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Posts tagged Entrepreneurship
5 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Flee America (And You Should, Too)
May 1st
Move over Generation X…there’s a new generation on the rise. But don’t worry. They’re not invading coffee shops, smoking cigarettes or hanging out at the mall. In fact, they’re not even here.
Introducing Generation X-Pat
Unlike previous generations, Generation X-Pat is not defined by birth years. They aren’t the same age, race, or creed. Gen X-Pat are those who have fled America and have no plans of coming back.
And they are increasing at a rapid rate. In 1999, there were only 4.1 million U.S. citizens living overseas. Today, there are 6.32 million. Plus, the number of Americans planning to move overseas has increased by 1.7 percent since 2009.
They’re entrepreneurial, too. Spend time in Central America and you’ll notice nearly every expat owns their own business. Whether it’s a bakery, non-governmental organization, property management firm, or Internet person (how ever they make money), American’s entrepreneurial spirit is still going strong… even if it’s going somewhere else.
Below are five reasons why many entreprenuers flee America for elsewhere:
1. High Taxes
The United States has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world (behind Japan). At the high end of 35% that’s almost triple Ireland’s tax rate.
Thanks to a few legal loopholes, however, U.S. companies pay the same or only slightly more than other countries. This means U.S. companies are shifting their profits – and the jobs that come with them – to low tax countries like Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
If companies are leaving… why shouldn’t entrepreneurs?
2. A Faltering Economy
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate has more than doubled from 4% in 2000 to 8.3% in 2012. With less opportunity domestically, many entrepreneurs are heading abroad to find their fortunes.
Developing nations – especially those in Central America – are a haven for entrepreneurs. They offer a lower barrier of entry and therefore less risk is things don’t turn out.
Plus, as many X-Pats reveal in this interview, there is little to no competition for opening a small business in developing nations.
3. Internet = Freedom
The Internet is everywhere… and entrepreneurs are happy to get paid in dollars while living on quetzales, cordobas or baht. When you compare the cost of living between the U.S. and Guatemala, it’s easy to see how far your money goes.
Working outside a traditional office is also a great way to prevent burnout.
4. Escape from Suburbia
Many X-Pats grew tired of suburban sprawl. Combine that with the rising costs of U.S. cities and moving abroad seems like an obvious choice.
My husband and I grew up in Silicon Valley. There used to be orchards and small, individual towns. Now, each city spills over into a seemingly endless procession of planned neighborhoods, Starbucks and strip malls. Wouldn’t you want to see something different?
Which leads us to our final reason…
5. A Desire To Go
Some reasons listed here are decidedly negative. But one positive is that travel is good for you. Traveling takes you out of your comfort zone, challenges you in ways you never imagined and ultimately reveals who you are.
Will these Generation X-Pats return? Or will they – and others like them – continue to flee America in search of opportunity and adventure? And if they do leave, what effect will this have on the U.S. economy?
How do you feel about Generation X-Pat? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
(Photo credit: Airline Passengers via Shutterstock)
Darcie Connell is a member of Gen X-Pat. She hates coffee shops, doesn't smoke and occasionally drinks like a fish. She's also the co-founder of Trekity.com, which offers personalized travel results. She also contributes to Travel Blogger Academy. Follow her on Twitter.
The 44 Master Moves of Remarkable Entrepreneurs
Mar 28th
I’m completely amped to help you shatter any limits that are holding you back from becoming a Remarkable Entrepreneur – and building a fantastic company so you get to live the life of your dreams.
So…I’ve written down 44 of my BEST ideas and insights learned from over 15 years with many of the SMARTEST entrepreneurs in the world and as founder of The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference.
Read them + SHARE them with your team and then live them. Hope they really help you win:
THE 44 MASTER MOVES OF REMARKABLE ENTREPRENEURS
By Robin Sharma
1. They get that the #1 way to build a global brand is one customer at a time.
2. They obsess around having an impact vs. growing their income (and so their income soars).
3. They listen more than they speak. And they deliver more than they promise.
4. They use their most valuable hours to do their most valuable work (don’t check email first thing in the morning).
5. They get that you can’t have an A-level company if you hire B-level people.
6. They are deeply aware that jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to Mastery. And so they fearlessly pour their Genius into the world.
