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One Thing – A Recap

December 14, 2011 in A Better Way of Business, Guest Post, One Thing with 0 Comments

I decided I wanted to put in one place all the great guest posts in the One Thing Series. I decided this for a couple reasons.

First, there’s a lot of wisdom in this series. I asked these folks for their One Thing in part because I knew their ideas could help all of us who are pursuing self employment. Another reason is I personally wanted to know what they had to say so I could use it myself (yes, I am blogging to benefit me as well as you!)!

Second, I wanted to make it even easier for anyone who is interested in finding this series of guest posts by putting links to everything in a single place. I got this idea in part from John Saddington over at Tentblogger. John is big on writing series of posts around the same topic. In doing so he writes a table of contents and has links to all the posts from that one post. However, while John tends to start his posts with the table of contents, I’m taking the approaching of as an index since the series is “complete” at the present time (although I have every intent of doing this again).

So here you go. Posts from the One Thing Series, in the order in which they came out (link from title goes to post; link from name goes to individual’s site):

1. One Thing by Justin Lukasavige

2. Not Perfect is Better Than Nothing by Rob Clinton

3. Get To It! by Brenda Dunagan

4. We Are Each Rich by Deb Ingino

5. Work From Your Strengths by Joshua Gordon

6. Don’t Chase Rabbits by Chris Peek

7. Feed the Farmer b4 the Animals by Randell Mark Olson

8. Everything Will Take Longer Than You Expect by Jonathan Tollefson

9. Persistence Pays Dividends by Karen Peek

So there are 9 One Things that can help any of us wishing to start a business or simply to do better in our lives. Reread them and then figure out how to apply them yourself. If you need help, just let me know!

~Ivan

One Thing by Karen Peek: Persistence Pays Dividends

November 16, 2011 in One Thing with 3 Comments

Today’s a first in the One Thing series, it’s the first time I’ve had both spouses participate in the series history! In the One Thing series I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is by Karen Peek, who is the wife of former One Thing guest poster, Chirs Peek, creator of Inspired Art of Cooking, and author of Be Your Own Chef. Here is Karen’s One Thing:

Phone calls, emails, blogging, casual conversations, letters, smoke signals, and pigeon carriers…these are just a few of the repeated steps we utilize in marketing Inspired Art of Cooking, as we attempt to gain the attention of and build relationships with customers, local media, churches, and organizations. The ultimate goal is to build enough trust to sell lots and lots cookbooks and secure paid speaking engagements. In order to gain the audience’s trust, I have to be seen as a resource and authority when it comes to cooking and writing recipes. Hence, we want our marketing efforts to yield the following opportunities: provide cooking demonstrations on TV, speak for churches and local groups, share my story in both traditional and non-traditional media, and have bloggers review my cookbook. Rarely is it that easy.

People don’t respond to emails, letters, and phone calls. You are rejected outright. Bloggers don’t review books. The local newspaper writer can’t see how powerful a story she is passing up. People, who you expect will support your efforts, including some family and friends, don’t. It all just seems so hard, much more difficult than you ever expected. Some days, it would be so much easier just to give up. I think, “Why am I putting so much effort into this business if no one cares?” I still take many of these rejections personally, but I’m learning to deal with them.

Then, you receive an unexpected email from a publisher wanting to publish your book. A satisfied customer tells you that she understands the purpose behind the cookbook and discovers that cooking doesn’t have to be stuffy or black and white, but fun, creative, and an expression of yourself. A bookstore wants to set up a special display in the middle of their store featuring your cookbook. A local TV show has you on to offer a cooking demo, and the competitor station wants you to be on their newscast as well.

It’s an old adage, but persistence pays dividends. When you feel like giving up, push that much harder. You will definitely encounter difficulties and resistance, but success comes when you don’t give up at those moments when most people would.

