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What Every Wannabe Entrepreneur And Influencer Forgets – It’s Not About You

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This is a message that you must listen to if you ever want to be a successful entrepreneur or influencer. It’s the only real secret that you need to strictly abide by at all times. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!!!!

If you fail to understand this one concept, then I promise you that you will never be anyone of influence or make any real money in business. So many people forget this one idea even though, in my humble opinion, it’s dead obvious and communicated frequently.

Have you ever been to an event and you meet someone for the first time who just talks about them self? Does it make you want to run in the opposite direction? Of course it does, and that’s why this lesson I am going to drill into your head today is so important.

Every influencer I have met through Addicted2Success, and every successful Silicon Valley Entrepreneur I have met through my day job, have all understood this concept, and they swear by it. You will fail no matter what if you don’t take the time to practice what I am going to talk about.

These seven rules below are how you make sure that what you do is about those you serve and not you:

Rule 1 – Building a personal brand is BS

The catch phrase that has existed since social media was invented and that is told to everyone is build your personal brand. Building a personal brand is total BS!

By building a personal brand, you are tell everyone online that what you do is all about you. Building a personal brand usually means posting content that always talks about yourself or has some stupid selfie of you doing something that doesn’t add any value to anyone’s life.

The way you build a personal brand is by not building your brand. Sounds confusing doesn’t it? It supposed to be because the only time you will build any brand is when you add value to people – end of story.

People that talk about themselves constantly on social media make me vomit, and I know you probably have the same feeling so don’t be like these fools! Find something you care about and share it with the world to help others. If you do this enough then maybe, just maybe, you might build a brand.

Rule 2 – Don’t have a big head

As you add values to other people’s lives, make sure you don’t do so with a big head or communicate in a way that makes you sound like you are better than everyone else. You’re not and neither am I. We are all global citizens of this world searching for our purpose so we can be fulfilled – that’s why we exist.

Sure, tell people when you have success in your life, talk about the things you do and what you’re good at, just don’t do it in a way that comes across as cocky. As an entrepreneur, you will never create a game-changing business by yourself; you must attract others to your mission.

No one will join your mission if you have a big fat head full of hot air and a disgusting sense of arrogance about you. What will build a monster business for you is the ability to inspire people in a way that makes them want to join your vision. This one tip can allow you to start the next UBER!

Rule 3 – Influence takes time

I meet lots of people at various events that I attend who try something for three months and then say no one is listening. We live in a busy world with loads of distractions and statistically it now takes someone sixteen interactions with a product before they respond.

Influence on social media or as an entrepreneur takes time. By time, I mean at least one year, and for the successful entrepreneurs I know, typically five years. So sit back, relax, take a chill pill, and make sure whatever it is you are doing is something you love otherwise you will never be able to have the patience it takes to succeed.

Rule 4 – Don’t establish a community only to help yourself

Someone said to me the other day, “Tim I’ve had this community for a while, and it’s not making me any money.” My response was “that’s because the community is not there to make you money it’s there to get something from you.”

What I meant when I said this is that you only get what you want when you give your community what they want. If you create a community just for the selfish purpose of making money, then you will be forgotten about quicker than last weeks mainstream TV news.

Rule 5 – A community is not there to flog stuff too

Directly related to my previous point, a community doesn’t exist just to be bombarded and flogged useless products that don’t serve them or that they never asked for. Instead, find stuff that has worked for you, and ask your community what problems they are having and how you can help.

“When every message you say to a group of people is proudly brought to you by some ridiculous product it get’s really painful really quickly”

If you are going to offer products and services, then give plenty of value first, and present what you can offer in a non-spammy way and don’t over do it bud!

Rule 6 – Be 100% transparent and share everything you know

Not only is what you do not about you but if you are going to lead a group of people as an influencer or an entrepreneur then make sure you are 100% transparent. If you want to supercharge your results even quicker then share everything you know.

A great example is Nathan Chan who is the creator of Foundr magazine. I saw him speak a few weeks ago, and the guy shared everything. He went into his financial affairs, shared legal issues he had, and even told us his social media strategy for a product he hasn’t even launched.

He had instant credibility in a room full of people who mostly didn’t know him, and it was damn infectious to see a guy just go all out and not hold anything back. The traits that Nathan displayed are the true essence of not being all about yourself.

Rule 7 – Don’t use someone else’s community and then screw them

Last rule of not being all about yourself is don’t help someone build their community and then screw them over and steal what you helped them create. When you help build someone else’s community you are doing so as a privilege.

You are doing so not because it’s all about you but because you believe in what the community stands for. What you get in return (although it’s not about you) is credibility that you didn’t have before, free education, and access to network with people.

By stealing something from someone else’s community, you are making things all about you and people will never transfer over to your own community if they know you stole something to get there – the truth about dishonest people travels faster than a shooting star.

Did any of these rules resonate with you? Let me know in the comments section below or on my website timdenning.net and my Facebook.
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Business

The Entrepreneur’s Reading List That Transforms Ideas Into Empires

These must-read titles and writing insights reveal how entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into empire-level success.

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top entrepreneurship books for business growth
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Entrepreneurship is powered by stories—of accomplishment, failure, and decision moments that define businesses. Books are maps, providing insight from individuals who’ve traversed the road ahead. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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how to build a business empire
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Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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