It’s Hard Out Here for a Hippie!

I hate to say it, but going organic is not all about the food.  Now don’t get me wrong, food is a huge part of your organic journey and yes it is a major key part to being healthy as food sustains our bodies and gives it the nutrition needed to live, but an organic lifestyle is so much more. An organic lifestyle means living as close to nature as possible with the power of intention and action in every facet of your life.  The term organic implies aspects of nature, organization, and balance.  Adding the term lifestyle gives us the power of intention.

As I started my Going2Natural journey, when I thought of the word organic, I generally thought of food.  The more I researched, the more I realized that this organic journey I called myself on, was much more than I had bargained for.  It was not just what I put in my body, but it was a way of life.  So I basically set out on a quest to become a tree hugging, vegetarian, organic loving hippie.  But what I found out is, it’s hard out here for a hippie in this day and age.

It’s been about 3 years and as I wobble through this life changing journey, I have come to find out that as much as living organic elevates my mind, body and soul and brings me harmony within the world it can also be a huge struggle to sustain this type of lifestyle without going completely broke or seem rigid and out of place in social settings at times.  I wanted the choice to have the most natural life as possible, free from chemicals and harsh man-made materials  in all aspects of my life.  I started thinking about everything: clothing, food, hygiene products, linens, being vegan, eggs, meat, gardening, animals, everything.

As much as I wish the truth could have come gradually and systematic, it didn’t.  It came full blast and knocked me off my feet.  All the things I never noticed came flooding into my mind.  It really felt like I was seeing certain things for the first time although it was there all along.  I started to research articles on the poor animals that feed the greed of the meat industry that I would not have paid mind to before.  I started reading articles that frankly scared the crap out of me on how we are polluting and destroying not only our bodies but the earth.  I worried about the harsh chemicals that are practically in everything from clothing to food to furniture.  I wanted to know exactly where my food and products were coming from.

I remember looking at certain items in my house and wondering if a child or person working in poor conditions made the item I use so callously day to day.  It was overwhelming but I felt alive and awake and in more control of my life than I had ever felt before.  It felt justifying and liberating.  I wanted to change everything in a flurry, making sure I was surrounding myself with the most natural and fair trade organic items as possible.  Well in this case I learned slow and steady definitely wins the race.  The first six months of going organic full throttle,  I swear our households bills like food, hygiene, cleaning items, clothes, etc doubled.  We were drowning and I was pissed because I felt we should not have to pay more just to have less chemicals in our life.  Bottom line is I started to feel like we couldn’t afford to live that kind of lifestyle and that organic living was made for people who have a ton of money.  We can’t afford to shop at Whole Foods or expensive co-ops 100% of the time.  I can’t afford to buy only fair trade clothing and hygiene that is made from 100% fair trade and organic materials, all the time.  Organic companies charge a lot and I absolutely think some of them charge way too much, but that was not going to change my situation or reality at the time.

So my husband and I decided we would rather make sacrifices in order to eat and live organic.  We basically had to trade in most of our luxuries like going out to eat, the movies, or expensive vacations but we ended up turning to nature instead by taking hikes, walks, and fishing.  All free, all healthy and all enjoyable.  We kept it simple and found ways to save money.  It started with deodorant.  I read some article that once again scared the crap out of me about aluminum being linked to breast cancer and that was it.  I started trying stuff like Tom’s which was very expensive and did not work.  By the end of the day I smelled like a sweaty football player after practice.  I couldn’t handle smelling like that and neither could my husband, but I would not go back to the chemical stuff, no way, no how.

So I had to get creative and decided to make my own.  It took some research and a few times to perfect it but now it’s the best deodorant I have ever used.  It even works great for my husband and teenage kids and feels great knowing it is all natural and safe enough to eat (not that I would or it would taste remotely good) but that I could if I wanted to.  My husband and I didn’t stop there, we started making body butter, laundry detergent, salt scrubs and we are continuing to increase self-made products that we hope to offer to our readers at a very fair cost so everyone can afford them.

