Three years ago, I had this great idea to do a podcast on a regular basis on my main site Radio Facts (www.biztipper.com). I started putting the show together and put together a team that I thought would work. I respected their tenure, they were intelligent and they had various personalities. Most were in between gigs and I thought it was a great way to put them in front of industry opportunities. I told them to give me 10 weeks of shows before I could start marketing the show with my own contacts to try to sell it. They all agreed at the onset. Two weeks into the show, some members of the team started asking me for money. They were doing this in front of other members. While I believed in the idea, there were other factors that made me think twice before putting my own money up.
They wanted to be paid for their time but they were not hungry and they didn’t see my vision. They wanted me to take some of the money from my main business to pay them for their time. I had to ask myself if I was being fair? While I respected their time, my main business had nothing to do the with the new one and if the Podcasts made money I would have taken the money back that I gave them [invested] and they would not have appreciated that. So I didn’t’ think it was a good idea. In addition, they were not using their forums (social media) to promote the podcasts that we had done so I was doing the recording, paying for and setting up the conference calls, editing (which was a HUGE job) the show and marketing. They were only involved on the calls.
There was not enough hunger or passion and while I understand people have to pay bills, I concluded that this idea was not going to be in the best interest for any of us and I didn’t want to end up coming off as the bad guy. I saw the negativity starting to build and it was time to back out.
To make a long story short, some of the members continued to point out that I was getting quite a bit of advertising on my main site. I felt my money for a business that I built from the ground up — on my own — was being scrutinized and my money was being counted. I was not comfortable with that but I got their point too. I ended up canceling the group concept of the show and did a couple of segments on my own with my remaining energy. Ironically, the ones that I did on my own got more downloads. One vignette that was brief with me simply me giving advice got over 600,000 downloads (www.radiofacts.podbean.com). None of the group podcasts had even come close to that. I had to retool the idea and while I will have other hosts, I lost three years of lead time for a successful podcast site waiting for others to come on board, see my vision and trying to lead the horse to water that refused to drink. I lost my energy to do it when it became a “job” instead of a passion, as I’m sure other black entrepreneurs understand.
In another instance, I was also the member of a mind share group that I didn’t start but was invited to join. The group had great potential to reach a greater amount of black entrepreneurs with events to earn income as we all had amazing potential to teach others. I proposed the idea several times and it was constantly poo-pood by the other members who claimed they had other things to do with their time, yet they were all constantly trying to find ways to increase their income.
After a couple of months, we started getting announcements of events hosted by people with MUCH less experience who had sponsors and were doing exactly what I had proposed. The group then pointed out “Perhaps we should do something like this!” I was shocked but maintained my composure, however, I immediately lost interest in being involved at that point. You grow tired of being the gift horse. Some of us have excellent ideas that never go anywhere when we depend on others to implement, assist and give birth to them. It can take more energy to organize people to see your vision than it would to simply do it on your own. There are better ways to utilize your ideas and time.
Keep in mind, WHEN your idea is not well received by others, or it is questioned or scrutinized the balloon looses the air and as well as the esteem of your concept. Whn you back down and shut up you should also consider moving on. As with any relationship when your ideas are constantly shut down, you SHOULD question the relationship and whether or not it’s good for you. The answer is almost always NO.
I have found when it comes to black folks especially that we respond to crisis best. We are a very emotional community when it comes to things like racism but we are very relaxed as a community when it comes to things like black entrepreneurs, investing (in ourselves) and long-term strategies. You can’t make someone walk when they would rather drive a broken down dangerous vehicle that’s a fire hazard. If they want to drive they will drive, UNTIL the vehicle catches fire while they are driving it.
Ask or suggest once, if you KNOW that you are the idea guy or girl and you are ignored, go where you will be appreciated but stop swimming in shallow waters.
Having a great idea shows your savvy and ability to grow. When someone shoots it down or attacks, or questions the concept and you continue to try to get them to see what they will never see. THEY will win and you will become complacent and a follower like them. If you are a leader you have to also LEAD yourself into better, more lucrative environments that HELP you grow not SHRINK or remain stagnant.
