Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Making your goals SMARTer… the Evernote way

Posted: 12 November, 2012 in Business, Leadership, Technology
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“Our goal with the redesign was simple: make all major functions accessible within two taps.” – Evernote

Now that, my friends, is a legitimate SMART goal!

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

The only thing I am unsure of is the time frame they were working with, but I’m sure they were as concise in that area as they were with the rest of this very well-written goal.

And the result is beautiful! A brand new interface with bolder colors, cleaner lines, and increased functionality!

For a company with so much popularity and so much growth in the last few years, I am thoroughly impressed that they continue to improve a product that is already years ahead of its time.

But what resonated with me as I read about their new launch of Evernote 5 was THE GOAL. With such well-developed goals, no wonder their company is expanding by leaps and bounds!

I’m used to hearing goals like: “streamline processes”, “improve sales” and “increase profits”. These goals are not only boring, they are not specific and they are difficult to measure. Even a relatively good goal such as: “create a new user-interface in the next 3 months to reflect the growing demand for increased functionality” is lame and wordy compared to “make all major functions accessible within two taps.”

This inspires me to reexamine some of my own goals, personally and professionally, and make sure they are as SMART as possible.

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Baby steps before getting started

Posted: 7 May, 2012 in Blogging, Business
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If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they wish they invented Facebook…

The implication is that facebook was an original idea. In reality, not even Facebook came up with Facebook. Several other social networking websites, myspace being the most popular, were developed long before facebook was a twinkle in Zuckerberg’s eye. The fact is that all ideas are a compilation, enhancement, and re-arrangement of other ideas, technologies, and inventions that already exist!

If you have never launched your own idea, one of the best baby steps you can take is to adamantly support and improve someone else’s.

Perhaps there’s a band that you really enjoy. You could become a promoter for their next visit to your town. Pass out flyers, post updates on facebook, make a goal of bringing 10 of your friends to the show.

Maybe there’s a business you support, like TOMS shoes. Instead of just buying some shoes, maybe you could become an advocate for the cause. Find out the facts and details of the problem, write an article about how the business has impacted you, create a creative video demonstrating how you and your friends support what Blake Mycoskie (creator of TOMS) is trying to do.

By doing this, you will develop the skills and contacts necessary when you’re ready to make “The Big Ask” yourself.

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Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Big Ask

Posted: 19 April, 2012 in Business, Leadership
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You walk up to the stranger’s door… pause for a moment to think about what you’re going to say… check your zipper one last time… and then… knock.

What awaits you behind that door is the person to whom you are going to make “The Big Ask”. Maybe you’re selling girl scout cookies, vacuums, or magazines. Maybe you are collecting signatures for a petition or inviting people to a local event. No matter what you’ve been involved in, almost all of us have had to make “The Big Ask” at one point or another.

While the concept of door-to-door sales is familiar to most of us, this post is about how that type of courage, preparation, and perseverance applies to pitching your great idea to a friend, mentor, or venture capitalist. In order to get someone to buy into your idea, it takes:

1. COURAGE.

Before you can make “The Big Ask,” you must first get past the idea that you might be rejected. When I went door-to-door selling trinkets for my school as a kid, it didn’t take me long to realize that rejection was a big part of the task. Once I got more used to it, I got past the fear of rejection and came to the realization that I needed more deliberate preparation.

2. PREPARATION

Michael Hyatt wrote a brilliant blog entitled “The Four Components of a Compelling Elevator Pitch” in which he explained that we generally have about 30 seconds to pitch our idea to a stranger before they a) lose interest, or b) get distracted. Because this time is so short, it is imperative that you nail down, write out, and rehearse your “Big Ask” long before you plan to make it.

3. PERSEVERANCE

As the old saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed… don’t try skydiving… I mean…try, try again. Not giving up on your dream or idea is absolutely critical to its success! I won’t even begin to site examples because almost anyone on the planet who has ever achieved something has spent a reasonable amount of time failing and getting rejected.

Good luck on your “Big Ask.” If you need somebody to practice on, I’m all ears..

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Image: graur codrin via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The power of 99 cents

Posted: 22 March, 2012 in Business, Leadership, Personal Development, Writing
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99 cents is a price point that makes people feel like they’re getting something for free even though they’re not. Free provides no value. 99 cents makes a product something worth buying. If the content is poor, it’s only 99 cents. If it is useful, you’ve found a great deal.

If your ebook is free, I am less inclined to download it. I feel like I can always get it later… If it’s 99 cents, especially if it’s a limited time offer, I feel like I have to buy it now or I might regret it.

There’s something intriguing about the ’99 cents’ price point.

Just my 2 cents,
Curtis

Image: whizchickenonabun under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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