Is Leadership Flat?

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Theoretically yes. Realistically no. This may ruin it for you idealists, but let me explain why.

If you’re on a leadership team, there has to be a point person. 
 Who makes the decision? 
Who takes responsibility for failure? 
Who’s the leader?
We’d like to believe that leadership can be flat, but that structure doesn’t work. How often does indecision, disagreement or different agendas come into play? Sure, the same can be said for the singular leader, but there still needs to be a single person in charge.
At its purest form leadership is about relationships (minus the leverage of position, power or money). One leader works best. Accountability can come from the board or management team, but everyone wants to know who pulls the trigger. 
Even in today’s contemporary, growing organizations such as Zappos or Facebook, there is still a recognizable face to the brand. Who knows if they are truly the leader, but they’re viewed that way. 
Instead of thinking horizontal vs. vertical, consider a circle. If a leadership team is placed in a cylinder, it can be turned to different point persons when necessary. A leader doesn’t always have to be in charge. In fact, serving and following is an important trait as a leader. 
Similar to the saying, “There can’t be too many chefs in the kitchen,” leadership works more effectively when there is one leader and defined roles for the rest. This isn’t about power, position or money, but about bringing the most value to a company by “being on the right seat in the bus.” 

I’ll take it a step further and say leadership is a gift. Anyone can lead, but some are born to do it. 
Yes, leadership skills can be taught, but certain individuals facilitate greater results when they’re on top. 

Top 3 Essentials for Web Entrepreneurs

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By Zach Buckley

If you’re a Web entrepreneur, you probably know what your competition looks like. Quite a few sites are horrible, while only a select few stand out. You don’t want to be part of the sub-standard sites out there so it’s vital that you have several essential things to be an online success story. Here are a few lessons for the budding web entrepreneurs out there:
Design Matters
As Web designer Brian Reed once said, “Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.” The design of your site matters. It’s the first impression that users will get about your business. Your site should be well designed and a pleasure to look at, especially the landing page. When your site visitors land on your home page, it’s essential that you capture their attention quickly. This means an easy to read and easy to view site where users will know the site’s purpose within a few seconds. Grab the visitor’s attention and encourage them to click the other page links. Make it easy for your site visitors by letting them know who you are and what you do, briefly and concisely, so they are likely to stay on the site and possibly become customers.
Good Domain Name
Simplicity is especially important when it comes to your domain name. A good domain name is easy to remember, easy to type, and easy to recognize. Although there are plenty of different extensions to choose from today, .com is still the most popular and most easily recognized; generally preferable to a .net, .org, or any other extension. If possible, it’s best to avoid adding dashes or a number that isn’t part of your company’s name. Extra characters just make it more difficult to remember and type, which could limit the amount of people who are return visitors for your site.
Be Accessible
One of the main reasons that site visitors might not return is frustration. How easily can they get in touch with you? It’s important that your contact information – phone, live chat, or email – is readily accessible. A visitor who can’t find the answers they want will automatically start looking for a “Contact” button or page. It’s vital that your contact information is easy to find. Being available for your site visitors is truly be one of the best ways that you can turn the visitors into your buyers.
Besides contact, there’s also recognition. The Internet is essentially a massive ocean over which you can cast an impressive net to pull in potential consumers. Note: PPC and SEO. A proper PPC campaign and a means of auditing that campaign can help you get your brand in front of new, relevant eyes while SEO will give you exposure through organic search. You can have all the luck in the world developing your online business, but it means nothing if no one can see it. 
Using these top three tactics are essential for the neophyte entrepreneur. Try these simple tips to see how valuable they can really be!

Zach Buckley is a freelance writer who is interested in exploring the intersection of culture, science and education.  He lives in the Midwest and enjoys music, literature and good food.

Startup Life Coach

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Today’s economy brings uncertainty, so instead of hoping a regular job will provide stability, many people are turning to start their own companies. 

I’m fortunate to be a part of a young entrepreneur community called Career Synergy. We get inspired by other’s success stories and are focused on how to help each other. From aspiring to serial entrepreneurs, the best way to learn is to interact with those are are doing it. 
What if you’re at that place where you are starting to scale and grow? You’re multitasking doing strategy, leading and selling. How do you have enough time to juggle everything? Honestly, you can’t. That’s where a life coach can help. 
Zappos and Google have proved that business isn’t just about products, but about creating an engaging, productive culture that attracts the best talent. Performance happens naturally when distractions are taken away. What once was seen as a “perk” is now very much a reality. 
A life coach at your company is similar to athletes hiring a personal trainer. The added support, accountability and perspective can be the difference between victory and defeat. Life coaches can be hired as independent contractors or employees, depending on your needs. Think of it like a proactive HR. Sitting down with a coach weekly or bi-monthly gives employees an opportunity to vent and problem solve with an objective voice. Imagine walking into a coach’s office at the top of the hour, then leaving in a rejuvenated state less than 60 minutes later. Coaches can diffuse potential bombs before they reach HR.