I have to say little things do go a long way.  I save a ton of money just making my own hygiene and cleaning products.  And saving a little money in a lot of place does pay off.  It is just as easy as going to a thrift store to look for vintage clothing or furniture than going to a buy a new item.  You will always save money shopping at second hands stores and just knowing I am helping the environment by choosing to recycle feels liberating.  Not to mention finding an awesome Calvin Klein shirt for $2 is always a plus. Small battle wins do matter, it keeps you motivated in your organic journey.  Another thing we did was start a small garden with only 4-5 hours of light, and ended up having a decent yield for our first time.  The key is the soil, light and water, then let nature takes its course.  To be truthful the biggest change we had was starting to live with less, not even purposely but when you are truly trying to live an organic lifestyle some choices are just eliminated, so it kind of happens naturally so to speak.  Sizing down on hygiene products was another thing I noticed because we used the body butter we made for almost every part of our body. We had the basics, but to know I made them, saved money and they work great is just another triumph in my book.  One thing I did learn trial by error is always, I mean always bring your organic snacks with you.  I know it’s corny to “be that girl” that actually packs a snack in her purse.  But it saves me from having to eat something crappy that will make me feel just as crappy and I save money in the long run.  I will continue to be on my quest to pursue an organic lifestyle on a budget and will share everything I learn with our readers.

 We just finished the recipe for our natural deodorant (regular and sensitive) and our Lavender Lemondrop Whipped BOSS Butter.  G2N also plans to offer all sort of organic product alternatives in the future.  We are so excited to be able to offer these great recipes from our home to yours at prices that are much cheaper than any leading organic company out there. Our products really work and are also affordable.  I want everyone to be able to afford natural alternative for themselves and their families.  So if someone says that going organic is not expensive, I would like to live in their world.  Living organic has truly made us live more simple and sacrifice certain luxuries in order to be able to afford the more healthy options in all aspects of our life.  But I have to say I have no regrets in the lifestyle changes we have made and continue to have passion and determination to find ways to live organic on a budget.

Like I say it’s hard out here for a hippie.

Until next time!

Why Professional Marketing

Many entrepreneurs have some awesome ideas, but changing those ideas into a tangible business is what makes a true entrepreneur stand out. An entrepreneur does not have to know how to do it all. They do however need to know how to recruit the people that are able to do it all. When we first started G2N, we did all our PR and marketing ourselves but as we grew, we knew we needed to find team members that had a background in marketing strategies.

First it is important to understand that PR and marketing go hand in hand. Some businesses feel they must choose one for another but I use them as a team. When looking for someone to market my business it is also key to find someone that understands the whole spectrum of our public relations department.

In a perfect world, every new business owner has the cash cushion needed to hire a fabulous marketing firm that can produce amazing results. But if you are more like me, where nothing is ever perfect, you must think outside the box to move to the next level. I actually do not have the cash follow to hire an established firm but G2N does use a certain standard in order to recruit people in our PR department. Below I broke down the must haves when looking for external marketing services and what we look for when recruiting team members to contribute to our marketing team.

Why you need Professional Marketing Services

Understanding Analytics:

Professionals that are trained in marketing are taught to break down analytical numbers, target audience and so forth. As an entrepreneur we are able to grasp the concept, but it is their job to really dig deep and produce growing numbers. In order to produce growing numbers, there must be a VERY clear understanding of the analytics of your customer’s demographics.

Concentrating on different aspects of marketing:

It is so important that your marketing firm is able to concentrate on different aspects of your target demographics. As an new business owner it is nearly impossible to be able to reach the different parts of your target audience without losing some in the shuffle. Having a group of people or person solely responsible to build your client base will help make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Making your website more visible on Google:

It is vital to your business that it is visible and easy to get to when searching on the internet. Google is the leader in search engines and without you being on top of their list, you can lose a huge amount of customers. Generally speaking, someone will not scroll past 5 or 6 searches, so this is a very important reason to hire someone that understands SEO, (search engine optimization) and can increase your internet visibility.

