Successful Startup 101 Magazine - Issue 9

by Tabitha Naylor

  By Carol Morgan

  We all feel like failures from time to time. While this is a normal feeling, you have to find a way to see yourself and your life from a different perspective. Sometimes we ignore the “little things.” Just because you are not a millionaire, don’t live in a mansion, and you don’t drive a fancy car, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. In fact, it’s quite the contrary.

  Here are 20 signs that you are succeeding in life:

  1. Your relationships are less dramatic than they used to be.

  Drama is not maturity. As we age, we should develop maturity. So maybe your relationships were drama-filled in your past, but if you have moved beyond that, then you are successful.

  2. You are not afraid to ask for help and support any more.

  Asking for help does not equal weakness. In fact, it is a strength. No person has ever succeeded in isolation. It takes teamwork to accomplish goals. Asking or help is a sign that you have grown as a person.

  3. You have raised your standards.

  You don’t tolerate bad behavior any more – from other people, or even yourself. You hold people accountable for their actions. You don’t spend time with the “energy vampires” in your life anymore.

  4. You let go of things that don’t make you feel good.

  No, this is not narcissistic even though it might seem like it. Self-love is success. Love yourself enough to say ‘no’ to anything that doesn’t make you happy, doesn’t serve your purpose, or drags you down.

  5. You have moments where you appreciate who you see in the mirror.

  Ideally, you should appreciate who you see in the mirror at every moment. But even if that doesn’t happen, if you do it more than you used to, then that is success. Love yourself. You are awesome.

  6. You have learned that setbacks and failure are part of self-growth.

  Not everyone can have success 100% of the time. That’s just not realistic. Life is about victories and losses. So look at your setbacks as stepping stones to something better. In reality, there really is no such thing as as setback. It’s all just part of a wondrous journey.

  7. You have a support system that includes people who would do anything for you.

  If you have figured out the people who “have your back” and recognized the ones who only pretend that they do, then you have succeeded. This is a painful realization, but once you learn to see the signs of betrayal, you can stay away from those people.

  8. You don’t complain much.

  Because you know there really is nothing to complain about. Unless you really have gone through some horrific life experience and had unimaginable losses, most of what we all experience on a day-to-day basis is just mundane. And successful people know that. And they live in a space of gratitude.

  9. You can celebrate others’ successes.

  Just because other people succeed, that doesn’t make you a failure. Applaud the people who rise to the top. The more positive energy you give to other people’s victories, the more you will create your own.

  10. You have passions that you pursue.

  You are not stagnant. You know you have something wonderful to contribute to the world. You have unique talents and gifts. Not only do you know that, you pursue it.

  11. You have things to look forward to.

  If you don’t have exciting things going on in your life that you are eagerly anticipating, then you are slowly dying inside. Successful people create goals that they are passionate about pursuing. They let this excitement drive their life.

  12. You have goals that have come true.

  Even though “failures” are a part of life, you have stuck to your goals and dreams long enough to make them come to fruition. You have some tastes of victory. It fuels you.

  13. You have empathy for others.

  A person without empathy is dead inside. Empathy equals spreading love and positive energy into the world. Successful people know this. They love others as if they are family.

  14. You love deeply and open yourself up to be loved by others.

  Love is risky, and sometimes scary for people. It’s the one thing we all strive for, but it’s also intimately tied to the one thing we fear the most – rejection. If you open your heart enough to love and be loved, then you are successful.

  15. You refuse to be be a victim.

  You know that life doesn’t always happen to you. Many times, you are a co-creator of your life experiences. Successful people know this and refuse to be kept down by life experiences. The rise up and conquer anyway.

  16. You don’t care what other people think.

  You know you can’t please everyone. You know that the standards with which society judges people is many times unrealistic. So you just keep true to yourself and love the person you are.

  17. You always look on the bright side.

  Life can be full of disappointments – if you choose to see them that way. Otherwise, they are learning opportunities. No negative experience is ever wasted as long as you learn from it.

  18. You accept what you can’t change.

  Let’s face it – there many things you can’t change in life. All you can change is how you view what happens. If you can change your negative perspective on situations to a positive one, then you are successful.

  19. You change what you can.

  And let’s face it again – there are many things you can change in life. Successful people don’t sit around accepting the negatives that are changeable. They get out there and do something about it!!

  20. You are happy.

  To me, this is the ultimate definition of success. It doesn’t matter what the balance is in your bank account, how big your house is, or how many fancy vacations you take. If you are happy, then you are succeeding in life.

  Even if you don’t see yourself in many of these 20 things, don’t fret. It’s okay. Be happy that you see yourself in just a few. In time, the rest will come. You just need to keep moving onward and upward.

