Author: Scott Asai

Helping people develop their leadership skills to advance in their career

The 30 Day Entrepreneur Challenge: The Need for Accountability

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Most entrepreneurs aren’t short on ideas. The problem is acting on them. It’s easy to daydream about possibilities without making any progress. 
Entrepreneurs tend to work in isolation and lack the incentive to finish their goals. 
Enter accountability. The first time I experienced accountability was in a coaching relationship. I felt this need to complete my goals before I talked with my coach. Maybe it was fear of letting him down, yet no matter the motivation, the important part is my goals were achieved.  
Here are some suggestions for creating accountability in your life:
Mastermind Groups
Group accountability not only motivates you to accomplish your goals, but collaborating and brainstorming together can produce sharper, more refined ideas. Mastermind groups create structure by having an agenda and sticking to it. Without structure, you accomplish nothing. Most Masterminds are paid groups offered through an organization. 
Individual Coaching
If you’re ready to really start moving, find yourself a personal coach. You set the agenda, pace and goals while the coach keeps you accountable for doing what you say. Think of it like having a personal trainer for your mind. A coach encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and challenges you to be your best. Look for a certified coach and ask for an initial free session to test the chemistry between you two. 
Find a Mentor
Maybe your cheapest option, but probably the hardest to find. Instead of looking for the perfect one, find multiple mentors specializing in different areas. A mentor speaks wisdom into you and helps you avoid pitfalls. Ask your mentor to keep you accountable and be honest about what you expect of them. Stay hungry, be eager to learn and do your best to accommodate to their schedule. A mentor may not charge, but their time is invaluable.

Notice “friend” wasn’t listed here. Professional accountability is better. The more serious you are about accomplishing your goals, the more serious you need to look for accountability. Remember, iron sharpens iron and nothing great is accomplished alone. 

If you’re interested in monthly group or individual coaching, please contact Scott.

The 30 Day Entrepreneur Challenge: Focus on Your Strengths

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Last week we started by setting the vision and goals for your business. Now it’s time to start working towards making your vision a reality. 
The most successful people in any industry do one or two things really well, then delegate the rest. Being balanced, or a jack of all trades, is a myth. No one wants to hire a generalist. Customers want specialists. 
How do you identify your strengths? If you don’t know what they are, I’d suggest taking the StrengthsFinder assessment. In only 30 minutes, this online test reveals your top 5 strengths which become the essence of your brand. Think of your strengths as the “means” to accomplish your goals.
Strengths also become part of your core values. Strengths are based on who you are, not just what you do. Your mind is the most powerful tool you have so what you choose to focus on usually comes to fruition. That means if you dwell on your weaknesses, you will probably fail. If you focus on your strengths, you will most likely succeed. 
Think of your mind as the rudder of a ship. It controls your direction, attitude and actions. Today you have the choice to focus on your weaknesses or your strengths, which one will you choose? 
Need help identifying or developing your strengths? Contact Scott and he’ll coach you through the process.

The 30 Day Entrepreneur’s Challenge: Vision & Goals

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What is your ideal business?

All businesses start with an idea, but your personal vision of that idea defines the direction. Without direction, there’s no target to aim at. What is your personal vision for your business?

Once you have a clear picture of what you want to see happen, it’s time to set some goals to make your vision a reality.

Start with S.M.A.R.T. goals:

Specific – the more specific, the better
Measurable – if it’s not measurable, it’s not a good goal
Achievable – can you accomplish it?
Realistic – are you being realistic about your goal?
Time Oriented – put an end date on it or it won’t happen

Imagine looking at the second story of a building as your vision. Taking the stairs, one step at a time, represents the goals it takes to reach your vision. The larger your vision, the longer it will take to get there. 

Don’t get stuck at the beginning stage. A coach can help give you the guidance and needed push to clarify your vision and lay out goals. If you need help getting started, contact Scott for the added push in the right direction!