Building your Client Base:

This is the lifeline of your business. It takes more than an idea or passion to do it. It takes skills and proper training for them to really be able to bring your brand to the next level and understand how to sell your business to its audience.

Engaging Social Media followers:

It much easier to get followers on your SM accounts, but it is harder to get and keep them engaged. A marketing firm is trained to be able to know how to engage your followers which will help to build your client base.

Changing your SM followers into customers:

This is the whole reason businesses use SM platforms. The idea is to change that “like” on your page to a customer that will engage and buy from your business. Finding the right followers on SM accounts can be tricky. That is what a  trained professional can do. They can change those followers into clients, which is the end goal for any business, new or old.

What to look for when recruiting people in Marketing

Experience:

Having experience is important when picking a marketing team or person. Did their portfolio impress you? I am a little more lenient on the years of experience as I believe some people have the niche for marketing and PR and some do not. But it can definitely be a big plus when trying to take your business to the next level.

Interest in your industry:

The person you hire that has at least some interest in your industry will always produce better work and numbers when they are passionate about what they are doing. It really helps to know that they believe in your business and brand in the same regards you and your team does.

Passion for marketing and/or PR:

As much as it is important that they are passionate about your brand and hold an interest in your business, I always look for someone that has a true passion for marketing and PR. If they love what they do, they will produce better results.

Excellent communication skills:

This is A MUST ! If they can not communicate well and able to understand your concept and goals, then it will never work. This is one of the things that a person I hire regardless of the job has to have. It makes or breaks someone from being mediocre to excellent.

Result-Oriented:

This is another must in my book. It is extremely important that someone produces a portfolio that shows growing results? Are they able to give you a concise way they plan on getting your company the results you need to grow? Does their marketing plan touch on all the areas your business needs. A result driven marketing plan will always succeed.

Time Management:

Being there are so many different branches of marketing it is important to have a person or team that is able to manage their time in accordance to the marketing needs of your business. Some areas may be stronger than others and it is crucial to make sure the marketing team knows how to properly gauge their time.

Transparency:

This is the most critical aspect when looking for a marketing firm or person. As an entrepreneur, I want to be involved. I want to know your strategies, and at the end of the day I want to feel like we are a team. It is essential that the team or person that does your PR and marketing can be transparent through out the whole process. This will make you feel more confident in the work and plan they are implementing.

It is also key to remember to give financial compensation based on results that they produce not time spent. This will give your marketing team  or person the incentive to produce the growth and results you are looking for within your company.

In order to find the right people to join our team, I take dedicated and driven over experience and seasoned any day. If someone’s got it, they got it. A professional can have all the experience in the world but without the drive and dedication to grow my brand, my efforts could be all in vain. Of course it is ideal to find a good balance of both and by using the information above, I hope to make your find a little smoother.

 

Is Fear Your Worst Enemy?

Fear is the worst four little word in the world. It is the residual effect of so many other negative conditions that manifest in this world like hate, failure, anger, insecurities, etc. It affects people’s personal  lives and yes it can effect your business and its success and growth.

I will be the first to admit, starting your own business is scary as heck! I am in fear of losing the time, money and effort that I have invested in trying to make our business something great and lasting. It is not easy getting this collective off the ground but I have to learn how to shake it off and keep going.

Everyone will have doubt one way or another when starting any new journey or step in their life. Self doubt is not foreign if you are striving to be an entrepreneur or for that matter doing anything out of your comfort zone.

But is some fear healthy?

Can fear help guide you from making mistakes that could be detrimental to your business? And if there is healthy fear, how do you tell when it is or when it isn’t? These are questions I ask myself all the time. For example, it is healthy to fear getting burned by fire.
It will keep you safe and cautious, but the fear becomes unhealthy when it stops you from using fire because you are too scared of  getting burned.

