How do you walk into a room of strangers and make new friends? That's the question that plagues so many of us when we walk into a networking event. And there's no easy answer in sight. That's why networking events, everything from conference cocktail hours to Chamber of Commerce breakfasts to industry meet-ups, fill so many of us with dread. In fact, it's why so many of us skip them altogether. But what if there was an easy tool that would allow you to start and build new connections easily? There is one. I call it The Next Question™. Our Networking Approach is Wrong One of our main challenges when we encounter a roomful of … [Read more...]
This is What Happens When You Perform for the People that Show Up
Play for the people in front of you. And if there isn't anyone in front of you...play for yourself. It's a simple premise. But it's one of the best things I learned while playing in a band in Chicago. When you think of a music concert, it's easy to think of the last Lollapalooza or arena show you went to. Thousands and thousands of adoring fans packed in and singing along. Or maybe it was a street festival with the popular cover band that packs them in. But when you are starting out, it's hard to get anyone to pay attention to you, much less come to a show. It doesn't matter how good you are or how hard you practice. … [Read more...]
Are You Fighting Against the Right Opponent?
The Sales and Marketing Alignment Program You Need to Know: This is How You Get Them Working Together
When the topic of "sales and marketing alignment" comes up in a room there tends to be one of a few reactions by the sales and marketing leaders who are present. The "sure sure, yeah yeah" head bob. - "Of course creating alignment is important in this customer-first, connected environment! We must do everything we can to bring sales and marketing together"... and then they go back and things continue as usual "We're just not ready for making this kind of shift." There's agreement that a change needs to be made, but it's not a crisis so it gets no organizational attention. "This is just some BS that people talk about on that … [Read more...]
Do You Know What Happens After You Achieve Your Goals?
I have a question for you. One that may not have an answer. Or maybe the answer is simply another question. "What will you do on the day after you achieve the thing that you are working so hard for now?" I'm not looking for an "I'm going to Disneyworld!" answer. Yes, assume that you are going to celebrate your hard-won victory. But then what? Each Goal is Just a Chapter On a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, I was struck by the history of the place. The country was reaching it's dominance on the world stage around 500 years ago. So go back to the founding of the United States, and then go back that same amount of time again. That's … [Read more...]
Are You a Solopreneur Who Wants More Business? The Simple Reason You Need to Connect with Other Solopreneurs
For most solopreneurs (and small business owners in general), "networking" falls in the marketing column. It's a way to find new prospects and build relationships with existing clients. But if you just focus on getting more customers from your networking, you miss out on the most powerful connections that can support your business: your fellow solopreneurs. Putting your focus on building a robust and active network of small business owners can be a huge boost as you build your own business. You can massively leverage your marketing time by engaging with other professionals who are on the same path as you. Who Should You Network … [Read more...]
Not Every Seed Becomes a Beautiful Flower
A few years ago I dipped my toe into gardening with an herb garden in my home office. I've continued every summer and this year I've branched out to a few pepper and tomato plants in the yard. When I first started I wrote a piece about the metaphor of planting seeds in your business. The goal as I saw it was to see the value in activities that could have a payoff down the line. This summer I clarified another insight. Plant a lot of seeds because not all seeds you plant will grow and flourish. For example, this summer I've think I've gotten the hang of peppers. My habanero and serrano plants are bushy and full of fruit (we're … [Read more...]
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