Check out this fun cooking demo Karen performed for a local TV station. Also, connect with Karen on Twitter: @karenblakepeek

One Thing by Jonathan Tollefson – Everything Will Take Longer Than You Think

November 9, 2011 in Guest Post, One Thing with 7 Comments

The reason why Wednesdays were invented? Another episode of the One Thing Series! In this series I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is Jonathan Tollefson, who is the owner of PARX, LLC, which is dedicated to “Boarding the Midwest All Day Every Day”. Here is Jonathan’s One Thing:

In a world where options and ideas are endless, it is easy to start one idea get discouraged, and then start in on another idea. Before I started my business, I jumped from idea to idea to idea. It was a never-ending circle that never allowed me to gain traction. This always lead to failure.

My one piece of advice to someone who is just starting out in business, is that everything will take longer than you think. You have to be patient, you can never give up and perseverance is key to becoming a success.

One of the main reasons I jumped from idea to idea is because I would plant the seed, and then never gave it enough time to sprout and become a full grown plant. This lead me straight to my next idea. The business never grew fast enough. I guess I was looking for an overnight success.

What I quickly found out is that overnight successes are few and far between. I found out that a lot of the people who I thought were overnight successes worked on their ideas for years before they became the successful business owners that they are today.

What these people did is they complete the circle of one idea before they started in on another idea. By jumping from idea to idea, I never allowed myself to complete the circle. I would start the idea, get it to the point of where it was time to spread it to the world and then I would quit and start in on another idea.

To tell you the truth, there are many days that I think I should stop what I am doing and start in on another idea even though I have spent thousands of dollars to get PARX off the ground. It still is not happening as fast as I want it to.

I think this is a battle that everyone will go through as they start out on their journey. Everyone wants the microwave approach; short, fast and easy. It’s the American way right? I am here to tell you that it just doesn’t happen that way. For some it will happen faster than others, but never get discouraged. Your idea is good so believe in yourself, persevere and never give up. I hope someday someone is talking about you and your overnight success even though you spent countless hours and countless nights turning your idea into something that makes you and hundreds of others happy.

It is going to be a battle and I encourage everyone to stick with it and push forward no matter what happens. Excuses are for the weak, so knock down every roadblock that stands in your way even if it takes time to figure out how you are going to do it!!

Jon T

One Thing by “Randell Mark” Olson – FEED THE FARMER B4 THE ANIMALS

November 2, 2011 in Guest Post, One Thing, Priorities with 5 Comments

Olson Family

Here’s another episode of the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is brought to you by “Randell Mark” Olson, who is the founder of The Intentional Legacy Group, LLC. Here is Randell Mark’s One Thing:

If I could only share “one Thing” with someone just going into business, it would be this…”Feed The Farmer B4 The Animals”. Using the metaphor of you as the farmer, and the animals as your business, you need to be “well” in order to grow a healthy business.

This has not always been my philosophy, but I wish it would have been. In 1997 I walked away from a job with great pay, great benefits, and tons of flexibility to pursue the dream of self employment. My wife and I had four kids, our oldest was 13 at the time, and the youngest was 4, yes we were just entering the most expensive years of raising a family…what was I thinking?

The way I had it figured was, if we don’t feed the business first, then it will not be able to provide for us, which makes perfect sense, and carries an element of truth, but is fundamentally way off. If you travel this path long enough you will probably end up frustrated at home, and blaming your business for it…after all it gets everything first. I made the same mistake that many business owners make, of always paying themselves last.

The business bills always came first, the electric bill, gas bill, advertising bills, job material bills, while bills at home went unpaid, or paid at the last possible minute, including our mortgage.

After battling this for years, I finally realized that I needed to pay myself first. Just as the farmer cannot properly care for his animals if he is not strong and healthy, we as business owners cannot give our business the attention it needs if our own core needs are not being met. For instance, how can we possibly have the energy to focus on our business if we are worried that our electricity will be turned off at home, if we can’t afford groceries for our family, or if we’re avoiding phone calls from bill collectors. These distractions steal our energy, rob us of our creativity, cause pain in our relationships, and shoot huge holes in our confidence.