  About the Author

  Dr. Carol Morgan is the Editor of ABetterMeMagazine.com and is a professor at Wright State University. She is also the host of two different web shows, a motivational expert on the TV show 'Living Dayton,' video expert for eHow.com, and keynote speaker. You can visit her at https://www.drcarolmorgan.com or ABetterMeMagazine.com.

  5 Benefits of Collaboration (A Podcast)

  By Michael Hyatt and Michele Cushatt

  Welcome to the new season of This Is Your Life. In this first episode, Michele Cushatt, my new co-host, and I talk about why I decided to change my podcast so dramatically and what you can learn about leadership from our experience.

  Many people talk about the value of collaboration, but in this episode, we get very specific about why you must collaborate with others if you are going to reach your potential as a leader. We also discuss how it benefits those you hope to influence.

  Read the Transcript

  You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who does all my transcriptions.

  Join the Conversation

  My favorite part of doing these podcasts is participating in the conversation they provoke. Each week, I ask one question. This week, it is this:

  Question: Where could you be more collaborative in your leadership and what would it make possible? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

  Binge on All 13 Episodes!

  If you want to listen to more episodes, we have released all thirteen audio episodes of Season 1 here. The video episodes will be released weekly and are not yet available for batch listening. If you are looking for previous episodes, you can find Season 0 here

  Explore Additional Resources

  In this episode we mentioned several resources, including:

  StrengthFinders 2.0 by Tom Rath

  Test for All 34 Strengths

  Share the Love

  If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTu
nes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show.

  (c) 2013, Michael Hyatt. Used by permission. Originally published at www.michaelhyatt.com.

  October’s Must See Movie for Entrepreneurs: October Sky

  When it comes to watching movies, there’s a little bit of something for every entrepreneur. There are many movies available that can open your mind and teach you some valuable lessons about life, entrepreneurship and running a business.

  If you need a little inspiration or motivation, watching October Sky can be just what you need. The movie is based on a true story and the real-life experiences of Homer Hickman.

  The Plot

  The movie begins based in a small town in West Virginia. Like many other towns during this time, coal mining was not only a job but it was a way of life. The superintendant of the town’s coal mine is the father of Homer Hickman, the main character.

  Homer’s father has big dreams: for both of his sons to follow his footsteps and to one day grow up and become coal miners just as he did. Becoming a coal miner is not only a goal for many of the town residents but it is almost an inevitable future. After Homer’s older brother receives a football scholarship, Homer is expected to fulfill his father’s dreams of carrying on coal mining legacy.

  Things begin to look change for Homer after the world witnesses the Soviet Union launch Sputnik 1 – he becomes inspired and falls in love with rocketry. His inspiration leads him to begin creating and designing rockets with several of his friends. Once the word began to spread throughout the town about their interest in rockets, everyone begins to think they are crazy. Homer’s family agrees and his father stands behind his belief that he is wasting his time.

  During the movie, Homer reaches an all-time low: he abandons his dreams of rocketry, drops out of school and works as a coal miner after his father is in an accident. After a turn of events, he goes back to school and returns to his dreams of designing rockets. He wins the science fair, goes off to college and eventually returns to his town as a hero.

  Why you should see it

  The fact that this movie is based on entirely true events can be motivational on its own. The real Homer Hickman does pursue his dreams and interest in rocketry and later in life, successfully became a NASA engineer.

  Although Homer wasn’t trying to run a business, many entrepreneurs can relate to the obstacles he had to overcome. The feeling of being doubted, ridiculed or even mocked is an all too familiar situation for many startup founders.

  Not only are the dreams of many business owners doubted, but lacking support from your friends or family can be enough to crush your dreams altogether. Some of us have even given up at one point or another because there was no one standing behind your ideas.

  October Sky is about following your dreams despite what other people may think or feel about them. There isn’t wrong with living a ‘normal’ life but for someone who dreams outside of the box, taking the harder path can allow you to achieve your goals and reach for the stars.

  After seeing this movie, remember this:

  * You can do anything you set your mind to if YOU believe it to be achievable

  * Your goals can be the fuel to your motivation especially if you lack outside support.

  * It’s okay to take risks – making an impact on the world is never easy.

  The Positive Impacts of Outsourcing

  The word outsourcing has earned a bad reputation with many Americans. The act of outsourcing is often associated with jobs being transferred by large companies to other countries.

  Unfortunately, because of its bad reputation, many people don’t realize the positive impact and benefits outsourcing can have, not only on the United States but on third-world countries as well.

  Outsourcing is going to continue to expand and be used in the business world, so knowing how it benefits the economy, small businesses and other countries can help shed new light on the term for those who are unaware of its positive effects.

