In Carol Tice’s article for Entrepreneur magazine, she culled stacks of forecasts to create a Top 10 List of Small Business Predictions for 2012. What struck me most was the 10th prediction, because it was hers and mine.

10. Companies that collaborate with each other and help each other have a better chance of prospering.

Why? Because jointly:

We have more opportunities.

We have a broader range of services to offer.

We have the ability to work in reciprocity.

It extends our individual business networks.

The synergy can lead to inventive, new revenue opportunities.

And..

As a result of working with other companies, you become the one they think about when an opportunity arises.

To read Carol Tice’s other nine Small Business Predictions for 2012 click here:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/222419

What are your predictions for 2012?

In any given moment:

Someone speaks a first word while another is silenced.

Someone falls in love while another heart closes.

A song is written while an artist is censored.

A act of kindness transforms while a cruelty destroys.

A friend is made while another betrayed.

Someone is pronounced married while another is pronounced dead.

A forgiveness is extended while a grievance is cemented.

In any given moment…

A person awakens

an idea crystallizes

a business is born

a heart repairs

a laugh is shared

a hand is extended

a mind is opened

a resolve is strengthened

an action is taken

bread is broken

and the world changes

What will you do with your moments?

Happy New Year!

Entrepreneurs are puzzle-solvers. We take what’s visible and invisible and ponder, plan and experiment. Sometimes the plans work out fabulously..other times, not so much. Here’s a classic example of one of them.

Riding up the elevator to the management office of the John Hancock Center, they had agreed to meet with me over an idea I had for a holiday party for their building. It was to be a full-on experience.

The idea was born out of a need to promote my first book.

Parties with Panache (don’t laugh and definitely don’t read it) was about to be published and the best way I could think of to bring it to market was to host a party with panache.

This was a time in my career before I was a writer or a marketer.

As the wheels of imagination turned, I thought of hosting an elevator party in the John Hancock Center during evening rush hour with a cart of appetizers, chilled Champagne, a waiter, a strolling violinist and singers.

When the ordinary elevator doors swung open people would be surprised, served and serenaded.  Those who caught the magic elevator would be treated to the biggest party in the smallest space.  It would spark delight and ignite good cheer.

We’d keep the appetizer cart on wheels and race it from bank to bank so no one could catch us, even if they tried.  I’d buy a new dress, a formal gown. It’s just what exhausted professionals needed at the end of their busy day.

I outlined every detail of the party logistics down to my choice for caterer and when I finished with the presentation the management was silent…

“We have a problem with this.”

Of course you have a problem with this! I’m crazy! But at the time I made this up it seemed reasonable. 

“We’d like to use our own caterer.”

“Oh!” I said.

“And we’d like to extend it to the lobby where there is more music, food, drinks and a table to sell your books so that everyone in the building can participate.”

“Terrific.” I said, ” I love your ideas. I’d be happy to make all the arrangements.”

And that’s when they hit me with the Big One.

“We’ve been looking for a new idea for our holiday party and this one fits the bill… which is on us.”

To recap, I made up a party that had never been executed with a pitch to strangers who did not know me, to debut a book they’d never read, in a suit that was just SLIGHTLY out of character, with a background career as a Mom.

And not only did they say yes, but they paid for it.

It was a fabulous party and went off just as I’d imagined.  People had a blast.

So if you are reading this and you have an idea, I implore you to take it out for a run.  It may be crazy or it just might be brilliant.

Isn’t better to say to yourself, “I can’t believe I just did that!” instead of ” I could have been a contender”?

Go forth and be the puzzle-solving entrepreneur you were meant to be! If you don’t invent it, it may never happen.

The world needs your genius just like it needed the elevator party.

And the funny thing is, 20 years later, one of the singers found Big Ooga online not knowing it was me..and joined.

All the networking in the world will not replace a moment of serendipity that changes your life forever.

Sitting outside a national conference hall in Florida I spotted a woman at an empty table. Not wanting to go into the madness of the convention either,  I took a seat beside her and struck up a conversation.

She asked me what I was doing here. I said, “To test market an idea.”
She delved. I revealed. We engaged in a discussion on what was to ultimately become Big Ooga.

The woman was brilliant, open and generous. Having avoided the “who are you and what do you do” it left us to relate on an intellectual and human level that sparked spontaneous ideas. It was the kind of enrichment that has no ticket price. A “click” for all the right reasons. We didn’t ask or take each others’ cards.

What was, was perfect.

As the conference ended and the booths emptied I went into the hall to linger at the Kaplan booth reading through their book titles.

“Pick one.” said the representative.

“Glad to.” I said and chose, Marketing To Women - How to Increase Your Share of the World’s Largest Market.

Once on the plane I reflected on the Serendipity of the conference. My roommate, who was switched at the last minute became a lifelong friend.

The conversation outside the convention hall changed the way I viewed my business. I’d made many new contacts and learned many new things.

Pulling out the book and settling in for the plane trip, I always look at the picture of the author first.

There she was, the woman at the table, the leading authority of marketing to women, Marti Barletta. Hailed on the cover by Tom Peters as his “MVP/BizGuru of the Year” the book did not disappoint. Then I found out we were practically neighbors.

Where did the relationship go from there?  The answer is in this video.

