Randy Cantrell – Page 181

3DogNight — Three Dog Night circa 1970 (give or take)

In 1969 Three Dog Night had a hit song written by Harry Nilsson, ONE.

It was the first song on their first album. Think about that because it’s important for today’s show.

We’re all chasing increased website traffic. We want a bigger audience. A larger market. More people.

Whether we’re writing a blog or selling a product, larger audiences trump smaller ones.

Just like more money is better than less money.

Being popular is better than being unknown.

An increase in audience brings with it a potential increase in sales, connections, joint venture opportunities, more dynamic relationships and a host of other benefits.

No, you’re not foolish to crave all these things…or to even chase them with all your might.

But, as the saying goes, “You gotta crawl before you can walk.”

I hope you’ll subscribe to the newsletter. Just enter your email address in that box in the upper right hand corner. I’ve got some special treats in store for you if you do!

Thanks for listening.

Episode 132 – One May Be The Loneliest Number, But It Is Also The Most Magical Number Read More »

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What’s Your Biggest Frustration? (Part 3 of 4)

Entrepreneurship, Video / By Randy Cantrell

Mentioned in today’s episode:

• iVideoHero – it’s a perfect example of a gap in a market that is well served with this tutorial product
• 37 Signals – they’re another great example of a company whose products stem from solving problems they faced
• Evernote – a wonderful tool that many of us couldn’t live without, now that we’ve got it
• GoatMilkStuff – not mentioned, but another fine example of a small business that grew out of a frustration/desire. This is directly from their website: “PJ’s adventures into soapmaking originated five years ago out of her desire to not use chemicals on the children’s skin.”
• My resources page has links to a variety of useful items…from premium WordPress themes, to membership site plugins, to sources for pro audio gear. Many of these companies likely began because the owners were frustrated. Maybe they saw no solution. Maybe they didn’t see suitable solutions.

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What’s Your Biggest Frustration? (Part 3 of 4) Read More »

The Novice Expert

Communication, Personal Development / By Randy Cantrell

Surfing is like anything else. You’ve got to learn it.

Now, I’ve never taken a surfing class, but I’m sure one or more of these guys is thinking, “I don’t need this. I just wanna go surf.”

The world is full of people who know not that they know not.

They’re a sad lot, but they do provide some killer YouTube content.

But there’s another group. They know something. Many are even highly educated. They’re just inexperienced.

“I don’t need no stinkin’ experience.”

That’s the caption underneath their photo.

Recently I was indirectly involved in a sales situation. The business owner was lamenting how a novice salesperson was chasing a deal he felt was a long shot. Worse yet, the company had some resources tied up in chasing the deal. As I am wont to do, I shot my mouth off telling the business owner, “It’s like trying to be a vitamin when the client wants and needs and aspirin.”

We talked about how hard it can be to convince a prospect that they need whatever we’ve got. Again, I couldn’t resist mouthing off, “But, I’ve only got 40 years experience so I don’t likely know enough.” We chuckled and he replied, “Yeah, your 40 years has likely jaded your perspective.” More laughter.

The serious issue is that I know very clearly that there are many things I don’t yet know. I feel like I’m the guy Dirty Harry was talking to when he made this exhortation…

A man’s gotta know his limitations.

Many novices don’t yet know that. Their confidence – real or fake – gets in their way and works against them.

Many experienced people are just as guilty.

Today try looking for things you can learn. Don’t presuppose you know the right answer. Maybe you do, but it won’t hurt if you remain quiet for a few minutes. Don’t be so quick to think, “I don’t need to listen to this. I know exactly what ought to happen.”

You might save yourself embarrassment. You might learn something. Or, you might foster greater confidence from others.

The Novice Expert Read More »

Move Your Idea Off The Back Burner Today

Entrepreneurship, Personal Development / By Randy Cantrell

It’s an idea.

Maybe just a passing thought.

We put it back there on that back burner. That’s where we put things to simmer.

Things can simmer without much attention because simmering takes time.

Once in awhile we peek in. Maybe we give it a gentle stir.

We’ve got other things on the front burner that demand our constant attention. They’re the major projects in our life. They’re burning hotter. Some of them are on a rolling boil.

That front burner item is eventually done. It’s ready to come off the cooktop all together. To make room for that back burner idea.

Ideas and projects have a lifespan. Cooking isn’t always the answer. When something is done, it’s done! Time to remove the heat and get on with the other elements of preparation.

