Let me tell you a story about Joe.

You see -- Joe (not his real name) used to be a fired-up and motivated entrepreneur. Huge dream to make it big in the world of business -- he set out to build his empire from scratch. Yes -- another startup.

But guess what? Joe is now toast. Dry toast with no jam.

And worse? It went from grand to gutter in less than 18 months.

In my role as mentor, coach and writer on Forbes for startup and struggling entrepreneurs -- I actually meet many Joes. So many it’s almost impossible to count. And even though each one of them is not actually named Joe; they each share the common bond of disillusionment and despair.

So what happened to all these Joes -- so motivated at the start in their quest to be the boss of their own profitable business?

Discover 7 short steps Joe took to land in the ditch:

Step 1 -- Joe thinks of a brilliant idea.

Great place to start. Nothing inherently wrong here as a first step because let’s face it -- you have to come up with some idea to pursue for your new business. Joe is right on track so far...

Step 2 -- Afraid someone will steal his idea; Joe doesn’t really share it with anyone.

Now it gets a little squirrely. Joe has taken his first wrong turn. And yes -- we all need to be diligent on how we protect real trade secrets -- but in general, it’s a very bad idea to start down this path.

Sometimes Joe tells me he did ask around a little (mainly family and close friends) and everyone thought his idea sounded great. Wrong.

You have to find out if anyone else (namely your targeted customer segment) cares about your idea. And the sooner the better. Customer discovery (or customer development as Steve Blank coins it) is a critical part of the early journey for a startup entrepreneur. Markets are conversations (from “The Cluetrain Manifesto”) and not monologues. So Joe is now headed for a train wreck and he doesn’t even know it...

Step 3 -- Joe spends a fortune in time and money to build his brainchild product or service.

Hunkered down in his cave; Joe builds the Taj Mahal. It’s beautiful but does anyone really want it? Again, because Joe does not have active feedback loops set up with his potential target market for dialogue; and because he is not operating in a lean way while he builds his brainchild -- he heads further into the abyss.

Lean and agile development combined with active dialogue and customer conversation is a must in the startup world -- even if you’re not building a high-tech venture. The process of testing both your product ideas and marketing messages (lean marketing) with minimal expense and using the feedback to guide you is of paramount importance. Gone are the days of “build it and they will come”.

Step 4 -- With a new fancy logo and website -- Joe launches his product/service/company to the world.

The day arrives to cut the ribbon and Joe is beyond excited. He has spent a ton of his own money and countless hours building his dream product/service/company. Elated, but exhausted, he releases his grand idea to the world.

But here is the thing: Joe is about to be blindsided because here comes Mack Truck #5 barreling down the road...

Step 5 (The Mack Truck) -- Nobody cares.

Yes -- that’s right. His grand plan lays a big goose egg.

Why does nobody care? Because Joe completely missed the market. His failure to test, measure and learn from ongoing conversations on the value proposition of his products and services meant he built something no one cares about or needs. Or, if he did happen to build something of value which someone could actually use -- he has no idea how to effectively communicate about it because he was not active in discussion and therefore knows nothing of the right words to use.

Talk to any really good marketer and they will tell you it is an artform to tweak words into melodies which cause people to take the action you want them to. And combine art with the science of experimentation and measurement through customer dialogue? You end up holding one of the keys to your secret sauce.

But Joe missed that completely.

Step 6 -- Joe is confused, tired and now broke.

In a panic -- Joe starts to flail and thrash about. Akin to a swimmer who gets in trouble in deep water but doesn’t remain calm in order to save himself. Joe actually begins to throw any remaining money he has at multiple snake oil quick fixes to get his company going. He lacks direction and enters into even more of a “spray and pray” method of marketing. But the more he thrashes about with failed attempts to get something going, the more he sinks.

Step 7 -- Another startup bites the dust.

Yes -- Joe finally throws in the towel and heads back to the help wanted section.

The sad part? It didn’t have to end this way. At any point along the path he could have righted the ship. Now I realize this is an overly simple diagram of a fictitious guy named Joe and his startup. But please resist the temptation to think this doesn’t apply to you. As smart as you are, you might actually have blind spots and be headed down the same path.

Yes, I know -- but you really do have the next idea to change the world and will really be the next Mark Zuckerberg. And maybe you will -- but I will bet the last dollar in my wallet if you follow the 7 steps above you will not succeed.

So you tell me -- what am I missing here? Do you think I am wrong? Whatever your thoughts -- I’d want to hear them below.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur.

If you're an entrepreneur -- let's connect right here -- right now.

Seriously. Here's a proven formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

Plumbers have wrenches, pipes and overalls.

Accountants have spreadsheets, calculators and pencils.

Ditch diggers have shovels, wheelbarrows and nice tans.

But what about entrepreneurs? Is there a toolkit especially made to fit an entrepreneur?

Yes, I believe there is. Millions of people spread all across this earth head out each morning into the light of day with aspirations to wear the badge of an entrepreneur.

But do they carry the correct tools for the job? Or more to the point if you desire to be an entrepreneur -- do you carry the correct tools?

Let’s find out as we uncover 5 tools of mandatory requirement for the occupation of an entrepreneur;

1.) Passion

First thing in your toolkit? Better be some serious passion for what you do. And not just a pinch either. This is no time to whip out the tiny tack hammer. You need a sledge hammer sized amount of passion. Think of it this way -- passion is the fuel to keep you fired up about your idea, industry and business every minute of every day.

Let me give you an example: Bill Phillips, current CEO and Founder of Transformation, has earned a sizable amount of money over the years as an entrepreneur. The guy is some kind of fitness guru. Fully engaged in exercise, nutrition, muscular science and anything else to build a better body and live a more healthy life. A genius at what he does -- and he’s got the bankroll to prove it.

But how has he literally earned tens of millions of dollars in the fitness industry? I propose to you because he has a fanatic passion about it. Yes -- fanatic.

Lives it. Breathes it. Sleeps it. Eats it. And has since he was a kid sneaking off to lift steel barbell weights in a dark closet next to the gym during lunch in junior high. Yes - over 34 years of fanatical passion.

Listen -- don’t take this lightly. You will not survive over the long haul without being filled to the brim with a burning passion for what you do. Even Brandon Mills, a successful L.A. serial entrepreneur, agrees it makes all the difference between a successful entrepreneur and one who flops and fails.

2.) High Risk Tolerance + Tenacity

Once you whip out and strap on some passion -- next up is a big dose of risk tolerance combined with tenacity. Are you afraid to step out? Fearful you’ll fail miserably as an entrepreneur? So scared out of your wits it stops you dead in your tracks from even trying?

