How would you define the entrepreneurial spirit? Would it be the ability to zone in on problems and provide solutions? Would it be the knack of finding exactly the right product that flies off the shelves as soon as it’s stocked? Or would it be a flair for marketing and salesmanship? Well, all of those are part of it, but according to our guest on this episode of the number one small business podcast, Bob Burg, the entrepreneurial spirit is embodied by those who always strive to bring value to those around them.
You can bring value to those around you as a small business owner, but owning your own business isn’t required to have the entrepreneurial spirit. Even if you are working for someone else, you can always strive to bring value to your employer. Working this way could create opportunities for you to become an ‘intrepreneur’, or someone who works to create opportunities for themselves at the same time as for their employer. This can be a great way to get started in business as it means you can focus on your own projects outside working hours without having to worry about how you’re going to cover your expenses. Starting to think of your own enterprise without cutting ties and risking it all is a much more comfortable way of doing things
If you’re in business, then providing value for your clients can be the differentiator between you and your competitors. These days, technology has levelled the playing field for most products in terms of price and selection, so providing additional value that can help you stand out from the competition is a must. Bob’s five elements of value are excellence, consistency, attention, empathy and appreciation. If you can show these elements of value during all your client interactions, then you will soon have clients for life.
Money is an echo of value! People spend their money where they feel they are getting value.
Issue Challenged in this Small Business Podcast:
Can a subtle shift in focus have a profound effect on my business?
About Bob:
Bob Burg is a world-renowned speaker, sales trainer and author. His books have sold more than a million copies and his most successful, The Go-Giver, has been translated into more than 20 languages.
Bob has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and salespeople achieve their goals by adjusting their focus.
Bob’s Actionable Tips:
* Learn from others. Cut down your learning curve by learning from other people. Read books, watch videos, listen to talks – always be a learner!
* Focus on providing value to others. Don’t focus on the money. Of course, money’s important, but if you really want to make a lot of it, you should be focusing on providing value. By doing this and providing real value, clients will continue coming back to you again and again. Money is an echo of value!
* Remember that people will do things for their own reasons. We shouldn’t focus on telling people about us and our business, but on listening to their needs and desires.
Top Quotes:
* “I define a system as simply the process for predictably achieving a goal based on a logical and specific set of how-to principles. The key is predictability.”
* “Anyone can be entrepreneurial whether or not they’ve started their own business.”
* “Many hugely successful entrepreneurs started their businesses part-time. They did it in a very comfortable way.”
* “It’s about shifting one’s focus from getting to giving.”
* “Money is an echo of value. The value must come first."
Bob’s Links:
* Bob’s Site (http://www.burg.com/)
* The Go-Giver Site (http://www.thegogiver.com/)
* The Go-Giver – Bob Burg (http://goo.
