entrepreneur-incubator-blog

How to Survive the Festive Season

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:03:05 +0100

Surviving the festive season and year end for a lot of business owners has become a huge issue. This series will unpack some of the strategies that will help ensure that you are still around and in business in February.

Getting Unstuck

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:08:59 +0100

So often we find ourselves stuck in a rut or situation that just does not allow us any way out. What can be done to get unstuck and gain new momentum again?

When life hits you with a curve ball, you need to hit back. Think differently and the results will change. The worst thing you can do is to just put more effort into doing the same old thing hoping for a new result. Einstein called this act Insanity. Be different, think different and the result will change. Then gauge if the results are what you need or want and act again and again until things start to get back on course.

Here are some simple daily acts that may help you gain new direction in your business:

Have a daily staff huddle and share ideas, thoughts and situations.
Listen to others who speak, often they see things that you are blind to.
Meet and chat to outsiders who may offer advice from their wisdom.
Move your office furniture around to gain a new perspective on how you see things.
Get away from the office for a day one your own or with staff to help think out of the box.
Meet with a coach and work through the problem systematically using some of their tools

Getting stuck is a natural part of the life of a business, getting unstuck is what a good business leader is designed to do. Recognise the rut and stuckness before it begins to erode the business and act today to find a way forward.

I washed my car with half a cup of water

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:37:14 +0100

The world has become a lot more green focused, we have all been prompted to use less water, recycle more, drive less, exercise more and reduce our presence foot print.

A lot of the new businesses we see are now falling into this new Green Business sector with some innovative ideas and products. So as part of the new green evolution, I tried out a new product from one of our clients Drip Free. This Pearl water-less car wash system consists of a squirt bottle and two micro fiber cloths. No buckets, hose pipes of sponges. And off I went.

I used half a cup of water to moisten the one cloth and then washed my whole car and scooter without using a single drop more. The simple spray on and wipe off method removed all the dust, grit, break pad dust and squished insects from both vehicles with ease. The hard wax component shone up well when buffed a little leaving my vehicles clean and shiny and ready for the new week. Impressed? Very, this is a simple effective way to was any vehicle in a water restricted place such as a flat or housing complex or office car park. No water wastage and drains being clogged with foam and dirt.

Innovation does not always have to be a new computer chip or robot; it can just come in a spray bottle and a cloth. Get more info on Drip Free and place your online order to support our new Green Entrepreneurs.

Disambiguation Strategies

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:31:33 +0100

The issue of being stuck in a rut is often the cause of confusion and lack of development for both individuals and businesses. Striving for clarity in this fog of confusion requires a set of disambiguation strategies that will lead you into the clear sky and back on track to progress. So what are some of these strategies that you can employ?

One: Do something different to get a different result. Change something in your routine or how you are working. Do not implement wholesale changes, this will only get you more in trouble. Change one thing at a time and then look for results. These changes can range from simple activities like moving your desk around, change that way you travel to work, have a new hair cut. Often small simple physical changes will help trigger change in behaviour and thinking.

Two: Share with someone who cares. Sharing your situation with someone is just good therapy. We don’t necessarily need to pay huge bills for a therapist, just a friend or family member will do. If it is a business issue then a coach or mentor may be able to shed some light on the situation for you by asking the right questions.

Three: Write things down. This simple effective activity allows our brains to place things in order. One of the common strategies amongst successful people is journaling. Taking time each day just to jot down things in a journal helps retrofit ideas into strategies. You could also just write a letter or email to someone sharing the situation, again sharing is therapy, even with yourself.

Four: Using one of the many thinking tools that are available. Mind mapping is one that has been great for me for many years. The simple exercise of mapping out a situation or new ideas gives clarity as the map develops. New online apps make this a very simple effective way to think in pictures linked to the way our brains work.

Five: Hire a consultant. This is often the first course of action for corporate and government, but could be costly for smaller businesses. But consultants have their place in a situation that requires specialist thinking and situations. If you are moving into areas that will find you way out of your depth in expertise, then the consultant route is the way to go.

Just some simple ways to work your way out from an ambiguous situation to clarity.

How to beat the odds of failure in business?

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:29:13 +0100

What if there was a cheat code for starting a business. All you needed to do was enter the code A43F6T48 into your phone app and you instantly became invincible and financially enabled. Then you could launch whatever business idea you have.

Seems unlikely in the real world, but are there ways to beat the odds of start up failure. With up to 80% failure rate of small emerging businesses in South Africa, it is still a wonder why we see so many new registered businesses each month. Your odds of winning at the Lotto seem almost better and a whole lot cheaper.

But there are stats that depict a reversal of these odds with up to an 80% success rate for businesses who participate in a good quality Incubator. A successful Incubator with a solid methodology for business development accompanied by experienced start up coaches and a network of associated practitioners who will guide and lead you to the right places towards success.

If there were such places, why do so many people still risk the odds of trying to go it alone and beat the system? Maybe for the same reason that there are long queues at the Lotto each week, or hundreds of people at the casinos each evening. The faintest of hope drives people to play the odds and try to win, knowing deep down that it is almost impossible.

