6 Expert Tips for Building Relationships With Those You Idolize

Many of us dream of one day meeting a celebrity. Be it a movie star or a pro football player, we have a tendency to idolize these individuals, even looking to them for guidance as we make life decisions. In business, we can also find people we idolize. Individuals who have achieved great success with their own company or even revolutionized an industry.

From these people, we can learn key skills, gain valuable insights or even form partnerships to take our own business ventures to the next level. Yes, it is possible to form real relationships with your business idols or industry influencers. But like any other relationship, it requires work.

Here’s 6 ways you can start forming the relationships that will make a lasting difference for your entrepreneurial goals:

1. Do Your Research

Facebook stalking may be creepy for normal relationships, but doing some online research is perfectly okay for business leaders and influencers. After all, most influencers are extremely active online, either through social media, their own website or guest blogging. This basic research gives you a chance to better understand your business idol.

What do they like or dislike? What are their opinions on current trends? What do they talk like? These simple bits of information will help you better know how to approach them and determine if a relationship could prove beneficial.

“The richest people in the world look for and build networks. Everyone else looks for work.” – Robert Kiyosaki

2. Comment Carefully

Your initial research also serves as your first chance for engagement with your business idol. By liking social media posts or leaving thoughtful comments on blog articles, you can make a positive first impression.

Of course, leaving quality comments is sometimes easier said than done. As Kevin Duncan of SmartBlogger explains, thoughtfully contributing to the discussion with personal experiences or meaningful questions are a great way to get the conversation started.

“When you share a personal insight, bloggers can more easily relate to you. You’re no longer just an unfamiliar name making a comment that could have been left by anyone …the more personal your insight, the more unique it will be. And the more unique your insight, the more memorable your comment will be and the more you’ll stand out.”

3. Group Participation

Business leaders and influencers won’t only be found on blogs. Many are also active participants in online industry groups. Whether on Facebook or LinkedIn, these groups allow industry professionals to discuss current trends, ask for advice, or share new opportunities.

If you wish to make a positive impression, you should seek out, join and actively participate in these online groups. Avoid the temptation to promote yourself or your business. Instead, engage in conversations much like you would with a quality blog comment. By sharing your unique experiences and insights, you’ll build a stronger reputation among your peers.

4. Face Time

Online discussions are a great place to start, but the best relationships typically require some face-to-face interaction. You make a much more lasting impression when you have an in-person conversation. Industry conventions or lectures are great places to connect with others in your field. When you show yourself as a living, breathing human being, rather than just a name behind the computer, it becomes so much easier to make a personal connection and form a real, lasting relationship — and that can pay big dividends for future pitches.

Setting up a face-to-face meeting can be tricky. After all, you don’t want to come off as creepy. However, if you’ve already established an online rapport, asking if an influencer would like to briefly meet in person at an event you’re both attending shouldn’t be a problem.

5. Add Value

All relationships have a bit of give and take — and this is especially true when forming relationships in the business world. If you’re only approaching a business idol because you hope to gain something (like an extra investor in your startup), you likely won’t have success. Instead, find ways that you can contribute value.

As leadership consultant Randy Hain explains, “‘What can I do to help you?’ is absolutely one of the best ways to get business relationships off to a great start. Invest in the other person first, with no expectation of return. Do not keep score. Simply make the investment and over time you will benefit from the seeds of generosity you have planted.”

“Networking is the No. 1 unwritten rule of success in business.” – Sallie Krawcheck

6. Focus On the Long-Term

The aforementioned tactics aren’t “one and done” tips. Instead, you’ll need to continually practice them to show your genuine interest and build the kinds of friendships that can pay lasting dividends for everyone involved.

Relationships aren’t a short-term investment — and this is especially true if you want help on your own road to success. Real relationships need time to grow. They need continual nurturing. With a patient, long-term approach, you’ll be less tempted to jump right into a sales pitch and more likely to focus on a genuine friendship that delivers a real payoff.

Becoming an entrepreneur may put you in the role of the underdog — but this doesn’t mean you have to go at it alone. As you form genuine relationships with influencers and other business professionals, you’ll gain access to new sources of knowledge.

