One way trip - corporate life to entrepreneur

Corporate life to Entrepreneurship is a one way trip

Curious that I haven’t written about this topic yet. Read this article in the Financial Post by Deena Waisberg if you are considering taking the step from corporate ranks to entrepreneurship and think that you can always go back to corporate life. Be warned!

When talking about entrepreneurship this aspect is almost never discussed. One of the draws of entrepreneurship is the freedom to make your own choices. But everything gained comes with a price. The price of leaving the corporate crowd to become an entrepreneur is that you can’t go back.

_____________________________


Taste of creative independence sours 9-to-5 job
Point of no return
Deena Waisberg, Financial Post
Published: Monday, April 30, 2007

Everyone has advice about what it takes to become an entrepreneur, but no one talks about the fact entrepreneurs cannot go back to being employees. "Once entrepreneurs get that feeling of freedom, it's in their blood forever," said Dan Sullivan, who has worked with more than 11,000 entrepreneurs in his role as president of The Strategic Coach.

Read the rest of this article.

_____________________________

After serving 20 years in corporate life I became an entrepreneur. I relish the freedom. Occasionally a corporate job ad catches my eye. I amuse myself by thinking, “At one time I would’ve jumped for that job.” Of course I have no desire to go back and I believe that despite my experience I would have difficulty getting a corporate job. The biggest obstacle is that I would not tolerate working for some one else again. The attitude that is necessary to succeed as an entrepreneur would be catastrophic in the corporate office.

Deena Waisberg’s closing line is good advice to wannabe entrepreneurs dreaming of escape from the corporate cubicle.

“So think carefully before embarking on the entrepreneurial journey. More often than not, it's a one way trip.”


George Torok
Willing Entreprenuer
Host of weekly radio show, Business in Motion

PS: I will never go back to corporate life.

100 - Time to Celebrate!

100 – Time to Celebrate!

One hundred posts on this blog.
A blog-post centennial
10 x 10

This blog post marks the 100 post milestone on this Business in Motion blog. And 100 seems like a notable achievement.

In your business you should celebrate your milestones. It is smart marketing and it is good for your own motivational benefit. You might celebrate 100 customers, 100 days, 100 weeks or 100 contracts.

Maybe you framed your first dollar. Be sure to celebrate your ongoing milestones. Sometimes we are too busy to celebrate. But if life is about the journey then celebrating is an important part of that journey. Celebrate!

This blog was launched in January 2006 as a spin off of my weekly radio show, Business in Motion. The radio show was launched in September 1995. Since then I have interviewed over 400 business leaders. They are entrepreneurs, corporate executives and business authors. Guests of Business in Motion have also included experts from the media and associations.

This blog is another way for me to pass on the insights, perspectives and lessons garnered from my radio guests. I added perspectives from my research and consulting experience.

Enjoy this blog. There is more to follow - maybe another 100!

George Torok
Host of Business in Motion

The Secret to Success

The Secret to Success

From my weekly radio show, Business in Motion, I have interviewed over 400 business leaders.

I keep searching for simple answers. One of the questions that I often pose is, “What is the secret to success?”

The most common answer that I hear is, “The secret to success is doing little things consistently well over time.”

That answer might seem trite to you but I believe it is powerful.

Too many people are looking for a magic bullet, lottery ticket or secret pill. The secret to success is going for the long run.

The secret to success is doing little things consistently well over time. All the “overnight success stories” have been working at it for 10 to 20 years. Simple things, persistence and time are the secret.

It took Bill Gates 20 years to become King of the World.

If you want to achieve success - do little things consistenly well over time. Sweat the small stuff!

George Torok
Host of the Weekly Radio Show, Business in Motion
George Torok, Business Consultant, in the News

Movies for Entrepreneuers

Movies for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-wanna-be’s should watch movies. Some movies are better than others. Some movies are made for entrepreneurs.

Here is a sampling of movies that entrepreneurs can enjoy and learn from.


Cool Hand Luke (1967) – an old movie starring a very young looking Paul Newman. This movie illustrates the potential of dogged determination and points out the foolishness of effort without a purpose. Warning for entrepreneurs – don’t be like Cool Hand Luke. Read the post about Cool Hand Luke.


