Welcome 2016

How time flies!

I can’t believe it’s already been a full year since…well, last year…and a year that has come FULL circle, at that, in my business life.

Where are hearts are (and passion), the money and details will follow.

That being said…this past year has NOT been a cakewalk by any means (with many, many, many, MANY lessons learned ‘the hard way’ along the way).

In fact, being an entrepreneur reminds me A LOT of my college days—days where I learned MANY lessons, equally the hard way—often outside the classroom (school of hard knocks).

Things like:

• Don’t park in no-parking zones (you will get towed)
• Don’t use hand dishwasher gel to wash your dishes in the dishwasher
• Don’t let a random sorority guys borrow your favorite clothes (you may never get it back)
• Make sure to clean out your fridge before going on a long vacation/winter break
• Don’t sign a lease on an apartment or place to live before seeing it
• Study hard, yes; but don’t get so bogged down in the books that you miss out on all the fun times in between

Similarly, entrepreneur lesson life has looked something like this:

• No two web developers are the same—and just because they have some skills you may not have, doesn’t mean they know how to develop a great site
• Ask for photographer’s portfolios before hiring them for the job
• Don’t pay a web designer $500 before he has delivered on service
• Don’t continue to work with a marketing guru who is not delivering on their services
• Collect payment from clients you see upon delivery of service if no credit card on file
• Keep learning. Growing. Sharing.
• Don’t spend all day at the computer—get out and amongst people. Network. Be social. Work and connections can happen when you are living life—doing things you love.
• Do your research before you invest in anything—systems, programs, advertising. There’s alot of little expenses that come up along the way—be savvy.
• Keep your eyes on your mission, vision, purpose.
• Speak with authenticity.
• Don’t force things. Things will work out as they should.
• Never give up…never

Man.

School of hard knocks is right!

What lessons have YOU learned as an entrepreneur in your business?

The more we can band together and share the insights we’ve learned along the way…the better we are for the wear and tear of ‘hard knocks’ of the entrepreneurial life.

Hope you have a great 2016!!

My motivation

I’ve realized how short life sometimes can be. There’s this great desire within me to see a world in my earthly lifetime in which every human has what they need to survive and thrive. After 200,000 years of human history we’ve come so close to getting there after the immense progress of the last 200 years. So if I can use my life to inspire others to push toward making every single person a entrepreneur and succeeding in life, then that is what I will work on each day. This thought motivates me to get up each day filled with energy. But i know one man cant change the world, but a group of people and minds can. And it is what makes every single moment of work seem like the most joyous moment of play.

Like a good friend of my always says "Dare to be great friend" and lets change the world together.

Do women need different support to men?

It’s amazing how a simple question can get so many people fired up. I asked this recently and it sparked a big debate. Some ladies were offended at the mere idea of requiring anything 'different' to what men do. But many felt women business owners do need a different kind of approach when it comes to business support – and I agree but keep in mind everyone is still diffrent.

Women need to share. Whether it’s the fact they don't know where to turn next, they have had a row with the kids or they can't figure out a piece of software – they prefer to ask for help and receive support.

They suffer from what I call 'mind monkeys' – those little voices in their head that tell them: "You're not good enough, you’ll never make any money, you'll never make a go of this business, what are people going to think of you...oh and by the way, you're a bad mum."

Do we men get these? If we guys do have mind monkeys then I’m sure we'd just brush them aside and get on with it. Girls, on the other hand, let it rule their life. Literally. Many women business owners have let their business fail, or have limited their business growth because of some old belief that’s hanging around in their head. Maybe their parents once told them that they weren’t good with money.  And for some reason that belief has stuck with them.  Can you imagine that stopping a male business owner? In my experience men are much better at saying 'stuff them!' and setting out to prove the doubters wrong. Women are much more likely to believe them.

They also have 'helpful' friends and family to contend with. Almost every day I hear from ladies who are doing their best to build a business – sometimes it’s just to make extra money for holidays, many others need to bring in a substantial income to pay the mortgage – and it's tough. In fact some days it's bloody hard to keep going. And it's usually on these days that a member of the family or a caring friend says something like: "Why don't you just give it up, it’s not working" or "When are you going to get a proper job." It's meant to be helpful but it’s like the kiss of death when you’re having a bad day.

