It’s been more than nine years since a devastating tropical cyclone known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ondoy made landfall, causing US$1.09 billion in damages, 747 fatalities, and severely affecting the lives of 4.9 million people. The September 2009 storm was the most devastating typhoon to hit Manila since 1970. Nearly 10 years later, survivors are still struggling to rebuild their lives. EO Philippines members are determined to help one particular community that was devastated by the natural disaster. Their story is an example of social entrepreneurship at its best. How Cobblers Became FarmersWhen floodwaters devastated the city, many families were relocated from urban Manila—specifically from a section of the city called Marikina, the shoe capital of the Philippines—to rural farmland. These families lost their houses and livelihoods. In the relocation site, there were no jobs, so they had no income. Their backgrounds and life skills were those of cobblers, shoemakers and factory workers. However, left with nothing after the devastating typhoon, they had to reinvent themselves and adapt to becoming farmers almost overnight. “We, as entrepreneurs, can only imagine what an ordeal that is, and how different the skills of farmers and shoemakers would be,” says Jonathan Te, president of EO Philippines. “Despite that, these farmers remained constant with a strong work ethic and fighting spirit.” The Ayala Foundation, which works to build productive, creative and self-reliant Filipino communities, works with the cobblers-turned-farmers to provide skills and opportunities. First, they learned ornamental farming to supply the Foundation’s sister companies with landscaping plants for real estate projects. This success gave birth to organic vegetable farming, a way to expand their livelihood. MyEO Engage’s “Go Green” ProjectThe Ayala Foundation’s focus on creating shared value in a sustainable livelihood aligns with EO’s core values of Boldly Go and Give Back. The EO Philippines chapter has a strong commitment to social entrepreneurship. Its members include Julie Vergara, MyEO Global Committee Chair, and Sheila Ramos, MyEO Engage group champion. They coordinated a MyEO Engage project with chapter president Jonathon Te and Joanna Duarte, an EO member who works for the programs department of Ayala Foundation. In June 2018, EO Philippines undertook a partnership with Ayala Foundation to go green in support of this community of shoemakers who unexpectedly became farmers overnight.
The objectives of the MyEO Engage “Go Green” partnership with Ayala Foundation are twofold:
The project has three phases:
From four core members, the MyEO Engage project has grown in scope with 20 EO members now participating. Phase One is underway; EO Philippines has funded two large greenhouses that are already in use, enhancing organic vegetable production. Short-term, the social impact will be creating favorable farming conditions for families in the area. Long-term, the goal is to implement sustainable livelihood projects through employment or enterprise for families in the area. Teaching the Business of FarmingEO members are supporting and mentoring the farmers, guiding them with entrepreneurial lessons in how to continuously increase their business bottom line. Ayala Foundation is forming a cooperative to enable farmers to sell directly to consumers without a middleman, which is a primary pain point for a lot of farmers. The goal is to help farmers market their organic produce directly to EO members in the food industry. Once these operations are established, EO will assess various competencies to help the farmers stand on their own. Juju Eats, EO Philippines member David Azanza’s chain of healthy eateries, is already buying vegetables from the farmers. Eventually, other EO companies will join the market for their vegetables, which is good for both farmers and the companies which will receive high-quality produce at a fair price. “Through this livelihood project, the farmers have increased their incomes by 200%, escaped food poverty and raised themselves above the poverty line,” Jonathan Te explains. “They are now living better lives. We hope to continuously grow the business and subsequently add more farmers to this endeavor.” Encouraging EntrepreneurshipThe members of EO Philippines were adamant that they wanted to support a project that is both sustainable and goes beyond contributions to enable more Filipinos to start their entrepreneurial journey. In order to foster entrepreneurship, after 75 percent of the funds EO members contributed went toward building the greenhouses, 25 percent was provided as a capital loan that the chapter expects the farmers to pay back. This ensures accountability for the farmers, giving them a stronger stake in the project’s success. ROI for EO Philippines MembersJonathan Te summarized the power of this MyEO Engage project on the 20 participating members of the EO Philippines chapter: “In late summer, the Ayala Foundation’s project coordinator took us on a tour of the farm, narrating the stories of farmers displaced by the typhoon. Despite the devastating experience of losing everything they had in the flood, these shoemakers-turned-farmers flashed cheerful smiles as they welcomed us to their community. It was a powerful experience. “Working with these farmers taps into the complete 360º persona of an entrepreneur. The impact for everyone involved is deep and significant, providing us with profound meaning as to why we do what we do. This project makes us realize how we, as EO, can use our influence and resources to create a huge positive wave that can significantly impact our community and our country. “The idea that, in our small way, we have kicked off something that alleviates hunger and simultaneously improves the lives of Filipinos is priceless.” Are you an entpreneur who wants to use your success to do good? Then you’ll fit right into EO’s network of global entrepreneurs. Learn what it’s like to be an EO member. The post How EO Philippines Members are Helping an Entire Community Displaced by Typhoon Ondoy appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization http://bit.ly/2LIfypr
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Written for EO by Michael Neidert, a writer and consultant. Entrepreneurship is difficult in any part of the world, but entrepreneurs in developing nations face an especially steep uphill climb. Add poor infrastructure, difficult-to-access capital and daunting challenges to the list of typical issues of starting a business, and entrepreneurship in a developing nation becomes an especially courageous act. However, as in many scenarios, ingenuity is born of necessity. Despite the obstacles, it’s entrepreneurs who are driving real change and progress, transforming developing nations by growing knowledge-based economies, investing in local communities and solving challenges that Silicon Valley may not yet even be aware of.
