“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” – Pablo Picasso
I am VERY childishly excitable and I SHOW IT. Not all my clients understand IT, but most like IT, because (IF I take on their project) IT makes me DELIVER what I promise them.
Unlike Most “Mature & Enlightened” Adults (Whatever That Means), I Don’t Act “Cool, Calm and Collected” When I’m EXCITED!
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I often groan when I hear a celebrity answer the question about the secret of his/her success by saying something like “Na God O!” (i.e. “It’s God’s handiwork!”). You see, I also succeed with God’s help. BUT, I KNOW there’s more to success achievement than saying “Na God O!” suggests!
And this is where successful people in developed societies often differ from us.
Read an interview with them, and you’ll come away with practical ideas – sometimes step by step instructions – of how to proceed in trying to replicate the success they are celebrated for.
That is why they are able to write books that offer actionable advice on how to succeed the way they have. It is why they are able to demystify their own success achievement for those following them to learn from, and improve upon.
In our societies across Africa too many successful people rarely offer tangible insights into what made them succeed. But to be fair, sometimes they actually do not know – or have not given it enough thought to articulate it into any useful form.
The truth is NOT all those who say they worship God are able to produce performances that will make them become successful/celebrated personalities!
And that is because there are so many specific actions/steps that successful persons take that those NOT as successful do not take as frequently and/or as diligently.
I believe that many of the interviewed authentic celebrities I refer to would have loved to give more insight into HOW and WHAT made them succeed, if the right kinds of “probing” questions had been asked of them.
Unfortunately, often times their interviewers are not alert to the need to do this for the enhanced benefit of their viewing/listening audiences.
Anyone who has read transcripts of the popular “Conversations With Millionaires” series will understand what I mean.
I refer to the ability of certain interviewers to ask “probing” questions that get answers OUT OF successful persons, IN A WAY that gives listeners more accurate insight into HOW and WHY the celebrities succeeded.
As they say, “Success leaves a trail…”
Our celebrities need to be “helped” to “remember” what they did (& how), in the manner I propose above.
This is because many of them never really sat down (after having succeeded) to THINK about what they actually did to get the results they wanted – and for which they subsequently became celebrated.
This is a fact.
In our society, if we want success to happen for MORE people, MORE frequently, we need to establish and rigorously maintain systems to INVESTIGATE and DOCUMENT what makes celebrated members of society succeed.
This is so that others who aspire can use the information recorded to achieve similar or greater successes – FASTER and with LESS EFFORT.
One over riding benefit is that society will as a result develop faster, contributing to a better world.
Each person is so self focused that s/he hardly ever gives a thought to how s/he can make the journey shorter, and less difficult for those who follow.
Tell him/her to GO for a particular goal, and s/he will.
But most often it will be done in a haphazard manner, and with little or no effort to ANALYSE experiences and document lessons learned for future reference/guidance.
Following from the above, when things fall in place, s/he takes it in his/her stride without sparing a thought for HOW to make those same things fall in place like THAT again in future – repeatedly.
A direct consequence of that inadvertent oversight, is that when things eventually go WRONG, s/he once again has to adopt the trial and error approach used in the past, until, if s/he is lucky, ANOTHER break through occurs.
For many who use this haphazard approach, it possibly works often. However, compared to the alternative proposed in this article, it can be quite costly in terms of time, effort, and even money.
1. The stress/strain that will arise from recovering from the problems occasioned by the use of a trial and error approach will wear you down – making the “journey to success” more PAINFUL than it should be.
2. You will be inefficient – because it takes you LONGER and costs you MORE time, effort, resources etc, to get the same results.
3. You won’t improve significantly – meaning you may never become good enough to beat your own “Personal Best”. Look at it this way: Only a sprinter who measures and knows her best 100 metres time is 9.99 seconds can AIM to run faster and therefore cross the line at LESS than that time. To achieve that goal, she will then have to CHECK what she can do better or differently to INCREASE her running speed, then TRY it out, UNTIL she succeeds.