Right now you’ve got something on the back burner that deserves to be moved to the front burner. It’s been back there simmering long enough. Bring the heat. Get it ready for the plate.

It’ll mean you’ve got to remove something, but that’s okay. You’ve got plenty of things that you’ve been thinking of getting off the stove. Get them off today.

It’s a birth and death cycle. Something comes off the front burner to make room for something deserving. Today’s the day to get that back burner idea out front where it can have a chance to fully develop.

Timing may be everything, but there’s no day like today!

Move Your Idea Off The Back Burner Today Read More »

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Want To Be Known For? (Part 2 of A 4-Question Video Series)

Entrepreneurship, Video / By Randy Cantrell

People often go to one extreme or the other when considering today’s question. Sometimes I see people write down a full page of various things they’d like to be known for. If they lived to be 1000 years old they still wouldn’t be able to accomplish half the things on their list…and that’s assuming they had the natural aptitude for each thing.

At the other end of the spectrum are those poor people who struggle to write down a single thing. They can’t think of anything they want to known for. When I encounter these people I drive them immediately to a crisis center for counseling. I fear for their safety.

We likely fall somewhere in the middle. We don’t want to limit ourselves, so our list expands. We don’t want to live unnoticed, so we write down something.

Narrow your focus to business related pursuits and it doesn’t simplify things for most of us. Today’s question is why so many companies fail to properly identify their target market. Everybody can’t be your target, but neither can nobody. You need somebody!

As you consider what you’d like to be known for you must also ask yourself, “By whom?”

Mentioned in today’s show:

• The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau

• An anonymous company that is not so anonymous. I ran across this company in the summer of 2007. Here in Texas it gets really hot and I was investigating ventilation options for a warehouse when a Google search led me to them. I instantly “got it.”

• Perry Marshall is a guy you ought to pay some attention to. He’s smart and I trust him. No, I’ve not met him, but I’ve paid attention to him for the past 5 years or so. Well, in his archives is a terrific article and audio interview about the aforementioned company.

Take some time and give this question the attention it deserves. You’ll be rewarded with the clarity you need to make progress. Like most of these questions, it won’t be easy. Don’t rush it. Just keep on pushing forward sorting through all the noise in your head. When things quieten down you’ll likely be getting close to your answer.

P.S. Congratulations to the New Jersey Devils and their fans for advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. It should be a great series!

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Want To Be Known For? (Part 2 of A 4-Question Video Series) Read More »

Episode 131 – The Never Ending Quest For The AHA! Moment (Why Content Consumption Is Worthwhile)

Personal Development, Podcast / By Randy Cantrell

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blue-bulb — Don't we all crave the AHA! moment?

Days pass. Nothing profound. Same ol, same ol.

Still we read numerous blogs. We spend hours Googling a variety of interesting articles. Stroll over to YouTube and Vimeo and we watch a dozen videos. Cruise on over to iTunes where we download some podcasts for our daily workout.

Still nothing profound. No AHA! moment.

Until it all changes…and we experience what we were looking for all along. Well, we weren’t looking for that exact one, but still we found it. The needle in the haystack!

The AHA! Moment

If I could predict or create the AHA! moment…I’d be the wealthiest man on the planet. I’d surely be the world’s most interesting man.

Sadly, I’m neither. But I am a man in search of an epiphany. I think you are, too. We’re all searching for more AHA! moments. More epiphanies. Those moments feel so terrific when we experience them.

I’m going to tell you why all this “content creation” and “content consumption” is worthwhile, even if it’s not all greatness. Much of what we consume – maybe MOST of what we consume – is not life changing. Still we consume it.

We should. Click play and I’ll tell you why!

Mentioned in today’s show:

• The Radical Leap Re-Energized by Steve Farber (I read the 1st one, but I’ve not yet read this one)
• Daniel Clark of QAQN.com posted a funny message on Facebook that helps prove my point about content.

You guys are all opening my eyes about this episode… I don’t know if there was something in my water yesterday or what, but I think we need a do-over. Think Tank was not without a few flaws – many my own hangups (the ‘bikini’ discussion) – but if the overall impression you’re all getting is that we had a lousy time and Think Tank sucked… that’s not at all how I feel about it. If podcasters are allowed one train wreck of a show, this might be mine.

Leave me a review over at iTunes, please!

Have a safe, happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Episode 131 – The Never Ending Quest For The AHA! Moment (Why Content Consumption Is Worthwhile) Read More »