Showing posts with label result. Show all posts
Showing posts with label result. Show all posts

Sunday, November 29, 2015

20 entrepreneurs share the advice that made them successful


Regardless of how we define it, success can feel like a fleeting and often elusive target. It takes confidence, passion, and drive to accomplish your goals and to recognize success when you've achieved it. 
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Here's how 20 influential executives and entrepreneurs describe the key to their success.
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Friday, October 30, 2015

5 leadership lessons from the Dark Side.

starwars

Star Wars is for many of us the ultimate sci-fi fantasy. As the anticipation for Episode 7: The Force Awakens grows, it has also emerged as an unlikely source of leadership wisdom. Forbes magazine has outlined five key leadership pitfalls from the Galactic Empire: Darth Vader has made these mistakes so you don’t have to.

1. They consolidated power. Darth Vader and the Emperor were for all intents and purposes running the entire show. Not only was it probably asking a bit too much of them, but it means that defeating both of them at one time in one place was enough to bring down an entire galactic political system. Had power been shared more among people further down the management line, there would have been someone to keep things going. There is also no indication that a succession plan had been worked out. As Luke Skywalker warned them only hours before their demise: ‘Your overconfidence is your weakness’.

2. Ruling through fear. Vader wasn’t good at compromising. He would alter a deal and if challenged he would simply tell you to ‘pray I don’t alter it any further’. That kind of aggressive behaviour puts people off and leaves them working out of fear rather than motivation. Once people feel like they have no stake in what is going on, they tend to be less productive or, in Vader’s case, flat out rebel.
3. Zero tolerance for failure. Working for Vader must have been stressful. Failing to finish a simple task could get you killed. He would openly criticise employees for being ‘clumsy as they are stupid’. A good manager needs to solicit ideas and engage with their staff, giving them proper feedback. Accidents will happen. Sometimes you come out of hyperspace too close to your target and you need to adjust without losing your cool. If Vader had been more encouraging, commanders would not have been making decisions out of fear of repercussions, and they may have made more productive decisions, like intensifying forward firepower a little sooner, for example.
4. Single-minded obsession. Vader and the Emperor really only focused on crushing the Rebel Alliance, with turning Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side as a potential bonus. You don’t get the impression they were ever on any conference calls. It’s not much wonder that the Rebel Alliance had so many willing to join the cause, with the Empire not focusing on any practical day-to-day matters. The lack of flexibility in the Empire’s methods is also noteworthy. Their Imperial army seemed focused and designed solely for crushing the rebellion. In the end, a one-size-fits-all approach lead to an oversight in other threats, and their goals were dismantled by a tribe of Ewoks.
5. Failure to learn from mistakes. The Death Star is the kind of project that in the planning phases everyone must have applauded. The wireframes must have been incredibly impressive. In the end though, it only took one shot fired into a thermal exhaust port only two meters wide. Strangely, the Emperor decided not only to build the Death Star a second time, but to allow a design which included a new weak spot big enough to fly entire X-Wings through. Failure to learn from your mistakes can be extremely costly. Sometimes it is better to accept your idea wasn’t so brilliant and move on.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Six Tips To Stay Ahead of Social Media Trends



social media

Small business owners have enough on their plates. They have to watch expenses, create marketing pieces, go to sales meetings, follow trends in their industry and keep up with trends on social media. They might have trouble staying on top of them all, but if they fail to pay attention to social media trends, they could miss golden opportunities.


Besides new features added to Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter and Pinterest, new social media sites are launched that do different things. Being on the forefront of social media changes can be accomplished. Here are a few suggestions on ways you can do just that.
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1) Create a stream on Twitter with popular hashtags

You can start your goal of staying on top of social media by using social media. Create a stream on Twitter with popular social media hashtags. You can use terms like #socialmediamarketing, #smchat or #TwitterTip. Don’t be too general because you will see an influx of tweets into your stream. This stream will help you know what you can expect for the next month.

2) Make a Twitter list of influencers in the industry

Experts in social media often hang out in the social media sites. Whenever there is a new announcement that you should know, you will be able to get advice from the industry leaders tweeting the change and discussing it. Use the hashtags that you gathered and pick out the most active or insightful people who are tweeting. Make a Twitter list based on your research and spend time each day listening to what they have to say. Ask them questions too. That’s why they are experts.

3) Use Google Alerts on terms and influencers

Now that you have a list of influencers that you can follow on social media, you can set up a Google Alert for some of them. That way you will get regular updates when they post content or are interviewed about social media. Pick your top three favorite influencers and set up Google Alerts for them. This will help you stay up to date on any breaking news in the industry. Getting the alert once a day is perfectly reasonable. All you have to do is type in your search term (the influencer's name), select the types of results you want to see (news, blogs, videos, etc.), select your frequency, and you are ready to go.

4) Join LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn discussions can get lively. Because the site is geared toward business owners, they talk about changes on Facebook, new social media sites launching or future trends. You also will meet a lot of other social media enthusiasts. You will be able to network and ask questions of these people.

5) Subscribe to social media blogs

Also, you should read blogs that post content about social media so you can be sure that you won't miss anything. If there's a new feature or trend, it will definitely be on written about in detail on these blogs. More important than subscribing to these blogs is making sure you set aside time each week to read through your content.

6) Go to a conference

Take the time to go to a social media conference. This will be a great opportunity to hear from social media experts in the industry and be able to ask the burning questions you may have. You will get the most up-to-date advice about running a social media campaign and what you should know when using social media. You don’t have to attend in person. For example, Social Media Week allows you to attend via your phone, computer or tablet.


Saturday, August 29, 2015

Mentally Strong People Don’t Do this.



Mentally Strong and Successful People Don’t Do These 13 Things!





1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control


You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks

They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over

Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over. Instead, they move on and make better decisions in the future.

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success

Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance at success.

10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure

Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. They are willing to keep trying until they get it right.

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time

Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. They aren’t afraid to be alone with their thoughts and they can use downtime to be productive. They enjoy their own company and aren’t dependent on others for companionship and entertainment all the time but instead can be happy alone.
12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them AnythingMentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits.

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results

Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.