The above potentially negative outcome of failing to investigate and understand why you succeed, is that you will LACK the means to EXPAND or GROW.
This could end up giving critics and/or cynics an opportunity to “question” your success.
Almost yearly, that country produces World Class athletes who gain quick prominence in international circles.
This happens because Kenya has a SYSTEM in place that enables it to REPEAT and REPRODUCE its athletic successes. I have listened to interviews conducted with athletes from that country, and the answers they gave to questions asked confirm this.
If you were to look at yourself, your organisation, your society or your country from a similar perspective, is it possible that there are areas where the success(es) achieved in the past now appear to have been just a “flash(es) in the pan”?
IF YES, maybe it’s time you (and/or others concerned), sat down to INVESTIGATE and DOCUMENT why you succeeded back then, so that you can REPRODUCE it NOW and into the future.
NB: This article was first published Online via spontaneousdevelopment.com on16th June 2008.
2 days ago I got a pleasant surprise when a “Production Metallurgist” with a Namibian firm sent me this message via TayoSolagbade.com:
“My boss gave me your ebook on the 25 articles on self-development as a present. However, I am struggling to contact you in order to get the links in the book to become functional. Can you possibly e-mail me the contact form so that I can send you a copy of the invoice. As it stands, I do not have access to all the articles in the ebook.”
Before now, I only got the payment alerts sent by Lulu.com. Not once have I ever been able to identify those who purchased my books.
The Lulu.com system – for obvious security reasons – does not permit that. However, it does allow us sellers to setup auto response messages in our online stores, to be delivered to buyers.
In mine, I invite the buyer to contact me if s/he needs help making use of the book etc.
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Next, I sent him the first of a planned 2 part response as follows:
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Since I lost my 9 year old domain – spontaneousdevelopment.com on 4th May 2014, I have been unable to find extra time to do the needed cleaning up in my other information products.
Ironically, one reason for this is the fact that since I adopted my tayosolagbade.com domain name, and began re purposing my website content on it, the leads generation I’ve been getting has really shot up.
I’ve said that much in subsequent articles – like THIS one (click).
Add to that the demand for my web marketing services by 2 new clients here in Cotonou, and you may understand why I’ve NOT been able to clean up my bylines in my Ezinearticles.com articles, talk less of updating the same in my e-books.
Thankfully, this buyer reaching out to me with my ebook made me dig in and do an much needed update. Now, I just have to make out time to upload it to replace the old one in my online store.
For now, I’ve sent the updated ebook to the above mentioned lady, as an email attachment.
And I also addressed the 2 requests he made…
Excerpts from the response I sent to him, which I believe other farm business enthusiasts will find useful – hence my decision to share it here.
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In yesterday’s article, I announced that I was preparing a special business plan preparation service bundle – and that it was based on the recent elaborate business plan preparation project I recently completed for a new client in Nigeria.
Now, like I said in the email above, this new service will soon be formally launched here on www.tayosolagbade.com
When the sales page goes up, I will announce it on this blog, and also via a newsletter broadcast to my email subscribers.
UPDATE: The service is LIVE. Click here to visit the sale page.
[Update: Uploaded CORRECTED PDF which now has pics – and NO missing text at 3.50p.m] Today, 1st October 2014, is Independence Day in my country – Nigeria. In this special issue No. 9, of “My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better” series (downloadable below as a PDF), I explain why I believe Nigeria’s ability to reap FULL benefits from her Independence from colonialists, will depend MAINLY on INDIVIDUAL Nigerians learning to THINK and ACT INDEPENDENTLY at ALL times.
I spontaneously help others I identify to need it, without waiting to be asked. And I never expect to get thanked for it. I do not need it.
The only way anyone can thank me is by helping others in the same way!
You see, I fear no one, and am never intimidated by anyone’s success, influence or wealth.
