Tag: EVERYONE

Why You Must Climb Higher when Business is Great!

As entrepreneurs we BEG for a break at times. When all the bills are paid and we have a bit of expendable cash in the bank that’s when we tend to relax but that’s the time to actually GO TO WORK! You’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, why would you rest? Best believe in a short matter of time you will be RIGHT BACK where you started, struggling to make ends meet if you don’t take advantage of those upswings. Many times, and the experienced entrepreneurs can validate this, when things are going great and sales are great THAT’s the time to hit up those clients who you have not been able to reach. Usually they have an idea of how well you are doing and when it comes to many industries there is a “me too” philosophy. Not to mention your energy is going to be different, you won’t be begging but able to make a better presentation. Nobody wants to be left out when it appears everyone else is following a trend and winning this is the time when your business esteem HAS to be be good and you HAVE to take advantage of it. Don’t wait until all the air is out of your balloon before you get back to work, get to work when things are going great and climb even higher to stretch your 15 minutes of success and build your brand.

My best in business

Kevin

October 6, 2014
4 Reasons Entrepreneurs Must Steer Clear of Negative People

Feeling drained and down lately?

Who have you been keeping company with ?

Ultimately, we all want two things in life… to feel good and to have control. We can’t always have either, both or one of the other at all times when it concerns others but we CAN CONTROL how WE FEEL. I could literally end the whole story with that last sentence because it’s JUST THAT SIMPLE.. As entrepreneurs we must consider that there will be naysayers, people who are jealous and people who will not believe in what we do because they can’t see what we see for themselves. There are others who are just stuck but truth be told when you are in a race for the finish line, if you take time to stop, look back or even look to the side you will lose time. This is absolutely not to say that all negative people are the way they are because they simply choose to be that way. Some people have had horrific experiences in their lives and they have lost all faith in mankind. Nevertheless they are not alone. MANY people have had horrific experiences but they CHOOSE to take the high road. As a matter of fact, many entrepreneurs that I have come across have horror stories to tell about they way they grew up, abusive relationships or even extreme poverty growing up but they have made a decision to ensure that their lives and their children’s lives will be very different. This past weekend, I hung out with an old friend who is by far the most negative person I know. She constantly complains about everything and her presence is an extreme weight on one’s soul. I finally had to tell her how negative she is and how much she complains about EVERYTHING. I also told her that most people will not say a word, they will have a bad experience with you once and you will never hear from them again. I get why people do that. When you tell someone how negative they are, they don’t listen because they are not into taking responsibility for their actions, they are into blaming everyone else. Even telling them how negative they are is draining. Here are a few tips to steer clear of the negative people ESPECIALLY in your business. If you let them infect you they will also infect your bottom line. (click NEXT above or below for next segment)

Negative People are Self Destructive

When people hate themselves they have no reason to love you. A very good friend of mines who is a therapist states “Misery Loves Miserable Company.” I am a firm believer that this is true. You MUST and I mean MUST avoid negative people at all cost as an entrepreneur. If you let them into your life they will not only infect you they will infect your business because they will drain YOU. We have to get up each day and we are our own motivators. We don’t need ANYTHING to get in the way of our positive energy. (click NEXT above or below for next segment)

Negative People rob your positive Energy

When I hung out with this woman this past weekend. I was so exhausted, I literally came home and slept for 5 hours. While I was with her, I had a blazing headache (and I rarely ever get headaches) and I was out of my usual spiritual element. She was a burden on my SOUL that day and she robbed every bit of energy I had and I just wanted to get away from her as soon as I could. We were supposed to do some research together in a certain part of LA but after being with her for an hour, I had no desire to start, do or complete the job. (click NEXT above or below for next segment)

