Are you an Entrepreneur?

• If you own your own small business, you are.
• If you are a Realtor, you are.
• If  you are into MLM, you are.
• If you are tossing my newspaper in my front yard, you are.
• In fact, if you do anything that does not provide you a weekly paycheck, then you – my friend – are an Entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs all have some things in common:

• We are all focused on a passion.
• We are determined.
• “We do not fear failure” is our mantra.
• We are used to being told “no”, and we know that is the first step to a “real” conversation.
• We all can agree (maybe not in public) that being an Entrepreneur can be a loney and nerve wracking experience, at many points along the way.

Yet, this is truly the best time to be an Entrepreneur EVER. Why?  Simple!  In the past we had to seek each other out and try to find common ground. That was never easy.  After all, we generally eat, sleep and live our businesses and, until recently, networking with others was usually a hit or miss proposition.

But, thanks to Social Media, we no longer have to spend so much of our very valuable time trying to ferret out those like-minded individuals.  And THAT, my entrepreneurial friend, is what Social Media is REALLY all about.

If you are one of the many who are feeling “confused” about Social Media – then you are one of the many who have bought into the hype!

There are a lot of people espousing a lot of ways for you to use Social Media as a sales tool.  To an extent, I agree it’s a good marketing tool. However, let’s face it, just because you “friend” Joe Boxlight on Facebook, doesn’t mean that Joe is going to (a) friend you back; (b)  interact with you; (c) or buy your stuff.  If you have ever walked into a Networking Group, then you should think of that feeling and apply it to Social Media.  You aren’t there to SELL your wares – you are there to create a network of people who know and trust you!  You have to share your passions, your thoughts, your daily life stuff and get REAL to them.  Only THEN will you “sell” something….and if you are really on your game, you will realize you are not “selling” people on your “stuff”, you are selling “YOU”, and they – in turn – are BUYING from the brand that is “YOU”.  If they don’t know your brand, they aren’t going to buy!  No matter HOW MANY times you list what you have…and even if they need it!

So turn off that selling machine, and turn off the pressure valve in your brain, and come to the REAL party!  Social Media is not the “magic pill”. The sooner you admit this, the faster you can do the “right” thing and then get the REAL DEAL:  REFERRALS! It’s about networking with like-minded individuals that you need to get to know, and (more so) that need to get to know YOU.  It’s just easier on the web because:

(a) it’s no cost or low cost;

(b) you don’t have to pay a fee and drive somewhere,

(c)  you can use a simple search to find people with common interests or ties to the commnity, and

(d) you can make them aware of who YOU are and what your needs are – it’s always about KNOWING YOU first, then your needs.  People love to help other people ( most of them, anyway).  Helping others first,  is the best first way.  Asking for help, instead of selling, is the best second way.  Thanking those who do business with you in a real way, is the ultimate!

Have a great second week of this new year, and new decade!