The Entrepreneurship Lifestyle -- It Isn't What You Think

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Many people envision entrepreneurs as always driving the latest luxury sports car, wearing the hottest most expensive fashions, living in mansions around the world and going to all the A-List parties.

Not so.

Yes, you can make it big, and have all that -- and more.

But the whole point of being an entrepreneur is to turn your passions into profits. Do what you love, yet trick the world to pay you for it.

That's the essence of being an entrepreneur, otherwise, you'd just be working at some company, to make money doing something you hate.

Most people have jobs they hate. Well, hate may be a strong word. They tolerate them, they've accepted the fact that this is what I'll do, forever, and ever, because everyone has to have a job. Everyone has to work for someone. That's how you make money to enjoy the few hours you get to yourself each week.

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Or at least that's the myth society sells us.

We're taught to stay in school, so you can get an education because a good education is important in getting a job. Oh, and you'll get one of those too. A job.

And you'll be at that job forever, commuting in traffic to get there and back, until one day you're given a gold watch and a blue box with all your personal things in it, and wished a happy retirement.

That myth is dead. Has been for a long, long time.

Though our society is still stuck in that myth, so anytime someone bucks the system and bolts for the door of entrepreneurship, they are automatically called a "rebel," a "troublemaker," and considered the darkhorse of the family.

"You don't want to end up like your crazy uncle Harry, do you?" is often heard at family functions.

No one knows what crazy uncle Harry does, other than he'll always show up late in his big and shiny European car from some automaker no one has heard of, arms full of gifts for all the naysayers.

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Crazy uncle Harry is known as a person that likes to party. His big full-on laugh can be heard miles away, he's always the center of attention, flanked on all sides by others, laughing at and with him, and just as he arrived late to the party, he'll leave late too -- usually closing the place down.

However, it isn't is party-hard persona that scares people. It's the fact that Harry doesn't work for anyone. He's never had a regular nine-to-five job. Ever.

But that's still not what really scares people about Harry.

What really makes everyone worry and wonder about Harry, is this:

Why is he always so happy?

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How come he never counts down the hours until he has to go back to work?

How come he never complains about his boss?

He's crazy -- uncle Harry.

Harry isn't crazy, he's an entrepreneur.

And like most entrepreneurs, he's living the life he's always wanted too.

That's the entrepreneurial lifestyle -- living life on your terms -- not living the myth society tells you is "life."

So the next time you see that relative that's been labeled the black sheep of the family, pat him or her on the back, smile, and ask them for some advice on starting your own entrepreneurial journey.

Then one day, if you're lucky, you'll be the one that gets the word "crazy" appended to their name at family functions.

Isn’t Social Media Just Shameless Self-Promotion – YES IT IS – That’s Why You Need to Be Using It to Shamelessly Self-Promote Your Business

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We live in a very anti-social, social media world.

No, that’s not a typo – social media is anything BUT social.

Think about it – how many “friends” do you have on Twitter that you actually know? And by know, I’m not talking about sharing tweets.

Let’s put it this way, how many “friends” do you have on Twitter that you’d invite into your home for dinner? Not a coffee shop, not some sleazy bar, or worse – street corner – your own private residence.

Asking myself that same question, I currently have 4,376 followers on Twitter. Of those amazingly awesome folks following me, I’d guess I probably really only know a couple hundred, when you consider friends, family and business associates.

Of those 200 people, I really only know about 50 that I know well enough to invite into my own, personal, private, living space.

So, out of over 4,000 “friends” on Twitter, I really know about 50 of them. Do the math – I only really know 1.25 percent of my Twitter followers.

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According to statistics, that’s about right. Studies show the average Twitter user only really knows between one to two percent of those who follow them.

One to two percent – that means, on average, 98 to 99 percent of those happy smiling faces that follow you on Twitter are complete strangers.

Doesn’t sound all that social at all.

Twitter is just like walking down a busy street, yelling: “look at me.”

BINGO!

Social media is just shameless self-promotion, that’s why you need to be using it to shamelessly self-promote your business.

If everyone is using Twitter, facebook, YouTube, Google Plus, Vimeo, Pinterest, Instagram, even Linkedin to shamelessly promote themselves – then you need to be doing that too.

