2010 January

Small Business Networking

On 01.29.10, In Entrepreneurs, Professional Development, By Jason

Networking is only one component of bringing in more business. The following is a response I gave to some friends of mine yesterday when they asked how they could improve.

Have you ever thought about how many ways there are to network both direct and indirect? Here are a few:

Join a network of peers (same profession) and exchange best practices
Take a leadership role in a professional development network and meet people from various professions
Become a member of a direct referral network like a Chamber or (www.BNI.com).
Socially network (Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedInNewsletter, Podcast, etc.)

Don’t underestimate the meaning of #4 by the way. It’s more than just setting up some accounts and checking in once in a while. Unlike your personal profiles on say, Facebook, these professional accounts will require regular participation; as regular as follow up phone calls to potential customers always are. #1 and #3 are likely more familiar but people have varying success with these kind of networking opportunities for the same reasons that success may elude you in non-professional relationships. For you, these meetings must be more than just a handshake and exchange of business cards. Getting to know people you meet on a “text your cell phone” level is key to gaining their trust…and their referrals.

I didn’t save #2 for last on purpose but it’s a good one to end on. Taking a leadership role in a professional development group (like www.Toastmasters.org) gives you many benefits that will increase your business:

You’ll learn or improve a professional skill; i.e. speaking publically (which helps to generate customers)
You will find people open to new things (like your business)
People will look up to you in your leadership role (and people buy from leaders)
You will practice serving a group and that practice of service will help you better serve your customers

If you’d like more details on any of this let me know. Some of this used to be just conceptual to me but now that I am literally running my own business it’s become proven reality.

Jason Howell is the author of AMERICA: Still the Land of Opportunity, Always a Home for the Brave.\” For more insights on success in business and in life, pick up your copy today.

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Tagged with: Networking

Responsible: Entrepreneurs and Their Community

On 01.28.10, In Entrepreneurs, Jobs, Patriotic Development, By Jason

The interdependence of small business owners and their communities has never been more obvious and necessary than now. What the President tried to speak to last night is tough for any politician to accomplish within an election cycle. It is up to us.

“Unfortunately too many of our citizens have lost faith in our biggest institutions,” said President Obama. Well, the inability to rely on big insitutions births an opportunity for entrepreneurs in a world where customers and employees are seeking relationships with meaning and value (for each stakeholder). “Trust” is one of the words of the year. The President stated in his speech, “We face more than a deficit of dollars, we face a deficit of trust.” Who do you trust?

The Doctor who spends 4 mintues with you or the receptionist who sat with you in the waiting room?
The CEO of the large company you’ve invested in or the woman who attends your BNI meetings?
Your “financial advisor” or your babysitter (whom you’ve known since birth)?

If you are in the fortunate position of creating something of value for the marketplace than you are providing more to your community than products or services. What you actually provide is a person to trust and a leader to follow (and real leaders are hard to come by). How can you maximize this opportunity to contribute to society in a way that stretches beyond your products and services?

Be visible. Visibility is more than just buying ads in newspapers and cable tv. It is being there when your community needs your service. I met an IT entrepreneur this week who is donating his services to his community in Arlington, VA so they could put on a fitness expo. He is helping to make that wellness event happen and he will be rewarded for the leadership he provides. Cost to the taxpayer? $0. Value? Health and wellness. Value to the entrepreneur? Hours of free publicity.
Be relevant. If your business is T-shirts in the Winter, you’re probably a little slow. Just like “..it’s 5′o clock somewhere,” it’s also 75 degrees somewhere. Partner with a West Coast or Southern state by offering your products to their communities. Maybe there’s a sweater guy there who could serve your customers in January around here. You’ll both expand your businesses and consistently be serving your community.
Expand -now. Most small business folks wait until there’s an extra $50,000 before they start hiring. Like tomorrow, that “extra $50K” never comes. Great leaders take calculated risks; especially on good people. In the metropolitan DC area alone there are thousands of talented, underemployed workers who would be happy to offer their service at a reduced rate initially to prove their value. Find them, train them and help one more family to succeed.

The smallest businesses have the potential to do what our government can only hope to “provide the environment” for: job creation. You, my fellow entrepreneur are the saviors your underemployed neighbors are hoping for. Your ambition, your ideas and your willingness to champion the ideals of personal courage and innovation are the hope of the world -no matter what your product or service. As your businesses grow, you create the opportunity to lead in other areas of the community. Are you ready for this next level of responsibility? Are you ready to manifest that trust?

Jason Howell is the author of AMERICA: Still the Land of Opportunity, Always a Home for the Brave.\” For more insights on success in business and in life, pick up your copy today.

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Tagged with: Business • Politicians

State of Entrepreneurship

On 01.26.10, In Entrepreneurs, Personal Development, By Jason

Last week I attended the State of Entrepreneurship Address by the #Kauffman Foundation. It made me proud to be an entrepreneur. I hope the same for you :

Tagged with: Business

Entrepreneurs and a Family Life?

On 01.18.10, In Entrepreneurs, Patriotic Development, Personal Development, By Jason

No better example of “Two is company, three is a crowd” than the juxtaposition of entrepreneurs, time and loved ones. (#JasonHowellCompany) Finding enough time to build a business and spend time with loved ones is nearly impossible except for the most effective time managers (which we entrepreneurs are typically not). So how do we show love to our business and our family?