To build a strong and healthy business, we as business owners need to be giving our best self…we need to be “whole”. Here is a quick example of how to prioritize the finances of your new business:

Pay your Taxes First…do not pay anything until you pay your taxes. Despite what you may have read, the IRS is not that friendly. If you don’t pay your taxes, they will visit you, usually without an appointment, and at the worst possible moment.
Take care of your Family’s Core Needs. Pay yourself enough to cover Food, Shelter, Utilities, and Clothing. Once these basic needs are met, it is a lot easier to focus on growing your business.
Pay business bills.
At this point it comes down to Values. Invest in family fun, and business growth as you see fit.

If you will practice these principles you can avoid much of the stress and pain of starting and growing a business that will leave a Legacy for years to come.

“Randell Mark” Olson, The Intentional Legacy Group, LLC

“Randell Mark” Olson is the founder of The Intentional Legacy Group, LLC. He is a life long entrepreneur whose heart beats strongest for Frustrated, Worn-out, Exhausted, and Confused entrepreneurs who just want their Lives Back!

Randell is currently co authoring a book (“ExceptionZ break the Rules”) with Rob Clinton, and travels and speaks about Intentional Living, for an Intentional Legacy.

Randell is married to his junior high sweetheart Karen, they have 4 grown children, and 1 grandchild, and reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

www.intentionallegacy.com

One Thing – Don’t Chase Rabbits by Chris Peek

October 26, 2011 in Goals, Guest Post, One Thing with 7 Comments

Chris Peek

It’s that time again! Another episode of the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is brought to you by Chris Peek, who along with his wife Karen started The Inspired Art of Cooking. Here is Chris’s One Thing:

I’ll be the first to tell you – I don’t have 1/10 of this business thing figured out. Our business, Inspired Art of Cooking, is still in its infancy. When I say “our”, I’m referring to my wife Karen and me. Yet, it wasn’t always “our” business.

As I’ve discovered, you never end up quite where you think you’re going. Of course it’s imperative to develop goals and have a bull’s eye that you’re aiming for, but you never know what’s going to work for you until you toss it out to the world and gauge the reaction. It’s an elastic process that consists of a ton of hard work, making adjustments, and perseverance. However, one major pitfall will keep that elusive success at bay: taking your eye off the ball and in turn, spreading yourself too thin.

While I developed a case of the entrepreneurial bug a few years ago, Karen discovered her own desire to do something unique about three years ago, after she became unable to work full-time due to health issues. I’ve always had an itch to develop my own video production company, and I’ve made a couple of unsuccessful attempts at it.

In the midst of laying the groundwork for my business, Karen became inspired to write a cookbook and develop a blog (inspiredartofcooking.com) around her own incredible recipes and inspirational thoughts. At first, I was resistant to help her, as I felt like that this was her passion, not mine. I didn’t want to take time away from my start-up.

Eventually, I realized that my selfishness was preventing both of us from moving forward. So, I began to reluctantly use my skills to help her write the book, build her website, take photos, shoot videos, and offer content. In the midst of this process, I kept coming up with other ideas the I could put together in my “spare” time – write a blog, write a devotional book, build an outdoor adventure website, and produce videos for outdoor adventure companies, to name a few. Ideas were spewing from my mind that I really wanted to accomplish.

Within two months of Karen’s cookbook, “Be Your Own Chef”, coming out, I realized that I needed to take a step back and spend the majority of my time joining forces with her. Karen’s story of living her calling in the midst of a chronic heart condition is a one that is worth telling, one that can change lives around the world. As I examined my own heart, I became passionate about getting her story to the world. My writing, video production, marketing, and technical background could best be incorporated into Inspired Art of Cooking and are a perfect complement to her skill sets. While I still write regular, inspirational blog posts of my own (trailreflections.com), I’ve put my video production business on hold because I was spreading myself too thin. Up until making that decision, my mind had been all over the place, and therefore, we weren’t sustaining success because of it.

