Who Else Wants to Accomplish their goals in 2009?
Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution or goal that you didn’t keep? You’re not alone…Every year around this time millions of people get excited about changes they will make in the new year only to let their goals fall to the way side only weeks later.One insightful quote I like to reflect on while setting my goals and evaluating their progress throughout the year is one by Henri-Louis Bergson; a 19th century philosopher and Nobel Prize winner from France. 
“Think Like a Man of Action, Act like a Man of Thought”
-Henri-Louis Bergson
Let’s examine this a bit further and see how this quote can help us set and achieve our goals in 2009.
Think Like A Man of Action
When planning your goals be realistic and actionable. Don’t just set one large goal and hope to achieve it. Each goal should be broken down into actionable and manageable steps. The best way I’ve found to do this is by spending some time reflecting on questions like:
- Who has done something similar to this before me…What did they do?
- What kind of time/resources can I devote to this?
- What kinds of people can help me with this?
- What can I do to be inspired daily to stay on top of and achieve my goals?
Act like a Man of Thought
Once you know what your goals are and have broken them down into manageable steps it’s time to get moving on accomplishing them. You’ve planned the work…now it’s time to work the plan. Everything doesn’t have to go according to plan, and it usually never will. However once you get the ball rolling good things will happen and continue to happen. Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind and you’ll be aware when opportunities, as well as people are around you that could help propel you closer to reaching your goal. To do this you may want to:
- Post your goals somewhere visible where you’ll be reminded
- Tell friends or family members so they can encourage you
- Set up a penalty or reward system for yourself
Throughout this next year also remember another famous quote:
“The cost of inaction is often greater than the risk of action.”
- Winston Churchill
I wish you all a safe, prosperous and successful 2009!
How do you set and accomplish your goals?
Entrepreneurs see things others miss- Do you?
Entrepreneurs have a strong ability to see what other people miss. The best entrepreneurs use this ability to identify opportunities and create a venture(s) that fill a void or improve quality of life in some way. Almost all times the best way to find a potential entrepreneurial opportunity is to become extremely aware of problems you and those around you face, as well as limitations in existing products or services. When everybody else is complaining and thinking about a situation negatively that’s usually a fertile ground for innovation. When you become a problem solver and consistently practice this ability it will start to become natural and you’ll notice things that other people miss, even if it’s right in front of their very eyes.
If you didn’t see the moon walking bear going by the first time that’s ok. The key is to make identifying things others miss a habit so when that potential million dollar opportunity comes moon walking by you can see it and take advantage of it.
In addition to being able to seeing things others miss, I feel the best entrepreneurs have a strong sense of urgency, strong immunity to rejection and the ability to cost effectively bring the best resources together to accomplish their goals.
What characteristics do you feel the best entrepreneurs possess?
Jon Stewart on the Decline of Newspapers
It’s no surprise that newspapers and other publications are having trouble. Their main competition…The internet. In comparison advertising dollars are better spent online for a variety of reasons including that the results are more measurable and the cost is less expensive. I also mentioned a variety of other reasons in my recent post Why Internet Marketing is the way to go in 2009.
Anyway I was recently looking at a blog Newspaper Death Watch and came across a funny video about the decline in newspapers across the country done by John Stewart on the Daily Show and thought I’d share…Enjoy!
Ten Great Things About Being A College Entrepreneur
I graduated from UCF this past summer with a degree in marketing. Though I was an entrepreneur before I started at UCF, my time there really helped me realize the value being an entrepreneur in college. I decided to put together a list of my top 10 reasons why it’s great to be a college entrepreneur in the hopes that it will motivate and inspire students currently in college to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit and get their ventures rolling.
- Knowledgeable teachers to give advice
- Talented students to connect with
- Access to Tools and Facilities
- Teachers and Alumni are well connected
- Competitions
- Few major obligations
- Being able to immediately apply what you learn
- If your venture takes off you won’t need to search for a job
- Be your own boss
- Unbelievable learning experience
There are many teachers that are extremely experienced and willing to give a helping hand on your venture. Some of the teachers I’ve spoken with in the past also consult businesses on the side. If I wasn’t a student, to get the same insight I would have to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars. As a student…Free
There are many students out there that are very skilled at what they do, whether it be in design, marketing, engineering, videography, etc. Many of these students you can find easily by asking a teacher or department head. These talented students are often looking for projects to work on for experience or some extra spending money. If you were to hire others just as skilled who were in the work force you would spend way more.
There are many places on most college campuses that can add value to your entrepreneurial endeavors. Some of which include: the library (great for market research), computer labs (often with expensive programs on them like Adobe CS3), Printing services (many times free for students) and more
If your teachers can’t help you themselves often times they are extremely connected to other professionals who can. The school also most likely has a network of alumni, some of which have probably experienced great success and may be interested in being a mentor or adviser to your venture.
I’ve participated in numerous business plan competitions and they are truly an awesome experience. For a list of competitions that I’ve won view my achievements page. These competitions are great for networking due to the fact that successful business professionals and entrepreneurs are usually the judges of the competition. Another great benefit of these competitions is that participating forces you to fine tune your pitch and business plan which is great for real world implementation. You also get great feedback from the judges and win some extra cash to grow your business. While in school my company won $18,500 in the course of two years through business plan competitions.