While the idea guy may have some brilliant ideas, some people are comfortable suffering. Leave them where they are and perhaps they will see you on the way up and join in, that’s the best that you can hope for but don’t let their negative concepts stop YOU
Nuff said. Stop wasting your time
Being an entrepreneur is extremely rewarding. Unfortunately, there are other aspects of it that are very challenging. When you’re the boss, it is often difficult to have leverage or camaraderie with people that work for you. You have to maintain a level of authority. Most of the time, entrepreneurs, surround themselves with other entrepreneurs because they understand each other best.
Working for yourself is and is not what people think. You do not sit around idly twiddling your thumbs waiting for money to pour in all day long with no effort…. it’s work and nonstop work. While other people punch the clock at 5 o’clock, entrepreneurs continue to work throughout the day and night.
At times, some of the best ideas come to entrepreneurs in the middle of the night. We don’t always feel like motivating ourselves but is it is essential to our success. After 21 years, here are some tips I can share with you on lessons that I have learned the hard way. You’re welcome… (lol) Click NEXT above or below for next segment
First and foremost, you have to be absolutely sure that you have a winning product. It’s hard to believe in or convince others to believe in crap. They can plainly see the value of what you do. Your customers are interested in your product. Always think three “WINS;” 1. How is this going to benefit my business, 2. How is this going to benefit the client and 3. How is it going to benefit the target. The “target” can be anything from a specific target to potential new clients who see what you produce. Therefore, WHAT you produce must be stellar so that others are attracted to it. Iif you’re just taking money, living off tenure or you’re not delivering service you probably won’t see the client again and no matter what kind of business you are in. Repeat business, without suggestion or solicitation, is the key. There has to be balance in order to create and sustain a valuable and longstanding relationship. Don’t be greedy and think you can get the money this time, deliver crappy service then expect the client to return. Not only will they not return he will tell others how they were treated.
What do I mean by that? I’m basically saying that sometimes, as entrepreneurs, we ask our contacts if they know someone who can do so and so and we really need the job done but don’t have the time to look for potential candidates. Don’t make this mistake. I have found, that at least 80% of the time in situations like these, the people don’t work out. Mostly, because they don’t “WANT” a job, they NEED a job. Therefore they are only going to give you enough effort to make the money then they are gone. Unfortunately, when they don’t work out and you have wasted your time training them, YOU become the bad guy if you complain and it could affect your relationship with the original person you asked for help from. Chances are, they are trying to help a friend or relative that needs a job, this does not work for you or your business you’re not a temp service looking for day laborers. You have to look at your business and what it needs, that’s the primary first. You need someone that WANTS a job, not someone who is going to do just enough to get by and then hit the road. Anything less just won’t do. Wasting time is not a good idea for your business. You want to make sure that you bring someone and who’s hungry and wants the job. Some people say that there are no hungry people anymore but there are you just have to dig deeper and find them and even if they’re not hungry at least make sure they’re strategic and they know what they’re doing and they’re effective because you can still get the same benefit don’t always be obligated to hire people because they need a job hire them for WHY you NEED them.
When it comes to your business, you have to take care of it and protect it. Do not be afraid to approach people for what you want when it comes to your business. If you need help, this is the most important thing, don’t be afraid ask. If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to admit but make sure you learn at least a little bit of it so that you can keep an eye on all aspects of your business. When hiring someone to do an independent job, check their credentials and have them send you some of that work and take the time to dig a little deeper. Look at their social networks to get an idea of their character. I would not recommend hiring a third-party with someone in the middle who is speaking for the other person. This indicates that the person you’re talking to is taking the largest chunk of the money and only giving a small portion to the third-party. That’s a waste of your resources. Hire direct. If you never have contact with the third-party that you don’t know how effective they are. I’ve made this mistake a few times to many but not any more.
