It’s the people we hardly know, and not our closest friends, who will improve our lives most dramactically.
Meg Jay
Stimulating interview with Executive Coach, Founder and CEO of Soft Skills Services, Maxine Barnett. In it she shares successive nuggets on effective networking for new entrepreneurs and professional desiring to build their personal growth.
Strategies For Effective Networking
Here are three strategies:
Be prepared to meet 2-3 persons while attending the event.
Make a connection. Introduce yourself using your elevator speech and be present during your conversation.
Follow-up within 2-3 after the event to remain top of mind with your new strategic connection.
Networking is a soft skill–a people skill needed for business and people purposes. It is useful for purposeful growth. Be intentional about it. View the full conversation here.
What are your thoughts on networking? Do share, we would love to hear.
I love nature and always choose to live near a lake, pond or stream. What comes with that is nature’s creatures like squirrels, ducks, and my worst fear –lizards! My fear of them makes me search to find them before they sneak upon me. My imagination runs wild as I think of their creepy, crawley features that makes me real scared. Mind you, it has not happened but my fear, like Cusps, makes it real to me…yikes!
Aren’t we all afraid of something? We sure are. But what is fear? Why are we afraid?
FEAR is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
What is Your Biggest Fear as an Entrepreneur?
Daymond John asked the question of entrepreneurs “What is your biggest fear?” The answers varied but most common were:
For the months I carried you, growing inside of me...
For the months I carried you growing inside of me… Entrepreneurs know the travails of starting and growing a business. The challenges associated with carrying a business from incubation to reality. It’s no easy task.
Career transitions, college students, and goal seekers all know how difficult it is to carry the burden of studies to get to the finish line. It’s no easy task.
Parents know how difficult it is to bear the burden of the change in lifestyle as a newborn is expected. It’s no easy task.
Let’s not forget authors whose stories became known from a dream, to a thought, to a page, to a book. Published! It’s no easy task.
So it is with whatever we put our minds to. Whatever we decide to do from idea, thought, dream, goal… it is not going to…
Busy is good. That’s my favorite response to entrepreneurs who express that they are busy.
You see, we have all been there when there is nothing to do. No job. No contract. No financial inflow. What frequently follows is sadness, apathy, boredom, inability to meet financial obligations and the list goes on. For sure that ain’t good for our mental state and wellbeing.
Among Others
An 80-year-old grandmother was busy going to the gym, church, shopping, Medical visits to the doctor. Those activities kept her busy. It made her feel alive. Then suddenly her husband also retired. Now they both sit at home watching golf, tennis, jeopardy and wheel of fortune on TV. This past weekend she spent time in the hospital. Latency had stepped in.
The Deal
That’s what happens when we are not busy. It happens to entrepreneurs, workers, student or retirees. There’s no respect of persons.
If you’re one of the many millions of people hoping to start a new business this year, congratulations. This is a journey that you will never forget. There are many twists and turns down the path toward entrepreneurship, and your actions now can make it a much smoother process in the days ahead. Today, the Success Strategies blog touches on a few things that all aspiring entrepreneurs should do when starting a business in 2022.
1. Evaluate Yourself
First and foremost, you have to evaluate yourself. Do you really have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? According to Alcor Investment Services, entrepreneurs don’t procrastinate and are continually solving problems. If you are the type of person that makes plans and takes action on them, you might be a great candidate for entrepreneurship. In addition to these “soft” skills, you should also be at least somewhat versed in marketing, financial management, and customer service.
2. Decide on a Business Structure
Business structures are not just for major corporations. As a small business owner, you have the right to form your own entity. Doing so now can help legitimize your business. Consider filing as an LLC, which is a limited liability company. There are many advantages here, including lower taxes and reducing the possibility of your personal assets being targeted in case of a serious business flaw. You can use a local attorney or an online formation service, though the latter is much more affordable than the former.
3. Utilize Free Tools and Services
Even when you’re a small business, you must be prepared to break out your wallet (more on the financial commitment later on). However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get some things without writing a check. You can use Google Docs to collaborate with your employees and customers and you can even find an image size converter online that allows you to upload photos to your website and social media. Although it might seem like a small thing now, fewer pixels in your images will make your site load faster, which can increase the amount of time customers spend on your domain. Search Engine Journal acknowledges slow load speed as the number one reason that people move to a different website.
