Set the Stage

I'm in a lot of meetings a day. The best thing for my quality of life so far has been the wireless headset that I have. After all that coffee, I can pace around and work some of that energy off. But sometimes my pacing has a tinge of frustration as its root. "Whats this meeting about?"

I get invited to many meetings and I suspect that sometimes it is out of protocol. So bring me up to speed. I try to do that when I know someone is in my meeting that hasn't been involved in the topic being discussed. It really is simple. Take 30 - 45 seconds at the beginning of the meeting to lay out the goals for the a lotted time. This will then allow all participants to understand why they are they, how they can contribute and perhaps be more willing to take on action items.

Do you think it is possible people don't explain the goals of the meeting up-front because they don't have any goals for the meeting? If this is the case, give everyone their hour back. I've posted before on running efficient meetings and I think this is a good follow up.

Why are we here?

Good luck,
Brian
http://atomictower.com - Web Reporting Engine

Moving Energy

On the first day of my time at Babson college, my classmates and I were lectured to by the cohort ahead of us. They were psyching us up and giving us pointers on the road that lay ahead. One speaker owned a gym and was looking to buy into a franchise. I sat rolling my eyes as he said how important it would be to continue our exercise as we worked through the next two years. I wasn't buying any of it. How could I possibly find time for exercise as I commuted on the train to Boston, worked a full day and then squeezed classwork and family time into the remainder of the day. He was seriously a slacker taking time for exercise.

Now it is more than a year after the program. I have been working on starting my own company http://atomictower.com and I don't have any more time in the day than I did when I was commuting and at school. But I am beginning to understand what he meant. Entrepreneurship is exciting, stimulating and fun. It is the most ambitious endeavor that I have undertaken in my career. I am building something to be proud of that will benefit many. But how can anyone enjoy this if their body is breaking down?

Health is number 1. As the leader in your company it is imperative to stay healthy (you owe it to your partners). We need to project confidence to our clients and our investors. Looking and feeling fit tells people that you have everything under control and that they can trust you to manage your company as you manage your health.

I advocate taking the same approach to your health as we shoe-string innovators do to setting up our companies. Look to what is most important and provide for it as cost-efficiently as possible. No need to run into an expensive gym membership or an unrealistic schedule. My philosophy is that a healthy heart and lungs are the most important. So aerobic exercise is my choice. I like the fun of bike riding, so I bought a used bike for $30. I LOVE it! Not much for looking at, but I can get as good exercise on this as I can on a $1,000 bike. 

The last part is to commit to 20 minutes most days. Plan it like you would a meeting. I would never dream of not making a meeting, so get on the bike too. Since it is at home, all of the logistics that go into my excuses for NOT going to the gym are gone.

It is important, I recommend it, good luck.

Brian

http://atomictower.com – web reporting engine

Put Toastmasters on your Resume

I am a member of Toastmasters.

Every week my club meets at a local restaurant where we conduct a meeting focused on building skills in leadership and public speaking. We work from an established agenda and a set of manuals that focus on a methodology established to build these skills over time and with our commitment.

Recently I read a series of blog posts from multiple recruiters. The thrust of these posts informed the reader that Toastmasters is seen as a “hokey” group for inexperienced speakers. They feel that this is speaking “practice” and does not build experience. One recruiter went on to say that if you can't qualify as an expert speaker you should not put Toastmasters on your resume because it was deceptive. They all agreed that Toastmasters who are job seekers should not put their club affiliation on their resumes.

I feel VERY differently than the folks who's views I just described.

As a hiring manager, if I am interviewing someone with challenged communication skills I would welcome the information that they were involved in Toastmasters. It tells me that the person has proactively identified a weakness and has taken the necessary steps to begin to correct it. This makes a strong impression on me and may even nullify the “negative” that they would normally be given based on their current skills.

Being an active Toastmaster, I know the effort and level of preparation that my fellow members and I put into our speeches. We also work hard on learning how to deliver and receive constructive feedback. On top of all this, Toastmasters rotate meeting responsibilities and officer posts, giving all members the opportunity to build their organization and leadership skills.

