Wednesday 30 November 2011

Is Marketing going pink?


A careful look at the top executive slots at the blue chip companies show that a good percentage of these positions are occupied by women. When you shift focus to the local best performing marketing, advertising and PR agencies in Kenya most of them are owned by Kenyan women. Eg Joanne Mwangi of PMS, Sue omanga of Exclamation marketing, Jennifer Barasa of Top Image, Jebet Chemngwony Of grey owl, Ms Nyokabi of Marketing strategies and solutions; Generally, women have held their forte in marketing and  corporate PR  not forgetting the queen of PR: Gina Din kariuki. Closer here I sit in a 5member MSA Executive committee headed by a woman with just one man, the rest being women. Being a passionate male marketer in a female dominated profession I sought to know why women beat us when it comes to pushing brands. According to the Women's Success in Marketing Study published in a Brand week cover story ("Break On Through," September 11, 2006 edition), while their climb to upper management ranks within the corporation has been painfully slow in recent years, women are quickly moving up the ladder in marketing due in large part to their decision-making styles. When asked about reasons behind the rise of women in marketing, male and female marketers pointed to gender-associated personality characteristics, women a bit more so than men; Here are some of the few character traits that give women a good chance to succeed as marketers;
Women listen and take time to understand the customer’s needs, listen to their problems and seek ways to fill that niche. Marketing is all about understanding your consumer, which can only happen if you listen;it is fundamentally a challenge of understanding. Yes, later on we create advertising and packaging and other rhetorical tools, but the first and foremost issue for marketers is to understand their consumer and bring that understanding into the organization.
Women favor a mutual’ approach and desire to ‘influence’ which are the best ways to produce a successful marketing programme. They like to build consensus before taking a decision. They are more likely to be cautious and are more concerned about the long term effects of a programme.
Women are more elastic and are more likely to alter a plan if needed. Women intuitively understand that the ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work. Women are much more likely to delve into the intricacies and specific details of a problem. Female marketers are more likely to avoid the centre stage and allow the right spokesperson to represent the brand to consumers. It’s an approach most male marketers struggle with.
Women understand better and appreciate the importance of developing an emotional connection with a brand a fact most men contend with unless we have a beer brand in question. Lastly women have been socialized as "influencers," whereas men tend to demonstrate managerial qualities that reflect a more military-like command and control. However each individual marketer has his/her own operational style, which is usually influenced by the culture of the company rather than the gender. However, except for a few women-specific products, it would be doubtful for her to say that women are fundamentally better than men at this. Sectors like FMCG do have a higher number of women in marketing positions compared to other sectors, it is mostly a function of interest than anything else. And it works well, because most FMCG purchases or major buying decisions are generally made by women consumers.  
I hope that men are taking this seriously; I don’t want to be left alone in the battle front let’s give them a tougher challenge.



Monday 14 November 2011

We have also given Brand Kenya a special category at the pageant.This is not just a usual beauty pageant,We want to test the model’s creativity,originality brilliance and uniqueness by having a category to show Patriotism and being proudly Kenyan..all this at the FACE OF MARKETING 2011.send your profile and photos to msa.uon@gmail.com to participate U must B [18-24 yrs][university and college students]

Strategies to ensure effective communication to the Customer.


Customers in the 21st century are exposed to all sorts of ads, promotions, billboards, fliers and the internet as
companies market their products. They are well informed and very sensitive to price, quality and what your brand claims to do. Competition is stiff among firms and only businesses that communicate the right message at the exact time to the correct audience survive the fierce war to remain profitable. This aspect makes companies put great effort to pass the right message to their target consumers.
Reviews and Surveys
Companies that seek to remain in the market must carry out research to understand their customers. This analysis helps businesses to know what the market needs and know the perceptions and misconceptions their product or service has in the market. These assessments should be done regularly as customer tastes and preferences change frequently. When a company gets that feedback then it is better placed to communicate to its consumers.
Analyze Complaints.
Investigate the complaints you receive from customers. This will show you trends in why you’re losing loyal clients then make appropriate changes. Most consumers will not protest and will simply walk away to another seller. Criticism is good for a business as it helps the company improve on their weak points. This helps the company to address any negative information in the media that is not true.
Right Channel And Media.
You should use the right communication channels to pass the message to your customers. Most businesses use the wrong media to pass the communication hence the intended message gets to the unintended audience. One should choose the means by which the message is spread so that it gets to its aimed viewers and listeners.
Keep It Simple.
Communication should be straight to the point. The message should be clear, easy to understand and memorable. It should also leave an impression on the consumers, arouse desire and push the consumers to buy the product. Most consumers do not know the meaning when you pass the message using a language or words they do not understand. Do not give lengthy, unnecessary details that confuse the audience.

