The Rule that Rules the Rules
The following is an email from me to a web design guru. I was tired at the time, so I was rambling. Yet I THINK there was some wisdom in my carrying-on:
Context: Improving the design of my website:
I realize that most of our business will come from conversations and many of those from referral. I think a lot of folks have forgotten this (perhaps myself included) and seek to get EVERYTHING and more onto their website; seeking, really, to replace the human interaction. That might be okay for some super simple services or product sales (tho having a competent human a link away is always good), but I think human beings are making a comeback.
As well, I don’t need The Perfect Site. It’s easy to fall into what I call the “One More Thing Trap” for entrepreneurs. If I had that ONE MORE book, just ONE MORE seminar, ONE MORE employee; or whatever. In this mode, little tends to get accomplished. Websites can certainly fall into this category.
The rule that rules the rules is: Create value, make it easy to exchange that value with others. Any shortcomings will be forgiven.
That said, I’ll review the article (did you write it?) and see what I can glean from it. I wonder what’s more efficient: Having a good foundation for a communicative project (e.g. website), or getting the raw, first time opinions from real people looking at it and giving their opinions? I suppose that BOTH is the better answer.
“Have A Nice Dave.” :)
–Dave C.
Share on FacebookWhat’s the dealio?
So, yes… I went from content 3 to 5 days/week to like, 1 new post a week. Not that you’ve been complaining (why not?).
Here’s why: I’ve been busy. Yes, that lame excuse that all of us seem to have at one time or another. Really, I just wanted you to know that it really IS me writing these posts and not some hired hand (Ha! Wouldn’t that be great?).
“Busy doing what?” I’m glad you asked.
As the tagline of this blog’azine is “The Business of Being Yourself”, I’ve been busy being myself. Note that the tagline USED to be: “Moving Ideas from Mind to Market on the Cheap.” Well, I’ve been busy doing that, too.
But wait, there’s more. And I’m gonna tell you about it (Aren’t you the lucky one?).
One of the reasons I started this site is to embrace the ME that can’t sit still (EADD: Entrepreneurial Attention Deficit Discombobulation). I love ideas. I love people bringing ideas together. I love bringing people and ideas together. I get bored with ideas once I see them taking hold and feel compelled to move on to the next new, shiny concept.
Well, if this blog’azine counts as the first of the ideas I’m rolling out, it’s time (in my little world) to start out on the next idea – which, conveniently enough, gets to act as an extension of the first idea; by my reporting on the implementation of the second idea. Lucky for my wife and family, and for those I owe money to, the second idea has been created with the idea of profitability in mind.
In fact, I’ve got ideas coming down the line that will rely on this second idea in many ways. I’m hoping that YOU, with whatever it is you’re working on, might also benefit from the new idea:
- I’m using Guy Kawasaki’s book, The Art of the Start, as an outline for getting the concept launched in only 14 days; and for reaching that “Break Even” point in 90-days. You’ll be able to follow along and see how I do, good and bad, and apply that to your own project or business.(Buy the book from this link: Any proceeds paid to me from Amazon to me will be sent to Doctors Without Borders to support the people of Haiti- Doctors Without Borders has a FOUR STAR RATING at www.charitynavigator.org)
- In addition, the type of project we’re launching may be able to help you in other ways: There are many tasks that need to get done in a business project. Many of these tasks can act as a distraction from what actually puts dollars into the business account. Our concept can help minimize these distractions so YOU can remain productive (cheap plug alert – cheap plug alert).
So, “What’s The Big Idea,” you ask? “Why have you deprived me of spectacular reading content for a week or two?” you inquire.
The concept is called AnthemVirtual. We’re using concepts learned starting back in 2008, when I created an online event called The Virtual Business Summit 2008. The event was a BOMB. No, not THE BOMB, but “A” BOMB. The speakers were fantastic, actually. I had a wonderful line-up. It’s just that the marketing push took place during the 2008 election, and, for many, the country seemed to be put on hold for a month or two.
The reason I chose to do the event based on Virtual Business is that I knew that eventually I wanted to use Virtual Assistants to grow my business concepts. Some people pay hundreds of dollars to attend seminars to learn such things. I, however, chose to host an event that could benefit those who presented, those who attended, and me. Much less expensive and I STILL have relationships with many of the presenters.
My wife, Renee, became a Virtual Administrator for one of the speakers, along with a few clients introduced to us thru this same individual (her name is MaryPat Kavanagh. Google her. She’s awesome).