Finding that balance of healthy and unhealthy fear can be tricky and it really does take confidence and love of self to figure it out. The best answer I have for you, is trust your gut! There are a few questions I always ask myself when I start feeling fearful when it comes to making any new or big business decision.

1. Ask yourself is the fear you are feeling when making a business decision reasonable or unreasonable?
2. Are they based off of facts or emotions?
3. Are your own personal insecurities enhancing these fears?

It is always good to have another person in your business that you can bounce ideas and decisions off of that might not be so emotionally invested. They can look at it from an outside perspective while as the business owner and creator, it will always be personal for you.

These are a few questions and tips I try to follow as I build Going 2 Natural. It doesn’t diminish my fears completely but it definitely helps get a handle on them which helps me determine which fears I should take heed to and which I should throw into the wind. Remember you are going to make mistakes, but if you don’t ever take a chance you will never truly know how high you and your business can fly.

Yes is Not Always the Answer

 Is it hard for you to say no? Are you a YES man or woman? Well if you are, it can really affect your business. Doing more and more, until the point where you get burned out or pushing your employees to do the same is not productive and can actually start to harm the quality of work produced. Not only will you suffer, your staff will suffer and ultimately your business will suffer. 

When looking for employees, you don’t want someone that just says yes to whatever you say or want. You need a critical thinker, someone that will question things that may not be right or could be improved upon. Or maybe they are able to bring you an idea that will create a smoother path to your goal; but if they are so busy trying to please “the boss” they lose focus on making sure the end outcome is as efficient and successful as possible. It will end up showing  in their work productivity.

I am always looking for team members that will challenge me, even as the CEO of Going 2 Natural. I want them to tell me their ideas, their concerns, as well as be able to not only point out problems they see in the present or future but also speak on them. If they are feeling overwhelmed or have too much on their plate, they need to be able to communicate this to me. We have an open door policy in our collective and it really makes the quality of work excel beyond measure. Of course there is always a balance as we do not want someone that does not know how to take instructions at all, but finding the middle ground is key. 

Sometimes it is okay to say “NO” and sometimes it will save your business from making some serious mistakes. Being a yes man never benefits anyone if that yes is lined with resentment, problems, or a better solution that will never be expressed.  Most people that always just tell the boss yes, don’t really care about the company’s long term goals and tend to not really listen to what is needed to take the business to the next step.

So take time to remember to lead with innovation,truth and the ability to not only say yes but to also say no. Your staff will see you lead by example and  take heed to the type of qualities you are looking for. Engage them and seek their opinions because it takes a village to build anything worth keeping.

 

Sources:

Kriegel, Robert J., and Louis Patler.  If It Ain’t Broke– Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World. New York: Warner, 1991. Print.

Wannabes DON’T Get the Job Done

Be yourself! That is what they always say. I have been hearing that since I was a kid, so taking  that lesson into our business has been quite beneficial. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to learn from others, but you have to find out what works for you.

Nobody ever really made it to top by being a wannabe. So what do I mean by a wannabe? In the work place there are some “who mirror a boss or someone in an higher position,”(Kriegel). Looking up to someone as a mentor, is totally different. Taking the knowledge you learned from someone else and using those skills to be a person that stands out in your industry is exactly what you are supposed to do. Trying to copy those in positions in power to the extent where you lose your sense of self and vision, means you lose the ability to be received as organic and genuine. In your industry, find your niche and roll with it. Create an idea that is totally refreshed or even better brand new! Believe you are enough.

So how do you determine if your a wannabe? I read an article on Forbes.com, Are You Only a Wannabe?  It made me analyze myself and see if there were any of these traits in my behavior, whether in my personal or work life. To be honest there were two. The one that stuck out in my mind the most, was afraid of success and the other one was doubt. I have to admit I do suffer from these downfalls, so reading this list really gave me an ahaa moment to self evaluate and remind myself I can do it. This made me want to share a quick overview of the list,  as I am sure this information is a great check list to help anyone stay focused and practice the type of behavior and lifestyle it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

1) Lack Goals: You know the type: Wannabes think success just happens. So they don’t create clear goals.