  Consumer Benefits

  As a consumer, you may assume that outsourcing has nothing to do with you – this is incorrect. Outsourcing can actually benefit the consumer in a number of ways.

  * When a company outsources the manufacturing of their products, this can essentially reduce the costs for the consumer. Not only does this make the item more affordable but it allows the customer to utilize the money they save on something that is more valuable to them, such as a rent or insurance payment. For example: it could cost a United States company $1,500 to produce a tablet but a Chinese company $800. This will save the consumer $700 for other expenses they may have.

  * Because many customer service jobs are outsourced, the consumer has access to service assistance almost every day of the year at any time of the day.

  * Much of the negative connotation that is associated with outsourcing comes from the sympathy Americans have for those who lose their jobs to outsourced employees. While some of these jobs are lost to outsourced employees, because the costs of labor have been reduced, new jobs can be added to the company.

  Advancing Third-World Countries

  The positive effect outsourcing has on third-world countries may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but many of these countries are experiencing increased development because of these outsourced jobs they have available.

  * Outsourcing allows residents of third-world countries to increase their income. For some people, even with a college education, they could never earn wages from outsourcing as they would if they were to be employed by a job based in their own country.

  * Countries like Africa do not have access to banking institutions but outsourcing can provide them with these luxuries. For example, freelancer.com has a debit/banking card available for its employees, which allows them access to shop online or anywhere credit cards are accepted.

  * Increased Internet access allows anyone to expand their knowledge, education and have the opportunity to work. In many third-world countries, women are not allowed to work but websites that outsource jobs such as transcription or customer service allow women to work right out of their homes.

  Benefiting Startups

  As much as outsourcing benefits the entire world, startup founders can find some relief in utilizing outsourcing for their business. Startup founders have a lot on their plates during the launching stages, so outsourcing can be a great option.

  * Before you launch your startup, you may be the only employee for your business. Outsourcing can provide your business the opportunity to grow and gain the employees you need in a brief amount of time. The hiring process can take years to find experienced and educated employees, but outsourcing or hiring independent contractors can expand your business in months.

  * The cost of labor can be through the roof for many startup founders, but outsourcing allows you to employ qualified individuals for less than the average employee. This option can also provide you with the option to search far and wide for a qualified employee who has many different areas of expertise and knowledge rather than settling for someone local.

  * Prioritizing and focusing on what is important can be difficult as a startup founder, because you have so many tedious tasks to take care of. Outsourcing jobs can give you some relief and allow you to focus on some of the more substantial aspects of your business. It can also give you more flexibility to be wherever you need to be – such as meeting with investors or potential clients. Many outsourced employees can be assigned a task and left to work on their own without your supervision.

  Knowing that outsourcing benefits people all over the world can help change the way you view it entirely. If you can see how it is positively affecting the world, maybe there is acceptance for outsourcing after all.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fWLU2gRtxU

  7 Tools to Hack Your Growth (That Means Get Big, Fast)

  By Murray Newlands

  Use content marketing to supercharge y
our growth. Here's how…

  In its earliest days, growth hacking was a fairly ambiguous term that marketers used to describe their often-untraditional methods of gaining rapid traction for startups. However, over the years, growth hacking has evolved into something that more closely resembles a science, and its various techniques have been used repeatedly to help early-stage startups morph themselves into established, successful businesses in a hurry.

  From paid search to public relations campaigns, there are countless ways marketers have used growth hacking strategies in the past, but the most frequent and recognizable approach in recent memory has been via content marketing.

  How do growth hacking and content marketing work together?

  It's simple, really. The ultimate goal of content marketing is to drive traffic, attract new audiences, and generate conversions. In and of itself, content marketing is a strategy for overall growth, and thus can be placed under the growth hacking strategies umbrella. From blog posts to YouTube videos, content marketing enables brands to promote their message and introduce new consumers to all of the products or services that they have to offer.

  Yet, despite the fact that content marketing can play a significant role in the growth of a new business, it's often easier said than done. There are any number of ways to promote a brand through custom-made content, but to get the best results, you need to use the right tools and optimize your approach.

  The following are six of the best content marketing tools that growth hackers can use to build their brand's fan base quickly and easily.

  1. Optimizely

  As any marketing professional will tell you, success depends on A/B testing. To know what's working and what isn't, you have to constantly compare and contrast different ads or creative elements. From headlines to images, and even down to the nitty-gritty details of font and color palette, you need to deploy different ads to find out which ones generate the best results. Optimizely is a great tool that allows you to A/B test your landing pages and find a design that provides the best end-user experience and yields the highest number of converting leads.