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Simple Business Transformation Guides For Every Business
We are all Modern Magellans making our way in the world. I believe everyone has a very important business - life. Your life and everything you are responsible for is your business. Many people believe that they cannot run a business but I know two things -
(1) You can. (2) You will have to.
I recently finished writing my first book, Maps for Modern Magellans. It's about leadership, entrepreneurship, and business transformation. Other ideas or concepts would occur to me as I was writing. Many of these concepts do not require a whole chapter to explain them. So, I will share a few of them here in a brief 5 point format. Every day or so I will add one and once this gets too long I will move one off to the archives on the book site www.mapsformodernmagellans.com
I will also be changing the video now and again so you may want to subscribe to the RSS feed to be made aware of changes. You are welcome to visit often but you should be too busy to just drop by.
This lens is getting quite long but I continue to receive compliments on all of the sections so I hesitate to move anything off. I will begin adding new material just after the video so that it is easier to find. You can also use the index to the left for the first 5 items.
The 5-Fold Way
Positioning a Company for Success
The 5-Fold Way for Modern Magellans
Company positioning is not how you think your company is seen, it is how you want others to see your company. The value of the 5-Fold Way is that it helps you determine how to be seen as the company that your target market customers are looking to see.
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Don't Eat the Steak
Dos and Dont's for entrepreneurs to improve their chances for success
Don't Eat the Steak
Mistakes entrepreneurs make that can kill them or their opportunity
Runtime: 4:19
2105 views
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Squidoo How-To Lenses
A list of lenses that you can use to help you make your lens better
You can also find great lens tips by searching the site using the word "Squidoo" and then narrow it down from there.-
Squidoo Marketing Strategies: Help To Develop and Market Your Squidoo Lenses
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This lens is designed to provide resources to improve your Squidoo marketing and increase your Squidoo lensrank. Here you will find articles, tips, strategies, tools and techniques that will develop you as a Top Squidoo Marketer. Subscribe to my...
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GreekGeek's Squidoo Tips: How to Get Your Lens Found
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So, you want to learn how to build successful Squidoo lenses (or any kind of webpage), attract web traffic, and get your Squidoo lens found by Google! This three-part tutorial covers: Learn the Secrets of My Squidoo Success!Part I: Ten Steps to Build...
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Basic HTML for Squidoo
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You can use basic HTML in a few of the lens modules. Mostly used to create hyperlinks (they are the "live links" to other sites). Though there are also other uses for HTML. If you find yourself in need of quick tutorial on how to do it, her...
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Simple HTML tricks to use with Squidoo
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Squidoo has a nice editor for your lenses, but things can be improved. This lens will show you some simple tricks to include more than possible with simply using the editor. These tricks should be used in modules like the link list, or the write modu...
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Advanced HTML for Squidoo
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The techniques shown here aren't much more advanced then what's in the Basic HTML tutorial. The code being used isn't any more special. But the results and presentation can appear to be more sophisticated. Hence it being the Advanced HTML tutorial. F...
How a Blog Can Be Bad for Business
Spend too much on SEO, and not enough on content
2
Become obsessed with blogging
3
Too personal
4
Trolls
5
Start, then abandon after just a little while
6
Do it badly (Spelling, Links, Categories, Layout)
7
Reveal too much
8
Fight online with customers
9
Lie
10
Whine
You can read the fully annotated version on the Modern Magellans blog. Complete with links and comments.
How a Blog Can Benefit Your Business
It can be a daily Press Release
2
You can demonstrate expertise
3
Make your own Engadget like site
4
Improve the dialog with your core customers
5
Share appropriate information - FREE ADVERTISING!
6
Hold contests to win products
7
Trial balloon ideas
8
Let your customers design things
9
Run Polls
10
Find new revenue streams
You can read the fully annotated version on the Modern Magellans blog. Complete with links and comments.
Brand You - 5 Reasons to work on this important brand
No one else can do it for you
2 Your competition is The people who have the job or position you want, the people who are competing for your position, and the owner of your competing business is.
3 It takes time You cannot rush this. It is more than polishing a resume. You need to build some brand equity. You do that with every action, word, or promise. It is easy to forget but hard to fix if it goes untended for too long.