Since 2016, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda has been a driving force in addressing 17 sustainable development goals, tackling challenging issues ranging from energy to climate change to hunger. EO supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, tapping the genius and problem-solving abilities of its more than 13,500 entrepreneurs to help solve the world’s ongoing challenges. But it’s not only EO members who find innovative ways of driving social change. Entrepreneurs in developing nations are transforming their communities, economies and legacies for a more sustainable future. How local entrepreneurship addresses the UN SDGsBeing plugged into the local culture gives entrepreneurs in developing nations a unique sense of what’s needed, allowing for local solutions to local issues. Fibre, a Nigerian startup, solves a uniquely local housing problem: They offer monthly rent payments instead of requiring 24 months of rent upfront―the local norm―thus creating greater access to affordable housing. Where entrepreneurs from developed nations may have a blind spot, entrepreneurs in developing nations have unique vision for their markets. Fighting waste and pollutionAs developing nations rise, so do consumption levels, leading to more waste and environmental threats, but entrepreneurs step in again. Serbian startup, Woobox, aims to counter this rise in pollution, combating the use of Styrofoam with its recyclable and renewable packaging made of wool and wood, a green alternative. To address global pollution, developing nations are getting a helping hand from international entrepreneurs, too. Dutch entrepreneur Boyan Slat, founded The Ocean Cleanup at the age of 18, developing technology to remove ocean plastic, aiming to reduce the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by 50 percent in five years—a goal that will tremendously impact coastal developing nations, especially in terms of health. Healthcare innovationsIn countries where poor access to healthcare has major consequences like short life expectancies and high infant mortality, entrepreneurial innovation is making a difference. India’s Embrace Innovations creates insulated products to keep newborn babies warm and, to deliver critical vaccines, Rwandan startup Zipline is using drones to reach remote areas. These companies, lean and agile, are able to respond quickly and save lives. Internet accessAs technological innovation takes root in developing nations, it can be stifled by poor infrastructure and technical capabilities. In areas where Internet access is a challenge, Kenya’s Moja comes into play. A router specifically built for developing nations, it can run without electricity and connect to multiple networks, creating valuable access to education, employment and information. Power to the peopleFor entrepreneurs, getting power and green energy to the one billion people who lack electricity has led to dozens of startups and solutions. From Mexico’s Bright, which fosters access to solar power, to Argentina’s Semtive, which builds compact wind turbines for homes and businesses, energy is becoming both accessible and green, even in rural areas. Educational opportunitiesWhen electricity and Internet connections reach new corners of the world, new educational opportunities become possible, too. EkStep Foundation’s open-source platform empowers students and educators to tap into customizable education software while Geekie in Brazil creates fully digital lessons that also measure student progress. In countries where education can break cycles of poverty or underemployment, these advances are especially valuable. Providing basic necessitiesEven as developing nations become more technologically savvy, basic human needs like access to food and water are still among the most significant challenges. Worldwide, 124,000,000 people are currently in a food crisis while 844,000,000 people lack safe water access. In Ghana, Farmerline supplies farmers with tools and education to improve crop yields while Wello Water, is making water collection easier with its Waterwheel, solving a problem that disproportionately affects women who are typically responsible for gathering water. Empowering womenWhen it comes to women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship is helping the market, not social norms, decide success. Peru’s Laboratoria teaches women to code, helping them become well-paid professionals, while CloQ, which provides nano-credit to underprivileged and unbanked people, is led by Brazilian woman entrepreneur Rafaela Cavalcanti. With Uganda and Bangladesh claiming the highest rate of women entrepreneurs in developing nations, many countries are changing gender norms and creating economic opportunity by empowering women. The post How Entrepreneurship is Changing Our World: A Localized Perspective appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization http://bit.ly/2Se9isd The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)’s Accelerator program empowers early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools, community and accountability necessary to aggressively grow and master their businesses. Peter Gabauer, an EO Accelerator participant in Brisbane, Australia, is founder and CEO of Table and Desk, which provides custom furniture in 14 days. As a startup entrepreneur who is actively growing his business, Peter recently attended the inaugural MyEO Deal Exchange Conference in Denver, Colorado, where he pitched Table and Desk in EO’s first DX Angel-Shark Experience and received a US$250,000 investment in his company.
In 2018, Alan Peterson, an EO member in Orange County, California, formed MyEO Deal Exchange (MyEO DX), a resource for connecting EO members who wish to find mutually beneficial deals. From 24–27 October 2018, the inaugural MyEO Deal Exchange Conference was held in Denver, Colorado and welcomed more than 60 EO members from 10 countries, 29 chapters and nine regions.
In addition to speakers including Verne Harnish, EO founder and CEO of Gazelles, and Jeff Hoffman, founder of Priceline, the conference featured the DX Angel-Shark Experience where startups pitched Angel-Sharks in hopes of coming away with an investment—much like in the popular shows Dragon’s Den, Shark Tank, Tigers of Money and Den of Lions. The Angel-Sharks committed to investing a minimum of US$250,000 and ended up topping that with a total investment of US$400,000. Peter Gabauer (pictured at left), an EO Accelerator participant from Brisbane, Australia, and CEO of Table and Desk, was awarded US$250,000 for his pitch to the Angel-Sharks. We asked Peter about his entrepreneurial journey and his plans for maximizing the investment. Here’s what he shared: How and when did you start Table and Desk? My entrepreneurial journey began when I left my job as a marketing manager to start my own marketing company. Our clients ranged from not-for-profits to luxury boatbuilders. In 2008, a friend asked me to help him commercialize an invention for making frames for tables, desks and a wide variety of other applications. So, I set about licensing manufacturers to use his intellectual property. Around this time, my daughter asked me to help put her new desk together. I envisioned a memorable dad-and-daughter project, passing her the Allen key and showing her how to put it together so she would have the satisfaction of doing so herself. Instead, it took considerably longer to put together the simple desk than I thought. When we put it in her room, it didn’t quite fit. She shed tears of disappointment, and though we rearranged her room, we couldn’t make it fit, so she moved into the spare room. There had to be a better way! Why can’t you buy a desk that will perfectly fit the available space? We had the technology to make custom desks; we just needed to create a way for customers to buy them easily. Thus Table and Desk was born―a website platform enabling customers to customize furniture specifications to the millimeter and choose the top and frame colors to suit their space. What’s the most challenging aspect of running your company, and how has this impacted your business? Having to work in areas that are not always my strong suit! I am a marketing guy; administration is something I can do, but I just don’t get any energy from it. When you’re bootstrapping, you have to cover many bases, but there is an opportunity cost for doing so. The flip side is that you understand your business inside-out, which is valuable in the long run. How has your participation in EO Accelerator impacted your entrepreneurial journey? Joining EO Accelerator has opened the door to very relevant business education born from real experiences of other entrepreneurs, which carries significant weight. Accelerator learning days help you focus on key pillars in your business. Another benefit is the shared energy that you get from being exposed to other entrepreneurs who are pushing as hard as you are to achieve their goals and dreams. You journey together, forming a high level of trust and respect. One conversation with the right person can make all the difference and provide enormous clarity. The people I have met in EO have been smart, humble and generous. You attended the inaugural MyEO Deal Exchange Conference and walked away with a significant commitment from Angel-Sharks. What, in your opinion, went right with your pitch to help secure their investment? I think the value proposition we are offering was obvious for a lot of people attending. Some other businesses were not able to articulate their value proposition easily because their product or service offering was more complex and difficult to understand. Many people could relate to the problem Table and Desk is solving, both for corporate and residential markets. I took it as a great compliment that some of the people we were pitching against said they would invest in our business. How did EO Accelerator help you prepare your pitch for the Angel-Sharks? Did you conduct any practice sessions? Being in EO Accelerator has helped bring clarity to the business. Also, being in EO has sharpened my ability to concisely communicate our unique value proposition for our customers. I did get together with a couple of EOers at the conference and we rehearsed our pitches for each other and gave feedback. This helped a lot. How will the investment and input from the Angel-Sharks change your company’s trajectory? One of the first things we will do is engage a local CEO/sales