Archives for November 2019

Entrepreneurship is a Roller Coaster. Here’s How You Can Leverage It For Better Outcomes

If you own a business, you’ve probably compared running your company to being on a roller coaster.

You may not know — or readily admit — that it actually has more to do with you than it does with the business.

That’s because most entrepreneurs exhibit at least some traits of bipolar disorder: they are prone to seductive highs, crushing lows and everything in between.

I experienced it while growing 1-800-GOT-JUNK from $2 million to $106 million in revenue over six years and in the years since I left.

Many entrepreneurs — two of the co-founders of Netscape, for example — have been medically diagnosed with the condition.

We call it a disorder — some even say it’s the CEO disease — but that’s not how we have to view it. In fact, based on my experience, I know that these patterns of behavior can be leveraged as a superpower.

The mania, the excitement, the high energy — that’s why people follow you and support your big ideas. The stress and depression that follow are there to help you correct the course, muscle through the difficult things and meet crazy goals. Those lows are usually a signal to rest and recharge (so that we can summon the energy to build and inspire again).

If you learn to recognize your emotional highs and lows, you can harness them so that you know where to put your focus and when.

Think about a world-class athlete operating at peak performance. We do not expect them to function at that level for weeks or months on end without a break. We totally get that they need time off to maintain that level of performance. Why don’t we apply the same standard to entrepreneurs? 

We should.

To do that, you have to understand the Transition Curve. No surprises here — it resembles a roller coaster. There are four distinct stages that I detailed in an interview on Jordan Harbinger’s podcast.

I’m going to outline them here so that you can know how to anticipate the emotional intricacies of entrepreneurship and use them to fuel your success.

Stage 1 — Uninformed Optimism 

The first stage of the entrepreneurial transition curve is characterized by excitement and passion. It can last anywhere from a week to a full year.

Back to the roller coaster. Think of the feeling when you’re heading up the steep slope before the drop — you’re pretty damn excited just before you hit the top. You might not know exactly what’s coming next, but you can’t wait to experience it. That’s uninformed optimism in a nutshell. It’s the thrill of landing a massive new client even though you’re not exactly sure the business can accommodate it.

You’re manic and exuberant. It’s a great time to talk to investors, do recruiting and focus on marketing. Use your voice to capitalize on the optimism and excitement. You’re at your most magnetic and people will want to join you.

But you’ll definitely want to avoid stuff like purchasing decisions, hiring and bookkeeping. This isn’t a season for major decision making.

Stage 2 — Informed Pessimism 

This is when you’re over the top of the curve and you’re having an “oh shit” realization. You get more information and the optimism goes right out the window. The reality of what’s ahead comes into full view, and you’re wondering how you’re actually going to pull it off. You start seeing what might go wrong or you start noticing stuff that you hadn’t clearly anticipated. This stage moves you toward careful action.

For example, you’ve hired an amazing new VP. The “oh shit” moment comes when you start thinking about the salary you offered and now you’re wondering how you’re going to pay him $20k per month.

Here’s a major “oh shit” moment from my own life: I got a tax bill for $420,000 more than I thought I owed. Not fun. I realized there was all this revenue that I hadn’t fully thought through. I started to freak out and panic.

But then I moved into planning mode. I went on a hike with a few entrepreneur friends who helped me figure out what to do next. I went home and made a list of all the expenses that could be cut and the options for increasing revenue and gross margin. There were about 80 things that I had to do. Within three months, they were done and I’d paid my bill.

Stage 3 — Crisis of Meaning

Crisis of meaning is when you’re completely panicked and unable to do anything. You feel paralyzed. It’s scary.

I remember a time when my good friend Brian Scudamore, founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, was in this stage. It was almost 20 years ago. The company was still relatively small at the time. One morning, he called me and told me he wasn’t coming in. He wanted me to assure the leadership team that he was fine and that he’d just be out for the day, but the fact is he was on lying on the floor in the dark in his basement. He needed to detach.

That’s a crisis of meaning.

Stage 4 — Crash and Burn

This is a very low point, where you’ve plunged off the curve. Not everyone gets here. Hopefully, you don’t, but it can happen.

At this stage, you’re either filing for bankruptcy or forced out of your leadership role. It’s game over for now.

Stage 5 — Informed Optimism/Hopeful Realization

This final stage is when you start to feel energized and excited again. You’re sort of like The Little Engine That Could. You’re getting your confidence back.

The danger lies in becoming too optimistic too quickly. You’re about to start the Transition Curve again. But if you don’t recognize that and realize that the pessimism and crisis of meaning are going to creep in as well, you risk unconsciously sprinting towards a major crash and burn.

The key to understanding the Transition Curve is to realize it’s like gravity. You can’t fight it. Go with it and use it to your advantage. It’s your superpower.

Want to get in touch with me? Use this contact form.