Rocky (1976) – Sylvester Stallone is the quintessential entrepreneur in this movie. It is about the underdog believing in himself, with a vision to win and willing to give what it takes to win. Sly Stallone’s story of how he wrote and captured the lead in this movie is another powerful inspiration for entrepreneurs.


The Sting (1973) – featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the two “con artists” who plot to score a big sting on the big guy. It is cute, folksy and illustrates the importance of teamwork, planning and managing the details. A few twists show that things are not always what they seem to be.


Wall Street (1987) – Michael Douglas as the evil business man, Charlie Sheen as the impressionable budding entrepreneur and Martin Sheen as the union leader and caring father to Charlie Sheen.

The most memorable line from this movie is Michael Douglas’s “Greed is good.” It’s a great line and it captures a lot of truth. Greed is a powerful emotion that drives business growth and buying decisions. However, most entrepreneurs are not motivated by greed alone. It is the thrill of the game that drives them.


The Prestige (2006) – Hugh Jackman and Christen Bale as competing magicians on both a personal and professional level jolt viewers on the extremes to which they are willing to go to be better than the competition. The several twists in this movie is entertaining and a good reminder to entrepreneurs that you must keep thinking beyond the current perception. David Bowie plays a convincing Tesla. It’s the best movie that I have seen lately.

Note to entrepreneurs: Watch this movie and ask yourself, “How far are you willing to go to beat your competition?”


Crazy People (1990) – Dudley Moore is the overworked and overstressed advertising executive who takes some time off by resting at a sanitarium for the insane. He rediscovers his passion for marketing by taping into the insane minds of his inmates. He asks them to write creative ads and his ad agency suddenly notices him again.

This movie points out how crazy the ad business is and how profitable it is to be crazy. If you don’t like four letter words don’t watch this movie.

George Torok
Host of Business in Motion
Marketing Specialist
Creative Facilitator

Business Lessons from Las Vegas

Business Lessons from Las Vegas


Every entrepreneur and business owner can learn from Las Vegas.

If you haven’t been to Las Vegas – you must visit. It is the perfect place to learn how to run your business. If you have been – go again. This time take notes. Las Vegas is a great teacher of business for those who pay attention.


Follow systems
The casinos win most of the time – because they have and follow good systems. Some players think they have systems because they occasionally win. But the casinos are consistently successful because of their systems.


Don’t be greedy
The casinos do not win every game. But they consistently win enough of the time and they are satisfied with that.


Promote your brand
Las Vegas is a unique city and the casinos are unique. The Luxor named after the ancient Egyptian city, is built in the shape of a pyramid. Excalibur named after the sword of King Arthur looks like the castle Camelot. New York New York places you in the Big Apple.


Offer value
Value is in the eye of the beholder. That’s why one could pay hundreds of dollars for a room or $80. That’s why you can gorge at the $5.99 "all you-can-eat" buffet – or dine on $50 steak and $100 wine. Free drinks while you play the machines or free accommodation while you gamble thousands.


Free fools everyone
You can find free show tickets and free helicopter rides in exchange for attending a high pressure time share pitch. You can drink for free while you are gambling. High stakes gamblers get free room and meals.


Encourage your customers to be emotional
The lights, sounds and design of Las Vegas are created to trigger the emotions of the customers. Emotional customers spend more and they infect other customers with their frenzy.

Follow your systems
But make sure your staff do not let their emotions disrupt your systems. The casino staff mask their emotions behind their systematized tasks. Emotional people make mistakes, are more likely to say yes to another game,


People buy what they want not what they need
No one needs to gamble. No one needs to pay $100 for a show ticket. No one needs to ride in a Hummer. But when people want these things price becomes less important. No needs what Las Vegas sells. That’s why they sell it so well. They make people want it.


Create an experience
What do you want? That is the real calling card for Las Vegas. What do you want? You have choices in food, gambling, entertainment, transportation, and side trips. Remember no one needs what Vegas offers but people return for the experience and the memories.


