#1 asset for successful entrepreneurs is the team they build around themselves.
The #1 skill you need to possess to be that successful entrepreneur is:
Understanding how to use energy to create action in your business. And while this skill takes moments to learn, it can take years to master.
What is Energy?
It is your way of being that leaves someone inspired, excited, moved, energized by what you are all about. It connects them with their heart energy… the same place that UnReasonable comes from.
When they hear or see you, they want more of it… assuming the energy is there. Remember, like energy attracts like energy. This means you will attract those whom you want by how you are being with them.
What is Action?
Very simply, it is requesting someone to take action towards something. In business, action is purchasing your product/service, working for your business, investing in your company, etc.
Here’s the thing… to have action happen easily and effortlessly, the person you are requesting the action from must be energized!
In business it is a huge asset to energize people by what you do. Requesting action from someone without energizing them first comes across as pressure!
For example imagine you are with a potential client and they barely know who you are and what you do before you say, “So, do you want to buy my product/service?” You can imagine what they will feel like.
On the other hand, if you are energized and sharing powerfully the impact people have had by using your product/service and real stories and examples of its success. The person is really impacted and amazed with what you are saying and then you ask, “So, do you want to buy my product/service?”… you are much more likely to get a positive response.
Here is the key: you cannot fake the energy component. It must come from your heart. And you will know that you’ve “nailed” the energy with your audience is if you feel energized by what you said.
Attracting people using your Vision/Mission
Whether you are building a team of people to work with you or finding new customers to buy your product, when you use the powerful vision/mission of the business and where you are taking things, often times that can be all the energy necessary.
For example, in the early ‘90s, when I had Earth General, my environmental retail stores, our vision was to be “the ‘WalMart’ of sustainable products/living.” We opened in 1991 and were one of the first in the country.
We had over 3,000 products in 16 different departments in our stores all screen for their environmental impact. Things like organic cotton clothing, all natural cleaning supplies and body care, all natural gardening supplies, recycled paper office supplies, energy efficient hardware, giftware, housewares and so on.
One of the most important reasons why we grew it into one of the largest environmental retail stores in the country at that time was because of our vision. We were hip, cool, young and very focused on saving our planet. We were able to attract investors, employees, vendors, store venues, joint ventures, and customers because of it.
We had movie stars shopping in our stores (Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, Woody Harrelson, to name a few.) The media loved us. The New York Times did several articles on us over the years. We also got coverage by The Wall Street Journal, CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Bloomberg TV, NY1 News, Mademoiselle Magazine, just to name a few.
And when the chips were down and we were struggling to make ends meet, almost everyone involved stepped to the plate to help us out. Employees were coming in on their days off, without asking to be paid, investors were loaning us extra capital, landlords gave us free rent, and even customers like Woody Harrelson helped us to try and get things back on track.
Yes, a powerful Vision/Mission can generate the energy to really move mountains (now that’s a lot of action!).
Setting the theme for today, please really belt out loud… at least 10 times this affirmation:
There is NOTHING more important than keeping my energy as high as possible!