Negative People Thrive off Misery

Taking the time to tell a negative person about their habits and ways is indeed a waste of time. As stated above, they are not here to hear what you have to say to help them, they are only interested in how they can rob your positive energy to feed from. It’s like a vampire out for blood. Once he gets what he wants he leaves you for dead and searches out the next victim. You are trying to save them but they are trying to rob you. You have what they want, and they have what you DON’T want so why risk it. If a person can’t figure out why their phone never rings or they are not invited to events it’s up to them to put two and two together because ultimately it’s only them who can change their situation by shifting the way they think. When these things happen it it not the world but it is US. At times we have been given horrible advice like “It’s not always about you, it’s about them and what they are going through.” Nevertheless if you continue to get the same reactions from several people it IS about YOU. If you are trying to grow you must make sure you aim for the most positive experiences in your life and business. All will not always be rosy but there are a lot of things we can eliminate before they get out of control. (click NEXT above or below for next segment)

Also Avoid Negative Situations

Sometimes negative situations can be disguised as positive. For example. There are very few industry events held in Los Angeles anymore and the ones that are here are for the new breed of industry people. Unfortunately, there are some older industry people that can’t let go of the past. There are those who don’t want to move on and let younger people get their shot. They want to hang on to what was and they often talk about how much they miss the old industry. These are people who can’t embrace change because they have not prepared themselves. I don’t feel that way. I gladly embrace the kids who are coming up in the industry as I am honored that I got my chance too and I try to provide opportunities to younger industry people through my industry vehicles. In addition, I have constantly stressed over the last 20 years of producing Radio Facts that those who diversify their talents will have the longest careers.

A couple of months ago, I was invited to a huge lot party at Capitol and Motown records in Hollywood, There was great music and food and great displays and just about major vet and new artist on the Capitol and Motown labels were there. The crowd was exciting, upbeat and positive and they embraced the new industry. The key I want to stress about this event was it was a celebration of the FUTURE of the industry not the past. I don’t believe in going to industry events where people thrive of what was or used to be. That’s because I don’t consider myself to be done with the music and radio industry yet. I still have ideas and I embrace change at the same time and as long as the industry will have me, I will be here in some capacity.

I don’t find great joy in talking about whose sick, who is dying and who is homeless when I get dressed up to go to an event unless it’s an actual funeral. I’m not in denial but there is a time and a place for everything and it should not be the THEME of an event because it is depressing and it signifies the end. The end of one’s journey and career. There MUST be balance and that means we must have control of our options in our business. In the music industry, I personally don’t consider a lot of people to be my true friends. I would consider, out of thousands of people I’ve met over the years, maybe 20 as true friends. This is a business and it’s about relationships and what you can do for people, initially, I didn’t get that and in the beginning of my career I was devastated when I was between jobs and the people who I thought were my friends really were not. As I got older I understood how business works. People deal with you based on what you can do for them and that’s (mostly) how they form their relationships with you. I consider my clients my closest allies in the industry because they believe in what I do and they support me and I’ve known most of them over 20 years. The fact that I am an entrepreneur speaks volumes about their faith in me and I truly honor that. It’s really not personal, it’s just business. Who is it in your business that you consider your true allies? Know that THOSE are the people you must focus on and support.

September 22, 2014
Reasons Small Business Owners Fear Hiring Help

Running a legitimate business is no piece of cake. We go in it to satisfy a passion but we don’t count on the many elements that go with that passion. Deadlines, orders, payroll, hiring, vendors, bills, personal life etc. These can all be managed initially by us but as time goes on we have to come to the decision to start hiring people who have the ability to either duplicate us to have strengths where we are weak. Here are some tips to help you along the way. These are the reasons we often DON‘T hire someone and the reasons that we SHOULD.(click “Next” above or below)

No Budget

Let’s face it, it’s oftentimes hard enough to keep our own heads above water and to pay our own bills after all is taken care of with the business but hiring someone else puts us in even more debt. Or does it? Believe it or not NOT hiring someone will often hurt us more in the long run. Entrepreneurs must learn… WE CANNOT DO IT ALL not matter how hard we try and we may be able to pull it off for a long time but the downside is WE NEVER GROW. So if you want to be in the same place that you were 4 years ago in your business and you want to age 8 years… keep doing it all yourself. If you don’t have the budget, hire someone part time or on a temp basis. This is a great way to check out a future prospect for full time. (click “Next” above or below)

