In the spirit of thanks

Great words from Mr. Godin. . .

Thanksgiving

This has always been my favorite holiday. No gifts, no guilt, no doctrine.

For me, the holiday celebrates people who contribute with no expectation of anything in return. Online, the rules are no different. There are plenty of people typing as fast they can, all in expectation of what they'll get in return for that link or that shoutout or that flame. And then there are the superstars, the folks who have found a great platform for generosity.

Why be generous?

Why go out of your way for someone who can't possibly pay you back?

I hope the answer is obvious. It is to me. The benefit is in the fact that they can't pay you back. The opportunity to instruct or assist when you can gain nothing in return is priceless. It creates meaning and momentum and structure.

If you've been reading my blog this year, thanks for giving me the chance to teach.

If you've been helping at triiibes or Squidoo or on Twitter or on your blog or your social network of choice, and doing it without regard for repayment, thanks. We appreciate it more than you know.

And if you've dedicated your life to helping real people in real need, not just doing it when it's convenient, then you have my deepest thanks. It's not easy and it's not always fun, but it's vitally important and it matters.

Thank you.

A Tale of Two Cities

                     vs.

This past Monday I hopped a plane from DC (where I’ve lived for the last 6 years) to make my annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to Las Vegas where I grew up - spending time with the family is always good for the soul. . .

It never ceases to amaze me how different these two cities are. I have my likes and dislikes for each, yet I appreciate them both for what they are; particularly from a business perspective. Studying them I find plenty of business lessons in what they each represent.

Las Vegas, a relatively new city with very little tradition is like no other city in the world (for better or for worse). As the second city that never sleeps, it’s audacious, over the top, unconventional and outlandish. To its credit, for the last 3 decades, Vegas has continuously re-invented itself – seemingly never content with what it is or where it's at. From what the city is or perceived to be, to what it actually represents, the city’s marketing power is remarkable. It’s a place that doesn’t take itself seriously and strives to be that playground of all playgrounds for those looking to “come and play”. Looking at it, Las Vegas plays by its own rules and intentionally or unintentionally competes only with itself. By any person’s gauge Las Vegas is a rebel city (in its own right).

On the other hand you have Washington DC, arguably one of the most powerful and influential cities in the world. You can find embassies from every corner of the globe dispersed throughout the city as well as non-profits tackling just about every challenge existent to man. Home of arguably the most powerful position on the planet, it wheels and deals in the chess game of power, politics, and influence. In numerous circles strategy is the #1 game. The energy is much more conservative and subdued than in Vegas and doesn't necessarily seek to bring attention to itself.  It basks in its over educated, change the world urban dwellers, with steroids of higher degrees pumping through their veins.

As an entrepreneur I take away valuable lessons from both. To separate yourself from the competition you must be unconventional and if possible over the top (if and when it makes sense to). Never being comfortable where you are and re-inventing yourself or your business always plays to your advantage. Also there is incredible value in playing by your own rules. You transform the marketplace vs. simply being a part of it. Simultaneously, power, politics and influence (in one form or another) is always a part of the landscape and  having a strategy that allows you to navigate these 3 ideas and effectively execute your game plan is incredibly valuable. Being conservative keeps you from burning yourself out and supports the very idea of calculated risk. Additionally changing the world is never a bad thing and is especially sweet if you can also make money at it.

Now whether you’re rollin’ dice at the craps table or discussing Indonesian international development issues, the bottom line question: how are you positioning yourself to succeed?

So, what do you believe?

A few posts back I raised my glass and gave a toast to the rebels. . .  

. . .those who think and exist outside of convention and often destroy traditional barriers, erecting new ideas and approaches to thinking, working and living.

Where do their ideas come from? Why are they even thinking in these terms? What is the spark that ignites the fire that burns in their thoughts that drives them to believe that there is something different to achieve? Something to manifest or create, that at this present moment, simply does not exist?

On occasion when I am with clients and there is a problem at hand and everyone has their gameface on, the general question will come up - "well, what do you think can be done?"  My response is always - "the solutions are only limited by the breadth of your imagination."

Success is often attained when you reach ardently for that which appears to be beyond your grasp - and that often means contemplating (and reaching for) that which seems impossible. . .