That’s a very good question? And there is some truth to it. But we must first realize that nobody is going to have the passion and the drive that we have for our business to succeed. I would strongly suggest that you have a layout for whatever project you have for the person indicating exactly what you expect for them to do and I have them sign it. It could be the 10 steps you want them to take or it could be just a general synopsis of what you expect. Otherwise, they don’t have a guide and you may be disappointed at the final results. On occasion, you will come across someone who does a great job and who is dedicated to doing exactly what you want them to do. Make sure that you keep these people in your database to call when you need certain things, there is a good chance that they can do even more tasks than you asked them for the first time. You must establish a solid team and sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to get there.
As entrepreneurs, especially black entrepreneurs, we have a tendency to work ourselves to death early on or until we die. Radio One owner Cathy Hughes pointed out to me during a recent interview when we leave our businesses to our children, by the time we leave it, they usually don’t want it. We have literally worked ourselves to death and not traveled the world or taken the time off that we should have taken just to have the business die with us. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen black owners work themselves to death by not taking care of themselves in the process. I must admit, running a business is addictive and at times it’s very difficult to walk away but you MUST find a way to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Don’t be in a position where you are not taking vacations, not have sustaining relationships, but just work, work, work. You’re an entrepreneur because you want the freedom to do what you want to do. It would seem, that would include taking a vacation and having a free time to do the things that you love to do but others can’t do because they’re obligated to go to work each day. I know someone, who works on a blog who puts in 16 hour days, he’s older, he never leaves home except to go to an event here and there that is related to his blog and he is very unhappy. He has not had a vacation in years, he’s not making a lot of money because he doesn’t focus on sales and his target is oversaturated so he has to work harder to keep up. I understand that fear that you think that if you leave, something will happen and you won’t be on top of it, but that’s the beauty of technology, Especially with a blog you can actually post from anywhere in the world with your iPhone. Life is too short not to enjoy being an entrepreneur and reaping the benefits.
The beauty of management or is that you have the free time to do things that other people can’t do at the same time. Going to the grocery store during the day is wonderful because there are no lines. Driving around with no traffic is great. Going to a restaurant when it’s empty with a friend or a client. Take at least one day out of the week to enjoy the fruits of your labor again, go catch the latest movie or matinée it’s cheaper and it’s empty, go to the restaurant you want to go to, take a trip to the museum to see the exhibits you want to see, go and lay out on the beach but you have to leave your phone and enjoy yourself after a while this will become a habit. I know someone who is desperately looking for love but he’s always working. The irony of it is that everything that he wants in a relationship comes his way but while he’s working, but he’s so motivated to make money that he pushes it away and then wonders why it’s not around when he slows down. The universe is attracted to what’s moving not what is standing still. If life was a race, people cheer on the person running for the finish line, they don’t cheer on the people on the sidelines, Decide what your position is and “run” with it.
Things will not be as they are right now. People change jobs and clients change their minds and companies downsize or eliminate budgets. Why should you settle for having two or three clients when you have 30 for more sustainability. That doesn’t mean That you have to continue to do what you’re doing, especially when there’s limited growth potential. You must create additional ancillary product to grow your business and brand. Can you do an event? A conference, a magazine, a blog for your clients or customers? You have to decide but don’t stand still while the getting is good because it won’t always be that way, trust me, and you want to have as many repeat client as possible. Do your best, to create multiple streams of income, Even if it’s from your original idea that you can grow or multiple ideas that can work themselves. The ideal income is the one that comes in while you sleep. There is no greater feeling than getting up in the morning and seeing that people around the world have paid for your services and you were not even there.
You can’t be friends with everyone, you don’t owe anyone anything and when people make you feel like shit, flush them down the toilet. it’s that simple and it’s a great mental concept. You know who they are because you feel drained when you finish talking to them and they demand too much of your dedication, attention, and energy. Keep your life as simple as possible and surround yourself with like-minded easy going people. Find other activities to cope with boredom instead of picking up the phone and calling people who drain you. This is not only “friends” it could also be family. Everyone is not going to be happy for you when you are successful.