FACE OF MARKETING BEAUTY PAGEANT


MARKETING STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

The Marketing Students’ Association, University of Nairobi is a student-based professional organization composed of students with a passion for the marketing profession. We draw membership from all the schools in the University of Nairobi with linkages with other marketing students associations in other universities and colleges in Kenya.
We have a campus reach of over 10,000 students and pride ourselves in our vision to empower our members to be the business leaders of tomorrow
The University of Nairobi School of business hosts the event on the 25th of November 2011: The 2011 face of marketing is shaping up to be a great event.
The Face of Marketing is an annual grand event organized by the Marketing Students Association (MSA) of University of Nairobi. This year brand Kenya, interconsumer products, Youth enterprise development fund and marketing society of Kenya all sponsors. More corporates can support the students to make the event a success.
It is a beauty pageant competition set around exciting, innovative and fast paced entertainment and activities. The activities include strutting catwalks, body building and also exhibits a number of talent from different genres such as music, dances, comedies and martial arts among others.
According to Kerubo Nyamwaro the Chairperson  M.S.A ,The theme of this year’s event is ‘CREATING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE YOUTH’, through this MSA would wish to encourage the youth to explore their talents and use them as the foundation for improving their lives and for those around them. Great emphasis shall be made on using entrepreneurship as a tool for dealing with unemployment and strengthening the Kenyan economy. The Beauty Pageant aims at producing student ambassadors who will always spearhead projects within and outside the Kenyan University’s fraternity.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
v  Promote entrepreneurship
v  Promote talent
v  Create a market base for our sponsors
v  Promote corporate relations
v  Market the University of Nairobi and its environs as a talent hub
v  Create an avenue for cultural diversity appreciation
v  Promoting positive ethnicity by embracing different cultural practices
v  Fun
The target group comprises of University of Nairobi students, Students from other Universities and Colleges, General public, Fashion enthusiasts, General urban youth, Male and female above 18 years of age
Models can register by sending their profiles to msa.uon@gmail.com. See you there.

Contacts

Wesley owiti
Project manager
MSA face of marketing

Friday 11 November 2011

social media resources you can use for your small business

Social Media Blogs

The world of social media is so young and constantly growing that it’s hard to stay on top of it. The following blogs will give you the best, most up-to-date information, tips and ideas you will need.
  1. Social Media Examiner – Michael Stelzner runs the world’s largest online social media magazine designed to help businesses master social media marketing with Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
  2. Mashable – Social Media news blog covering cool new websites and social networks founded by Pete Cashmere from his apartment in Aberdeen, Scotland. Also covers news and developments in mobile, entertainment, online video, business, web development, technology, memes and gadgets.
  3. Soshable – This blog tries to keep up with all things social media, analyze them and then provide fresh insights into the people and structures that drive engagement.
  4. TechCrunch – One of the best known sources for social media and technology news that also profiles startups, product launches and new websites.
  5. Brand Savant – Professional researcher Tom Webster tries to make sense of the social web. Principal author of the study Twitter Users In America, The Social Habit, The Podcast Consumer Revealed and other widely-cited studies of consumer technology usage.
  6. TopRank – Lee Odden runs this popular multiple-author blog full advice on digital marketing and public relations topics including, SEO, content marketing and business blogging and marketing
  7. Convince & Convert – Social media evangelist Jay Baer, who’s been a digital marketing consultant since 1994, provides no B.S. social media and marketing tips.
  8. Six Pixels of Separation – Digital marketing and social media insights from Twist Image president Mitch Joel, dubbed the “Rock Star of Digital Marketing” by Marketing Magazine.
  9. Social Media Explorer – Daily advice on social media marketing, conversational marketing, PR, community building and branding from leading educator, public speaker and thinker in the world of digital marketing and social media Jason Falls.
  10. Danny Brown – This blog explores the human side of social media and the social side of marketing. Very unique.
  11. Brian Solis – Author of the book Engage and principal at Altimeter Group, a research-based advisory firm, Brian Solis’ blog is required reading for anyone in the social media business.
  12. David Fleet – Blog of Edleman’s Vice President of Digital, must-read for anyone who is a communications professional.
  13. The Anti-Social Media – Jay Dolan pokes fun at social media to help us do it better. Very funny!
  14. Web Strategy – Jeremiah Owyang was probably one of the first on the social media scene. This Altimeter Group industry analyst has a great take on disruptive technologies.
  15. AllFacebook – Launched in 2007 and later acquired by MediaBistro, churns out useful content on the world’s largest social network.
  16. Socialnomics – In-depth insights on the impact of social media on business and the world through short social stories, statistics and studies.
  17. Techipedia – Tamar Weinberg is a social media enthusiast who breaks down all aspects of digital marketing.
  18. Social Media Marketing Blog – Head of social media for Ford shares advice on the complexities of online marketing and the convergence of traditional and new media.