Afraid of hiring the wrong person

This is entirely legitimate and I have made this mistake several times. People will always be on their best behavior when you are about to hire them then they can flip the script once you do. My suggestion is to put everyone on 90 days of probation like large corporations do. This is an excellent tactic because few people can wear a mask that long and this is a long enough period for you to not only gauge their effectiveness but also their reliability and dedication. I would also suggest giving them very little slack. There are times when employees will be late but if it happens twice within that period or they have excuses for not completing their work, they are out. (click “Next” above or below)

Wasting time training

This is another legitimate concern. You take the time from your already busy schedule to train someone who ends up leaving or not working out. That’s time you could have been working. Well all is well that ends well or not so well. At least you tried. However, this is NOT the time to give up and hold off for a few months because of this bad experience, you simply have to do it again or if you are lucky you have an employee who thinks like you who can show them. (click “Next” above or below)

Not able to keep an eye on the person and run the business

If you make one of the qualifications that the person has to be a self starter you can give them some autonomy and if you can’t keep an eye on them get one of your employees to for you by asking them to help them out if they need it and then have a talk with them to get an assessment.

Ultimately, as your business grows, you want to have the time to focus on expanding. Who wants to remain in the same position forever? The best advice I can give once again is to find one main employee who can do what you do to help you hire and train. They know what you are looking for and can often be a great asset when it comes to hiring employees. Best in business…

Kevin Ross

April 14, 2013
Overcoming Paralysis: Business Strategies for 2025

Updated for 2025: Practical AI & Business Moves

Ever get that sinking feeling that disaster is barreling down the tracks and you’re just frozen there, helpless? Yeah, I’ve been there. Life and business constantly throw us warning signs, but the real question is: do we act before the train hits or do we stay paralyzed, waiting for the inevitable?

A friend recently told me she’s moving back to a city she left seven months ago, hoping to salvage her life and career. No grand plan, just reacting to circumstances she didn’t see coming. She’s caught in that classic trap many entrepreneurs face—clinging to a past version of success that’s vanished, especially in industries like music where AI and automation have radically reshaped the landscape. She won’t admit it, but the game has changed, and she’s standing still on the tracks.

Not everyone has the grit or stamina to pivot, especially in the creator economy where side hustles and AI tools can either be lifelines or distractions. I tell people all the time: take any job to keep cash flowing—clean toilets, deliver groceries, whatever it takes. Survival is the baseline. But she’s struggling, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. With a kid to support and no steady income for nearly two years, she finally applied for welfare last week. Her ex is unemployed too. The warning signs were there, flashing bright, but she hesitated.

Here’s what I know after years in business: motivation has to come from within. The hustle never stops. You need a product or service that’s not just good but undeniable—something AI can’t easily replicate or automate away. And you can’t be a one-trick pony anymore. If I weren’t a black entrepreneur right now, I’d still be doing something, anything. Giving up or waiting for the “slow times” to pass is a luxury no one can afford. Turn off the nightly news and ditch the “everyone’s hurting” excuse. Newsflash: not everyone is hurting. There’s opportunity in that disparity.

I just had a killer week—unexpected clients, new projects, the kind of momentum that feels like a shot of adrenaline. Don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t working. Try something different. Experiment with AI tools that can automate tedious tasks or help you create content faster. Explore niches others overlook. If you feel truly stuck, it might be time for a drastic change: a new city, a new career path, or cutting out the toxic stressors dragging you down.

Business in 2025 isn’t just about grit; it’s about adaptability. The market moves fast, tech evolves faster, and the creator economy rewards those who innovate relentlessly. So, get off those tracks before the train hits. Your future self will thank you.

Good luck,
Kevin

February 24, 2012
Entrepreneur: Knowing When to Close Shop

I just saw a longtime friend be forced out of his business. He basically lost everything and had to even move back to his hometown to live with his parents. He told me that he is humiliated.