7. They understand that what the amateur calls genius, the professional calls practice.
8. They are fanatics around building a systems-driven company. Everything has a system built around it. This ensures consistently fantastic results. And allows the entrepreneur to take extraordinary amounts of time off. [I've recorded a powerful training video that will show you how to really grow an ultra-successful company while you live a much better life. It's called "The Napa Valley Adventure". Watch it now: http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com/napavalleyadventure]
9. They trust their vision when everyone else is doubting their vision.
10. They provoke their teammates to do work they never imagined they could do.
11. They know that good enough just isn’t good enough. Outright perfection is their ideal.
12. They have discovered that extra hard work is Success’ true best friend.
13. They use flight time to get ahead and review their plans vs. playing Angry Birds and watching bad movies.
14. They get that progress often shows up in failure’s clothing.
15. They invest deeply in their education and development knowing that the fastest way to double your net worth is to triple your rate of learning.
16. They focus on value versus cost.
17. They hold themselves to performance + ethical standards higher than anyone could ever expect of them.
18. They make the time to think, plan and prepare – understanding that clarity breeds mastery. And there’s no point in brilliantly executing the wrong things.
19. They get that their 3 most valuable assets are their mental focus, physical energy and internal creativity. And so they protect them ferociously.
20. They are “Apple-like” in their willingness to think differently and ensure their products leave customers breathless.
21. They stick to their convictions – especially in the face of criticism.
22. They relentlessly stay true to their clearly articulated vision – even when confronted with the most heartbreaking of obstruction.
23. They adore the mantra: “How may I best serve the most people?”
24. They challenge the way they worked yesterday for the sake of even bigger work tomorrow.
25. They get that either you disrupt the status quo in your industry (and within your life), or you will be disrupted. And it will hurt.
26. They spend their days doing real work versus fake work. And getting important things done versus being really busy being busy.
27. They know that if they’re not frightened a lot they’re not achieving a lot.
28. They appreciate that Leadership’s no longer about ensuring compliance but inspiring connections, being of service and getting great things done.
29. They work hard to craft a high-performance culture, understanding that the culture of the organization stages the performance of its people.
30. They are more fascinated in building a company that will endure the generations than an enterprise that is hot for a few quarters. Iconic is their obsession.
31. They get that failure is the foundation of innovation.
32. They are acutely aware that the winning formula that made their company successful just might be the one that makes their company obsolete. And so they break what works. And stay foolish and hungry.
33. They deliver results versus voice rationalizations.
34. They view angry customers as breathtakingly great opportunities to create fanatical fans.
35. They know that if people are not laughing at your 24 Month Magnificent Obsession (More on that and all these ideas at The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference 2012 in Toronto, Canada June 2+3 – see below for details to grab a seat while you can – I really want to help you win this year!), you have the wrong vision.
36. They perceive connections with their community as the main aim of commerce.
37. They are devoted to getting into their absolute best physical condition. They have zero desire to be the richest people in the graveyard.
38. They understand that the greatest gift you can give a teammate (or a customer or your child) is the gift of your undivided attention.
39. They know that logic is the dream killer. Instead, they trust instinct, creativity and passion to lead them to where they need to go.
40. They have learned that few things feel better than the pride you’ll feel on a job beautifully done.
41. They are good at starting things. And even better at finishing them.
42. They get that confidence grows via the doing of difficult things. And so they pursue discomfort.
43. They identify themselves as virtuosos. Best in World is the only place they play.
44. They bravely donate their lives to a cause larger than themselves. And – in this way – transform the world through their presence.
If you’re ready to make these master moves a part of the way you work and are set to unleash the potential of your business, you definitely want to attend The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference 2012, widely considered one of the most valuable and game-changing training events for business builders in the world. I’ll teach you everything I know about growing your business in these volatile times and my method to double your sales in 24 months or less – while taking a lot more time off.
Click here for details and to grab your seat at the special Early Bird price before it goes up: http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com/
I’ll see you at the SuperConference.
P.S. If you’re looking for a way to take your business to a completely new level this year then you’ll want to register for this year’s Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference. For more details and to save over $2500 on your seat click here:
http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com/
Fast Lessons for Smart Entrepreneurs
Mar 26th
Hope you’re fantastic – and jumping all over the opportunities that this time of volatility and uncertainty has given to Remarkable Entrepreneurs.
I recorded a 3 minute training video for you from Moscow that not only will re-inspire you and give you some valuable insights to grow a great company – it’ll also show you how stunningly beautiful the city is:
Watch the “Fast Lessons for Smart Entrepreneurs” video right now:
I also wanted to remind you that the special early bird rate for The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference 2012 is still available for a LIMITED period of time. This 2 day summit with me is widely considered one of the world’s best training programs for entrepreneurs who want to build fast growth companies in turbulent times. It’ll also transform your mindset and personal life. You definitely want to join me and the other entrepreneurs coming from over 50 countries.