Wishing you the best in business,
Kevin Ross
While there may be more to the deal behind the scenes, Apple music wants to be Number One at all costs. Just this week there was a report that Spotify’s attorney sent a letter to Apple about the company monopolizing their music service and hurting competitors by threatening to not offer the app for Spotify in the app store if Spotify doesn’t comply with Apple’s rules which could hinder their growth. Time will tell where that one goes.
Now the behemoth is in talks with Jay Z’s Tidal to take over the reigns and buy the company. Tidal has been around for a while but it exploded when Jay Z invested in the company and put his face on the brand. While the $19.99 service fee was seen as excessive to competitors, music sites and even users, Jay Z offered something the other music services could not…
Jay Z used what business owners should be using more of in negotiating their positions and deals to sell their businesses (especially African Americans within their cultural creative). LEVERAGE. What is leverage? It’s what I’m using right now by posting this story on my site then posting links on all the social networks to lead you back to click and read it and raise my rankings and popularity as a music industry expert. Posting it on Facebook, for example, instead would have been stupid because Facebook would have gotten all the credit.
In Jay Z’s case, he used his leverage:
… to create a divine experience for Tidal users by getting EXCLUSIVES from major artist peers in offering them more money for their participation and buyers a greater exclusive experience to songs and footage. BRILLIANT. Apple was left in the dust and they don’t like that and they were probably sitting back and waiting for Tidal to fail but it didn’t. Tidal was too powerful and supported by too many major artists and Apple has already missed too many exclusives.
Now Apple is using their greatest leverage… MONEY and Brand Recognition to get back in and maintain the top spot across the board. Jay Z stands to make a ridiculous amount of money from the deal along with the exclusive artists. Jay Z had the one thing that Apple did not… direct long term relationships with the product (artists) and first hand knowledge of being an artist dealing with music streaming companies. He must have seen this in advance and it was a brilliant business move. We will know in the coming week what the end result will be but I predict it will go through.
Consumer Trust In Online Small Businesses Strengthened By Professional Email
GODADDY SURVEY FINDS 75 PERCENT OF AMERICANS VIEW DOMAIN-BASED EMAIL AS A TOUCHSTONE OF TRUST WHEN THEY BUY FROM ONLINE SELLERS
GoDaddy GoDaddy
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY), the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, commissioned a survey to identify the most important factors for consumers when it comes to trusting online small businesses. The findings revealed three-quarters of Americans think having a domain-based email that matches your website is a very important factor when it comes to trusting an online small business.
“You never forget a first impression, either in real life or online. Often your first direct interaction with a customer takes place over email and so looking professional in this context is hugely important,” said Steven Aldrich, Chief Product Officer at GoDaddy. “Using a professional email address that ends with your company’s domain offers you an opportunity to build your brand every time you interact with a customer versus promoting an Internet email giant like Gmail, Yahoo and others.”
Using a personal email address can also negatively impact profits. Nearly a quarter of respondents stated they would be reluctant to provide their credit card information and/or personal information (contact details, phone number) to an online seller using a personal email address which could be perceived as suspicious.
“From the moment a consumer views your email address on a business card, your website, or in their inbox, they are immediately going to make judgments about your business, so don’t fall into the trap of using a personal address that anyone could get. It detracts from the trustworthiness you’re looking to convey,” added Aldrich.
As an indicator of trustworthiness, consumers rank domain-based email addresses as three times more important than maintaining an active social media channel such as Twitter or Facebook.
Respondents also listed the following as additional important factors to consider when trusting an online business: having a website security certificate, the quality of content on the business’ website and third-party customer reviews.
Looking professional has never been more important for small businesses at a time when 60 percent of consumers are looking to support small and independent businesses, according to the survey.
Key Findings
75 percent of respondents believe having a domain-based email that matches your website is a very to extremely important factor when trusting an online small business.
33 percent of respondents doubt the trustworthiness and legitimacy of a seller when they use a personal email address.