Stories of successful entrepreneurs don’t help. Usually they begin with a lonely, destitiute protagonist with nothing left but an idea. Defeating all odds said protagonist discovers a need for his/her idea and then spends an inordinate amount of time (re: \”Outliers\”) trying to sell it. The guilt associated with trying to live up to the Outliers’ “10,000 hour” rule is also not much help. Most of us started our businesses to improve our own lives and the lives of our customers. We intended to “share the wealth” with those that our closest to us but along the way, those loved ones feel most left out. Since most of us who actually run businesses know that there is no true overnight successs, here are a few ways to express your love for your family while so busily loving your business:

Communicate – nothing says lovin’ like actually saying “I love you.” Start with that phrase every once in a while to remind those close to you that your business is a means to the ends; not the ends.
Be honest – it’s not just the strict requirements of building a business that keep us busy; sometimes it’s our own inefficiency. We’re not perfect, we’re entrepreneurs. I probably have misspellings in this blog post and the grammar’s probably off but hopefully you still get my message. Explain to your loved ones that you try really hard but that sometims you fail and that failure leads to encroaching on family time -you’re sorry.
Get help – reading a book is a good start but be as inquistive with other entrepreneurs and even your clients regarding how they manage time with family. The good news is that successful people with 9 to 5 jobs typically struggle with family time also. Always asks for ideas and try them out.

Before writing this post I couldn’t help but read a couple articles on AOL.com that caught my interest. Today is MLK Day and though it’s a day of service, it’s a holiday and I felt I was “owed” some repreive before working. These are the mental gymnastics of an entrepreneur. Communicate and be honest about them with your family and be courageous enough to ask for help. I will start.

Do you have any other ideas for making time with loved ones?

Jason Howell is the author of AMERICA: Still the Land of Opportunity, Always a Home for the Brave.\” For more insights on success in business and in life, pick up your copy today.

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Tagged with: Business

Open to Opportunities

On 01.14.10, In Entrepreneurs, Professional Development, By Jason

There is nothing better than being happily surprised. Yesterday I (#JasonHowellCompany) began the day with a steady plan and an open mind. The open mind made all the difference.

In this economic climate a lot is being made about “networking” your way into a new job opportunity -good stuff. Additionally important is having identified the value you bring any organization. A friend of mine wrote a book while working for one of the largest consulting firms in the world. I asked him if that might raise a conflict of interest issue and he explained to me that his employer was more worried about his competitors hiring away a national rising star than supporting a book tour. The lesson reinforced is that as long as your adding something of value to an organization (or to your customers) you should be confident about your opportunities.

Now I did do some planned networking yesterday but it suprising led to an entirely new service to my firm, Jason Howell Company. The key was walking into a new relationship with an open mind and saying “maybe” before I said “no.” There is a world of opportunity outside of your typical business day, every day. Go for it.

Jason Howell is the author of AMERICA: Still the Land of Opportunity, Always a Home for the Brave.\” For more insights on success in business and in life, pick up your copy today.

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Tagged with: Business

Managing Competing Priorities Daily

On 01.12.10, In Entrepreneurs, Professional Development, By Jason

As an entrepreneur (#JasonHowellCompany) it is difficult to identify everything that needs be done; along with when to do it. If you work from home that challenge is even tougher.

: David Allen’s “Getting Things Done.”

How do you properly separate managing the home priorities with business priorities? How do you outline time to work on your website (and other social media), find new customers, thank current customers, create new services, improve current services, expand and market your “brand?” Have I even begun to list everything? Not to mention while writing this post (this morning), the WordPress system gave me some glitches that took my webmaster to fix (thank you Frankie!). It is tough being the “chief cook and bottlewasher” but there is a way to manage it all. Borrowing from David Allen’s book “Getting Things Done” and some REAL life experience I have a few recommendations:

1. Write down every single goal and “to do” item you can think of…everything; even if it takes an hour
2. Look at that list and take a deep breath
3. Go through that list and make categories (like “Home,” “Marketing,” “Current Customers,” etc.)
4. Take another deep breath
5. Complete one from each category
6. Take a break

From my days in sales I was often told, “Do the whole job every day.” I was never the best at it but on the days I closed deals, they resulted from a string of previously all around days. Complete all steps and succeed.

Good luck.

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Tagged with: Business

The Nexus One Google Phone

On 01.07.10, In Entrepreneurs, NEWS, By Jason

Technology is a large part of how I (#JasonHowellCompany) do business and this phone, as a true competitor to the iPhone, is important to consider. What phone technology is right for you?

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Tagged with: Business

Frankly and Boldly

On 01.05.10, In Patriotic Development, Personal Development, Professional Development, By Jason

It is the first Tuesday of 2010, a significant day for any new year. #JasonHowellCompany has a singular purpose of helping other small businesses grow as they enrich the community. For employees seeking to manage their careers like a small business we can assist with that as well.

Tuesday is typically the most challenging day of the week because it is neither as quick as Monday or as inspiring as Friday. It is the day when New Year’s resolutions begin to fade as we march towards the “normalcy” of the post-holiday season. Today being Tuesday, I choose to renew my resolution of living “Frankly and boldly,” as President Franklin Roosevelt describes in the speech below (1 minute in). It is also the “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself” speech. This is your year, this is my year, this can be the year of resurgence for our country. The time is upon us. The vision of Jason Howell Company is outlined here.

If you have made a committment to make twenty-ten the year of positive growth for yourself, your family, your company and your country, then Contact me.