Hiring a life coach shows your workers that you’re invested in them. Motivational speakers are great, but a week later the effect has worn off. Setting goals with a life coach provides measurable results. Create a learning culture at your company by hiring a life coach!

The Biggest Loser and Breaking Habits

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By Jeff Okita, Founder at Six Taste
 
Breaking habits are hard. At twenty-four years young, I still think of myself as being open and flexible, and that my personality is still being shaped. Although I know I’ve been approaching the past two weeks with the purpose of making a more meaningful first impression, I find myself falling into old habits. I think it’s because I’m not putting myself in enough situations to practice.
Can people change? 
I remember having this discussion with people and most say you can’t. I think you can, yet most people see my view as idealistic. I’m not saying it’s easy, I think it’s extremely hard to change, but it can be done.
If a person is self-aware, practices, and can measure progress, I think change can be made, it’s just extremely difficult. Look at the show ‘The Biggest Loser’. Say what you will about reality television, I find this show fascinating because it’s about breaking extreme habits. These individuals have to go to the Biggest Loser Facility and discover the root causes of their weight gain, eat healthy, exercise daily, and track their progress. That’s why most contestants are able to keep the weight off – they have made a fundamental change of how they live their life.
Every day people don’t have the luxury of a trainer to force them to practice changing a habit. Instead, if we’re serious about making a change, we have to “create” a trainer, or create a system that forces us to practice. The question becomes, how serious do you want to change? What are you willing to risk to make the change? How uncomfortable are you willing to get?
Personally, I don’t know the answer to these questions yet, but I’d be curious to hear yours…

Hire Me L.A.

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Why did you create it?
It’s been challenging contacting recruiters as a service provider, but one day while I was planning a career fair, it hit me: “I should organize a hiring fair and invite recruiters to meet job seekers in person!” So there it is. Hire Me L.A. exists to provide jobs through recruiter/job seeker events. 
How does it work?
Companies send recruiters to man a table where job seekers introduce themselves and submit their resumes. Recruiters get a chance to hear why they should hire a potential worker and get to interact with them through a speed interview. Job seekers get an opportunity to make a first impression face-to-face which gives them an advantage over online applicants. Both recruiters and job seekers benefit from the different options (companies) and larger crowd (job seekers). Recruiters don’t have to chase individual candidates. Job seekers can apply for several positions at various companies in one place. It’s a win-win for both sides at this one-stop shop event.
What are the benefits of attending?
Recruiters: Instead of chasing candidates, join other companies and select the best from the crowd. What could take you a month to do you can accomplish in a day at Hire Me L.A.
Job Seekers: When else do you get the opportunity to meet recruiters from different companies in person? Most of the time your online application never makes it to HR. Increase your chances to make a lasting impression with recruiters at Hire Me L.A.

How Can I get involved?
Recruiters/Vendors/Sponsors/Volunteers: Future events are being planned, so please reach out soon to reserve your spot. We are looking for partners in other cities to launch in! Email scott@growingforward.net for more details.

Job Seekers: The latest information and how to sign up is available at Hire Me L.A.

No Solo Artists

Scott Asai1 Comment
Have you ever had an idea that you thought was so good that you didn’t want to share it? Guess what, it’s not. Here are 3 reasons why you need a partner:

New Perspective: Face it. Not everyone’s going to love your idea, so the sooner you address objections, the better off you’ll be. A partner brings fresh perspective that helps identify your “blind spots.” (Yes, we all have them) It benefits you to recruit someone who thinks differently than you, so you can compliment each other. Leverage each other’s strengths and you’ll accomplish more.
Shared Resources: This isn’t limited to finances. It extends to personal networks. Want to know the real value of serial entrepreneurs? (Hint: it’s not money) Their network. More resources is better. Even if you’re not looking for a partner, you still need to grow your network. No successful person has done it alone. People inherently want to help. You just have to ask. 

Structured Accountability: When you are accountable to someone, the incentive to finish the task increases tremendously. Call it pressure or motivation, but it works. That’s why people hire personal trainers and coaches. Synergy is created when you work with others. Reach out and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll receive in return.

Don’t be a lone ranger. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, manager or employee you can benefit from a partnership. We are social beings at our core and need others to help us succeed. The greater the task, the greater the help needed. Who will you reach out to today?