24 percent of respondents would be hesitant to give their personal information to a seller who uses a personal email address.
23 percent of respondents would be hesitant to give their credit card information to a seller who uses a personal email address.
If a company uses a personal email address, consumers are 35 percent more likely to research the company through online customer reviews.
34 percent of respondents believe active social media channels are not an important factor when trusting an online small business.
Only 14 percent of respondents think having an active social media account is an extremely important factor when trusting an online small business.
For more information and infographic please see: GoDaddy Garage Post
About The Survey
OnePoll surveyed 1,000 American adults in February 2016.
About GoDaddy
GoDaddy’s mission is to radically shift the global economy toward small businesses by empowering people to easily start, confidently grow and successfully run their own ventures. With 14 million customers worldwide and 62 million domain names under management, GoDaddy gives small business owners the tools to name their idea, build a beautiful online presence, attract customers and manage their business. To learn more about the Company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.
For his third capsule collection, Kendrick Lamar teamed up with designer Ian Paley (of Garbstore fame) to put their spin on the Classic Leather.
The deconstructed aesthetic is highlighted by a longitudinal seam that runs down the shoe separating blue and red. While the split seam continues to tell the unity and neutrality themes that Kendrick has explored with the past two Reebok Capsule collections, the design dives further into Kendrick’s life, representing the significant crossroads that he has faced.
The seam is a metaphor for the major decisions he has been forced to make – from championing gang neutrality throughout his upbringing to using his artistry to make a difference in his own community and the world over.
LOS ANGELES, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Entertainment Studios, Inc., (www.es.tv) one of the largest independent producers and distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations, and owner of seven 24-hour HD cable television networks (PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV,CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, and JUSTICECENTRAL.TV), proudly announces its acquisition of theNew York-based African-American focused digital news platform TheGrio (www.TheGrio.com).
TheGrio – which means ‘storyteller’ in Africa – is a digital video-centric news community platform providing compelling stories and perspectives currently underrepresented in existing national media outlets. TheGrio’s editorial mandate is focused on breaking news, opinion, politics, business, entertainment, health, sports, and events that have a unique interest and/or pronounced impact within the African-American community. TheGrio generates 3 million unique visitors per month, in addition to reaching a highly-engaged social media audience.
“We are excited to have TheGrio join Byron Allen’s ever-expanding Entertainment Studios media empire,” saysDavid A. Wilson, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of TheGrio. “Byron shares our vision of growing TheGrio into the leading video content creator and distribution platform for African-Americans. We look forward to developing the next iteration of TheGrio, and the fact that it will remain 100 percent African American-owned is very significant.”
“David Wilson and his founding partner Dan Woolsey have done an incredible job these past 7 years building TheGrio, and we are one thousand percent committed to continue expanding this digital news community’s reach across all global media platforms, including our broadcast television syndication programs, cable television networks, and motion picture division,” said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Entertainment Studios. “We plan on investing heavily in digital publishing, and TheGrio has an excellent management team, making it the perfect asset to start our portfolio of online publishing.”
About Entertainment Studios
Entertainment Studios, Inc. owns seven 24-hour HD cable networks serving nearly 80 million subscribers:PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, and JUSTICECENTRAL.TV. The company also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 40 television programs, making it one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations. With a library of over 5,000 hours of owned content across multiple genres, Entertainment Studios provides video content to broadcast television stations, cable television networks, mobile devices, multimedia platforms, and the World Wide Web. Our mission is to provide excellent programming to our viewers, online users, and Fortune 500 advertising partners. Chairman and CEO Byron Allen founded the company in 1993. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it has offices in New York, Chicago, Denver, and Raleigh. For more information, visit: www.es.tv
About TheGrio
TheGrio is a digital video-centric news community platform devoted to providing African-Americans with compelling stories and perspectives currently underrepresented in existing national news outlets. TheGrio features aggregated and original video packages, news articles, and blogs on topics that include breaking news, politics, health, business, and entertainment. Originally launched in 2009, the platform was then purchased by NBC News in 2010. TheGrio eventually became a news division for MSNBC in 2013. In 2014, TheGrio founders purchased their company back from NBC News and has since tripled its traffic rate. The digital platform remains focused on curating exciting digital content and currently has more than 20 million annual visitors. For more information, visit: www.TheGrio.com
One of the greatest testimonies to your success is when others try to do what you do, especially when they have no background in your particular area. As imitation is the greatest form of flattery, I realize it doesn’t always feel that way.
