Marketing tips, marketing help and advice

How to become an idea generating superpower

By Jim Connolly | December 12, 2018

You are an idea person. And as such, you have the ability to blow the lid of your potential and (literally) grow the most amazing business you can imagine.

However, in order to unlock this often overlooked superpower, you need to know how to get started. You’ll also need to know how to overcome the stumbling block. In this brief post, I’ll help you with both those challenges.

We need to start by understanding that there are 2 types of idea people:

Those who have lots of ideas.
Those who have lots of ideas… and do something with them.

Putting our ideas into action

The person who has lots of ideas and doesn’t use them, sets a very low ceiling on their potential. Conversely, those with the motivation to put their ideas into play, give themselves ever-expanding possibilities. Here’s a quick snapshot of how that latter group tend to operate, when it comes to ideas.

It looks like this.

An idea will come to them.
Then, they make sure they capture the idea whilst it’s still fresh in their mind. For example, using the record function of their phone.
Next, they write the idea down.
They then chew on the idea for a while and determine its potential.
And if they believe it’s worth working on, they develop a simple plan to get it out of their head and into the world.
They take the first step on that plan.
Then the next…

Over the years, I’ve found that the key difference between those who work on their ideas and those who do not, seems to be their mindset regarding failure and criticism.

Failure in context

Those who act on their ideas, see failure as essential feedback. They know that nothing ships perfectly first time. That’s why your software is constantly updated and your hardware is a dinosaur, after a few years.

Updates, improvements and advancements come from feedback. In short: No feedback, no progress!

This means we need to eagerly seek out feedback whenever possible. Not try to avoid it.

Criticism in context

Those who act on their ideas understand criticism and handle it accordingly. They don’t allow critics to derail them.

They regard criticism as inevitable, ESPECIALLY if their idea is a big success. Every great idea, product and service has critics. There are no exceptions to this rule. This means if we try to avoid criticism, we’re proactively trying to avoid success, albeit unconsciously.

Note: I cover criticism in more detail here: Why people criticise you and how to deal with it, in just 3 steps.

The great news is that whether we are aware of it or not, we are all idea-generating powerhouses. And by capturing our ideas and putting the best ones into play, we open up endless possibilities.

Destroying your competitors: Here’s what you need to know

By Jim Connolly | November 28, 2018

Updated August 2021

If we want to elevate our business above the competition, there are a couple of broad routes available to us.

Here they are.

Destroy our competition

We can choose to take every opportunity to denigrate, belittle and diminish our competitors. We can bad-mouth them. Maybe even spread nasty stories about them or call them out when they screw up. In short, we can try to ruin their reputation.

The idea here, is that if we make our competitors look bad, our business should look better in comparison. Of course, it’s really difficult to do this without looking like a jerk. And that’s a really bad look for us and our business, which will eventually spread around the marketplace. Before we know it, it’s our own business that we’ve damaged with our actions. Seriously, it’s an approach that’s doomed to fail before we even start.

There’s a far better approach.

Build our own business

Alternatively, we can choose to constantly seek out ways to improve what we do. We can dedicate ourselves to out-caring our competitors, and set increasingly high standards of service excellence. We can make promises and deliver on them, earning the trust of our clients. We may even choose to become a respected innovator. Or strive to become a leader in our industry.

The potential pay-off here is huge. Because if we focus on building our own business correctly, we’ll never have to worry about the competition again. And all the while, we’re proactively increasing the value of the services we provide and the value of our business.

For serious business owners, there’s only one choice. My friend, we need to focus on the things we can control. And do everything we can, with everything we have, to create a profitable business that we can rightly be proud of. This is the proven route to success.

Are you excited about your business? You should be. Here’s why!

By Jim Connolly | November 26, 2018

attract best clients, great clients

How excited are you about your business?

Here’s why I’m asking. It matters. It really, really matters. That’s because people notice. They notice when you’re enthusiastic and just as importantly, they notice when you’re going through the motions.

The thing about enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is highly contagious: When someone talks to us with enthusiasm, we feed off their excitement. We lean forward and pay attention. We feel more confident about them. It’s a positive experience, which leaves a powerful impression on us.