In the meantime, we’ve refined Karen’s business focus and broadened it to include paid public speaking opportunities, with the purpose of sharing her cookbook with and spreading her inspirational message to new audiences. The bottom line: laser-like focus is imperative in building a business. Have goals and stick with them for the long haul. While your mind will continue to churn out creative ideas, it’s necessary to guard against chasing the new, shiny objects that prevent your goals from becoming reality. Always be flexible, but recognize when your elasticity turns to chasing rabbits.

One Thing – Work from Your Strengths by Joshua Gordon

October 19, 2011 in Guest Post, One Thing, Video Blog with 11 Comments

Here’s today’s episode of the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest vlog is brought to you by Joshua Gordon, founder of The Nonconformist Family. Here is Joshua’s One Thing:

“Work from an area of your strengths!” ~Joshua Gordon

I couldn’t agree with him more!

Joshua and his wife, Sarah, live with their two precious little girls in Canada. They started The Nonconformist Family because they were tired of being “normal”. I am honored to call Joshua my friend.

One Thing – We are Each Rich by Deb Ingino

October 12, 2011 in Guest Post, One Thing with 5 Comments

Deb Ingino and John C. Maxwell

It’s time for another exciting post in the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is brought to you by Deb Ingino, founder of StrenghtLeader. I can honestly say that none of us would be here, today, looking at this blog post without the help of Deb. It was through working with Deb at the Free Agent Academy that the idea for A Better Way of Business was uncovered, planted, and starting growing into what you see today. Here is Deb’s One Thing:

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own. – Benjamin Disraeli

We are each rich.

Rich in money.

Rich in relationships.

Maybe we have a rich history.

Heck maybe we just like rich food.

However each of us in one way or another are rich, because we were ‘wired’ with strengths and talents at birth that were shaped and matured through our life experiences. It’s easy to take the thing we’re rich in for granted, simply because for us it comes so easily.

We undervalue the power our strength can have in our own life and in the lives of others, but the reality is that our strength, that thing we do naturally well, is what makes us rich and when we step up and use it, it feels good.

When we step out and share it, it energizes us.

And when we witness someone else find their richness, their strength and use it, we are often awestruck at the power we each already possess.

Think you don’t have strengths or talents that are ‘good enough?’

Then connect with someone who can be an honest advocate who wants you to succeed with no personal agenda and ask them.

Don’t know anyone like that in your life? Then move around that obstacle and connect with a mentor or coach, someone like Ivan, and move into your strengths zone. That truly is the richest way to live.

Deb Ingino is a Strength Leader / Coach and Mentor to hundreds of people globally. Through her businesses www.MyWiredStyle.com and www.StrengthLeader.com she regularly coaches people on how to identify and operate in their strengths zone.

One Thing – Get To It! by Brenda Dunagan

October 5, 2011 in Action, One Thing with 7 Comments

Once again here’s another exciting post in the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today’s guest post is brought to you by Brenda Dunagan, founder of 7 Chapters. Here is Brenda’s One Thing:

I recently was asked what one bit of advice I would offer to someone who is considering starting a business. It’s a simple question that is hard to answer, but one word immediately came to mind: GET.

Get started.

This was the advice given to me by Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love and No More Dreaded Mondays. At that point, I had no idea what I was good at or what my business would be, but I took his advice and just started. Most business owners don’t go into a business knowing exactly what they will be doing in ten years. Even if they think they know what that will be, it will probably change along the way. If you’re waiting to know the whole story and plan every detail before starting a business, the fact is, you will never start. If you’re waiting to become an expert in something, you will never start. Sometimes you have to take what you have and begin to build on that. Consider the entrepreneurs you know who are successful in business. Look back to when they first started versus where they are now. What you see may surprise you. In fact, you may see that you are already ahead of where they were at that point. What is the difference between you and them? Just this: THEY STARTED.

Get over it.