It's not that complex

THINGS

that go

a

long way

In business, whether building your own personal brand or a business' brand, there are three crucial things that are important.  They are: relationships, relationships, relationships. It never ceases to amaze me how sooo many people do not understand this.

The better and stronger your relationships, the easier it is for you to build business opportunities for yourself.

Two simple things I HIGHLY suggest you do at any stage of your business to insure a high rate of success for building relationships (and turning those relationships into business opportunities).

1.  Do follow ups. I repeat.  Do follow ups. If you meet with a potential client and they don't call you back or re-connect with you. . . CALL THEM.  Unfortunately you are not the center of people's universe and if they happen to forget about you (because they just might have 20 other things going on in their life...) who cares. It's your job to remind them that it's in their best interest to make you a priority.  A follow up call and/or email could be the difference between a beneficial relationship that makes you lots of money or 6 more months with nothing on the plate. 

2.  Quickly get back to them. Just this past Thursday I had a meeting with a company out of Pittsburgh where there is a lot of potential for future clients and work.  The meeting went very well. Upon getting back to the office I quickly shot off an email thanking them for taking time out of their schedule to meet with me. A day later they replied enthusiastically, thanking me for the note. 

Its the small and simple things that are done that people take notice of.  Doing a follow up shows that you're interested in them (and who doesn't like that?), and quickly getting back to people shows that you know and understand that their time is valuable and you are appreciative that they met with you and you want to acknowledge that. 

These two things have worked wonders for me and I am willing to step out on a limb and bet they will work wonders for you too.

Don't be afraid to "roll out" your own ideas

Fear is paralyzing and does you more bad than good - in just about every scenario.

For example:

1. You hate your job but you stay there because you are afraid of quitting and doing something else because that "something else" is different and no one else you know is doing it. . .

2. You have business colleagues that you work with that aren't pulling their weight. You are afraid to confront them because you don't like confrontation and don't like ruffling people's feathers so the situation never changes and continues in a downward spiral. . .

3. You're hit with an epiphany for a new business idea but since no one else is doing it you're afraid it won't have merit so you don't pursue it. . .6 months later you see that same idea being pushed by someone else and people are jumping over each other just to be a part of it.

There is a fear in the air right now, but on a much larger scale, because of the condition that the economy finds itself in. Everywhere you turn, newspapers, news shows, blogs, you name it, the talk is. . .people are in fear. Katya Andresen whom we interviewed in 2007 had this on her blog:

"There is still a lot of fear in the air. At my keynote in North Carolina last month, I tried to hit this head-on and encourage nonprofits to face the economic downturn with a sharply defined, well positioned identity that stands out—at a time when it feels safer to stick with the same old, same old. It’s time to take the risk of showing what makes us a different, unique investment". (this applies to the private sector as well. . .)

She then speaks about a post on Harvard Business Online:

In a post at Harvard Business Online, Bill Taylor highlights a Warren Buffet interview on Charlie Rose in which the billionaire investor responds to the question “Should wise people have known better?” in the affirmative, with the note that there’s a natural progression when things go wrong:

Innovation
Imitation
Idiocy

An innovator spots an untapped opportunity; the imitator attempts to capitalize on its merit; finally, explains Taylor, the idiot goes and apes the imitator, and with avarice “undoes the very innovations [he is] trying to use to get rich.”

According to Taylor, avoiding this cycle means developing the ability to distinguish between “genuine innovation” and “mindless imitation.” In other words, he asks, “Are you prepared to walk away from ideas that promise to make money [when] they make no sense?” Taylor, like Buffett, concedes this is easier said than done when you see competition heading in a particular direction and fear you’ll never catch up if you don’t join the charge. It takes discipline, notes Taylor, to remain conscious of the difference—taking advantage of innovation without getting caught up in the idiocy.

The Point: “Don’t use the financial crisis as an excuse to stop taking chances or downsize your ambitions,” says Taylor. “But do use the crisis as an opportunity to take stock of what really matters—and to stop looking over your shoulder.”

As I initially posited, being fearful is a serious detriment to you. Don't be afraid to roll out your own ideas or have your own thoughts. Doing what everyone else does only sets you back and doesn't allow you to be who you want to be or allow you to go where you want to go.