Building Your Personal Community

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We tend to view communities as plural, but what if you started to think of your network as your personal community? Maybe it would motivate you to grow it because we all desire community. Here are a few ways to do that:
Social media. The internet has removed all geographical boundaries. Connect online, but don’t stop there. It’s not enough to add a Facebook friend, follow someone on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn. Follow the initial contact with an email, phone call or if possible meet offline (of course use your judgment on that). Social media has enabled us to push beyond our local towns to meet people globally. Now your personal community can be worldwide. 
Find what’s in common. Building your personal community doesn’t need to start solely with business. What are your hobbies? What cause(s) are you passionate about? How do you enjoy spending your free time? It’s much easier to meet and connect with people over similar interests. You’re not selling anything, using an elevator pitch or as self-conscious. I’ve met some of my best connections, even business mentors in purely leisure settings. Where people are, there’s always opportunities to connect.
Work together. You’d be amazed at how working on a project bonds people. Sometimes it can even happen in complete silence. There’s so much energy put into team building exercises, but truthfully people relate better over a task and that experience will unite the team. Look at all the movements that start between complete strangers. We are an achievement oriented society, so accomplishing something together is fulfilling. That’s how accountability works.

Be proactive. Reach out and give. Building your personal community starts one connection at a time. What are you waiting for? Start building today!

Finding Funding From Your Own Wallet

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Guest Post by Daniel Milstein

If you are looking to start your own business, one thing to keep in mind is where will you get the money? Before your business takes off, you must be willing to provide your company with the money straight out of your pocket for it to be able to thrive. Always be willing to invest in yourself. 

Salespeople should view themselves as a business or a mini- corporation, rather than a loan originator, real estate agent or insurance salesman. Do whatever it takes to grow the business. Just as you’re willing to hire an assistant to help get you to the next level,
it’s also important to invest in the business in other ways. For example, salespeople shouldn’t necessarily expect their companies to provide laptops, marketing materials and other “necessities.” When we first opened the Golden Rule office, I used $3,000 of my
own money to cover various overhead expenses, and there have been a number of other instances when I invested my own income for marketing campaigns and other costs. Some management consultants have said that three percent of your annual income is a  reasonable amount to invest. Based on my own experience and conversations with other salespeople, I think it should be higher – as much as 20 percent. Of course, you can gradually increase your investment and ultimately, the amount will be what you are comfortable spending. Do your own cost/benefit analysis to ascertain how much you are able to invest to help generate a specific production level.

While it is important to work in a team and invest in others to help you rise to success, it is also equally important to invest in yourself to help your company grow off the ground.

Daniel Milstein is the bestselling author of ABC of Sales. For more information, visit: http://amzn.to/ABCARTICLES

Welcome to Your Online University

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Based on results, formal education is questionable. Does it really prepare you for the working world? Here are some lower priced options that will help you reach your goals, faster:
Research. Nowadays you can Google anything. Whether it’s a video, tips or stats, you can view it on your couch. You don’t have to enroll in a class or pay for tuition. In fact, once you master a skill you can teach others! There’s plenty of information out there, it’s just a matter of funneling it down to what you actually need. Gather. Commit. Implement.
The Big 3. Post. Tweet. Ask. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are great resources to connect with people at a touch of a button. There are tons of experts online that you can learn from. Look at social media as a way of reaching out and building relationships. Have a goal in mind, otherwise it becomes purely social and a waste of time. Be willing to give as much as you receive and you’ll be amazed at the progress made.
Study Success. Who are some role models or mentors that you admire? If you have access, contact them. If they have a book, read it. Understanding someone else’s story can be crucial to your learning curve. See how they did it. What mistakes can you avoid? What traits can you emulate? Learning from an example can help you create your own process that works. 
My point is don’t depend on formal education to learn. It helps to have a physical location and teacher for structure, but become more self-disciplined by growing on your own. Also, bring the conversation offline and in person. Informal interviews, chats over coffee and networking will further your career with a personal goal in mind. If money and time are factors, start online. If personal development is that important to you, you’ll make time for it.

How to Actively Wait

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Sounds contradictory doesn’t it? Whether you’re job hunting, anticipating the next big customer or hoping for that promotion, here are 3 things you can do in the meantime:

Plant more seeds. Network like it’s going out of style. It’s a numbers game. The more connections you have, the better your chances to accomplish your goals. Attend networking events. Ask for introductions. Follow up like your life depends on it. You can never have too many connections. If you desire growth, never stop meeting new people.
Clarify your niche/offering. The average employer/recruiter looks at your resume for 6 seconds. That means you have a single sentence to communicate what you do. What are your strengths? What makes you unique? What is your brand? If you’re not clear, the recipient leaves confused which means you’re forgettable. Simplify your message. Now the receiver can make a decision. 
Ask for help. Seems simple, but most of the time your ego gets in the way. It’s not any less of an accomplishment if you collaborate. Can you think of one successful person who’s gone it alone? The more people you share with, the more eyes looking out for you. Think of it as a value proposition. What can you give that brings value to the customer?

Waiting is hard. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t ambitious. Timing is everything and you can’t rush that. Be proactive by reaching out, define your message and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t control time, but you can control how hard you prepare for the opportunity. What are you waiting for?