Hurdles. Speed Bumps. Roadblocks. Let’s face it, life is full of them. And when you’re starting a business, you will encounter them on a daily basis. Finances, time, fear, lack of confidence, issues of the past, relationships – no matter who you are, you will face these. So how do you handle them? You handle them just as if you were driving a car – you go over them or you detour around them. They may slow you down, but they do not have to stop you.

Get help.

This goes hand-in-hand with the previous points, and it is absolutely key. At some point, you will need help. You will need help getting started. You will need help overcoming obstacles. You will need help with the operations of your business. Everyone, at some point, needs help. But here’s the thing – not everyone is smart enough to ask for it. This was a valuable lesson for me, to learn to ask for help at critical points along the way. Sometimes you need the encouragement of your spouse or a friend. Sometimes you need the expertise of a certain business coach. Yes, this will cost you. But it’s a worthwhile investment. I engaged with three different coaches along the way, each bringing a defined field of expertise to the table. And it was profoundly life-changing. You will also need a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. For me, this was found in www.FreeAgentAcademy.com. Free Agent Academy is a business community that offers a comprehensive program for building, growing, and maintaining your business that is like no other. I took my dream to their virtual doorstep, and they helped me turn it into reality.

Get educated.

Education is very important, but I purposely did not list it first. Education is not about credentials; it is about knowledge. And a successful business person carries that knowledge to a place of wisdom. I have seen many MBA’s, graduates at the top of their classes, fail in business and in management decisions. I have witnessed firsthand how a Fortune 500 company can be driven to bankruptcy by unwise decisions of a highly credentialed management team. Education is only important to the degree that it serves a purpose. So if you’re waiting until you have the credentials to start a business, don’t. Start now. Consider Bill Gates and others like him. Start with where you are and be a lifetime learner. Read. Take classes that you need. Constantly develop and hone your skills as you proceed forward with your business. Sadly, I am confronted daily by those who want to start a business but who have not invested in themselves educationally for decades. Their grammar, mathematical, and technical skills have gone lax and now, suddenly, they are in need of income. This is often a desperate situation. Do NOT let yourself go there. Stay on top of technology and business trends. And hone your writing and communication skills at every possible opportunity. They will serve you well.

Get good tools.

When it comes to buying tools for a business, there are three categories of spenders: (1) those who spend too much, (2) those who spend too little, and (3) those who spend just right. When you start a business, begin with the right tools. For example, purchase a computer that will serve your current needs and then those you anticipate for the next two to three years. Don’t try to run a business on a Commodore 64. (Yes, I’m old enough to remember those! ) Don’t feel like you have to have a hundred different programs to run your business. Get the tried and true, the basic workhorses of word processing, bookkeeping, contact management, scheduling, and image editing (if that is part of what you do). You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a website, but you do need to make sure your site is first class. Engage with a competent website development professional.

Get focused.

This is the last point for a reason, because it happens as a matter of progression in a business. As you grow into it, you will start to develop your focus and define your niche. As you do, you will need to offload the things that do not fit your business or the things that are part of your business but not within your strengths. If, for example, you are great at marketing and connecting with people, you should not be spending a majority of your week behind a desk, working on financial spreadsheets. Hire a competent bookkeeper who can do in an hour what takes you four or five hours to do. Then you can spend those four or five hours doing what you do best – growing your business. If you hate doing details, don’t waste your time on them. Hire a virtual assistant. The amount you spend will be more than offset by the business you can generate while your assistant keeps your current business stable. On the other hand, if you are good at the details, do those. And hire some big picture people to do your promotion and marketing. Focus on your strengths and hire someone to cover your weak areas. It can save your business AND your sanity.

There you have it, the six “GET’s” of a successful business. Actually, I like the number seven, so let me add one more “GET”. It’s a quote from the Andy Griffith Show, where Aunt Bea played “The Warden”.

“GET TO IT!”

Your dream of purposeful work that fits you is within your reach. You CAN get there!

