Business: Make a Lasting Impression

Make a Lasting Impression

Written by Jeff Gustafson

Whether you are building a small business or are part of a large organization, here is a simple suggestion for creating an impression that will carry with it long-lasting value for years to come (corporate events, seminars, trade-shows, social gatherings, local events – wherever you want to create an impression).

I attended a trade-show shortly after Desert Storm and met General Schwartzkoff and had my photograph taken with him. I was a vendor and was not suppose to be a part of repparttar photo op. But for some reason as they were setting up repparttar 104748 prop, repparttar 104749 General asked me to join him for a photo. I did; he signed repparttar 104750 photo (which was also not a part of repparttar 104751 deal); I returned to my booth. Each time I look at that picture I am struck as to how much I remember repparttar 104752 experience. No thought is given to what I was wearing, how my hair looked, repparttar 104753 smile, or those few extra pounds.

I guess this could be sounding like an endorsement to spend thousands

Four Traps that Catch Entrepreneurs

Written by Claudette Rowley

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print as long as repparttar

resource box is included. Please notify me of publication by sending a website link or copy of your publication to claudette@metavoice.org.

Word Count: 618 words, 65 characters per line

Thanks, Claudette Rowley ==============

"A problem cannot be solved on repparttar 104747 same level that it was created." - Albert Einstein

Trap #1: I am my business.

Truth: Who you are is so much bigger than your business. Your business is simply one expression of you. You as a person are complex and multi-faceted, and in repparttar 104748 best of situations, your business doesn't define you, you define it. Just as it's unhealthy to let a relationship define all of who you are, so is it unwise to allow your business to completely define you.

A common subset of this trap is: "If my business fails, I'm a failure." When discussing this topic with clients, I often hear two responses to business success and failure. When an entrepreneur fails, she or he often falls right into self-blame. And when an entrepreneur succeeds - "I just got lucky" is a common response.

Trap #2: If it's worth doing, it must be hard.

Truth: This is a consistent message in our culture. If something is worth doing, we think it must involve incredibly hard work. When I coach entrepreneurs, I often ask repparttar 104749 question "How could this be easy?" The notion that hard work equals worth is so embedded in us, that we sometimes feel uncomfortable when a great opportunity drops in our lap or new venture comes together seamlessly. Yes, as entrepreneurs, we work hard when we need to. However, hard work does not have to include repparttar 104750 notion that struggling, suffering and working 80 hours per week makes us better entrepreneurs or more virtuous people. As much as possible, let it be easy. Accept great opportunities, and let people help you.

Trap #3: My success is measured in profits.

Truth: Expand your definition of success. What does success actually mean to you? Success is measured in many different ways, profit being only one of them. Are you making a social contribution? Are you creating an innovative product? What is your vision and are your realizing it? Do you have autonomy and control over your own time? Success is relative and a matter of perception. One person's success is anothers failure. How high is your bar? Some entrepreneurs set repparttar 104751 bar so high for themselves that they can never "succeed" in their own minds. They can't win - kind of like a dog chasing its tail.

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