Something to consider from experience…
You can be the best writer, web designer, or coder in the world but if your client cannot articulate the end goal then what do you really have. Put Simply: a mess, a confusing and long-winded email chain, which really doesn’t do anyone any good. Frustrating.
A good final product starts with a client that knows what they want:
My most recent client sent me a list of websites the night before a scheduled call. I looked at each of them and studied their capabilities and their user experiences. The next day was possibly the most productive call I’ve ever been a part of. We discussed each website, what to emulate, what to leave out and ultimately ended with a plan. I submitted 3 potential proofs, one was chosen and it was completed and online within 10 days.
A complete client fairy tail in less than 100 words. It worked so seamlessly that anyone who approaches me with a project gets the same directions. It goes something like this.
Client: Hey Brian I need a website to bring me into this decade, my company handles home roofing.
Me: That sounds great and I can build you one. Let me ask you? Do you have competitors with websites in the area?
Client: Yes of course.
Me: Could you take a moment to look at their websites and report back with things you like and didn’t like so we can have a common starting point?
Client: Sure.
It’s that easy. Now before me and said client have a huge discussion accomplishing nothing we will have some examples and a starting point from which I can build a proposal. Apply this to any working relationship. This way, before I even have to consider a proposal I have examples of exactly the site they are looking for. Most websites are not innovative like Facebook or unique like Twitter. So for something like a roofing company or a pharmaceutical you’re creating a simple and efficient user experience. Easy to use, simple to navigate and with the right steps painless to go from idea to finished product.

Building vs. Burning Bridges

The ability to open the right door can be the determination between success and failure. Making sure you leave a pleasant impression is often all you need to be remembered. Each time you pick up the phone or shake a new hand you are representing your brand or company. It is important to remember that your personality and attitude determine much of your success. Many companies get right to the point of a relationship, Products and Sales. One way to differentiate your for-profit company is to begin with a charitable approach.

Using my company as an example we have created a business model that will create a great revenue stream, but instead of going right for the sales we have built a reputation around our business in its home town of Salem, MA delivering for local charities. This is an underrated way to build powerful relationships within your home city. Using our charity events “Witchtoberfest” and “TieDressFest” we have built relationships with many companies and political offices because of the legal requirements set by the city. Instead of going right in with our business plan we open by explaining the charitable event we are having which inevitably leads to a discussion about our main revenue stream.

Charity Events

• Build relationships with local businesses
• Build relationships with charity networks
• Meet all of the important political offices

Now that we have a reputation with the city it is easy to bring events to fruition. “Jumping the line” is just what it sounds like. Instead of waiting for employees to tell managers and managers to tell owners, we just call the owners. It is easy to appreciate how much time that saves. When we push to build our main revenue stream these contacts will be invaluable and the reputation we have with these businesses almost sells our product for us.

Using technology terms, “initial adopters” are very important, right? If you have contacts with business owners that would love to support you, this group forms itself. They will champion your business and your company will become the talk of the chamber of commerce.

In terms of strategy this is easy enough to implement but maybe hosting charity events is not your cup of tea. Maybe you could get involved with local charity events. You wouldn’t be putting in all the effort but you still become part of the network and your reputation will still grow.

As the business cogs start to turn for Million Dollar Box Truck, my business partner and I have been the participants in many rounds of the waiting game. It has become obvious to me that we went about our new venture a little bit backwards. Reasonably we thought that we should wait until it was the center of our focus, the one thing on our minds. Wrong…

Boring = Forgotten

I think that the problem with our approach was the lack of experience between the both of us. Of course we have had the training of a fine institution and lots of “case” experience. What they fail to mention is the paperwork… I would liken it to trying to run, on ice, with no skates. You’re not necessarily going backwards, but that doesn’t mean you’re moving forwards either. There are a number of filings that stand guard to a full-fledged corporation. Each filing takes a unique amount of time.

Start now or pay the price!

Although we are not always sure of our ideas, if you are at all considering a company with a little certainty be sure to start the paperwork immediately.

We are always wrapped up in “brainstorming” or the exciting parts of a potential company but someone needs to be mindful of the paperwork which is necessary to keeping the company going. It doesn’t matter how amazing your business is if it is illegal. The IRS is not a government agency I ever want to see on my doorstep.

