable. Throughout the book, author Eric Ries outlines five key principles for any successful lean startup business:

1. Entrepreneurship is everywhere and isn’t limited to people who work in startups.

In his definition, he broadened the definition to anyone who works within any human institution designed to create new products and services under conditions of extreme uncertainty, which implies that the approach he is advocating works in a company of any size of any sector or industry, and that includes multi-national enterprises.

2. Entrepreneurship is management.

This sets up the notion that the entrepreneur needs a different kind of management for an environment that is specifically geared to its context of extreme uncertainty.

3. Validated Learning.

Eric Ries argued that startups exist to learn how to build a sustainable business and the learning can be validated scientifically by running frequent experiments that allow them to test and find out how the market reacts to their products. In fact, that approach pervades the book.

4. Build-Measure-Learn.

This concept explains that a startup’s fundamental activity is to turn ideas into products, measure how customers respond and then learn whether to pivot or persevere, and how the lessons from all successful start-ups can be directed to grow the feedback loop.

5. Innovation accounting.

Ries strongly believe that the survival of a startup can be better enhanced by focusing on the boring stuff: How to measure progress, set up milestones and prioritize work. It provides a possible way for how investors and entrepreneurs themselves can evaluate the progress of a start-up.

The Lean Startup is an impactful tome due to the use of real-life examples scattered throughout the book. For example, Intuit demonstrated with Snaptax that they can build a good product even though they are a big organization. They found their own way to break the Innovator’s Dilemma – this thinking suggests that successful companies can put too much emphasis on customers’ current needs, and fail to adopt new technology or business models that will meet customers’ unstated or future needs. Indeed, Snaptax which was created by Intuit, was able to solve an interesting problem of allowing users to finish their entire tax returns on a mobile phone.

Other success stories of lean and fit startups include Zappos, Facebook and Path.

The grim reality is that most start-ups fail. Most new products are not successful. Yet the story of perseverance, creative genius, and hard work persists. For everyone of us who have entrepreneurial dreams, The Lean Startup by Eric Ries is a big help in guiding us to tamper our startup ambitions with five relevant and applicable business principles that will go a long way in turning a lean startup into a success story.

Categories
Entrepreneurs

How Entrepreneurs Can Support Important Causes in Developing Markets by Joelle Wyser-Pratte

How Entrepreneurs Can Support Important Causes in Developing Markets by Joelle Wyser-Pratte

In today’s globalized world, entrepreneurs and companies are taking their businesses international – hence the causes and contributions made by business have to go international as well, according to education activist Joelle Wyser-Pratte. Enterprises can no longer remain competitive by remaining open for business in their home markets. Highly successful businesses are now found operating in many markets around the world, including in developing nations.

Despite the many success stories, it is important for businesses to not neglect the importance of creating a lasting social impact on the societies of the developing markets they derive their revenues from. As an entrepreneur, what are the causes you can help support in developing countries in the world? Here are some tips by Joelle Wyser-Pratte, co-founder of Ounavarra Capital LLC which helps select alternative managers grow their businesses and investor bases. JoelleWyser-Pratte is also the co-founder of The Ounavarra Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to supporting educational causes throughout the world.

Education for Developing Nations – Ideas from Joelle Wyser-Pratte

According to Joelle Wyser-Pratte, approximately one-quarter of girls (roughly 100 million of them) in developing countries are not in school. That represents more than 70 percent of the total children out of school in developing countries.

Education for developing countries is an important cause for entrepreneurs to support due to the long-lasting sustainable impact. In a study, The World Bank found that if all the girls in Kenya completed secondary school, they would add 27 billion to Kenyan GDP over the lifetime. Moreover, over the entire 14-country group studied by the World Bank’s researchers, adding one level to the average girls’ education would raise the group GDP by 1.5 percent per year (in addition to the aforementioned countries, the World Bank looked at China, Burundi, Uganda, Brazil, Malawi, Paraguay, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania).

Rather than simply writing checks or donating food to good causes, companies should aim to become a force for positive change while enhancing their customer appeal and long-term competitiveness. Entrepreneurs should have reconceive their products or devote resources to address social issues such as education. This approach is highly favoured by education activists including Joelle Wyser-Pratte.

The Value of Making Societal Contribution for Companies

Indeed, the highest level of relevance is achieved by generating shared value. It’s based on the growing belief that generating a profit and achieving social progress are not mutually exclusive goals.

A convergence of trends, including greater exposure to the needs of customers in emerging markets, shortages in natural resources, and increasing pressure to cut costs, have led progressive companies to seriously consider devoting their energies in a manner that create value for themselves and others. This is a sustainable approached advocated by Joelle Wyser-Pratteand other philanthropists.

About Joelle Wyser-Pratte

Joelle Wyser-Pratteis the co-founder of The Ounavarra Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to supporting educational causes throughout the world. Wyser-Pratte also co-found Ounavarra Capital LLC to help other select alternative managers grow their businesses and investor bases. Prior to the securities business, Joelle began her career in journalism with International Media Partners and NBC Television in Florida. Joelle graduated from Tufts University, and holds Series 7 and 63 registrations with FINRA.