champion and set up a customer service team. We will support that with the appointment of a digital marketing agency to launch the business. We already have licensed local manufacturing in place, so we can start to supply immediately. This cash infusion will have a great impact on the growth of the business. We hope to leverage the connection and strategic capability of the Angel-Sharks to make sure we do this well. This will then position us for the next round of funding to help the business scale with additional products we have designed. Will your deal with the Angel-Sharks include mentoring/guidance/input from the Angel-Sharks? If so, in what form? Our deal with the Angel-Sharks will include mentoring, strategic advice and connections with other companies that will help us launch in the U.S. This is just as important as the financial investment—perhaps even more so, as this is what will propel us forward. Besides the US$250,000 investment, what was your most powerful takeaway from MyEO DX? As with all EO events, there are so many takeaways that are extremely valuable. For me, it was hearing Verne Harnish talk about growth through acquisition. With 3 million baby boomers retiring in the next few years, there is a massive opportunity to buy businesses and grow them. Scott Fritz, one of the Angel-Sharks, talked about being productive versus being busy―it seems like everyone you ask is busy, but at what cost? Being productive is about being present and focused. He talked about the importance of moving from working in to working on your business as soon as possible. That one takeaway alone is incredibility valuable in helping to reframe goals and intentions. Of course, there’s additional value in the incredible people you meet, and the stories and learning gained. Through EO Accelerator, I have made not just contacts, but friends. EO has provided an incredible experience for me and my business. MyEO DX 2018 in Denver was a tremendous experience on so many levels: incredible people, the speakers and workshops were second to none, and the Angel-Shark experience was beyond my expectations. I’m already looking forward to the MyEO DX 2019 event! The MyEO Deal Exchange platform is now live and can be accessed through the MyEO page. The post Swimming With EO’s Angel-Sharks at the Inaugural MyEO Deal Exchange Conference appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2S3Qmw4 At Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), our vision is to build the world’s most influential community of entrepreneurs. One way we encourage young entrepreneurs is through the EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), EO’s premier competition for students who own and operate a business while attending college or university. The intense, international competition culminates with the Global Finals, where “studentpreneurs” from 50+ countries compete and make connections with both seasoned entrepreneurs and their fellow competitors. Many GSEA participants go on to grow their businesses through EO Accelerator and eventually graduate from the program and become EO members. Tyler Olson is one such GSEA alumni. A global finalist in the 2007 GSEA competition, he is now an EO Minnesota member who owns five businesses. We asked Tyler about his experiences. Here’s what he shared. Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey. It all started when I was 12 years old. The family next door mentioned they needed a teenager to fix their computer. I said: “Well, I’m not a teenager yet, but I’m sure I can fix your computer!” My computer repair business, named HelpMeTy―because that’s what people would often call me and say―was born. Through middle school and high school, I started several other businesses and kept growing the computer repair business. In 2007, I competed in GSEA, starting with a local competition in Minnesota; from there I made it all the way to the Global Semifinals. At that time, I was a junior at the University of St. Thomas, had just turned 21 years old, and had about US$300K in revenue, with several technicians fixing computers both on-site in Minnesota and remotely around the world. My strategy was to hire technicians with well-rounded personalities, which helped differentiate us from typical computer geeks who couldn’t speak in layman’s terms to people who wanted to understand what was being done to fix their computers. Where are you now? My motivation for becoming an entrepreneur was the ability to do anything, anytime, anywhere, with anyone. Attaining that complete freedom has always been the reason I’ve worked so hard. I took a huge risk this year: I fired myself as CEO of my primary company and sold my condo. I’m at a point with my businesses where I can work remotely and a time in life when I can travel frequently, so I’m living and working out of a backpack. I’m loving every minute of my new digital nomadic lifestyle. Technically, I am unemployed and homeless, working on my next business from a coworking space in Bali. I own five companies, all in various technology industries including social media, the sharing economy and cybersecurity:
Tell us about your GSEA journey. GSEA is a life-changing experience. From my perspective, it’s the world’s most well-known, respected and influential competition for student entrepreneurs. Being surrounded by other student entrepreneurs from around the world who have a similar level of passion, trust, respect, a thirst for learning, the desire to Boldly Go and Make a Mark, and who are genuinely cool people―is simply awesome. It’s hard to find those people on your own, yet, they’re everywhere around the world within GSEA. Most GSEA alumni will say they “finally found their tribe” through GSEA. The actual competition stirred up all sorts of emotions―excitement, adrenaline, anticipation, the desire to win, awe for my fellow competitors, humbleness, pride, connectedness, but most of all, happiness. What’s your favorite GSEA memory? A group of us were sitting in a hot tub at a GSEA alumni event at Lake Tahoe when the GSEA winner from Sweden asked: “Why do Americans use credit cards?” I responded with the big three: Cash flow, simplicity and rewards. “What rewards?” Well, some credit cards give you one to two percent cash back when you spend money with them. “Wait, are you telling me that if I spend US$30 million a year on Google AdWords for clients, that I could get US$300,000 in cash back!?” Probably. It’s worth exploring! Three weeks later I got an e-mail: “Thanks Tyler, it worked! I think that idea will increase my net income by hundreds of thousands of dollars this year!” Great things happen when like-minded entrepreneurs get together! Competing in GSEA was one of the top five most valuable experiences of my life, for many reasons. I continue to donate my time as my EO chapter’s GSEA Chair to help ensure future generations have a similar or even more valuable experience than the one I had. What is the coolest thing you’ve experienced as a result of being an entrepreneur? I’ve had so many amazing opportunities; it’s hard to choose between dogfighting in a fighter plane, training with the SWAT team, speaking on a panel in Germany alongside the undersecretary of cybersecurity for the US Department of Homeland Security, or finally achieving my dream lifestyle of traveling the world. All of these experiences are directly tied to the opportunity of competing in GSEA, joining EO Accelerator, and ultimately becoming a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
Describe your journey from GSEA to joining EO. It’s been a remarkable journey. In 2007, I competed in the GSEA Global Finals and afterward was encouraged to join EO Accelerator. I came back to Minnesota, immediately joined Accelerator, and connected with one of my GSEA judges, Shane Erickson, as my Accelerator mentor. Shane has been one of the most influential people in my life. I learned a lot and applied that knowledge to my company and then, in 2014―six years and one business later―I met the financial threshold and finally joined EO. Since that time, I’ve made many extremely valuable relationships with EO members around the world. Being an EO member is the best investment of time and money I’ve ever made―nothing else even comes close to second place. I’ve found many friends, mentors, travel buddies, sales opportunities, investors, and life-changing experiences during my years in EO. Have your goals been influenced by your participation in GSEA? Yes, absolutely! Not only have they been influenced; in many ways, my participation in GSEA set the course for my entire entrepreneurial journey. I was fortunate that Michael Sarafolean, a long-time EO member, was my professor for the very first course in entrepreneurship that I took at the University of St. Thomas. Michael shared a potential path with me that involved creating my first business plan and applying to the GSEA competition. He even mentioned the possibility of going from GSEA to EO Accelerator and then ultimately joining EO. Michael knew I was a doer, and thought I might find the elements along that path rewarding, valuable and fun. He helped me craft that business plan and I entered GSEA, and it opened up a new world of possibilities. GSEA definitely helped me realize that I needed a broader and more global mindset. Around that time, I created my first personal vision presentation. I’m a strong believer in the power a detailed visual vision, so you—and others–can see what you want to accomplish in coming years and then work backward from your goals to place milestones to get you there. That personal vision presentation became my list of goals that I’ve pursued in the 11 years since creating it. I’m a couple of years behind my goals as established at age 21, but having that vision presentation motivates me to continue working hard. I’ve accomplished far more from working toward those goals than I would have if I’d never created them. I ask everyone who works for me to create a personal vision presentation and share it with the team. It’s a lot of work, and some people hate doing it, but after they’ve finished it and present their vision to the group, most people thank me because they, too, find it very motivating. My entrepreneurial journey has been a fantastic ride and keeps getting better. As I share my story in speaking engagements, I emphasize what a major role GSEA and EO Accelerator have played in providing me with the tools and strategies I needed to achieve my goals. And I’m not done yet!
