The question faced by providers continually is the obligation to their customers, versus the obligation to shareholders. Torn between profits and the ability to provide quality products. Customers expect the truth from their providers in terms of service, quality, and performance. Each large corporation faces the so-called principal-agent problem of incentives; the beauty is that this “problem” is avoided by small business.

Assuming your business is small enough to avoid bureaucracy, there is a distinct opportunity to provide your customers with a superior product. As a business you no longer have to worry about your bond ratings or your stock prices, you need only worry about your customers. This does not avoid the inequality of knowledge afforded by your ability to be seen as an expert in your field. By leading your customer to believe you have the ability to “know what’s best” you can basically tell them anything and they will believe you. The consumer in a generalized term is easy to fool; consider how many people buy items from shopping networks. There is no comparison; it is purely based on impulse and the ability of the advertiser to convince you that you need the item. Based on this life example how many of those necessities end up discarded or unused?

Back to the point, as a business owner, expert or consultant, you have the ability to show your clients or customers a new world of truth. This may be a little utopian but the fact remains that the small business that that grow into big businesses have provided their customers with products that are best in class, and not driven solely by profit margins.

Look inward towards your product, or service, your content if you are a blogger; honestly consider whether you provide a meaningful and honest service. Is it worth the price you render or have you created an effective sales funnel based on profits? Whatever the answer remember the truth often reveals itself in not to subtle ways usually ending in catastrophe for the small business.

Establishing yourself as an expert is easy with a little homework, establishing reputability for your corporate identity is another matter, one slip and you’re tossed to the curb. The incentive for a small business owner should not only be the check he or she writes to himself at the end of the year but also their ability to provide for their customers in an honorable way.

Measure your success in the positive impact you have on the community, not only by the number of zeros in your bank account.

Honesty…

Use your words, the most basic and obvious form of communication. Don’t be subtle with hints, don’t talk behind peoples back, get right to the point and solve your problems.

An honest explanation and heartfelt confrontation is much better than a drawn out miserable excuse for a relationship. This applies to any correspondence you may have in your life. People are so set on sparing feelings that nothing gets accomplished, I’ve found that when you consider some ones habits, honestly with that person they are relieved someone has told them. You have found a way to improve their character. Chances are that you are not the only person that finds their actions debilitating.

Weigh your options, deal with the transgression indefinitely or solve the problem with an admittedly difficult conversation. If you haven’t removed these people from your lives with my previous tip about negative influences, you must be either A: stuck with them or B: you care about them. Either situation there is a need for honesty in any relationship, the more you hide the more you hurt. You may not be affecting the person intentionally but the relationship is suffering. With your conversation comes personal growth, learn from each other, the environment you create is in your hands. Do you live in a closed, hushed circle, or are you loud, and honest. The latter is the option you want!

The Approach…

Just as Steve Erwin stalked the great alligator, you must take care not to put them on the defensive, the last thing you want is a huge confrontation. This is supposed to be nurturing, don’t be condescending, or childish. This should be a mature conversation between adults. Let them know your concerns and speak your mind, and if the relationship isn’t going to last, find out now instead of dragging it out.

He’s A Jerk!

Its true that men are often terrible at receiving criticism, we have to look after our egos after all! When you confront someone they may refuse to take your advice as criticism, they may see it as an attack. They may just be a jerk, or unwilling to change for you.

Being the honorable and honest person, you should take the higher ground and like Gandhi G turn the other cheek, or find a way to remove them from your life.

Success!

You have helped them grow and maybe learned some things about yourself you didn’t know, maybe you have some bothersome habits, which disrupt productivity. Humans are creatures based on interaction, the better your interaction the more pleasure derived from life. That’s my goal… pleasure… ok that was creepy but you get the point.

Everyone breathes networking!

Although it is one of most crucial pieces to any profitable venture or business career, there is a base group of people who are available 24 hours a day who support, motivate, and entertain you. This could be your mentors, friends, business partners, parents, and siblings.

Mentors

Although your mentor chose to donate their time to you in the hopes of passing their expertise down to you, you have some responsibilities to them. Fulfill the goals they help you set, or if you don’t, make sure you have devoted enough time to understand why you missed your goal so that you may improve and succeed in the future. Make sure you have committed sufficient time to each task they feel is important. Mentorship doesn’t only have to be a one-way street, try to find a way to return the favor; one of the easiest paths would be promoting your mentor through your network.

Friends

Although your infectious personality attracts many types of people that are considered friends, everyone has a group they know they could always turn to. This group should consist of likeminded individuals who have their own ambitions and goals. This group should not consist of people who drain you mentally, they should uplift, entertain, and inspire. You should be excited to see them every chance you get and know they will do anything they can to help!

