To be or not to be common / extraordinary.

I am a firm believer in daily motivations.
Here is one of my regular read. A very inspirational one for any aspiring entrepreneur including myself.

I do not choose to be a common man,
It is my right to be uncommon ... if I can,
I seek opportunity ... not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen.
Humbled and dulled by having the
State look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk;
To dream and to build.
To fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life
To the guaranteed existence;
The thrill of fulfillment
To the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence
Nor my dignity for a handout
I will never cower before any master
Nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect.
Proud and unafraid;
To think and act for myself,
To enjoy the benefit of my creations
And to face the world boldly and say:
This, with God's help, I have done
All this is what it means
To be an Entrepreneur.
-
(Excerpt from Common Sense, written in 1776 by Thomas Paine)



Best,

Andy G. Rodie

Networking - got to share this tip I recieved in the mail today

The buy one share tactic and it is a classic. This is from an individual who finds a unique to way to meet his inspirational contacts. Here is his strategy. He started buying single shares in companies not for investment purposes, but to gain access to some his inspirational contacts, people he wanted to engage in mutually beneficial relationships.

Once a year, these public companies holds an annual shareholder's meeting, and even with one share, you gain access to the main event, gaining access to some of the most influential people in the world. Of course no one knows how many shares you own and won't even ask and you get treated with respect.

One point to keep in mind, most of the big companies will draw a crowd, but the smaller companies, only a handful of shareholders do bother to show up.

He used this tactic to meet two high level executives, who were previously on his list of inspirational contacts.

As you might be thinking about the types of people you need to surround yourself with to achieve your goals (whether it is to change jobs, attract investors for your startup, or simply to be your mentor), this might be another tactic to use.

Kudos to the guy for sharing this brilliant idea.

Best,
Andy G. Rodie

This is one skill you want to master.

After reading "Never eat alone" by Keith Ferrazzi, I was absolutely convinced how important building relationships in life are to your success. I think the quality of the your network is also inevitable. Here are some key points from the book your your success. They will more key points in subsequent posts. Stay tuned.


Chapter one: The mind-set.

• When you help others, they often help you, success in any field is about working with people.
• Instead of thinking "How I can you help me?" think "How can I help you"
• Start finding future clients before you have anything to sell them, get to know them as friends, not potential customers.
• There is genius, even kindness, in being bold, people with low tolerance for risk, whose behavior is guided by fear, have a low propensity for success, besides the worst any one can say is no.
• Being liked can be the most potent, constructive force for getting business done.

Chapter Two: The skill Set

• Before you meet someone, find a point of common ground that is deeper and richer than what can be discovered in a serendipitous encounter.
• Try to make the gatekeepers your allies, never get on they bad side. Always respect the gatekeeper's power and treat them with dignity they deserve, and when you do, doors will open to even the most powerful decision makers. Also, don't forget to thank the gatekeepers later with a simple phone call or personal note.
• Alway show gratitude.
• Try to connect with super-connectors, people like Entrepreneurs, Fundraisers, politicians, Public Relations Specialists, journalists, you get the point. These people can improve your network dramatically.
• The best icebreaker is often a few words from the heart.

I hope you begin to see the benefits here, stay tuned for subsequent posts.

Best

Andy G. Rodie