What they need to hear is: "Keep going - you're doing great. All your hard work is going to pay off really soon, but it can take six months for your marketing to start bearing fruit" – because it's true. Too many women business owners are written off before they have a chance to prove themselves.  And they also don’t realise that they are listening to advice from people who don’t own their own business.  That's like asking a vegetarian what's the best way to cook a steak.

Women business owners often have to juggle home life and childcare with running a business. There are logistical implications such as only being able to work school hours if your children are small, and being restricted during school holidays. Also, if the school calls it's usually mum who has to drop everything because "her business isn't as important "as dad’s job. Now this is a sweeping generalisation but these are the things I see and hear every day.

Also women sell and buy differently to men do. So if they are following the 'old boys club' style of selling it isn't going to work.  Why? They are women. Women use completely different approaches to attracting clients, retaining and growing their customer base.  Cold-calling and aggressive sales techniques do not fit with most women entrepreneurs as well as their women clients.  So do they require different support in this very important area? Absolutely.

I really enjoy working with women business owners because they are so willing to share their successes and mistakes so that others can learn from them. They're willing to ask questions and step out of their comfort zone, with a little encouragement. And the results and rewards are truly inspiring. Some women I work with have changed dramatically over the space of a few weeks – all it took was some guidance on their business and marketing and a bucket load of peer support. Sharing where they are stuck is enough to bring forth a barrage of suggestions and ideas. Just having someone believe in you can be enough to make a difference.

I’m not saying we men don’t need these things too – it seems to me we are just not as ready to share or ask for help as women are.

With numbers of female-owned businesses dramatically on the rise, it’s more important than ever to make sure they have the support networks in place to look after these ladies who are contributing to our economy. The days of generic one-size-fits-all advice from government support agencies are over. Better, surely, to play to our strengths and help build our businesses in a way that works for them – and as women that means business advice tailored for female entrepreneurs, combined with peer support.

So do women need different support to men? Yes, I think they do, and that's OK. It's not sexist, 

demeaning or any other label you might be tempted to pin to it; it's just a fact, from a business owner who works with women business owners every day.  And if you're a female entrepreneur reading this, my advice to you is to ignore mind monkeys, 'helpful' friends and relatives, and the fact you might only have a few hours a week to spend on a business – take a calculated risk and go for it.

I can be also totaly wrong but look forwards to a debat here in linkedin on this. Have a great day all.

Love what you do. Not do what you love.

There’s a lot of advice going around online these days telling people to do what you love, follow your childhood passions, and live happily ever after.

I don’t agree with it.

I’ve been there, I’ve seen others, and it doesn’t work.

You may be passionate about basketball, but the chances of you making it to the NBA are very slim. You may love traveling, but no one is going to pay you a dime for discovering the Wall of China.

Now this isn’t a post to discourage you from following your passions to become a doctor or a lawyer. Far from it!!

I write this because I’ve learned the difference between following a dead-end passion vs. following the passions that will bring success in your life.

Your mission is to narrow down the many passions you have in life to the latter category.

Here’s the truth: you should love what you do. Not do what you love.

The difference between the two is that the latter is often unrealistic, not in demand and comprised of decisions made with emotions.

To distil it down even further, loving what you do means that you’ve developed an expertise that is in demand, where people are willing to pay for what you do.

By the way, I’m not saying being paid 45–100SEK/hour. Loving what you do means being compensated for your expertise, and demanding 10 and even 100 times that amount.

Beyond the obvious reason of why it’s important to be paid to follow your passion, is that it allows you to sustain your message.

Sustaining your message is everything when it comes to loving what you do. It takes at least three, and most often five years to gain recognition and mastery in your industry. Without a doubt, unexpected obstacles will come your way, and sometimes pure passion isn’t enough to sustain it.

By being paid for your work, you not only allow clients to value your work more, but it gives you room to make mistakes, time to master your passion, and develop a solid portfolio of testimonials and clients.

Networking works just fine!!

At a networking event not too long ago for around 100 people attending, i had to ask this question to the audiance as i was standing on the stage before my presentation, “How many of you came here hoping to do some business today, maybe even make a sale?” The overwhelming majority of the people in the audience raised their hands. Then I asked, “How many of you are here hoping to buy something today?” Not one person raised a hand.