One of the most poignant considerations that must be address is that public speaking is on the top of the list of fears for most people. As Seinfeld jokes, most people would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy. So what does it say to you when you meet a person that consistently faces their fears in order to conquer them? To me it speaks volumes. I know I am building my confidence and that I am supporting my associates to do the same.

So I question the recruiting “professionals” that posted those negative comments. I wonder if maybe they are too immature in their position to fully understand what a Toastmaster designation implies. I would love to ask them how they spend their time away from work – I suspect probably not in meeting with a like-minded group of professionals determined to improve the most sought after skill that crosses ALL industries. When you put that Toastmaster affiliation on your resume you are stating that you are self-aware, confident and proactive. You are stating that you recognize communication as the key to any successful business and that you are committed to holding up your end while leading others in a constructive way.

I encourage all Toastmasters to proudly put this affiliation on their resumes. And if you are not yet a Toastmaster, I hope you'll run out and join your local chapter. I am sure your employer will appreciate your decision.

Go do something great for yourself.

Brian

http://atomictower.com – Web Reporting Engine

Atomic Tower

Last week I was so happy to finally be able to go live with the web site for my company, Atomic Tower.  It took a lot of work to get there, and holding back until everything was ready was so difficult.  I'm very excited about this project and I couldn't wait to tell everyone about it.

Before I could announce it though there were some things that had to be in place, basic, but I'll share them here.  First off was the web site.  It was a better experience for my connections to see my LinkedIn profile updated and then have a web site to go to and read more.  On top of that, the web site wouldn't be complete without a way to build a mailing list - so that needed to be in place too.

Other important points were a business phone number and "info" email address.
I created a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account. 

Once all of this was in place, it made sense to turn everything "on", so to speak.  It was very gratifying to see how much interest was generated in the first few days!  I'm glad I held my horses until all the set up was complete.

Next will be to create an Atomic Tower blog!

Thanks and good luck,

Brian
http://atomictower.com - web reporting engine

Sell Your Product – YOU

Let’s pretend for a minute. Let’s imagine that you are an inventor of a new product and you’re here for me to tell you how I am going to get your product in front of every single person IN THE WORLD…FOR FREE! Are you going to listen? Would this be important to you? Of course!

Do you know how much ads during the super bowl cost? $2.6M for 30 seconds. They reach 110M viewers. 1.5% of the worldwide population. But, out of the same 7B people worldwide, 2.1B of them are internet users. You can spend close to $3M to reach 111M for 30 seconds, or NOTHING to reach a third of them 24
hours a day! I think we’re on the same page now

And the best part is, you do have a product. This wasn’t just theoretical fancy. You ARE the product. Are YOU any less important to sell than a product? You ARE your product.
 
Unemployment is up. Its past having to quote statistics for us all to comprehend or agree – we know people are struggling. If you were a baker and the market were suddenly flooded with 50,000 new brands of bread, you would have to change your tactics to make yours stand out and capture the sales. In the same fashion, you must sell yourself as your own product. You have to innovate to set yourself apart from the crowd. If you’ve been out of the game for a while, dust off and update the tools.

Still using a paper resume? I remember sending looking for a job back in the ‘90s. I was standing at a mailbox infront of the world trade center in Boston where I worked as a temp. I had half a dozen resumes in my hand, painfully typed cover letters and envelopes. I was about to drop them into the mailbox, I stood there quietly muttering a prayer, hoping they would wind up on the correct desk. It is a very powerful memory and it was a very powerless feeling.

Technology is here to make sure that we don't need to repeat experiences like this. There is a new world to acquaint yourself with and it is tailored made for your ease of use.
• Facebook captures ½ of a country’s population before enrollment slows
• Twitter has 13% of all online users in the US
• Google sites had 1 billion hits in May, 2011
These reach huge numbers of people and they are all FREE services.

