I was talking with my friend Kathy over lunch who had a clever idea for a business but did not believe she had the skills necessary to execute it. This made me think of how most people believe successful people are multi-skilled individuals with jack-of-all trade talents and abilities. But the truth is one of the most ubiquitous trait of a successful business owner is being able to find and keep the right people for the right jobs.
Successful businesses attract the right talent. Therefore, becoming a talent magnet should be at the top of every manager’s list. Here are three habits you should cultivate in order to create a team of talented individuals:
1. Build relationships with talented people before you need them. Don’t wait until you need someone with a specific skill before engaging with such a person. For example, you might be able to handle your own accounting now, but when your business grows you’ll want a talented and reliable accountant to handle that end of your business. Never stop networking in your industry. Determine who has the talent are and what inspires them about their work. Cultivate these relationships early because they will come in handy later.
2. Emphasize [...]
By Ja-Naé Duane
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Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Uncategorized
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Also tagged business, entrepreneurs, how to start a business, leadership, small business, the freelancer, wahm, working from home
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I ran into an old friend at a recent networking event who has worked at an office for many years. Probably his biggest complaint about the business world is the constant meetings. How often do we hear about meetings where nothing is accomplished and everyone feels like they wasted their time? It’s become an office cliché. There’s even a website called meetordie where you can determine just how much money a business wastes on an unproductive meeting.
But, believe it or not, meetings were originally intended to serve a purpose. And, whether we like it or not, meetings are a necessary evil for just about any business to get work done.
However, that doesn’t mean we can’t improve on the concept of meetings and make them valuable to you and your attendees. Follow these four steps to make your meetings more meaningful:
1. The fewer the better. Getting everyone’s input can be valuable, but when time is of the essence it just isn’t worth it to invite that guy who works in the mail room. Keep attendance limited to just the people who are directly involved in the meeting’s objectives. Before sending out the meeting memo, ask yourself if all the people cc’ed [...]
My buddy Luke is having trouble collecting from a client of his. The client wants him to continue doing work, but has not paid him for the work he has already done. As a freelancer, every single dollar means the world to him. Like many small business owners, Luke has to feed his family at the end of the day.
Has this ever happened to you? Does it still. Well, you are absolutely not alone. Most of the entrepreneurs that I know deal with this in one form or another. Even me.
So, when you’re trying to do the right thing by your client and still keep yourself in business, where is the line drawn? What could you have done even before the work began?
Mike Monteiro doesn’t mess around when it comes to collecting payment. In his Creative Mornings video, “F*ck You. Pay Me” he shares some hilarious insight into his strategies for collective payment for creative service industries. Check it out:
2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. from SanFrancisco/CreativeMornings on Vimeo.
Here are some familiar and irrational excuses he’s heard from clients. Do any of them sound familiar:
“We ended up not using the work”
“Really not what we wanted after all”
“We got [...]
I have a friend who has acquired many different skills, from automobile repair to computer programming. One time when I asked him where he learned so many skills, his answer was simple – he taught himself through “trial and error.” He allowed himself to fail until he learned the skill.
This has made me think a lot about failure and how important it is to allow yourself to fail. All of my successes have come from failure. Projects never end up the way I originally intend, people who seemed like they could be accountable could not, and businesses took longer to make a profit than I had anticipated.
But the English language has made us equate failing with being a failure, when in fact failing is necessary in order to succeed. If we never allow ourselves to fail, then, unless we are born perfect, we’ll never attempt to learn or do anything that risks failure. When I started my first business, I made many mistakes and “failures” before I got it right. I didn’t give up or get discouraged because I understood that failing was just a step towards success. And I was right.
In order to succeed, you must allow yourself to [...]
April 11, 2011 – 10:06 am
This morning, I spoke to a group of women entrepreneurs over breakfast. After the talk, one of them came up to me and asked how I assess risk. She disclosed that she had a few businesses and they have never really taken off the way she thought they would. She asked me what I would do if I was in her situation.
That’s easy for me to answer, because I’ve been in that situation many times! There are a ton of ideas that I thought would be good project and ventures – and they just weren’t. I’ve had ideas crash and burn just like everyone. It’s all part of the process and it led and led to a lot of trial and error (and a loss of money).
Fortunately, I have learned from these experiences and developed a system for what businesses I start and how I invest in them. And now you can benefit from my mistakes and experience by following my rules:
1. Less is More. When I am assessing a new product or service, I determine the value of the minimum product or service I can create to shop around. How can I bundle the most minimal version and [...]