Characteristics Of Grit & Why They Are Important

In her viral TED Talk, psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth asks:

“…what if doing well in school and in life depends on much more than your ability to learn quickly and easily?”

She goes on to explain her theory of “grit” and why, at times, it can be a better indicator of success than IQ.

 

What Is Grit?

Grit is an individual’s ability to stick things out. It’s passion, perseverance and strength in the face of adversity. It’s simultaneously the courage to go after your desires, and the mental fortitude to understand when it’s perfectly fine to pivot.

Above all of its definitions, grit is strength of character. It’s sticking to your goals and vision of the future over long periods of time.

Here are some of the characteristics that make an individual more gritty:

 

Courage

Life affords all of us many opportunities to be courageous. However, gritty individuals take bravery to another level.

Courage is not just about physical bravery. It can encompass many brave acts that show strength in the face of fear. As Nelson Mandela said, “courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

Courage comes in many forms and can include: “taking a chance when others will not, following your vision no matter where it takes you, standing up for what you believe in, especially when your beliefs are unpopular, or simply doing the right thing even though easier options exist — those are all forms of bravery.” – Inc.com

‘Sticktoitiveness’ (a.k.a Persistence) 

‘Sticktoitiveness’ (stick-to-it-iveness) is an individual’s ability to stay the course. It’s persistence that comes from within and tells you not to give up.

“On your long haul to greatness you’re going to stumble, and you will need to get back up on the proverbial horse.” – Forbes.com

Individuals with grit have a natural resilience and an ability to get up each time they fall!

Patience & Long-Term Thinking 

Patience is one of the most important characteristics of grit. Gritty individuals know that success is a marathon, not a sprint.

“According to the latest research, one of the biggest indicators of grit is an ability to delay gratification while working on a task.” – Go Strengths

Sometimes, the best way to move a project forward is to give it time. Due to their thoughtful nature, gritty people know when they’ve done all they can, and they’re not afraid to commit long-term!

 

Integrity

Integrity is indicative of anyone who has grit and strength of character. This is where ‘sticktoitiveness’ really comes into play for gritty individuals.

“You can’t take “grit” out of integrity. They go together and one cannot exist without the other… Your word is your bond. If we shake hands on it, it’s a binding contract. There’s integrity in sticking to your goals.” – David B. Nast

When you have grit, it’s not just your goals you stick to, it’s also your word!

 

Passion 

Last but not least, an individual with grit has a passion for what they do. Passion gives gritty people an edge. Paired with their persistence and other qualities, it allows them to find deep satisfaction in their work.

Without passion, an individual, no matter how hard they work or how many qualities of grit they have, will fall short. At the end of the day, everyone is looking for a purpose in what they do. For someone with grit, passion is the quality that allows the other four to shine through!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

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Meetings Suck: Turning One Of The Most Loathed Elements Of Business Into One Of The Most Valuable

We all know that meetings suck, right?

You hear it all the time. It’s the one thing that almost everyone in business can agree on.

Except it’s not actually true… 

Meetings don’t suck.

We just suck at running meetings.   

When done right, meetings not only work, they make people and companies better.

In Meetings Suck, world renowned business expert and growth guru Cameron Herold teaches you how to use focused, time effective meetings to help you and your company soar.

This book shows you immediately actionable, step-by-step systems that ensure that you and everyone in your organization improves your meetings, right away.

In the process, you’ll turn meetings that suck into meetings that work. 

In life, we always hear about people who’ve made huge decisions from their gut – without data.Today, I want you to make a decision, not only from your gut, but also from some data.  A decision that is only $12 per employee but will be priceless for your business.

Right now, your gut is telling you something is wrong with your company’s meetings.  You KNOW everyone complains about meetings.

People HATE going to them, they HATE running them, and they really have NO idea which meetings are truly necessary but they hold meetings simply because they think that is what they SHOULD do.

Even some of the smartest CEOs in the world complain about meetings – Elon Musk publicly told employees at Tesla & SpaceX to walk out of meetings if they weren’t being run properly.

I sent Elon a message saying that wasn’t going to fix anything – the key is to fix the root of the problem – NOT continue to ignore why meetings suck.

A Meeting is – Any phone call, video call or occasion where 2 or more people meet to discuss or work-through office topics.

Most employees on average spend 1-2 hours per day in meetings.

And likely, none of those employees – front-line staff or leaders – have had any training on how to attend meetings or participate in them, LET ALONE How to RUN THEM.

Consider this…

If the Average employee spends just 1 Hour per day in meetings – that’s 1/8th of their time.

If the Average employee earns $50,000 per year.

And they’re spending 1/8th of their time in meetings, that means you’re paying $6,250 dollars per year for just ONE employee to attend meetings.

The reality is, employees spend 1/8th of their time – and 1/8th of your company’s payroll – doing something they have literally NO idea how to do.

The Reality is…

95% of employees are booking & leading meetings – and they have NEVER been trained on how to run them.