This is what I call networking disconnect. I find it ironic that people are so “disconnected” about a process that’s intended to be about connecting people. This kind of disconnect leads to poor results, which in turn leads people to believe that networking doesn’t work. From what I’ve experienced over the past 10 years, along with the results I’ve witnessed with hundreds of thousands of people around the world -- networking works just fine!!

My advice: Do not confuse direct selling with networking. Of course, there is always someone out there who says, “But, Tomas, I’ve made sale before by attending a networking event.” I’m not saying it doesn’t ever happen, but it occurs about as often as a solar eclipse. You’re crazy if you think the odds are in your favor to “sell” at a networking event.

So why go to a networking meeting? You go because networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. Sometimes you go to increase your visibility and to connect with people you have never met. Sometimes you go to establish further credibility with people you know. And sometimes you may go to meet a long-time referral partner and do some business. In any case, the true master networkers know that networking events are about moving through the relationship process and not just about closing deals. Visibility leads to credibility which, with time and effort, leads to profitability.

In order to make your networking efforts work, you need to embrace a “relationship networking” mentality. Here are five things to remember when attending networking events:

1. Don’t go there to sell, go there to connect.
2. Have meaningful conversations with people you meet.
3. Follow up with people you found interesting or who you can help in some way. Don’t follow up to sell them something.
4. Meet these people in a one-to-one setting, learn more about them, and ask them: “how can I help you?”
5. Go for the long-term relationship, not the short sale. 

So get out there and Network

There's no question about it: Sweden loves entrepreneurs.

There's no question about it: Sweden loves entrepreneurs.

As the economy continues to struggle, an almost obsessive focus on entrepreneurs has captured the public imagination. From the press to the politicians, entrepreneurs are talked about as being the "business engine of the future." There's even a growing sentiment that of all swedes, entrepreneurs are the "most swed" -- the self-made, go-it-alone small businessmen and women carved in the image of our nation's founding fathers.

But despite the rosy picture painted in campaign speeches and magazine cover stories, an extremely high percentage of new businesses fail in the first five years. The estimates range from a low of 50 percent based on the failure of businesses approved for small business loans to a estimate of 90 percent, which includes early-stage start-ups that would be ineligible for Almi/startup loans. So if you're an entrepreneur and you feel you're in over your head, how do you know when to fold your cards? And, more importantly, what do you do next?

Signs it may be time to make an exit 
No matter how good your service or product, the demands of running your own business are great. But there are some telltale signs that "sticking it out" may no longer be your best option:

1. You're still losing money after three years
The rule of thumb of starting your own business is that you have to be prepared to lose money for at least two years. But if you're not moving into the black after three years, you should consider moving on.

2. It's taking a toll on your physical or mental health
No matter how much of a "born entrepreneur" you are, the early mornings, late nights and fast pace of running your own business can be stressful and exhausting. But if you find the stress manifesting itself in chronic sickness, anxiety or depression, you should think very carefully about whether or not the entrepreneur's lifestyle is in your long-term best interest.

3. You have an almost "allergic" reaction to being an entrepreneur
As is true with any job, some people are and some people are not temperamentally suited for entrepreneurship. If you were initially wooed to start your own business by the idea of being your own boss but find you can't stand the long hours or are continually overwhelmed by having to do everything yourself, the entrepreneur's life might not be for you.

Of course, there are no cut-and-dry answers. And because the business is your "baby," the separation anxiety associated with calling it quits is bound to be stronger than if you were just another employee handing in his resignation. But if you're unhappy and your gut is telling you it's not going to get any better, you might want to think about making your exit.

Plotting your next move
An entrepreneur who's just decided to close shop is at a career crossroads. This is especially true for people in their 50s and older. Do you take a chance and try again? Go back to an old job or industry? The answer depends on a number of factors.

Giving it another go
If you're very confident in your idea, and if you have seriously evaluated the outcome of your first business venture and believe you understand what went wrong and how to avoid the same missteps in the future, you might consider giving it another go. But remember -- it was a lot easier to be an entrepreneur before the Internet bubble burst, and between 2002 and 2007 when there was a lot of easy credit. Even if you can reduce the likelihood of failure in your second venture from the 90 percent quoted by the Economist to 60 percent, are you comfortable with that risk? And do you have the financial resources to weather a second failed enterprise? This may be of particular importance if you're thinking about retiring in the next five to 10 years.