That’s why those who know me accept that I will always speak my mind on ANY issue regardless of whose Ox is gored – even if it’s someone who just did me a favour.
I say this especially with reference to instances I’ve seen unfair treatment being meted out to another person by someone I knew.
You see, I believe every living being deserves to be treated with respect and consideration.
But what I have found out about this strange world we’re in is that too many people pay lip service to preserving values like those mentioned above.
I choose to relate with – and acknowledge – people based on who they are, and not some notion of their status.
For instance, back when I still lived in Nigeria, I often went out of my way – sometimes till well after 12 midnight – to help total strangers.
I followed them into the station, and insisted he be released, because I witnessed what happened and he was not at fault.
For over 3 hours, close to 11.30p.m, I left my car parked outside the police station, and engaged the officers in a debate, over the matter, until they agreed to let him go.
They would later seek me out, and do things for me that others had to pay for.
Even when I tried to decline, they would insist.
This is what I teach to my kids to do as well…to stand up and speak truth on behalf of those they identify to need it!
Some people dislike me for it, but that’s the way life is.
Everyone cannot like you. But that does not mean we should fail to treat people right – or stand up for them, when we see them being treated wrongly.
My question to you is this…
I mean in bad times, when associating with you may be perceived as unwise by others, will they STILL stand by you?
What I have learnt is that many people can be amazingly good at hiding their true feelings.
Especially if they feel there is a useful benefit to be had by being on your good side.
So, even when they see you have qualities or faults they detest, they will stick around, and keep telling you they like you.
But that does not mean they will not stab you in the back if they find someone they feel they will benefit more from. Or that they will not look the other way, if they see you getting treated badly.
I certainly hope you do. Like I tell anyone who cares to listen. Every time you do so for someone, you effectively make it possible for someone, at some time in the future, to also do the same thing for you – or for someone you care about!
Know what they about Karma? Well, it’s true. I know, because I have experienced it countless times.
I’m hopeful that you’ll adopt a positive view of all that I’ve said here, and see if there is any truth in it, that you can act on for the future.
My purpose was simply to challenge the reader to RESOLVE to be more REAL in his/her interpersonal interactions.
Too many phonies seem to be around in society these days. As a result too few people are speaking and acting truthfully. The result is that we have a lot of dishonesty, deception, happening across society – and especially even within families.
Only those who take the conscious decision to be different, and to remain that way, will emerge unscathed in the end.
This is because whether they like it or not, there are rules, set by the creator, to govern our conduct here on earth. And every person who flouts those rules will attract what could be considered “hidden penalties”.
That will happen because when they begin to manifest, time may have passed so much that we forget the wrong we did, that triggered it.
You don’t want that to happen to you, because it rarely ends well for those who do things that attract such penalties from the creator!
“You may be on the right track – but you will get run over if you remain there” – Anon
1. How come NOT every Harvard graduate becomes “successful” in life?
2. Why do we all have the same MS Excel software on our laptops, yet some of us (like me) can do stuff with it that most others – initially – argue are impossible?
3. Why do people attend the same learning event, get the same handouts and yet perform differently from each other afterwards?
4. Why do some people complain they achieve less than a colleague (who does the same job) because they don’t have “time” (makes no sense does it)?
5. Why do people want to learn to speak French like you, until they learn how much time and effort needs to be devoted to achieving it like you did?
That is what ultimately makes the difference between the performer and non-performer.
Or the achiever and non-achiever.
Nine times out of ten, it is what EACH individual goes out of his/her way to learn, and which s/he puts to diligent use, in addition to what s/he has been taught along with others, that gives him/her a competitive edge or comparative advantage.
Look around you at those who out-do others based on merit, in an environment devoid of deliberate manipulation by any persons with vested interests, and you will see it’s true!
Following from the above explanation, I believe the answer is already obvious. To succeed, on a continuous basis, you MUST practice DELIBERATE, RESULTS-FOCUSED Self-Development.