The post My Journey from GSEA Global Finalist to Digital Nomad appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2BlK0RQ Written for EO by Gareth Williams, founder of YellowDog. When you launch a business on your own, you don’t need to worry about anyone’s performance apart from your own. As your business grows, you recruit talent to work with you. You make key hires and start building your team. But that’s just the beginning. How do you assess how your new team members are performing without relying solely on KPIs? How can you develop the right personal development plans for your people? How can you be confident that when you’re delegating responsibility, it is to the right person? How can you be sure that they are ready to rise to the challenge? I’m the founder and CEO of YellowDog. We use a Talent Grid to help us answer exactly these kinds of questions. Read on to learn what a Talent Grid is, how you can use it to empower your team, and why every early-stage business should use the grid to be successful. What Is a Talent Grid?A 9 Box Talent Grid looks like this: There are variations but, on the whole, a 9 Box Talent Grid has performance on one axis and potential on another. You map both your people and your teams on it. Performance is quantitative: You can define it based on results. Potential is subjective—and this is where a management team tracking their people with a Talent Grid becomes very useful. It helps you create personal development plans and develop your business in the right way. How to Use a Talent Grid for Personal Development PlansThe color codes are intuitive: green is good; everything is great. But a team member who’s in the red or on the far left side of the grid has performance issues. Those issues may stem from being new in the role. Or maybe there’s something else going on in his or her private life that is affecting them. Whatever color your team member is performing in, you have to consider how it relates to their potential. Otherwise, it’s impossible to know how to help them develop. In our sales team, we have recently delegated ownership of a few key projects to one of our “top-right” individuals. The person has been performing well: closing sales, adapting their approach to win new business and developing lasting partnerships with key customers. Now, we are challenging the team member to figure out how to maximize return from high-value customers in a complex and strategic sale. We’ve effectively said, that’s yours! Retaining people like this, who are in the top right of your 9 Box Grid Model, is a top priority. We employ high-leverage practices to keep them engaged and challenged—including connecting with a mentor outside of our business. Mentorship can help a person to grow in ways they wouldn’t otherwise, so long as both the mentor and mentee approach it in the right way. Using a Talent Grid to Manage People on an Exit PathOn the other side of the Talent Grid, it’s a very different development plan. We review the Talent Grid every month as a management team and look at how people are moving. We ask questions like: “Should we be concerned about them? What are we doing to help people move to the right of the grid?” If someone in your team is in the bottom left, then someone is on an exit path. If you identify an employee in that position, then you need to spend more time with that person. It’s time to create a development plan that is more directional. You create a path focused on helping the individual function better in his or her role. Behaviors are important when people find themselves in the bottom left. When people are struggling, we focus less on what they’re doing and more on how they’re doing it. We’ve helped people move off of an exit path a handful of times at YellowDog. In a high growth business, it’s particularly tough because everyone’s time is precious. But when you see a member of your team moving steadily toward the right side of the grid, you know that the time you’ve invested in them was worth it. As for their development plan…well…it develops with them at that point. All Businesses Need a Talent GridThe largest team I’ve run comprised 120 people, and we still used a Talent Grid. You can’t map hundreds of employees on a Talent Grid, but you can map direct reports and their direct reports on the grid. Those direct reports should create and manage their own talent management grid. Do you always need everyone and everything to be in the top right? Not necessarily. If you’re running a well-established business you don’t need many high-performance, high-potential people. Actually, you may want a large portion of the workforce to be functional in the machine. You may just want lots of employees in position to turn the handle. For example, you don’t want someone in a large organization processing invoices who is high-performance and high-potential. Inevitably, that person will grow bored and leave. You also don’t want to push someone who loves processing invoices and is good at it, into a role that requires him or her to think too creatively. This person will become stressed and leave. Mapping and tracking every person is important no matter what industry you’re in. It’s part of developing a company culture that engages the right employees.
Why High-Growth Businesses Need People in the Top RightIn an early-stage business like YellowDog, you obviously need a mix of skills. In your ideal world, unlike many large businesses, you need as many people as possible functioning in the top-right corner of the 9 Box Talent Grid. You want people who perform highly but have the potential to grow with you. They will adapt and change with you. This usually also means that because they are high potential, they are comfortable soaking up pressure and elements of risk. These traits are essential for them—and your early stage business—to thrive. Giving Ownership to People in the Top RightIf you trust someone and they are in the top right of the Talent Grid, you need to let go if you want the business to grow. The hardest aspect of letting go is knowing that you can do that task quicker—and possibly better, with fewer mistakes. I navigated that process years ago, earlier in my career and went from a “doer” to a “reviewer,” and that’s where a CEO should be. Right now, I’m still transitioning between doing and reviewing again. I’m more hands on than a typical CEO because we’re growing so quickly and I’m still close to many aspects of the business. The only way that you can be less hands on is if you let go of what you love without losing control of it. I am perfectly happy with that. How to let go and delegateDelegate softly. Do it gently. You’ll scare people if you give them a pen and a blank piece of paper and say, “This is yours! Map it out and make it happen.” Look back as you walk away, and you’ll see the look of terror on their faces! There’s a balance to strike. If you give people too much space, they will get overwhelmed. They won’t explore whatever project you’ve given them with the freedom that’s required. By setting a few boundaries, you give them confidence and security. In a playground experiment, it was found that children in a yard with no fence will huddle around the teacher. Put a fence up around the outside of the playground and you’ll see the kids running around and enjoying the space. It is the same with work. In business, though, the playground fence is a budget, a timeframe or a result. Your people will explore the space when you provide a few boundaries. Delegate large projects by breaking them upDelegating, even for those in the top right who are performing with potential, is hard. When you trust someone enough to give them ownership of a critical project, begin by chunking it down. There’s an episode in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” where Grissom is asked by Warrick Brown how they should handle something. His reply is: “Same way you’d eat an elephant—one bit at a time.” The tools our development team uses to break up projects and share responsibility include Scrum and Kanban. Using the Talent Grid for an Outsourced TeamA lot of our development at YellowDog is done with a remote team. We use a talent management grid with them too. After all, it’s best to view your team as united, not divided by local and remote. To get a remote team working well, begin by over-investing your time. Over-communicate what you’re doing and why. Meet them face to face, get to know them. We recruit and manage our remote team in exactly the same way as if they were our local team. The first step to getting your remote team working well on a large project is selecting your lieutenant. That first person you recruit is your voice, not the remote team’s voice. Together, you build a team from that partnership. Together, you recruit. Together, you map and track people on your talent grid. Those big projects that you have delegated to a remote team soon become manageable pieces that are distributed out to the right people at the right time. Again, with Scrum and Kanban, we have found we can maintain control without restricting the freedom of the team. Value-Based RecruitmentRecruiting a quality team is a massive challenge. We select people who show competency in the demands of the role and, more importantly, who display our values. YellowDog’s values came about right before our launch with me sitting in a room, thinking about it, and writing down what came to mind. And then I went on a bike ride to clear my head. When I came back to the room and looked at what I had written, the values still felt right. Our values haven’t changed despite the growth and adaptation of the business to our markets. I’m proud of that. Our values are: hard working, trustworthy, reliable, loveable, friendly, fun loving, and adventurous. Recruiting based on your business’ values goes back to the importance of behaviors. The reality is that until people join our team, we’ll never really know where they will sit on our 9 Box Talent Grid—truly how much potential they have and how they will perform. And, even then, people change over time. Value-based recruitment gives the team behavioral resilience in times of change and growth. Using a 9 Box Talent Grid to Scale your BusinessThe talent grid model helps us keep our talented people and maximize their potential in return for tangible results. Recruiting