4 Not everyone is Fortunately, few people do it right, if they do it at all. This is where you can have an advantage. It does not even require that you put in extra hours. You just have to take a little more thought about your actions.
5 You are doing it anyway What you do. How you do it says something about you. Each action, every word, and how you behave creates an impression in those around you. That is your brand. You can control it or let it go untended.
A great source of information on this is Krishna De
I also posted an article on this topic.
5 Ways To Be Professionals Anywhere - from The Reasoner Blog
This is so good I had to include it here
1. Be honest
2. Do what you say
3. Focus on both your and other's well being
4. Be respectful
5. Do not get too personal
I would add:
6. Watch your Language
7. Manner of Dress - sloppy is not casual
8. Give a day's work for a day's pay
9. No gossip
10. Build don't destroy - people, places, and things.
5 Things Best Kept Private.
If you would like to add to this please visit the blog
Such as:
1. Grooming habits
2. Diseases you have had
3. Cute baby bodily function stories
4. How much you over-indulge
5. What you keep in your freezer
You will find a more detailed explanation on the Modern Magellans blog.
Should you feel inclined to share similar information - save it for your MySpace page, YouTube video, or blog...
I have received some other input on this topic and I'll list it here for your benefit.
Refrain from telling and re-telling pointless stories about your children. - Amen to that!
I have set sail upon the Web 2.0 ocean
(I have a blog now)
Since this lens is getting long I will be using the blog to explain some of the 5-point lists in greater detail. If there are any that you would like to see first please leave me a note or send me an email.
If you just came from the blog then you know all this and you can skip it.
Modern Magellans Blog Feed
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byThe Modern Magellans diagram of John Kotter's 8 Steps
His concept - my diagram
Step 1 - Have a Compelling VisionStep 2 - Create Urgency, Use Leverage
Step 3 - Establish A Change Team
Step 4 - Get Message out - Act Accordingly
Step 6 - Create & Celebrate Milestones
Step 7 - Reinforce, and Recommit to Goals;
Step 8 - Lock-in Change, Fight Regression
I swapped 1 and 3 because I believe few small companies have enough people to form a change team to discover a vision. The leader has to have the vision and then get everyone to see it.
A larger version of the diagram is available here.
The Modern Magellans Manifesto voting is closed
Each month ChangeThis! receives manifesto proposals - they publish the most popular
To see all of the Manifestos, including ones by Jay Conrad Levinson, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, and Tom Peters - go here One of my personal favorites is by Gaping Void creator Hugh MacLeod - How to Be Creative.
Who or What is ChangeThis!?
ChangeThis is creating a new kind of media. A form of media that uses existing tools (like PDFs, blogs and the web) to challenge the way ideas are created and spread.
ChangeThis was built in the summer of 2004 by Amit Gupta, Catherine Hickey, Noah Weiss, Phoebe Espiritu and Michelle Sriwongtong. The original idea behind ChangeThis came from Seth Godin. You can read about him on his website.
In the summer of 2005, ChangeThis was turned over to 800-CEO-READ. In addition to selling business books, they keep ChangeThis up and running with their love and tender care. To learn more about 800-CEO-READ, read their daily blog.
Maps for Modern Magellans - Sample Chapter: The Introduction (ScribD iframe)
If you can see the little icon in the upper right (above slider) - that will open a fullwindow view
Introduction
5 Things I try to teach every entrepreneur
If they would just read the book I would not have to repeat myself.
#1) Perception is reality - It is not what you say, it is what others think you said that matters.#2) Focus is not narrow-mindedness - Some unimportant things become VERY important if they are ignored for too long. Family, taxes, and common courtesy to name a few.
#3) Just because you can, does not mean you should - The singing fish, the AMC Pacer, and Warren Buffet running for President.
#4) A map must be usable to be useful - Clarity is not automatic. Just because your "map" makes sense to you does not mean it will make sense to anyone else. (See points on Presentation below).
#5) Charge more than it costs - The sum total of the effort should be worth the investment.
If each one is not immediately clear to you that is not a big problem. It will only be a big problem if each is never clear to you.
