Radical Change = Radical Results. Start Making More Money Now
If you want to take your business to the next level - outsourcing more and more and working less to make more money - than you need to become progressively more efficient and effective at communicating.
One of my mentors once told me that: “most problems in the world are problems of information or communication.”
Here is this week’s 30 Second Thursday with more to say on this subject:
The Oakland Business Forum had its second meeting this past Tuesday at the Northfield Hilton in Troy, MI.
Business owners and professionals turned out in droves to hear keynote speaker Josh Linker, CEO of ePrize. ePrize is a fast growing dynamic interactive online promotion business that is based in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan.
Josh gave a fantastic presentation on what it takes to build a successful 21st century business. He talked about “The Power of e” and captivated the audience of rising stars in business and up and coming business professionals.
After Josh Linker’s presentation, Ben Rosenzweig of Next Step Analytics presented his business to the audience and demonstrated that great new businesses are starting in Michigan, even amidst the storm of negative media attention.
The Oakland Business Forum “30 Seconds to Fame” was a smashing success. 5 entrepreneurs and business professionals from the audience got the opportunity to present their “elevator” pitch to the audience and video camera. You can see 30 seconds to fame here:
If you are an entrepreneur or business professional in Southeast Michigan, The Oakland Business Forum is a can’t miss event. Don’t miss the next meeting, on March 18, 2008, where Bud Liebler of Liebler MacDonald Communications will be the keynote speaker. Doors open at 6 pm at the Northfield Hilton in Troy, Michigan.
Be There!
There is a world full of great outsourcing service providers to help you take your business to the next level. That world includes freelancers right here in the USA. When most people think of outsourcing, they think of rooms full of brand new graduates from colleges in India or a machine shop in China.
The truth is that there is a TON of outsourcing activity going on with freelance service providers in your own backyard as well. There can be advantages to working with someone domestic, particularly on creative projects (graphic, movie, industrial design).
As long as you focus on finding the BEST provider for your needs, you will be clear on your way to more vacations (or mini-retirements) in no time.
Here is this week’s 30 Second Thursday spot to help me illustrate this point a little bit better:
Take this to heart in your business:
Continuous Change
Continuous Improvement
Continuously Looking for Opportunities
All of these must be a part of your DNA if you want to build and maintain a successful business or career. Give this week’s podcast a listen and find out why.
You can click HERE to listen to the podcast. Feel free to download the mp3 and listen on your favorite music player.
As always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome.
Outsourcing your non-core functions, tasks and processes will take your business to new heights. However, far too many people are focused on price alone when choosing a provider. I think this stems from unrealistic (read: unsustainable) price quotes from hungry providers and an overall lack of knowledge of what you REALLY need in an outsourcing partner.
When choosing an outsourcing service provider, take this week’s 30 Second Thursday message into consideration.
In the game of business and in the game of life, you are going to encounter problems - all the time. The degree of success you have in either game is largely dependent upon your ability to solve problems effectively and efficiently.
Today, I want to share the Top 5 ways that I have found work best to continue solving problems at high levels and to keep sailing in smooth waters:
1. Get a fresh perspective
All to often, when you are wrapped up in trying to solve a problem you become too attached to the issue at hand and you cannot objectively look at what you need to do. In this case, give yourself a fresh perspective. This can mean something as simple as taking a break for a few minutes to soliciting outside help to look at the issue (either paid or unpaid).
You might be calling me “Captain Obvious” right about now, but hear me out. What I am advocating is for developing the discipline to recognize when the situations are arising and frustration is creeping up that will keep you from accomplishing your goals. It is one thing to know that you should get a fresh perspective - putting this into action is quite another.
2. Start at the end and work backward
I find that when I am spinning my wheels on a project, that I have lost focus on the end result. As one of my favorite expressions goes, I: “cannot see the forest through the trees.”
To get back to where you need to be, stop everything you are doing (turn away from the computer, step away from the phone) and speak, out loud, what your desired end result of what you are doing is. Saying something out loud carries A LOT more power than simply having a thought or jotting the thought down on paper. Trust me on this one. .
3. Practice thinking
I know that I have you really confused now. But, ask yourself this: why do people practice everything from sports to speaking in public but do not practice thinking?”This might seem like a crazy question, but if you really think about it (full pun intended) you might realize that your cerebrum could use some exercise just like the rest of your body. This begs the question: “what are some brain exercises?” You only need to work on a few things for a few minutes a day and you will be amazed at the improvement in your critical thinking and analytic skills.
Some examples:
You will note that most of these things are a hobby or fun for somebody out there. Super nerdy, no doubt and some of them were the probably highlight of people’s Saturday nights before there were nightclubs. I think a few of them are fun, others I prefer not to do.
However, I find that if I spend a few minutes each morning on a lateral thinking game or sudoku puzzle, that I just feel a little better equipped to handle some of the things thrown my way during the day. Stimulate your brain cells and they might just stimulate you right back!
4. Ask better questions
A great college professor once told a class: “if you want to be brilliant, focus on asking better and better questions…solutions will then reveal themselves.” I can tell you that this has rung true in my personal and business life. All to often, we get caught up on “fixing what is wrong” that we lose sight of what is wrong in the first place. Asking better questions will keep you true to the old KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
Just think of the 5 W’s you learned when you were in grade school:
This also reminds me of the expert technicians obsessing over what is wrong with a highly complex computer that appears broken when the janitor walks by, finds the machine unplugged, plugs it in and the machine works to the amazement of the ‘experts.’
5. Laugh
Yes, indeed. Laughter is the best medicine for solving problems. Aside from all of the research that has been done showing that laughter can lengthen your life, cure illnesses and increase productivity, it is just common sense that to laugh is to relieve stress and to If you are ever perplexed, take a cruise over to Youtube and watch a stand-up comic, go to comics.com and have a laugh or just take a look at your favorite Dilbert tear-away poster to boost your mood and your output. relieve stress benefits you in myriad ways.
Well, there we have our Top 5 for this week. Tune in for the Tuesday Top 5 next week and be on the lookout for a killer “30 Second Thursday” spot this week!
Often, in business and life, it’s easy to get caught up in one obstacle while trying to overcome another. Being an entrepreneur is never a cake-walk and is not for the faint of heart. Moving past obstacles has been at the forefront of my businesses this past week.
Give this week’s podcast a listen and explore some of the tools I use to move forward and cast off the evil twins of fear and doubt.
You can listen to the podcast live on the internet by clicking here or download the mp3 file and listen to it in your car or on your favorite mp3 player.
Your feedback and comments are encouraged.
