BizTipper

Tag: TRUE

  • When we Stop Learning, We Stop Growing

    2015I have always been very adamant about the direction, goals and focus of my business, never letting anyone or anything change that. I realize now that’s a mistake. If you notice, most older business owners think they have their formulas patented when it comes to the success of their business and we don’t. Trends change and we have to be willing to keep up with them and to keep learning or we stop growing. EBONY magazine is struggling and I remember I stopped reading that magazine in the 80s because it never moved past that period. The stories were boring and predictable and the owner John H. Johnson thought the formula that he had been using for decades would continue to work forever and it didn’t. The magazine didn’t hone in early on technology and quickly fell from grace. They have been struggling for years finally making the changes when it was WAY too late.  Readers had moved on long before. They want to stick to the tried and true from 65 years ago and do business the way they had always done it. That’s an immediate recipe for failure and disaster.

    We get older and we are out of touch if we don’t surround ourselves with education.  I passed a music store the other day while walking down the street and the owners where well into their 60s and they had a dirty beige carpet on the floor and paneling on the walls from the 70s (remember that fake wood paneling). There was not one sole customer in the store. Next door was a Mac repair store that was very state of the art, they were packed. As business owners we realize how important our businesses are to us, we are married to them and they are our children. When someone insults your children by saying they are misbehaving you are apt to stand up in defense of your child but what if they really ARE misbehaving?

    A man who has rarely been supportive of my businesses and I had a long conversation yesterday and he insulted my business, so I thought when he compared me to other urban industry sites that I don’t consider to be competition for me. Long ago, I surmised he was an arrogant bastard who wanted to see me fail instead of someone who was willing to take the time to tell me the truth. Clients who pay us are certainly valuable but so are the clients who don’t do business with us… especially when we can find out WHY. Yesterday I did something different, I shut up and listened to this man. I took the emotion out and heard what he said for the first time and when he was done, I realized there were at least two or three things that he was right about when it came to my business. Things that I had never explored and needed to in order to grow.

    The one thing that older people do which often makes us unemployable is we are indeed set in our ways and not willing to learn or listen to anyone younger. Just about EVERY person that I know who is over 45 is like that and they wonder why they can’t get any work. This man is actually older than me but he works in another part of the industry that is one of my targets.  He comes face to face with this side of the industry everyday whereas it much more rare for me. Today I’m working on implementing those changes to grow my business and at the end of the day, I greatly appreciate what he had to say. Sometimes you have to just shut up and listen and realize value is not always monetary.

  • Miami Entrepreneurship Center Set to Kick Off Startup Ecosystem in Downtown Miami

    mec261_1362549079_600Miami Entrepreneurship Center (MEC261) offers trendy office spaces, at below market prices, for startup companies on month-to-month terms for as little as $595. The center also offers flex membership for $99 per month; that allows members to use their co-working space, Wifi, amenities and access to all MEC261 events. The center is located at the 261 North East 1 Street in the Jane building downtown Miami. Plans for the building include housing a tech incubator, a fashion incubator, a co-working space, and a maker space. All in one location. This type of entrepreneurial centers are no longer just in California, they are popping up across the country expanding the startup communities across the U.S. (Chicago, Austin, New York, Denver, Las Vegas and now Miami).

    This startup friendly initiative is an “all-you-can eat” office package for tech-startups that are looking for modern, yet cozy feel to their workplace. MEC261 has leased out 60% of its 15 offices and will soon be completely leased out. “Elebev chose MEC 261 as our first home as we wanted our team to get exposure to the dynamic entrepreneurial energy that comes from working in true community-based space. We are all very excited to be here,” said Nestor Villalobos CEO and President at EleBev (ARTICO). Studies have shown that co-working stimulates ideas and provides the much needed networking necessary to be successful.

    MEC261 has established big plans over the next few months including the opening of their event space, which will provide a centralized location in downtown Miami for not only the startup-community but for any downtown entity in need event space seating for up to 500 attendees. In a recent interview, “MEC261 will not only provide fun office space for startups, but also much needed mentorship and introductions to startup capital partners like EDC, Florida Venture Forum and EarlyShares.com,” said Maurice Lopes, Executive Director and Founder of the Miami Entrepreneurship Center.

