My quick thought on people often feeling the need to owe their own worth to someone else.

I receive many thank you emails and notes for jobs, opportunities, connections, so on and so forth. As much as I’m humbled by these gestures my response remain the same: opportunities are created by each individual, him or her -self, by their own credentials, experience, knowledge. My or my team’s role is to identify the inner attributes and maximize those capabilities. Sometimes those steps require refinement, encouragement, exposure and education for sustainability and helping them reach greater heights. The core attributes of those talents, however, are exclusive parts of an individual without which there simply would not be any aspect for us to utilize. Simply put, if you are seeking to be indebted to someone for jobs and/or opportunities, look no further than in the mirror. It’s your own abilities that largely contribute to your success – the rest merely work in concert on that foundation.

On the other hand, businesses prosper by successfully identifying and engaging the right talent for the right role. In short, our actions are business decisions – we require the knowledge and capabilities for our own sustenance and profit while in return we offer compensation. While I appreciate the kind notes and thoughts, I encourage highly talented work force to appreciate their own worth, first and foremost – personally, that would please me the most.

Tags: Business, credentials, experience, knowledge, Sustainability, sustenance, talent, work force
Posted in Business, Talents/Expertise |

The most important step in forming  a business relationship is the first encounter or meeting. There are basic rules of business etiquette that should be maintained to determine the outcome of that meeting. In an increasingly global market, mannerism displayed will either make or break a relationship. The few pointers below may seem common sense, but surprisingly, often times they are ignored.

FIVE GLOBAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE FOR SUCCESS

Addressing Others Whether first encounter or meeting in a board room, address each other with respect and courtesy. Regardless of age, number of years in the working world, race, gender, language, culture, customs, each participant in a meeting is equal. The reason is simple – each person brings something unique to the table and deserve equal respect and recognition, without which a healthy relationship cannot be built. Think Steve Jobs and the “Google Guys”, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. All three men are no less than the other even though Jobs launched his business when both Page and Brin were just babies. Innovation, sustainability and success are not bound by age, gender or culture, but by imagination, creativity, intelligence and adaptability. Addressing one another with that equal footing will help to form a strong relationship, leading to mutual success.

Communication Clear and concise communication is another fundamental element. In a global world it is necessary to understand and effectively communicate your message that is easily understood in diverse countries and cultures. Body language alone convey 75% of the message. Communication errors between generations are common. As explained above, age or experience does not automatically give an individual the right to offer advice by default. When doing so, the message can be seen as arrogant and condescending. As a receiver of that unwanted advice, the best solution is to thank the person, regardless whether it’s relevant or not, and excuse yourself. By doing so, you will avoid unpleasantness and maintain civility.

Accepting, Adapting and Sensitivity When conducting business in an international setting, cultural differences will no doubt be visible. However, the focus should be the business at hand and not different ways – be it accent, directness or politeness, aggressive or passive ways, so on and so forth. I would say this is the most basic attribute in conducting business in global setting – that is if you want to stay one step ahead of the curve. A South African diplomat once shared how accepting and respecting other cultures helped her grow, personally and professionally. I learned that it is the culture in certain part of Africa (memory fails to recall exact country) where hands are wiped on the skirts of table cloth after a meal. Imagine what your reaction may be without that vital information if you were to conduct business in that country. The trick is to learn, understand, accept and be sensitive to these different cultures, not make the other person(s) adapt to your ways. Keep it simple and open.

Confident, Yet Humble It is important to know your abilities and expertise. That knowledge will result in presenting yourself with confidence and authority. Both maybe achieved with humility: you know your niche market but at the same time are humbled by your achievements. Sometimes confidence maybe mistaken for arrogance, often times among competitors than prospects. If that is so, instead of being offended, regard it as a compliment, to quote a mentor. No matter where success leads, a little humility will always go a long way. More doors will open up when confident and humble than when confident and arrogant.

Keeping Cool Tempers are bound to flare in any business setting, often caused by competition, stress, demand and other internal and external factors. Regardless of the situation, keeping cool is smart. However, sometimes it’s easier said than done. One of the easiest way to avoid a direct conflict is to end unproductive conversations and/or meetings. That will allow all involved to cool off and meet at a different setting. Productivity thrives in harmony as do ideas and solutions. Open and transparent suggestions will lead to possible solutions. Repetitive discussion of problems without offering solutions is counterproductive and will plummet morale, decreasing productivity regardless of culture, industry or setting.

Applying these simple and yet powerful etiquette will brand you as a sharp and savvy global businessperson. What business manners are important to you and what would you want others to implement? Share your thoughts.

Tags: Business, communication, culture, etiquette, global, google guys, larry page, manners, sergey brin, steve jobs, Sustainability
Posted in Best Practices, Business |

Not quite….yet.