Business Partners

Finding business partners is a critical process in the creation of a venture, a partner has a vested interest in your success, this member of your circle is very important as you are both mutually dependant. Make sure this relationship is beneficial to both parties and that your personalities mesh well. Although this merely scratches the surface of partnership make sure that you are doing everything you can to help your business partner succeed and they will do the same.

Parents

As a young entrepreneur your parents may be one of the most important pieces of your network, there are many ways to help your parents succeed, an understanding of internet marketing may be one. Although my mother is the definition of a networker, she doesn’t have the computer proficiency to manage social networking, one way I helped her grow is the creation of her social networks such as LinkedIn, and Twitter. By teaching your parents new outlets for their talents you are providing them new ways to connect and build their brand.

Siblings

Bound by blood! Too dramatic? Well, your siblings present a unique opportunity, they have distinct similarities and differences, maybe your morals and ethics are similar providing a great business parallel, or your specialties provide a unique opportunity for a symbiotic relationship. Whatever the connection as part of your circle your siblings provide a safety net that comes in handy when your newest venture proves to be your latest failure. They are there to rebuild your confidence and reignite the engines until your ready to try again.

Your “inner” circle is the core group of people who protect and uplift you, look in every direction, who is always there for you? Make sure you’re doing everything you can to uplift your “inner” circle and you’ll find people all too willing to return the favor.

Share your story with us! Leave a comment J

This is one damn passionate entrepreneur network, read my favorite blog post for an exceptionally motivating discussion about our Gen-Y “predicament.” The leaders of this community of brand builders beg “gen-y” to “stop doing sh*t you hate,” and I can sympathize with their story.

Currently as a college senior I am facing the same binding situation, graduation, what do I do!?! My parents constantly nag about job interviews; if I have a plan, sigh. Then I remember I’ve already decided to start a venture with a close friend.

For those who haven’t decided on a path or are working currently on a growing concern this network is for you. It offers everything you need from finding mentors, the “Rock Star Series” of courses, blog articles not to mention the most valuable piece the ambitious team that built the network. This community is a total package with leaders who actively make themselves available for mentorship, quick tips or networking.

The community not only has the traditional methods of connection such as twitter, Facebook, newsletter, and a blog, they also offer the ability to create a profile that connects you to other entrepreneurs of varying abilities. Connect to the “Rock Star Series” and become a member of an active forum. Like I said everything! You wont find a more friendly or helpful network. Join the network you wont regret it!

Find me on Under30CEO.com and “Live The Dream!”

Don’t forget the ones you love, the people who support you are the key to your success. They create your most powerful network. When you forget about them or lose focus, don’t be surprised to find yourself alone in a world that is sometimes unwelcoming.

In one of my most ambitious moments I found that I was being bombarded with extra projects, none of which were my own. I found myself, saying “No.” I believe myself to be a positive person, and this seemed to go against everything that creates my reality. A new path was required to fuel success, if an opportunity to help another presents itself, accept.

There must be limits; you cannot accept every opportunity, right? I’ve found that when you make time for others they go out of their way to find opportunities to help you, sometimes without asking! Following this path has lead to more connections, projects, and experience, without these events your life remains empty.

Create an accepting and positive aura around you, people gravitate to you and you find yourself with more opportunities for success.

I found this website through my constant use of Twitter, its addicting right? It works though; I’m convinced that Twitter will soon over take the news in terms of usefulness. I constantly get updates on senate votes and major overseas events through Twitter.

I digress, Kiva is a micro loan organization that allows supremely wealthy people like you or me (wink) the ability to provide seed money for entrepreneurs in emerging markets, from essentially anywhere you can think of. This is not a donation! You actually receive repayment (normally) within the period of the loan.

All you have to do is create an account on Kiva.org and start lending; just like a banking institution you can use your “micro” loans to finance expansion of emerging markets. The beauty of it is that the minimum loan is $25 so virtually anyone can lend to a small business. The loans are aggregated and disbursed through their lending network. It even accepts PayPal!

I know it sounds like a sales pitch but I was reminded of this by an email that said that I had received my first repayment! Which was $3.50 by the way. Personally I’m not a fan of giving my money away but this allows you to make a loan, with no interest to an entrepreneur who is actively enriching his or her own community.

Use the wealth you have created to actively impact the life of someone around the world, as the entrepreneur produces profits the loans are paid back and you are able to loan them out again. This is a great way to fuel economic expansion in emerging markets without donating your money. It promotes expansion through hard work instead of through pure charity, which I personally Love!