2) Don’t Make It a Habit: They claim it’s a calling. But it’s really a diversion. Wannabes talk a good game. Their words ooze with erudition and passion. But their habits reflect a commitment to something else entirely.

3) Always Comparing: Want to know the quickest path to losing your mind? Start comparing yourself to others.

4) Doubt: We’ve all heard it. It’s that inner voice: “You’re not smart enough.” “You don’t have the connections.” “It’s already been done.” “What happens if you fail?” “Isn’t this life good enough?” That voice questions your abilities. It sees what it is, not what could be. And it can only divine the downsides.

5) Get Defensive: Wannabes are defined by one trait: Fear. They shy away from criticism, terrified of having their precious handiwork examined.  When challenged, they close themselves off or lash out, claiming anyone who disagrees “just doesn’t understand.” .

6) Procrastinate: Wannabes don’t look forward to the work. So they find ways to put it off. Some wait for the “right time,” believing inspiration will somehow strike and the work will take care of itself.

7) Underestimate the Work: Here’s a secret: Wannabes are romantics. They picture a world where great ideas just pop up. Their work will somehow fill what’s missing from their lives. But here’s reality: The process is tedious, exhausting, and thankless. It’ll encompass countless false starts, difficulties, and disappointments.

8) Develop No Track Record: Many wannabes are full of ideas. They’re often pretty good. But here’s what separates the wannabes from the couldbes: Wannabes rarely finish. They spend their days gathering information, weighing, revising, polishing, and perfecting. But they rarely put anything out into the world.

9) Don’t Live in the Moment: You’ll find a wannabe anywhere but the present.  Some are jumping steps ahead, counting their future sales and building a trophy case.

10) Stop Improving:  They taste a little success. And it feeds into their worst instincts. Suddenly, these wannabes think they’re better than what they really are. They lose their edge.

11) Driven By the Wrong Reasons: They hitch their identities to certain paths without truly understanding why. Will is only as strong as the reasons that fuel it.

12) Won’t Ask for Help: Typically, wannabes are out to prove how smart and tough they are. So they go it alone and do it their way.

13) Not Always On: Talented people just can’t shut it off. Their minds are always churning with new ideas to expand and enhance their brand.

14) Care What Others Think: Every person who ever made a difference shares one trait: They didn’t listen to their doubters.

15) Afraid of Success: Pretty ironic, huh? Some wannabes are actually intimidated by a little success. Read full article.

In order to stay relevant and on top of the game in any business or industry, the entrepreneur must become good enough by continually  “smoldering, studying, experimenting, revising, inventing, and persevering. That’s the same formula that molded every pioneer from Sophocles to Steve Jobs. The doers understand one truth: Wannabes compare themselves while leaders separate themselves,” (forbes.com)

So lets be leaders that stand out from the rest in strength, hard work and passion my fellow entrepreneurs!

Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/02/25/are-you-only-a-wannabe-15-ways-to-tell/#4c4e9765201a

Kriegel, Robert J., and Louis Patler. “2.” If It Ain’t Broke– Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World. New York: Warner, 1991. N. pag. Print.

You Will Make Mistakes

“No matter how much you anticipate, do your homework, and prepare, prepare, prepare, one thing is certain: When you are taking risks, learning a new skill, trying something new, entering a new situation, developing a new idea, testing creative solutions, or challenging yourself in any situation . . . you will make mistakes!”, (Kriegal, Patler).

Ain’t that the truth!

As our collective is growing, G2N is having to leave its confront zone to get to the next step. And by G2N, I mean me and my husband. See my Going 2 Natural team members believe in us, believe in the vision, or they wouldn’t be dedicating their time and becoming so invested. They are ready to take the step. It is harder for me however, and sometimes just down right scary. The reality of the situation is, we have people depending on us and when we make a mistake it no longer just effects us, it effects everyone around us. That is damn right nerve racking. But the other reality is if we don’t keep challenging ourselves, pushing to the next level, our business will not succeed, it will not evolve.