Mr. Boffo iFrame (Sunday gets a little squished)
Joe Martin creates over 1300 comics a year earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Prolific Comic Strip Artist.
Maps for Modern Magellans - Now Available at 800-CEO-READ
Maps for Modern Magellans is written for people who feel frustrated after starting a business and then realizing they need help but believe they do not have time to read a business book to get that help. Every chapter of this series can stand on its own. The reader does not have to finish the entire book to benefit from it. The maps, charts, and diagrams are designed to help business owners, and managers, better grasp and communicate important business principles. Best and Worst Sales people
That I have encountered
The worst - No names to protect the guilty. I was in the middle of an experiment that required a lot of concentration. For 40 minutes I had to have my hands above my head repeatedly for this task. It was tiring and the sooner you finished the better. Just after I had started this individual enters the lab and begins to talk to me about how he can get me a better deal on the materials I use. I am a very meticulous shopper so I doubted he could. In fact I knew he couldn't. I told him I was busy but he just sat on the desk by my workbench and started to tell me how much he hated his job. This was in 1992 and he was thinking about going into shrimp boating. After that all I could think of was Forrest Gump. "Forrest" did not leave until I finished and was able to concentrate on explaining how he would never ever sell anything to anyone I knew again.
The lesson - be there when you are needed and don't be there when you are not.
5 Rules for gifts to bring home
Empty hands are not acceptable
1 Easy to carry on - Swords, Large hats or stuffed animals might seem cute in the store but they can be expensive to transport home.2 Show thought - Don't buy it in the airport gift shop. Somehow they always find out.
3 Easy to tell where it comes from - Has country, state or city name on it. It can also be something very characteristic of the place.
4 Not embarrassing to recieve - Naked hula dancers are out. T-shirts with corny slogans will never be worn. The more you like it, the less your kids probably will.
5 Something they will treasure - A smile on your face that says you are happy to see them!
It helps if you can find a theme to go with. I have two sons so I brought back little baseball bats from the games I would attend. My wife liked thimbles and they are very easy to transport but it was hard to find touristy ones in Japan.
5 Important Letters
There are more and that you will find on another Squidoo Lens - The Business AlphabetT) - Team, Timing, Totally (Committed)
M) - Money, Market, Moxie
P) - Product, People, Position, Property (Intellectual)
L) - Leadership, Love, Luck
E) - Enthusiasm, Energy, Eloquence
Please visit the The Business Alphabet and add you words and definitions. I'll move the best ones for each letter hear as they are voted on.
5 Rules for Networking
- Do it! Why spend money and go to meetings if you come home with nothing but notes?
- The more you give the more you get. Be helpful and not one-sided. What goes around comes around. If you get a reputation for being helpful people will seek you out.
- 5 minutes. Be effective, polite, move on. After 5 minutes you may be boring them anyway.
- Business cards are for sharing and for note taking. (See Gaping Void or better yet click the link near the top of the right hand column.
- Learn to say excuse me in multiple languages - it helps start and end conversations.
5 Points for Elevator Speeches
Also good for taxi stands, food lines, and networking events
- Say your hook first - you do not know how much time you will have. Their floor could come soon, they could get a call. You could be uninterrupted at any second.
- Don't Pounce - if you are lucky they will only be suspicious of you and what it is you want. (Most likely they will wonder what you were on if you blow the pitch.)
- If you are lucky the power will go out - This will allow for a lot of conversation time. Don't just talk about yourself. Try to ask a few questions about them.
- If you are unlucky the power will go out - Who wants to hear about your business when they are stuck in an elevator unless it has to do with preventing further episodes like this.
- Practice - When the moment comes there will be no second chance to do it over again. Ask any veteran and they will tell you how many times they blew a fabulous chance by getting flustered.
more on this can be found here.
5 Things you need to speak in public
Added May 5th 2007
1) Something to say Anyone can talk but few people can present well. The best speakers do not need slides or music to be successful.2) Demonstration or promotional video Preferably a recent video that includes a positive audience response.
3) Referral List People who have heard you speak that can recommend you.
4) Collateral materials A book, white-papers, audio or video file samples.
5) A press Kit Program description, topic, biography and a photo.
