Every November for 1 week, there are thousands of events and competitions in close to 200 countries to inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. In 2017, the week is observed during November 13-19. I’ve reached out to 6 global entrepreneurs to share their thoughts on collaborating for success. They are Richard Branson, Amy Porterfield, Kirk Anthony Hamilton, Chris Ducker, Michael O’neal and Malcolm MJ Harris.
Show Notes:
Richard Branson, Virgin Group
-To execute an idea, you need to be a leader of people.
-Lots of people have the same idea, it is about how you execute that’s critical.
-Can you motivate, inspire and bring out the best in people?
-I’d much rather invest in someone that is good with people.
-What we need in life are people who look for the best in people.
-It is not easy to be an entrepreneur.
Chris Ducker, Youpreneur
-Nobody’s got a monopoly on good ideas, it all comes down to the people you surround yourself with.
-Be you all the time, it is the easiest thing to do. You are unique. An original is always worth more than a copy.
-People are either going to love you or hate you and that’s fine. Stay away from the messy middle.
-If there is a problem, fix it right there and then
-Relationships are something to be treasured and not to be used.
-Spend time with people, they want to know that you give a damn.
Malcolm MJ Harris, National Care Financial
-If you are not collaborating within your business then your business is probably about to die out.
-One thing no one can do better than me is to put in the work.
-I am not a passive CEO, I make sure I am the hardest working person within my company.
-Do you want all of a grape or do you want half of a watermelon?
-If you look at all the great businesses, they are the by-product of collaboration.
-You shouldn’t be talking to anyone about your business unless they sign an NDA.
-Finding a competitor who can complement what you are doing is ideal.
Michael O’Neal, Solopreneur
-If there is a universal law across the most successful people that I’ve spoken to, it’s that relationships have built their businesses.
-You must walk into a conference with a plan and a strategy to build relationship with people you meet at conferences.
-You must go into a conference with an intention; follow up after.
-A consistent meet up is one of the best things you can do for your business.
-Have a weekly happy hour to network with others to make the connections you want.
Amy Porterfield, Online Marketing Expert
-I’m looking to see if they (prospective partners) are attracting a similar type of audience.
-Collaboration has built my brand, put my name out there and grow my business.
-I’m a huge fan of collaboration.
-You would be amazed how much bigger of an audience you can attract by collaborating with people whom you wouldn’t normally get in front of their audience.
-With social media, it is getting harder to be seen and cut through the noise.
-Collaborating with the right people gets you in front the right audience.
-I’m looking to see if their (partners) style of marketing is in line with my style and for integrity.
-I’m attracted to people that will share the good with the bad, the wounds and the challenges as well as the wins; I want to hear the grittiness.
Kirk-Anthony Hamilton, Tech Beach Retreat
-It is extremely valuable to entrepreneurs to have the right connections and the right relationships to progress their goals a lot quicker.
-I set out on a path to try and connect with some of the best in the world; I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time in global communities.
-People run the world; it all comes down to who you know and the relationships you have; Most challenges are solved through who you know.
-The term entrepreneur is about those who want to maintain an open mind.
-I don’t call it networking. I am more into relationship building. Networking has become a transactional term.
-It is not about networking, it is about access.
-It’s way more about how you connect with people and the memorable impression that you leave than the quantity of hands that you shake and the amount of business cards that you distribute.
Main Take-Aways:
Relationships are something to be treasured and not to be used
If you are not collaborating within your business then your business is probably about to die out
You must walk into a conference with a plan, strategy to build relationship with people you meet at conferences
Collaborating with the right people gets you in front the right audience
It is extremely valuable to entrepreneurs to have the right connections and the right relationships to progress their goals a lot quicker.
To execute an idea, you need to be a leader of people.
Connect with Chris Ducker
Virtual Freedom – Book
Website
Connect with Malcolm MJ Harris
Website
Connect with Michael O’Neal
Art of the Interview (Course)
Website
Conferenctopia
Connect with Amy Porterfield
Online Marketing Made Easy (Podcast)
Website
Connect with Kirk-Anthony Hamilton
The Destination Experience
Tech Beach Retreat
Connect with Richard Branson
MENTIONS THROUGOUT THIS EPISODE
Pat Flynn
John Lee Dumas
Tony Robbins
Shark Tank
Air BnB
Elon Musk
Justin Trudeau (PM Canada)
Barack Obama
Hamdi Ulukaya – Chobani
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean
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