Guy Kawasaki has a funny and so true post about young entrepreneurs.
If you want additional proof that we’re in a bubble, here it is: young people are trying to get into the venture capital business again.
His advice for young people just out of college to create a product or service instead of immediately going into a venture fund is good because a venture fund is the last place you should work in your career, not the first.
It reminds me of Real Estate Investors. I’ve known some that do a couple of deals and then immediatly go into coaching and teaching. When you ask them how to handle a down turn market they have no idea because they have never seen one. Then when a down market comes they continue to tell students that is is still easy even though the only money they are making is in teaching. I also see this big time in Internet Marketers. Great copywriting can sell snow to Eskimos in a snow storm.
Anyways, I degress. Check out Guy’s VC Aptitude Test. Great stuff. His questions are dead on.
How to Change the World: The Venture Capital Aptitude Test (VCAT)
A band named The Get Out Clause was Manchester UK wanted to make a video but they couldn’t afford the proper camera crew or equipment. So they came up with an ingeious idea. They played around the city in front of the CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras.
If you have never been to the UK they have these CCTV everywhere. Last summer when Nan and I were in the UK on vacation I was amazed at the number of these things. So this band plays in front of them, some eighty different locations.
And then they ask for the footage under the freedom of information act and they get all the footage for FREE. That’s right for free. Then it was just the job of editing it together over their song.
There is always a way. There is always a solution. When people go into business I actually get nervous if they have a lot of money because they tend not to think and budget but instead spend like crazy and go out of business in flames quickly. Someone with little or no money has to think of creative ideas. And the creative ideas is the stuff that makes a business. The idea is key.
Many big businesses start new ventures with no money. It is just a matter of structuring the deal. The art of the deal as Trump would say.
The link below takes you the the news story about it and the video. They also got some great reactions from people wondering why they are playing a full band with drums and the works in the middle of a road.
The Get Out Clause, Manchester’s stars of CCTV cameras - Telegraph
Here’s to The Get Out Clause getting a label to sign them. They are creative and worth looking at.
Virgin, Body Shop and many other companies use Success Intelligence by Dr. Robert Holden. And you know how much a fan I am of Virgin and Richard Branson.
Success Intelligence landmark book reveals the timeless principles and exercises that will help you enjoy more real, soulful success in every area of your life. Increase your capacity for success in your life, work and relationships.
Key themes include:
Remember what’s Real!
“… in a world full of front-page news, fast-tracked careers, designer clothing and tragic sports results, you have to remember what is real,” writes Robert Holden. Success Intelligence is a powerful meditation on ‘What is success?’ that enables greater joy and more meaningful success.
Find your Sense of Direction
“… the Monty Python comedy sketch: 100 Yards Dash for People with No Sense of Direction offers a perfect metaphor for our mad-dash world,” writes Robert. Success Intelligence is written with great humor and warmth. It is an invaluable guide for living in a manic society and a busy generation - where people are often too busy chasing success to be truly happy.
Unblock Yourself
“Success is not about driving yourself harder; it is about letting go of what blocks your heart,” writes Robert Holden. Success Intelligence focuses on 1) IQ - the wisdom of your mind;
2) EQ - the wisdom of your heart; and 3) SQ (spiritual intelligence) - the wisdom of your soul. It features 30 powerful coaching lessons for balancing speed and vision, busyness and inspiration, adrenalin and joy.
The Joy of Success
“…if your definition of success has little or no measure of love in it, get another definition,” writes Robert Holden. Success Intelligence challenges you to measure your success using timeless values such as love and courage, friendship and service. The real “joy of success” is to know that your success benefits others. Your success is your gift to the world.
Success Intelligence
If it works for Richard Branson what do you think it will work for you?
Yanik Silver recently spent some time with Richard Branson on Necker Island. Yanik came up with 34 rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs. Here are the first three, check the link at the bottom for all of them. The last rule is highly recommended.
Getting back to it, I was flying on the way home from Necker and I was so inspired with our time there that I started creating my rules for successful entrepreneurial endeavors. I thought it would be top 10 list but I kept writing and writing in my journal and it came to 34 tenets that I’m calling…
34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs
1. It’s got to be a BIG idea that you, your team and your customers can “get” in seconds.
2. Strive to create 10x – 100x in value for any price you charge. Your rewards are always proportionate to the value you provide.
3. You must charge a premium price so you have a large margin to provide an extraordinary value & experience.
Yanik Silver’s Internet Lifestyle Blog » Blog Archive » 34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs
I just landed a big webmastering client yesterday. It took a month of follow up. For a big client regular follow up is essential. If they are so busy they can’t take the time to send you an email then they need your help a lot. After a few phone calls and emails and not really moving forward I set up a physical meeting. I had to drive 90 minutes one way to get to it but I wanted the client. It was well worth it.
This type of follow up is great for the right type of client. You need to determine that in the beginning. I’ve had other potential clients were any more follow up over three calls is not worth my time. Create or update your business plan for the type of clients you want. I want little clients all the way to big clients. I’ve been creating websites since 1995 and I’ve learned that little clients turn into big clients and some big clients go out of business. Having a diverse group is best. Also, it’s fun to see clients grow and add features to their website. When they add a support ticket system or team Intranet site that says a lot about their business. It says they are successful and I was a part of that.
After the great meeting I went to have a massage. I had one the day before but this one was unique. It was a birthday present from a client Jessie Dingler. She does a European Lymphatic massage. Wow, I zoned out quickly and throughly enjoyed an hour of bliss. Jessie knows how to give a great massage. After a 15 minute recovery to get back into my body I was off back home and to support my Nan who had a preview call for her upcoming teleseminar The Spirit of Money.
A good day.
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