Tag: santa monica lifestyle entrepreneur business

University of Convenience

Scott AsaiLeave a comment

In the age of information, content is plentiful (not always important, but still readily available).

If you look at the rise of online education as an example, times are changing. Not only are University degrees not as prestigious anymore, but it also doesn’t guarantee you work like it did in the past.

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Welcome to the DIY age where anything AND everything can be learned through doing a Google search.

Ease and convenience has become such a commodity that credibility isn’t as scrutinized.

Both as an entrepreneur and a consumer that means unlimited options. Not only can you enjoy instruction from the comfort of your home, but you can also get paid without being “live.”

Here are some examples:

  • Instead of attending a live event, you can watch a webinar at your kitchen table.
  • Why enroll in a college course, when you can get the same, if not better information on platforms like Udemy?
  • Marketing degrees can be outdated, but if you follow the best online marketing blogs their advice is priceless.

Technology has changed the way we learn, so now you have more choices. No longer do you have to pay to add some letters behind your name to be known as an expert. Credibility is earned through follower-ship, not credentials.

Your story and experiences are your foundation to helping others learn something you’ve gone through.

So get current and figure out how you can assist others…while sitting on the couch.

Why You Shouldn’t be a Leader

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Nowadays “leader” is a term thrown around too loosely. I come from the school of thought that leaders are born, not made. That doesn’t mean a leader can’t be developed. I just don’t think anyone can be a leader just by acquiring the skills. Whether you agree or disagree, hear out my reasoning behind this theory:

leadership is hard walk the plank pirate

Potential – Leaders are born into this world with intangible qualities that attract others to follow them. I’ve seen it on the playground as early as 2 years old. It’s not something they’re trying to do. It just comes out. When you were young, were others attracted to follow you?

Responsibility – Everyone loves to get praise when things go right, but can you handle the blame when things go wrong and it may not even be your fault? Leaders take ownership for poor results by themselves or others under their supervision. Being a leader isn’t as glamorous as advertised. It’s about deflecting the praise towards others and shouldering the burden when people are complaining. Are you willing to take the fall, under your watch, even if you’re right?

Profile – Leaders usually aren’t the outspoken, extroverts that the media portrays them to be. They’re usually the quiet, soft spoken ones who do things “under the radar.” Leaders don’t purposely seek attention. If it comes their way, fine, but it’s not something they desire. Leaders earn the respect of others by their example of consistent behavior(s). Do you “fit” the profile of a leader?

Results – One of the most important traits of a leader is the “fruit” of their labor. By definition, leadership is getting things done through people. One part task. One part relationship. Leadership is about what you’ve accomplished with and through the efforts from others. It’s like a personal resume of achievements over time. Do you have the “resume” of a leader? 

Confidence – Leaders don’t need the title of leader, they’re voluntarily given it by others. If you’re driven to lead by your ego, you’re going about it wrong. Leaders are confident, but not arrogant. Confidence is usually based on past successes, but a leader has an inner confidence that isn’t shaken easily by circumstances. Everyone loves “strokes,” but leaders don’t need them. Is your confidence level unflappable, even during scrutiny? 

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, consider this a realization. Everyone isn’t cracked up to be a leader. In fact it’s better that way. If there are too many leaders on a team, nothing gets done. Leaders are invaluable, but that doesn’t mean you need to be one. In my opinion, the best leaders aren’t the most dynamic, but they are great at developing the people around them. So by this definition, are you a leader? 

Why People Hire Me

Scott Asai1 Comment

Most of my clients who end up hiring me, don’t know me personally.

It’s usually through a reference from a friend, but mostly via online: Yelp or LinkedIn.

Once I get contacted on the phone, I ask the person what their goals are so I can tell them if I can help them or not.

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Coaching is a lot like hiring a personal trainer. When you hire a trainer, it’s his/her job to create a program to reach your goals. What I do is very similar, but instead of improving your body, I improve your mind.

I try my best to address the issues brought to me and use past experiences to prove that I’m capable of assisting.