One thing to count on is that we will make mistakes. But those mistakes will bring  positive growth and change. “Nobody learns to walk without falling,”(Kriegal, Patler).

Trial by error is really the only way a true entrepreneur learns the ropes. Yes experience helps, along with education and being prepared but learning from an oversight means that your dream is starting to manifest into a reality. It means you are brave enough to take the next step, which is an important factor when building your business.

Some oversights will be more severe than others and it is key to prepared and to be as knowledgeable as you possibly can before you make decisions for your business. Laying the ground work will definitely help to avoid a lot of mishaps; but you need to be easy on yourself when it happens and just make sure you really analyze how it went wrong in order to learn from it.

No matter how much you try to avoid it, you need to except that missteps are going to happen. The most vital lesson in a mistake is to find out what you did wrong and improve your method next time around so it doesn’t ever happen again. That is the key to turning failure into success. So be invested in your mistakes, learn from them, embrace the journey and every piece that comes along with it.

 

Sources:

Jantsch, John. “10 Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out.” Business Know-how. N.p., n.d. Web.

Take that Next Step!

You gotta know when to make a move, especially in business. It is important to be slow and steady when building a business, but its even more important to realize when it’s time to take that leap. A successful entrepreneur must know how to balance the steady with the risk. If you are too cautious you may stunt your growth but on the other hand if you to do much to soon, you could cut your nose off to spite your face.

So how do you know what is a good balance? I wish I could tell you there is a magic formula that will guide you to your road of business balance but I am afraid that is just not the case. The best advice that was given to me, I will give to you. Trust your gut! Listen to yourself, and have confidence that you can make the right the decisions. Yes, you will make some mistakes but without taking a chance, there NOT be a great reward.

You never hear of remarkable people playing it safe. They may play it smart, but safe…umm, I don’t think so. As Going 2 Natural grows, we are now entering a phase where chances must be taken with as much preparation as possible. The best answer I can give you, is to make sure all your I’s our dotted and T’s are crossed. Try and think of all the possible things that could go wrong and be proactive about the solutions you may be able to offer.

Take the steps that are needed to make sure to secure your choice as best as possible. Trouble shoot your decisions and don’t take them lightly but also know that you can only prepare for so much. Part of being a successful business owner is being able to think on your feet, and take a good situation and turn it around. That is the difference between a good entrepreneur and an exceptional one!

 

Sources:

Jantsch, John. “10 Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out.” Business Know-how. N.p., n.d. Web.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Many people are in fear of competition and worse of actually losing. If you change the game in your industry, then there will be none that can compare. Set your own rules and push your own limits. This makes for a great Entrepreneur.

Here are 10 Things YOU can do to make your business stand out!

Service – Same goes for a service. Many times this can be the packaging of a service as a product. Consulting is often delivered on an hourly basis. Packaging a consulting engagement based on an outcome, with defined deliverables and fixed package price is a very effective way to differentiate a service offering. Don’t forget to give the service a powerful name!

Product – Can you offer a product unique or even trendy that your business is associated with ? Or, can you extend a product and offer a valuable service to make the product more useful to the customer.

Market Niche – Carve out an industry or two and become the most dominant player serving that industry. A really nice bonus to this approach is you can usually raise your prices dramatically when you specialize in this manner.

Offer – Can you become known by an offer you make? I know an accountant that offer his tax preparation clients a 100% refund on their preparation fee when they refer four new clients. They are the 100% refund tax guys.

Solve a Problem – Is there something that prospects in your market fear or seem to believe is universal for what you do? If so, focus on communicating how you have the answer. Painless dentistry for example. I know a remodeling contractor who found that what his clients appreciated the most was the way his crews cleaned up at the end of the day. He began to promote the fact that he owned more ShopVacs then any other remodeling contractor on the planet.