Social Media Books

Reading books on social media will not give you the latest information, but it’s a great way to learn the foundational things from the best.
  1. Likeable Social Media – The lesson behind Dave Kerpen’s book is simple: be likable. Do that and you’ll delight your customers, create an irresistible brand and be pretty awesome on Facebook.
  2. Groundswell – Great book by Forrester associates Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff that identifies your social media audience and gives you a process to create a strategy.
  3. Social Media Bible – Everything you need—tools, tactics and strategy–to succeed in social media and transform your small or large business.
  4. Zen of Social Media Marketing – Good argument that traditional marketing and the new social media marketing don’t mix. Shama Kabani proves there’s an easier way to build credibility.
  5. The Whuffie Factor – Tara Hunt explains that building a business online is about social capital. She tells you how to get it.
  6. The Dragonfly Effect – A popular class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business is turned into a handbook on using the power and popularity of social media to do good in the world.
  7. Content Rules – A great book on how to create content for blogs, videos, ebooks and podcasts that people can’t resist. This one by MarketingProfs Ann Handley
  8. Big Book of Social Media – Perfect for finding case studies and perspectives on social media success. Great for your bookshelf as a reference.
  9. Open Leadership – Co-author of Groundswell shows leaders how social media has changed the business landscape and what to do about it.

Social Media Tools

Social media is a full time job. The following tools will help you manage, monitor and measure your social media campaigns efficiently and effectively.
  1. IceRocket – Keep tabs on who is saying what about you, your brand or your client on the web, Twitter, video and more with this free buzz search tool.
  2. Kurrently – Free social search engine that shows you what’s being shared on Twitter and Facebook. Clean, simple interface. Free.
  3. Blekko – Allows you to narrow your social media searches with “slashtags.”
  4. Klout – Measures awareness across multiple social platforms like Google+, Facebook and Twitter. This site is really growing and you need to watch what it does.
  5. Socialbakers – Monitor and measure your Facebook stats with their Engagement Analytics PRO or Engagement Builder PRO.
  6. PostRank Analytics – Helps you measure and improve social media audience loyalty by identifying influencers and measuring off-site engagement.
  7. Google Blog Search – Another great tool to help you monitor keywords across blogs. Free and just like the search engine, except focused on blogs.
  8. Social Mentions – Set up alerts for certain keywords that you get when people use that keyword on the social web.
  9. TwazzUp – If you want a buzz monitoring tool that focuses on Twitter, then TwazUp is your best bet. Simple, clean layout. Free.
  10. TwitterFall – Shows you how to monitor what is being said about your brand. Not the greatest layout, but the geolocation feature is cool for local search.
  11. Friend or Follow – Want to know who’s following you and who’s not? This tool is for you. Can be a little tricky when it comes to cleaning up your list, though.
  12. Wetoku – If you interview people with video, then make side-by-side video interviews with this easy-to-use tool. Easy to record and easy to share. Free.
  13. SocialCam – The easiest way to share videos with your social network. For Android and iPhone only.
  14. Instagram – Great way to treat and share your photos with your social networks. Combine this with Blurb and you can make great promotional books cheap.
  15. Board Tracker – Follow customers who are more likely to spend time on message boards than other channels. Remember, forums are social media, too.

