Tough Luck Produces Tougher Resolve: The Jay Myers Story

As an entrepreneur you’re going to be tested and Jay Myers knows this fact all too well. His rocky road to entrepreneur success was paved with stones of both trials and tribulations that seem quiet frankly, in the eyes of a good catholic like Jay a bit “old testament”.   His is a story of faith and pure vision.  He captures his uncanny tale of turning tragedy into triumph in his autobiographical account, “Keep Swinging”.  The title says it all.  The old adage: “The road to success is paved with many failures”, is no less true in Jays case.  Jay turned an untimely termination into the inspiration to step outside of his comfort zone to make his dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true. 

It came down to a case of simple self-analysis for Jay.  He puts it this way, “You have to decide how badly you want to be your own boss.”   Who wouldn’t like the freedom to focus on what they want to focus on? The ability to optimize your time by leveraging other people just seems well, logical.  Jay had a passion for connection people through digital media and turned that passion into a multi-million dollar business.

So who is Jay Myers?  Jay is an unapologetically hungry businessman who learned the importance of financial controls the hard way, the lessons of personal loss in a personal way and succeeded beyond his wildest dream in the wildest way.  As the son of a father who talked business but didn’t own one, Jay’s success is also the story of generational fulfillment.  The greatest tragedy in life is not in what is but is in what could have been.  I was impressed by three major points from Jay's management style:

1.     “Hire the hustles” – You can train salesman to sell but you can’t teach hustle, someone either has it or they don’t.

2.     “Network, network, network” – You have to be an absolute self prompting nut case!  If your not selling your business then who is?

3.     “Community Support” – It’s not an option, it’s an obligation!  Everyone came from somewhere and in turn does business in some community.  Give back a piece of what you took out!  

Shelly Baur’s six behaviors of integrity based communication model

Here is Shelly Baur’s six behaviors of integrity based communication model.

1) People do business with people they know, like and trust.

2) Ask for what you want.

3) Ask questions to demonstrate you like other people.

- The best way to get people to like you is to demonstrate  you like other people.

4) Pay attention

-  When people are sharing their ideas, personal beliefs, whatever need to pay attention to the answers

5) Keep you agreements

- Being early is being on time.

6) Be accountable for your choices.

Check it out for yourself by clicking on this link, http://vimeo.com/10443703.

Shelly Baur, Moving and Shaving Things Up

This past week I got a chance to catch up with Shelly Baur, one of the pioneering minds of mirco-marketing and corporate leadership training. Her story of perseverance in business and in love was inspiring. One quote captures exactly who she is,

“Tell your truth quicker, faster.” 

Her common sense approach to ethics based business was refreshing. Simple truths like, not being afraid to level with people on who you are and what exactly it is that you want. The specific you can be about what you want the more likely you are to get it. Within a minute and half she shared that she had been married three times, pursued many careers, learned a lot, failed a lot and wanted to share a business opportunity. 

Her zeal for network marketing peaked my interest. I will have to post another update once I’ve had a chance to visit one of her Saturday open call seminars.

Austin Baker, founder of E-Serv's, Shares Breakthrough Insights

This past Thursday, I heard Austin Baker, founder of E-Serv, speak.  He was gracious enough to share his key’s to success with a group of budding entrepreneurs.  As you would expect at the top of his list was persistence.  He put it this way: 

“Only 50% of people will show up and of that 50% only about 2% will follow-up”.

How many times have we all found ourselves at a quality networking gathering arms length away from the key individuals whom could help advance our agendas?  And how many times have we all been courageous enough to a) strike up a conversation, b) get their business card, and c) make one phone call before being stopped dead in our tracks by a gate keeper or a “let me call you back”?  For some that’s the end of the sale cycle and for others it’s just the beginning.  Austin put it this way, I’m paraphrasing:

“I already know how many times I have to call before I actually reach the client, about how may times the client and I have to talk before they feel a face to face meeting is worth their time….and about how many times we have to meet before I close on the sell”

Successful entrepreneurs expect to hear “no” ten times before they hear “yes” and they gain confidence in knowing that around the ninth “no” they are one "no" away from hearing "yes".

Have confidence to persist through the “no’s” is what ultimately leads to the “yes’s” in life.

Success Favors the Persistent as Fortune Favors the Bold

So let’s have it, what does Russell Simmons, Paul Mitchell, and Isaac Larian all have in common?

They are all well known for their persistence.  So persistent was Russell Simmons in his efforts to get MTV to pickup the  TV show Run’s House he risked wearing out his welcome.   Some of his closest supporters thought his acts of persistence were tantamount to harassment.  Law number 7 in his book Do You which is co-authored by Chris Morrow states that “There are no failures, only quitters”

Russell writes (parahased), “The only reason I’m “Russell Simmons” is because I’m willing to be so persistent in fighting for a concept I believe in…..I didn’t enjoy harassing my friends….yelling at people in meetings…..making my business associates uncomfortable. But I’ve been in the game long enough to understand that most of the time, that’s what it takes.  Whenever you do something even halfway original, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty to get your idea made.”   

Brief Introduction/House Keeping

Hello,

My name is Billy DuBose and I will be your host over the next 120 days as we embark on a journey of discovery. Yes, I used the "D" word!  Discovery, because or mission over this extremely short time span will be to put ourselves in the shoes of an entrepreneur(s)...... to focus or minds to see the world through their lens.  And maybe even for some, I hope, to take the critical steps to becoming one.

I will close my Friday posting with a "Vision Shaping" question for you to ponder.  Feel free to post your thoughts on the answer and I will be sure to do the same. I just have one request, that your comments be positive and respectful to myself, the poster and the entrepreneur beginning examined.

The vision shaping thought for this week is as follows:  What does Russell Simmons (Def Jam Records), Paul Mitchell (Petron Liquor and Paul Mitchell Hair Products),  and  Isaac Larian (Bratz Dolls) all have in common?