Although Atlanta is home to numerous talented and brilliant minds – fresh graduates from the likes of Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and outside-the-box thinking young entrepreneurs – the challenges facing young technology startup companies are quite steep. I’ve narrowed down some pointers which I consider foremost for  Atlanta to overcome these challenges that are hindering Atlanta’s growth as a technology innovation hub of the Southeast.

THEOLOGY

Theology, or religion, does not have anything to do with technology and yet it’s heavily embedded in Atlanta’s technology scene. Should theology be the foundation for technology and innovation? More importantly, should it be practiced in a field that require pure science? How do you decide which school of theology will be embraced and which will be rejected given ideas arise from minds that may or may not practice diverse schools of theology? Ideas thrive in openness and has little, if any, boundary. Ideas cannot be predicted or controlled. Nor can any one entity, individual or organization determine the source of next best idea. It may originate from a completely unforeseen or unheard of source – a nobody is a somebody in waiting, to quote Guy Kawasaki (?). It’s only smart to nurture and encourage ideas in an open, transparent and fair environment. An idea by itself is useless if not executed. Compelling ideas must be embraced, supported, nurtured and advocated for success and sustainability, regardless of the person’s gender, race, religion (or non-religion), social and economic status.

Atlanta’s challenge: Eliminating theology from technology scene. It’s easier said than done, but, it’s possible. When theology is embedded in organizational structures, both established and startups, it limit possibilities.

Solutions: Provide and practice an environment and build a foundation that is completely devoid of religion and politics – that is if you are an organization claiming to serve the technology community at large. Limit religious breakfast classes and/or weekly religious practices to personal choice and not be a sponsor/supporter of any one religious institution – it opens the gate for more questions than provide solutions/support, rightfully so. Otherwise, it may be perceived as favoritism and those technology institutions and/or organizations does not serve the community at large but special interest group(s).

AMBIGUITY

There is confusion and ambiguity in distinguishing between technology innovation and marketing/sales initiatives as well as “service”, “solutions” and “products”. Same may be said of differentiating between investors and startups seeking funding. Both established and startup organizations discourage and/or exclude people from “service” industry. What does that mean? Does IBM fall in that category, given a large sector of their business is service? How about technology staffing firms and companies that provide social media services? Are all of these service-oriented businesses excluded? Not exactly. Companies and individuals are randomly included (or excluded as may be the case), effectively by organizations (who themselves fall under service industry) contradicting their very own statements. It is so in both established and startup organizations.

Example: Startup Riot*. On their FAQ page, it clearly states “Who can’t attend”. Now if service industry is excluded, IBM, staffing companies (or their representatives), social media providers should have also been excluded. But, they were not. What’s more confusing is, if an industry is excluded, how can organizers expect that same industry to be sponsors? Is that not a contradictory statement? Now to be fair, I’ve not attended any of their events and am unaware of unpleasantness that may have transpired in 2008 (as an inclusive person, I’m reluctant to attend or support events/organizations that exclude people). But, FAQs pages should be designed to clarify and not confuse – that is if events are open to the general public and not to a selected few.

Atlanta’s challenge: Avoid ambiguous statements and practices that hinder growth. Embracing of certain personalities from the same industry (service, just as an example) while rejecting others of similar and/or equal strengths send discouraging message and create obstacles for innovation not to mention unfair practices.

Solutions: a) Clearly define technology innovation and marketing initiatives. Social media platforms are merely a new medium for marketing, sales, communication, branding. Usage of that platform is not technology but marketing innovation. b) Broaden investor prospects. Do not underestimate the influence and/or ability of new and unknown investors – many investors are private and maintain low profiles. c) Use “target” audience vs “exclusive”. While the former approach is inviting and specific, the latter closes the door on potential innovative minds. Innovation cannot survive (or grow) in confined and closed environment. An inclusive approach and environment energizes and motivates communities opening the door to endless possibilities – a haven for innovation.

LACK OF LOCAL SUPPORT

Atlanta technology startups have failed to gain support from local investors, enterprises and the community. I am not sure of the reason but I’ve a theory – bear with me a little.

Will every idea lead to next Google or E-bay? Absolutely not. But, there are startups who command innovation and are no less than their counterparts in any way. While Mashable, a social media guide (effectively marketing) boasts huge reader-base and corporate partnership, Regator provide an impressive platform that aggregate blog posts and categorize them according to topics and has a searchable archive of more than 3.5 million posts. With the right support and patronage, Regator may very well be next success story in the world of blogs. But, reasons unknown to me, local businesses and deep-pocket investors are attracted by similar innovative initiatives of other cities, primarily. Same comparison may be made between Constant Contact, based in Waltham, Massachusetts and MailChimp based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Of course, businesses are not expected to support local grown startups by default. But, why do companies pay twice as much (sometime more) in engaging out-of-town services/products when exact same solution is available in Atlanta at a much discounted rate? Perhaps a Venture Capitalist and/or an enterprise will be able to answer that question. I personally think, one of the reason is lack of exposure by mainstream media, be it television or newspaper. While groups or personalities from outside of Atlanta are heavily promoted in local media when they visit the city, same cannot be said of local talents of equal and/or more qualifications.