NB: I said “deliberate, results-focused” because too many people claim to do Self-Development, when in actuality what they do is mostly wishful thinking, with little or NO ACTION TAKING. And that of course does NOT equate to real Self-Development!
a. To ensure you always have an edge – a little extra where/when it matters most – to out-perform your rivals or competitors.
b. To ensure you always deliver desired results, or to be able to under-promise, so as to over-deliver, no matter the odds (well almost always).
c. To keep yourself from getting run over (or overtaken by your competitors) as this quote implies:
“You may be on the right track – but you will get run over if you remain there” – Anon
d. So you can recover quickly (“bounce back”) when things go wrong.
Note that word – COMMITMENT!
It is the key to success in life. When you say you want something, quite often it may mean nothing, until you demonstrate that you are prepared to go out and do whatever it takes, for a long as it is necessary, to get it.
Question: Why did I wait till this late?
Answer: Because I had to work over 18 hours, to put finishing touches to, and dispatch an urgent Poultry Farm Business Plan, to a Nigerian client, who has a meeting with a prospective investor less than 16 hours from now. And I made it.
In my case, recently having to meet multiple client needs, due to a rapidly growing demand for my services, and products is proving to be a new learning experience for me.
But I trained myself to be a fast learner years ago. So, it’s unlikely to be long before I develop a strategy to permanently address this new need.
Indeed, I’ve already settled on a solution I anticipate will succeed.
And it has to do with building what I call a “publish-ahead” buffer of new write-ups.
If truth be told, I always knew this time would come.
That turned to be a very useful proactive step. I simply used my blog “automated scheduling” feature, to set most of the articles to publish at dates I chose in the future.
During that period, I sometimes stayed 3 or more days at a stretch, without coming online, and yet my articles kept popping up as and when due, on the blog.
Plus the RSS syndication I’d set up as part of my Web Marketing system automatically republished them to my Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Most of my friends probably did not notice I was away all that time – because my wall always had new posts popping up!
Like now.
Thankfully, I already possess the self-development discipline to drive myself to step up my game in the face of such challenges.
So, in a few weeks, I should have sorted this all out, and freed myself to be more and do more.
The message to you is that you also may need to critically examine yourself, to identify what is holding you back from getting more done than you currently do.
“Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of WAIT” – Unknown
Not everyone in paid employment gets to that point when they feel they need to jump ship and go solo (i.e. resign to start a business of their own). But some do. And when the bug bites, it can leave you feeling impatient, and hungry to get started like yesterday.
We are not all equally gifted with (or able to acquire) the same amount or mix of skills and abilities needed to succeed in the world of business.
While some are quick learners, others tend to take a while to get to grips with the requirements for running a business well enough to earn a living by it.
In other words, they WILL struggle to succeed at it, if not well prepared.
I discuss 2 reasons this happens…which is why I recommend careful planning, and bucket loads of PATIENCE – no matter how eager, excited or driven you feel!
Most conventional schools teach learners to become employees, and consumers. A person who wants to go into business must change any of that programming to succeed.
In other words, you want to think like YOU are the boss, and believe that you CAN be successful at being BOSS.
You will also need to become focused on creating for others (buyers) to consume.
But making those needed mindset changes will not be easy for everyone.
By implication, quitting a job to start a business before you learn how to deal with the controlling effects of “school programming” can lead to problems.
This is why I encourage anyone I notice is experiencing such eager-to-start-but-being-held-back frustrations, to WAIT and do it gradually.
For instance, the assurance of a future inflow of money in form of salaried income makes many people unwilling to control their spending.
As a result, they excessively indulge themselves in spending that adds little tangible value to them.
Most times they spend impulsively; to acquire things they can do without.
The desire to own things, and show them off to admiring others. The need to keep up with Mr. X and his wife drives many salary earners to make often unintelligent spending decisions.