We’re headed for a completely sold-out event so go ahead and click here to register at the special early bird price before it’s too late: http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com/
Stay great and speak soon,
P.S. Remember, ordinary entrepreneurs love leisure. Remarkable Entrepreneurs love leading. If you want to double your profits, triple your rate of learning – so you know more and do more. Grab a seat for The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference while you still can: http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com/
Dear Entrepreneur: It’s All Up to You
Mar 23rd
When you are in the first few years of business it can be a roller-coaster ride. This is the case whether you still have a day job and you’re trying to start a business on the side, or whether you’ve jumped in with two feet and are ready to make something of yourself.
I have some advice for you…it’s good news and bad news all rolled into one.
It’s all up to you.
The Good News
You control your time, you have the freedom to choose what to work on, you are an awesome person which means you have the opportunity to build an awesome company! Unlimited opportunity awaits!
The Bad News
You now have control. That’s like flying the plane after you have only read the manual. It is a different experience to read about business and actually have a business. You’ll also need to face the hard choices of working or being with your family. Or whether or not to take risks. Or how you are going to handle all of the requests of your customers and still do a good job.
It’s Scary!
Amos Winbush III was a songwriter, and started his own company. He now has a multimillion dollar company but here is what he said when he was first starting.
“I was extremely scared. I was excited and really frightened at the exact same time that this company that we had dreamt about and started to develop was actually a reality and people were using the service. And it was all up to me. It wasn’t an idea at this point. It wasn’t something that was remaining within the four walls of my apartment which is where we launched CyberSynchs and it was actually on the market and people were using it and we had the responsibility of keeping these individuals contents secure and safe and accessible at any given time.”
Your customers and clients will start to rely on you. Your family will start to rely on this income source that you control. The responsibility will keep growing and growing especially when you start having employees and start being responsible for other people’s families too.
But everyone is scared at first. I am willing to bet that every new entrepreneur has had some sort of freak out. Just know that millionaires and ultra-successful people have done the same thing.
You Are Not Entitled
But we also need to remember and prepare for a lot of hard work. Even if you get past the scariness of it, you’ll still need to deliver in order to feed your family.
I interviewed Michael Port, millionaire and best selling author of Booked Yourself Solid. I asked him about when he became an entrepreneur and he had these words of wisdom:
“When I left my corporate job and I just thought clients were going to fall into my lap. I left with my bonus. I figured okay I’ll be fine; it’ll give me a couple of months. Well here I am living in New York City, my rent was like $3,500 a month and that was like a small two bedroom in Long Island city and I’m blowing through my money.
It was just a huge big scary experience. I said this is wrong. So I really put the pedal to the metal at that point. I think the first sort of big change that happened was for me to realize that I’m not entitled to anything. I thought I was entitled. I’ve worked hard and I’m an adult and blah, blah, blah. When it didn’t happen, I realized I’m not entitled. You know what, that means… I have to work, I have to do whatever it takes – 18 hours a day, I have to get over my fears.
I‘ve got to be willing to be bold and fully self expressed and do things that I’ve never done before and really think bigger about who I am and what I offer the world.”
Many entrepreneurs go through something similar to this when they start. They are told that being an entrepreneur is awesome, and that it’s so great to have the control. They jump in all excited and ready to go.
Then that moment hits when you realize it’s going to be a lot of long and hard work.
That said, remember this quote from Ronco Johnson, a millionaire and President of L.R. Johnson & Associates:
“We all come with two days – a start date and an end date. What you do between it, you have to make sure that everything you want to do is taken care of.”
Well, I’m here to tell you that whether you draw the line in the sand and accept that it is hard or whether you decide it’s not right for you at this time…
It’s all up to you.
(Photo credit: Confident Businessman via Shutterstock)
After paying off $70,000 and quitting her corporate job, Jaime started her own business. Four years later she has been on CNN, MSNMoney, Success Magazine, Fortune, Yahoo's homepage twice and more. She is a business coach and speaker plus she interviews self made millionaires weekly for their tips, advice and stories. An Eventual Millionaire is a person with a goal to become a millionaire, eventually, but they are dedicated to an enjoyable life and an enjoyable business now. Download the Eventual Millionaire Manifesto.
Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur
Mar 14th
This month I invite you to focus on unleashing your inner entrepreneur so you innovate, execute and deliver results at a level called wow.
First, here are 5 Brain Tattoos to play with:
1) To have the results that ultra-successful performers have, you need to be willing to do the things that only ultra-successful people are willing to do.
2) The discomfort of change is always better than the heartbreak of complacency.
3) What the victim calls Genius, the true entrepreneur knows as practice.
4) Education is inoculation against disruption.
5) There’s zero point in masterfully doing the wrong things.
Second, I’ve recorded this quick learning video from my hotel room on a recent tour to help you win in your work.