Message of Value– Many times there are things that you do that don’t get communicated. Extra that you provide or services you think should be included. Your positioning might just rest in more effectively communicating what you do. I know an office furniture dealer that has adopted the message – We Make Your Business More Valuable – to communicate all the things they bring to the party. Now, everything they do is focused on delivering on that statement. Everyone else in the industry sells furniture.

Unique habit – I know a financial planner who has his client’s car detailed right out in his parking lot when they come in for their annual review. They can’t help but rave to their friends about this unique touch.

Guarantee – Can you offer a guarantee so strong that no one else in your industry would dream of doing it. This one frightens some people but, you probably guarantee your work anyway, you just don’t say so. Come out and boldly announce that you guarantee results and watch what happens!

Customer Service – Everyone knows the story of over the top customer service provided by Nordstrom’s Create your own over the top customer response system and word of mouth advertising will flow liberally. One of the greatest ways to kick this off is to over deliver on your first customer contact. Give them something more than you promised, give them a gift, give them a related service for free.

Against the competition – Many times you can create your category niche by looking for holes in the offerings of your competitors. If every one in industry fails to address a certain problem, boldly grab on to solving that problem and use your competition as the point of difference.

Clues to uncovering your difference
Look at your current clients. What common elements exist among your best clients? Interview your clients. See if they can tell you why they chose to work with, why they stay, why they refer? Study your competitors more closely. What do they do that you could do better, what don’t they offer they you could, how do they position themselves?

Communicate the difference
Once you find your chosen strategy or combination of strategies to differentiate your business, all of your advertising and promotion should be centered around shouting about that difference. Courtesy of businessknowhow.com

As you can see there is are number of ways you and your business can stand out from the crowd. Creativity and thinking outside of the box can really take your idea to the next level.  It takes dedication, time and passion in order to be one step ahead of your competitors. So what will you do to make your business stand out?

Sources:

Kriegel, Robert J., and Louis Patler. “2.” If It Ain’t Broke– Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World. New York: Warner, 1991. N. pag. Print.

Jantsch, John. “10 Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out.” Business Know-how. N.p., n.d. Web.

Leading With Passion

Many say success is merely in the numbers and if you have the right equation there is no way you can lose. I beg to differ. Passion is the true key to have the perseverance in order to build a business from the ground up. Yes you need a plan. Yes, you need a good team. Yes, you need to have knowledge of the industry you plan on entering, but you need to have passion which makes you stand out from the rest. The light at the end of the tunnel is the passion that drives many businesses into becoming multi-million dollar enterprises.

“The thing that makes the difference between a good manager and an inspiring, dynamic leader goes beyond competence. It’s passion. That is the single quality the is going to lift a person head and shoulders above the rest in these tough times,” ( Kriegel, Patler p13).

Everyone has good ideas, heck even great ones. Some may even have the same idea or a similar one to you. Everyone on this earth is capable of being a dreamer but passion is what makes the difference between a dreamer and a doer. The only way to supersede above the rest is to hold a deeper drive, dedication and patience that is truly needed to succeed. There will be many people in your industry that are equipped with the experience to build a thriving company so in order to stand out from the crowd, you must have a zest that other do not possess.

Many angel investors are looking for a person with fire in their heart over years of experience; who is able to learn and grow with the dedication needed to succeed. Starting a business is not easy and there are a lot of bumps along the way. What will keep you going? What will give you the drive to make your dream a reality? These are the questions that an investor or people joining your start up will ask themselves.  An investor is looking for someone that can make a mountain out of a molehill. Someone that will think outside of the box because failure is just not an option. What makes these characteristics and determination shine, it is passion.

Your passion will also inspire others that join your team, which is crucial when you want your business to not only be good but to be exceptional. So how do you keep yourself motivated when times get tough. As a leader, you do have to pay attention to the details and never cut corners to be above the rest, but you also must have the wherefore all to be able to envision the bigger picture. Your ultimate goal. The biggest challenge in this is to actually believe you can do it and that you deserve the success that is in store for you. If you don’t believe in yourself, then how can you convince anyone else to believe in you.