Such habits are the greatest enemies of a business owner who seeks success. Especially when you’re just starting out and not yet a billionaire, like Richard Branson.
Unless you misbehave badly at work, it is unlikely that an employer you serve responsibly will lay you off. The only exception being of course if there are bad times.
Other than that, it’s best you quietly – and unhurriedly – make your plans to leave.
And in order to boost your chances of success, you will be wise to begin TRAINING yourself to DROP the habit of making unplanned expenses.
James R. Cook was right, when he wrote in his “Start-up Entrepreneur” New York Times best selling book, that you can get by on far less than you think.
My experiences actually convince me that cutting down spending by 80% can be good for you, in starting up after being in paid employment.
So before you actually find yourself without salaried income, I urge you start cutting down your spending.
You only lose indulging yourself in some excesses. Otherwise, this would only mean that you’d end up with a LOT more funds in your account by the time you actually quit your job.
And that’s what you really need, to make a success of going into business for yourself. Aim to use that job you hold as a fund raising source.
Otherwise, you will find it useful to start something close to what you plan to do, on the side – as a part time venture.
While still earning a salary, you would easily raise the funds needed to launch that part time business, and even easily take care of cash flow challenges that may arise.
Get your spouse or a relative to help, so you don’t have to spend much on personnel. This will depend on the kind of business you choose to start though.
They are still employed full time in mostly high paying jobs (banks, oil companies etc). But they have launched poultry and/or fish farming businesses of various sizes, which they run (often profitably) with their spouses.
Many come to me when they need to expand, and want my Ration Formulator software to begin compounding their own feed.
Sometimes they want my Poultry Farm Manager software.
And at times it’s a business plan they want me to help them prepare.
And sometimes one or two share with me the conflicts they are going through.
Recently, one such individual told me how he was finding it frustrating to keep working for his employer. He said it was preventing him from having enough time to devote to finishing off tasks related to launching a scaled up version of his new venture (a poultry layer farm).
Something about the way he said it howver got me worried that he could end up creating avoidable trouble for himself e.g by getting accused of negligence or divided loyalty.
James Cook called it a “gnawing dissatisfaction”.
But I had to force myself to be patient and do it right. And I managed to leave in a way that earned me exciting accolades and enjoyable send forth parties etc.
Those memories made me decide to offer him some advice – in an email. Later on, I re-read it and decided others in similar situations may find it useful.
The message is don’t burn your bridges with your employer, in a bid to pursue your dream. Even if you don’t need him/her later on, it’s best to leave on good terms.
After all, you would not want YOUR own employee acting selfish and inconsiderate while still taking a salary from you?!
===Starts===
Dear S.
I know what you mean. I felt the same way in my last few years in Guinness.
But here’s my honest opinion.
Like it or not, being in that job is still good for you at this stage of your planning.
It gives you easier access to cash to do most of what you want to do, including the runs to start this new venture.
You must therefore strive to maintain a Positive Mental Attitude about still being there, even when every fibre of your being is screaming to get out.
You know your plans and where they are taking you. Keep them to your chest, then FOCUS on what you are required to do at work, until you have done it to your boss’ satisfaction.
Like Jim Rohn said: Wherever you are, be there.
Make sure you don’t let yourself feel, speak or act resentful about having to work for the company during this transition period.
In fact, I recommend what I did in my final years in Guinness, even after I’d set all my resignation plans. It was then that I even worked hardest and made sure I went the extra mile on every single task I was assigned.
That way no one could accuse me of divided loyalty when they eventually heard I was leaving.
And that enabled me leave with praises showered on me by colleagues and Ogas at 2 levels of send forth ceremonies I was treated to.
You should aim to do something similar or better where you are. Make it a goal to leave with such a positive bang, that even the MD will openly acknowledge you and lament that you’re leaving.
Funny enough, when you leave in that manner, it gives you powerful bragging rights anytime you are asked about your former workplace. You would be able to confidently say that you were in relevant, highly valued and in demand by the company, when you chose to leave.