However…

A lack of enthusiasm is equally contagious: When someone talks to us about their business with too little enthusiasm, we feed off their lack of interest. We politely nod. Our interest drops. There’s no energy. We soon forget them and whatever they said.

We can’t expect our customers, contacts or the marketplace in general to be enthusiastic about our business, if we’re not. It starts with us. So, don’t hide your excitement. Don’t keep it a secret. Let it shine through everything you do.

I’ve had some ideas. And now they’re yours. You’re welcome

By Jim Connolly | November 17, 2018

marketing, pick you, choose you

I shared a few ideas with business owners this week, which they found useful. So, I thought I’d share them with you.

Here they are in no particular order.

Become a proactive collector of ideas

When you get an idea, stop what you’re doing and capture it. Then set a little time aside at the end of each day to focus on what you’ve captured.

I usually grab ideas using the voice recorder on my phone. Especially if they come to me whilst out walking, which is where most of my best ideas come from. Later, I get them down in writing. This allows me to dig a little deeper. If an idea still seems like it could be useful, I keep it. By the way, this post is the result of an idea I had yesterday.

Invest in something your business needs

Invest in something today, which you know your business needs. Succeeding in business it challenging enough, when we give our business everything it needs. If we choose to starve our business of these resources, it’s impossible to survive… let alone thrive.

Make a tricky decision

Find a decision you have been avoiding and take action on it. Indecisiveness destroys progress. It’s also a major source of stress and unhappiness. It’s no coincidence that the most successful business owners are all proactive decision makers.

We need to remember that the decision to avoid a decision (to do nothing) is also a decision. By proactively making decisions, we regain control.

Share something useful

Publish something today, which will be useful to your marketplace and showcase your expertise. This might be a blog post, vlog, newsletter, social media update… whichever you prefer. The key is to make sure that what you’re sharing is useful (to them) and not just a sales pitch.

Useful, knowledgeable people are always in demand. Think about that for a moment.

Start a new book

Start reading a book today, which will educate you or inspire you. The internet is useful for lots of things, but nothing quite beats a book, for delivering the written word with the focus and detail required.

This need not be a business book.

None (literally not one) of the most useful things I have learned from a book, came from a business book. They came from books on; faith, art, design, psychology, comedy, sport, music, history and lots more.

I’m not saying business books have no value. Just that the big lessons tend to come from outside the narrow business arena.

For example, a business owner who’s starting with very little money, will probably learn more from a book about the amazing success of Andy Warhol, than a business book. Plus, it’s extremely hard to get noticed, if you feed your mind on the same ideas from the same business gurus as your competitors.

I hope you found at least one of these ideas and suggestions useful, my friend. If you did, the next step is to put it into action and measure the results.

Unforgettable kindness

By Jim Connolly | November 13, 2018

Your friends, colleagues, customers and contacts have something in common.

They’ll remember what you did when times were tough for them. They’ll recall how you treated them when they needed a break… when your support meant everything.

Yes, even those who fail to say thank you, will remember you. Not everyone finds it easy to show gratitude, especially when they’re embarrassed by their situation.

On a personal note, I still remember people who helped me when I was starting out in business. I remember those who believed in me, when no one else did. I remember those who introduced me to useful contacts. And I remember those who mentored me and guided me.

Of course, the opposite is also true

People soon forget yet another pat on the back, when they’re going through a boom period. And they’ll quickly forget yet another offer of help, when they clearly have absolutely no need for it.

As a business owner you already know that your time is scarce. So, use it wisely. Where it can have the greatest impact.

Australian business owners topped my list

By Jim Connolly | November 12, 2018

As regular readers will know, I have long been an advocate for adopting a global approach to business. It’s not something that works for every industry, but where it’s possible, it’s exceptionally effective. That’s because it affords you greater protection against economic conditions, whilst also providing you with a wider spread of business.

I was mindful of this earlier today. I discovered what I’d already guessed: That the biggest market for my paid services in 2018 has been Australian business owners. If you’re interested, here’s the top 5.

Australia.
UK.
Canada.
Ireland
New Zealand.