If there is one thing that I have found is a constant in dealing with other blacks in business it’s the way we consistently hoard information and look at each other as the enemy. The jealousy and contempt that we have for each other, backstabbing and protecting clients with our lives as if their budgets are only meant for us is unfortunate. To that end, I understand why it happens but things are not always as they seem.
In 21 years of doing my magazine and site Radio Facts, I am always aware of who is stabbing me in the back and using me for information, yet I often still give it (perhaps to a fault) because I don’t care. I do not want what others have because I’ve been too blessed doing business for myself but I see a lot of black folks trying to find their way in business by any means they deem necessary and others making sure they don’t succeed. This is very unfortunate.
Clients have no problem telling me how vicious “competitors” can be by calling them and asking questions like why are they advertising with me instead of them and copying my banner ads and sending it to my clients and asking “What is this shit?” when they don’t get it. In the end, the client ALWAYS tells me and they tell me they will not support the competitor because they treat them like they OWE a part of their budget to them. It used to piss me off but it doesn’t anymore. These people don’t need any help from me to destroy their own reputations. All I know is that doing something like this has never been and will never be a part of my business practice. Some competitors are so vile that they have even copied stories verbatim (copy and pasted from my site and put the it on theirs, including my cropped images) and they try to sell the client that I am copying stories from THEM (but they fail to realized there is a date stamp on all the stories).
I can certainly understand where some of this comes from, because I’ve been in business long enough to now how incredibly hard it is to convince white clients as well as black clients who are being bombarded with requests from other black companies and often angled in a way that says “Help a brotha out” or “You owe this to me because you are black.” They don’t owe you sh and these are not the streets and nobody is obligated to feed you.
There are those times when other blacks have asked me questions that certainly make you slam on the brakes. One incident was a young black man who boldly asked me if I could explain to him the entire process of how to do a radio industry blog and another time a woman asked me for a copy of my database to start her own industry business. These items are proprietary and hard-earned and NO I don’t think you should ever give info like this out as it’s the basis of your business and success. I would not betray my clients by giving out their personal information like email, phone number etc but I don’t have a problem telling someone who the point person is. If they can sell themselves, than so be it.
There is a person that I gave complete advice to on how to do a magazine and even offered his name for a television segment who is notorious amongst other industry entrepreneurs for being an elitist and hoarding information after finding ways to take it from other black entrepreneurs and use it for himself. Therein lies the problem, If you are not willing to help others but you are willing to use their info that’s just wrong and it’s greed. You present yourself as an opportunist who can’t be trusted.
I found that this person would call me every few months whenever I would have small successes to pick my brain and to see if I was willing to give more information. I found it was a one-way street and I realized it was a mistake so I shifted and stopped taking his calls and giving him information but I was still willing to give it to others in business.
The answer to all of this is your brand and the quality of your product will stand the test of time no matter WHO tries to compete with you. Stay the course and keep doing what you are doing and find a way to consistently improve your service and over deliver to the client. In addition, if your services have exceeded your client’s expectations and they constantly come to you (without coercion) you are already winning.
Nothing that is meant for you can be taken by someone else no matter what their intention is good or bad. Keep focusing on the finish line instead of stopping to take a look on the sidelines and you will win. You may be completely wrong in your assessment as we all have the right to do business the way we want to. THESE are the most important traits that you can have. If you find that you are constantly giving information to people who never give it back or return the favor in any way, stop doing it and spend your time more wisely by mentoring younger people or doing volunteer work or even writing a book about what you do and your experiences. Finally, when you help someone else everyone succeeds the rewards come back tenfold. I’ve witnessed it many times over.