    For any questions please contact either one of the references below.www.mec261.org

  • Use Your Experience To Grow Your Brand

    dead-flowersEveryone that I associate with is an entrepreneur. BUT only 2 of them are TRUE entrepreneurs. You may ask what a true entrepreneur is, it is someone who is not afraid to grow and to take his or her experience and expand on his or her knowledge. What is that you can do? I can use myself as an example. One of my recent college classes was Speech. One of those classes that are required before you can move into your major. I was defiant, my ego kicked in hard time, I thought I already know this, I am a radio jock by trade, I have excellent communication skills and I was insulted that the teacher wanted me to prove something I had already proven for over 2o years but the joke was on me. Read on and you will see why…. (click “NEXT” or next number above or below to see the rest of the story)

    You’re NEVER too Old to Learn Something New

    The minute that you stop learning YOU STOP GROWING. Don’t EVER think that you know it all. We get older and things change, and eventually we are out of touch. When that happens and you want to continue doing what you have been doing (AND) you are still making money (why keep doing something that you have to beg for clients for?) hire someone who can duplicate you. Someone younger who knows your industry from an different angle. Once you learn the formula you don’t have to keep doing the grind. When you make money it’s time to spend it ON THE BUSINESS but not frivolously.

    Use older people in your profession to teach you a valuable lesson

    3wilfredemmanueljonesI go to two types of industry events where people my age go, those who are very successful and still in the loop and to those where the people go who never grow and are stuck on yesterday and what used to be. There are people who work in the industry who are well into their 60s but most of that small population are extremely successful. There are others who hang on waiting for another basic opportunity at 50 years of age. They eventually become bitter and/or sad and they feel as if the industry threw them away but the truth is, they were not prepared and it’s very depressing to watch. Had I not started my own business, for example, in my early 30s I would not still be in the music industry today. There was no way I would have allowed myself to be a 50 year old DJ unless I was Rick Dees or Casey Kasem but there are 50 year old DJs and older who are still where they were 20 years ago. That may be perfectly fine for them but it would not have been OK for me. A few years ago, I went to a party for a man who was leaving LA. He had worked in the industry for 40 years and he was ready to retire and he was moving to another state. I went to his event and there were many older people there in their 60s and 70s. It was literally like an old folks home. They were just sitting there as if someone had stolen the life out of them. They were barely talking or smiling they were just sitting there. These people were HUGE in the music industry 20 or 30 years ago but the industry was done with them and it was like they were lost without the industry. Someone whipped out a stack of photo albums from 30 years ago and those people lit up like Christmas trees. They were laughing, singing, dancing and having an amazing time by connecting to what was. It was terribly unfortunate to me but I was glad to see them happy. At the same time, I realized I did not want that to be me when I get older. When I get older (God willing) I want to STILL be working, producing and connected to great current things and people. What I am basically saying is, if you want to see who you will become in 20 years by doing what you are doing now, talk to one of those people and see what kind of advice they can give you based on where you are now. I’m willing to BET you they will tell you to diversify your talents.

    What else can you do with what you know?

    For me, being a broadcasting professional with excellent communication skills makes the sky the limit, but ONLY if I am willing to explore the opportunities. I am often amazed at how many minority radio people NEVER step outside the radio realm. Having excellent communication skills is KEY to SO many things, motivational speaker, actor, voice talent, TV Host, Event host, Media Contact for a corporation the list goes on and on but a LOT more than radio. I left Radio in 1999 before I was 40 and I have not regretted one day of it. I knew it was time for me to make room for new talent and I really didn’t enjoy it anymore. We must understand that we cannot do the same thing forever unless we love it that much and even them, it is not promised if a corporation wants to bring in someone younger.

    Education is not only Key it’s Business LIFE AND DEATH

    School EducationThere are ALWAYS seminars and events happening. Here in LA I learn about things in the paper on Thursdays and because I have a leading industry site, I get invited to a LOT of events. Next year, I hope to go to the Cannes Film Fest for the first time, I’ve been invited several times to many events but I would rarely go. I was burnt out from doing the industry scene for 20 years… but then I realized, as long as people invite you SHOULD go because you never know who you may meet to bolster your career. It’s time to take advantage of these things and people are watching you, even though you may not know it, they are watching and if they perceive you as having value you will notice that you will start getting invitations to events. If not, go on your own and make contacts or call and ask them to put you on the list. The more people that you meet who do what you do and beyond, the better.

    Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you…

    smarter-5th-graderThere was a time that I found myself being the go-to guy for other entrepreneurs, it was very frustrating for me because while I was feeding everyone, nobody was feeding me. I was drained and it took me a while to realize I had to change my social circles because I had conquered my ability to do what I do. I was now an expert and I was either going to move on or remain stuck, which inevitably will destroy your business because current clients don’t last forever and you must ALWAYS be in search of new clients. I had outgrown this group of people and there was no room for growth just stagnation.

    Eliminate those Entrepreneurs Around You who Refuse to grow

    dead-flowersOne again, this is saying the same thing as I said before. One trick I pull on what I call “lazy entrepreneurs” (people who are always looking for something for free, then they can’t understand why they can’t grow). If I need the advice of a publicity person, for example, I will take them to lunch. That blows them away because they are not used to someone treating them like that, just to pick their brain. I think it shows supreme respect for what they do and I am indicating that I want to be treated the same way. When I do that, they stop calling and asking me for free things because I have raised the bar on them. They can’t, don’t or perhaps won’t usually match the offer in kind so they would rather just not call at all which is fine with me. Usually, I remove their number from my phone but I keep it on my computer’s address book in case I need them again and I will do the same thing. But I have learned that when you call a lazy entrepreneur for a friendly conversation, you open the floodgates to be used for free again. Choose your entrepreneur friends WISELY and treat THEM the way YOU want to be treated.

    Take Speech Classes or Offer to Speak about Your Brand at an event

    lectureCommunity colleges offer so many courses for next to nothing or absolutely free. I’m telling you. I have used parts from all the classes I THOUGHT were useless and I am glad I took them because they DO help to grow your business.  When you are in your 20s and you are a college student, there is no way you can see or use the value as much as you can when you are older. Just about everyone that I know who went to college after high school and got their degrees… none of them are using it. They are all doing something else. Do any of us know what we want to do after high school? Probably not but we do know what we want to do as adults and we are in a better position to take advantage of learning because we have probably experienced these situations in real life by now.  Check out your local colleges and see if they have something that you might be interested in taking to help you grow your brand. Another benefit, if your brand is youth driven this is a GREAT opportunity to connect with younger people and have something in common with them that can open the doors to get more information about trends.

    Join REAL Social Networks for your hobbies

    64816184_1356498786Many people take Facebook and Twitter to useless new levels. They get way too personal posting WAY too much info about their personal lives, kids, jobs, events, homes, hobbies, parents, hospital visits, personal problems and more. I almost got caught up in that once cause it’s so easy but I had to stop when someone busted me revealing too much. FaceBook has a way of telling too much about you and it’s not a good place for entrepreneurs. I don’t have time to debate someone’s religious or conspiracy theories or watch old videos from the 80s. Many people on FB ares desperately seeking validation, by getting likes and support from others a study showed, and it’s true. After a while its a waste of time and effort when you could be making REAL social connections with people FACE to FACE not face to facebook.  On top of all that, where does this information end up that you are posting? I personally don’t really trust social networks as much as I do a face to face meeting where I can gauge who I dealing with.

  • 30 Days to Two New Businesses

    30 Days to Two New BusinessesFor the past 10 years, I have been unchallenged in my current main business which is a blog for the music industry. It does well and I make a great living from it but I don’t have that leap-out-of-bed-to-face-the-day feeling anymore. True entrepreneurs know what I’m talking about. Those of us who have had success have experienced that feeling of achievement and gratitude with our business, it’s like being head over heals in love but when that feeling is gone it’s up to you to move on or to get others to run your business for you. In my case, since it’s a specialty business it’s not only difficult, it’s almost impossible to find people who work in the entertainment industry who can write. You can find people who are WRITERS in the entertainment industry but it’s rare that you can find someone who has a major skill besides that.

    I’m getting older and the industry will not be the way it is right now for me forever so when you have a few pennies stored, contrary to popular belief that’s not the time to REST… it’s the time to GET TO WORK. Think about how LONG it took you to get to the point where you have extra income!!! Many of us have worked so hard to get here we think we deserve a break and we do, but that’s called a vacation NOT a new car or home yet (unless you have REALLY hit the jackpot)

    The two businesses I am getting off the ground are my art business The Art Dive and my Voiceover business. I have assigned someone to handle my main business while I work on getting these two off the ground. Since I am a full time student, I’m actually juggling 3 balls at once. Stay tuned.