In business, much like life, your relationships are everything, and the foundation of any good relationship is trust. I’ve learned that while establishing a foundation of trust takes time, it can be demolished in just a couple of minutes. Looking back on my career as...
The Magical Power Tim Ferriss Taught Stephen Key Over Cocktails
In order to design your life on your own terms, you're going to need help from others. And as part of this, you'll need to learn how to approach people who have done something similar to what you want to accomplish and ask them for guidance. That is easier said than...
Product Licensing is All About Teamwork, So Act Like a Team Player
Bringing even the simplest of product ideas to market on your own requires considerable effort, not to mention capital. There are just so many factors to consider, like cash flow, distribution, hiring, and inventory -- none of which get any easier if and when the...
Why You Should Stop Sending Emails and Start Making Better Use of Skype
Communication technologies have never been better. We fire off texts throughout the day. We're able to respond to emails just moments after we get them. We share intimate parts of our lives on social media. In short, we feel connected. Are we, though? My business is...
DIY is Fantastic — But When it Comes to These Tasks, Hire a Professional
In an interview published on Gene Quinn's blog IPWatchdog earlier this week, Mark Cuban's first piece of advice for inventors is, "Never use Inventors Services." I get where he's coming from. My perspective is: If you want to bring a product idea to market, you need...
Why There’s No Substitute for Face-to-Face Meetings
How things have changed! I'm old school. Okay I'll be real: I'm older than most entrepreneurs who are starting out. But I'm not one to dwell on how things were. I love being able to access information so readily. My ability to communicate with people around the world...
How to Ask an Expert For Help and Actually Get It
We hear about the benefits of asking for help over and over again. That it isn't a sign of weakness. That we should actually do it more often, because we severely underestimate how willing other people are to help us out. And contrary to our fears,research indicates...
6 Easy Steps to Becoming a Master Networker
When there’s only so much time in the day, it’s easy to overlook the value of building and maintaining your professional relationships. Relationships take effort, after all. But throughout my career, I’ve constantly been reminded that my success is dependent on the...
How to Get Influencers to Help You
We all need help to succeed, whether it’s crucial advice from a seasoned professional, a testimonial about our product or service, or an introduction to an important contact. For better or for worse, sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know. But how can you...
Small Talk Could Have Big Benefits For Your Career
For some of us, making small talk is not only easy, but enjoyable. For others, it’s a torturous experience preferably avoided at all costs. Unfortunately for those in the latter camp, it is extremely important that you master the art of making small talk. The good...