Make people feel safe
A strange paradox, but the city of sin feels safe. People walked along the strip with drinks in their hand yet there was no sign of violence. And the police kept a very low profile. The plentiful street venders always respected our signals to back off


Keep it clean
The streets of Las Vegas are clean. I went for an early morning run and noticed the street sweepers preparing for a anew day. Even with the inordinate number of smokers in Las Vegas I did not notice cigarette butts littering the sidewalk.


Offer choices
Las Veags offer you choices. Pamper yourself at the Belagio. Ride a gondola at the Venetian. View the city from the top of the Stratosphere. Entertain your family at Circus Circus. Rent a limousine. Attend a convention at the convention center. Marvel at a magic show. Ride the Sky Train. Walk the Vegas strip. Visit downtown.

Las Vegas is an experience. Las Vegas is a fabulous business model. Las Vegas is a fabulous teacher.

If you haven’t been – you must go. Enjoy Las Vegas and take notes.


Read about Lessons from David Copperfield

Official City of Las Vegas site

Bellagio Hotel & Casino

George Torok
Host of Business In Motion

The Entrepreneur Marathon

The Entrepreneur Marathon

Entrepreneurs, on your mark, get set, go!

Running your business is like running a marathon. If you are an entrepreneur then you understand that building your business is more like running a marathon then like running the 100-yard dash.

Not to take away from winners of the 100-yard dash. No question that winning any race takes intense training. But this race is over in less than 10 seconds. Running your business requires more than a 10-second sprint.

It requires training, focus and determination. And then some. As an entrepreneur your business requires you to be committed for the long term. Performing well today is not enough. You must perform well tomorrow – and the next day.

It’s not complicated. It is much like running a marathon. First you move your right foot – then you move your left foot. What could be simpler? It’s simple – but not easy - because you must do it 30,000 times.

While running a marathon sometimes you run faster and sometimes you run slow – or even walk – but you keep moving despite the pain. And there is plenty of pain – both physical and mental. The mental pain is the bigger obstacle. The worst part is the hundreds maybe thousands of doubting thoughts attacking your mind. You hear the message, “Stop now” echoing over and over. Your only defense is “Left foot – right foot”. Meanwhile you keep hearing your inner voice screaming at you, “Damm, it hurts.”.

While running your business the mental pain is the toughest obstacle. Your fear, your embarrassments, and your uncertainty can scream, “Stop”. Your negative imagination can kill you and your business. After you build a successful business nobody cares how long it took for you to become successful. It usually takes years. It took 20 years for Bill Gates to become ‘King of the World”. And they will still call you an “overnight success.”

You must have a simple way of overcoming those persistent doubts. You must have a compelling business plan that is as simple as “left foot – right foot”.

If you are an entrepreneur – congratulations!

If you are an entrepreneur – remember that you are running a marathon – not a 100-yard dash.

If you are an entrepreneur, focus on the goal and ignore the pain.

Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot.
Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot.
Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot.
Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot. Left foot – right foot.
…

Hurray for you entrepreneurs!


George Torok
Entrepreneur
Host of the Weekly Radio Show - Business in Motion

Hamilton Spectator editorial

As appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, Monday April 30, 2007


Flick Off slogan should catch on with the young.

Flick off. Congrats to a brilliant marketing campaign!
They know their target market and how to reach them. - teens and 20-somethings.

The slogan would appeal to the mindset of this target group while annoying others outside the group. An effective brand does that.

A good branding campaign must be willing to create controversy and make enemies.

An effective brand focuses on selling the message to the target group. That is the only measure that counts.

The combination of Flick Off and Richard Branson is bold and controversial. It seems like the right combination to persuade the teens and 20-somethings to flick off the lights.

This campaign is not for: the boomers who are already socially and environmentally conscious, and their parents who still remember the lessons of the war and depression.

So if those groups don’t like the slogan it doesn’t matter because they are already flicking off.

Powerful lessons for business marketers in this campaign. If only they could be so bold.

George Torok
Marketing specialist
Burlington, ON

For more of George Torok in the news media click here.
For more on the Flick Off marketing campaign click here.