Well, shake it off. Rise up out of your chair and grab risk by the throat. Stare it down and confidently press on with a tenacious glare in your eye.

Take for example Clate Mask, CEO and Co-Founder of InfusionSoft. The guy is a fighter. Willing to risk it all in pursuit of his vision for a stellar company. But unwilling to quit in the face of adversity. His wife tells a great story of the early years of InfusionSoft and how they almost decided to throw in the towel. Clate was about to go find a job somewhere so they could feed the family. But guess what? He didn’t cave. He kept going. Shooting flames of tenacity from his nostrils. And the company he co-founded and didn't quit on?  They just raised $54 million in capital led by Goldman Sachs.  Nicely done Clate.

3.) Domain Dominance

Remember how fanatical passion is a must for your entrepreneurial toolkit? If you’re one step ahead of me -- you’ll see the connection between passion and domain dominance.

You see, if you’re truly passionate about something. Living, breathing and eating it every day, guess what happens over time? Yes -- you become an expert in it. You gain absolute domain expertise. Again I will refer to both Mills and Phillips as examples. These guys both became so naturally immersed in their areas of passion they couldn’t help but become domain experts. And when you and your business are looked to as the experts in your field -- you’ve reached an unparalleled position of power and influence. Look no further than what Steve Jobs was able to accomplish at mighty Apple.

4.) A Team

No -- not the “A Team” with Mr. T. Just ‘a team’. And you need a good one packed in your toolkit.

If you ask any successful entrepreneur about the reasons for their success -- I guarantee you (unless they’re complete ego maniacs) they will mention their “team” as playing a major role. Ask Bill Gates. Ask Jack Dorsey. Ask Richard Branson.

But what if you call yourself a “solo-preneur”? Does putting together a team still apply?

Absolutely. You are not a one-man (or woman) band. Even if you think so.

The bottom line is every successful entrepreneur needs to build a team around them. A team motivated toward the same vision and goals. And no -- it doesn’t have to be people punching time clocks on your payroll. Author Scott Fox (“Click Millionaires — Work Less & Live More with an Internet Business You Love”), declares that “today you don’t need all the physical infrastructure of traditional business — no storefront, office, furniture, parking or even full-time employees.”

With the availability through sites like oDesk and Elance -- you can easily put together a team of players to help you reach your entrepreneurial goals.

And don’t forget -- your vendors, contractors, mentors and partners all play a major role on your team as well.

5.) Mentor & Coach

Speaking of mentors -- Jeff Walker, CEO and founder of Internet Alchemy, says “having coaches, mentors and role models is absolutely critical to success”.

Like Yoda from Star Wars. Little green guy with funny ears and a whole lot of wisdom.

Yes -- you need your own Yoda. You see, Yoda was a mentor and coach for young Luke Skywalker. He was there to teach him. Guide him. And give encouragement each step of the way.

The right mentor and coach can do the same for you. There to add value beyond anything you can imagine. Why? Because here is your challenge:

You are currently unaware of the things you do not know.

Basically, you have blind spots. But it’s okay because we all have them in different areas of our lives.

So just like every entrepreneur out there -- you have a choice to make. You can either choose the path of the wise and get a mentor and coach to help you see those blind spots; or you can choose to go it alone. I would encourage you in the strongest language possible to get a mentor or coach. Just find someone you can trust; who knows what they’re talking about with business and is a good fit for you. Believe me -- you’ll look back and see it was one of the smartest moves you ever made.

5 must have tools for your toolkit. Don’t leave home without them.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & serial entrepreneur.

If you're an entrepreneur -- let's connect right here -- right now.

Seriously. Here's a proven formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

Entrepreneur Martin Howey

Imagine you only have an 8% chance of being alive in 3 years. Think about it: an 8% chance -- 3 short years from now.

What would you do? Would you crumple under the weight of knowing death might soon be at your doorstep? Or would you stand up and make a difference starting today?

Martin Howey is a man on a mission. You see -- Martin has stage IV colon cancer. And yes -- his survival rate statistically is not good. According to WebMD; the five-year survival rate for stage IV colon cancer is only 8%. Martin was diagnosed 2 years ago -- so he is staring down the 8% survival rate in 3 years.

Even more alarming is the revelation doctors uncovered two weeks ago of Martin also having another form of cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Follicular Lymphoma. Radiation treatments start next week.

But is Martin sulking in the back corner of his bedroom as his possible remaining years pass him by?

No. He is busy running his company as Founder and CEO helping thousands of entrepreneurs world-wide; writing his 28th book; raising nearly $400,000.00 for Katie Couric’s Stand Up 2 Cancer program; loving his wife of over 40 years; spending precious time with his 6 kids and 28 grandchildren and yes -- even preparing to jump into his second Tough Mudder race this weekend.

Is Martin scared? Yes -- I would imagine so. But the difference is this: he is not allowing fear to be the defining part of who he is.

In fact, Martin remembers sitting in the doctor’s office and having a deep sinking feeling when first hearing the news of his colon cancer. But immediately his thoughts shifted to this:

“Okay -- I’ve got this cancer. What am I going to do about it? I don’t have time to get mad. I’m not mad at God. I’m not mad about “why me? Why did this happen to me?” I can’t go down the path of depression. So okay: how do we fix this? What do I need to do to fix this?”

And so he did. Racing against time with an extreme sense of urgency, Martin began the battle of his life -- for his life. Nasty chemotherapy. Surgery to remove 14 inches of his colon. Sick on a daily basis from the drugs.

But never weary in his heart. Martin always looked to the good and pressed forward into his future. Determined to not let cancer beat him.

And yes -- excited to wake up each morning, Martin wants to truly make a difference in the lives of others. Which is the reason he accepted my invitation to sit down for a real heart-to-heart on why entrepreneurs fail and how they can overcome their roadblocks to success.

But as great conversations tend to do -- this one also drifted off into places you never imagined. From a man eager to share with the world before he leaves it comes forth deep insight and true passion.

Take these words to heart my friend as I share with you just 4 things of many I learned from a wise man who wants to make a real difference in your life:

1.) The problem of “me-too” businesses

One of the first questions I asked Martin was to tell me where he thinks most entrepreneurs fall short. I mean really fall short. Is it in figuring out their Value Proposition? Is it in the inability to communicate their Value Proposition? What is it?