Watch it now:
In Leadership,
P.S. I’ve put together a fantastic resource with some of my bestselling audio programs and an eBook called the “Become Remarkably Successful Digital Bundle” to help you play at your absolute best (you save 20% when you order before April 2nd). Take your business and life to a completely new level: http://www.robinsharma.com/store/become-remarkably-successful
Ask The Entrepreneurs: 13 Golden Rituals That Keep Entrepreneurs Sane
Feb 12th
Ask The Entrepreneurs is a regular series where members of those involved in the Young Entrepreneur Council are asked a single question that aims to help Lifehack readers level up their own lives, whether in a area of management, communication, business or life in general.
Here’s the question posed in this edition of Ask The Entrepreneurs:
What daily/weekly ritual do you keep that keeps you sane as an entrepreneur?
1. Meditate Stress Away
“My daily ritual always involves at least fifteen minutes of meditation. When I meditate I give my brain a break. As an entrepreneur my brain is on overdrive. The key to getting real, quality work done is to take a break and tune in. Meditation offers you time to release and recalibrate. For my free guided meditations visit www.gabbyb.tv.”
-Gabrielle Bernstein, Gabrielle Bernstein Inc.
2. Feed Yourself with Inspiration
“You know when you read a quote and immediately it gives you that instant boost you needed in that moment? I keep my favorite quotes with me and look at them daily to remind myself that no matter what, it’s going to be okay and I can push through. Sometimes you need to be reminded of the simple things, even if it’s through a quote.”
3. Lift Off the Frustration
“Lifting weights, especially heavy ones, has been something that I have come to rely on as an entrepreneur. The frustrating obstacles that we face every day while blazing new trails can add up. Personally I am driven by my own stress and anxiety, of which I have plenty. Sometimes the only thing that can relieve some of the pressure is a good ass whoopin’ at the gym!”
4. Stretch to the Limit
“It seems cliche, but yoga has been my saving grace. It pumps me up for a day of productivity, while simultaneously reducing stress. It helps balance my mood at a time when the days get darker sooner. It stretches me out after hours at the computer. It helps me shut my brain off before going to sleep. I go to a yoga studio five days a week. Scheduling that time for myself keeps me sane.”
5. Break the Rules!
“During my work week, I’m super strict on my nutrition, workouts, sleep and business regimen. To combat this, I constantly break the rules on purpose and have a “cheat day.” Blow off an event, put back a few beers, or sleep in on Friday. Remind yourself that you are human, and the reason you are an entrepreneur is so you can have the freedom and flexibility to make these decisions for yourself.”
6. Focus on Loved Ones
“Playing with my son every day and spending time with my family keeps me grounded and focused on why I’m doing what I’m doing. I always think of how my business and work affects my family, and ways to constantly improve upon that.”
-Tim Jahn, Entrepreneurs Unpluggd
7. Join the Team!
“I try to play at least one team sport every week. I find that while your head is in the game and you’re cheering for your teammates, all the stress and work waiting for you washes away. When I return from the game, I find that much of that stress turns out to be gone for good, and I’m refreshed and ready to take on the week’s challenges.”
-Jason Evanish, Greenhorn Connect
8. Coach a Team!
“I coach 3rd-5th grade AAU basketball. No matter what’s going on with Modify or in my personal life, I always forget everything stressful when I walk onto the court with the kids. They’re eager to learn and I can’t help but focus only on their growth. And if I’m really stressed, I can just tell them to do more sprints! (Just kidding.)”
-Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches
9. Touch Base Often
“I begin each day with a 5-minute check-in call with my accountability partner. We share our daily goals and discuss on-going challenges and projects. This daily check-in ensures that I make steady progress, and it’s great to know that someone who understands is just a phone call away for support and encouragement.”
-Kelly Azevedo, She’s Got Systems
10. Mentor Another Entrepreneur
“Sometimes running your own business can be exhausting and you can lose track of end goals and the passion that got you started in the first place. I find that mentoring other young entrepreneurs reminds you why you started your business. Also, the feel-good vibes you get from helping others are the best way to recharge.”
-Vanessa Van Petten, Science of People
11. Read Your Calendar
“Our calendars hold a lot of information about how we spend out time. If you sit down and scroll through your calendar to take a look at the meetings, phone calls, projects, and tasks that you have had over the past week, it will give you clarity about the things that you have accomplished and about what you can do differently.”
12. Set Boundaries for Sanity
“I will not and do not (except before a big launch) answer or read emaisl within a few hours of my shut-eye time—nor will I read email on my phone IN bed. Sleep is sacred, and so is my schedule. A client wouldn’t dare call me at midnight; so why would they expect an email reply? YOU need to cut the email cord, not them. So do it. And turn off push notifications on your phone while you’re at it!”
