15 tell tale signs that you may be an entrepreneur
This insightful article on Entrepreneur.com this week gives us an insight into what signs to look out for that could mean you may be an Entrepreneur.
The 15 signs are:
- You take action
- You’re insecure
- You’re crazy
- You’re obsessed with Cash Flow
- You get into hot water
- You’re fearless
- You can’t sit still
- You’re malleable
- You enjoy navel gazing
- You’re motivated by challenges
- You consider yourself an outsider
- You recover quickly
- You fulfil needs
- You surround yourself with advisors
- You work and play hard
Google is tracking your every move
What if you could keep track of any movement you made anywhere across the globe by recording the movement of your phone?
Google does this for you. Most smart Android phones or tablets require a Google account when activated. Simple enough, this gives you the ability to download mail, contacts and calenders. But it also uploads your GPS position every few minutes to some giant server somewhere that keeps track of where you have been, when and for how long.
Check out my movement for the last 30 days in and around Cape Town.
This has a bunch of positives linked to this. I can track myself, my staff and people I want to keep an eye on. I can also use this to find my phone if stolen or lost. But it also brings up a huge list of negative issues about privacy and personal protection.
Google could actually compile a list of all people who are at any one location at any time. This includes meetings of importance, events or places of interest. Spooky if you ask me. This sort of information in the wrong hands could be devastating.
Do we now cancel our mobile device links to Google or embrace yet more personal information saved on their servers about our habits?
Presentation Skills 101-4 Tips on Visual Aids
Just few words on the use of visual aids before you start with any slides for a presentation. There are unwritten rules for the use of slides and other visual aids. Once again the Simple rule applies. We will look at PowerPoint a bit later, but as for Flip charts, Live demos, instruments or whatever else you were hoping to use, ask yourself this: Do I really need it to add value to my presentation? The best speakers I have seen use only themselves on the stage. The more you add to the stage the more complicated it becomes and increases the chance of stuffing it all up. So select your visual aids well and make sure they work and you know how to fix them if they stop working.
Here are my top tips when using PowerPoint
- Less is more – do not clutter your slides with graphics and colours
- Use a simple colour background with a contrasting font colour
- Design a good cover slide
- Display your logo on every page
- Use no more than 6 points per slide
- Have no more than 6 words per point
- Your slides are a visual aid, not a text to read from
- Do not use sound effects or fancy transitions
- Do not use automatic timing on the slides
- Keep any animation to a minimum
- Remember simple is good
Now go out and practice, practice, practice.
Presentation Skills 101-3 The Business Elevator Pitch
A business pitch is slightly different to the personal pitch. You get to expand this to 60 or 90 seconds, but the basic rules still apply.
If you can’t tell someone what you do in less than 60 seconds then you do not know yourself. The use of a well prepared elevator pitch is similar to an automatic weapon strapped to your waist. Always ready and well oiled ready for any situation.
The format of an elevator pitch is simple, if you get to know the format, you can adapt it for any situation and audience.
- Introduction
- Tell us you name
- Tell us what business you are from
- Tell us what your business does
- Tell us who your clients are
- Tell a Story
- What makes you different
- Share a specific example about your business
- Ask for Business
- Hone in on a specific need that your business is looking for
- Call to Action
- Give specific instructions
- Memory Hook
- Repeat your name
- Repeat your business
- Tell us your slogan
Your pitch should remain the same in respect to the format but be prepared to adjust the focus to become relative to your audience. Your story and call to action will be very different if you are speaking to a women’s convention or a businessmen’s breakfast. Learn beforehand who you are speaking to and be able and prepared to adjust this to capture the attention of your audience. Remember the six questions at the beginning of this document.
And once again practice, practice, practice, until you are confident.
Presentation Skills 101-2 The Personal Elevator Pitch
We are asked to introduce ourselves many times each day. This should be done in a short sharp 10-15 word sentence. Accompany this with your business card and a smile and you are already in the top 10% of people in the room.
So let’s look at the anatomy of a personal introduction. It needs to include the following information:
- Your name
- Your interest
- Your job function
- The business you work for
- Call to action
Write these out in point form and then just string them together to make a sentence. Keep it witty and easy to understand. Drop any long syllable words and technical words and it should be done.
Remember that people want to do business with people before doing business with your business, so be a person first. Be interesting and show yourself, step out from behind the business mask and be the real you.
If you are stuck with this try some of the following techniques;
- Mention your favorite sports team
- Tell people of a recent accomplishment
- Tell people about a book you are reading
- Share a good bit about your family
The more you practice this the better you will become. Practice, practice, practice, until you are confident.