Martin told me this:

“First of all; there are too many “me-too” businesses and “me-too” products out there. Somebody sees a product or service and thinks; “Well, I can do that.” Then they go and basically come out with the same thing. But you can never maintain a long term competitive advantage using this strategy. You’ve got to figure out how you can give them something they can’t get anywhere else. A real point of differentiation. Think: “How can I fix this? How can I upgrade it? How can I change it; modify it, enhance it? How can I make it better or different than anything else out there?” That’s the first thing.”

2.) Ineffective messaging

But Martin didn’t stop there. And I would agree. Even if you believe you’ve truly discovered a product or service which is unique and not readily available elsewhere; you must possess the ability to communicate your message to an audience willing to pay for it. Martin suggests using the “features; functions; benefits and proof” method.

He explains it like this:

“Look at this pen. This has a little hook on the end of it. What is the hook? It’s a clip. So when I think “feature” -- I think “it’s a clip”. So what is the function of the clip? It’s what holds the pen in your pocket, right? That’s the function. But the benefit is the “so what” of the function. It holds it in your pocket -- so what? Well, so it doesn’t fall out when you bend over. So if I close my eyes I can find it without having to look for it. So I won’t lose it and have to buy another one. These are the benefits of the little hook -- and benefits are the best way to communicate to your market. Plus, you need the proof: let me put this in my pocket and I will bend over and see it doesn’t fall out. Now you put it in your pocket and do the same and see it doesn’t fall out. And let me tell you about John -- he put it in his pocket and bent over and it didn’t fall out. These are examples of proof.”

Martin summarized it this way:

“When it comes to communication, people think they talk “features and benefits”; but they don’t -- they talk “features and functions”. And we don’t buy that stuff. We buy the benefit of what it actually does. So think this way about your product, service or business: What is it? What does it do? So what? Prove it.”

3.) Markets are conversations

One of the great books written just before the turn of the century is called “The Cluetrain Manifesto”. In it; there is a concept eloquently stated as this: “markets are conversations”. And yes -- this seems obvious in a day and age with the Internet and social media. However, at the time, it was profound and I am still amazed today how many entrepreneurs and companies miss the boat. Or, I guess “the train” in this case.

Taking the role effective communication plays one step further; Martin puts it like this:

“You have to constantly keep in communication. Even after you’ve figured out your unique value and how to communicate it using benefits. Things are not static and are changing faster than ever before in history. You need to have a dialogue, not a monologue with your customers. Too many people are having monologues. “Here’s what I have and here’s what I want you to do. I want you to buy this stuff.” But a dialogue is asking questions. Getting feedback. “Well, tell me how you are using that product or service? What kind of things would you like to have in addition? What else do you buy at the same time, before or after you buy our product?” Questions like these make all the difference between innovation and obsoletion.”

4.) You can’t outsource your role in your family.

One of the last stories Martin shared with me was about a man he ran into on a business trip. (And to me -- this is the most important lesson Martin shared. If you can get this -- I mean really get it -- then you’re well on your way to a successful life.)

Apparently, this guy was stuck in Phoenix unexpectedly and couldn’t get home right away due to travel arrangements or something. Listen to the way Martin describes his conversation with him:

Martin -- “Oh, so you’re going to be stuck here for a few days. You’re going to miss Halloween with your kids.”

Traveling Man -- “Yeah. Well, that’s not a big deal. I’ll catch up with them later.”

Martin -- “No, it is a big deal. Fix it.”

Traveling Man -- “What do you mean?”

Martin -- “I mean fix it.”

Traveling Man -- “Well, I travel some and when I’m home -- I’m home. But when I’m gone; I’m gone.”

Martin -- “No -- that’s not good enough. Your kids know. Your kids know when you’re there and when you’re not even if you’re just sitting on the couch while they’re watching Sesame Street. They know “Dad is with me.” And so, you need to make sure you’re with them because you can never go back and get this Halloween with these kids. It will be gone and you will have missed it. Don’t sacrifice your family like that.”

As shell-shocked as the man was; Martin is right -- you simply cannot sacrifice your family. Something I personally learned the hard way.

Yes -- you can work hard and fight for your dreams as an entrepreneur. But the minute you let it consume your life to the detriment of those closest to you? Therein lies the moment you lose the entire game of entrepreneurship.

So there you have it. Only 4 tips of at least 50 I learned during our conversation.

Thank you my dear friend Martin. Thanks for your heart to share and I pray you will impact the lives of many each and every day you are with us.

“I may have cancer; but cancer doesn’t have me. So today I fight. Tomorrow I fight. The day after -- I fight. And if this disease plans on whipping me; it had better bring a lunch; ‘cause it’s going to have a long day doing it.” -- Martin Howey

So if Martin can help so many each day while stricken with cancer -- what can you do to make a difference today in the life of just one?

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur.

If you're an entrepreneur -- you and I need to connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a proven formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

Imagine dreaming of an iconic product in your head for 3 years. On launch day -- you press the button on your Kickstarter campaign and walk away.

Two hours later after your bike ride you check the status and bingo -- thousands of dollars have already poured in on your way to a six-figure campaign.

Elated?

David Mayer, Founder and CEO of Clean Bottle sure was.

You see, Mayer is like the rest of us entrepreneurs. Lots of game changing ideas running around in his brain. And yes -- it was 3 years ago when he first had the vision for a product called The Square.

But this story begins long before his vision of 3 years ago. Mayer first started out sitting behind a desk inside a cubicle. His dream of owning a business never far from his mind as an employee of Cisco.

For 4 long years he worked hard for the Fortune 500 company while working on his startup. Slaving away during the day working for “the man”; then working his tail off at night and on weekends to build his dream business. A simple idea he uncovered that any user of a sports water bottle would understand. How to get the disgusting gunk out of the bottom of the bottle.

Born on that day was his Clean Bottle brainchild.

And after landing such coveted coverage at the Tour de France, appearing on a segment of “Shark Tank” with Mark Cuban and becoming best buddies with Bill Walton, ex-NBA superstar -- Mayer was finally able to realize his dream of business ownership and step away from the corporate world.

Not all peaches and cream though.

Even with the success of his first product; a sports water bottle that opened at each end for easy cleaning, the pressure mounted for Mayer to develop more products. And so as any good entrepreneur should do -- he listened to his customers and went to work on his next baby called The Runner.

Now conceptually speaking I have no idea whether The Runner is a good idea or not -- but Mayer made a decision to test market his new product on Kickstarter; the crowdfunding platform.