4. Stay Motivated
As an entrepreneur, you will experience successes and failures. It is during these failures that you must remember to stay motivated and never give up.
5. Understand the Financial Commitment
Starting a business is a huge financial commitment, and many small business owners are unprepared for the sheer number of checks that get written each week. Remember, you have not only your startup cost but also business filing expenses, taxes, payroll, inventory, and more. Although this might sound like a lot, don’t despair. There are plenty of deductions you can take, especially if you use your home as your office. CPA Mark J. Kohler notes that you may even be able to deduct part of your vehicle expenses as a home-based business owner.
6. Strategize
Running your business means prioritizing everything every day. One thing you cannot forget is to pay attention to your customers and the competition to find out what they want. To do this, you will need to do market research and implement a product roadmap when you are ready to launch something new. Use a template (another potentially free online service) that helps you set deadlines and understand where you may have trouble in the process. Having your product launches mapped out ahead of time will help you prioritize and set more reasonable goals.
Launching your own business is one of the best ways to create wealth for yourself and your family. Although it may seem intimidating now, trust that you will soon have the experience to navigate the world of entrepreneurship with your head held high. Remember, no one ever got rich working for someone else, and your fears are the only thing stopping you from mapping out your own path toward success.
About The Author
Nicola Reid is an entrepreneur and small business owner from Texas. She created Business4Today.com to provide access to the resources members of marginalized groups need to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Through her site, she hopes to support the growing number of people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are taking the leap into small business ownership.
What’s the Biggest Lesson Learnt in the Last 12 months?
The question was asked of entrepreneurs and business owners. What is your biggest lesson learnt in the past 12 months? More than 1,300 individuals replied. I’ll share excerpts.
You’ve gotta push beyond your comfort zone
Just do it. Don’t think too much, and don’t let your fear overcome you and stop you from taking the step
Money is just an illusion
Humility
Gratitude
Appreciate and value people in your circle
Patience
We become what we think
Don’t trust people
Reduce your debt. Dont borrow to buy luxury
You are responsible for everything, including most importantly yourself
Life will hit you with a brick on the head at the most unexpected times. Don’t panic, stay positive, and move on.
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd
The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.
Keep The Dream Alive
Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders…
Giving up is common. Not only among Entrepreneurs but also among all of us as individuals striving to achieve our goals. I looked deep into this pictogram to assess what I’ve come across as a coach. Here’s the detailed list clearly extracted from the picture.
Entrepreneurship improves productivity, spurs innovation, and creates jobs. This is the notion postulated by the Center for American Entrepreneurship. Thriving for independence and financial growth, many are the aspirers who long for the zeal of owning and managing their own business. But do you have what it takes to dive right in?
In a Shark public forum the question was asked” What three skills do you think Entrepreneurs need to be successful? Hundreds chimed in sharing both skills and traits.
Society has changed since the Pandemic and so has work. With the world-wind of changes as society continues to evolve, many are left struggling to catch-up.
So How Do You Survive?
So how do you survive? Here are a few ways that SHRM encouraged organizations to update and/or create policies that address the new norm at work.
If and how the organization will conduct temperature checks, whether it’s done directly, through a third party or by self-reporting.
Cross-training the workforce to accommodate more employee absences.
Social distancing in the workplace.
Essentially, employers should have employees sign policies that address safety at work to lessen the potential spread of the virus at work.
Employers should provide employees with face coverings if they can’t remain at a safe distance from each other or those who travel.
Keep in touch and Communicate with temporarily laid off or furloughed employees. Some suggest providing at least 36-hour notice if calling employees back to work.
Here’s a hug for you, and for you, and one for you.
But Hold up! With the advent of the Corona virus we are not supposed to be hugging right? It’s called keeping your social distance. We are now forced to find new ways to greet others at social gatherings such as in the networking sphere.
5 Ways To Greet Safely
Here are 5 Ways:
Look the person in the eye and use your feet to greet (shown in video). It’s called the Wuhan Shake.
Wave to say hello
Fist Bump
Head nod
Just say hello
There are tons more circulating but for now as we battle the Corona health pandemic, these should help bridge the gap.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on 
Success Strategies 