With the pace of technological advancement, we see an emerging change of how traditional business models evolve in the business world. With that, it seems that the digital world has trampled the brick-and-mortar business model. Whilst navigating the digital world is one of the many challenges that can keep your head above the water in business, many entrepreneurs have neglected the need to tap on the wisdom of advice when they make their ways into the new business world. For this reason, this will eventually draw a line between the difference in success and failure of a business.
As an entrepreneur yourself, you probably know that there is a significant percentage of startups or new businesses that will fail, and that it would be one difficult lesson to learn. Against all odds, there are a lot of successful entrepreneurs out there who have been through their hardest fall, and are more than willing to share out their toughest experiences, and profound advice to people like you. Now, are you ready to hear golden nuggets of advice for your entrepreneurial journey?
In the introduction of their book, Not Taught by Jim Keenan, he discusses how the internet, social media, and access to information have changed the definition of work forever. Being a consultant, author, and sought-after speaker, Keenan has inspired Eric, who is the Business Lead at Waze, to share the three (3) remarkable takeaways for new entrants who will embark on their journey into the business world.
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Experience Does
Not Matter
Expertise
augments experience. The latter, as Keenan puts it, is just a matter of hours
logged. You may have done something for x number of years, but did you actually
grasp the concepts? “Expertise is the actual amount of knowledge,
understanding, precision, effectiveness, accomplishment and delivery that
someone can provide in their role," Keenan says. "It’s not based on
time spent.”
What
really matters is whether or not you can execute in your role. And expertise is
a big factor. Whatever you’re interested in, study it profoundly.
Alexander Hamilton came to the American colonies as a 14-year-old orphan. But
he set out to learn everything he could about law and commerce. Through intense
study and apprenticeship, he earned himself a position as General
Washington’s aide-de-camp. After the revolution, he was instrumental in
establishing our financial system. As the immensely popular Broadway musical tells,
he was a self-starter who worked harder. Many have called him a genius, but
Hamilton himself said:
“All the genius I have lies in this;
when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is
before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made
is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labour
and thought.”
Dive
deep into the subject you’re interested in. Seek out mentors and books in the
field and get involved in any way you can. Before I moved to the Bay area, I
read everything I could on startups, technology and business. I turned my
local Barnes & Noble into a public library. I read, read and read, only to
return the next day for more of the same. The time I put in there allowed me to
gain some expertise in the field I wanted to get into - startups. And
more importantly, it gave me a blueprint from which to gain experience.
Master Sales
If
you want to succeed in the new economy, you have to master selling. As Keenan
mentions in his book “sales is a catalyst for change.” Our lives revolve around
sales. You need to sell your friends on going to the concert. You need to sell
your dad on why he needs to change his diet. You need to sell the girl in your
Crossfit class on why she should go to dinner with you.
We
have an icky association with sales. We think it involves manipulation, greed
and lying. Sure, some sellers fit that profile, unfortunately. But they’re not
salespeople, as Keenan points out. They’re charlatans and scumbags. If you care
about what you do, and if you care about helping others relieve a pain point,
then you need to become a good seller. “True selling means understanding
the needs, goals and problems of ...everybody in your sphere of
influence," Keenan says.
With Waze Ads, we understand our brands need a relevant medium to
communicate their message. We help brands like Dunkin
Donuts and Wells
Fargo connect with people in a
meaningful way. Drivers on Waze are already navigating to these locations. So
if we can pin these brands on the map, we deliver value by making them more
navigable and, at times, offering discounts and promotions. To me, this isn’t
sales in the Mad Men way. It’s about stimulating change to make for a
meaningful and enjoyable driving experience.
Ultimately,
sales is about delivering value to the right audience. And if you can internalise
and build upon it, you will be valuable to any company or cause looking to
drive change.
Start Creating Content
Creating content allows us to show our expertise and establishes our credibility in a given field. But most of us do not have the slightest clue where to start. Part of the challenge, I believe, is we have so many mediums to choose from. Should we blog? Podcast? Blogcast? And once we decide on what medium to use, how do we know what platform to pick? Before I started blogging in 2011, I spent more time researching the different types of platforms than I did writing. But as Keenan points out, none of that matters. “Pick the one (medium) that fits your personality and style, but pick you must.”
I may have ugly handwriting, but at least what I write is pretty. Two years ago Stephen Key asked me if I wanted to contribute to this fine outlet. He knew I blogged and he knew I worked in business. Of course I said yes. Writing for Entrepreneur would lead to an opportunity with Observer and Thought Catalog. Throughout this journey, I’ve been able to interview fascinating people and meet selfless mentors. If you told me five years ago I’d be writing for FastCo, I would have told you to stay off the lean. There are many more fascinating stories out there about individuals who just started with something and got better as time and practice went on.
Don’t get caught up in the weeds and paralyse yourself with analysis. Just start somewhere. If you start podcasting but later realise that you prefer writing, that’s okay. But until you get going, you won’t be able to get better.
Image Source:
(1) ravepubs.com
(2) nordenergi.org
(3) salesmanagementworkshop.com
(4) toprankblog.com
Chia Yi Jing | Bubbling with enthusiasm, bright ideas, and confidence, Yi Jing set foot in the PR world with Orchan Consulting, where she was offered permanent employment after a successful internship. She is determined to make her mark in the industry, and her bosses know that she will.
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