Social Media Information

Blogs and books will tell you must of what you need to know about social media, but they don’t cover everything.
  1. Social Networking 101 – From getting started to more advanced stuff like “clickjacking” on Facebook, a comprehensive beginner’s guide on social media from the people at PC magazine.
  2. Social Media Glossary – Ever feel like people in social media are speaking another language? Find out the definitions for the top 100 social media words.
  3. Social Media ROI Pyramid – A great framework for understanding how social media can achieve your business goals by Jeremiah Owyang. Lots of graphs and charts.
  4. Social Media Best Practices – Brian Solis, the grandfather of social media suggests you follow these 14 guidelines if you want to succeed at social  media.
  5.  Social Media Cheat Sheet – Getting executive level approval on social media campaigns can be a pain some times. This infographic for CMO’s will help them understand the social media landscape.
  6. Ultimate Social Media List – Giant list of social media and networking sites by category that’s constantly updated. You got to see it to believe it.
  7. Social Media Marketing FAQ – Comprehensive question and answer on all things social media marketing. Great for beginners and experts.

Social Media Conferences

Attending a social media conference introduces you face-to-face with the best in the business. It’s really the climax of good social media efforts.
  1. BlogWorld and New Media Expo – Industry-wide conference for new media professionals that’s easily the biggest and the best.
  2. DigidaySocial – An event is designed to serve executives, presidents, CEOs, CMOs, EVPs and directors in charge of social media.
  3. PR + MKTG Camp – PR and marketing professionals meet to discuss the impact social media has on their disciplines. Very casual and great for brainstorming.
  4. Schmoozd – A casual conference where you can get to know other social media professionals while still walking away with tons of great ideas. The connections alone are worth it.
  5. Social Fresh – Social media training and events targeted to marketers. This event tours the country so you can typically find one near you.
  6. Social Media Strategies Summit – A great way to meet and learn from the best in the industry and grow your social media skill set. Events in London and Vegas.
  7. Social Biz World – Attend the keynote speeches, workshops and round-table discussions free of this small but very intimate conference.
  8. SXSW Interactive – An indie approach to social media conferences that will open your eyes to new possibilities and introduce you to unexpected social media experts. Always fun and interesting.
Do you know of any other good social media resources

Writer makes it big in property magazine


She has tried her hands in business several times and despite failing and loosing money along the way, Christine Mweteeli 41, has never tired.  Driven to find to solutions for problems Christine, a Kenyatta University Bachelor of Commerce graduate has been employed for a combined two years only in her life.
“I have always wanted to be self-employed,” says Christine.
About two years ago while running a property business with her husband Mike, Christine noticed a gap in the market.
“Information on properties that would be affordable to middle class income earners was lacking.  The only property magazine that was available targeted the high end market and advertised houses that were beyond the reach of most Kenyans,” she recalls.
Christine argues that she wanted to give an option to people who advertise on shopping malls, citing a common scenario at the Sarit Center Shopping mall in Westland’s where hundreds of houses for sale and lease are advertised.
To fill this gap, Christine started Property Zone, a monthly property magazine that showcases affordable properties as well as educates and informs readers on legal matters, construction and new opportunities.
“We strive to make our magazine very informing to the readers. Other then property listings we cover stories on emerging opportunities in the sector such as housing for students, conversion of homes into offices and new markets such as Uganda and Sudan,” she says.
To date, Christine an avid reader and writer who also serves as the magazines Managing Editor has 17 publications to her name. She has managed to bring in real estate agents, developers, banks and other mortgage lenders, interior and décor experts as well as lawyers in her portfolio of clients.
 With several thousands of copies published every month and distributed countrywide Christine employs….people on full time basis.
Starting out though, Christine attests was challenging for the reason that many publication have come and mysteriously disappeared from shelves.
“A lot of publications dealing with property have come and gone.  Even websites have been shut down. We had a problem of credibility. People were skeptical at first that we wouldn’t survive for long,” she recalls.
With capital raised from the family’s’ property business, Christine published an 8 page dummy magazine and begun scouting for advertisers.
“I discovered no one will believe I am doing a magazine until I did one. So I published a magazine at my own cost with no paid adverts. Before long we brought along loyal customers and since then our list of advertisers and subscribers keeps growing,” says Christine.
Having made it this far Christine is optimistic that the magazines’ numbers will keep growing in the future.
“We have had inquires in Rwanda and Uganda. We are definitely planning to enter these markets as we expand to the entire region. We want to offer our readers affordable housing options,” she says.
 Christine reckons that whereas in the US youthfulness is the society’s core value, in Kenya matters land and home ownership are dear to almost everyone.
“Most Kenyans are interested in investing property.  My dream is to train people in the future on how to make the right investment decisions in the property sector,”
 On Kenya’s hiking property prices, Christine argues that for as a long as demand overrides supply the price will keep going up citing the acute housing shortage in Kenya estimated to stand at about 150, 000 houses every year.
 Though publishing has its challenges especially on handling deadlines and ensuring quality, Christine argues that the venture has been worthwhile. 
“I am glad to deal with and support Small and Medium Enterprises.  Though the spotlight is always on the few big property businesses it is worth noting that SMEs are actually closing a lot of deals in the property sector because their houses are affordable and their decision making process is faster,” 
 In her many attempts in business Christine quips that she has had varied levels of success.
“I have lost money in ventures.  I have failed and picked up. It is a personality thing. I just want to solve problems. That is not to say that I don’t get discouraged but for some reason I get the energy to keep going on,” says Christine who is also a motivational speaker.
 Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs:
“Don’t wait until you perfect it. I did not know how magazines are done until I did one. You have to do it badly before you do it well. A lot of ideas go down the drain because people want perfect circumstances. You need some degree of madness to stay in business,” 
Christine, a mother of four, has written and published a motivational book titled ‘Blossom Recipe for Success’ and has two other books in the pipeline.
She is also out to give her advertisers more value by rolling out a series of campaigns to increase the magazine subscription and readership across eastern Africa.The difference with us is we get the magazine to the right hands,we deliver the message to the right prospect.We have no much wasted coverage unlike other media.she concludes!!!!