Why I Chose Coaching

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Life is about choices. We can’t control what happens to us, but we can choose how to respond.
11 years ago, a supervisor asked me the day after I was hired, “Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?” My response, “Not here.” I said that because I always dreamed of owning a business; I just wasn’t sure what kind of business. Let me share with you how I came to my decision of being a coach.
“Client” Seat – I experienced coaching first as a client. Jay (my coach) met with me weekly or bi-monthly for about a year and a half. During our conversations, I loved how the focus was on my goals, my pace and my agenda. He listened, gave suggestions, but ultimately it was up to me to accomplish my goals. Similar to having a personal trainer, but for my mind. Towards the end of our professional relationship, I asked Jay what I needed to do to become a coach.
StrengthsFinder – Leadership was a hobby before it became part of my career. I decided to go back to school in 2005 to get a Masters in Organizational Leadership. Through the process, I met Dave, a classmate, who was getting certified in the StrengthsFinder assessment and part of his requirements was to take 10 people through the test and discuss their results. A year later I liked the assessment so much I got certified in it and to this day it’s the only test I give to all my clients. Knowing my top 5 strengths affirmed that coaching was the perfect “fit” for me.

At the Core – A coach is more of who I am, rather than what I do. My job title can change, but I’ll always coach people. I’m not a fan of job descriptions because they put people in a box. Why not create a role based on someone’s strengths? When I coach someone one-on-one I’m at my best. Coaching is my sweet spot. I look back on my past and realize I’ve been coaching others from an early age. I just didn’t know it was called coaching. I’m very fortunate to have found my ideal career. Coaching is just an extension of who I am.

Based on my faith, I believe everyone was made to do something special. Your career is a mixture of passions, strengths and experiences. What were you born to do?

L.A., home of the Entrepreneur

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According to the study by the entrepreneurship foundation in Kansas City, Mo., Los Angeles had 620 entrepreneurs per 100,000 adults last year, the most among the country’s 15 largest metropolitan areas.  
With a slow, rebounding economy why not put your efforts into starting/growing your own business? (At least that way you have some control of your career)
Here are 3 tips to consider as an aspiring or current entrepreneur:
Make Logical Decisions, not emotional ones. Be passionate about what you do. Research and understand your industry. Don’t be motivated by money. Share and get feedback on your idea to reveal your blind spots. Once the euphoric stage has passed, start moving forward.
The Myth of Risk. Smart entrepreneurs don’t take as many risks as you think. They take “calculated risks.” Risk is about emotion. Calculated risk is about research, understanding and having great people resources. Decrease your risk factor by building a strong network. 
#1 Attribute: Hard Work. Despite Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Work Week, successful entrepreneurs don’t count hours. Think and work on your business all the time. That doesn’t mean you don’t take breaks, but having your own business you should equal working more hours than a traditional 9 – 5. If you’re not interested in grinding hard, don’t start your own business.
Even with a college degree, there’s no guarantee you’ll get hired. Clarify your idea, then figure out how to monetize it. Simple concept, yet challenging to execute. L.A. is leading the way, so start positioning yourself as a star. 

Internships: The New Entry Level Position

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Even with jobs increasing, is applying for entry level positions really the way to go?
Just like resumes, searching through Career Builder & Monster are outdated…here’s why:

  
1) Useful Experience. Most entry level positions are just that. Menial work for menial pay. When searching for internships, look for experience in areas you want to grow in. Normally there is more than one position available, so you’ll have the chance to collaborate with others while observing how your supervisors get the job done. Be a student and learn from those above you.

2) A Chance to Prove Yourself. Internships are a form of leadership development. Someone is overseeing you and there’s a chance that if you rise to the top, your internship can turn into a full-time position. Entry level workers are usually trained, then left alone. Interns are watched over and usually do a decent amount of shadowing. A good recommendation from within can go much further than anything you can put on your resume.
3) Internships create Flexibility. When you agree to an internship, there’s usually an end date. If you’re a student, there’s many opportunities to take on multiple internships during your career. Let’s be honest. Most people don’t have a clear idea of what they want to do. Part of figuring out your career direction is trying different things and eliminating your choices. How do you know if you can do something for a long time if you don’t have any experience doing it?

With community colleges recently turning away 400,000 students, traditional education has it’s downside. Even with a college degree, you are guaranteed nothing. At least with an internship you have experience and someone advocating for you (that’s if you work hard). Think about it. What gives you a better chance to succeed than an internship?