I know – that’s not very social. Walking down a busy street, yelling: “look at me” is hardly the behavior that’ll win you long lasting friends you can count on when you really need them.

But that’s the new world order, thanks to smart phones, tablets, free WiFi, and coffee shops filled with people, none of whom talk to each other -- even at the same table!

Talking?

That’s old school.

Besides, no one cares about you.

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They are too busy taking selfies to show off their new hat, tweeting about what they had for lunch, or posting a really nasty review about the waiter that kept putting his finger in everything he brought to the table.

No one cares about you.

They are busy shamelessly self-promoting their own self interest.

However, the smart social media entrepreneur knows that social media isn’t about making friends, fans and followers.

No.

It’s about doing something that gets you noticed by the most self-absorbed generation since – well okay – there never has been another generation so interested in themselves, that they will walk into on-coming traffic, because they were eyes-down, self-absorbed into their mobile device.

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You have to use social media as a business person to get into the eyeballs of your customers, so in their own self-interest, they share your posts with their friends. And their friends share it with their friends, and so on, and . . .

That’s the real power of social media in business.

Despite it being wrongly named “social” – it really should be called “self interested media” or “anti social media” or anything but social.

Social media is just shameless self-promotion, but that’s why you need to be using it to shamelessly self-promote your business.

Just Because You Run a Small Business Doesn’t Mean You Should Answer the Phone Like Your Kid

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Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, much as their businesses do.

Sometimes you’ll never know they run a small business unless you actually meet them.

Then, there are others, that have the telltale signs of being a small business:

• Their email address is a Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or some other free one.
• Their email address is firstname@companyname.com
• Their web address is some free-hosted site.
• When you call them, they answer the phone as your kid does when you’re calling him downstairs for dinner.

Seriously, I’ve been talking to a handful of small business owners recently, and more than just a few answered the phone in such an unprofessional manner, I had to double check to see if I dialed the wrong number.

“Yo,” is not an acceptable way to answer your phone if you want to be taken seriously as a professional.

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Neither is: “Hey, how ya doin’?”

Nor does: “What?” inspire great things when calling someone you might be looking to hire.

How you answer the phone makes a big difference, even if you’re running a small business.

You’d think this would be common sense, however, as with most things in life, common sense doesn’t seem to be all that common.

When you answer your work line as above, you instantly put your potential customers on edge.

“Does this bozo really think I’m going to pay him for his services?”

How can you trust someone with your money, if they can’t answer the phone like an adult?

Unless I’m calling a stand-up comic, or someone that works in a business where light-hearted fun is the business, anything as the above tells me I’ll be looking elsewhere to spend my cash.

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So, how should you be answering your work phone?

A good rule of thumb is to simply say your first and last name as the introduction: “John Smith.”

That works in the mega-huge faceless corporate world, so it also works in a small business.

Though adding some personality and customer service isn’t a bad idea: “Hi, this is John Smith, how can I help you?”

Want to sound like a big company? Use the company name in your greeting: “Thanks for calling XYZ Inc., this is John, how can I help you?”

We’ve all heard the saying, you never have a second chance to make a first impression – that is very true on the phone, especially if this is the person’s first time calling you and your business.

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If you don’t sound like a reputable, professional person, you won’t get that person’s business.

Competition in all fields is immense these days, so you really don’t have a second chance to make that all important first impression.

So, unless you’re a Sylvester Stallone impersonator, answering your business phone: “Yo” just doesn’t cut it.

Once you’ve established a rapport with someone, and know the number, then perhaps you could answer slightly less formal.

However, that’ll never happen, if you scare off potential customers by answering your phone like your kid.

So, until that time, always answer the phone like a business person – unless of course, you don’t want to be in business.

SEX -- Now That I Have Your Attention -- Personal Branding is All About Sex Appeal

Once the domain of corporations and their slick marketing campaigns, branding is no longer limited to just that -- but encompasses you too.

You are a brand -- and if you aren't -- you better create your own personal brand because everything depends on that personal brand.

Perception, whether true or implied, is how we accept the world.

So how you present yourself, even when you aren't there to do so in person, is how others see you.