Monday 7 November 2011

The Kenyan prostitute building a brand.

A Quick Note On The War
Usually here on the Street we are indifferent to what is happening at the national level. There is a general feeling the government doesn't belong to us, and little of what it does adds money to our pockets. Quite a number here will blame the failure of the government for their decision to come to the Street. Debatable but just shows how detached many are.

Whenever we have to join in the national conversation then we do it in a very pedestrian way, if not in an opportunistic selfish way. I remember how at the start of  the constitutional referendum campaigns many of us said " Hope the campaigns will bring in money". Whether to vote yes or no mattered not .That was until a rumor spread that the new constitution was passed the police would have no authority to arrest us. It sounded an unimaginable but a strong enough point to support the Yes side.  Then there was talk of abortion being legalized; another reason that triggered interest in the referendum. A year after the constitution was passed; the policemen and city council askari remain our top enemies. The ' benefits' of the new constitution are no longer talked about here.

The war on Al Shabaab didn't seem a big deal here. It wasn't something worth conversation, until the grenade blasts. And then it was not about fear of being attacked or loss of business, but the possibility of increased harassment. " Now the police will flood everywhere" someone said " We wont have peace". Then Elgiva was found with 13 grenades in Kayole estate. That became the talk of the Street because there are many here who live in the estate. At first it was about how policeman are now like 'ants' in Kayole. Then after a day or two of reduced business and fear of police, the army operation became a major thing here; more in self preservation and a little racist way.

In recent times there have been many foreigners joining the trade. The most prominent are the Ethiopians and Eritreans. But  there are also those of Somali origin. Here, like in most of the country, there is no patience in discovering whether the Somalis are of Kenyan origin or from Somalia; we lump them together. The Ethiopians, Eritreans and 'Somali' tend to be popular with men. Many have above average looks, and men want to sample the exotic. From a business point of view we, the 'locals' dislike them; we feel they give us unfair competition. With the war is Somalia and the government talking of rounding up foreigners many here believe all the exotic will be deported. Nowadays its common to hear the 'foreigners' being taunted by the us locals about their forthcoming deportation. The taunting is done jokingly but the local girls actually believe and want it to happen. To a large extent its unfortunate.


The soldiers, for the wrong reasons, are our new heroes. But when they come back they wont get it for free. That said the war has not affected our business much. Grenade or not girls still report to the Street faithfully. There is a certain believe of invincibility among us. Of course its an illusion, but without it we would starve. On the other hand men are still coming, and not opting to stay in the houses , alone, with girlfriend or wife. Yet its not entirely surprising ;there is a certain fighter, optimistic and most important arrogant spirit among a section of the Nairobi population, both men and women. And its this spirit that keeps this city rolling and brings money to our pockets.

All the best dear soldiers.

Thursday 3 November 2011

UNTOLD REASONS WHY BUSINESSES FAIL:

Why do these reasons remain untold? Simple. Most of the time, the business owner doesn’t realize that these reasons are what caused their failure, and consultants generally don’t ask the kinds of questions that would identify them.