The tubs of negatives were found in a house sale and just by fluke they were not destroyed. Their discovery has led to some of the most remarkable street photography of our era.

http://www.vivianmaier.com/

If you have ever doubted the importance of your unique contribution, enjoy these photos and know you will rob the world of what you bring to it if you do not keep going.

Fresh out of Suzanne Ross’s Communication Class – juiced with the skills to precisely define my company – I went home to write.

At a certain point, I thought – “This is tough! Let’s get to know Suzanne better and see what she says about HERSELF.” So I hopped over to her website.

Check point one – now I know HER better.

Let’s go over to Phil Gerbyshak‘s site and get to know HIM better.

Check point 2 – I know him better.

This led to a google search: How-to know myself.

This led to personality tests, Meyers Briggs, e-harmony (need I go on?)

So I rephrased the search:  “who am I?”  – This led to meditation, religion, psychotherapy and coaching.

I did what any self-respecting search-for-the-inner truth person would do and returned to my own website, with my original thoughts,  so it would tell me who I am.  This of course was the jumping off point I began with and where my opportunity was to improve it in the first place.

I began thinking about how many people I’ve met who’ve literally handed me their cards and said, “Don’t go to my website it basically sucks.” (I’m paraphrasing here) I’ve met marketers without websites, social media experts without followers, graphic artists without online portfolios, experiential companies without an experience and an innovation company who hasn’t used the word “innovation” in their copy.  If ever a pattern can be identified, it’s this one.

So I went to my heroes and typed in Zappos mission statement.

They told me they don’t have one.

They define themselves by what they care about, by their values, their personality and company culture.  In their non-mission statement they include, “deliver WoW through service” “create fun and a little weirdness”  so I thought I’d share their entire list of how THEY GOT TO KNOW THEMSELVES and what guides their company.

http://about.zappos.com/our-unique-culture/zappos-core-values

Enjoy!

And let us know what guides your company!

With 22 million more entrepreneurs in the market you are competing with 22 million more brands and noise. William Deresiewicz in the New York Times tapped this as Generation Sell.

So how do you stand out? Here are some ideas to spark differentiation, make your company more human and ignite attraction.

1. Are you interesting, interested or a colossal bore?

2. Are you funny, ironic, insightful, unashamedly bold, have an original perspective, a special skill, a unique contribution and are you brave enough to stand for it so others can jump on your bandwagon?

3. As Liz Strauss says, “Are you giving people enough reasons to love you?”

4. Are you intelligent and using it to help others or are you intelligent and pontificating (see item 1 colossal bore).

5. Are you inspiring people to reach up? Are you inspiring people to reach in? Are you inspiring people to reach out? And will you be there when they do?

6. Does your message resonate with the one pair of eyes that are reading it? Because when it all boils ..it’s you/your company and them – singular.

7. Can people see themselves in you? Have you taken them on your journey? Can they relate to your stories of success, alligators, case studies, advice and body of work?

8. Are you listening? Finding ways to listen? Opening the door so people can speak to you? Do they realize how precious they are to you? How much their opinion counts? (social media, blogs, excellent questions)

I recently bought a bottle of beer that says on the bottle I won’t like it. It’s called Arrogant Bastard Ale. They dared me to buy it. It made for a fun shopping experience. It made for a fun conversation at the cash register where the checker said he didn’t like it either. It’s going to be a moment when I open and serve it.  It’s going to be a moment when we taste it and don’t like it.  It’s “a wolf in wolf’s clothing” to quote Joseph Epstein. But the bottom line is I bought it, and even if I hate it, I’ve enjoyed it!

What makes you YOU in the market place and what can you add to this list to help others become that ONE in 22 million?

Moving into new digs I had a list of basics to get and have ended up with the crock pot instead of the alarm clock. This is going to be a problem tomorrow when I need to be up at five.

This got me thinking about how I’ve consciously avoided certain necessities.  How I’ve prioritized some of my priorities right off my list. This weakens my own foundation and crowds my mind with to-dos I won’t do.

The deeper question is why am I draining my precious energy when I could use it for my company or my life?  I knew a woman who wouldn’t buy sheets but would get a 50th pair of shoes.  Those sheets will haunt her day and night. The shoes may rarely get worn.

As a test I asked a friend to call me today at 5 am. He called at 4 am because he got confused.  I had an over exuberant alarm clock because I didn’t honor that “thing” that needed to be done.

What are you are actively avoiding? Let’s both bite the bullet on one of them today.  I’ll get the stupid but practical alarm clock without the aroma therapy …and you will……?

The other night at a business event I met a fellow networking leader who I had been looking forward to speaking with. In the first few minutes of conversation she asked me what I thought of  “Person X”.

“You don’t want to ask me that.” I said, knowing she could be associated with her.

“Yes, I do.” she said.

“No you don’t.” I said to this stranger I liked immediately.

I was hoping this would send a strong enough signal but I could see my opinion was important to her.

A friend of mine might have said, “Not a fan.” And this would have been the gracious answer.

What was going through my mind was I don’t know the impact of my answer.  And in this particular case I have a strong opinion.

These truths or silences reflect on their source but if I don’t share my real opinion then I am associated by context and this is an unacceptable acquiescence. By not making a decision, I’m making a decision.  I would have so much rather said, “Pass the Shrimp!”

But I lowered my voice and said, “She’d eat her mother.”

And in an audible exhale, my new associate asked when we could get together next.  We did and it was wonderful. A new bridge was built.

Mental note:  I’m giving myself an F on execution.