Think about anyone you know, and you'll develop a mental picture of that person. That's their personal brand -- or rather -- that's the personal brand they are representing to the world.

It wasn't always like this, we used to accept people on their face value and a handshake.

But since the explosion of the social media universe, when our images, our thoughts, even our voice can speak when we aren't there, now we base our decisions about liking, unliking, or despising someone completely on the way they appear to us, even before meeting them.

Human Resources professionals have been doing this for years. Statistics show that over 80% of those responsible for hiring people, Google job applicants BEFORE calling them for a phone screen interview.

So those pictures of you drunk dancing on top of the bar at your friend's party might actually prevent you from getting your next job. Unless drunk table dancer is the job you want.

Is this fair?

Hell no!  We all make mistakes. Just so long as we learn from those mistakes and move on, instead of hitting our heads against the same brick walls every time.

However, creating and managing your personal brand -- the way the world sees you when you aren't around -- isn't hard. You just have to always be aware of how you present yourself to the world, and you have to have sex appeal.

No, I don't mean taking it all off and flashing the cameras.

PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!!!

The first step to creating a personal brand, is making you appealing to others, usually by wrapping a catchy descriptive slogan around who you are, what you stand for, and why anyone should pay you any attention.

Coke is it, and Timex takes a lickin' but keeps on ticking, and you -- well -- you . . .

PSST. . . this is where you insert your catch phrase that tells us in as few words as possible who you are.

Personal branding is all about asking yourself questions, to dive deep into who you are, and creating the message that you want to convey to the world when they hear your name.

Some key questions to ask yourself to help you build your personal brand:

• How do I make people feel?
• How do others benefit by having me around?
• What words do others use to describe me to their friends? 
• What industry am I in?
• What's my job or ideal job?
• Who are the people you want to respect your personal brand the most?
• What can you do best for those who you want to respect you?
• Why me, instead of everyone else? What makes me special/different?

Ask yourself these questions, and create a short catch-phrase which sums up your answers. That's your personal brand. Or at least, the start of a great one.

Passion Needs a Hungry Audience

The other day, someone asked me: "So Jordan, how do you turn your passions into profits?"

They were referring to one of my self-branding taglines used in social media, which says that I turn my passions into profits, and then asks what's your passion?

Then I heard someone describe just that, on one of the many podcasts I listen to -- passion needs a hungry audience.

People are passionate about coffee.

We're often told to follow our passions, and the rest will come.

That is true, so long there is a need for that passion, and a history of people paying for the fulfillment of that need.

Some people are passionate about coffee, so much so they call themselves coffee connoisseurs. And it doesn't hurt that the active ingredient in coffee -- caffeine -- is highly addictive too.

Ask any self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, and they will boast how they aren't addicted to the brown brew, they love the various tastes and smells -- or pardon me -- I mean aromas -- as they like to say.

Regardless of whether these coffee connoisseurs are addicted or not, they are so passionate about coffee, they are willing to pay for it -- big time. 

Coffee beans are grown in over 70 countries, and it is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Over $4 USD billion was spent last year importing coffee into the United States, to serve the 100 million daily coffee drinkers of that country. It's estimated that over $18 USD billion was spent by Americans alone, just on speciality coffees -- lattes, cappuccinos and mochas.

Clearly, coffee connoisseurs are passionate, hungry and willing to pay to feed that passionate hunger.

Coffee art -- don't know if it makes it taste better
but it sure is pretty.

Coffee shops are turning passions into profits -- and one would hope that those who own those shops are just as passionate about their products as their customers.

Because that's part of the equation too. If you aren't passionate about whatever it is you are peddling to the world, those who are will quickly catch on, and you'll lose customers.

Pretty faces must
be passionate about
what they sell,
or they'll cost
you money.

When I was at the Business Franchise and Investment Expo a few weeks ago, I talked to many people trying to sell me on becoming one of their franchisees. A well known fast food restaurant chain had these gorgeous women, handing out brochures to lure in potential franchisees. Whenever someone stops me with paper, I always ask questions -- I'm just weird that way I suppose.

The young lady simply flung her long hair back and said: "I dunno, ask him," as she pointed to her "pimp," -- the company had hired a bunch of models which weren't passionate about the product, the company or anything else other than getting paid, from what I could tell.