===Ends===
That happend because the ideas I tried on the side proved to be difficult to develop on a 9 to 5 job.
But I did try for about 2 years – whenever my job freed me.
Lord knows I tried.
Eventually, I had to quit. I was just not making the kind of progress I wanted. It became obvious I had to take the leap of faith.
But one thing I had – and that made me confident – was that I knew I was tough enough to deal with any hardships that my decision would bring my way.
And believe me, they came in droves!
I however doubt that many of those I relate with could endure the kind of unrelenting pain, suffering, humiliation and frustrations that I went through to succeed.
I had a family that experienced major LACK in every sense imaginable during the time I struggled to lift myself.
It was something I never imagined would happen.
That’s why whenever someone say s/he’s impatient to quit work and start a business, I say what I’ve said here…
Take it easy. Take it slow. Start something on the side first, and build it gradually. When it gains enough income generating momentum to cater for your needs, you can take the next step.
The truth is that some of us have to take those risks, and walk those lonely paths to success. And what we learn gives us unique insights to help others who may not be able to handle the same pressure.
Good luck to you!
You can publish a physical book at zero cost, and earn passive income from its sale, for life – IF you know how. I explain how I do it, in this special report.
Below, I show screenshots of how I earn such passive income using publications I write and publish at ZERO COST via Print On Demand publishing.
It could be a book to inspire, inform, educate or all of the foregoing. The stories could be told to show how people hit by storms of life were able to survive and move on – maybe with support from you, or your team/organization.
Persons who need the inspiration, information and education you offer may not be geographically able to benefit from you in person (due to distance).
That’s why writing a book is great.
Those who cannot reach you directly can still buy your book and find it quite helpful. Plus, you can also generate valuable passive income in the process.
What if you could do web marketing that yields superior profits, at low to zero cost? We all want that!
This write-up uses 2 real life website case studies to explain what you need to do, and why.
Example 1: www.google.com makes millions annually.
SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE
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The key to business promotion success is to – as INEXPENSIVELY as possible – get your target audience to notice – and eventually pay conscious attention to – you on a continuing basis.
For years, I have deliberately studied him in developing ideas and strategies to reach my own target audience. And I continue to record uncommon marketing success from doing so.
Certain unique factors matter the most in achieving this kind of success.
I discuss 3 main ones based on my experience based observations over nearly a decade.
“Don’t Copy. Create!” – Unknown
Notice what I said about studying Branson. I did not copy him. What I did was/is to creatively adapt what I learned from observing him, to suit my own peculiar marketing needs.
That eventually resulted in something almost entirely different.
If you run a farm business for instance, you’re better off developing real world relevant strategies that help you better reach and impact YOUR target audience.
Don’t waste valuable time copying methods employed by a friend who runs a restaurant.
If s/he places ads on TV/Radio, it (hopefully) would be because s/he has done the needed homework, and is sure the patronage to be reaped will offset the relatively high costs.
Margins from sales of your kinds of farm products may make it unwise to do same.
You may be better off making potential bulk buyers offers (e.g. restaurant and hotel owners like your friend). Let them do the heavy duty advertising. That will GROW your profits by reducing your cost of sales. So you will not need to increase your price to cover ad costs.
Rather than burn time, effort and fuel going round town at the initial stages, you simply need to create, publish and relentlessly promote the right kind, and mix, of content via multiple channels.
Every now and then, you would make an offer and follow it up with a call to action
Here’s an Example Offer You Can Make: “Do you regularly buy large quantities of? Our farm offers a special bulk pricing with doorstep delivery of high quality eggs anytime. Never again have to worry about getting enough quality eggs when you need them. Contact us today…!”
In yesterday’s article, I shared an excerpt from a pep talk I gave to my kids. What I told them was based on my experiences running my own business for over a decade now:
“Even when you can afford it, you can get MORE done with LESS money, if you learn to apply Critical Thinking. Do NOT fall into the habit of throwing money at your problems…” – (me to my kids)
They do so because it is EASIER to sit back to wait for the adverts paid for to bring people in.