Putting together some content, images and a short video of The Runner, Mayer tries his luck on Kickstarter with a simple aim to raise $5,000. Push goes the button -- crash goes the project. Feeling extremely bummed -- Mayer sulks away after barely clearing $1,000 in the campaign.

But does Mayer totally give up and wave the white flag? No -- of course not.

Mayer digs in. He makes the commitment to rise above the wreckage and aims to figure out how to make it work on Kickstarter. Tenacity replaces bewilderment and Mayer gets to work using his next great idea: The Square -- an iconic water bottle; square in form with no match.

First thing he does? Research. He immediately contacts and sets up interviews with 15 people who have experienced successful campaigns on Kickstarter. Scouring their minds for every bit of wisdom he can -- he comes away with clarity on how to make a campaign work. Mayer spends countless hours watching videos and reading content from the very best of Kickstarter.

Next? Mayer goes all-in on wanting to create the best two and a half minute video possible. Because he realizes how impactful video is at communicating a compelling message -- this is a key turning point for him. Instead of just slapping together some home made video with cheap graphics; Mayer reaches out for a real director.

Driven to knock it out of the park, Mayer ends up spending months writing scripts and “story boarding it a million different ways”. He brings in real professional photographers and leverages his team of Apple engineers who helped create The Square to boost the story. He spends countless hours asking for, and then listening to, feedback on how to tell the story better.

And because Mayer is now intimately familiar with his target audience on Kickstarter -- he aims to make the message sexy and turn his video into a commercial where after you get to the end of it -- you’re on a rampage to hit the buy button.

In total, Mayer puts $8,500.00 of his own capital at risk to create his video for The Square to be played on Kickstarter.

But Mayer is not to be denied this time. The colossal failure of his first attempt on Kickstarter drives him to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. Still there is some doubt. What if it bombs?

Since the first day he envisioned building a square bottle; Mayer became fixated on making his vision a reality. Wanting to create a product so iconic and beautiful where people drop their jaws at the sight of it.

Brought to life with the help of Apple engineers; Mayer’s product vision has 16 different parts that go through a production process involving 65 different people. Twenty tools and several specialized machines are needed with a master’s student in mechanical engineering from Stanford on the factory floor overseas two days per week for the past 2 years making it a reality.

And Mayer? Battling daily the internal struggle on whether his idea would actually work and whether anyone would even care. Some people even dared to call his idea “crazy”.

But there he was -- 3 years after having the vision and untold hours of sweat and toil -- Mayer is ready to launch his new product on Kickstarter.

And so with some reservation, Mayer presses the button to make his project live. And then jumps on his bike for a 2 hour ride. Sounds like a ploy some entrepreneurs use when they can’t bare to watch -- me being one of them.

With sweat beating from his brow -- he comes back to check: over $5,000 in orders with more pouring in. Mayer breathes a sigh of relief. Vindication is at hand. Mayer is not the failure his mind tries to tell him at times.

In the end, Mayer and his Kickstarter campaign for The Square brings in $126,280.00 in capital. Smashing his original goal of raising $20,000 -- he ends up raising 600% more than he dreamed of.

The moral of this story? Never give in. Just like Mayer did; when you suffer a setback on the lonely road of an entrepreneur -- get up and brush yourself off. Get your tail back in the game. Mayer did. He rose above his first failure and had fire in his eyes. No way was he going down a second time. And he didn’t -- and neither will you.

Go get ‘em tiger...

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur.

If you're an entrepreneur -- you and I need to connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

Oh, and guess what? Don’t look now, but there are 99 other entrepreneurs just like you scurrying after your same picture of Andrew Jackson.

Yes -- you’ve just seen a vision for what you’re doing as an entrepreneur. You and 99 of your closest friends. All doing, acting and saying the same things. Like 1,000 brown cows in the field -- melding into one big brown noisy mess chasing the same straw of grass.

Look, there are a million tech entrepreneurs out there; but only one Steve Jobs. A hundred books have been written on time management, delegation and outsourcing; but only one Tim Ferriss with “The 4 Hour Workweek”. And speaking of cows; the importance of unique value propositions has been written about forever; but here comes Seth Godin with his “Purple Cow” and hits it out of the park.

Do you want to stay a brown cow or do you want to be purple and stand out? What about your business?

Seriously. It’s time to be different. Like Steve Jobs. Be unique. Stand out. And watch your whole world change when you do.

So how do we do this in a crazy world where in reality it’s not just 99 other entrepreneurs pining for the same twenty; it’s more like a thousand?

Reaching out to my good friend Ray Edwards, entrepreneur, speaker and author of “Writing Riches”; we spoke on this matter for 72 minutes with Ray opening up his best wisdom and pouring it on the table.

Ray has had the good fortune to work with stellar clients such as New York Times Best-selling authors Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Joel Comm (author of Twitter Power and The Adsense Code), as well as Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Jeff Walker, and many others.

You’d be a smart soul to grab these 8 pointers and apply it in your own situation today...

1.) You must be you and not be afraid of it.

There is only one you. Embrace it. Be authentic. Be real. You may not like Tim Ferriss; but he is definitely the real Tim Ferriss. Steve Jobs was Steve Jobs. He decided to be himself and wasn’t afraid of who he was. You need to do the same. And because there is only one “you” -- it stands out when you’re true to yourself.

As Ray told me; “People are looking for signals about who they can do business with. And the clearest signals are when they get a sense of knowing who you really are and what you stand for. Howard Stern is very polarizing. You either love him or hate him. There’s no middle ground. But he’s figured out who he is and has no problem telling you without mincing words. So you’ve got to do the same. You’ve got to break through the noise by being who you are and standing for something.”

2.) Being you draws the right customers to your business and keeps away the problem customers.

Separating you and your company from the pack is of utmost importance to rise above the noise. By being yourself; you draw a clear line in the sand. Steve Jobs did this brilliantly at Apple. He established himself and company in the early days as the “anti-Microsoft” by simply being who he was.

As Ray explains; “When you can openly share who you really are; what you discover is the people who are like you will be drawn to you. And the people who are not like you will naturally withdraw. But that’s okay because you’re not selling to everyone. And I would urge you in the strongest possible terms to start using language like “Well, we’re not right for everybody and here’s the kind of people we’re right for...” By doing this one thing; you can remove all the grief from your life that comes with problem customers.”

3.) You and the Power of Synthesis.