My good friend Chuck is a big ideas guy. You know, one of those guys who has about 15 fantastic ideas a day. But when he starts to implement them, he often stops suddenly, usually right before the work finally pays off. Why? Maybe it’s a loss of interest, or new projects come up, or it’s just a lack of follow-through required to be successful. So, when we sit down and talk, he wonders why he isn’t as successful as he thinks he should be and cannot understand why.
Sound familiar? Maybe like someone you know or are.
Allow me to let you in on a big secret that I have learned through my own countless trial and error. Successful people do not necessarily have some incredible talent, skill, or ability that makes them a success. They simply have learned to deal with the biggest obstacle in the way of success, themselves.
Why does Chuck, and a lot of people you and I both probably know, so often abandon big ideas when they are so close to completion? The reason might be because of how we feel about our goals and dreams. Dreaming of success makes us feel better about ourselves. But if [...]
November 10, 2010 – 9:12 am
I bet we’ve all had our fair share of dates who give off mixed signals. They hold your hand, look deeply into your eyes, kiss you goodnight—and then you never hear from them again. Or that friend who always seems excited to see you, but consistently declines your lunch invitations. It can leave your head spinning. Unfortunately, this is a problem in business, too, with clients who tell you one thing but expect something totally different. In today’s podcast, “Are You Sending Mixed Signals?”, I ask you to take a look inward to see if you are guilty of giving off a confusing message.
I’d like to hear from you! What do you do when you receive mixed signals from someone?
Connect with Ja-Naé on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
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Looking to start a business or own a small business? Please consider reading my book, How to Start Your Business with $100. You should find what you’re looking for.
By Ja-Naé Duane
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Posted in Entrepreneurship, Podcasts
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Also tagged business, entrepreneurs, freelance, freelancers, freelancing, small business, starting a business, wahm, women and entrepreneurs, working from home
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October 25, 2010 – 10:36 am
It’s crazy how many small business owners I meet who are paralyzed by their fears. Do I know enough to start a business? Will I be able to feed my family while I’m launching my freelance career? Am I making a good impression at networking events? Believe me, I have been in your shoes, and in today’s podcast, I talk about the small steps that helped me to move forward past my fears.
What fears have been holding you back? What are some of your tips for pushing past that paralysis we all have felt at one time or another? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below!
Connect with Ja-Naé on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
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Looking to start a business or own a small business? Please consider reading my book, How to Start Your Business with $100. You should find what you’re looking for.
October 4, 2010 – 12:44 pm
When I started my own business, one of the challenges I faced was how to effectively use social media to build a community around my brand. And that was before the Facebook-Twitter explosion! Now, with so many social media opportunities, it can seem a daunting task to the small business owner to create and grow a following. This is especially true for freelancers, whose services may appeal to a small níche audience. For my inaugural podcast to kick off my “How to Start Your Business with $100” Book Tour, I discuss “Ways to Build a Community”. Have a listen below, try out my suggestions, then let me know how it goes by leaving a comment.
Hope to see you on my tour! Remember to check out my companion blog, The Biz100 Tour, for tour dates and special announcements.
By Ja-Naé Duane
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Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship
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Also tagged entrepreneurs, freelance, freelancer, freelancers, how to start a business, how to start a business with $100, Ja-Nae, small business, social media, social media 101, social media basics
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September 14, 2010 – 10:26 pm
In an age of instantaneous communication, web and video conferencing and powerful online collaborative and project management tools, the home office has become THE office for more and more people. And, of course, many entrepreneurs and small business owners especially start off working from home.
Not only is it a great way to keep costs down when starting your business with limited cash flow, working from home can also be a productive and flexible work option, too. What’s more, working from home allows for greater control of consumption and energy use—an added karmic point that makes the deal even sweeter.
As an entrepreneur on the go splitting my time between two states and a plethora of projects, I’ve become a pro at working from home (and the coffee shop, and the car, and park benches in between meetings, and … you get the idea) and I’ve decided to share some insight. Here is part one of my top 50 favorite ways to save money while working from home that are also good for the environment…
Never underestimate the value of your work—tap your social networks to pose a trade of a few hours of your time and services in exchange for a used [...]
By Ja-Naé Duane
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Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship
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Also tagged business, eco friendly, entrepreneurs, environmentally conscious, green business, Moms work from home, saving money, saving tips, small business, tips for saving money, wahm, work from home, working from home
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