The problem is however that just like you are placing yours, so are others who think like you…and MANY people think like THIS!
Unfortunately, since the ad limits the space you can use, based on how much you pay, you will often be unable to say (and/or show) as much you’d like to say, to convince a potential buyer who sees the different adverts that YOU will be a better choice compared to your competitor.
Indeed, if the competitor has more financial muscle, most buyers may conclude s/he offers better value than you do.
But that’s not always true.
We all know the story of David and Goliath…which brings me back to Richard Branson again.
You see, the David vs. Goliath strategy is what he has always used, and advocated.
After reading Branson’s article on it, I began applying it to suit my own unique circumstances.
So, I’m saying you need to realize that you can use creative Critical Thinking, to achieve profitable business promotion for yourself.
Consider Branson. He always finds a way to get zero cost attention – including media exposure. Many times he has used publicity stunts, which he deliberately wrote about/shared – via multiple online platforms – to create buzz (aside from that resulting from free media coverage he got)!
Every situation in which you interact with others, is a potential opportunity to get share of mind (which is what marketing is about).
The more unusual your strategy, the more likely you are to get noticed. Just be sure to find a way to do so without having to dip your hands in your pockets all the time.
Once again, I refer to Mr. Branson.
I’ve seen photos of him playing a guitar on stage in a bar; carrying a uniformed Virgin Airline hostess off her feet…and even kissing Desmond Tutu on the cheek!
But each time he posted the photos, there was a message.
For instance, below the photo on Facebook, in which he was show kissing Bishop Tutu’s cheek, Branson added a message to educate people about the need to tolerate others regardless of sexual preferences i.e. the need to practise unconditional love.
Now, you could argue that THAT had nothing to do with marketing his brand(s). However, if you think about it, he’s still indirectly selling himself to his target audience.
On another occasion, when he shared photos taken during a visit to a country against which some western countires had issued a travel advisory, he linked to an article he had written titled “Why Travel Advisories Hurt Countries and Help Terrorists”.
The above would have won over some people who probably did not reckon with him much in the past.
And such individuals could develop a fierce loyalty to Branson that would make them go out of their way to identify with any companies they know he owns!
In other photos, he makes people laugh, and many comment about how human he manages to stay despite being very successful, and busy.
Again, this gets him more share of mind.
Richard Branson RARELY posts a “come and buy my product or service” message.
Instead, he often focuses on using entertainment to educate and inform, as a means to winning people over to feel like “buying” from his company.
A VERY effective strategy indeed. I know this because I’ve used it for years, and compared to when I used the direct selling approach, I know it yields far superior rewards.
What you do could (should) be a variant of what he’s doing, that lets you leverage your own unique strengths as an individual.
Find what you’re comfortable doing, and then DO IT – in an entertaining way, while injecting some education and information to win potential buyers over.
They can be used offline as well as online.
However my experiences have taught me that you can intelligently use the Internet to achieve much more USEFUL marketing reach and impact faster, and expending less effort, or money.
What’s more, those who encounter your creative marketing online, can over time become your fervent advocates, who go and “preach your gospel” OFFLINE to others – bringing them to YOU!
People contact me saying someone told them to.
This includes people who sometimes use the web ONLY to check mails and struggle to use the PC!
Yet their level of conviction is often so high, that they send FULL payment 100% in advance, to purchase – for instance – my Feed Formulation Handbook, its accompanying Excel-VB Ration Formulator software, and/or my increasingly popular Poutry Farm Manager software.
What I have found from developing WMS for clients over the years is that not everyone easily “gets it”.
They do not readily understand how to use WMS as the powerful timeless marketing (and sales leads generating) tool it is.
And that’s why I offer a Web Marketing support/coaching service to help them.