The United States has topped my list, every year for almost 20 years. But things change in business. And the rate of change has never been greater. Which is why as business owners, we need to adopt an agile mindset. Because what looks certain today can change in a heartbeat.

3 Fantastic opportunities

By Jim Connolly | October 29, 2018

Here are 3 fantastic opportunities, which are available to you today.

The opportunity to make promises and deliver on them. Set deadlines. When you tell a client; “It will be with you at 3pm Thursday”, it has a much bigger impact than saying, “It will be with you later this week”. This is a powerful way to earn trust and build a great reputation. (More here).
The opportunity to invest in others. In short, leave people better than you find them. It doesn’t have to cost you a dime. If you find an article, which you think a contact or client will find useful, share it with them. Even something as simple as a smile from you, can have a positive impact on another person. It could be the only sunshine they see today.
The opportunity to learn something new (and useful). Access to knowledge has never been easier or less expensive. Here’s why this is such a great opportunity: There’s a direct link between what you know and the size of the problems you can solve. Those who earn the highest fees, solve the biggest problems.
The opportunity to do more than people expect from you. Those who over-deliver are always in short supply. That’s why there are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

Opportunity is knocking. Today and every day.

16 Examples of how the most successful business owners think differently

By Jim Connolly | October 25, 2018

When we examine any industry, including yours and mine, we see something extremely valuable. And today, I’d like to share it with you.

Marketing different

It’s a pattern.

Only a small percentage of business owners build a valuable community around their work.
Only a small percentage of business owners look for opportunities to inspire and encourage others.
Only a small percentage of business owners create a story worth sharing.
Only a small percentage of business owners proactively look for big problems to solve.
Only a small percentage of business owners invest enough in their education.
Only a small percentage of business owners are eager to lead.
Only a small percentage of business owners listen to their marketplace and build experiences around what they hear.
Only a small percentage of business owners are truly committed to go the extra mile.
Only a small percentage of business owners selectively choose their clients and ignore the rest.
Only a small percentage of business owners are willing to make tough decisions and back them up with action.
Only a small percentage of business owners refuse to surrender their focus to the never-ending stream of interruptions.
Only a small percentage of business owners strive to out-care their competitors.
Only a small percentage of business owners intentionally take time, every day, to look after their mind and body.
Only a small percentage of business owners care enough to create or share a useful blog post, newsletter, vlog or podcast.
Only a small percentage of business owners are willing to visibly stand out from their competitors.
Only a small percentage of business owners are committed to do work that matters, rather than work that pays the bills.

I could go on.

That pattern matters. It matters because it’s also only a small percentage of business owners who succeed in any meaningful way.

And that’s no coincidence my friend.

Is too much choice destroying your marketing results?

By Jim Connolly | October 18, 2018

How many different levels of service or pricing options do you offer?

That’s a really important question. Because if, like many business owners you offer too many options, it’s needlessly ruining your sales results.

Allow me to explain.

Here’s what happens when we offer too much choice.

The more options we put in front of someone, the more choice they have.
The more choice they have, the harder it is for them to decide.
The harder we make their decision process, the less likely they are to hire us or buy from us.
So, they move on. And we lose a client enquiry. Ouch!

In short: Clarity sells.

Too much choice and ‘toxic complexity’

Too much choice adds what I call toxic complexity to a marketing message.

Toxic, because it causes confusion.

Complexity, because it makes our message too complicated for a prospective client to easily understand.

One of the oldest sayings in marketing is, “A confused mind always says no!”. In other words, when faced with a buying decision, a confused prospective client will not proceed. They’ll say no. And we are the ones who pay the price for their lack of clarity.

The solution?

Seek out unnecessary complexity. I recommend you look at the number of service levels, pricing options and packages you provide. Remember to take into account how many items are listed within each option or package.

Then consider whether you actually need to offer so much choice, so much complexity, so much potential for confusion. And if not, reduce. Everything that needs to be there should remain. But nothing else.

By simplifying the decision making process for your prospective clients, you make it easier for them to hire you or buy from you. And when that decision is easier, more prospective clients will become actual clients.