One of the best benefits of being a college entrepreneur is that most times you have few obligations like a family to feed or mortgage to pay. Often times students are living off of student loans and part-time jobs. This allows you more time to focus, between beers, on growing your venture.
Many students study to pass a test and if they are able to learn apply what they’ve learned in the future it’s an added bonus. When you have a venture while you’re in school you are more likely to listen and immediately apply what you learned in class. When you do this, your venture sees the benefits and the lesson is ingrained deeper into your mind for future recall.
The ultimate goal for going to school is to enable you to have the skills and knowledge to be able to get a good job. In today’s economy many students are stuck looking for jobs in their field once they graduate. By doing your venture while in school you have the potential to avoid this problem and be the one doing the hiring.
When you’re an entrepreneur you don’t have to answer to anybody but yourself. This can be a gift and a curse. If you have an idea for your venture to improve you don’t have to get permission from anyone you just go for it. I would however strongly recommend that you check with an adviser, mentor or team members before you do anything irrational just to bounce ideas off of them and get their feedback.
Even if your venture doesn’t take off and make you millions the experience and skills you learn along the way very well may. Growing your own venture teaches you way more than working in a mail room, a restaurant, or other menial job. When you do graduate college you’ll be equipped with far more skills and a wealth of knowledge that you can take with you for your personal ventures or a company that decides to hire you.
I encourage all of you whether you’re in college or not to pursue your entrepreneurial endeavors. The experiences I’ve been through have been extremely enriching and have opened up a lot of doors for me.
To learn more about College Entrepreneurs on the rise check out College Mogul.
BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome
Have you heard? My friend BenSpark, super photographer and blogger extraordinaire is giving away a Big Box of Awesome to one lucky reader. He has asked me to reveal one item that is in that box. The item is Earl Nightingale’s Lead the Field.
Lead the Field has often been referred to as the “Program of Presidents” because so many top executives have incorporated Earl’s guidance and wisdom into their management philosophies. It’s supposed to provide excercises to double your mental compacity and has created more millionaires and launched more careers than any other audio program.
Though I don’t have a tape deck any more and strictly listen to mp3’s, cds, dvds, pandora, or in rare cases the radio, this tape looks like it’s very motivating and insightful. A perfect fit for BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome!
Visit BenSpark’s blog to learn more about the contest and your chance to win.
Top Ten Reasons Why Internet Marketing is the Way to go in 2009
We all know that the economy has taken a turn for the worse. Though this is taking a toll on most people and businesses it presents an opportunity for online marketers. Many companies are slashing their marketing budgets leaving little money to dedicate to traditional forms of advertising such as TV commercials, publications, billboards etc. Where there is a problem there is usually an opportunity…and this opportunity is ripe for savvy online marketing professionals. The key is to educate companies on the value of reaching their customers online through social media, PPC, SEO and more. This post is my take on this issue….
Top 10 Reasons Why Internet Marketing is the Way to Go in 2009
- Extremely targetable
- Measurable
- Flexible
- Less Expensive
- Around the Clock Marketing
- Establish Credibility through quality content
- Visitors can share & promote your content for you
- Repeat exposure to customers increases likelihood of a purchase
- Cheaper market research
- Build relationships with your customers
You can optimize your website copy, ppc ad or social media effort for any niche taking into account demographics, psychographics, location and more.
Analytic packages can track all of your site, or ads activity. You can see what’s wrong fairly easily. You can also monitor conversations throughout the blogosphere or on twitter to see what people are actually saying about your brand.
This goes a long with the previous point. By listening and viewing statistics you know what needs to be adjusted and then normally can adjust it on the fly.
Traditional forms of advertising such as TV commercials, billboards, and advertising in top magazines cost significantly more than a typical internet marketing campaign. Part of the reason is because internet marketing is so flexible. Before something gets too costly it can usually be adjusted.
By having a website and optimizing your site for search engines (SEO) your company can be found at all hours of the day by motivated consumers. Consumers already looking for your product or service can find you even while your sleeping.
What good is it for a consumer to find you if your asleep? Well by producing quality content in the form of a blog, podcast or video on your site you can establish your credibility even while you sleep.
Through Social Media Optimization (SMO) you can make your content easily sharable through various social networking and social bookmarking sites. This way your site’s visitors are sparking word of mouth conversations throughout the web around content you created. This will only drive them ultimately back to your site. In addition to that you can set up an affiliate program where the promoter gets paid based on his/her performance. By going an affiliate route your only paying out when you get a lead, sale or other desired action.
A good strategy is to give away a value-added video or whitepaper if a visitor enters their email address. This allows you to get them into your sales funnel and reach out to them with additional content and offers. Therefore they’ll be more likely to buy from you. You cannot do this with traditional forms of advertising.
