Tag: business - Page 16

I'm a part-time leader in Atlanta. Actually, less than a part time leader - I am there when I can be but mostly I am running around the world doing other "stuff".

Our brand in Atlanta is continuing to grow. I am constantly going out and meeting people who know who we are, what we do and follow us on some sort of social media platform.

It's not by accident that we have grown our business there and it can largely be attributed to a few things:

The most amazing thing happeneda few days ago. I went to a pool party in Atlanta and a guy came up to me very excited at the opportunity to finally meet me. He had never met me before, but had heard things about me. But his real reason for wanting to meet me is that he is a "fan" of my blogs, tweets and really anything I put on social media.

Not the creepy type of fan. The genuine person who appreciates honestly, vulnerability and someone who is fearless in sharing her real life.

So, I thought I might start a few blogs about who I really am.

The mentor

To use this word seems strange to me because I feel like I am not old enough or experienced enough to be anyone's mentor, but it just so happens that I am a mentor to a lot of people and that is something I have to take seriously.

I discovered quite by accident what I was meant to do with my career... and ironically having a baby is to thank for that! Despite the perception amongst young women in business that having babies will ruin their career, I actually think we have a lot to thank the baby making machinery for....!

Wow! I mean wow! I have recently travelled to the US and have arrived in our Atlanta office and I am completely and utterly amazed at the talent and sheer determination of our Marketing Eye team in Atlanta.

They are not only the best looking team in all of Atlanta, they are also the smartest and most competent.

Who would have thought that they could put together a team like this all by themselves and start running the business like I always dreamed it would be run.

For years, Marketing Eye used the same brand messages and continued to push through to the market key points that we believed were different to what everybody else was saying and doing.

The problem is that when you are online everyone can see for themselves what you are saying and doing, and for competitors to copy, it really is quite simple.

All of a sudden, prospects were ringing up and saying "oh, you do the same as such and such".

Never give away everything, it's as simple as that.

Too many entrepreneurs get so desperate that they give away the kitchen sink when in fact all their prospect wanted to know was that they could do a good job.

As an entrepreneur, it's hard to start a business and to keep it going year-after-year profitability creating value and jobs. But many do so very successful, and yet those who fail seem to do so falling often on their own sword.

I am not stupid. At least I don't think I am.

I try to listen to what others have to say and when someone gives me advice, I usually take it.

I have these two men in my life that are mentors. They are the two men throughout the world that I hold in the highest business esteem. Yes, the world. Not just Australia, but the world.

Their names are Jack Cowin and Peter Ivany. If you don't know who they are, Google them. It will be well worth your while. They are not your average 'smart cookies', they are briliant businessmen - beyond the brilliance of anyone else I have ever met (and I have met people worth hundreds of billions of dollars and spent quality time with them). I think these two guys are better. 

Most entrepreneurs don't listen. They trust their gut instinct and often find that their newest great idea, should take precedence over everything else their business is doing.

While that is good and well, this constant need for gratification and results often leads to entrepreneurs missing the mark - and then wondering why they are forging ahead as first thought.

It's been a mammoth month in so many ways. End of financial year in Australia is always draining. As a marketer, there is no fun in fulfilling your obligations as a business owner for the taxation department.

Over the past 16 years, I have worked with more than 300 companies, and over that time there have been a number of things that I have learned simply by listening and observing.