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Why I Choose Career Suicide Every Day.

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Every day I commit career suicide in the eyes of many. Some would say I take a metaphorical dump on my own face each morning.

Why do I say that?

I say that because every day I do things that in the past would have been career suicide.

The things I do each day that people think are career suicide, which I believe are crucial for success in your career, are these:

Stir emotion.

Most people live their career in auto-pilot. They chase money and then wonder why they feel like sh*t later on. Auto-pilot forces you to forget about emotion and evoking it in others. Auto-pilot sucks the emotion out of us and causes us to wear a mask.

I choose to stir emotion in people because that’s what has taken me to new heights. When people feel emotion because of your actions they react in crazy ways.

An example from my own career is sharing emotional messages on LinkedIn. I share my deepest, darkest secrets, failures and emotional battles so others can benefit.

I continually get reactions that cause people to go crazy. This is why a lot of what I’ve said has gone viral many times over. The aim is not to be a social media star though; the aim is to stir emotion.

Emotion creates motion.

Emotion brings people closer to you which has incredible benefits in a business world that has lost a lot of human interaction.

Saying what you think.

I regularly tell people each day with politeness that “I’m not interested,” or “They’ve let me down,” or “I won’t be buying.”

Delivering these harsh messages is considered career suicide.

“What if someone gets upset?”

“What if they tell my boss?”

“What if I’m wrong?”

These are the questions that spin out of control in our minds when we say what you think. When you say what you think with politeness, you allow people to understand what you’re thinking.

This gives them an opportunity to change paths or move on to the next opportunity saving everyone time. Saying what you think is not career suicide; it moves business forward and it’s honest.

Choosing creativity.

We’ve all been enslaved for an hour by a PowerPoint presentation that has zero creativity. Creativity is career suicide in a lot of people’s minds because it’s expressing who you are.

Creativity is giving a non-typical answer to a problem.

Creativity is bringing your outside passion into the workplace.

Creativity is telling a personal story to change how people think.

Creativity is beautiful.

So many of your colleagues use no creativity in their work life and then they wonder why they lack passion.

Bringing up old failures.

We’re all selling every day whether we’re in sales or not – that’s the cliché we’ve all heard of, right?

When people sell you a product or service they rarely you tell you about its failures. If you knew those, then maybe you wouldn’t buy what they have to sell.

That thinking right there is flawed.

Talking about the failures looks like career suicide until you embrace the concept that most of us are wrong more often than we’d like to think.

We’re probably wrong more times than we’re right.

Talking about your failures in any context brings us in closer because we all share these same dirty little secrets. In fact, most of our failures look the same.

I talk about my failures all the time especially when people ask me about the big moments of success I’ve had. Someone asked me about the viral LinkedIn article I wrote recently and I told them about the one that was posted around the same time that pissed everybody off.

I wanted them to see what success really was and give them a backstage pass to the show that everybody pretends is not being performed every day.

Most of my blogging has been a failure except a few small parts. That is, until one day, it’s no longer a failure. Until I hit the tipping point.

Even once I reach the tipping point I’ll still continue to fail and so will you.

“Failure is not career suicide and you should talk about it more if you want to stop lying to yourself and everyone else. We’re all selling (I agree) so let’s start selling the truth”

Have a grand vision.

“That Tim guy talks a big game, doesn’t he? What a joke.”

That is the recurring thought that runs in people’s heads when I announce my grand plans and vision for almost anything I’m working on. Grand visions can make people think you are full of sh*t and have lost touch with reality.

This idea is nothing more than a limiting belief.

“Unless you start thinking big things in your mind you’ll never get close to anything of that nature. You’ll keep playing it small in the sandpit of a ‘realistic reality’ instead of a somewhat unreasonable vision for what you could be doing”

Grand visions are not about overselling what can be achieved; they’re about pushing boundaries and shooting for Mars and maybe landing on the moon instead which is still pretty freaking cool!

The practice of having grand visions is rarely practiced by many in the business world, so it’s a great way to stand out, be remembered and do something audaciously delicious.

Real Career suicide is having mediocre visions and not being the best you can be which may not even be imaginable yet.

Mention your health challenges.

I’ve had my fair share. From a near miss with cancer, to mercury poisoning, to stress levels that nearly crippled my career – I’ve seen it all and I’ve shared all of them.

I’ve noticed that my colleagues think talking about your health challenges is a sign of weakness because no one wants to work, partner or employ a human being who could be sick or dying.

The truth is the other way around: unless you talk about your health challenges, you’ll never have come face to face with your mortality which means you’ll take your time on this Earth for granted. That’s what will f*ck you up your career not some BS perception of weakness.

Knowing your mortality is strength in every aspect of your life and career.

“Weakness is followed by enormous strength”

It’s easier to be different than better.

Committing career suicide as described by others, like I have, will make you different. You can try and compete with the perfect specimens who only show the highlight reel of their career or you can do what so many are not prepared to do and play a different game.

Combining vulnerability, authenticity, honesty and humility looks like career suicide until you understand that it’s what differentiates the Martin Luther Kings from the Bob Kings who you’ve never heard of or respected or been inspired by.

Why should you choose career suicide?

You should choose career suicide because it’s nothing more than a false perception.

Career suicide is now what it takes to have career success. The two go hand in hand. Choose career suicide so you can distance yourself from all the fakery that has left people scratching their heads and wondering why they were born in the first place.

Choose passion and purpose instead of hiding behind a mask that makes you angry with yourself in the long-term.

Career suicide is about choosing to be human.

Join me in committing career suicide.

I’m going to pledge right now to keep committing these horrible acts of career suicide. It’s what I believe will move the business world forward.

I want you to join hands with me (let’s not do the Kumbaya thing) and commit to career suicide. What you’re really signing up to is a career that you never thought was possible.

My career has gone down that road and I’m never giving it up.

I want you to feel the same joy I feel when I commit career suicide.

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net

Aussie Blogger with 500M+ views — Writer for CNBC & Business Insider. Inspiring the world through Personal Development and Entrepreneurship You can connect with Tim through his website www.timdenning.com

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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