Here are some steps to leverage these great tools:

THINK BRAND MARKETING ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST WHEN YOU NEED A NEW JOB
Appoint yourself VP of Marketing for your product - YOU.  Make sure you hold yourself accountable too.

Create a network
Use Linkedin and KEEP using it.

Blog
Tell us what you know. Set yourself up as an expert in what you do. This is no time to be shy.

Update status
Update twitter, Linkedin, facebook frequently. Let everyone know that you are staying fresh and have insights to share.

Create 3 minute videos
Youtube BABY! Web cams are almost free! Comb your hair, turn on a light and – SPEAK! Than post the link as a status update! I can hear it now “wow, Bob has thoughts and can articulate them. Plus he knows how to use current low cost tools to carry out his ideas”. Wouldn’t we all like that said about us?

Speak at meetups arranged on the internet
Another tried and true practice. Find a meetup group that is in line with your profession and go speak, press the flesh.

Tie it all together in a central location
Google sites offers great templates where you really only need to update the content and PRESTO, instant web site. I have one (brianleblanc.net). I did it on the train on a $170 netbook. Get business cards from vistaprint.com for free and put this web address on it. Put links to your all your social media profiles. Consider this your resume, one stop shopping for YOU

We are living in a day and age where location and money don’t matter. Never before in the history of man has this opportunity to market your skills and talent existed. You know you’re a SME, act like it, and have fun with this.

Best of luck,
Brian
http://atomictower.com - web reporting engine

Don't be Comfortable

At Toastmasters this evening, I heard a speech about finding your dream job and that it is never too late. The speech was about a man who quit his job, bought a few washing machines and "cleaned up" in the laundry business. Later, after making a very good living he sold it to become a chef. The point of the story was focusing on the second half (the chef), I was riveted to the first part, the laundry. Here was the story of a true entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs have an overabundance of self-confidence. This guy not afraid to start a business. He knew he wouldn't allow himself to fail. He did it. Of course he must have felt the doubts and the insecurities. I'll bet he got tired and woke up not wanting to be “on” once in a while too, but he did it. He like everyone who succeeds was not afraid to live in that uncomfortable feeling. I propose that to feel “comfortable” is an alert that success has been capped.

How many people speak publicly with ease and complete comfort? Not many, yet there is a full room each week that I go to Toastmasters. These folks are driven for success in speaking and are willing to sit through the discomfort to attain it. Maybe successful people are just able to tolerate a higher level of this sensation than most.

Entrepreneurship must be the black belt level.

The Best Deal in Marketing

In a recent Wall Street Journal blog, Amir Efrati points out that in May 2011 Google attained 1 Billion unique visitors to its various web sites.  1 BILLION IN MAY!

A week or so ago I read a cool article that discussed a theory regarding Facebook’s upward limit.  It explained that it when Facebook is newly released in a country it gains new users quickly, until it has collected HALF of the country’s population, then new accounts slow.  HALF A COUNTRY’S POPULATION!

Last week I posted a link on my Linkedin account that explained Twitter claims 13% of all online Americans. 13%!

Have there ever been such powerful marketing/sales tools available to us entrepreneurs? 

Facebook, Twitter and most Google sites are FREE. 

Do you use these services effectively?  Do you have a Web 2.0 plan and is it part of your marketing strategy?  My vote is that it should be.

As startup entrepreneurs we look for value and bang for the buck.  These services allow us to reach the whole world – Wow, did I just see our audience grow exponentially?!  But what is left is our effort to learn to use these tools to their utmost.  It’s worth it.

With this amazing access to so many potential clients, partners, investors etc., it is quite obvious that we need to stand out from the field.  This forces best practices and social networking innovation.  Get on it.  Deliver your message, be consistent and take advantage of what has never been available before.  The world is closer than ever.

Good luck,

Brian

Review Gates - Not so Evil

I've been working with a rather large client, managing the release of a couple mobile applications.  Their processes are well documented and many.  I mean it...there is a LOT of process.  Part of the process the PMs have to schedule are weekly checkpoints with the review board and review board gates prior to advancing into SIT, UAT or Prod.  I know that some colleagues may consider this overkill or unnecessary, but I have come to appreciate it.