You have the ability to see what your competitor is up to, what your customers think about you and where the industry is going far cheaper than going through a market research company. Granted you may still want to purchase a report, there are tools and channels out there that you can do much more market research on your own and adjust your strategy as needed.
Through social media you have the ability to step out from behind your corporate image and build genuine relationships with your consumers. By building trust and putting a face to a brand consumers will be more likely to purchase from you. After all people like to do business with their friends, or at least people they know and trust.
I hope this list depicting the benefits of internet marketing helps you to grow your business in 2009. What do you think about the list? What would you add as a benefit?
The Best Way to Get into Social Media- The Double Dutch Analogy
Recently I have had a lot of friends and others contact me asking advice on how they should get into Social Media, blogging, etc. Building your personal brand through Social Media is extremely valuable and can be a great asset for both your personal and business growth. So how do you get started? Enter the Double Dutch Analogy.
You’re probably thinking what the hell does jumping rope have to do with Social Media, and I wouldn’t blame you one bit.
But here’s my thought process..When children jump rope together, specifically double dutch and another child wants to get involved in the process, that child will:
- Watch others jumping and the rhythm / timing of the two ropes
- Prepare them self mentally
- Jump in
I feel that’s the same process you should take to get involved in Social Media. I recommended to each of the people who contacted me to follow the same process.
- Watch others utilizing Social Media and learn from them
- Prepare yourself mentally
- Jump in
See how others utilizing Social Media interact with their readers, listeners or viewers depending on the kind of content they create. What do you like? What don’t you like? See how they present their content…Do you feel it’s an effective way to connect with their audience? What can you learn from them? Some great places to find top Social Media participants in your niche are Technorati Top 100, Twitter Grader Elite, and AdAge Power 150.
After you finish step one, to prepare your self mentally I recommend commenting on relevant blogs in your space. This will help you find your personal voice and get you in the mode of discussing and interacting with others who are interested in similar topics as you.
After the previous two steps your ready to jump in. Set up your blog, podcast, vlog or other content platform. Keep in mind that just like in jump rope you’ll make mistakes. For me one of the big mistakes I made when I first started blogging, was that for the first three months I only posted about my company GroupTable. You can see this by checking out my archive from February-April in the footer of my blog. Not until the post I made on May 11th entitled A Transformation did I decide to switch things up and begin creating content that I feel would be helpful and interesting to others. So far that decision has worked out very well.
Come to think of it this formula can work on virtually anything from entrepreneurship to sports. If anyone else has any thoughts on the Jump Rope Analogy feel free to share them.
Did You Know- Education in the 21st Century
This video- “Did You Know” is about the changes in the world as a result of technology and the importance of providing an education that prepares students for the 21st century work place. This is a challenge because many of the jobs we’re preparing today’s students for don’t even exist yet.
Lots of interesting facts and very thought provoking, definitely worth checking out.
How Google SearchWiki Will Affect CTR & SEO/SEM
A few days ago Google added a personalized search feature called SearchWiki. This feature allows you to bump search engine results for a term you searched for up or down, or even remove them completely from the results page. You can also comment on a particular search result and view other people’s comments. Though this feature is really cool, I wonder how will it affect CTR (Click through rates) and SEO/SEM efforts.
SearchWiki reminds me of StumbleUpon in the sense that it allows the user to see comments about a site and decide after they have heard other opinions if it’s a site worth using. It’s putting the results back in the hands of the end user, not a company paying thousands per month for back links or SEM. I feel this will alter CTR rates and deemphasize SEO & SEM to a degree. In six months to a year when people have become accustomed to using Google’s SearchWiki and more people comment on websites in the Google SERPS, less will be focused on the position of the site in the SERPS and more on what real people are saying about the site. Google will have more of the value that made Digg, Delicious and StumbleUpon popular. This will force companies to be even more competitive in providing the best service or product possible, or else an unsatisfied customer could slander them on the SERPS. SEO will still be important, because a person will still have to find what their looking for, however once they find your website it may be tougher to get them to click, or easier depending on what’s being said about you.
You can visit Google’s blog to find more about Google’s SearchWiki and personalized Search or watch the video below.
Even though these features are only available to you when your logged into your google account, do you think Google’s SearchWiki will have any affect on click through rates and SEO/SEM?
What are your thoughts on these features Google has added?
How do you finish this statement?
I was working the other day and was sending an email out. No big deal right? Well it was a normal email until I got to the end….I started typing “If you have any questions feel free to…” . I usually finish this statement with call me or email me, but the person I was emailing was heavily involved in Social Media. I believe I did end up finishing it with a boring…email or call me. But then I got to thinking… How many phrases could I have finish that statement with?
Well I thought about it and this is how I could personally finish that statement in regards to ways somebody can reach me:
If you have any questions feel free to…
- Email Me
- IM Me
- Skype me
- Tweet @ me
- DM me on Twitter
- Text me
- Call me
- Send me a Facebook Message
- Poke me
- Facebook Chat with Me
- Gmail Chat with me
- Message me on LinkedIn
I could get crazy and start adding in many other niche social media sites, or even snail mail. But seriously..How do you finish that statement?
I’m interested to hear the comments on this