MP3 + Internet + Cell Phone

Formula worth billions. Call it the iPhone. Another Steve Jobs original. Oh, but wait. Jobs didn’t invent MP3 music; the Internet or cell service. No; but what he did do is called “synthesis”. It’s the same concept Tim Ferriss used to write about time management and outsourcing.

Ray put it to me this way; “Take all the information and research that exists on something. Synthesize it in a new way that is filtered through your own unique viewpoint and then present it in a way that’s never been presented. And now, you’ve just created something that stands out. Tim Ferriss did this and created a whole new category and is untouchable because no one can be Tim Ferriss except him. And of course Jobs did this with virtually everything he introduced.”

4.) Find your resonant audience by building a bonfire.

What’s going to attract more attention; you lighting a single match and holding your hand over it to protect it from the breeze? Or you dropping that same match onto a pile of pallets stacked 20 feet high drenched in kerosine? Yes -- good guess. Jobs was perfect in his first bonfire execution with the now classic 1984 commercial introducing his Macintosh personal computer.

Ray puts it this way; “You want to find the people and the audience that you resonate with. And how do you find these people? Just light a bonfire and they’re drawn to it. Be who you are and shout that message from every rooftop you can get access to. You can build a tribe and they will follow you anywhere as long as you’re being authentic. If they sniff out you’re being fake -- it’s over. So be real.”

5.) Even when you scale; you still must keep your personality in the company. It’s your baby.

Yes -- this goes against the prevailing wisdom of “crowning the company”. But look at the incredible success of Jobs and Apple. His personality and stamp are still all over that place -- even after they scaled to billions in value and tens of thousands of employees.

As Ray stated; “I think removing your personality from your business at any level is a mistake. I don’t think Apple would be the most valuable company on the face of the planet if Jobs had removed himself from being the face of the company. And I think for smaller companies, it’s really important to keep your personality at the front. You will be resisted and people will call you an egomaniac. But you know better because you built the company. You’re the founder and you know what your vision is. My advice? Be more out front with your personality.”

6.) It’s a P2P world.

As my friend Mike Muhney, CEO and co-founder of VIPOrbit says; “Both B2B and B2C are dead. It is now the age of P2P (people to people).” It still freaks me out when I work with an entrepreneur and they talk of their target market being “mid size businesses”. No. You are a human being, and your team members are human beings and your customers are human beings. People to people my friend.

Even Ray agrees on this point; “There are smart, educated people who vehemently disagree with me on this -- but people don’t do business with corporations. They do business with other people. I may shop Wal Mart because they have the best price; but the minute somebody else has a better price; Wal Mart is history. But look at Apple fans. They are fanatics about Apple because of the personality Jobs infused into the company and its products.”

7.) Everything becomes automatic because your products and brand is subsequently sold by your customer.

How would you like to have your own unpaid sales team of 10,000 fanatics pitching your wares? Jobs still has millions.

As Ray explains; “Once you find your resonate audience and they’re attracted to your products and services; your advertising and marketing become merely a process. Your audience becomes a loudspeaker and does the marketing for you. Even though Apple spent lots of money marketing the iPhone; what really sold the iPhone was people who had one saying to other people; “You have to get one of these. Look at this.”

8.) Mission + Vision are the only place to start.

What do you think your purpose is? What’s the purpose of your company? And if you say “to make our investors wealthy”; you’d be dead on the wrong track. As mentioned in my Forbes article; “Why No is the Most Powerful Word You Can Use in 2013”, knowing your higher calling mission and having a vision is the only rock from which you can launch your rocket ship.

Ray tells this story; “Your mission is your purpose. Your vision is is how your mission shows up in real life. Steve Jobs clearly knew who he was and what he was here to do. And he had a vision for how he was going to do that and what we see today in Apple is a result. And I have people tell me that this mission and vision stuff won’t work for their business. Somebody once said to me, “Well I run a medical practice. This kind of thing won’t work for me.” Baloney! It works for Dr. Oz.”

Final Takeaway

Yes -- you have the power to be the Steve Jobs of your business. So please stop trying to be like all your cronies chasing the same twenty. Determine right now to be different. Be yourself. Stand out. And dare I say watch a section of the world -- your own little profitable niche -- beat a path right do your front door.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

As seen on Forbes.

Burning a hole at the top of a long list of needs for a startup entrepreneur is good old Benjamin Franklins.

Yes -- stacks of capital needed to fund dreams of a vast and bright future.

And what entrepreneur among you couldn’t use a few more dollars for your startup?

Yes -- just what I thought.

So reaching out through the ranks of my connections I came across the good fortune to pick the brain of Paul Jones, former Silicon Valley resident with Cooley Godward and current Chair of the Venture Best group for Michael Best and Friedrich.

Jones is a serial venture capital backed entrepreneur; angel investor; and Co-Founder of a $26 million early stage venture capital fund.  He was Entrepreneur of the Year and President of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in North Carolina and also serves as the Fund Investment Adviser for Angels on the Water, a Wisconsin Angel investment fund.

So in an hour long rapid fire discussion; Jones gave me his 12 best tips on raising venture capital any aspiring entrepreneur would be wise to listen to:

1.) You Have to Decide: High Impact or Small Business Entrepreneur?

Yes -- you call yourself an entrepreneur. But hold the phone -- because unless you have a pretty clear idea going in what your aspirations are; you could find yourself flailing around like a ship without a rudder.

As Jones explains it; “You have to know going in what you really want; because you can’t have it both ways. If you go into high impact venture-backed entrepreneurship; you’re trying to build a business that’s going to scale and make people wealthy. And you’re not going to be your own boss for long. Whereas a small business entrepreneur wants salary security and to be their own boss. So you really need to ask yourself which world you’re trying to be in. Are you trying to be a business owner who’s well respected in the community; has a nice income and runs his own shop or are you trying to create the next Microsoft or Twitter? You have to choose because these are two very different rides.”

2.) You May Have to Move

Did you pick the high impact entrepreneur road? Awesome. But brace yourself -- because unless you already live in Silicon Valley; you may have to move.

Jones puts it frankly; “No one ever said life is fair and I’ve written and told people that if raising money at the best valuation fast is your sole objective in life -- you probably need to move to Silicon Valley.”

3.) Get On The Team -- Even if You Sit the Bench For Awhile

Never been an entrepreneur before and have zero experience? Have no fear. You can still get in the high impact entrepreneur game.

As Jones explains; “Put yourself in an environment where you can get exposure to good deals and successful entrepreneurs. There’s an incredible training ground out there. Go to conferences with pitches by entrepreneurs. Find a place to work where the company works with high impact entrepreneurs. You have to be willing to go and do it and realize you’re not going to get a big paycheck -- but at least you’re in the game.”