-Lindsey Donner, Well Versed Creative
13. Surf…the Internet?
“I’ve found that the best ideas and most productivity occurs when you actually completely disconnect from the work you’re doing. For me this has been surfing…in the ocean! Anything that forces you to be completely present for even a few hours a week does wonders for your mind, body and, as a result, your business.”
(Photo credit: Businessman Standing Alone via Shutterstock)
The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. The YEC promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment and provides entrepreneurs with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of their business’s development and growth.
Content Marketing: The Entrepreneur’s Most Productive Task
Dec 27th
Content marketing is key.
As the new year approaches, do you now — more than ever — wished you had more clarity on the way forward?
It can get really silly at times. You have to finish the course you bought last month. And you have to blog. And you’ve also been planning to email your list about your latest offering…
Thing is, your to-do list is getting too long. And you’re about as focused as a camera without a lens. You just don’t know which way forward.
Overwhelm is driving you nuts.
Think you need to sharpen your focus? Probably not.
Often the simplest solution lies in going straight past everything you think is important, right to that task that’s proven to bring the most progress.
The Secret of Successful Online Entrepreneurs
In recent conversations with some of the most successful online entrepreneurs, I heard the same thing over and over. An entrepreneur’s most productive task is marketing.
They claim that if you outsource everything else, and only work on marketing, your business will blossom. My buddy Jon Morrow says that his monthly income almost doubled when he started spending more of his personal time on marketing!
The Shocking Truth About Marketing
Some people might object to the claim that marketing is your most productive task.
They’ll say that online success is all about blogging and other forms of writing.
Others will focus on skills development. They’ll say that learning to become a better content producer is the key to making your work irresistible.
And you know what? They’re right. All of them.
Blogging and writing are super-important tasks. In fact, on the Internet these activities are marketing.
Copyblogger.com, one of my all-time favorite blogs, defines content marketing as “… creating and freely sharing informative content as a means of converting prospects into customers and customers into repeat buyers.”
And that’s what these successful entrepreneurs refer to when they say marketing is the entrepreneur’s most productive task. They’re speaking about content marketing.
Why Content Marketing is so Productive
If you aim to grow your business, would you agree that roughly translates to getting more fans who love your work, and selling them more of your products or services?
To grow your business almost always means you want to make more money.
Now, if content marketing is all about getting visitors to subscribe to your list and getting your subscribers to buy your offerings, don’t you think that hits the spot nicely?
Content marketing is all about reaching your business goals… fast!
How to Market While You Create Excellent Content
The next time you’re unsure what to work on and what to run away from, take your pick… The following list outlines some clever content marketing tasks that will also satisfy your desire to write, write, write:
- Write an informative blog post that solves some problem your target audience is experiencing. After you publish it, promote it to your network and other bloggers whose audience might benefit from it.
- Write a guest post for a blog with a large number of subscribers. Know what its topics of interest are, and study the readers’ comments. This will allow you to connect better with the audience of the target blog.
- Write an email to your list with some piece of informative content that causes them know, like and trust you more. Tell a story. Share a video. Do something that shows them you’re a human being just like them.
- Create a video that could go viral. It happens all the time, but it’s not as easy as it looks. If you can come up with a video that is well worth sharing, it’ll bring you loads of traffic and new subscribers.
- Create a free report or course that you can use as a subscribe incentive. Whenever someone subscribes through AWeber or MailChimp, they can download this report. This will boost your subscription conversion.
- Create an autoresponder email sequence that goes out to all your new (and existing) subscribers. This will introduce them to you, your philosophy and your reasons for blogging/writing.
While you do all this, remember that you’re not allowed to be boring. That’s the biggest sin you can commit online.
Be relevant. Add value. Make a difference.
This way your business will grow. It can’t help but to…
Are You Going to Allow Overwhelm to Steal Your Future?
It happens to countless would-be entrepreneurs every day.
First come the feelings of overwhelm. Then comes the rationalization.
“I’ll feel better tomorrow.”
“My energy levels are just low today. I need rest.”
“I need to do something less stressful right now.”
And right after this comes the procrastination. These entrepreneurs postpone an important task for one more day. And as days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, their bright future vanishes into thin air.
All they have left is regret.
Don’t allow this to be your story.
Whenever you feel overwhelmed, turn your focus back to content marketing. Choose one of the activities listed above, and make solid progress. Get your content marketing tasks done!
It’ll feel like work. Some days the thought of it will want to make you puke. But guess what? It is work. And the rewards of honest content marketing work are huge.
Only hard work ever brings about a future that’s worth having. And it takes a brave and productive entrepreneur to stand up and claim his own share of bright future.