You’ll find friends who are willing to help or mentors willing to share their time. You may even find a new business partner. Relationship-building is a lifelong endeavor, but it will always pay off in the end.

from
https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/6-expert-tips-for-building-relationships-with-those-you-idolize/

22 Eric Thomas Picture Quotes To Keep Your Motivation At It’s Peak

Eric Thomas, PhD is a world renowned speaker, critically acclaimed author,  educator, pastor and audible.com Audie Awards Finalist. ET, as he is better known, has taken the world by storm, with his creative style and high-energy messages.

His words continue to impact tens of millions of people in several hundred countries across the planet! Through a significant social media presence and his recent domestic and international tours, “ET, The Hip Hop Preacher” has become a global phenomenon!

Here are 23 motivational picture quotes by Eric Thomas:

Hope you enjoyed the picture quotes I put together. Comment below and tell me which one was your favorite!

from
https://addicted2success.com/quotes/23-eric-thomas-picture-quotes-to-keep-your-motivation-at-its-peak/

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Mobile App

The current trend of mobile apps has gathered different opinions. Some business owners think that the entire concept of mobile app development is a luxury which only big enterprises can afford. The other segment of people believe that mobile apps are the easiest way to bring a significant difference to the business.

But, you will find a majority who are of the opinion that mobile apps can work wonders for the startups as they can gain great momentum. Well, today’s trend has already spilt the beans and now we all know the truth. So, what makes it important for a business to consider a mobile app?

Here are 5 of the most fascinating reasons your business needs a mobile app:

1. Enhanced visibility

According to the reports of Geekwire, Americans spend around 162 minutes on their smartphone every day. Though, they might be using only specific apps of their interest. But, even for this, they will have to scroll and take a glance at the various apps before actually installing their preferred one. This process, unknowingly, gives you a chance to get noticed among your target market. Having a catchy app icon, text or image can hardly go unnoticed by the users. This, in turn, can prove beneficial for your business.

2. Improved customer engagement

No matter what your business is about, whether you are selling a product or a service, your customers will need a way to get in touch with you. How about having a messaging or a helpdesk feature within your app? The way you correspond with your customers can bring a considerable difference in customer engagement.

Let’s take an example – If you have a restaurant and have come up with a mobile app; the customers who wish to dine in won’t have to call and book. With the app, they can simply book their table with just a few clicks on the app. Isn’t that more feasible to your customers? Adding some more advanced features like reviews, ratings and a helpdesk can significantly contribute to improved customer engagement.

3. Brand recognition

Did you know? A mobile app can greatly assist in building brand awareness. Let’s break the term brand recognition into two to make it easily understandable:

• Brand: A mobile app acts as a billboard sign for your business. With it, you can resort to different ideas that complement the nature of your business. You can make it look conventional, functional, stylish or even informative – it totally depends on you. But, try to build an app that has features to fascinate your customers at once. Remember, a beautifully designed app loaded with great features and it is surely going to catch the eyeballs of your target segment.
• Recognition: Your efforts must focus on engaging your target segment with your mobile app. The sooner you reach your goal, the more they will get inclined to buy your service or product. This is termed as ‘effective frequency’ in the world of advertising. Your target market should notice you frequently and that’s all you need for brand recognition.

4. Direct marketing channel

A mobile app can serve many functions – it provides general information, user accounts, booking forms, messengers, prices, news feeds, search features and much more. So, you are free to provide as much detail as you want to your customers on the app.

When there are special sales and promotions going on, you can easily flash them on your apps. Additionally, with the feature of push notifications, you can get closer to your target audience while having a direct interaction with them. In short, you can remind your customers about the products, services, special offers or promotions directly through your mobile app whenever it is required.

In a way, your mobile app becomes your direct marketing channel for your business as it keeps your target audience informed about the updates of your business, products, and services.

5. Loyal customer base

This is one of the most important reasons for building your own mobile app. There is a huge advertisement happening around us. You see different roadside billboards, banners, newspaper ads, flashing signs, coupons, flyers, websites, Facebook ads, emails and much more. The level of impact created by these advertising techniques is not that strong. It will definitely increase your customer base, but the process will be gradual.