4.) Focus on Your Own Team

Now that you’re on the path to superstardom; are you interested in the most important thing for you to work on? According to Jones -- it’s your team.

“Money follows people. The majority of VCs I’ve worked with over the years would say the most important thing is the team. Also, in my experience, the proximate cause of most startup failures is because the team is not up to the next task. It’s usually at those various pivot points where a team proves dysfunctional under stress and implodes because of it. So your team is of paramount importance.”

5.) Get a Mentor -- But Choose Wisely

One of the smartest players you can find for your team as an entrepreneur is a mentor, coach or counselor.

Jones told me this; “Get counsel and be very careful about who it is. Not to confuse the fact that someone who can run a billion dollar corporation does not necessarily mean they’re a good adviser for your startup. So really find people who have experience and wisdom in the trenches of the kind of thing you’re trying to do. The CEO of some Fortune 500 company is not a great person to be an adviser. They might be a great person to leverage for money -- but they’re probably not going to have a lot to tell you about the realities of building your high tech business on a shoestring.”

6.) Treat It Like A Game

Too many entrepreneurs aren’t having any fun with their businesses. I see it all the time. But Jones has some good wisdom for you:

“I used to say when I was an entrepreneur that what I’m doing is a game. I want to win and I play really hard. You follow the rules but at the end of the day, going to work is like going to play golf. Pure fun. And as I say, if you want to be the best golfer in the world, one thing you can say about Tiger Woods is he hits an incredible number of practice shots. If you want to be the best pianist in the world, you’re going to practice a lot.”

7.) Failure is Acceptable

Think you’re going to hit grand slams every time at bat? Think again.

According to Jones; “One of the great things about being an entrepreneur – and I used to say this about even being a venture investor too: You’re supposed to strike out a bunch. You have to be one of those people who realize that if you’re going to hit 714 home runs, you’re probably going to strike out over 1,300 times like Babe Ruth did.”

8.) Learn the Lingo and Know What’s Going On

You have the team put together and are ready to play the game -- but you don’t know the rules. Not good. According to Jones, not understanding the terminology and what’s going on in the world of venture capital is a real deal killer.

“Take some time with the lingo and figure out what’s going on. How do venture deals work? What is the real valuation? I mean most of the entrepreneurs I run into these days, they just don’t know what the valuations are in the market and when they do, they will compare themselves to an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. But by the way -- that person has made a half billion dollars for themselves and his investors. What have you done? So I think a lot of it is just learn the lingo. Know what convertible preferred stock is. Know that you don’t go to a venture investor and give him some high valuation number. You’re a startup with no prior experience in the venture world. That’s just a reality.”

9.) No Cold Calling Investors

Pouring in from all points across the globe to angels, VCs and investors are unsolicited requests for funding. Business plans not even opened and sitting at the bottom of the trash can. Don’t let yours be one of them.

Jones put it this way when I asked him one of the major things not to do when seeking funding; “Well, one of the obvious ones is do not cold call investors. You should try to identify investors carefully and not just send around a plan to every investor in the book or everyone you can find from some list of VCs. You should work to find a referral -- which is an obvious one you still see entrepreneurs not doing.”

10.) Have Situational Awareness

Topping off your need to know the lingo and avoid cold calling investors is this one: Know your space.

As Jones explains; “It’s not good enough to have the best web commerce company in your backyard. You have to go out and really figure out who’s in your space or near your space everywhere. Not just insular in your own little environment. I see so many entrepreneurs who just aren’t aware of what’s going on in other parts of the world even though it’s easy to find out these days with technology and the Internet.”

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

As seen on Forbes.

Sounds counterintuitive, right?

Saying “no” to actually leap forward and move ahead in life. Seems like you’d be taking a wrong turn to say “no” to good opportunities frequenting your doorstep.

But you’d be wrong. Saying this one little word can be the most liberating and success filled action you can ever take.

Let me explain:

As we head into 2013; my biggest challenge as a business owner, writer on Forbes, husband, father and serial entrepreneur is learning how to say “no”. If your life is anything like mine; it’s full to the brim and mostly overflowing. Way too much to do; and not nearly enough time to do it in.

Wife to love; kids to nurture; business to run; interviews to do; articles to write; entrepreneurs to mentor; trails to hike; horses to ride and cats to feed.

Sound familiar?

Listen -- you and I have exactly 24 hours in a day. And guess what? So does Bill Gates, Tom Cruise and President Obama. Yes -- we’re on equal ground with these guys in this category.

So at the end of the day (literally), the most important thing any of us can be doing is effectively managing our time. Which in essence is nothing more than knowing when to say “yes” and when to say “no”.

Entrepreneur Perry Marshall calls it “opportunity discernment”. Jeff Walker calls it the most important thing you can learn how to do.

Ever wonder why some people just seem to get all the breaks in life? C-notes falling from the sky making a beeline direct for their bank account?

Well, in my opinion, it’s not luck. These guys have just nailed the skill of saying no. Knowing which opportunities to pursue and which ones to discard.

Take for instance a recent story of Jason Fried of 37 Signals. Jason had a product which was banking some good coin. But it was also sucking resources and didn’t really fit with their mission. So what did he do? He canned it. Said “no” to the 6 figure opportunity and it went bye-bye.

So as I look to 2013 in perfecting my own ability to discern which opportunities to pursue and which ones to say no to; here are 3 things I plan to focus on:

1.) Knowing My Purpose and Mission

Forbes Magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard says this:

“Purpose is a soft virtue -- but it’s what gives you steel in your spine.”

And I for one agree with him. Knowing your purpose and mission as an entrepreneur is the pad from which you launch. It’s the solid ground on which you stand. It’s the steel in your spine.

And the better understanding you have of your purpose and mission; the easier it is to measure every opportunity against it.

For example, my mission at Mighty Wise is to empower startup and struggling entrepreneurs. Period. So if an opportunity comes along for me to get involved in helping General Motors run their auto business attached to a million dollar paycheck -- am I going to go for it? The answer is no. It doesn’t fit my purpose and mission.

So get your purpose and mission figured out now. As the rockin’ country song goes; “you’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything...”

2.) Use a Simple Tool to Judge Opportunities

So what happens with the opportunities that do match up with my purpose and mission? Do I chase every one of them? Again, the answer is no. It’s still too many to choose from and not all of them are equal.

