Still Looking For the Secret of Success?

If your idea of being an entrepreneur is 1) Find the Formula, 2) Follow the Formula, and 3) Repeat the Formula, you’re probably better off being an employee. “Just tell me what to do,” is not the mantra of creative businessowners. 

On the other hand, if your idea of being an entrepreneur is 1) Experiment, 2) Evaluate, 3) Evolve, you’ll have a great time building something on your own.

For the past quarter of a century, I’ve been studying people who succeed and looking to discover the common denominator. If there’s one word that describes these innovators, it’s Participation. And if there’s one person who demonstrates that every day it’s Peter Shankman.

Shankman is currently training for his fourteenth marathon, is a skydiver, writer, and entrepreneur. His speaking schedule would leave most of us breathless. He’s innovative thoughts on social media, public relations and creativity have made him one of the most popular speakers on the circuit today. He recently showed up on CNN bringing his expertise to a story of the day.

Shankman is best known, however, for taking a little idea he had for making it easier for journalists to find people to interview. Three time a day, five days a week, his Help a Reporter Out mailings go out to over 100,000 people. I’ve personally benefited from this and been interviewed for three magazine articles as a result and several times a week I send along requests from a journalist or blogger to someone I know.

When Shankman made the switch from employee to entrepreneur, he did so with the same proactive flair that serves him so well today. He says, “So when I started my first PR firm and had no money, I did it by selling a t-shirt about the movie Titanic in Times Square. The shirt read simply, ‘It sank. Get over it.’ I made a fortune.”

Look closely and you won’t see any formulas here, but there’s success of all kinds. I suspect that Peter Shankman would laugh if you asked him for his secret. He’s too busy making every day the best it can be and he has no time for nonsense. One of his Twitter posts summed that up: “New rule: people who have 2 put ‘guru’ or ‘genius’ in their Twitter handles to show that they are, are obviously not.”

You won’t find any formulas in Derek Sivers’ article, either, but it may be the best thing I’ve read in a long time about Why You Need Your Own Company. I’m thinking of memorizing it. It’s absolutely brilliant.

Find Five: Weekend Excursions

Some of the treasures I found this week will require a bit of your time, but they are all a good investment.

How could I resist sharing Chris Elliott’s Top Five Travel Fears? If you’re into metaphors, think about their equivalent in taking the Joyfully Jobless Journey. 

This  video has been making the rounds this week and it deserves to be seen. I first heard about it from Peter Shankman who said, “Imagine if HARO didn’t exist, because I wasn’t an entrepreneur, and I didn’t take risks. Because I didn’t have the idea, or the courage to start it. Imagine a world where no one did. Don’t let that happen. What’s your idea?” Watch this video, then pass it on.

Sometimes we need a reminder of things that we know, but are overlookiing. Steve Strauss’ Small Business Advice From Mom  does just that.  

Intimated by Twitter? Given up trying to figure it out or why it would be a good thing for you and your business? You’re not alone in your frustration. Those who love it (like me) have gone through the Four Stages of a Typical Twitter User. Take a look and maybe you’ll be inspired to give it another shot.  

Finally, this excursion takes a little longer (20 minutes more or less), but it’s so worth it. Hear what Seth Godin has to say about The Power of Tribes.  

To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest.  If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change.  Only then will you know what the sea is all about. ~ Sterling Hayden