I’m in.
Are you?
(Photo credit: Key on Paper via Shutterstock)
Dries Cronje is the founder of Productive Entrepreneur, a blog that helps online entrepreneurs work clever and hard to build a solid online income. He’s the author of 10 Easy Steps to ‘Mission Accomplished!’ – Simple, Practical Advice for Completing Your Next Big Online Project.
My Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011
Dec 20th
Gratitude. That’s how I feel about your support of my work this past year. My team and I have pulled out my 10 most popular blog posts from the past twelve months and I’ve listed them below.
Read them. Reflect on them. Debate them. Enjoy them!
Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011
1) The 50 New Rules of Work (17.9K Shares)
The global economy is in a state of acute disruption. Competition has never been more fierce. Consumers have never been so well-informed and loudly demanding. And what worked yesterday just might be obsolete today. But this time is also a great time, for the astonishing few who are ready to show leadership. Leaders are at their absolute best during messy cycles versus during the easy ones. And messy cycles bring with them gorgeous opportunities. Click here to read more…
2) You Can’t Lead In Fear (7465 Shares)
Fear ruins more bright lives than you might imagine. Each of us, by virtue of our very human nature, has the potential to Lead Without A Title and achieve great things that elevate everyone around us by our model of possibility. But the chattering voice of fear in our heads stops us from playing big. Click here to read more…
3) My 3 Best Keys To Super Productivity (7382 Shares)
We live in an age of dramatic distraction. On an average day we spend up to 2.1 hours in distraction. To waste your time is to waste your life, talent and creativity. So in this video I share with you my 3 best keys to super productivity to help you play at your absolute best. Click here to watch the video…
4) The Saboteur: The Real Reason You Procrastinate (6135 Shares)
In this video I share with you an insight that will help you shatter your past performance. You’ll be able to strip-away from your life all the distractions and become one of the few productive people that gets great work done. Click here to watch the video…
5) Random Insights On Exceptionalism (5915 Shares)
I’m at 40,000 feet. Sunlight floods through the window. Flying home from beautiful Vancouver, Canada after a presentation to The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) on game-changing moves that Remarkable Entrepreneurs are dedicated to. I do my best thinking on airplanes and wanted to download some random insights on leadership, business and living at world-class with you. Click here to read more…
6) 17 Tips to Double Your Productivity In 14 Days (5708 Shares)
One of the modules from “The Remarkable Entrepreneur SuperConference” that happens in June is on “Doubling Your Productivity in 30 Days”, based on my work with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in business. I wanted to share 17 of the tactics I’ve learned that I know will help you lean into your productive best in this age of dramatic distraction. Click here to read more…
7) The 8 Faces of Exceptionally Creative Leaders (5170 Shares)
If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know that my core belief is that the old model of leadership is dead and now, anyone in any organization on any part of the planet can show leadership. I’ve seen taxi drivers who display rare-air leadership along with school teachers + breakfast servers + construction workers. Work is changing. And we all can provoke impact and influence if we Lead Without a Title. But here’s the point of this piece: not only do each of us have the potential to be leaders – we each have the potential to be creative. Massively. Click here to read more…
8) 15 Ways To Do Your Best Work (4582 Shares)
Remember that a job is only just a job if all you see it as is a job. Don’t do your best work for the applause it generates but for the personal pride it delivers. In this article I share with you 15 game-changing ideas to doing your best work and playing at your absolute best. Click here to read more…
9) 5 One Minute Productivity Moves (4171 Shares)
In an effort to help you win the war against distraction and interruption I’ll give you “5 One Minute Productivity Tactics” to help you amp up your game and do your best work. 1. Have the courage to get great at saying “No Thanks” to any activities that don’t advance your priorities. Click here to read more…
10) Do What’s Most Difficult (4031 Shares)
Sam Keen had a great line, “You are caught by what you are running from.” Genius. We attempt to structure our lives to avoid our fears but that’s about as intelligent as straightening the deck chairs on the Titanic. The best way to overcome a fear is to face your fear. As a matter of fact, every time we do something we’ve been avoiding, we take back the power that seemingly scary or difficult thing had over us. Click here to read the rest…
Every good wish to you and your family for the holiday season – from me and my family.
P.S. Let’s keep the conversation going on my Facebook page. Just click here: http://www.facebook.com/theofficialrobinsharmapage
The Absolute WORST Day to Take a Vacation (It’s Not When You Think!)
Dec 15th
I need a vacation.
For the last couple of months, I’ve been working like crazy getting my book ready for publication, and laying all the groundwork to promote it. I coordinated with my 30 contributing authors to get their chapters polished and ready, I got the books designed, printed, and then shipped out to reviewers, and I’ve written dozens of guest posts to help spread the word.