well is the first step to building a great team. Visually tracking the team using a talent grid helps us as managers to analyze what’s really going on in the business. It gives me confidence that we are developing and retaining key team members in key areas of the business. I know when and where we can delegate to the right people. I know that those people will help take our growth to the next level, and that’s very exciting—for me, for them and for us. The post The Secret to Growing a Great Team Around You appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2SNytlp Written for EO by Torsten Oppermann, co-founder of the marketing agency MSM.digital and EO member since 2007. Would you jump for joy because of a basket of fruits, free coffee or a foosball table? Of course not. A lot of employers, however, seem to be missing this point. The ever-present pizza lunch still leads the list of employee perks. Satisfied employees are better employees. So getting employee benefits right is important. Have you asked yourself, which benefits do I need to offer to my staff to make them happy and motivated for the long-term? This is exactly what I have been asking myself as the head of an agency group with around 100 employees. I want to provide my co-workers with something that makes them truly happy. I admit, we are not Google, Facebook or Amazon, where staff are rewarded with generous bonuses or share options. My colleague Markus Oeller and I had to be more creative. And we came to the conclusion that our staff would really value something that money can’t buy. Time. Public Holidays In Germany Are Distributed Unevenly Some of our employees have up to four more days off per year than others. Why? Our agency group has offices in four different German states. In Germany, states have different official public holidays. For example, the south of Germany is predominantly Catholic and therefore has more public holidays. In the predominantly Protestant north, however, Catholic holidays are not observed. But that is unfair. Equality and fairness are very important to me. I always considered it illogical for Germany to have so many differing rules regarding holidays. We are a company that acts across Germany. Why should our colleagues in the north have fewer free days than those in the south? Bavaria, the state with the most days off, is the strongest economic region in Germany. This gave me food for thought. More Equality for More Satisfaction I am a true northerner, whereas my business partner and co-founder Markus grew up in Bavaria. When his family was off work, he often couldn’t be with them because it was a normal work day in his office in the north of Germany. The logical next step? Let’s rethink the holiday calendar. As entrepreneurs, we have the power and choice to make the necessary changes towards more equality. Therefore, we decided to offer our employees in the north the same public holidays that the south enjoys—immediately, without limitation and fully paid. Three Very Good Reasons for Equality in Holidays 1. It’s a unique selling point for our agency. This special offer is a clear differentiator for us, compared to other agencies and companies. In Germany, it’s rare, and it’s now part of our corporate identity. 2. It helps staff retention and employee satisfaction. For our staff, this holiday initiative means being part of a special company, for which they go the extra mile. They tell family, friends and business contacts about it, which increases brand awareness of our agency. 3. It makes recruiting a little easier. In the hard fight for highly qualified personnel, the additional days off make a difference. For example, when people considering a position with us Google our name, they can’t miss the holiday story. The media has picked up our story, and it’s a story that highlights our culture and values. The Cost of Days Off From a business perspective, we obviously needed to consider the cost. The additional days off translates into a roughly 80,000-Euros investment per year. But it’s worth it. The positive impact more than justifies the financial investment. Looking Ahead Our initiative for equality in days off has resulted in a tremendous echo in the media. Coverage in regional and national print and online media has exceeded 100 articles. TV crews from Germany’s largest stations visited us in Lübeck and Hamburg and we have been invited to several radio interviews. Counting trade media, daily newspapers, TV and radio exposure, we reached more than 41 million contacts—in theory about half of the German population! I hope that our initiative kick-starts a movement that other companies in Northern Germany join. And whether you’re in Germany or not, it’s a good reminder that being creative about employee benefits pays off. Today, more free time for family and friends is often much more valuable to great hires than a bonus, the latest iPhone or a foosball table!
Torsten Oppermann has specialized in digital brand communication, social media and online marketing for more than 20 years. After having worked in London, Frankfurt and San Francisco, he returned to Hamburg in 2001, where he lives with his wife and his seven-year-old twins. After founding several communications companies successfully, he and his co-founder Markus Oeller started the agency group MSM.digital in 2018. MSM.digital offers integrated omnichannel marketing for leading companies. Torsten has been a member of EO since 2007.
The post How to Engage Employees—Sustainably appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2QHsDEK Written by Violet Lim, CEO and co-founder of Lunch Actually and EO Singapore. The original version of this article appeared on Violet’s LinkedIn blog. Wow! We have come to the last month of 2018! I don’t know about you, but this year passed by like lightning for me. So, in the spirit of the holiday season, I revisited my favorite festive movies and realized that there are many hidden entrepreneurship lessons within them. 1. Love ActuallyThe lesson: Set boundaries and find time for yourself.Many of you may know that Love Actually is my favorite movie of all time! In fact, I’m often asked if this was the inspiration behind the name of our company, Lunch Actually, South East Asia’s first and largest lunch dating service. Well, my husband Jamie and I are still debating who came up with the name, so… maybe yes, maybe no? Love Actually is one of those feel-good movie that depicts love in many forms through the different stories of relatable characters: love that transcends language (and profession in unlikely places!), teenage love, love between a father and a son, sibling love, love between best friends, one-sided love, and on and on. The movie is set during Christmastime, and it’s one of my must-watch movies during the season. Remember the story about Sarah (Laura Linney) who has had a crush on her co-worker Karl for years? Finally, after many “could have beens,” they end up at her apartment, but the whole romance fell through because she’s constantly disrupted by phone calls from her mentally ill brother, Michael. It is one of the saddest moments of the show for me as I was really rooting for Sarah to get together with Karl. At the same time, I could relate to her situation. As entrepreneurs, we often carry a lot of stress and pressure on our shoulders--to hit the company’s target, to make sure the company is profitable, to hire and retain A-players, to constantly improve our products and services, to cultivate and maintain a positive company culture … the list goes on. We work long hours on weekdays, weekends and even when we are on vacation. We do not rest. We hustle, hustle and hustle. If we are not careful, this will eventually result in burnout and exhaustion. Although hard work is important, it is also necessary to draw a line and set aside moments for “me-time” and family time. It’s critical that you allow time to pursue your passions outside of work—your love interests, even. 2. Home AloneThe lesson: Believe in yourself, be resourceful and think on your feet.In this Christmas movie, we come to love the adorable character Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) and his crazy big family who accidentally forgets him as they leave on holiday. Being a little kid, Kevin is very excited to be home without supervision. He’s enjoying his freedom—eating and watching whatever he wants! But, as his house becomes the target of a potential robbery, he goes head-to-head with the criminals, coming up with creative (and funny) tricks to protect his home and himself. Kevin reminds us that we must trust our own instincts and be independent. Our journey won’t be easy, but in the face of challenges or fierce competitors, we, entrepreneurs have to stand our ground and persevere. Be adaptable, creative and utilize all the resources available to us. If an 8-year-old can, we definitely can too! (Just don’t set anyone on fire!) 3. Jingle All The WayThe lesson: Always plan ahead.This hilarious and heartwarming movie tells a story of Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who often does not have time for his son due to his busy work. After missing his son’s karate practice, Howard tries hard to make it up to him. His son tells him that he wants Turbo Man as a Christmas present. However, as it is already Christmas Eve, all the stores have sold out of Turbo Man figures, and Howard has to go all over town to get his hands on the toy that his son wants. The key takeaway? Always plan ahead and avoid doing the important things at the last minute. Planning ahead is crucial for leaders to strategize and to allow their teams enough time to be productive and execute plans well. Be proactive, not reactive. By knowing what’s coming up and conducting scenario-mapping for different situations, you will stress less and may even uncover opportunities that you don’t see if you are constantly running to meet deadlines. 