Find a way to master the paperwork

Although it is boring, it is a requirement. Therefore decide who will be master of the paperwork and make sure that that person has their head on straight. Some tax agencies as a value statement to clients have produced a how to manual for their respective states. If it is possible find that document and read it multiple times. If they are up to date they outline the steps necessary to avoid penalties and make the most of your time.

When you productivity is based on the cooperation of another person, much is sacrificed in the way of efficiency. Luckily there are some quick tips to help us improve upon the productivity of working relationships. These tips can apply to many relationships, and they need to be implemented because we only have 24 hours a day.

1. Organize your tasks into lists; use this list to keep track of each of your most important obligations. Most new phones have a calendar function. I find that using the alarm part of the calendar is most helpful. This tool allows me to forget about an obligation until it is relevant.
2. When a phone call to an associate is necessary, use another list to remind you of all the topics that need to be covered in the call. Simply trying to remember everything is inefficient unless you have an elephant brain. This trick allows you to minimize phone time and phone calls. It also keeps your associate on task longer without breaking their concentration.
3. Structure your day grouping phone calls with other distracters together while keeping tasks you have to perform separate to avoid breaking your focus. I would start with the phone calls to clear your mind of obligations, which require focus.
4. Make the most of non-productive obligations. Delegation of tasks, phone calls, tweets, and status updates along with other similar tasks may be necessary for your brand as well as your company, but make sure they are accomplished efficiently. Each one of these examples has their time wasting hazards; it is easy to get sucked into catching up on the phone for a few minutes or monitoring your Twitter or Facebook feed. Accomplish what is necessary and move on to your productive tasks. Many times it is recommended that these tasks are preformed during a certain time and day of the week to minimize the amount you have to worry about them. This method also teaches associates and acquaintances that you are not at their beck and call.
5. Business relationships are helpful in many situations but they are huge time wasters in other specific situations. Make the most of your productive time periods by disconnecting; don’t look at your email, Twitter, Facebook, or really anything that is updated frequently. Disconnecting is a great way to focus and accomplish tasks in the quickest time possible, freeing you to move on.

Master these quick tips as well as create some of your own to build the most powerful and productive business relationships. Associates and acquaintances are helpful additions to your network, but used improperly hinder your own productivity. Make sure these relationships help more than hinder.

Utter these words and be prepared for silence. This question is one of the hardest to answer. How do we know if the path we are currently traveling is the right path for us? Using the words of Machiavelli, how many of our choices are based on the ends instead of the means? I think the best acid test is to question your immediate happiness. If this action or decision doesn’t make you happy, is it worth completing?

Specifically?

Using this job market as a case study, you can almost taste the depression. A while back I read Timothy Ferriss’s 4-Hour Work Week. In it he describes his “mini-retirements,” short month long vacations that allow him to enjoy his dreams. He outlines the costs of one of theses retirements and it is often much less than the expenses experienced state side. He travels through multiple continents on the search for his ultimate passions. Sometimes focusing inward is the only way to figure out what truly makes us happy. For better or worse we work for over 40 years of our lives. Can you imagine the innovation and emotional gain from investing those hours in a company that we own and are truly passionate about? Maybe instead of a constant grind month after month in search of a job, a mini-retirement would allow unemployed workers the ability to find and cultivate their true passions. Using this method we could avoid the high costs of our premium living, enjoy a unique culture and learn from another group of people while doing some valuable soul searching.

The Viewpoint

My opinions are shaped by the consistent creation of new and more exciting ideas, most of which I want to start right now. Although there is a general plan for execution none of them involve a boss, all of them are unique and each are possible at the right point in life. This entrepreneurial ADD involves a lot of time and energy but it embodies a certain freedom enjoyed by a relatively small population. With unemployment reaching all time highs, why not take advantage of the government welfare and create a company that you enjoy sweating for? There is nothing to lose currently; I would argue those without jobs are the ones who are truly free. A salary traps employees, and in the same way a wild stallion is broken, we are conditioned to live for that deposit that occurs every two weeks. It is almost frightening to walk away from, a world of uncertainty and imagined pain awaits those that turn away from their corporate check.