No matter what we talk about, I normally end the call with two criteria for them to consider moving forward:

1) Fit – If we don’t have chemistry, we shouldn’t work together. I can figure that out within the first 5 minutes of a call, but it’s not up to me. I want the person on the other end of the phone to feel they can share with me where they need help and trust that I’ll be professional and confidential.

2) Confidence – “If you don’t have the confidence that I can take you to where you want to go, don’t hire me.” I say this with confidence because I have confidence in my abilities to better people. It’s a bold statement, but I wouldn’t say it if I couldn’t back it up. For example, I can’t promise I can find a new job for a client, but I can promise if they follow my process it will lead them to a new career eventually. That may not sound as convincing as putting a deadline on it, but it’s the truth. I believe the pillars I use for any industry transfer very well. I mean at the end of the day, that’s why someone is hiring me right? They can’t do it on their own, so they’re asking for my help.

This system of mine is something I created over time. I saw the patterns in requests with my clients and responded accordingly. Reference is why people contact me. How I communicate to my clients is what proves credibility. But in the end my system is what helps people make a decision on whether to hire me or not. Why? Because a system creates structure and people want to know whether you have it or not.

The Pie Strategy

Scott Asai2 Comments

When I look at a pie, I imagine cutting it into pieces and devouring it slice by slice…

A whole pie is actually a great illustration for looking at your business. Let me explain.

cherry pie, apple pie, dessert, pie ala mode, piece of the pie

Ever since I started my coaching business, I thought coaching was what I was offering. It was, and still is, but it’s just a piece of the pie – not the entire pie itself.

If I rely on coaching as my only source of income, I’m dead. Even the busiest coaches don’t dream of coaching people all day. They may make a lot of money, but it’s tiring and dependent on your time as the coach being involved.

The “pie strategy” has changed the way I think of my business…

Instead of putting “all my eggs in one basket,” I’ve decided that coaching is one of many things I offer.

I also do training, recruiting, events and I’m working on online marketing and online courses.

By following different lifestyle entrepreneurs, the key insight that hit me was: time ≠ money.

That means you shouldn’t be dependent on making money solely when you’re involved with it.

I offer a service (coaching), but people don’t really want to work with me. What they really want is the knowledge I can impart so they can apply it to their own lives/business.

That being said, online courses make a lot of sense. People can purchase them when they want. It’s cheaper than coaching. I can create them on my own time and I don’t have to be a part of it once it’s live. An in-person event may be overall more engaging, but with the convenience of watching it in your own home, it’s a value that’s hard to beat.

So think about ways to “take yourself out of your business.” Almost like putting it on auto-pilot.

Each new stream of income is like another piece to the pie. Mmm…that tastes good.

Baby Steps

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Having a toddler at home makes you appreciate the small things in life.

Our daughter doesn’t plan much, communicates when she wants to and expects our attention at all times.

One thing that amazes me is how much progress she has made since she was born. In the moment it’s easy to forget, but when you look back at old pictures/videos it’s quite impressive.

santa monica mama, baby steps, young mom, parenting, pump station

I remember when she took her first steps. She wasn’t overly excited like her parents were or possibly even coherent about what just happened. She acted like she planned for this to happen for a while. Reminiscing about that time, reminds me the lesson(s) we can learn from her:

  • Goals are much more achievable if you break them into baby steps.
  • The next time you’re feeling down, look back and see how far you’ve come.
  • What may seem meaningless to us, can be inspirational to others.

It’s so easy to focus on what we don’t have. Where we should be. What we haven’t accomplished. You can choose to focus on the negatives, but what if you stopped dwelling on the past/became anxious about the future and instead enjoyed the present? 

I think my daughter’s simple, daily pleasures come from her mom. My wife has an uncanny ability to enjoy the moment. In fact, it’s influenced her husband at times (I’m still impatient though).

So today instead of looking forward (future) or backward (past), just take baby steps. Before you know it, you’ll get there.