4. A Christmas CarolThe lesson: Learn from other people’s mistakes.The movie tells us a story about an old man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who is miserable after the death of his business partner. He resents Christmas, lives alone and refuses to join his nephew’s holiday dinner every year. One night, the ghost of his former business partner visits him, along with the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Through this journey, Scrooge realizes his mistakes and vows to become a changed man who treats others with kindness and compassion. In business, we can reflect on other people’s experiences and learn from them. One way is to read books written by entrepreneurs about their journeys and lessons learned. We can also learn from fellow industry players, assessing how they overcome their challenges and using these knowledge to better our business. Another option is seeking out spaces where entrepreneurs can share and exchange knowledge. One of these platforms is Entrepreneurs’ Organization (better known as EO). I have been a member since 2012 and applying to join was one of the best business decisions that I have made. 5. While You Were SleepingThe lesson: Always do the right thing.This 1995 romantic comedy stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy who saves Peter, a handsome stranger whom she has a secret crush on. Because of his fall, Peter ends up in a coma. Through a comedy of events, Lucy is mistaken as his fiancee. Because she has fallen in love with his warm and close-knit family, she can’t bring herself to tell the truth—that he actually doesn’t even know her. This is a lesson that stays true with me since I started my business 14 years ago. I believe that we should always do the right thing and tell the truth, no matter how hard it might be. As entrepreneurs, we are sometimes afraid to tell the truth because we fear we might hurt others or even look weak. We tend to sugarcoat our statements or beat around the bush. When I first started the business, I was reluctant to tell some singles the truth about why their date did not want to see them again. I was worried that I would hurt their feelings. I would tell them, “Oh, they are very busy, or they are currently travelling.” Eventually, I realized that by not telling them the truth, I was actually doing them a disservice. I was not helping them grow, be a better version of themselves and be a more successful dater. Once I realized my folly, I vowed to always share truthful feedback with my clients. Many have appreciated my honesty, improved themselves based on my feedback and gone on to be in happy relationships. In case you have not watched the movie and you’re curious what happens—spoiler alert!—Lucy’s secret is eventually discovered, and it causes much hurt and confusion in Peter’s family. However, this is a love story set around the Christmas season, so… Lucy ends up falling in love with Peter’s brother, Jack, while Peter is in the coma. In real life and in business, not telling the truth or going down the slippery slope of half truths is never a good thing. Hence, Always Do the Right Thing is one of our “10 laws” here at Lunch Actually, and as CEO and co-founder, it is something I constantly strive to live up to. Did you know? The highest-rated benefit of EO membership is Forum. This platform allows peer-to-peer sharing between members in a trusted and confidential environment. Looking to draw from the expertise that only another entrepreneur would have? Explore EO. The post 5 Hidden Entrepreneurship Lessons from 5 Christmas Movies appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2BWw4PG About 40,000 people apply each season; 100 actually make it on air. EO member Mitch Allen is one of them! Mitch Allen, an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member in Fort Worth, is founder and Head Elf of Hire Santa, a service that brings the season to life with thousands of professionally trained Santas worldwide. On December 2, 2018, Mitch pitched the company on ABC’s Shark Tank. Mitch shared with us the story of this once-in-a-lifetime journey—including how his experiences as an EO member proved invaluable. As an entrepreneur, I’m drawn to the concept of Shark Tank. There’s the all-important pitch, creative sets, unexpected reactions by five seasoned investors and the possibility of scaling growth fast with a cash infusion and industry connections. It’s like the Super Bowl for entrepreneurs! I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life–from buying baseball cards, comic books and antique Coke machines when I was young to flipping rental houses in grad school. I currently own several businesses, primarily in the legal and Internet marketing space. How Hire Santa StartedMy latest company, Hire Santa, started at an employee Christmas party in 2008 where I handed out bonuses dressed as Santa Claus. It was such a blast that I did it again in 2009. That year, a family friend asked me to appear for their child as Santa, and it changed everything. Being Santa to children is an unforgettable experience. One thing led to another and people started to pay me to appear as Santa Claus. I got into it, appearing more frequently, charging more money―and then I ran out of supply. There wasn’t enough of me to do every event, so I started hiring other Santas. I bought the domain name, created a website and quickly grew the business. It started as a hobby, but by 2014, with the support of my EO Fort Worth ”Tamarindo” Forum, it became a real business. At first, I was reluctant to talk about it, worried some might think it was silly. But it’s just the opposite—it’s an amazing company. We bring love, joy and the Christmas spirit to hundreds of thousands of people each year. I’ve never had a business that brings a smile to people everywhere the way that Hire Santa does. My Journey to the Tank BeginsIn January 2018, inspired by an episode of Shark Tank, I checked the show’s audition schedule and saw an open call one week later in Dallas—just a 40-minute drive away from me. I went all in. I downloaded the application, crafted my one-minute pitch and waited in line all day at the Dallas Convention Center with 500 other hopeful entrepreneurs. Some had profitable businesses, others had a dream but hadn’t earned a penny. It was fascinating. When called, I delivered my pitch to one of the six casting associates and thought I connected with him. The fact that I had revenue, a fun service and an interesting story played in my favor. Throughout the process, we were told not to expect a callback, so I was excited when they called less than a week later and sent more paperwork, contracts and extensive nondisclosure agreements. The next step was to create a 10-minute audition video. So, I called 10 of my local Santas, found a Mrs. Claus, and filmed a video that I was pleased with. They thanked me, but once again emphasized that most people wouldn’t get a callback. Shortly thereafter, Hire Santa scored a huge contract with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. While I was focusing on that win, the Shark Tank producers called to say that I was moving on to the next round, and would need to put together a real pitch. More contracts arrived, and I was assigned a team of two producers whom I met with every week on conference calls to hone my pitch and get my financial documents in order. Perfecting My PitchThis is the part of the Shark Tank process where EO proved invaluable. My Forum and fellow EO members were incredibly helpful and encouraging:
I can’t thank Nick, EO LA, EO Fort Worth and, of course, my EO Tamarindo Forum enough for supporting me before, during and after filming. A Week in Los AngelesMy week in Los Angeles was a blur. I arrived on Monday, 10 September 2018 for the Friday filming. The show puts all of its entrepreneurs in the same hotel, so it was interesting to watch others prepare. I was surprised to learn that everyone who appears on the show is responsible for providing their own set and props―there’s no allowance or stipend. I feel fortunate that I was likely over-prepared, which kept me calm throughout the week. My 45 Minutes in the TankOn Friday, we went to the studio to film. As I walked down the hall toward the Sharks, I could hardly believe it was happening. When you arrive in front of the Sharks, you’re asked to stand in silence for up to a minute while they set the cameras. If I hadn’t learned this from a former participant, it would have been quite intimidating. I started my pitch, and everything went smoothly. My ask was a US$200,000 investment for 10 percent of the company. The sharks seemed to enjoy the spectacle of 20 Santas rushing in, bringing each shark a Santa hat to wear. I was alarmed when four of the five sharks went out fairly early in the 45-minute filming process. All sleighs led back to Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary—the only shark left. He made an awful offer: US$200,000 for 50 percent of my company. I had practiced such scenarios and was grateful for the Victoria Medvec negotiation learning events I’d attended as a member of EO. It was intense. All of the practice, research and deal scenarios I prepared in advance paid off. Even so, I was less than 30 seconds from walking out without a deal. I had many different strategies, but was not sure how it was going to work out. I tried to control the room. I didn’t want to be intimidated or overwhelmed. We went back and forth, but couldn’t agree on valuation. (Much of our negotiation was edited out of the segment that aired.) Finally, I countered with a different structure, offering to repay his investment by sharing half the profits up to his US$200,000 investment, and then a 10 percent partnership. That got Daymond John’s attention. He re-entered the negotiations. So then, I had two Sharks on the line. In the midst of pitting them against each together to improve my deal, Barbara Corcoran interjected, “I’ll do that deal at 10 percent, but you have to decide right now.” I was thrilled! Barbara is known for giving strong support to the companies she invests in, so she was one of my top partner picks. I smiled my biggest elfin smile: “Barbara, on behalf of Santa and all the elves at the North Pole, Hire Santa would love to do a deal with you!” The Big RevealI filmed on 14 September 2018, and the episode aired on 2 December 2018. We kept a hefty secret for two-and-a-half months! The night the episode aired, EO Fort Worth rented a movie theater and we held an epic MyEO event—140 friends and colleagues watched the episode together. My 45-minutes with the Sharks was edited to a nine-minute segment but I got to see moments I didn’t remember, such as Barbara hugging me and saying: “You’re a great negotiator!” What a pleasant surprise.