As I was struggling with this issue of how to know which opportunities to go after; I came up with a simple system for measurement. Written on a sticky note and plastered to my computer monitor is the following:

 1X

10X

100X

No opportunity arriving at the front door of my business life gets through without being assigned a 1X, 10X or 100X rating.

Let’s say Richard Branson calls me up and offers to fly me down to board his yacht for a week of discussion on how best to help startup and struggling entrepreneurs. Yes Sir Richard -- you’ve just been given a 100X rating.

Now let’s say my mom wants me to interview her for 15 minutes on how to start a business. Well, even though I love my mother dearly, she knows nothing of starting businesses. Sorry mom -- but you get a 1X for that opportunity.

Yes -- these are extreme examples, but planted on paper here so you can see the point. So do you?

3.) Overcoming the Fear of Missing Out

If you’re anything like me; you have a fear of making the wrong decision. Sitting on pins and needles struggling with “what if I say no to this -- but it turns out to be the opportunity of a lifetime?”

Ever been there? Me too.

But I think here is the deal: You have to realize you will not get everything exactly right anyway. And that’s okay. Nailing every decision with 100% accuracy is a fairy tale. It’s just not going to happen.

So the key is overcoming any fear we have about making the wrong decision because a lot of times we will simply “decide not to decide”. Which is an ugly thing called procrastination.

And believe me -- procrastination from being afraid to decide is a monster dream killer. Run far and fast from this one.

So if you need help overcoming fear, catch some awesome quick tips from “3 Ways to Stop Fear from Stealing Your Dreams”.

The Final Takeaway

Movers and shakers in the world of business are really good at saying no.

As a thought leader yourself developing new ideas, relationships and strategies; you should absolutely be overwhelmed with opportunity. Beating a path to your front door the opportunities should be lining up. Deals you can do. Products you can create. Partnerships you can form.

And this is an amazing thing. So much opportunity it makes others green with envy.

But don’t be a fool and believe they are all equal. Grab this wisdom; use it and know deep inside when you say “no”; you’re opening the floodgates to success.

Just say no.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

As seen on Forbes.

You and I are cut from the same stone.

Unique and wonderful. Crazy and tenacious.

Yes -- they call us “entrepreneurs”.

So as we head into 2013 -- I built this list for us.

Read... Ponder... Share...

1 --

“The entrepreneur builds an enterprise; the technician builds a job.” - Michael Gerber

2 --

“If you want to be inventive -- you have to be willing to fail.” - Jeff Bezos

3 --

“Purpose is a soft virtue -- but it’s what gives you steel in your spine.” - Rich Karlgaard

4 --

“The challenge is not just to build a company that can endure; but to build one that is worthy of enduring.” - Jim Collins

5 --

“Monotony is the awful reward of the careful.” - A. G. Buckham

6 --

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.” - Bill Gates

7 --

“Don't treat your customers like a bunch of purses and wallets.” - Chris Brogan

8 --

“There are a thousand excuses for failure, but never a good reason.” - Mark Twain

9 --

“Nine out of ten businesses fail; so I came up with a foolproof plan -- create ten businesses.” - Robert Kiyosaki

10 --

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” - Peter Drucker

11 --

“I’m not a businessman -- I’m a business, man.” - Jay-Z

12 --

“If plan “A” fails -- remember you have 25 letters left.” - Chris Guillebeau

13 --

“We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

14 --

“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win -- you’re still a rat.” - Lily Tomlin

15 --

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” - Walt Disney

16 --

“Believe that you will succeed -- and you will.” - Dale Carnegie

17 --

“Victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.” - Og Mandino

18 --

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” - Donald Trump

19 --

“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” - Roger Staubach

20 --

“Big pay and little responsibility are circumstances seldom found together.” – Napoleon Hill

21 --

“Being great at everything is not an actionable message.” - Floris Maljers

22 --

“Success is how high you bounce after you hit bottom.” - General George Patton

23 --

“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.” - Benjamin Franklin

24 --

“Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” - Steve Jobs

25 --

“It's not about how to get started; it's about how to get noticed.” - Steve Case

26 --

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are for.” - John Shedd

27 --

“Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." -- Apostle Paul

28 --

“If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.” - Thomas Edison

29 --

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

30 --

“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” - Richard Branson

31 --

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” - Jim Rohn

32 --

“If we don’t allow ourselves to make mistakes, we will never invest in things that are radical.” - Jeff Clavier

33 --

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something.” - Nolan Bushnell

34 --

“Success is one thing -- but impact is another.” - Ray Lewis

35 --

“I own my business. My business doesn’t own me.” - Cherie Ve Ard

36 --

“Nothing will work unless you do.” - Maya Angelou

37 --

“Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” - Albert Einstein

38 --

“You won’t get anything unless you have the vision to imagine it.” - John Lennon

39 --

“If you have any more than three priorities; you have no priorities.” - Maggie Fox

40 --

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” - John C. Maxwell

41 --

“Nine tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time.” - Theodore Roosevelt

42 --

“In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” - David Ogilvy

43 --

“Success is doing what you want, where you want, when you want, with whom you want and as much as you want.” - Tony Robbins

44 --

“If you don’t have a competitive advantage -- don’t compete.” - Jack Welch

45 --

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” - John Wayne

46 --

“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” – Zig Ziglar

47 --

“Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.” -  Napoleon Hill

48 --

“If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti

49 --

“Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” -Steve Jobs

50 --

“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”— - Henry David Thoreau

51 --

“Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.” - Benjamin Franklin

52 --

“Regardless of who you are or what you have been, you can be what you want to be.” – W. Clement Stone

53 --

"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein

54 --

“Do or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda

55 --

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” - Abraham Lincoln

56 --

“Capitalism will save us.” - Steve Forbes

57 --

???

Know a quote worthy of this list? If yes -- shout it out in the comments section below and help me finish this thing.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

As seen on Forbes.

Welling up in the pit of your stomach. You know the feeling. It’s the ugly monster called fear.

For entrepreneurs; fear is a way of life. But how do we deal with it? How do we keep it from stopping us dead in our tracks on the way to success?

Here are 3 ways we can beat back the monster of fear on our way to entrepreneurial greatness:

1.) Just Do Things Afraid

This one’s not really about overcoming or beating fear at all. It’s more the case of fear becoming like your little buddy. Always hanging out with you. Just sticking around like a slightly annoying pest.

But when the little monster called fear starts trying to influence your decisions in a negative way; you must take action. You immediately shut it down and say; “Thanks my little buddy -- but I’m doing this anyway. So you can shush now and get back in your seat behind me”.