On the other hand, the mobile app can make a direct connection with your target customers. It makes you feel like your business is just a fingertip away from them. So, focusing on frequent interaction with your customers can ultimately lead to brand loyalty.

For instance, Starbucks follows a unique star point system in their app. So, whenever a customer visits the outlet, he/she will be rewarded with the stars. In order to earn more reward stars, a customer stays loyal by coming back again. Thus, you get a loyal customer base.

With so many benefits that a mobile app offers your business, it is clear that considering it will definitely turn out to be in your favor. Whatever way you choose, a mobile app is surely going to be a standard element of the business in future. So, take your call – gear up, walk with the trend and get ready to make your business successful.

from
https://addicted2success.com/entrepreneur-profile/5-reasons-why-your-business-needs-a-mobile-app/

The Guide to Coping With Stress, Anxiety and Failure

Instead of complaining about the ebb and flow of tough times, we need to learn how to overcome them. We often let bad news cast a pall on our day, but taking it in and moving on with life is what we need to do and that’s a challenge.

Let’s look at 6 ways on how we can deal with the stresses and anxieties we face in our daily lives:

1. Deep breathing

If your schedule has you feeling compressed by unexplainable and intangible forces, stop everything and start taking in deep breaths.

Nobody takes this clichéd advice seriously, however, from a scientific perspective, deep breathing causes your metabolism to decrease, slows down heart-rate, relaxes the muscles and calms you down. So, stop everything for a minute and start breathing!

2. Write down what you’re stressed about

When there is too much going on in your head, you can never get work done. Doing a simple task can seem frustrating if your mind is just a labyrinthine tangle of negative thoughts and demotivating voices. The moment you are not 100% invested in your task, you would catch yourself being stuck for hours and it’s ultimately undue stress.

To avoid this, write down everything that bothers you, however big or small it is. Visualize and envision what you are going to do and remember that worrying about accomplishing a series of tasks will be futile. Don’t punish yourself by getting into a mess of unproductivity and negativity; write it down and clear it out.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

3. Yoga

Forcing yourself to contort your body into pretzel-like forms is not what yoga is about. Throughout the asanas, you need to breathe deeply and feel your muscles stretch. Listen to your body and feel every moment. The increased blood circulation to all parts of your body and the stabilization of hormones will calm you down.

4. Caffeine could increase stress levels

This is tragic news for the caffeine-lovers but you don’t need to panic about giving up on coffee. You need to bite the bullet and restrict coffee consumption to once-a-day. Caffeine can inhibit the absorption of adenosine (hormone) and cause a chaos in your biological clock if consumed excessively or late in the day.

Caffeine injects adrenaline into your system which may give you a temporary stimulation but later in the day you would feel agitated and fatigued. Take baby steps in controlling your addiction and when you have successfully reached the ‘one-cup-a-day’ stage, try to consume that cup of caffeine-loaded drink before 2pm.

5. Exercise and clean eating

Healthy meals and an active lifestyle go hand in hand in dissipating stress effectively. The psychological benefits of exercising have a neurochemical basis, which is the decrease in stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and the increase in the endorphin hormone which is the body’s natural painkiller and mood elevator.

Parenthetically, you will achieve a toned-looking body, your favourite clothes will fit you perfectly and you will be in the pink of health. All of this will collectively enable you to exude confidence and work efficiently. It’s simple, if you take care of your body, your body takes care of you.

Now that we have discussed handling daily-life stresses and anxieties, let’s talk about failures and how to overcome them:

1. Dissect the experience

Staying positive in the teeth of every difficulty sounds almost preposterous and unrealistic, and it is true that remaining happy all the time is impossible. What is essential though is to accept that you are a human, complain if you have to and feel free to be upset but don’t whine all day long and get over-emotional. Think about how that failure had played out.

Think about why you made the decision you made, recognize where exactly you went wrong and take ownership while not blaming others. There are many things in your control, and it’s up to you to make sure you conquer those factors and utilize them to your advantage. Be in tune with yourself and put things into perspective instead of dwelling on emotions.