Since the episode aired, I’ve been amazed by the massive outpouring of support and good wishes. My wife, Mysti, and I have received hundreds of calls, texts and emails. It’s a humbling experience, and I’m so grateful for every aspect of it. Speaking of my wife: Every entrepreneur knows how hard it can be on our spouses; we ask so much of them because we’re “on” all the time. Mysti always goes the extra mile. In addition to watching and analyzing every episode with me, she has always kept our entire household running, which enables me to follow my dreams. She didn’t even complain that we were apart on our 20th wedding anniversary, which was the Wednesday I was in L.A. for filming while she stayed in Texas to take care of our children. She deserves a ton of credit for any success I have. Post TankIn the days since the episode aired, I’ve received hundreds of emails from people who want to hire Santa. We’re totally booked for 2018, but look forward to the exciting options Barbara’s investment will provide as we work to implement a new scheduling and calendaring process to organize hundreds of gigs in dozens of locations in one management platform. Estimates put the publicity value from a Shark Tank appearance as equivalent to US$1 million in public relations. Our company couldn’t possibly get that much publicity any other way. From the number of emails I’ve received in the days since the episode aired, I can attest to the power of that exposure, which will help us for years to come. The Power of Experience ShareOne reason I was able to succeed on the show is due to the power of experience share that EO models. By reaching out to people who’d appeared on the show, I gained valuable insights and strategies. I might not have understood the value in shared experiences if I weren’t immersed in Gestalt learning via my EO Forum, the Entrepreneurial Masters Program, and other one-of-a-kind EO learning opportunities. Hearing what somebody else has gone through and how they navigated the challenges and unexpected twists life and business often bring can help significantly along our journey: I’m living proof. The post How I Got a Deal on Shark Tank appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2RDoy1k Written by Aaron Lee, founder & CEO at iluma Agency. The original version of this article appeared on Aaron’s LinkedIn blog. Aaron graduated from EO Accelerator and went on to become an EO member in 2011. He says, “One of the most meaningful discoveries I made in EO Accelerator was that I was not alone as an entrepreneur. EO Accelerator allowed me to accept my mistakes, fill my experience gaps with wisdom and create an inspiring vision for my business.” Learn more about this life-changing program for first-stage entrepreneurs, and hear from other participants. Realizing the power of just one moment.I glance up cobblestone alleys and around the corner of a café, but all I can see are some tourists darting in and out of shops and some locals milling around as the day gets up to speed. The tapping continues and I’m starting to feel like the poor soul in Poe’s tortuous poem, The Raven. Finally, after turning around several times, I isolate the direction the noise is coming from and head for a stone wall ledge off to my right. Bringing my wife Lisa into the hunt, we peer over and on a terrace below us is a cobbler, handcrafting sandals out of a small box of tools and beads. I felt like we had been transported back in time.
Not only was I satisfied for having tracked down the source of my curiosity, but the moment itself was just such a perfect snapshot of what I had imagined this place would be. I was so struck by the scene, that I quickly grabbed my camera and captured the moment so it would never fade from my memory. Then something absolutely amazing happened that would alter the course of my life, from that moment on.It was a cool morning in April of 2011 when I found myself wandering around this cliff side town of Positano, Italy. Truth be told, it wasn’t even on my list of “must see” places during this trip. We wouldn’t have been there at all if it wasn’t for my mother insisting that “we had to visit the Amalfi Coast before making our way to Pompeii.” She knew. For those who have never been, Positano, Italy is one of several towns and cities that line Italy’s west coast near the Bay of Naples. Our tour bus journey from Naples to Positano was a winding path of roads that clung to the edge of rocky cliffs, weaving it’s way along the coastline. On this chilly April morning the misty skies leant a surreal nature to the whole experience. After descending through what seemed like one impossible switchback after another (and witnessing some of the most miraculous mini-bus driving I have ever seen), we finally arrived in the heart of Positano. I stepped off the bus and fell in love with this unique Italian beauty. Small shops, cafes and hotels line the cobblestone streets. Printed linens and lemons the size of small gourds hung from storefronts, and warm cappuccinos were being set down with biscotti’s atop outdoor tables. Arched pathways made of purple petunia flowers decorated our path as we set off to explore this cliffside wonder. We shopped, tasted and drank in the postcard scenes all around us until finally we arrived at the stone wall overlooking the cobbler—and by then I was smitten. But I was also a little sad. Our morning was ticking away, managed by the tick-tock schedule of our Italian guide. After just two hours there, we boarded the bus again to make our way to Sorrento and Pompeii. Just as I had fallen in love, it was already time to leave. That’s why the moment hit me so hard.By this point in my life, I had already been in business for myself for 10 years. I had started with a flaming parachute leap from a dotcom startup in late 2000, and armed with just US$6,000 in savings and the equity I had built in my relationships over my career. From my living room—and with dogged determination—I found a way to survive for 10 more years, growing one client at a time. But that was just it. After 10 years, I was still just “surviving” the creative agency I had always dreamed of building. I was able to support my wonderful family and my small staff, but we always operated one project to the next, navigating a predictably unpredictable cash flow. The hard truth was that my company really owned me. There was plenty of optimism but never any certainty (which meant profits were rare). Eighteen months before I found myself here on the Amalfi coast, I was introduced to the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). I had spent a year-and-a-half learning from the experiences of a group of peers I never knew I had, fellow business owners. More than anything that I learned from the expert business resources I had access to, my thought process was mostly altered by the realization that my peers each had a different relationship to their business. Mine was very personal, while theirs seemed much more objective overall. I began to realize that the only business plan I had ever had was, “Just don’t go out of business”. It had been a long 10 years, never knowing what tomorrow would bring. I knew then that it didn’t have to keep being that way. Back in Positano, I grabbed the handrail in front of me, looking out at the misty waters ahead. A vision suddenly came into sharp focus and I grinned as a powerful wave of emotion rolled over me. These moments in life are rare, and if you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to disregard them as some silly daydream. I knew enough to stop and say it out loud to someone who would hear my words for what they were. I turned to Lisa (pictured above) and said this: “We are going to come back here in ten years and spend six weeks here over the summer, and at the end of those six weeks I want to be able turn to you and ask ‘do you want to spend another six weeks here?'” I knew if I could afford to freely ask that question, I would have completely transformed my business from being one that was still surviving, to one that was finally thriving. So how has that moment shaped my life? It has been nearly six years since I made that commitment in Positano and today my life is right on course to fulfill my vision. My firm, iluma Agency is growing aggressively and profitably, with a strong leadership team and incredible focus. We know what makes us tick, who we are, and how we add value. As a result, we’ve enjoyed being named to the Inc5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, for three years straight. I’ve also been serving as the president of the EO South Florida chapter that I joined just seven years ago, volunteering many hours each week, while developing critical leadership skills and experience. And just yesterday, I booked a flight for a week-long trip back to Italy with Lisa. We’re going to spend three days in Positano and this time I’ll begin scouting out our perfect 2020 summer home just three years from now. I can’t wait to send you that postcard.Looking back on my life since that moment, here’s what I’ve realized. If you never create an inspiring vision for your future, then all of your daily choices will only be filled with repeated lessons from your past. Imagining myself on that cliff--and asking my wife that one simple question--has shaped my response to countless decisions. In that moment, I had no idea how I would make it a reality. Every day since I’ve been presented with countless, seemingly inconsequential choices. Over time I’ve tried to guide my answer to each one by asking myself, “Does this get me back to Positano by 2020?” And every small choice has built upon the last one, until now when I look ahead—and what once seemed like a dream—now looks like a clear and predictable future. So ask yourself: What’s your Positano?Aaron Lee graduated from EO Accelerator and went on to become an EO member in 2011. He says, “One of the most meaningful discoveries I made in EO Accelerator was that I was not alone as an entrepreneur. EO Accelerator allowed me to accept my mistakes, fill my experience gaps with wisdom and create an inspiring vision for my business.” Learn more about this life-changing program for first-stage entrepreneurs, and hear from other participants. The post 2 Hours in Positano that Changed My Life appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2Rx0nla Written by Dharmesh Shah, HubSpot. The original version of this article appeared on the HubSpot blog. EO is proud to partner with HubSpot, which helps businesses fuel growth and build better relationships with their clients. HubSpot is one of the many partners that offers EO members exclusive discounts. If you’re like me, you probably use Google many times a day. But chances are, unless you’re a technology geek, you probably still use Google in its simplest form.
