Karen, Great article. I can sooo relate. And the paradox of basking in anonymity while missing being known is right where I've been. I am a risk taker, and very independent. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you jump off the cliff with a few thousand people watching, and don't know your parachute is not going to open. Until the last hundred feet. And you come away a little mangled, pretty wounded, and feeling like you've failed; but alive.

As Scarlett O'Hara used to say, "Tomorrow is another day", and you lick your wounds, dust yourself off, and ask yourself what you've learned and how you can use that for the next cliff jumping. Thanks for creating a space for others to say, "Hey! That's me too!"

Robert, Great article seasoned with years of experience. I am just getting started, but find that I am already having to shift paradigms, based on asking potential clients in what ways could I best serve them. You have confirmed some of the things I have been discovering, but had just a few reservations about. Thanks!

A wise woman once told me, "Everyone has a story". The context was in a conversation we were having in which I was expressing my inadequacy in public speaking about a particular subject (which had been tried by fire in my own life). I pointed to someone else who seemed to have had a charmed life, and had it 'all together'. My friend reminded me that we are the sum of our story, and that no matter what we see on the outside, everyone does have a story, and that is what makes for the richness of their life as we see it now.

Great article, Ken. I must admit to rolling my eyes when I read your title. I was thinking, "you've got to be kidding me". And yet I opened the article. Glad I did.

All of the theories listed here are interesting. I have a different take on that. When we read a title that touts "the top 25 things you should be doing to make your marketing messages stick" (or whatever), we think to ourselves that we have probably already seen every list known to man on the subject.....but have we? 'What if there is one thing; one nugget that is different in THIS list? I'll be left behind. I'll be the one who doesn't know the one thing. I better open it just in case". And there's my 3 cents. : )

Great article Jennifer! What you essentially did in this case is the work of a great leader. That is, first, be a servant. You earned their respect because you respected them first.

I think that the universal answer to your question, "What would you do for someone that values both your time and ideas?" is "Just about anything." When you added value to people, they gave back so much more than if you had tried to establish your "position" first. Bravo!

Wow, what an abundance of creative offers! I do need logo design/web/marketing help. What I can do is write. If you have copy that isn't quite doing for you what you want, I am pretty good at fine tuning it. Or if you send me your random thoughts, or feelings about something (business, organizatioins, etc) I can write the copy for you as if it is you talking. Of course, it is a joint effort so that the final product does sound like you, and not me. What do you think?

Great point, Zeke, and absolutely dead on. I liked the quote from Guy. So many of us think (superficially) on that "China" level, but are actually setting ourselves up for long-term failure from perceived initial success. If you are not prepared to follow through and deliver for the 1.6 million orders, you've already failed.

My thoughts exactly. We'll see. I kind of felt like saying, "Man, you need to get out just a little bit more". And I am sorry, but c'mon. Denny's? Around here that is synonymous with sub-par food and terrible service. That's Denny's. Not who I'd want to be taking cues from. Just sayin'.

Ken, I drove by my local Chick Filet restaurant the other day, and was immediately reminded of your article (see...sticky!) Anyway, I could not believe it, but they are offering Free Breakfast Wednesdays. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a Denny's-esque type advertising ploy. I am in agreement with you and others who think that this is not a good long-term strategy for growth. I wonder how Chick Filet will fare with this copy-cat effort. I happen to have connections with the owner. Perhaps I should wait a little while and ask him how it is working... mm-hmm food for thought.

Excellent article Joe. My brain is swirling with possible applications for the guidelines you've laid out. I have a passion for helping people connect their core values with vision and mission so they can have a more healthy organization of one or many. Through personal experience and pain, I have realized the absolute necessity for these three things to be clearly articulated and implemented. Your article has helped me to begin thinking about how to best convey that message in an interactive context. Thank! : ) Lori

Great article, but pardon my ignorance - When I got to "Myth #2, I combed the article for Myth #1. I have either missed article number one of the Myth Busters series, or I am completely blind. ??

Kelly,

Great info, and also great to hear from someone who is willing to learn and teach others in return. Great help from everyone else, too. I especially liked Mark's practice of getting people to request the handouts via email. Along with adding them to your contacts list, you have saved them from paper clutter, given them an electronic means for saving the info and given them a new source of information as well.

Good job and thanks to all.

Ken,

Fantastic, and so true! My siblings and I are fierce Coca-Cola fans. For the preferred taste, yes. But what keeps us so loyal is the emotional connection Coca-Cola has between us and our dad.

Coca-Cola's long-ago campaign to give away T-shirts when you filled an entire map of the U.S. with Coke bottle cap liners (each with a different state printed on it) gave our family a fun activity, encouraged our love for Coke, and gave us many good memories (and 8 T-shirts in one summer!).

Now, many years later, I cannot keep myself from saying, "No, but I'll take it anyway" when a waitress says, "Is Pepsi OK?" after I have requested Diet Coke as my drink with dinner.

It's all about the connection...

Ken,

I loved your article, which affirms my own view of our current situation. I believe that the small business owners, or the entrepreneurs of today will be the strength of the days to come, in the US. I also think that there is a multitude of people out there who, with a little coaching (encouragement) and leadership training, would step out and create the new wealth and opportunity you talk about. We have been sold a bill of goods in this country that being a 'company man' is the smart, most profitable thing to do. For those willing to break that mold, the near future my be uncertain, but offers the largest return long term.

Great article. I have been writing a newsletter for about 3 years now, and found my voice just in making sure there was a little humor in the beginning, which turned out to be a natural fit for me. After a little humor (always a true story), the main content followed. The "ask" came last. Thanks for the insights on how to do it better.

Ruthann, you have hit the nail on the head...that is the difference between coaching and consulting. It's simple, but also sometimes hard to put into practice. : )

Jack, it seems that you have definitely hit a common chord with quite a few people here. I think you would agree that the time for thinking "outside the box" is past (it has become its own box). We will have to throw the box out, and push for a new paradigm.

Great article! This is just the kind of thing my husband and I have been learning/developing over the past year and half. It's great to have our ideas validated after being surrounded by a wall of people doing things the same old tired way.

Also, just wanted to comment on Farrell's. Farrell's holds many a wonderful childhood memory for me. I used to walk there on occasion with my cousin, who lived close by, and spent my 12th birthday there. It was a great place to be. : )

I too am a serial entrepreneur. Until a few years ago, I had never heard the term. Your article is spot-on. It's funny, but the "I don't know anything" quote is something I have been saying lately. I know a lot, and yet nothing. Thanks for the insight. I'd love to see more from you in the future!

I have actually worked twice under a sweat equity agreement. Myself being the one sweating. However, to this proposal, I would say a big absolutely not!

For all of the reasons mentioned, and more. This is a disaster in the making. Your client would do well to contract out help if and when she is in a position of needing it. One of the better points of starting and growing your own business, is that YOU are the COO.