But beat the odds we do. Here at the Entrepreneur Incubator and Academy we have a very well versed plan of action to start any business. Our Steps to Success guides our clients together with solid coaching and mentoring along a road that will ask all the required questions to lead to points of Viability through Feasibility to Sustainability. Each step is equipped with Go/No Go scenarios and we will never waste time trying to pursue an idea or product that does not match up to the rules. This assists in failing fast and not wasting time, energy and money in the process.

Actually come to think of it, there is a cheat code to business success. It is simply and email to admin@ei.co.za to book your first session. We look forward to your success.

Sales Techniques for Effective Entrepreneurs

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 07:29:09 +0100

Just last week we published our latest online course titled: ‘Sales Techniques for Effective Entrepreneurs’. This course has created such a buzz with 960 people signing up in the first 4 days. Our greatest launch to date.

The course covers aspects of selling that are not normally covered in marketing workshops. We look at how to define your product, create a scripted sales pitch based on a defines sales funnel and the sales cycle. We chat about how to ask the right questions using the right content for the right audience at the right time. The course concludes with a look at a template to use for all future marketing campaigns. All together a very comprehensive course.

With Spring just around the corner for us in the south, we are offering a chance for you to participate in this course for half price using our spring coupon. Click HERE to access the course and pay only $10 for lifetime access to all the videos, handouts and notes.

This coupon is only valid until the end of September with a limited number of places, so first click first learn. Our gift to you, Enjoy Click HERE

15 tell tale signs that you may be an entrepreneur

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:40:54 +0100

This insightful article on Entrepreneur.com this week gives us an insight into what signs to look out for that could mean you may be an Entrepreneur.

The 15 signs are:

You take action
You're insecure
You're crazy
You're obsessed with Cash Flow
You get into hot water
You're fearless
You can’t sit still
You're malleable
You enjoy navel gazing
You're motivated by challenges
You consider yourself an outsider
You recover quickly
You fulfil needs
You surround yourself with advisors
You work and play hard

Read the full article here

Google is tracking your every move

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:38:36 +0100

What if you could keep track of any movement you made anywhere across the globe by recording the movement of your phone?
Google does this for you. Most smart Android phones or tablets require a Google account when activated. Simple enough, this gives you the ability to download mail, contacts and calenders. But it also uploads your GPS position every few minutes to some giant server somewhere that keeps track of where you have been, when and for how long.
Check out my movement for the last 30 days in and around Cape Town.

Check out your history at maps.google.com/locationhistory

This has a bunch of positives linked to this. I can track myself, my staff and people I want to keep an eye on. I can also use this to find my phone if stolen or lost. But it also brings up a huge list of negative issues about privacy and personal protection.
Google could actually compile a list of all people who are at any one location at any time. This includes meetings of importance, events or places of interest. Spooky if you ask me. This sort of information in the wrong hands could be devastating.
Do we now cancel our mobile device links to Google or embrace yet more personal information saved on their servers about our habits?

Presentation Skills 101-4 Tips on Visual Aids

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:39:21 +0100

Just few words on the use of visual aids before you start with any slides for a presentation. There are unwritten rules for the use of slides and other visual aids. Once again the Simple rule applies. We will look at PowerPoint a bit later, but as for Flip charts, Live demos, instruments or whatever else you were hoping to use, ask yourself this: Do I really need it to add value to my presentation? The best speakers I have seen use only themselves on the stage. The more you add to the stage the more complicated it becomes and increases the chance of stuffing it all up. So select your visual aids well and make sure they work and you know how to fix them if they stop working.

Here are my top tips when using PowerPoint

Less is more – do not clutter your slides with graphics and colours
Use a simple colour background with a contrasting font colour
Design a good cover slide
Display your logo on every page
Use no more than 6 points per slide
Have no more than 6 words per point
Your slides are a visual aid, not a text to read from
Do not use sound effects or fancy transitions
Do not use automatic timing on the slides
Keep any animation to a minimum
Remember simple is good

Now go out and practice, practice, practice.

Presentation Skills 101-3 The Business Elevator Pitch

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:57:43 +0100

A business pitch is slightly different to the personal pitch. You get to expand this to 60 or 90 seconds, but the basic rules still apply.

If you can’t tell someone what you do in less than 60 seconds then you do not know yourself. The use of a well prepared elevator pitch is similar to an automatic weapon strapped to your waist. Always ready and well oiled ready for any situation.

The format of an elevator pitch is simple, if you get to know the format, you can adapt it for any situation and audience.

1. Introduction

a. Tell us you name

b. Tell us what business you are from

c. Tell us what your business does

d. Tell us who your clients are

2. Tell a Story

a. What makes you different

b. Share a specific example about your business

3. Ask for Business

a. Hone in on a specific need that your business is looking for

4. Call to Action

a. Give specific instructions

5. Memory Hook

a. Repeat your name

b. Repeat your business

c. Tell us your slogan

Your pitch should remain the same in respect to the format but be prepared to adjust the focus to become relative to your audience. Your story and call to action will be very different if you are speaking to a women’s convention or a businessmen’s breakfast. Learn beforehand who you are speaking to and be able and prepared to adjust this to capture the attention of your audience. Remember the six questions at the beginning of this document.

And once again practice, practice, practice, until you are confident.