One Thing – Not Perfect is Better Than Nothing by Rob Clinton

September 28, 2011 in One Thing with 11 Comments

Rob Clinton and Family

Welcome back to another exciting post in the One Thing Series. Where I have asked successful entrepreneurs and those doggedly pursuing their goal of self employment one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” Today I have the honor of bringing you Rob Clinton, Founder of 180 Career Coaching. Here’s Rob’s One Thing:

In talking with my friend Ivan Bickett, he has inspired me to write out the one piece of advice for new business owners. Something I would give someone if they told me they were starting their business and I could only tell them one thing to help them out.

There are many things that I would do differently if I were given the chance to start over and begin again. It’s been a huge learning experience, and sometimes I feel as though I’ve gone around the table to get to the center. Knowing what I know now, I could’ve definitely got to the center much quicker. At the same time, it’s given me a ton of knowledge and experience from learning through trial and error.

Growing a business is no easy picnic, especially when you’re raising a family in the process and want to make sure they are taken care of and still able to enjoy life while you pursue other gigantic goals.

But… it can be very fun, exciting, challenging, and worth every ounce of sweat you put into it!

If I could only tell someone one thing to help them as they start their business; just one piece of advice, I would tell them to drop all inhibitions and learn to constantly ‘ship’.

Shipping is a term I picked up from Seth Godin, and it’s the greatest wall for “C” personality types, if you understand the DISC personality styles. (Just ask me about the DISC, if you want to learn more.) I’m more D and I, than I am C, but my C is still up there, and tends to want everything to be perfect before sailing off.

This will only slow down your development. Always SHIP; always… When you have a product, or when you say you’re going to have a product, put it together, and launch ASAP!

Get your boat built just enough to where it can float and you have some sail so you can catch wind, and start floating! Then build your boat and adjust your sails along the way. This is something I’ve had to learn the hard way.

Put it this way; nothing is ever going to be perfect, but not perfect is better than nothing at all.

Just Ship! Today… Implement your Art!

One Thing by Justin Lukasavige

September 21, 2011 in Guest Post, One Thing with 12 Comments

Justin Lukasavige courtesy CoachRadio.tv

This is the inaugural edition of One Thing. A series of guest posts by successful entrepreneurs and people actively pursing self employment where I ask them one question: “What is the one piece of advice you would give someone if they told you they were starting a business and you could only tell them one thing to help them out?” I’m starting this series out with a BANG! Today I’m bringing you Justin Lukasavige, founder of CoachRadio.tv, personal friend, and mentor. Here’s his response:

I’ve been thinking about success a lot lately. Some of my client’s businesses have taken off rapidly while others never get much momentum. Like a sparkler, it’s easy to start strong then quickly fizzle out.

Success takes teamwork. If you want a business that makes real money and helps a lot of people, you need a team. I’m not talking about managing hundreds of people in an office space larger than your house. I’ve been there, didn’t like it, and went back the other way. Now I work in a converted shed in my backyard with zero employees.

There’s no way you’ll be successful if you’re handling every detail in your business on your own and it’s foolish to think you can do it. As quickly as you can you need to figure out where you shine; not just what you’re good at, but what you’re the best at.

Those areas may not directly make you money, but if you’re great at them, that’s where you need to be.

Bookkeepers and CPAs are often great initial additions to your team. Why spend hours each week keeping track of details you don’t care about? Let the person who sleeps with a QuickBooks manual next to their bed do it; it’s what they live for.

I’m working with a team right now and they don’t want a large business. I’ve also pointed out how none of them want to actually lead the business they’re dreaming about. While they don’t want to pay someone to lead them, there’s just no way their business will go anywhere without that person.

If want your business to be successful, you need a team. There’s no way around it. As quickly as you can, start building yours.

Justin Lukasavige is a storywriter who lives his stories rather than watching them on TV. He authored the Six Figure Coaching Model and helps his community do what they love. Connect with Justin on twitter @pastdue.

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