And then -- with a swift flick of your index finger -- you boot the little guy to the back of the bus and carry on your way.

2.) Learn How to Effectively Mitigate Risk

Serial entrepreneur Brandon Mills and Clean Bottle Founder and CEO David Mayer were good at this when they started. Figuring out how to mitigate risk.

And how does this help beat back the fear monster?

Because it provides the comfort of a safety net.

For example, David really wanted to start his own business. So he did -- but under the safety umbrella of a full-time corporate job. Thus, he was able to step out and take the risk knowing he still had a paycheck and full benefits in case something went drastically askew.

Only when he and his wife felt comfortable enough with the income and prospects from Clean Bottle did he take the final plunge of resigning his corporate position to grasp the reins full-time in his business.

Classic example of mitigating risk to overcome fear.

3.) You’re Going to Die Anyway

Love this quote from Steve Jobs;

“Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

Yes -- death is coming to you someday my friend. Steamrolling on its path right to your front door. You can’t stop it. You can’t change it.

But you can use this harsh reality to change your perspective -- and perhaps even change your life. You see -- what Jobs discovered was a place he could operate in of “semi-reckless abandon”. The realization and acceptance of the grim reaper coming one day regardless of what he did made it easier to step out and take action despite any fear.

And so the same is for you. Tomorrow is coming whether you do anything with today or not. So why not do something with today? In the grand scheme of things; what is there really to be afraid of once you realize 150 years from now not one single person alive today will be here anyway -- including you?

Please don’t let fear dictate your life as an entrepreneur. You can do it. You can press past the ugliness of fear to achieve something great. Make up your mind right now and repeat after me:

"I refuse to let fear stop me and I am worthy of every dream I aspire to reach."

Nicely done. Now go get 'em entrepreneur...

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

(You can also find me hanging out on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)

For many years of my entrepreneurial life; I locked myself up in a silo working away on my next new venture. All alone. Working like a dog and barely peeking out of my entrepreneurial cave to see what the rest of the world was up to.

Mistake.

You see, it’s not just about your grand idea and vision to build a company. And it most certainly is not about working 25 hours in a 24 hour day. The reality is our success as entrepreneurs is extremely dependent on this:

Our Relationships & Reputation.

My in depth conversations with many successful entrepreneurs have revealed how critical your reputation with real relationships are. Both Brandon Mills, Co-Founder of SocialVibe and BlockBeacon; and Jeff Walker, the multi-million dollar entrepreneur and Founder of Internet Alchemy, Inc; named this as one of the main reasons for their wildly successful companies.

But what does this mean and what can we do as entrepreneurs to improve our relationships and repair our reputations? Well, I found the perfect guy to ask.

Serial entrepreneur Mike Muhney is the Co-Inventor and Co-Founder of the highly acclaimed relationship management software company ACT! (now referred to as Sage ACT! under it’s new ownership), and is also the Co-Founder and CEO of VIPOrbit, a relationships management software company for mobile devices.

Since he’s a guru in this domain, I reached out to Mike for some wisdom. Lucky for us, he shared 3 vital rules for how we as entrepreneurs can better manage our relationships and reputation.

Rule #1: First -- Don’t Blow It Out of the Gate

Like the guy last week handing me his business card without even saying “hello”; telling me he is just doing some “networking” and then walking away. What do you think my impression is of this guy? Well -- it’s not good -- I can tell you that. His reputation is already damaged and our relationship is off to a non-existent start. He pretty much blew it because I can tell he doesn’t really care about building a relationship with me.

Mike put it this way: “First, it’s important to present yourself in a way that reflects the authentic you: appearance, demeanor, tone and body language. But above all else, you should always combine authenticity with trust. Nothing of lasting value can be built without a foundation. Meaningful connections, those leading to relationships from which you and your business can thrive, are built on a solid foundation of authenticity and trust.”

Rule #2: Your Reputation Will Rot If You Let It

Maintaining multiple business relationships is not easy. And I’m not talking about some random broadcast posts you do on [entity display="Facebook" type="organization" subtype="company" active="false" key="facebook" ticker="FB" natural_id="fred/company/15317"]Facebook[/entity] and Twitter where you have 50,000 followers and you’re passing emoticons out like candy. I’m talking real relationships with real value. You have to show you care. You have to follow up. You simply cannot sit back and eat bon-bons thinking your relationships and reputation are taking care of themselves. Trust me -- they’re not.

As Mike says: “Once you’ve established a solid reputation, it’s easy to think the work is complete. Big mistake. Your reputation is “maintained” only by your efforts. And once you establish a good reputation; you must further it. First -- keep a thorough record of each relationship. Use some kind of system to keep track of your relationships. Do what you said you’d do. Be where you say you’ll be. Follow through as you promised you would.  Maintaining your reputation requires discernment, diligence, and discipline in each relationship you’ve built. Strong relationships don’t happen by accident; I believe they’re built on four elements: time, intensity, trust, and reciprocity. As your relationships grow stronger, so will your reputation.”

Rule #3: If You Blow It; Repair Your Damaged Reputation Immediately

Have you ever failed to do something you said you would? Simply dropped the ball and made a fool of yourself? That’s okay -- you’re not alone. We all make mistakes. We’re human for pete’s sake. But the key is not in the mistakes we’ve made; it’s in what we do next that counts.

Mike gives some sound advice: “Repairing a damaged reputation begins with an accurate assessment:  Who are you? What did you do or not do? What must be done to correct it? If you need, get a second opinion from a few trusted friends who can give you a more balanced viewpoint on what you’ve done and what you need to do to fix it. Put your damage control plan into action. Whether you need to reach out to specific people or publish information online, you have to follow through. And this must become part of the “new” you. Ingrained, instinctive, and disciplined behavior will restore your reputation.”

I was once known as a mad scientist hiding in my hole working on my big ideas as an entrepreneur. My reputation was as such and my solid business relationships were minimal.

But no more. Woke up to the reality of relationships and reputation being everything in business. The sooner you realize it really is not what you know -- but more tied to “who” you know and your reputation with each person -- the sooner you’ll be on the road toward entrepreneurial success.

NOTE: If you don't know me, I'm Eric. Husband, father & life-long entrepreneur...

If you're an entrepreneur, let's you and I connect right here.

Seriously. Here's a killer formula:

Your Wisdom + My Wisdom = More Success

My email is: eric at mightywisemedia dot com.

(You can also find me on Google+, Facebook or Twitter @MightyWiseMedia.)