Examples: a) Mashable in Atlanta, were interviewed by local media and gained corporate partnership as mentioned earlier while Regator, a partner host, was left out of the equation. b) While on a book tour Chris Brogan received huge followings from the Atlanta technology community. It should be noted here, neither Mashable nor Brogan are technology innovators – former providing blogs related to social media while the later is the president of a new media marketing agency, according to his site. The platforms that they both use are technology innovation – they are merely utilizing these new mediums for marketing, very effectively, mind you. Now, why same exposure is not granted to local talents, be it Barbara Giamanco, Taryn Pisaneschi or smart and bright recent graduate Courtenay Bird, is beyond me. When local talents are engaged, without sacrificing quality, companies essentially contribute to economic growth and boosts innovation and sustainability.

Atlanta’s challenge: Embracing and adopting ideas and innovative solutions initiated by Atlanta startups by local businesses and investors alike.

Solutions: a) Build a strong relationship with businesses by listening to their needs. Solutions should be based on demand. b) Listen to your community and businesses. Understand what is missing and build around those needs. c) Gain the trust of local companies – Atlanta is the home to many large companies’ headquarters – and initiate reaching out to provide a sustainable solution. d) Execute ideas that meet a demand, existing or future, with a focus on sustainability. Investors look for products/ideas that hold promise in the long run and not some fly-by-the-hour-quick-cash-scheme initiatives.

In a separate post I’ll highlight few other pointers that will help expedite the growth of technology startups. Inspite of the above challenges, there are many technology success stories which prove that any challenge may be overcome with determination, persistence, confidence. Belief in yourself is the ultimate key to success. Finally, network, network, network – know your market, competitors, buyers.

Will Atlanta be a hub of innovation for technology startups in the near future?

*I’ve taken Startup Riot as an example because it’s founded on the ground of providing a platform for mainly technology startups seeking funding.

Tags: Atlanta, Constant Contact, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, idea, innovation, investor, MailChimp, Mashable, Regator, Social Media, start-ups, Sustainability, Technology, theology
Posted in Business, Technology |

Perhaps the most asked question I’ve answered was secrets to our sustainability as a young, privately held and self-funded company since our inception and during these challenging times. The truth though, there isn’t any secret to that formula. It’s following the basic principles of simplicity and listening to your inner voice. If that tiny voice is speaking to you, there is a very good reason.

Simplicity: Solutions do not lie in more complexity, it’s in simplicity. Keeping culture, people, process, technology – core of your business – simple is the key to sustenance. Avoid using jargon and buzz words that create more confusion than provide a solution. Sometimes they may be good for creating awareness of a brand and are most often used by marketing and public relations department. But, when running a business, provide substance and use language understood by your team, clients, prospects. Keep it simple.

Flexibility: Change is a natural process of life as it is in business. Whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee changing with business need is essential. During recession flexibility is perhaps the biggest asset of an organization, small or large. Adapting to change and being agile are qualities sought after by employer and clients alike.

Alliance: Your client, business partners, board of directors and advisors, and team members are your best alliances. Forming alliances is crucial in the growth of your business. Existing relationships must be nurtured and valued. Be the advocate for your alliances and the return will be many fold. Your alliance are your ambassador. (Forming right alliance is beyond the scope of this write-up but will detail that in another post). During recession your alliances are your most reliable source of expansion and growth. They know you and will vouch for you. Do not neglect your early well wishers while expanding your alliance base though. They are your proven asset.

Shared Vision: In order to remain sustainable, shared vision among key players – team members, partners, alliance – is vital. It’s virtually impossible to provide cutting edge solutions and technologies – or whatever business you may be in – if visions are not shared by core members. Those visions do not have to be aligned 100% but they must be above 85% – my personal magic number is 90%.

Transparency: Whether profiting or hurting in downtime, be transparent about your company’s plans and policies. If change is needed – cutting cost, layoffs – be upfront. Your team and your clients deserve the truth. Your transparency will drive morale, loyalty and repeat clients.

To remain sustainable we keep it simple, transparent, flat and yet elegant.

Tags: alliance, Business, Sustainability, transparency, vision
Posted in Business, Sustainability |