95% of employees have had NO training on how to show up and participate in the meetings they attend daily.

And 95% of employees and companies have no idea what meetings are even necessary to hold.

Meetings CAN be hugely effective – IF you know how to run them

Meetings don’t SUCK, we just SUCK at running meetings. 

Investing $15 per employee – to help ensure the $50,000 a year you spend on them is an obvious and easy choice.

This could be the most impactful $15 you’ll ever spend and will save the company’s money, time and resources instantly.

Buying a copy of Meetings Suck for 100% of your employees and having them read it this month will have a huge impact on your company’s success.

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Free PR: How To Get Chased By The Press Without Hiring A PR Firm

Public relations has always been an essential part of doing business which is probably why you’re shelling out big money to an outside PR firm. But the truth is that you don’t need them. You already have all the necessary tools in-house to do as good a job as the so-called experts. 

Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic have taught thousands of company execs how to exploit free media coverage and ditch these expensive, often ineffective outsiders. 

Cameron & Adrian have also built in-house PR teams, spent decades learning how to generate Free PR and how to leverage public relations to complement their sales and marketing strategy. 

In Free PR, you’ll learn how the media world operates while you gain invaluable insider knowledge and actionable advice on how to: 

  • Build your own in-house PR team
  • Provide effective interviews
  • Score great media coverage for free with just a few easy steps 

Landing public relations coverage for yourself and your company is a powerful tool to help elevate your personal brand. PR is easier to generate than marketing, PR is easier to leverage than marketing and PR is more cost effective than marketing. In other words, Public Relations is more critical than ever in growing your brand and your business. 

You’ve got more passion, commitment, a larger stake, and a deeper understanding of your business than any outside PR firm could ever have. So stop wasting money and take the reins yourself.  Learn the secrets to landing TONS of Free PR for your company.

What they’re saying:

“I think PR is the core for promoting any business. Public relations acquires customers! That’s what’s cool about this book.”

– Kevin O’Leary,  Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank

“The ultimate guidebook for those looking to get press, grow their brand, and get in front of the masses. Free PR is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.”

– Peter Shankman, Founder, Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

“Adrian and Cameron will show you the secrets of getting massive exposure for your business. This book is packed with actionable insights from two guys that actually know how to to do it.”

– Dan Martell,  Serial Entrepreneur & Investor (Intercom.io, Unbounce)

“I told Cameron to write the book on generating free PR. I’m excited to see that he’s finally sharing his secrets with the world. This is a must read for any entrepreneurial company and marketing team.”

– Verne Harnish, Founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)

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Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future

Many corporations have slick, flashy mission statements that ultimately do little to motivate employees and less to impress customers, investors, and partners. 

But there is a way to share your excitement for the future of your company in a clear, compelling, and powerful way and entrepreneur and business growth expert Cameron Herold can show you how. 

Vivid Vision is a revolutionary tool that will help owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies. In this easy-to-follow guide, Herold walks organization leaders through the simple steps to creating their own Vivid Vision, from brainstorming to sharing the ideas to using the document to drive progress in the years to come. 

By focusing on mapping out how you see your company looking and feeling in every category of business, without getting bogged down by data and numbers or how it will happen, Vivid Vision creates a holistic road map to success that will get all of your teammates passionate about the big picture. 

Your company is your dream, one that you want to share with your staff, clients, and stakeholders. Vivid Vision is the tool you need to make that dream a reality.

miracle-morning

The Miracle Morning for
Entrepreneurs: Elevate Your SELF to
Elevate Your BUSINESS

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

Hal Elrod’sThe Miracle Morning has helped redefine the mornings and the lives of millions of readers since 2012. Since then, careers have been launched, goals have been met, and dreams have been realized, all through the power of the Miracle Morning’s six Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

THESE SIX DAILY PRACTICES WILL FUEL YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

Now The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs brings you these principles in a whole new light—alongside the Entrepreneurial Elevation Principles and the Entrepreneur’s Elevation Skills. These are essential skills that you need to create a successful business and personal life. Cameron Herold— Bestselling Author and a widely-respected expert on entrepreneurial mindset—brings his wisdom and insight to you using Hal Elrod’s powerful Miracle Morning framework.

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR BUSINESS, AND BECOME THE INFLUENTIAL AND INSPIRING LEADER YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE.

The principles and skills you’ll find in this book will help you to channel your passion and achieve balance in a remarkable new way. – Learn why mornings matter more than you think – Learn how to master your own self-leadership and accelerate your personal development – Learn how to manage your energy—physical, mental, and emotional – Learn how to implement Hal Elrod’s invaluable Life S.A.V.E.R.S. in your daily routine – And much more… You’re already an entrepreneur. Now discover how to take your success to the next level by first taking yourself to the next level. The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs is your roadmap to masterfully building an empire with a powerful vision, utilizing your areas of personal genius, with the right team at your side.

Start giving your business and your life the very best opportunities for success, right now.

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.