This type of process isn't for us when we are wearing our startup manager hat.  We insist on flexibility and agility.  We establish process and try to create repeatable successful performances based on strong startup engineering processes.  However, we don't have the immense infrastructure that these large companies do.  They have to be extra careful to not effect other groups when making changes, and only well adhered to communications protocols will ensure that.

However, the exercise of going through these gateways has reinforced in my mind the importance of orderly project management and impeccable planning and documentation.  Here are a group of folks that insist on seeing your plans and signoffs.  There are no excuses, just data: "do you have X?"  If not, go back and get it done.

Startups can get sloppy on points like I've described here.  Using "We're a startup - fast and furious" as an excuse is a trap.  I think we can all look at how we prepare our plans and take this kind of responsibility back to our startups.  Don't get bogged down in process EVER, and don't put processes into place before necessary, but plan well and be able to explain your plan and validation every step of the way.

Best of luck,

Brian

You Can Go Your Own Way

Steve Jobs said "Its better to be a pirate than to join the navy".

Jobs of course is the founder of Apple Computers. Apple topped Fortune 500s 2011 list of most respected companies, but I suspect if you spoke with Apple's competitors they would tell you he was a bloodthirsty businessman, however I don't think that is what he meant. What Jobs was referring to was freedom.

• Freedom v. indoctrination
• Doing what you want to do to serve your own purpose v. doing what someone else wants you to do that serves their purpose

I don't want to be a sailor.  I don’t want someone telling me what to do, how to live and when to die.

"Its better to be a pirate than to join the navy" - this statement is full of such rich imagery.
A gray battleship with sailors in denim and tee shirts, getting their rations, stowing their kits and being given their orders that are part of a larger plan conceived thousands of miles away by leaders that they have never met.

Contrast that image with the imagery associated with pirates:
Wind in the sails, red silk shirts, debauchery in port of call, chasing gold with the possibility of retiring to an estate in the Caribbean or going down in flames and glory. Now that is excitement and this is what Steve Jobs was talking about - compare it to our careers.

Often times when a worker joins a company they are shown to their 5x7 square foot of real estate. They get a chair, a florescent light, a pay check, vacation pay and maybe a parking spot.  Its safe. But to start your own business is to throw caution to the wind.  Its taking your fate into your own hands.

Taking your own fate into your hands.
Has anyone ever thought that their boss was...hmm, how should I say it...”not making the best decisions”?  Well, if you have, you're saying more than just that. First you're saying that YOU have placed the responsibility for your livelihood into the hands of someone who doesn’t "make the best decisions”.  Get it?   You're also saying that you believe you could do it better.  If that is true, than  prove it. Take the responsibility to do it the right way - imagine living in a world where people take responsibility for themselves instead of handing responsibility over to others - sounds like value was created and the world was made a bit better.

Making the world better is big business these days. There are lots of green company startups, and social entrepreneurship is HOT. Investors are looking for new ventures to fund - after all, if you can convince the market to spend and extra $2 on an energy efficient light bulb, that's just good business, good business that does good in the world.

The opportunity to do good in the world by starting a business is greater than ever. With public sector budgets being slashed, important and necessary services are no longer being offered. All of those displaced workers have the chance to start their own venture that meets a critical need. Doing good in the world and creating jobs at the same time!

Finally, its less expensive starting a business now that it ever has been. Forward thinking, driven individuals can harness today's technology to lower their new business's operating expenses to almost nothing. In the old days starting a business meant buying or renting an office, building it out with infrastructure, contracting a phone service, etc. But today we wouldn't do that.  Today we take advantage of all the free/low-cost services available on the web to create virtual work environments that displace most of the expenses businesses typically faced in their early stages.

What I hope you’ll take away is that by taking your fate into your own hands you can achieve freedom that allows you to do good in the world and that investment is not the barrier it once was.  Piracy isn’t for the faint of heart, but in the immortal words of Captain Jack Sparrow, “Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho!”