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

No two leaves are the same and hence it’s ridiculous to compare yourself to your peers. Your experiences, talents, desires, attitude and everything else is very different as compared to another person and hence there is no basis for you to compare and evaluate.

Always work on becoming the better version of yourself and surround yourself with people who support you, empathise with you, respect your decisions and believe in you.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. You are equipped

Chances are if you are reading this article, you have the access to a laptop or a computer. You have the privilege of owning a device which basically encompasses the entire world. You have the resources and support to rise from a setback so be grateful for what you have and concentrate on progressing.

In conclusion, be it daily life stresses or an occasional failure, take it with a pinch of salt emotionally. Like glow sticks, we don’t shine until we are broken. Remember the world doesn’t owe you anything so work hard, treat problems as learning experiences, and never underestimate yourself.

How do you deal with the stress, anxiety, and failure? Let us know your tips below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

from
https://addicted2success.com/life/the-guide-to-coping-with-stress-anxiety-and-failure/

5 Ways You Can Make the Most Out of Failure

It’s been said that only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. I’d like to add another one to the list: rejection. No matter who you are and what life you live, there will be instances in your life when you experience rejection.

Nobody likes to be rejected. It sucks to be told you were good, just not good enough, for the project, job, partner or position. It’s confusing and frustrating, and it can make you want to scream. But more often than not, being rejected can be the start of something brilliant.

Here are five ways you can make sure you make the most out of your difficult experiences and come out at the other end stronger:

1. Take five

When you get bad news or hear negative feedback, most of us can’t help but fall into a sullen mood. Rather than fall into the trap of focusing on the negative and being overly self-critical, take five minutes to clear your head of all negativity. Even after five minutes of silent meditation, you’ll start to clear your head and realise that everything isn’t really all that bad.

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” – Woody Allen

2. Put things into perspective

Unless you are a heart surgeon or have a job in which you are responsible for the wellbeing of others, nobody will die because of this disappointment or mistake. If you lose a job, you’ll find another one. If you don’t get that promotion, you can make more money in some other way. An opportunity lost is another chance for something new to come down the road. Remember that this is only a momentary pain and won’t last long in the grand scheme of things.

3. Assess what went right

You can nearly always find a positive lesson from even the most negative of circumstances. The hardest part is often escaping the negative mindset that everything must have gone wrong if things didn’t go exactly as planned. In reality, there are an infinite number of variables that could have caused an unsatisfactory outcome. If you manage to put the negative mindset out of your head you can focus on the many things that went right, rather than what went wrong. Always remember to look at things on the bright side.

4. Review what went wrong, and look for ways to improve

After you’ve had a chance to look at what exactly went right, you can then take a hard look at how to improve on what went wrong. Consider whether or not you need to get additional training in certain areas, to practice more often, or just to consider ways to improve what worked partially but not fully.

“Success is 99% failure.” – Soichiro Honda

5. Remember, what will be, will be

Try your best, then don’t worry be happy. You will always face difficulties through life, but the more you practice accepting these difficulties, the better positioned you’ll be to make use of your time effectively and improve your life. Look at life through the lens of a stoic philosopher and you will better understand how to live a life of streamlined success and happiness.

The best lessons you learn in life are very rarely the easiest. Remember to reflect on why some of the hardest decisions and saddest realisations you may have are vitally important for future growth and genuine happiness. These moments force you to break out of your normal state of consciousness and reassess what is most important to you.

They make you reflect on what has worked, and more importantly, what hasn’t. Only in these moments do you realise who you really are, and exactly what you are capable of.

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

from
https://addicted2success.com/life/5-ways-you-can-make-the-most-out-of-failure/

10 Small Startups That You Can Build on Your Own Right Now

Having a business of our own is a dream that is very obvious and common all throughout. With the rise in startups and funding options, the market is blooming with successful entrepreneurs. And rightly so! But many ambitious people are seen dropping out of their dream of building a business only because of the funds involved in setting up one! We forget to acknowledge that the idea if planned and executed well, is strong enough to pull in all the investments.

Both Facebook and Microsoft started as very small business ideas and we all know the fate of them in today’s world. The basic idea is to invest your idea and build your own brand out of it. There is a market for startups that is constantly evolving with different niches.