I politely thanked the young lady, and kept walking. 

And it wasn't because fast food isn't nearly as addictive as coffee. You don't have to have an addictive product to guarantee profits.

People are passionate about their pets. There are almost 75 million dog owners -- and 88 million cat owners -- in the United States. These pet owners on average spend between $150 to $250 USD annually on vet bills. Last year, American's spent over $53 billion on their pets -- healthcare, food, and yes, even pet clothing and accessories.

People passionate about pets are a hungry audience, and have a history of spending to feed that hunger.

Cute puppies decked out for a stroll.

Just that model wasn't passionate about what she was representing.

Passion needs a hungry audience -- and those feeding that passion must have it too. Passion is just as contagious as a lack of passion is.

And if you are passionate about something which people are willing to pay for to feed their own passions, that's how you turn passions into profits.

So, what are you passionate about?

How You Eat Your Oreo Cookies Determines Your Success at Entrepreneurship

Which type of Oreo cookie eater are you?

Are you a dunker?

Maybe you are a splitter and licker?

Or do you just pop it in your mouth?

We're talking about the famous chocolate-vanilla cream filled cookie -- the Oreo -- and how you eat them, because that may determine whether or not you've got what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

Some dunk their cookies in milk, others split them open, and lick out the cream filling, and some just take bite after bite until they are all gone.

So which one is the sure fire sign you're an entrepreneurial type, and more importantly, why?

Dunkers are builders, they see they've got a great thing -- the Oreo cookie -- but look for ways to make it better, by adding milk.

Dunking Oreo Cookie In Milk

Entrepreneurs are constantly seeing necessary needed things, and looking for ways to improve them. Just ask former Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs -- he took the standard cell phone and turned it into a mobile office, gaming system, and personal assistant all in one.

People that take the time to carefully pry open their Oreo cookies, revealing the sweet creamy goodness in the middle are meticulous adventurers, willing to take risks, yet they know how to take care when needed.

Someone like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg fits the conservative risk taker -- he took a risk by combining the best of the social networks at the time, to create Facebook. And he's constantly adding new ways to monetize the free Internet, by collecting, using and selling our data -- yet he knows when to take care when the media and governments start raising concerns about privacy.

It takes practice to carefully pry open the cookie.

Then there are those that know ideas don't happen by themselves, they need to be bold, and brave and just do it -- so they just pop the cookie in their mouths.

Anyone who's seen the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" would have told Elon Musk, founder of Tesla Motors, that creating an electric car company was a bad idea -- the oil industry would trample him like they did General Motor's when GM released the first fully electric car in the 1990's.

However, Tesla's Model S not only is already on back order anywhere in North America, it was awarded the best car of the year by Motor Trend Magazine and made history by becoming the first non-gas-powered vehicle to ever win that title.

Sometimes it's best to just go for it and pop it in.

So the truth is, anyway you eat your Oreo cookies, you have the right stuff to be your own boss.

All three are excellent traits to have if you want to be an entrepreneur.

Dunkers build, splitters and lickers plan, and poppers do.

You need to be a builder of brands, relationships, products, services, even your own personal brand as you ultimately build a company. So dunkers -- the builders -- are a much needed character trait of all good entrepreneurs.

Just ask Richard Branson, that started his empire by building a major record label out of nothing more than an idea in his parent's garage when he was a kid.

Being in business for yourself is very risky, but you need to take the time to plan, to prepare and to be ready. People that pry open their Oreo cookies and lick out the inside embody all of these attributes, just ask anyone that has tried -- and failed -- to separate cookie from cream. It's a delicate balancing act indeed.

All entrepreneurs have great ideas. An idea -- we are told -- is a dime a dozen. Which is why it's important to take the best ideas, and make them happen. We can sit in our homes, offices, or in the park, thinking up amazing ways to change the world for the better. But unless you actually act on any of these ideas, nothing happens. So those that pop Oreo cookies in their mouths show us the necessary sense of adventure needed to tackle the risks of being an entrepreneur, and going out and just trying it out.

So there you have it -- three different ways to eat a childhood classic and how each one is an important element in being an entrepreneur.

Now go out there and change the world.