Not to mention producing two video trailers, putting together a sweet launch offer, coordinating with reviewers… and doing everything I have to do as part of day-to-day client work.
All to say that I’m tired, and I could use a break.
And the book is done, launched last week – isn’t it time for me to be able to kick back and enjoy the fruits of my labor?
When You’re Supposed to Take a Vacation
The prevailing wisdom states that our lives should follow a pattern that looks more or less like the one depicted to the right;
- We choose a new goal – something that is important to us, that we’re willing to put time and energy into achieving.
- We work towards that goal. A lot. There are setbacks along the way, but we keep on trucking.
- We evaluate our success. As long as we haven’t achieved that goal, we buckle down and get back to work.
- Finally, we achieve the goal. Success! Victory! Now it’s time to reward ourselves with a vacation.
And of course, when we get back from vacation, it’s time to set a new goal, and start the whole cycle over again.
This is the prevailing wisdom, and according to the prevailing wisdom, I should be packing my bags right about now; after all, the book is published, the guest posts are written, the marketing is all done – in other words, the work has been completed, and the goal has been achieved.
Except that the prevailing wisdom is wrong, wrong, wrong. To understand why it’s wrong, we have to understand where it came from…
Vacations in a Corporate Setting
The prevailing wisdom comes from the corporate reality, and in that setting, the prevailing wisdom makes sense.
The job of managers in a corporate environment is to make sure that other people do theirs. To do that effectively, they have to do two things (in addition to giving clear instructions and allocating the actual work, of course):
- Manage employees’ motivation. If employees aren’t motivated to get the job done, then they probably won’t. It’s the manager’s job to keep employees motivated to keep on working.
- Manage employees’ energy level. If employees are tired or burned out, then they won’t get much work done, either. It’s the manager’s job to manage workloads, and make sure that doesn’t happen.
Putting a vacation at the end of a project helps to achieve both of these objectives; it rewards employees for their hard work, which helps to keep them motivated, and it gives them an opportunity to recharge, so that they’re ready for more hard work when they get back.
But that logic doesn’t work if you’re running your own business, and in charge of your own income.
For one, you shouldn’t need a vacation to reward you for your hard work; the results of your hard work should be all the reward that you need. That’s the beauty of doing your own thing – at least part of the reason why you do it is that you love it, and find the work itself to be motivating.
(This intrinsic motivation is also why I believe that entrepreneurs are capable of doing so much more actual work than corporate employees; if you want to learn more about that, check out Dan Pink’s RSA Animate video about his book Drive.)
But even more importantly, because it doesn’t factor in two very important things: momentum, and the landscape of opportunity…
Momentum is a Real Thing
Momentum is a funny thing. You can’t touch it, or see it, but you can definitely feel it, and it can do wonderful things for your business. It is also the first big reason why you shouldn’t take a vacation after a big win.
Here are three basic rules for understanding momentum:
- Wins create momentum.
- Action after a win multiplies momentum.
- Inaction dissipates momentum.
Simple enough, and pretty intuitive, right?
The upshot of these rules, though, is that after your big win, you should be doing everything that you can to ride and multiply the momentum, rather than taking a break and letting it dissipate.
There’s an even better reason to work after a big win, though: wins change everything.
The Changing Landscape of Opportunity
Goals, by definition, are about changing something – if everything stayed exactly the same, then you wouldn’t have to work to achieve it. We have a lot of different kind of goals, but they all boil down to making us healthier, or happier, or better off. In other words, they’re about making our worlds a little bit better.
Better is good, but better is also different. It’s hard to change just one thing and leave everything else the same. Changing one thing changes everything. And when everything changes, new opportunities open up.
Now let me ask you, as an entrepreneur – when new opportunities are opening up, is it time to take a vacation, or is it time to seize those opportunities? Any entrepreneur worth his salt would say that it’s the latter – that’s just a part of the mindset that allows entrepreneurs to do what they do…
The Red Honda Effect and the Psychology of Success
You know how when you start thinking about something, suddenly you start seeing it everywhere, as though you were “magnetically drawing it into your life”?
Some people call it “the secret” or the “law of attraction”, but I call it the “red Honda effect”. Thinking about something doesn’t magically draw it towards you, but it does focus your attention, so that you start noticing it around you (just like when you’re thinking about buying a red Honda, you start seeing them everywhere).
The same effect is at play when it comes to looking for opportunity. Just developing the mindset that opportunity is there, just waiting for you to find and seize it, will expand your frame of reference and allow you to see more possibilities.
(Want to read more about this? Check out Mindset by Carol Dweck, or Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson.)