Newly freed graduates and employees should embrace this new opportunity for happiness. Use your first few months of unemployment for the creation of a venture that you will love and appreciate for the rest of your life.

Meticulous and task-oriented, this human battles through thick and thin making crucial decisions and completing all tasks thrown his/her way. I find that the most crucial moment in the life of a task-oriented person is the point where they face a hardship that they are not prepared for. Many times in life we will face a great challenge without the tools we need for success. These trials require a different side of the task-oriented champion. I know that within each of us is the ability to adapt to the most adverse conditions.

Insurmountable is a word that many entrepreneurs don’t know the meaning of, we see what we know is possible and charge. When the unstoppable force meets the immovable object we often charge repeatedly. One such occasion was when a client I knew needed my help but refused to see my reason; I tried repeatedly as stated to no avail. With this client on my mind I decided that I should table that issue and help one of their friends I knew I could reach. With the completion of that task the client’s friend helped me reach my initial client. I adapted to the situation and found a strategic way to reach the client I initially wished to help. Although this isn’t a complex example, in the eyes of my client I lacked the tools needed to be worthy of their business. After reaching out to one of their acquaintances I proved myself and gained the tools for entry.

Our greatest hardships are caused by circumstances that force us to use tools we do not already posses. Adapting to these requirements is not an easy task but it is necessary for our survival as well as our personal progression. Without these challenges we would become one dimensional or vulnerable. These tasks represent opportunities to gain the upper hand on our competition. He who adapts fastest will always succeed.

Missing the tools for success is often a crippling experience, as entrepreneurs we often count on ourselves to provide the fuel for growth. Why not in this experience? We have all the resources to learn at our fingertips. I’ve found that with the help of my laptop there is no question I could not answer.

Natural selection is the process by which we became the dominant species. We continue to evolve, maybe not physically but within our competitive business environment each business and leader needs to find ways to pursue that top spot on the food chain. Adaptation is the method to our success; use all of your resources to continue to stay relevant. Ask your clients, peers, and the authorities in your field. Each source will provide its own perspective on the subject allowing another opportunity to adapt and stay ahead of the curve.

“I think I want to be a hedge fund manager.” These were the words that led me to business school. Before the utterance of these words to my mother, I wandered through high school like many of my friends. No interesting cocktail stories of a passionate startup at the age of 18, although there were many good times. Did you know that most hedge fund managers are applied mathematics majors, cause I didn’t. Strike one. On the other hand this decision led me to Bryant University, a decision I cannot regret. I made great friends and had a good time. But that isn’t what college is for, or so we are led to believe by our parents. We are supposed to study hard and get a job. That’s it. I wonder what the rest of the jobless seniors are planning for summer 2010.

Each of us has a unique moment of enlightenment, that “aha” moment that sets in motions the motivation to pursue a path in life. Our family, friends and circumstances shape us constantly. I’ve fallen in with a particularly entrepreneurial group, for a long time I’ve known that I have the drive to run and create my own business. I can create my own story, not be a cog is a massive machine. Patrick Sargent my business partner and one of my most trusted confidants has been invaluable in the evolution of my psyche. We are a canvas that is constantly changing; so many people are close-minded to change. They reject change like an infectious disease. We should strive to change as many times as necessary to find happiness, and college is the perfect time for this “evolution.”

Million Dollar Box Truck

What has this evolution set in motion for me? (Read by Morgan Freeman, monologue style) Picture this, a park, New York’s Central Park, the perfect venue for the best night of your life. Imagine a box truck, like one you’ve never seen before, a piece of art, surrounded by a waist high fence and security guards, outfitted with enough lights and speakers to be seen from space. Around this fence shoulder to shoulder, New York’s most passionate music fans. They have gathered for the most epic day and night of music New York has ever seen, featuring up and coming artists as well as musical royalty. This is the Penultimate seen for the box truck, after this legendary concert the box truck hits the road to share its story with young new entrepreneurs.

Regress to the beginning, two entrepreneurs set out to make history in the marketing profession. Start a company; build it from nothing into one million in ad revenue in 100 days. “100 days to 1 million dollars.” Using passion and hustle they sell ad space on this mobile work of art to companies looking to be part of a story that will awe and inspire.

Sound interesting? For more information click the link and follow our journey (Twitter).

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.