THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Business

"In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later." - Harold Geneen

TOPIC OF THE DAY

The Fear that's Holding back your Business

I recently got a phone call asking about Mike, a grad student I'd hired for a video project last year. "You're listed as a reference," the woman on the line said. "Have you done business with him?" Indeed, Mike had done a great job for me — but had never followed up to tell me he'd launched his own business.

Too often, entrepreneurs or executives hesitate to reach out to others — even people who like them a lot. Sometimes it's because they don't want to be intrusive: "She's so busy, I don't want to bother her." Other times, they'll self-deprecate ("she won't remember me") or shrink from perceived conflict ("he'll be angry I want something from him"). Or they may take the "high road" and profess a distaste for self-promotion, vowing that their reputation will speak for itself and quality will eventually triumph. Unfortunately, those are all excuses: they're scared.

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