Long story short? When things are going well, there’s always the opportunity to make them even better! :D Now, just to be clear, I’m not advocating the stereotype of the workaholic entrepreneur who never takes a break or vacation.
What Vacations Are For, and When They’re Okay
Entrepreneurs don’t need vacations to stay motivated, but we do need to manage our energy level, and vacations are a big part of that; it’s important for us to take breaks, breath some fresh air, and get some perspective on what we’re doing. In other words, even though we don’t need vacations as rewards, they’re great for resting and recharging – just so long as we don’t take one at a time that will take away our momentum, or kill an opportunity.
For an entrepreneur (or anyone who is in charge of their own income), vacations don’t come when projects are complete. On the contrary – they should come when the projects are still in progress, but you’re tired, and need to recharge to carry the ball the rest of the way:
Celebrate, then Get Back to Work!
Make sure not to skip the celebration box, because it’s important!
As the diagram indicates, our projects aren’t as nice and neat as the projects of a corporate employee, with a start, middle, end, and vacation before the next one. Our projects are messy, and blend into each other in a continuum of work and the pursuit of opportunity.
That’s great, and we wouldn’t have it any other way, but it’s also important to pause and celebrate the wins.
After the launch, my wife and I went out to a nice restaurant, and raised our glasses to toast my book finally being done and launched to the world.
But then the next day, I got back to work… ;)
What about you? Do you believe in a vacation after a big win, or do you agree that this is the time to look for new opportunities, and build on your momentum?
(Photo credit: Beach chair and umbrella from Shutterstock
@DannyIny is an author, strategist, serial entrepreneur, expert marketer, and the Freddy Krueger of Blogging. Together with Guy Kawasaki, Brian Clark and Mitch Joel, he wrote the book on how to build an engaged audience from scratch.
How to Make a Plan That Will Help Your Business Thrive
May 24th
What is the difference between a successful company and an unsuccessful company? Why do some entrepreneurs succeed where others have failed miserably?
What makes someone successful?
Everyone is looking for the answers to these questions; everyone wants to find the keys to succeed, the shortcut that will make it all easier.
The problem is in that word, shortcut.
The real key, the real secret is that there is no shortcut.
You need to work hard, endure long hours, and maintain focus if you want success.
You can succeed
Many studies have been made to why some entrepreneurs succeed while others don’t.
In many cases, it all comes down to planning.
There’s an old saying: every minute spent on planning saves up to 10 minutes in execution. Even though we know this, very few people spend enough time planning.
Spending time before you start your business making plans is tiresome to many. You are essentially working without getting paid, in the short run. But when you plan you create a roadmap; you build yourself a guide that will help you on your entire journey towards success.
Successful entrepreneurs plan and then do something completely different
The hard part about planning is getting it right. When you plan you try to foresee circumstances in the future, to predict how things will play out and make plans for how you will react and what you will need, you can’t always get a 100% success rate. Since no one knows what the future brings, most plans become obsolete as soon as the entrepreneur starts his business.
All successful entrepreneurs started off with a set of plans, but many ended up doing something completely different. (But they all had a plan).
Unsuccessful entrepreneurs fail because of lack of planning
Because studies show that many original business plans become obsolete soon after the business gets off the ground, some entrepreneurs decide to skip the whole planning process. But without an exact idea of what they are going to do, what they need, what opportunities to look for and without a frame of reference to evaluate situations by, they fail.
Successful entrepreneurs have a plan to update
When you have a plan, you can modify it, you can evaluate things happening around you and compare them to your plans. You will be able to see if this opportunity is in line with your goals, values and dreams. If it isn’t, you know it is a bad idea to follow. Thanks to this whole planning process, you will have a long term mindset, you will constantly be thinking about what the things you are doing today will have for affects on your future.
This mindset is a precious commodity and one of the most important parts of being an entrepreneur. Remember, all successful entrepreneurs have made business plans, even if they didn’t always do exactly what they expected.
Action Exercises
1. Create a business plan
Ask yourself the following questions – What do you plan on doing? Who is it you are selling to? What do you need to be successful at it? How much do you need to sell to brake even? What costs will you have? How many employees do you need? What kind of office space will you require? What can you delegate? What do you need to do yourself?
2. Create a vision
Try to crystallize the values you want your company to stand for in simple terms. Make sure everyone who joins the company learns about what the company stands for, and prove it to them by living by those values.
Let the employees be a part of the creative process, come back to it once in a while, look it over, and let them give you their input.
3. Never be afraid to update your plan
You will need to update your plan many times, you might even change to a new industry after some time has passed. Don’t be afraid of this, but make sure that the change is in line with your goals and your vision. If the path you are on won’t lead you to your goals, change that path now to one that is more suitable.