Presentation Rules
These will get you heard not just listened to
1 Use Flash or PowerPoint slides on timers-- You don't worry about hitting the wrong key, you don't add off-track comments, you don't have to ask for "Next slide please." If you tell people the presentation is on a timer they hold questions until the end, and you finish on time every time! (Even Vcs!)
2 Be Early
-- Make sure things work and you know who can help if they do not. Bring a thumb drive, a CD, and hard copy if you can - just in case.
3 Be Focused and Be the Focus
-- If the power went out did you make your point? Can you be as good without the slide show? Slides should add to what you say and not be the show.
4 Use One Transition
-- If you must use a transition make sure it is not a distraction. Use only one of the following: Slide from left, fadeout, slide from right. Anything else is distracting and you want the audience to hear you.
5 Don't Distract
-- Let go of the podium, don't tap the mike as you talk, and be normal. The audience should be listening to what you say not thinking about what may be wrong with you.
Slides should add not be your presentation. If they are, maybe you can just add a soundtrack and sit down. You are the presenter, and you should be the one of the most important things they remember.
Seth Godin's Riff on ppt
Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30
PresentationZen has some useful comments as well.
See my experience May 31,2007 to see why you need to over prepare.
5 Unique Things About Maps for Modern Magellans
More reasons you should buy the book
1) The "One Thing" Arnold Beckman said is the most important thing a company can do that Marcus Buckingham did not include in his book "The One Thing You Should Know" and why it may be more important than anything else you do.2) A column missing from the table on page 126 of the "Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki that makes the table more useful.
3) The 3 very important steps beyond Everett Rogers' 5 "Diffusion of Innovation" steps. Everett Rogers is considered the originator of the famous adoption curve.
4) How to launch a cow (Purple or not), product, brand or company so that it travels the greatest distance, stays in the air longer or has the optimal flight path.
5) A Mr. Boffo cartoon by Joe Martin that helps you see why you may need to change your focus.
You can order "Maps for Modern Magellans: Charts for Captains of Commerce" by visiting the book website, or buy it now at 800-CEO-READ. (The listing on Amazon.com should appear in a few weeks. ISBN: 978-0-9794789-0-1)
Free Books - A good idea?
Seth Godin says that free books = more sales
Recently, Seth Godin suggested that people write books and give them away as ebooks.
There are dissenting opinions - such as this from Peter Shepherd
Here is more information about my book Modern Magellans.
Important Phrases and Words to know when you travel
Rules for hiring
If you cannot work alone you need to learn to have tough conversations
Hire smart not fast
Firing is hard for most people. Save yourself the trouble by not hiring trouble. Check resumes and references.1 point
Don't hire friends you can't fire
If the company is hurting because of a friend think about sharing your salary instead of paying from the company's pocket. It makes it easier to say good-bye.1 point
Trust other people's opinions
You can fool some of the people some of the time..0 points
Office morale is critical
New people should add not reduce office morale. If they do not they should not stay.0 points
Save Money During the Start-up Phase
Ways to conserve cash without looking desperate
You can vote for or against these points. This is a shared Plexo so you can also have it on your site.
Costco/Sam's Club purchasing
Work with other companies to share some purchases.2 points
Rules for effective e-mail - the Rule of ONE
It's no substitute for a friendly smile
You can vote on and share this Plexo list.
An interesting book about managing email is The Hamster Revolution by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress. The Foreword is by Ken Blanchard
1 Topic
You can send another one tomorrow. If you talk about more than one thing; the least important one will be addressed.3 points
1 Person
Notes sent to multiple people are often unanswered. Everyone thinks someone else will answer. Don't hound.1 point
1 Follow-up
If you need an answer now, get out of your chair and come see me or call me. Don't send me an email and then call or drop by to see if I got it until I have had time to read it. That may mean end-of-day.1 point
1 Action or Series of connected actions
Don't send a laundry list. Only one will get done; the one you cared about the least.0 points
5 Facts about business in the US
From the United States 2002 Economic Census - Survey of Business Owners
1) There are over 23 million registered businesses in the US. How many more are unregistered? How many are doing what you do?2) There are 5.5 million registered businesses with 1 or more employees Just in case you thought you were alone in your business challenges.
