Are Entrepreneurs Crazy?
July 23, 2009
Discussing business and life issues with my productivity partner this morning for our daily call, I had the thought that only crazy people set up in business. Being an employee is so much easier.
But then later in the day I realized that most of the craziness we inflict on ourselves, and we get so many more benefits than downsides.
There are many reasons people start their own business, here are just a few:
- You can start a business in your spare time, giving you more financial security than just relying on your only employer to not fire you
- Being your own boss means you work how you want to, when you want to
- If you work hard you get the rewards, rather than the layers of management above you
- The satisfaction of creating something and seeing other people get value from it
We also asked on this very blog, and here are some additional thoughts from readers:
- I started my own business to be able to do what I was passionate about
- I’m very creative, and cubicle jobs tend to stifle
- The only limit to my income is how much I can bring in
- I love to feel like I’m making a difference
- Insulating my self from risk
- A great learning experience.
- I release software all the time. One might really take off one day and when that happens I have a vehicle ready for it.
- Tax reasons
- Do what makes you happy and everything else will follow.
- To avoid politics and other non-productive activities so that I can focus on getting the job done
As you can see, the reasons are varied but in general business owners feel
- more fulfilled,
- more rewarded
- and freer to do what they enjoy and think will be valuable to others.
Does this seem crazy … or like something you would like?
Your Small Gestures Make a Big Impact
July 18, 2009
I used to think being called “nice” was a curse.
“Nice” does not get the ladies, does not get respect from the guys. “Nice” is a pushover, a doormat, every angry person’s chew toy.
But in business I found out that “nice” could be a competitive advantage.
We want to work with nice people. It makes us feel good to be around positive, polite, compassionate folks who care. While many people in business think they need to be sharks, where they will willingly climb over their colleagues carcass to make a sale, being nice actually stands out as special and attractive.
You do not need to do much to be this person.
A simple thank you can make all the difference. Send hand written notes for even better results. Buy gifts. Do not talk about the gestures you do, just do them. See how surprised people are, and how much more likely they are to remember and come back to you.
In many businesses how you make your customers feel is paramount. They will not tell you so, and in fact will have many rational reasons why they work with you, but human relationships have a much stronger impact on vendor choice than people credit.
For any job there are usually a good number of people competing for the same work, all with the ability to do it well.
Who would you rather work with? The competitive, abrasive jerk with the wall full of awards, or the pleasant and polite competent person who quietly gets the job done with a smile?
Send a note today. Tell someone you appreciate them. Even if nothing comes from it, it will make you feel good!
A Great, Easy Source of Freelancing Clients
July 1, 2009
When I asked “What is holding you back from online freelancing” I got two comments, several tweets and a bunch of emails saying the same thing.
People are struggling to get new freelancing clients.
Now I know this is a challenge, especially in the current economy, and especially when starting out. A few people said that they had emailed me because they were in fact embarrassed about not having enough work “Freelancers live and die by their reputation, you need to look busy and successful otherwise people think you are low quality” was the typical response to my inquiry.
Well I am here to tell you something about that. In fact, I have three things to tell you.
First though you need to get your house (website) in order. This covers the first two points.
- If you need more work then tell people you are available. You do NOT have to admit you are short of work, just say
- you are available,
- what you do,
- why someone should be interested,
- how much you cost,
- how to find out more, contact or book you.
- “Acting busy” is often used as a tactic by folks, it is the classic “scarcity” play, but as the folks who contacted me found out, it can also backfire. The way around it is often recommended to say that you have had a last minute cancellation, blah blah. In my view honesty is the best policy. People can smell these sales tactics a mile away. Instead you should actually GET busy. Provide a bonus, add a killer guarantee, do some free work for a local charity, offer to help someone who is popular and you admire, and get them to refer you to their friends. If you get really desperate, discount.
The third point is the real subject of this article.
Today you have an unrecedented access to all the prospects you need. This is because in the past you needed physical access to people, their address, or at least their telephone number if you wanted to sell your services to them.
Now people are opening up to networking on a global scale, the gatekeepers are neutralized, and we are nearly all connected via degrees of separation.
Use the tools!
- Search on Twitter for people talking about your market. Help people, give tips, make friends, put out offers.
- Answer questions and make connections on LinkedIn.
- Write compelling articles that demonstrate your expertise and share them on social bookmarking sites.
- Find forums where people ask questions that you can answer, spend time supplying solutions, with a great signature link back to your blog/website.
- When you get a client and you do a wonderful job for them that makes them super impressed, ask for referrals and testimonials.
If you are willing to show off what you can do, in a way that interests and helps others, you will have no shortage of leads. Once you get a customer, thrill them by going the extra mile (or ten!) so that they come back for more, and tell everyone how great you are.
Pretty soon you will have a full order book, and your problem will go from not enough work to how the heck you are going to fit it all into a 24 hour day 
Got any more tips or experiences to share? Please let us know in the comments …