Thru our experiences in serving in the world of online assistance, and thru my idea-itis, we decided to start a type of brokerage where we could assist business owners (starting with people we know) in contracting with Virtual Assistants while also assisting moms and dads (starting with people we know) to connect with training and education programs (starting with people we know).
And, thus, a long story is told (gotta make up for all that Blog’azine down-time, ya know?).
So, visit www.AnthemVirtual.com to see our prototype website. Tomorrow I’ll start including notes about how we’re putting it together.
Share on FacebookAn Email Worth Remembering
Found this email in my inbox this morning. (I wish I remembered who sent it to me?)
+++++++
Dave – I wrote a blog post that I think you are gonna
go bananas over.
This is the link –> http://bit.ly/PhotographicMemory
A huge challenge entrepreneurs have is remembering those
fleeting thoughts of genius. Great ideas constantly get
forgotten when a pen and paper aren’t handy. I mean, just think
about all those lost thoughts you had in the shower.
Any who, this is a method I use to remember everything from the
“honey-do” list to rattling off stuff when I am on TV.
It is an amazingly powerful method. I think you’ll get tons of
value out of it and never forget a thing again:
http://bit.ly/PhotographicMemory
Enjoy! And, I can never say this enough… I am wishing you a
tremendously successful 2010!!!
- Mike, the author of this thingy-dingy-do-thingy http://3.ly/amazon
The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, 239 Myrtle Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005, United States
Email re-printed without permission (tee-hee).
Share on FacebookHow I use Twitter: A Conversation on Skype
Rick Says: When you get time I need help with twitter
Dave Charbonneau says: I’m here.
Rick Says: I am now but are you still there?
Dave Charbonneau says: Hi.
Rick Says: How are things
Dave Charbonneau says: I’m good. Feel a bit like hurling; but I’m good. How’re you?’
Rick Says: well
Rick Says: so how do I get a lot more followers on twitter
Dave Charbonneau says: Um…
Dave Charbonneau says: There’s a cupla ways.
Dave Charbonneau says: First, get a foundation to build upon. What are you using it for. What info are you wanting to get out there. Grab hold of a twitter philosophy.
Dave Charbonneau says: I recommend NOT to think of Twitter as an outlet for spreading the word about something; and instead to see it as a conduit for CONNECTING with ppl who have similar interests.
Dave Charbonneau says: Everybody hates spam and holds disdain for spammers. Good thing abt spammers = if you provide great value, you look intelligent and get LOYAL followers; these are ppl who share your stuff with others.
Dave Charbonneau says: Have you read that Crush It book?
Rick Says: NO
Rick Says: [other person] did
Dave Charbonneau says: Okay. That’s a great place to gain that philosophy (everything begins w/philosophy).
Rick Says: Then I shall read it
Dave Charbonneau says: Next, hang on and I’ll get you…
Share on FacebookCORE Value
One of the identifying traits of a Self-Enterpriser is the presence of Core Value. This is from the perspective of creating a business with enjoy-ability of life as the objective, rather than How do I make a buck? Bringing in
dollars is important, but to the Self-Enterpriser, How do I make happiness? is the first question. From there, How do I use the answer to that question in order to create value for others? is the next question. Followed by, How do I exchange this value with others for dollars?
The Self-Enterpriser, then, has a need to identify what they value the most, at their core. In other words: Forget about an idea lasting in the marketplace, will it last with YOU?
In today’s world, we can each express ourselves with few restrictions. As well, there are others who will relate to our expressions. By being true to ourselves (i.e. true to our inner Paula Abdul) we can begin to form our own Tribe. Then we can learn how to create and exchange value based on who we are.
This is why I say Self-Enterprisers live a spectacular life: We identify what makes us happy, then we choose to live in that world every day, as much as we want to.
What are your Core Values?
Comments? Questions? Compliments? Suggestions? You know you can always email me at Dave@SelfEnterpriser.com.
“Have A Nice Dave.” :)
–Dave C.
Share on FacebookCONFIDENCE: Why faking it ’til you make it may suck as a strategy
Acting with confidence can get a person far. But confidence can work SO well, SO quickly - even feigned confidence – that the individual
develops a winning formula for getting things accomplished while still lacking actual levels of both confidence and competence.
The result is a person who appears confident on the surface but is a disaster on the inside. As “success” increases in the material world, fear of loss increases at at least proportionally inside the ol’ noggin.
Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/ | CC BY-SA 2.0
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Copyright 2010
Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/ | CC BY-SA 2.0
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