You said it all and you said it beautifully. All I would like to add is a simple, "Bravo, Ken". Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. I especially resonated with "It takes a unique mindset to ask “why not” when others simply say “why”. Leaders and entrepreneurs are never satisfied with the status quo." Amen to that. May we always challenge what is in our noble search for what can be.

Judy,

Thank you for highlighting that having a niche is not just about who you work with but how you work. It seems like a simple concept... though we both know it isn't. It takes a lot of introspection, trial and error and fearlessness to come to understand these two important ideas and act on them. For me this article is very timely as only in the last two weeks have I started to flesh out the specific work I do (generalist no more!). Your article is a great resource for me to further flesh out these ideas.

Thank you!

Tara Joyce

Michael,

I liked you article very much and I agree whole-heartedly with your business philosophies. I am the author of a blog for innerpreneurs - socially, environmentally and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs, who, like you, believe that business is not the problem, but the solution.

Monthly, I spotlight an innerpreneur and it would be my privilege to feature you next month.

Nice to meet you, Michael.

Tara Joyce www.riseoftheinnerpreneur.com

Ken,

I deeply connect with your thoughts and experiences. I too experienced the same fall from corporate grace and a awakening to a whole other world of business I didn't know existed.

Thank you for spreading the idea that there is a different kind of business out there. One built on passion, love and authenticity not money, fame and appearances. We can shape our lives to encompass what we want and need. We don't need to fit into the preconceived notions of what business is "supposed to be". We don't need to fit into the expectations others set for us. We can be ourselves in business. We can love what we do.

Your innerpreneurial spirit is inspiring, Ken. Thank you for sharing your story.

Ken, thank you for the refreshing take on our current economic situation. I whole heartedly agree that in times of adversity great change and great creatvity arise. I, like you, look forward to the positive changes that are sure to arise. And I vow to part of that change, to look at adversity as an opportunity for growth rather than that of failure and doom.

The future is bright. Thank you for shining your light on the BizNik community.

Judy,

What a helpful article. Easy, digestible bites of information and advice that someone can easily begin to implement in their own marketing efforts.

I especially resonated with your thoughts on finding your authentic voice as I see authenticity as the key to growing one's business and self. You can be you, authentic and true, and have a successful business. It is your greatest strength as it is what makes you unique and what will help you to stand out from the crowd.

Thank you for sharing such great advice for writing content that is both engaging and helpful.

Tara Joyce

Suzette,

I have not had the pleasure of reading this book but I will certainly pick it up. The messages contained within it are certainly those that I can relate to and grow from.

Your message that in business, as in life, one should be genuine and straightforward, is a powerful one. For a long time, I felt as though my life and my career had to be two different entities with two different personalities. I was told, and believed, that in business, the softer (or more right-brained) aspects of my personality should be hidden. As many believe, I thought there was no room for empathy, consciousness, and honesty in my career. I thought these qualities were not valued in business.

What I soon realized was that those qualities (that I attempted to stifle in the name of my career) were the exact ones that would create true value for my clients, colleagues and for my business. We all simply want to work with people that we can trust and that who truly care about us.

Thank you for sharing your ideas and realizations, Suzette.

Tara

Jaime,

As we have already discussed in person, I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on networking. As a shy, introverted person, the idea of meeting people only to sell them on myself seems horrible and scary. Your approach makes meeting people all the more human and less threatening. Thank you for sharing your insights with me and the rest of the BizNik community.

Chris,

Thanks for giving the straight goods on SEO. As I started doing it for clients I was amazed by how easy it was. Unique, useful content and some well-placed keywords really does wonders.

It certainly isn't voodoo or scary and thanks for letting people in on that secret.

If only now we could some how get rid of all the snake oil salesmen SEOs who give us a bad name!

Tara

ElasticMind

Not on pownce. I can't take too much social media.

Hi Alton, you should add to your article the most important way to promote your site better -- having unique and relevant content for your visitors. PPC and other advertising means are great but if the visitor doesn't find what they are looking for on the other end, your ad dollars were wasted. The first place to start when looking to promote your site better is the site itself. Like you said, make sure you know the purpose of your site, and then make sure that the site is actually fulfilling the purpose you set out for it. That visitors can do what they need, be informed and have a reason to return.