Leading with passion is very important in order to take your dream from an idea into a tangible business. Learning to use your passion wisely to keep your fire burning will take your business to heights that you never imagined it could reach.

Sources:

Kriegel, Robert J., and Louis Patler. “2.” If It Ain’t Broke– Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World. New York: Warner, 1991. N. pag. Print.

 

Leave Off Right

“Don’t burn your bridges” is a famous saying I am sure almost everyone as heard or will hear sometime in their life. The importance of actually following this saying can really help your new start-up in the long run. When someone in business  or at your job has not been the best to you, that doesn’t mean you can not be the best to them. Even if it’s on the way out the door.

This can be especially true when you leave your current job and start your quest to be an entrepreneur. “If your former colleagues believe in your entrepreneurial vision, they could become your first investors, clients, business partners, employees, and referral sources. In today’s startup scene, you need cross-industry skills more and more: tech people can create great food startups, finance experience can help support education startups, etc,(inc.com).

It is a smart business decision to make sure you have as many professional contacts as possible and they are in good standing because when you venture out on your own, you never know who will come into your path in the future. Here are some tips to maintaining a positive outcome and business relationship when you are quitting your job:

1. Give Ample Notice – Nothing can make a company more upset than when an employee doesn’t give enough notice, as this takes away their ability to prepare for your departure and start the hiring process to replace you. While the average notice length is two weeks, try to give more if you can. Giving ample notice can remind your current job that you’re professional, responsible, and trustworthy. And you might need those positive feelings in your future professional endeavors.

2. Be Open to Contract Work – If you know your company will be in a bind once you leave, offer to work on a freelance or contract basis. This can be regular and steady contract employment, as an as-needed basis, or until they hire someone to fill your previous position. This can make the transition smooth for both you and the company.

3. Wrap Up Before You Leave – While it’s important to give adequate notice before leaving, you should also put in some extra effort to make sure you’ve completed all of your big projects or responsibilities. This can include training someone else or finishing it yourself. Again, it all comes to back to avoiding leaving your company in a lurch. Most companies will look on you leaving more kindly when you take care of your duties before you leave.

4. Make it Official – You can simply tell you boss you’re leaving, but it’s important to leave a paper trail. So, make it official. Write and submit a resignation letter that can be easily shared with upper management. In the resignation letter, be polite, professional, and stick to the facts. Also, it helps if you thank them for the opportunity they gave you and the skills they helped you to improve. No matter your position with the company, leave on a positive note rather than pointing out their management faults.

5. Be Ready to Train – When it comes to hiring a replacement, some companies are slower than others. If your company finds your replacement during your last few weeks, be ready and willing to train that new person. If a replacement isn’t chosen, create training materials specific to your job duties and responsibilities. When your company is ready to hire someone new, they won’t have to worry about being ill-prepared. This may even include you sitting in on the interviews and being a part of the selection process. (http://theamericangenius.com)

It’s is never easy to take a chance, leave your job and become an entrepreneur. But leaving in a way that is fair and thoughtful is always better than trying to leave in a blaze of glory. That doesn’t ever seem to work out as expected. As a entrepreneur we must have confidence but we also want to have a balance of humility and accountability. Building good relationships now before you leave your job may really pay off in the end for your start-up.

Sources:

Schussler, Steve. “8.” It’s A Jungle In There. New York: Union Square, 2010. 61. Print.

Jimenez, Charlene. “Quit Your Job to Be an Entrepreneur without Burning Bridges.” The American Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. <http://theamericangenius.com/entrepreneur/quit-your-job-to-be-an-entrepreneur-without-burning-bridges/&gt;.

Yashchin, Avi. “Best Advice I Ever Got: Don’t Burn Bridges.” INC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. <http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/best-advice-i-ever-got-don-t-burn-bridges.html&gt;.