My best.
K
One of the greatest testimonies to your success is when others try to do what you do, especially when they have no background in your particular area. As imitation is the greatest form of flattery, I realize it doesn’t always feel that way.
If there is one thing that I have found is a constant in dealing with other blacks in business it’s the way we consistently hoard information and look at each other as the enemy. The jealousy and contempt that we have for each other, backstabbing and protecting clients with our lives as if their budgets are only meant for us is unfortunate. To that end, I understand why it happens but things are not always as they seem.
In 21 years of doing my magazine and site Radio Facts, I am always aware of who is stabbing me in the back and using me for information, yet I often still give it (perhaps to a fault) because I don’t care. I do not want what others have because I’ve been too blessed doing business for myself but I see a lot of black folks trying to find their way in business by any means they deem necessary and others making sure they don’t succeed. This is very unfortunate.
Clients have no problem telling me how vicious “competitors” can be by calling them and asking questions like why are they advertising with me instead of them and copying my banner ads and sending it to my clients and asking “What is this shit?” when they don’t get it. In the end, the client ALWAYS tells me and they tell me they will not support the competitor because they treat them like they OWE a part of their budget to them. It used to piss me off but it doesn’t anymore. These people don’t need any help from me to destroy their own reputations. All I know is that doing something like this has never been and will never be a part of my business practice. Some competitors are so vile that they have even copied stories verbatim (copy and pasted from my site and put the it on theirs, including my cropped images) and they try to sell the client that I am copying stories from THEM (but they fail to realized there is a date stamp on all the stories).
I can certainly understand where some of this comes from, because I’ve been in business long enough to now how incredibly hard it is to convince white clients as well as black clients who are being bombarded with requests from other black companies and often angled in a way that says “Help a brotha out” or “You owe this to me because you are black.” They don’t owe you sh and these are not the streets and nobody is obligated to feed you.
There are those times when other blacks have asked me questions that certainly make you slam on the brakes. One incident was a young black man who boldly asked me if I could explain to him the entire process of how to do a radio industry blog and another time a woman asked me for a copy of my database to start her own industry business. These items are proprietary and hard-earned and NO I don’t think you should ever give info like this out as it’s the basis of your business and success. I would not betray my clients by giving out their personal information like email, phone number etc but I don’t have a problem telling someone who the point person is. If they can sell themselves, than so be it.
There is a person that I gave complete advice to on how to do a magazine and even offered his name for a television segment who is notorious amongst other industry entrepreneurs for being an elitist and hoarding information after finding ways to take it from other black entrepreneurs and use it for himself. Therein lies the problem, If you are not willing to help others but you are willing to use their info that’s just wrong and it’s greed. You present yourself as an opportunist who can’t be trusted.
I found that this person would call me every few months whenever I would have small successes to pick my brain and to see if I was willing to give more information. I found it was a one-way street and I realized it was a mistake so I shifted and stopped taking his calls and giving him information but I was still willing to give it to others in business.
The answer to all of this is your brand and the quality of your product will stand the test of time no matter WHO tries to compete with you. Stay the course and keep doing what you are doing and find a way to consistently improve your service and over deliver to the client. In addition, if your services have exceeded your client’s expectations and they constantly come to you (without coercion) you are already winning.
Nothing that is meant for you can be taken by someone else no matter what their intention is good or bad. Keep focusing on the finish line instead of stopping to take a look on the sidelines and you will win. You may be completely wrong in your assessment as we all have the right to do business the way we want to. THESE are the most important traits that you can have. If you find that you are constantly giving information to people who never give it back or return the favor in any way, stop doing it and spend your time more wisely by mentoring younger people or doing volunteer work or even writing a book about what you do and your experiences. Finally, when you help someone else everyone succeeds the rewards come back tenfold. I’ve witnessed it many times over.
My best.
K