If your current use of Google is limited to typing in a few words and changing your query until you find what you’re looking for, I’m here to tell you that there’s a better way—and it’s not hard to learn. On the other hand, even if you are a technology geek and can use Google like the best of them already, I still suggest you bookmark this article of Google advanced search tips. Then, you’ll then have the tips on hand when you’re ready to pull your hair out in frustration watching a neophyte repeatedly type in basic queries in a desperate attempt to find something. The following Google advanced search tips are based on my own experience and things that I actually find useful. I’ve kept the descriptions of the search tips intentionally terse, as you’re likely to grasp most of these simply by looking at the example from Google anyway. Here’s an overview of some of the most useful Google search tricks. You’ll be an expert Google search-er in no time. 31 Advanced Google Search Tips1. Explicit PhraseLet’s say you’re searching on Google for content about inbound marketing. Instead of just typing inbound marketing into the Google search box, you will likely be better off searching explicitly for the phrase. To do this, simply enclose the search phrase within double quotes. Example Search: “inbound marketing”
2. Exclude WordsLet’s say you want to search for content about inbound marketing, but you want to exclude any results that contain the term advertising. To do this, simply use the – sign in front of the word you want to exclude. Example Search: inbound marketing -advertising
3. This OR ThatBy default, when you conduct a search, Google will include all the terms specified in the search. If you’re looking for any one of one or more terms to match, then you can use the OR operator. (Note: The OR has to be capitalized). Example Search: inbound marketing OR advertising
4. Words in the TextIf you want to find a webpage where all the terms you’re searching for appear in the text of that page (but not necessarily beside each other), type in allintext:followed immediately by words or phrases. Example Search: allintext:vermont ski house lake
5. Words in the Text + Title, URL etc.If you want to find a webpage where one term appears in the text of that page and another term appears elsewhere on the page, like the title or URL, then type in that first term followed by intext: followed immediately by the other term. Example Search: neil diamond intext:red sox
6. Words in the TitleWant to find a webpage with certain words contained in the title (but not necessarily beside each other)? Type in allintitle: followed immediately by words or phrases. Example Search: allintitle:wine club
7. Words in the Title + Text, URL, etc.Want to find a webpage where one term appears in the title of that page and another term appears elsewhere on the page, like in the text or the URL? Type in that first term followed by intitle: immediately followed by the other term. Example Search: flu shot intitle:advice
8. Words in the URLIf you want to find pages with your search query mentioned in the URL, type allinurl: immediately followed by your search query. Example Search: allinurl:hubspot blog
9. How to Search Within a WebsiteOften, you want to search a specific website for content that matches a certain phrase. Even if the site doesn’t support a built-in search feature, you can use Google to search the site for your term. Simply use the site:somesite.commodifier. (Read this blog post to learn how to do this in more detail.) Example Search: site:https://ift.tt/1Tc8Ll1 “inbound marketing”
10. Related SearchIf you want to find new websites with similar content to a website you already know of, use the related:somesite.com modifier. Example Search: related:visual.ly11. A Page That Links to Another PageLet’s say you want to search for every website that cites a BuzzFeed article on their website. To do this, use the link: command, immediately followed by the name of a page. Google will give you all pages that link to BuzzFeed’s official website. The more specific the URL is, the fewer, more pointed results you’ll get. Example Search: link:buzzfeed
12. Similar Words and SynonymsLet’s say you want to include a word in your search, but also want to include results that contain similar words or synonyms. To do this, use the ~ in front of the word. Example Search: “inbound marketing” ~professional
13. Word DefinitionsIf you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the define: command. You can listen to the word’s pronunciation by pressing the megaphone icon. Search Example: define:plethora14. Missing WordsEver forgotten a word or two from a specific phrase, song lyric, movie quote, or something else? You can use an asterisk* as a wildcard, which can help you find the missing word in a phrase. Example Search: much * about nothing15. News in a Specific LocationIf you’re looking for news related to a specific location, you can use the location: command to search Google News for stories coming from that location. Search Example: star wars location:london16. Specific Document TypesIf you’re looking to find results that are of a specific type, you can use the modifier filetype:. For example, you might want to find only PowerPoint presentations related to inbound marketing. Example Search: “inbound marketing” filetype:ppt17. TranslationsWant to translate a simple word or phrase from one language to another? No need to go to a translation website. Just search translate [word] to [language]. Example Search: translate krankenwagen to english18. Phone ListingLet’s say someone calls you on your mobile number, and you don’t know who it is. If all you have is a phone number, you can look it up on Google using the phonebook feature. Example Search: phonebook:617-555-1212(Note: The number in this example doesn’t work. You’ll have to use a real number to get any results.) 19. Area Code LookupIf all you need to do is to look up the area code for a phone number, just enter the three-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from. Example Search: 61720. Zip Code LookupIf you need to look up the zip code for an address, simply search for the rest of the address, including town or city name and state, province, or country. It’ll return results with an area code (if applicable), Example Search: 25 First St., Cambridge, MA21. Numeric RangesThis is a rarely used but highly useful tip. Let’s say you want to find results that contain any of a range of numbers. You can do this by using the X..Y modifier (in case this is hard to read, what’s between the X and Y are two periods). This type of search is useful for years (as shown below), prices, or anywhere where you want to provide a series of numbers. Example Search: president 1940..195022. Stock (Ticker Symbol)Just enter a valid ticker symbol as your search term, and Google will give you the current financials and a quick thumbnail chart for the stock. Example Search: GOOG23. CalculatorThe next time you need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator applet, you can just type your expression into Google. Search Example: 48512 * 1.0224. Tip CalculatorAlong with a normal calculator, Google has a built-in tip calculator. Just search tip calculator and you can adjust the bill, tip %, and number of people splitting it. Search Example: tip calculator25. TimerDon’t have a timer handy? Google has you covered. Just type in an amount of time + the word “timer,” and the countdown will begin automatically Search Example: Search Example: 20 min timer26. StopwatchSearch “stopwatch” and it’ll bring up a stopwatch for you to start when you’re ready. Search Example: stopwatch27. WeatherNext time you’re looking for quick weather stats or a forecast for a certain area, search for weather followed by a location. Google will give you both before the first search results. Search Example: weather cambridge ma28. Sunrise & Sunset TimesIf you’re curious when the sun will rise and set that day at a specific location, do a simple Google search with the word sunrise or sunset along with the location name. Search Example: sunrise acadia29. Flight StatusesIf you type in the airline and airplane number into Google, it will tell you the flight information, status, and other helpful information. Search Example: BA 181
30. Sports Scores & SchedulesWant to know the latest sports scores and future schedules of your favorite teams or match-ups? Search a single team name or two team names and Google will use Google Sports to spit out scores and schedules before the first search results. Search Example: manchester united31. Comparing FoodBelieve it or not, if you’re ever curious how two types of (fairly generic) foods compare with one another, you can do a quick Google search to see how they differ in calories, fat, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, and other nutrients. Search Example: pizza vs broccoli
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November 2020
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