5 Secrets for Starting a Successful Business

5SecretsBusiness

I spend a lot of time covering the deep psychology of how to find a job, but today, I wanted to do something a little bit different.  I wanted to share with you how you can start your OWN BUSINESS.

This has to be one of the most common questions I get.  From CFOs to entry-level employees, everyone dreams of the freedom of starting “the next big thing.”  We all want to do it, [Read More…]

Destroy Your Business for Fun and Profit

funandprofit

“I don’t like you in the same way as you like me”

“I think maybe we should see other people”

“It’s not you, it’s me”

We have plenty of language for breaking off a relationship when we realize it just isn’t working out, but what about when our business isn’t working out?

At some point, every entrepreneur will be confronted with the thought that his business just isn’t working out.  Most friends [Read More…]

Success Scripts: Market Research for Dummies

A lot of you are here because you’re looking to start a business selling a product or service so that you can either quit your job or supplement your income.  And I’m sure 100% of you are afraid that there may be no demand for your product. (If you’re not, please leave, because there is no helping you)

Before even concerning yourself with your finances or website design or Twitter handle or anything like that, you should worry about testing to [Read More…]

How to Win

“Losers give other people what they want, winners give people what they need.”

-Me (Yeah, that’s right.  I quoted myself)

Speaking

When I think of bad speeches, there are two that come to mind.  The first was a standup comic asked to showcase at a convention where performers go to try to book gigs.  He proceeded to spit out every airline food and recycled 80’s joke about how there are thousands of channels but nothing on.  The [Read More…]

The Tao of Shake Shack

Check out the following video featuring a speech by Randy Garutti, the COO of the cult-like burger joint Shake Shack, talking about his business, and more importantly his passion.  Listen closely and you’ll hear many of the lessons I preach here: focus on goals rather than abject success, do what you do best, simplicity, and making goals that matter to you in order to make yourself more accountable to achieving success.

It’s a really interesting speech with a lot in it [Read More…]

Success Isn’t Sexy (Or the “Restaurant Myth”)

If I asked you why you wanted to succeed, what would you say? Would it be because of some innate desire to prove yourself? Or possibly because you want to achieve a childhood dream?

What about because you think it will be sexy?

Before you jump all over my wording, imagine your ideal world AFTER you succeed.  Is it a world surrounded by dinners with well connected people, a $500k sports car in the driveway, and a former supermodel wife?

Now, obviously these [Read More…]