There have been many articles written on the subject of why businesses fail, and most of them point to the same reasons, such as:
·         Inadequate funding
·         Bad location
·         Lack of a well thought-out business plan
·         Poor execution
·         Bad management
·         Expanding too quickly
·         Insufficient marketing or promotion
·         Inability to adapt to a changing marketplace
·         Failure to keep overhead costs low
·         Underestimating competitors

These reasons are widespread and no doubt cause many businesses to fail. However, the reason for a company’s failure is not always something so obvious. Here are 6 lesser-known reasons why a business might fail. Why do these reasons remain untold? Most of the time, the business owner doesn’t realize that these reasons are what caused their failure, and consultants generally don’t ask the kinds of questions that would identify them.


1) Focusing on Short-Term Profits Rather than Building Long-Term Value
 It’s important to be profitable, but NOT when short-term profits come at the expense of the long-term value of the business and the lifetime value of the customer.

In other words, a profitable business opportunity consists of people who have dire wants that are being unmet so much that they will jump to buy your solution (product or service). A profitable business opportunity can be compared to a lake with thousands of starving fish. All you need to do is throw in the bait and it turns into a feeding frenzy.

It’s important to consider the lifetime value of a customer. Repeat business is way more valuable than short-term profits. Saving 20 cents on a smoothie today will cost you big in the long run.
2) Ego Business vs. Business Opportunity
The foundation of a good business is a good business opportunity. As an entrepreneur, you want to fill a need in the marketplace. Unfortunately, many businesses are started solely to fulfill an entrepreneur’s ego (or, to put it less harshly, to satisfy one of the entrepreneur’s interests).

This can often be seen in the restaurant & bar industry, where too many entrepreneurs open shop because it’s a “cool” thing to do. Such businesses rarely succeed.

The success of a business solely lies in being able to fill an unmet need in the market, unfortunately many entrepreneurs engage in business due to personal and selfish gain controlled by their egos. This also drives us to realize that many entrepreneurs are driven to start a business because their friends/colleagues are doing the same. There is nothing more destructive than to pick a business which you can’t fully embrace or which costs you a lot of money to sustain.


3) Lack of a Business Plan:
Business plans are critical for setting goals and mapping out your plan to achieve those goals. They are also critical in order to raise capital. Whether you are seeking a bank loan, or capital from angel investors, venture capitalists or corporate investors, a formal business plan is simply a requirement.

One of the absolute keys to a successful business plan is to create the right business plan milestones. Doing so is essential to securing investors and making real progress towards achieving your goals

 4) Bad feedback & white lies
 People like spending time with friends and family.

Unfortunately, when it comes to business, friends and family members don’t always give the best advice. This is especially true at the birth of a business. Nobody wants to be a buzz-kill. No one wants to tell an entrepreneur their idea is bad, or their location stinks, or anything else negative. Most people are conditioned to be supportive of their friends and family regardless of the situation.

Plus, nobody wants to be wrong. Imagine your friend has an idea that you think is terrible. You share your objections, but the friend goes ahead with the idea anyways, and it succeeds. Now you’ll always be the naysayer that never believed in them. Nobody wants to be that person.

That’s why you’ll rarely get honest, objective business advice from friends or family members. And yet, oftentimes friends and family are the first people entrepreneurs turn to for advice.


5) Maybe the owner is just a jerk
 There are a lot of great people in the business world, but there are also some jerks. And these jerks sometimes start their own companies.

A jerk, in this case, is someone who a lot of people can’t get along with. Maybe it’s because they’re a super-perfectionist, or they yell a lot, or they demand that everything be done in a certain way, or they constantly complain. Or maybe they’re annoying in some other way.

The key is that nobody -- not employees, customers, partners, suppliers, clients, etc. -- wants to give 100% for a jerk. Clients and customers will be turned off, and employees will start cutting corners. Most people believe that life is too short, and don’t want to spend their time working with someone they can’t get along with.


6) The entrepreneur never took the full leap
 In most new business attempts, the entrepreneur never leaves their day job, or they create a back-up plan, or they have a job lined up in case the new business fails. In these cases, failure is an option, as the entrepreneur has a safety net to fall back on. In cases where failure is NOT an option, and the entrepreneur depends on the new business to provide food, shelter and clothing, the business has a greater chance of succeeding.

 Every business can be compared to a baby that needs nurturing and protection from the owner to ensure that it grows and lives. Therefore, concentrating on two different things at the same are most likely to affect the growth of that business.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
(The late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and Pixar)

Steve Jobs My i Friend