Gone are days when you could single-handedly drive your idea and form a big company all by yourself. The online as well as the offline business world has become so competitive that learning to do everything by oneself will put you far behind your competitors. No single person can make a salesperson, a designer, a developer or marketer all by…
Secret Academy Episode – Steven Ng
Steven Ng was an undergraduate student at UCLA when he first discovered Kickstarter. This seemed like the perfect outlet for his creative side, so he dove headfirst into coming up with a product that he wanted to make. At that time Kickstarter was still relatively new, so there were a lot fewer campaigns that existed, which meant fewer competitors for similar products. Steven launched a minimalistic wallet called the Dash Wallet, and was able to reach his goal within one week. Realizing there was a demand for newer versions of his wallet and other mens fashion items, he launched Elliot Havok, a mens fashion accessories company that provides quality craftsmanship at wholesale prices.
The Problem Determines the Solution
“Which is more important as a leader, to work alone or to work in groups?” I heard that question asked of a panel of business leaders last week. The panelists all answered something like “in this day and age you have to be able to work in groups. That’s where you get everything done” with some acknowledgment that you had to…
Why Should You Integrate Press Releases into Your Online Marketing Strategy?
What is the first thing that pops up into your mind when you think of the word ‘press release’? If you are like most people, you will instantly think of something that’s boring and not worth reading. However, though press releases were mind numbingly boring when they were first introduced, the Internet and online marketing have revolutionized things. Today, though…
Good Habits and Rituals to Keep Your Relationship Intact as You Build Your Business
Habits are easy to form. It’s the good habits which can be difficult to create, especially when it is requiring the mindset to go in a different direction than it’s use to. Here’s a quick challenge to show you what I mean by this: clasp your hands and fingers together. Take note as to which thumb is on top. Now…
8 Steps to Preparing a Winning Presentation
There is no one who does not desire the standing ovation. That moment when you end your presentation with a “thank you” and the crowd bursts our in boisterous applause. Standing before people to present what is your brainchild or otherwise the product of your research is often a daunting task. Whether it is just an official presentation to a panel…
Secret Academy Episode – Scott Zankl
Scott Zankl used his passion for finance and teaching people everything there is to know about the process and started an automotive leasing and financing business with his wife in 2000. Excell Auto Leasing and Finance was started out of his desire to give people who had difficulties acquiring auto loans the opportunity to purchase a car they could easily afford, but just had a few minor setbacks to their credit scores. They started by contacting all of the car dealerships in their area asking if they had customers who didn’t get approved for loans, and if they would consider using them. After much persistence, they finally gained traction and were able to build a relationship with many dealerships and banks offering loans. A few years later, Scott transitioned his business towards buying and selling cars, and their business became Excell Auto Group offering luxury and exotic cars on top of competitive loan offers.