But if you've already rolled the dice two times, should you hazard a third? Sure, for some people "third time's a charm" really does pan out. But the perpetual failure who turns into a successful entrepreneur is a rare one. And the perpetual failure who is not so beaten up that he or she will be a confident and hard-working employee is extremely rare.

Re-entering the workforce
If you're thinking about returning to a previous industry or job function, consider how your stint as an entrepreneur should influence the way you craft your career narrative for prospective employers. There are several key components to this.

First, there's a time element. How much time did you spend trying to make it on your own? If your business failed in two years, which is not uncommon for many new businesses, employers will generally view you as being easy to reincorporate into the workforce. But if you were in business for five years or more, be ready to answer questions about whether or not you are temperamentally suited to work for someone else, and whether you could be loyal to the company -- in other words, have you become too independent?

Second, how relevant was your business to your area of competence? If you are a lawyer and you left a gig as a senior associate at a law firm to become a sole proprietor with your own law firm, many prospective employers will view the move as a sign of chutzpah, and perhaps a willingness to hustle. On the other hand, if you left your position as a senior attorney to try your hand as a cupcake artisan, prospective employers might view your decision less favorably. Such a move is far afield from your core competencies, and calls into question your motives in returning to the workforce as well the commitment you will display as an employee. Are you still passionate about the field, or are you backpedalling after a failed getaway? Your career narrative may become particularly labyrinthine if the nature of your failed enterprise presents conflicts of interest with the industry you're hoping to reenter. If you just spent three years running a solar energy firm, it could be difficult winning back your position as a Chief Marketing Officer in Big Oil.

On the other hand, if you're having trouble reentering your old industry or want to try something new, you might consider exploiting your failed enterprise from a marketing point of view. For example, if you started a food company and can assess what went wrong, you might be able to market your expertise to find a position in the food industry. This could be an especially fruitful path if you have made contacts throughout the industry or in related industries. Or perhaps your stint as an entrepreneur alerted you to talents and interests that you were previously unaware of. If you quickly tired of crafting cupcakes but found you excelled at managing people or negotiating with vendors, you might talk about your business from a people perspective and try to move into a position in human resources or in contract management.

A practical approach
The bottom line is that in this volatile economy, we need to continuously evaluate our career prospects both as entrepreneurs and as a prospective employees. Certainly, there are cases of entrepreneurs striking gold. However, given the high rate of failure, it's best to be practical and to do your due diligence rather than believe every story that runs in your favorite business magazine or online franchise report.

Do you agree? 

The right reasons?

THESE DAYS entrepreneurship is buzzing so much that it’s on everybody’s lips. It seems that there has never been a time when it has been this high up on the popularity scale. 

As the successful stories make it to mainstream media, more and more people are starting to consider entrepreneurship as a way of living. But amid all of this a very important question arises: are people in it for the right reasons?????

Money: "a means, not a goal"

THE MEDIA today focus a lot on the financial value of successful entrepreneurs and how much money they have accumulated. Not to take anything away from the successful entrepreneurs, but all of it seems very overblown and over the top.

People need to have in mind that entrepreneurship is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. I personally don’t know any successful entrepreneur who started his business because he wanted to be rich. The sole reason why they are successful is because they went into something they were passionate about from the beginning and because they wanted to MAKE a difference.

"Dedication’s what you need"

ENTREPRENEURSHIP might seem fun and challenging when looking in from the outside, but once you get into the game, you have to be prepared for long days, hard work and the constant frustration associated with building a business. 

Even though advances have been made in technology, one thing hasn’t changed and that is the amount of passion and discipline required to make ends meet. 
Friends and family are great supporters, but people need to understand that the energy must still come from within if they want to succeed. 

"The harsh TRUTH"

Being an entrepreneur is hard. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme and not everybody is cut out for it. It’s a very specific way of living that requires a lot of sacrifice, and the sooner people realise this the better.

The world doesn’t need more wantrepreneurs who are in it for the excitement. Instead, it needs more passionate souls who truly want to make a difference.

Do you agree or disagree?