Learn to Work Well with Others
Flashiness is your greatest enemy. I think of myself as a creative, free-form business strategist, but my core, my foundation, is built on the fundamentals.
What are the fundamentals of business? To summarize from my learnings in week 2 of the Dell Technologies sales program, the 3 core focal points that you must learn to start developing your business acumen centers on: networking, listening, storytelling.
The key to doing business is not to be a genius coding expert, or an incredible, other-worldly once-in-a-generation entrepreneur. No, the key is to know where and how to find resources. This is where we start.
Anyone you see in silicon valley or in the Fortune 50 knows where, who, and how they can gather resources to be able to solve their problems. If they don't know, they figure it out by asking questions. Stay curious. But being curious is not enough. Again, you must ask calculated questions and consistently verbalize your thoughts. This is only possible if you develop a network.
Being able to utilize LinkedIn as well as every other social media platform is vital in this day and age. If you do not lean on other people, you will lose. To win, start building a network. If you have no one in your professional contacts, connect with me & we can work to build one!
Once you build a network, you must demonstrate that you care. Care to learn, care to act, and most importantly, care to listen. People have a wealth of knowledge to give. Lean in and ask them to teach you. If you approach great individuals with a learning mindset, they will most likely say yes. If they say no, that is okay. Ask them if they have any resources or people that do have time to offer. Now, how do we apply our listening skills?
The breakthrough that will bring you to the upper echelons of leaders and mentors that have changed the way our society works, uniquely begins with storytelling. Once you listen to other people from all stages of life, you will realize that you have more commonalities with all of them than initially presumed. To take other peoples stories and work back into your own life with their perspectives is the most beautiful aspect of business.
Experience always outweighs titles. Once you take the leap of faith to story-tell and share your perspectives, you will realize that you are not good at it. I have been a talker for my entire life. When I first started writing and speaking, I found my style and approach to be ineffective and wasteful. Now, I create content that garners thousands of views and gives people a place to feel safe, in business.
Business is deeply personal. The more we can convey our true thoughts and emotions in a digestible, positive manner, the more we will be able to tap into each other's full creative potential to solve the worlds greatest problems.
It all starts with the fundamentals.
Create Content & Remember that you are Your Own Worst Critic