Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
As Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It can be a thief in business too.
On Saturday, I posted the above image to Instagram with the following message…
“Often when working with small businesses I hear something like this… Well the business down the street is charging this or promoting this or… should I do that? Awesome businesses are created when you define your own purpose, promise, target market, set clear objectives, create a bad ass strategy and execute like a mother … Focus on creating your own kind of awesome.”
It was one of my more liked posts. But this topic requires more time and explanation than an Instagram post. So here goes…
Yes, studying success and awesomeness is important. Learning from the greats, the ones who have consistently shown growth and profitability, the ability to create a strong culture, etc. Having an in-depth knowledge of those who have successfully gone before you, yes, all of that is awesome and important.
However, when we are comparing our business to the one “down the street”, this is where I have issues…
Do you know their business model?
Do you know their strategy & target market?
Do you know their plan?
Do you know their sales?
Do you know their profitability?
Do you know their cost of sales?
Do you know how they are funded?
Do you know how long they will be in business?
Do you know if their clients are happy?
Do you know if their team is happy?
My guess is NO. You do not know. Therefore, how can we even begin to compare our business to theirs? What if we decided to follow a pricing strategy of a competitor that was headed down a road of putting them out of business? Or a promotional program that depleted all cash flow and pissed off clients and team members? OMG, can you imagine?
Before you look around one more time to see what others are doing, take that time to look within. Your own objectives, your plan, your strategy, your P & L, your business model. Start there.
Focus on creating your own kind of awesome. And connect with and learn from people who not only own businesses but grow businesses, for reals.
Here is the audio of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
After recording the Masters Series interview with Winn Claybaugh, a question he asked has been heavy on my mind. The question was “Who did I write my book for?” In between all the laughs, and tears of that interview, it really made me think.
While that would seem like such a simple question, it made me think about why I felt compelled to write the book in the first place, and what I was hoping the book would be in the hearts and minds of those who read it.
The message I was trying to communication was that the world wants us to live our purpose. And to me, that means following our heart. By writing down my journey and sharing it, it helped me get more honest and clear about what it takes to live an authentic life.
But the simplicity of that is what many times gets people confused. It is not an easy path to take; it’s actually the most difficult. Because in following our heart, we live on the edges of the society, we seek meaningful relationships and projects, we care deeply, and almost so much it hurts at times. We are seen many times as crazy, which you know, we are. We get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We embrace uncertainly. We are driven by our passions.
However, that does not mean that we are not thinking. We are thinking, actually more in many cases than those who choose to walk through life following someone else’s heart. We are strategic. We crystal clear in what feels awesome and what does not.
So why did I write my book? To challenge the seekers like myself, to open up a dialogue about living our purpose, to push those on the edge, and to share the experience and tools of my journey, in hopes of helping others live an awesomely authentic life.
Following our hearts is simple, but it requires we bring our brains with us, and that my friends, is the most awesome combination of all.
Love + Awesomeness-
Nina
PS: A big shout out of thanks to my friend Winn for the opportunity to share my story. And to all who have invested in my book and are on the path to authentic awesomeness, thank you, I am so grateful for you.
Click here to hear my interview with Winn Claybaugh. To purchase my book, in either ebook, audio book or a printed and signed copy, click here.
Making promises and keeping them is a great way to build a brand. -Seth Godin
Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.
Building a brand is no different from building a relationship or a business. So much of it is about trust and trust is born out of promises kept.
The Promises
A service and product promises a result.
A program promises an action.
A friend promises to show up on time, return a call, email or text.
A leader promises to lead.
A manager promises to manage.
A team member promises to do their best work and support the team and vision.
The Brands
Starbucks promises an experience.
Zappos promises to deliver happiness.
Nike promises to just do it.
Facebook promises connections.
Method promises to clean happy.
Passion Squared promises to empower awesome.
We all have so many choices today on which brands, products and services we can engage with. There are thousands of choices of where to eat, get our hair done, shampoo to buy, clothing to wear, TV to watch, website platforms to use, a coach or mentor to work with.
Many of us continue to search for the secret sauce that will magically make our brand, product or service better.
There is no secret sauce, but there is one thing we all can strive for. Having a clear promise and keeping it.
“One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises that one makes.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Brian Solis is one of our digital heroes. He speaks the truth. He understands the digital space like no other, and the opportunities it provides to businesses and people if its used in the right way. Brian Solis is the best selling author of Engage, and The End of Business as Usual, two books we highly recommend if you are seeking a deeper understanding of the social and digital revolution. He is a disruptor, and we heart disruptors that push to make things better.
While we read his blog daily, this one jumped out at both of us at the same time, without even knowing, and therefore, worth sharing. “Dear (insert business name here), what is Your Promise”. Many companies have mission statements and vision statements, many times written in a boardroom somewhere, but what is your Promise?
In today’s VERY NOISY social and digital space, people want to know you, what you stand for, what your promise to them is, and be ready, because today, you will, we all will, be held accountable thanks to Facebook, YELP, Foursquare, Twitter and all the other social spaces that people can speak their mind.
We hope you take the time to read this blog from Brian Solis, you will be very happy you did, as will your team and your customers.
(shared with LOVE from your passionistas Nina + Gordon)