At one time he was very successful but a change in the economy and for what he was doing brought a whole new set of challenges before him. Could he have saved the business? Sure he could have but his ego wouldn’t let him. He considered himself an expert in his field and refused to listen to others. In addition, he failed to pay attention to changing trends, the fact that he was getting older in a youthful business and that he was losing touch as he failed to surround himself with the right people in his business. He went from a hugely successful business to barely keeping his head above water to drowning and watching the eminent death of the business he had built from the ground up. He literally broke down in tears.

As entrepreneurs, we can only do so much and we don’t have all the answers. We have our strengths and we have our weaknesses but we are not Supermen/women, fortune tellers or money trees. The first sign of a failing business (yes, even in this economy) is a cash flow problem. People will say, isn’t that EVERYONE’S problem? No, it’s actually not and we need to stop comparing our businesses to everyone else and limiting ourselves to what we assume is the norm. Why can’t we have a business that does NOT have a cash flow problem? There are several businesses that don’t worry about paying bills and/or making payroll. There are owners who take extravagant vacations and there are owners who are not begging for business. You would be amazed at how they are often very frugal (that’s another post) but it’s certainly very possible. While this can’t be all of us it’s certainly achievable (depending on what you do and how valuable customers perceive you and/or your product). The first and most important step is we must always think BIGGER and understand we don’t always just have 1 passion. That’s what makes us “Entrepreneurs” and the very reason that we don’t work for others. We have the ability to create our own destinies. Notice I said “Destinies” as in the plural form.

I have to admit, It was very difficult to see a man so broken. He is depressed and he feels like a failure. I can sympathize with him because I have been there too. Many of us look at our business like a relationship. We nurture it and watch it grow and if it dies on us it’s no different than losing a valuable relationship with someone. It goes back to the “train-on-the-tracks-and-paralyzed” theory I was talking about in another post. There are those times when business has its ups and downs. Of course we want the ups to remain for the longest period of time but unfortunately, outside factors beyond our control can take precedent often preventing that from happening. What do you do when the down periods last TOO long or appear to be lasting longer than usual? You have to evaluate the business, how you feel about it, the economy of the business, trends and where you are as far as your passion to do it.

An entrepreneur certainly can experience wonderful highs but those lows can also make quite an impression on us. We are MARRIED to what we do as entrepreneurs and if your relationship with your business has soured it’s time to do one of two things: Morph it or Divorce it. Sometimes we are behind the trends and so busy with the day to day that we are missing something. Perhaps our business has lost its appeal to us and it has now become a “job.” One that, like most people who work for someone else, we don’t look forward to doing everyday. For an entrprenuer that’s a double whammy because we can change our situation. To run a business that we don’t like doing is a recipe for disaster.

I can tell you I have experienced that true passion in my business or rolling out of bed with a huge smile on my face and I’ve also experienced that low of sleeping an extra hour or more to AVOID running my business. It’s the greatest of feelings to do what you love doing, getting paid for it and you own it. The old saying is true: Do what you LOVE and the money will come.” I have never heard anyone say “Do what you HATE and the money will come” (laugh). I read a very interesting story of a man in black enterprise who was an attorney, mostly because his parents wanted him to be one. He was successful but he hated doing it. He wanted to bake cakes. When he told friends about this some laughed but people who sampled the cakes he made thought it was a great idea. He left his attorney job and has one of the most successful cake businesses on the east coast. Another attorney, I was reading about in the LA Times left his corporate job to use an old beat up church as a place to create counseling and to show interest in at-risk youth bound for gangs. He went from cushy corporate job to mopping smelly urinals and sweeping up huge dead rats to build and achieve the business for his passion and he LOVES it. What is your passion…. NOW? Is it the same as it was a few years ago. Do you look forward to running your business? Is it taking it’s toll on you? Just know that if you started and succeeded at one business, you already have the tools to do it again. Don’t wait until you are completely discouraged because you are so burnt out on what you are doing, save that energy to light the flame under your next venture. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Use your down/free time to make the necessary moves to start your new business and look forward to the day when you can (for the first time or once again) leap out of bed with the greatest smile on your face ready to face a great business day with customers coming to YOU for your services in droves. it IS possible!
Wishing you the best in Business

February 24, 2012