One of the most common reasons why startup businesses fail is because the business insists on being a one-man (or woman) operation. Maybe you enjoy the idea of being a sole proprietor or corporation head. However, you still need to get more people involved in your project. This may include hiring working staff, bringing on a business partner or even seeking out associates for cross promotional activities.
No man is an island and the more you try to succeed on your own, the higher you make that mountain. On the contrary, if you work at developing contacts, networking with fellow businesspersons and potential customers, the more of a community project your business will become. What are some ideas you could try in expanding your business?
If you have an event-style business that brings large groups of people together, then think about food, drinks and refreshments. If you can??™t provide this service, can another company help out for a portion of the profits? If your company has a scholastic edge, then why not partner with another institution in town, such as a library or a school on some intellectually rewarding project?
Online companies can likewise work with other companies for mutual benefit. Obviously, you??™re not attempting to work with your competitors, nor any large established corporation that doesn??™t need you. However, chances are there are many companies that could work with you for a joint effort at capturing more publicity. Consider this a way of securing the non-competing companies in your market, so that they are helping you to make money rather than taking it away.
Not only do you have the option of hiring workers and doing cross-promotional activities; outsourcing jobs can also be another way to add more people into the equation. You can look for a consultant to advise you on your company??™s future. You can outsource your voice mail to a live operator who will give customers that friendly touch.
Think of networking and delegating projects as a means of feeding your business, ultimately making it grow, slowly but surely.
Things about Business ???The Apprentice??? Taught You??¦..Part II
Continuing Part I, here are some more hard lessons taught to us by The Donald and his mini-me assistants. Of course, these business lessons are best taught to us indirectly through television rather than through hard and financially devastating experience!
1.Some Advertising Campaigns Are Just Stupid
Some of the more bizarre advertising campaigns these creative geniuses came up with include a police-state army recruiting commercial, a cruise ship vacation turned horrifying crash, and a cucumber porn advertisement for soap, all of which Trump hated. Oddly enough, some of these marketing gurus forgot the most important rule in advertising and focused too much on a creative idea than in selling the actual product.
2.No One Is Expendable, Everyone Can Be Fired
How many unbeatable employees learned this hard lesson from Donald Trump? And we??™re not talking about poor immune Bradford??™s surprise firing, either. How about Carolyn Kepcher, Trump??™s ice-cold assistant who was seemingly the all-powerful female know-it-all for five seasons? After neglecting her duties to Trump after going on a book tour, she was unceremoniously fired and replaced by Ivanka Trump, the boss??™s daughter. Now that hurts!
3.Don??™t Badmouth Your Co-Workers
No, we??™re not talking about Omarosa, Sam, Kelly or Randall??”we??™re talking about The Donald himself who insisted on publicly lambasting Martha Stewart after her Apprentice spin off was, in the boss??™s own words, a ???disaster.??? Everything Trump taught about professionalism and teamwork was blown away after Martha Stewart embarrassed him and watered down his ratings. Lesson learned: don??™t disparage those who can affect your lousy ratings.
4.Money, Money, Money
The biggest lessons the Apprentice taught was in dollars and cents, at least to NBC executives who got to produce a ratings hit for a dirt cheap price and capitalize on numerous product endorsements, cross-promotional activities and image makeovers of many washed up celebrities. What the business gurus say is true: networking pays off!
5.You??™re Not Done Till The Boss Fires You
Donald Trump thought he was done with The Apprentice when NBC took it off their fall line up in 2007. However, the network announced shortly after the show might return for the next season??”even though Donald had already quit. The lesson learned? It??™s not over till the company decides it will no longer sell. Looks like Donald exited the boardroom prematurely.
Randy Pausch..A Great Loss for the Mankind!
As a young kid I remember asking my Dad why successful and famous people die young..
My Dad’s initial response: “I don’t know”. But he quickly added..May be its just that God loves successful people. He wants them with him. So he takes them away quickly. But God is also kind becuase he always send them back, when and where he feels; that we the humans need them.
This morning when I read the first news that Randy Pausch is no more. The earth broke beneath my feet.
This is the man who has just started to change the world. The world has lost an amazing motivator, inspirational speaker ( the famous “Last Lecture” series) and above all a humble teacher whose philosophy of life was just unparalleled.
Personally I have a hard time finding words to describe this great man. The whole world knows him as an internet icon, professor and a author. Many know him as a man who had big dreams growing up and realized those dreams in a big way.
I have never met Randy in person, but have heard and seen him speak on recordings. Here is a recording of Randy’s infamous “Last Lecture”. This was recorded at Carnegie Mellon’s McConomy Auditorium Where Randy delivered a powerful, impactful speech to a packed audience.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends