Lessons From a
Tractor
1.
A Most Fantastic View, Fog Permitting
2. Dinner and A Book
3. Death of a Vision
4. Designing Your Future
5. Branding Yourself
6. Marketing Yourself
7. Enhancing Your
Influence
8. Reinventing Yourself
9. So, What’s Your Fee?
10. Work Hard, Work Smart
11. Bartering Your Services
12. The Curiosity-Driven Life
13. The Non-Profit Factor
14. Who’s Covering Your Blind
Spot?
Bonus Material --
Enhancing Your Personal Success in
30 days:
Self-Coaching Questions
SWOT Analysis
If I Can Write, You Can Write
Not Just For Graphic Artists and
Designers
Words Worth Embroidering
About The Author
224 PAGES
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- Confirming what parents everywhere probably already
know, teenagers overwhelmingly prefer being their own
boss, according to a new survey.
Of more than 1,400 teens surveyed
across the nation earlier this year, nearly 71 percent
said they would like to run a business someday, up
from 64 percent in 2004, according to the fifth-annual
Junior Achievement Worldwide "Interprise" Poll on
Entrepreneurship.
Some 32 percent said they want to
start a business in professional services -- the most
popular industry -- including law firms, insurance
agencies, and accounting firms, the survey found.
Surprisingly, very few said the
desire to own a business is driven by a lack of
meaningful employment elsewhere. Instead, nearly half
said they are motivated by having a great idea and
wanting to "see it in action," according to the
survey.
Of those teens who aspired to own a
business, 78 percent have family members who are
self-employed and more than 95 percent believe a college education
would help, the survey showed.
By gender, male teens who responded
to the survey were twice as likely as female teens to
describe the business start-ups as "easy" or "very
easy."
-- By Angus Loten,
By the
way, this is a
great book to give a teenager or two...along
with the Next Generation Entrepreneur Club workbook. |
|
|
If you represent a
Business School, interested in bringing Dr. Freeman
for a half-day or all-day event, check out this web site:
ItTakesASchool.com
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Press Release / What Makes This Book Unique? <<<<<<<<<<
Muhammad Yunus, a
pioneer of microcredit, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
for
his work advancing the economic and social opportunities for
the poor. Yunus' philosophy is
that there are "among the poor -- anywhere -- people of
tremendous talent and energy."
READ FIRST CHAPTER BELOW
Still not convinced that this book
for you? Listen to the experts:
-
Janice
Corley
President and CEO, Sudler Sotheby's International Realty, Chicago
|
“Dr. Joel Freeman’s If Nobody Loves You, Create the
Demand is a blueprint for success for any
entrepreneur, business owner, and professional. This
masterpiece outlines Joel’s personal experience in
business and gives practical advice to help any business or
individual excel. In one insightful book, Joel captures over 30
years of lessons, strategies, and techniques he learned from his
personal career and other senior professionals. In fact, if I had
this book when I started my career, Joel’s tactics would have saved me
money, stress, and time…Mind-blowing methods and
out-of-the-box suggestions are throughout the book to help you get
your business off the ground…Usually authors as intelligent as Dr.
Freeman write a philosophical book that is hard to make sense out of, however,
If Nobody Loves You, Create the Demand is a well-written,
praiseworthy manuscript that will change the way I will
|
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"I am certainly no stranger to the successes and failures
(or successful failures) of
being a small business owner. I have been a successful
composer/songwriter (over 2000 written, over 600 recorded,
and over 150 chart hits) arranger/artist (Grammy's and Dove,
BMI, ASCAP awards), studio owner (13), label(s) owner, 8
publishing company producer of over 2000 artists -- with
such rock hits as "Cherry Pie", "Alley-Oop",
"Monster Mash" (3 time hit), "Woman,
Sensuous Woman" (3 time country and pop hit), and
Gospel standard, "He Was There All The Time"
(recorded over 100 times worldwide |
|
- Gary S. Paxton
Composer,
songwriter, record label owner
|
-
Catherine L. Hughes
Cathy Hughes
Founder, Chairperson of the Board and Secretary, Radio One
|
"If you're a dreamer, "If Nobody
Loves You, Create The Demand" is for you. Dr. Freeman has
harnessed the wisdom of the ages, and added his own solid
teaching to it. If you're a doer, the accompanying workbook
connects the contents of that book to entrepreneurs...Joel
Freeman's resources are essential reading on your way to the
top."
-
Solomon Hicks
Cathy Hughes
Author,
entrepreneur, business coach and motivational speaker |
 |
|
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~ RESPONSES FROM READERS OF
THE FIRST MANUSCRIPT ~
|
|
“This is classic Joel Freeman...creative, right to the point, easy to read and
digest..."
"...Outstanding!
Highly-readable...thoroughly practical....full of good, workable
ideas...."
"...a must-read for those of us who have a serious, but
under-developed stream of entrepreneurship lurking in our
bones...Good, solid, evocative content. Compelling reading.
Once picked up, it’s very hard to put down. I have read it twice,
and want to read it again…."
"...I opened the
manuscript to give it quick skim, and the first page jumped out and seized me...I
couldn't stop until I finished the last word!!! I must say that I
learned a lot from each chapter including the last – and I'm in the
publishing industry..."
"...As
I read the manuscript I almost felt guilty for being able to get this
kind of information without having to pay. I'm sure this book
will be in great demand. I learned so much, and you must know that
I plan to use and put into practice some of the nuggets in my own
personal life.”
"...This
manuscript made me feel like the author was having a conversation with
me from across the table...gives ordinary people the
opportunity to reach their potential...targets adults, but also
gives teenagers a forward look to the building blocks they
will need to be successful in life...not a pie in the sky...Years
of expertise in a small package..."
"...Every
school, every mentoring group, every faith-based and community-based organization needs to
start an Entrepreneur Club. Entrepreneurial pursuits provide
wonderful laboratories for addressing the basic issues of
life...This book, with discussion questions at the end of each
chapter, is an excellent resource for any group of people
involved in small business enterprises..."
|
|
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CLICK
HERE-- Freeman's other books
(The Limited Edition is available now.
You can order a signed, hard cover Limited Collector's
Edition)
To
order online
Click Here...or continue reading.
Lessons From a Tractor
Book
Dedicated To
Fred and Flora
Weeks
I worked for two summers on Fred and Flora’s dairy farm in
Litchfield, Maine
(1968 &’69)
when I was 14 and 15 years of age.
Every day I helped carry and record the weight of the milk from each
cow in large pails during the 4am and 4pm milkings. The late
mornings and early afternoons were spent haying, gardening, cutting
timber or general farm work. The first summer I received $10 a week,
plus room and board. The next summer I got a raise, $25 a week.
Later that day he
drove me down to the local hardware store and he bought some
sandpaper, a brush, and a gallon of fire engine red high-gloss oil
paint. I was thrilled. When we got home I started on the easiest
part of the tractor…the large cowl covering the top of the engine. It was
easily accessible and relatively rust-free. The sandpaper part of
the job was a snap. The paint went on smoothly. It glistened in the
afternoon sun.
I backed off a few
yards, surveying the scene. I then did a full 360 around the
tractor. I looked at the rust all over the spokes on the wheels and
on other parts of the tractor with hard-to-reach pits and ridges. It
looked nasty and grungy with dried cow manure caked over the rust.
There was no way I was going to hug those wheels to get off all that
rust.
At that moment I had
an epiphany. I decided that I was done with the job. I went to the
barn, found the turpentine and cleaned the brush. In my book, the
tractor looked fine. Heck, it’s only going to be used out in the
field. We’re not talking about a cool looking chick magnet used to
cruise the main street on Saturday evenings. No big deal. It’s
certainly better off than it was…it’s a tractor, for Pete’s sake!
The next day I went
about my business. Fred let a couple of days pass without saying
anything about the half-done painting job. I guess he finally
figured out that I was done with the tractor, but he wanted to
verify it with me. “Joel, when are you planning to finish painting
the tractor?” he ventured.
“I’m done.” I
responded. “I figured that I took the job as far as I could take
it.” Seemed like a logical response any rational person would
understand. I mean, look at them nasty spokes, would you?
It was the only time
I ever saw Fred get mad. Steam was coming out of his shirt
collar. He put the fear of God in me. He never raised his voice, but
there was an unmistakable tight-jawed, eye-piercing Clint Eastwood
authority. In a controlled, firm manner he said, “Joel, you will
complete what you started. Now go get the sandpaper and start
working on the wheels.”
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Have you ever tried to navigate your way through a dense fog or a
blinding blizzard? It can be both dangerous and exciting. Growing up
in Alberta, Canada, I have encountered a few of those “can’t
see-my-outstretched-hand-in-front-of-me” blizzards. I have also
driven and walked in dense fog on the coast of Maine. Both types of
experiences are challenging on many levels. You’re lucky if you can
see a few feet ahead at any given time.
An entrepreneurial
pursuit is somewhat similar – forward motion in a thick fog. The
kind of fog that
seems to weigh you down, though it weighs nothing. An immensely
oppressive weight of lightness. You
cautiously pace yourself, feeling your way toward an unformed shadow
of an idea that initially looked like a promising expenditure of
your time, energy, and money.
You know what it’s
supposed to look like. You once had a fantastic view of it. Whatever
it is. But when you arrive, what you currently see is really
desolate and troublesome – what could be called “destination
sickness.”
The best laid
(business) plans can become fuzzy and out of focus. It may even seem
like you have squandered your limited reserves of time, energy, and
finances. You are engaging in the process of going down alleys to
see if they go anywhere…or if they are blind.
Kind of like a
research scientist, propelled by the vision of developing the cure
for a ravaging disease or an inventor trying to conceive of
something that no other human on the planet has ever imagined.
Wernher Von Braun (one of the most important rocket developers and
an early champion of space exploration) said, “Research is what I am
doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Ever felt that way?
Some people just do
not have the stomach for this kind of startup work – walking in a
fog or going down blind alleys. They want a secure and settled
environment complete with benefits, retirement plan, insurance, all
systems and protocol in place. There’s nothing wrong with that, but
you get the picture.
Entrepreneurial
pursuits aren’t for everybody. If every person stepped out on his or
her own, corporations would falter and a nation’s economy would
suffer. Working in a corporate environment is a noble profession.
In fact, your
start-up business may grow to become a secure and settled
corporation some day, complete with benefits, retirement plan,
insurance, and all the systems and protocol in place.
It’s just that some
people acquire an inconvenient, somewhat maddening entrepreneurial
itch that needs scratching. And it’s an itch that won’t go away with
one or two scratches. Are you feeling that itch? If so, this book is
for you.
By the way, people do
not need to exit their day jobs to become entrepreneurs. Most are
“evening executives,” “midnight moguls” and/or “weekend merchants” –
selling stuff on eBay or some other home-based business that brings
in extra cash. Some of those ventures may even become substantial
enough a few years from now, inviting that individual to flirt with
the idea of quitting his or her day job.
I am a professional
speaker, author, corporate trainer, consultant, and confidential CID
coach of senior executives, professional athletes and entertainers.
I realize that much of what I am communicating in this book will
reflect my vocation and may have special appeal to performers,
seminar facilitators, executive coaches, agents, corporate trainers,
writers, publicists, inventors, network marketers, film makers, sales people, clergy, financial planners,
network marketers, professional
speakers, business consultants, franchise owners, graphic artists,
insurance brokers, entertainers, magicians…
If you don’t see your
profession listed, do not worry. It’s about most professions or
products requiring savvy marketing. Your internal world is a primary
focus.
After reading an
early version of this manuscript a friend commented, “This book
is like condensed milk – a rich concentration of wisdom with a
diversity of applications.” I certainly hope you find that to be
true, especially the diversity of application.
My goal is to give
skills and tools to individuals who are engaged in an
entrepreneurial pursuit – on a limited budget. You possess
the connectors to apply the contents of this book to the specifics
of your life.
Who will benefit the
most from this book? Those who are in the “early-to-mid-stages” of
ramping up a new business. It’s like eating chicken. Eat the meat
and throw away the bones. And if you hit a bone, something that
doesn’t quite fit your situation, keep chewing around the bone.
Perhaps there will be some meat on the other side. Seasoned business
professionals considering whether or not this book is relevant, may
want to listen to Les Brown, “…(this book) will change the way I do
business.”
If you implement just
a few ideas from this book, you should be able to add at least
$10,000 to your bank account within six months.
I can’t guarantee
what I just stated, because I do not know your credibility. I don’t
know your telephone skills. I know nothing about the way you present
yourself to others. I don’t know your work ethic or if your word is
your bond. That’s on your shoulders. Wear it well.
Regardless your
passion, a startup business is kind of like building an addition on
your home:
A.
It’s messier than previously
anticipated.
B.
It takes longer than
previously anticipated.
C.
It’s more expensive than
previously anticipated.
What you are reading
on these pages has been formed in the crucible of painful
experiences. And it works. But not without a few failures along the
way. Truth be told, I have learned more from my failures than from
my successes. I am writing this very honest and open book as a
wounded healer – providing some skills, tools and creative ideas for
charting a course through the dense fog.
It is my hope that
you hear the enthusiasm in my words. We generally hear/read the
words, but it’s the “music” that really captures us. I trust that
you hear the music, the passion, as you make your way to the back
cover. Most of all I hope that this is a fun read for you.
Let’s look at all
this in terms of mixing colors. If Creative Vision is yellow
and Practical Application is blue – we’re looking for green.
Everybody loves
green. It transcends ethnicity, gender, religion, generation, and
class. An alternative title to this book could be “If Nobody
Loves You, Mix Up Sumpin’ Green!”
Executive Concepts:
At the top of the Ballinskelligs Bay on
the southwesterly edge of the peninsula in
County Kerry, Ireland, there is a pub with a sign boasting,
“IRELAND’S MOST FANTASTIC VIEW, FOG PERMITTING.” Even though before
you is one of the most panoramic views to behold (view above), the elements involved in creating the weather
seem to conspire together, keeping tourists from getting a clear
view of the beautiful sight. Hence the brisk sale of scenic
postcards.
What’s my point? The
presence of “fog” doesn’t nullify the existence of the
entrepreneurial vision you know is real. Take a mental picture of
the vision you have developed for your business. Keep that mental
snapshot clear in your mind’s eye, kind of like a panoramic postcard
image. Don’t doubt in the fog what you know you “saw” on a clear
day. Like Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend upon your judgment when
your imagination is out of focus.” Expect the fog to come in. Plan
for it and use it to your advantage as an opportunity for internal
growth. Personal character and perseverance are built when the fog
comes in, not when the view is clear. Starting and developing a new
business is important, but even more meaningful is who you become in
the process.
It may sound corny, but work with me on this. Like the
above-mentioned pub in Ireland, remind yourself and others about the
panoramic view of your business by placing a small sticky note above
your computer screen, “(NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS) – A MOST
FANTASTIC VIEW, FOG PERMITTING.” If it makes you feel any better, I
just looked up and saw the sticky note above my computer screen,
designed to remind me of this section. See, we’re connecting
already! Before we get through this book together, we’ll be getting
along famously…
Creative Thinking: For
Personal Reflection and/or Group Discussion
1. What is the vision
and mission of your business? Write everything down, getting an even
clearer image of the panoramic view before you.
2. Describe
and define the fog as it relates to your entrepreneurial pursuit. In
other words, what makes you confused and perplexed, unclear about
the next step(s) as you attempt to implement your vision and
mission?
3. Joseph Conrad once
stated, “It
is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are
accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.” I suspect that no one reading
this book is actually trying to rule the world, but what is your
perspective on what this famous author is communicating, within the
context of the theme of this book?
4. What are some
strategies that can lead to “great achievements” when, not
if, the fog settles in around you and your business pursuit? With
pen in hand, identify specific practical concepts you can implement,
addressing five layers. Let’s call it the FERMS Fog Strategy:
i. Financial. ii. Emotional. iii. Relational.
iv. Mental. v. Spiritual.
5. As you embark upon this reading experience,
what are you hoping to receive from this book? Make a list of your
expectations and check it when you are finished to see if I hit the
bulls-eye for you. Grab a cup of coffee, kick off your shoes and
let's move to the next chapter together.
______________________________
© Copyright, 2007
The
Freeman Institute. All rights reserved.
Nothing on this
page may be used without explicit written permission.
Note: Reproduction of any kind, including copying and pasting, is
strictly prohibited.
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Chapter One
Dinner and a Book
"If at first you don't succeed,
skydiving is not for you."
-- Francis Roberts
Verbal snapshot. I am in an
Italian restaurant munching on some chicken alfredo, sitting across
from two people my wife and I have known for years. We are
reminiscing about old times.
The conversation dies down for a
moment. I look across the table, with my fork midway between the
plate and my mouth, and asked, “So, Lauretta, what are
your plans for the future?”
She lifted her head with a
surprised look. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Your daughters
are all grown up and you are ready for a new chapter in your life.
I’m wondering how you want to fill that new chapter?”
“I don’t know,” she stammered. “I
haven’t given it much thought.”
Lauretta has a unique gift from
God. If it were possible to shatter a crystal goblet with a high
note, this woman could do it. Classically trained, she has traveled
extensively throughout various parts of the world participating in
operatic performances. She has taught in prestigious schools like
Duke Ellington School of Music, Baltimore School for the Arts and
Peabody.
In spite of all the successes, she
has been handed some very difficult situations. A widow with three
lovely grown daughters, Lauretta has confronted many personal and
vocational obstacles. She is a survivor.
Throughout the next 25-30 minutes
I laid out a practical action plan for her to start a new one-woman
show specifically built around her training and her passion.
Here’s the concept in a nutshell:
An African American woman, Lauretta will perform Negro Spirituals at
corporate conventions and Black History events for Government
agencies, churches, educational institutions and family reunions.
These performances will be both educational and inspirational. The
organizations that hire her will be blown away by the experience. In
fact, I can see her being sponsored by a large corporation to do
this all over the world.
Can you see it? The lights will
dim. She will turn her back to the audience, putting on vintage
clothing. A hat. A shawl. Transformation. When she turns around the
single spotlight hits her. She will become Harriet Tubman, Phillis
Wheatley, Sojourner Truth or one of the original Fisk University
Jubilee Singers. After dramatically providing the historical
backdrop she will sing a song that will chill you down to the marrow
of your bones.
After a short pause I then
commented, “What you just heard is about $10,000 worth of advice.
And I am willing to help you implement every step.” I could see the
excitement dancing in her eyes.
While driving home from the
restaurant, I began to think about the many people who reach out to
me for some advice. When could I carve out the time to place this
information in written form so that others could benefit? The book
you now hold in your hands is the result.
In fact, I want to write in such a
way that you will almost feel like you are sitting in the next
table, eavesdropping on what I told Lauretta. Perhaps you can glean
some basic information for your own entrepreneurial pursuits. I sure
hope so.
Let’s see…weren’t you the one who
ordered the chicken pasta? There ain’t no bones in that dish!
Pretend you’re not listening, but scoot your chair over just a
little closer.
_____________________________________
Executive Concepts: Eulogize the mundane things of life. Do
not overlook the obvious. A simple dinner conversation became the
seed concept for a book. What's the “normal stuff” in your life
that can spark a new idea? Frankly, this book will free me up to
become more productive. I generously give hours every month helping
people who have specific questions about building their personal
entrepreneurial dreams. This book will free me up to do other
things. How? Whenever anyone calls or emails for business advice, I
will gently suggest that he or she should first read this book. I
can then say goodbye and go back to what I was doing before the
phone rang. If, after reading the book, the caller still has
unanswered questions I will gladly resume the conversation. This
strategy will help me superintend and multiply my time, while still
helping people – which is very important to me.
Vision Rich, Cash
Poor: Learn a new language.
Assuming that you speak English real good, you may want to consider
learning Spanish, Chinese, French or Portuguese. It will give you
access to many more people and will also expand your future business
options. Take a look at the populations that will be expanding in
the next 20 years and personally plan for the cultural realities of
the future.
Creative Thinking:
For Personal Reflection and/or Group Discussion
1. In what ways is your counsel in
demand?
2. How can you free yourself up so that you
can remain focused on things about which you are passionate?
Connecting the Dots:
1.
LaurettaYoung.com --
Lauretta is a real person. Check out her ever-expanding web site and
cheer her on with an encouraging email. Who knows? You may even have
an idea or two for her as she is embarking upon this new chapter in
her life. By the way, do you know of an organization that might be
interested in what she has to offer?
Email
Successimo Rocks!
Chapter Two
Death Of A Vision
“What could be worse than being born without sight?
Being born with sight and no vision." -- Helen Keller
“What doesn’t kill you makes you
stronger.”
-- Anonymous
A child is conceived
in ecstasy, but birthed with much pain.
Isn’t that’s the way
it is with life? Ideas and dreams tumble into our consciousness with
great enthusiasm and passion, but the implementation of those
concepts invites suffering and pain.
We all desire
character traits like stick-to-it-iveness, flexibility, generosity,
perseverance and integrity. We want to say what we mean and mean
what we say. Giving birth to an entrepreneurial dream will test the
very seams of your soul.
I can’t remember
where I heard it, but there are five stages to a vision
(I
embellished them a bit.).
1.
Dream (wonderful excitement,
skyrockets at night…)
2.
Discover overall purpose of
vision (big picture thinking, finding a mentor...)
3.
Develop strategic aspects of
vision (business plan, financing, equipment, technology,
connecting
with people who can help…)
4.
Delegate (systems, protocol,
insurance, retirement plans, employees…)
5.
Disappear (backing off,
letting others fail and/or succeed on their own, succession…)
Whoever came up with
these stages knew what he or she was talking about. By the way, it
is the non-participants who generally get the credit in the end. But
if you don’t care who gets the credit, do the details with dignity
and integrity. After thinking carefully about this, I’d like to add
another stage:
Death of the vision.
(Disillusionment. More questions than answers…)
I’m not sure where
this category appears in the stages mentioned above, but it a
necessary part of the overall purpose of the vision. Here’s the fun
part -- sometimes the “death” stage visits...
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