So for anybody looking to start small yet efficient, here’s a list of 10 small startups that you can build on your own as per the current scenario:

1. Blogging/ Vlogging

In the past few years of digitalization, this has emerged as one of the top-notch money-making investments. The cost involved is as meagre as it can get, but the returns are particularly amazing.

Before starting to blog, one has to invest in a domain name and hosting whereas, for vlogging in platforms like youtube, there is no money involved. All it takes is an expertise in any field and the confidence to present it in the best engaging way possible. Bloggers earn through a lot of collaborations and affiliate marketing whereas youtube itself pays it’s users when they reach a good set of engagement through content.

2. Baking

If baking is your passion, it can very well be your profession. Your only big investment is a good oven and then, your skills do the magic! If you’re enthusiastic about baking, you can prepare cakes, muffins, cookies, and homemade bakery items.

The market for this has huge potential as customers are always experimenting on taste and are looking for the best customization. By posting your bakery items online, you can directly connect with your customers and provide economical solutions as per your brand.

3. Stylist

With the rise in competition amongst folks to be more presentable, personal stylists stand a great chance in the market. Most everyday individuals are trying hard to keep a great profile at their display due to the increased demand for visibility.

Coordinating your makeup, your hair, and your dress for the perfect occasion calls for expert advice, and the expert advice comes with money! So put your styling sense on display and get yourself great customers.

4. Developer

This is one of the highest demanding markets if you have the skill for it! A new app or a website is getting developed all the time. From small businesses to public figures to bigger enterprises, everybody has an online presence for their brand. Web developers and App developers are hence, almost every entrepreneurs “go-to” person. The investment is null if knowledge is not counted as one if you already have a good system to back up your codes.

“Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” – John Wooden

5. Event Planning

Starting up with an event management company requires a dedicated human resource with a knack of marketing and networking skills. You could start your office at your home before you earn enough to expand it.

Event planning has become a need in almost every household to offices for it gives people the liberty to enjoy their event without thinking much of it. Event planning is hence a rescue measure nobody forgets to take!

6. Professional Photography

With Facebook and Instagram taking a toll on people, the demand for enriching and captivating pictures has hit people enormously.

People tend to pay chunks of money for video shoots and detailed photography to capture their big days. As a professional photographer, you are in demand for great projects!

7. Interior Designing

A dream home is always designed as per the customer’s choice. And today, almost every house purchased includes the customer getting its interior designed well for their convenience. Interior designers with a decent outreach in the market are a business of their own! The only requirement is to understand the needs and use your own creativity to earn out of it.

8. Food truck

Food at an affordable rate, and one that pleases your taste buds never goes out of fashion. A cafe or a restaurant is out of budget for most people, but renting a food truck along with a good cook is not only trendy but also a cheap investment.

Food trucks have been in the market for quite some time now and are a great spot for food lovers. A food truck also has an advantage of mobility and hence, is a great business idea that can attract crowds.

9. Tutoring

Are you good with understanding psychology and teaching methods? Then this is an exclusive business plan for anybody willing to invest the time. There is a need for quality learning methods and a greater understanding of subjects whether it is a school course, music, or an art. There is almost no investment in teaching except for the time spent. And hence, this is the most cost-effective business.

“Don’t think about your errors or failures; otherwise, you’ll never do a thing.” – Bill Murray

10. Travel agency

A home based travel agency would cost very little since it has to be tied up with a host agency. The time is such that most of the people are at least planning a tour once in a year on average. The cost of setting up a travel agency is less but the commission earned is really worth more than the investment. It is one such happy-go-lucky businesses out in the market!

Every business has its own share of failures and successes. There are a lot of myths associated with starting a new business that you will come across but you should be careful to ditch them. You will understand it only when you give it a try. Try something new, and you’ll never know where it might go.

Which one of these 10 startup ideas resonates most with you and why? Let us know your thoughts below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

from
https://addicted2success.com/startups/10-small-startups-that-you-can-build-on-your-own-right-now/

Working With A Bad Boss Is The Real Soul-Crushing Dream Killer