3) 25% of the founders of the businesses with employees had not taken ANY college classes before they started their present business. Some never went to college.
4) Of the businesses with employees only 20% of the founders or owners had advanced degrees (MBA, PhD, EhD, JD and so on) when they started their current business. That means 80% started without them.
5) 100,000 companies with employees make 75% of the dollars That means the other 5.4 million fight for the rest of the pie. Not exactly a Pareto distribution - more like a long tail.
All of this means that you probably are more qualified to do what you need to do than you think. It also means that you have a lot of competition.
If you would like to see that raw data you will find it here: SBO
Top 5 Books for Start-ups
Your list may be different - let's compare
Maps for Modern Magellans will be on here as soon as it is available via Amazon. Right now you have to order it directly from Modern Magellans Media
Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business (Guerrilla Marketing) by Jay Conrad Levinson
Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profit more...0 points
Top 5 Books for experienced Modern Magellans
Your list may differ. Send me a note and we can compare lists.
Everything by Peter Drucker - and then these 4 books:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Very few companies grow well without leadership from a leader who is effective.1 point
The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success by Marcus Buckingham
For an additional "One Thing" see chapter 2 of my new book - Maps for Modern Magellans: Charts for Captains of Commerce. Dr. Arnold Beckman shared his advice on the one thing you need to know....0 points
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins
Built to Last is also great but I liked this one a bit better.0 points
Links to Longer Pieces
- Why Diversity Means You Will Not Eat a Peach Today by Roger A. — technology, family, environment | Gather
- (This links to an article I posted on Gather that has been getting some great responses. )
You can eat a peach any day. Thanks to overnight delivery and 24-hour stores, you can buy a peach 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Some stores are open on holidays so, yes, even on Christmas . . . - Roger A. on Gather
- Gather is a place to connect with people who share your passions. Let your unique voice shine through the articles, images, reviews, or audio you publish.
Important and Useful links to follow
- after you watch the video, give your 5 star vote, and leave a note in the guestbook
- Modern Magellans - Home
- Modern Magellans - Coaching, Consulting and Publishing for today's entrepreneur, Description of the book series, and products to transform your business.
- Modern Magellans - Everyday Entrepreneurs
- A Squidoo lens that explains who Modern Magellans are.
- Guy Kawasaki's Blog
- How to Change the World
A practical blog for impractical people. - Seth's Blog
- Seth Godin's riffs on marketing, respect, and the ways ideas spread. Occasionally there are free books too.
- The Personal MBA: Mastering Business Without Spending a Fortune
- Business schools don't have a monopoly on worldly wisdom.
- The Mister Boffo World Wide Web Homepage
- Syndicated cartoonist, Joe Martin, showcases his four comic features: Mr. Boffo, Willy 'n Ethel, Cats With Hands, and Porterfield. Daily updates and archives. Joe Martin creates over 1300 comics a year earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Prolific Comic Strip
- Know More Media - Business News and Information
- Know More Media is an online publisher of business information and news. Its writers provide a broad spectrum of business knowledge and publish their expertise on a continual basis.
- 1000000 Links
- A free way to get more traffic (not much more but...more)
Let me know you were here
It also helps the lens ranking - almost as much as the vote you gave above. You did vote 5 stars didn't you?
If you have a topic you would like me to address just post it here or send me an email. modernmagellans [at] gmail [dot] com
International-Investor wrote...
Great Lense. 5 star. Make Money in Emerging Markets!
Posted July 13, 2007
Ryman wrote
Nice to see that you add stuff every few days
Posted June 23, 2007
Christeve92886 wrote...
I like the new title - more positive. Your lens has great material fo start-ups, small businesses, and anyone looking to improve. Thanks
Posted June 20, 2007
Roger Anderson wrote...
It has gotten a bit quieter since I launched my blog. I would like to know what you would like to hear more about.
Posted June 10, 2007
Great Stuff on Amazon
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series
Amazon Price: $43.99 (as of 07/10/2009) 
by Roger Anderson
Dr. Roger F. Anderson Ph.D., is an entrepreneur, CEO, coach, consultant, author, molecular biologist, father, husband, son, business transformer, and...
(more)
