Root for the underdog

It has been quite a week. Bafana made it to the semi finals, gave Brazil a literal run for their money and this morning brought with it the sad news about Michael Jackson.

The general perception among many entrepreneurs is that, once you go mainstream you've sold out. Most people rooot for the underdog and that was the case on Twitter last night during the Bafana game. The University of South Florida also proved it a in a study they did. In business it's difficult to get your foot through the door if no one knows you from a bar of soap. Once you have, then relationships need to be built.

Michael Jackson on the hand is proof that mainstream can be far more ruthless and anticipate perfection from you. It's not enough to kick you while you are down, but they might even wipe you off the radar.

So, while you develop your business model don't be of the misconception that it becomes easier once you've made it.

Define your game : Always

It's been a frantic few weeks. We were almost wiped out, but learned a few things from this experience which I'd like to share with you.
Your past victories don't define you

• People don't really know what you are capable of, neither do you, until you do.
• The things you have accomplished as a business or individual in the past, don't apply anymore
• The hype surrounding you is based on past victories, that is also threatens to divert your focus.
  

Comfort will wipe you out

You were willing to rewrite the game that, if anything, is what you knew when you started. It was enough. You knew a change was needed, but you somehow you lost the plot. Somewhere in your path, you started thinking "I'm the best there is". But there is someone younger, hungrier, more innovative and they are watching you.

Be prepared to redifine your own rules

The hardest thing is realizing - what you used to know is no longer true. Companies and people that are making it constantly re-write the rules.

Don't wait to get wiped out, your game was great yesterday and doesn't necessarily need fixing. You should keep doing it.

How are you redefining the laws in your industry?

NetwebTV [episode #3 Mp3] with Gareth Knight

The 3rd episode of NetwebTV on audio. He's also known as @oneafrikan and well worth a follow.

NetwebTV [episode #3]

In this episode I had a chat with Gareth Knight, the co-founder of Kindo a social network for the family, which was sold to MyHeritage.

My fascination has always been around how startups are acquired and the process behind these transactions. Gareth simplifies it. Guys in the office even referred to him as a "regular guy" with innovative ideas. That has nothing to do with fibre-intake-regular.

Watch the video below, for the interview.

Nedbankers: Ask 10 times

So this morning, I woke up 45 minutes later than usual with the intention of going to Nedbank.

First there was a long queue outside the branch, with staff doing their own thing inside. The teller said my card had been destroyed. I then realized it had been close to a year since applying for it.

I gave their contact centre a call when I got to the office, who assured me that the problem was resolved and I now only had to go the nearest branch.

The next teller typed things onto her pc then said all was good “please go make a deposit sir and you’ll be issued with a card”.

I then went to a teller by the name of Ruth who requested me to call the contact centre again. By now, my patience was extremely thin. It turns out they had to do the whole thing at the first branch within 15 minutes.

That is branding to me, it’s how they’ve branded themselves.

So much for their “ask once” slogan. I asked about 10 times and it cost half my day.

NetwebTV [episode #2] with Eve Dmochowska

I had a chat with Eve Dmochowska, for NetwebTV, more popularly known as EveD. She is a Web Strategist, author, blogger and the founder of Idea Bank. She also just recently started MyZone, which consolidates your online presence to one website.

Here are some of her views on the importance of not only web presence, but the significance of web strategy, for both companies and individuals.

There's also an audio version on NetwebTV.

29 page call to action

This past Saturday, I read a book on dominating the world by Chris Guillebeau. What got my attention, among many other concepts, was “recruiting your small army” which could be very significant in these economic times.

A brief guide to world domination is small - 29 page – book loaded with insight. It’s the kind of read I cannot remain the same after. Or even think of returning to mediocrity afterward.

You can keep up with him and his travels around the world here.

A call to action that’s well worth a read, go get it and invade the world. Or a small country.

R50 000 give away

Times are hard, company budgets have been halved. Even our trusted large corporates expect the same value, with as much service from you as last year, at half the cost. Being a smaller business you feel the pinch more than ever.

Let’s face it distinguishing your company from many others, leaving your potential investor, large client and funder with an idea worth talking about, needs you to be creative. Or remain an expert at what you do and leave the creative bit to people who thrive on it.

For over 10 years, the guys at Missing Link have been working with corporates in delivering the most innovative presentation strategies in the southern hemisphere.

All that creativity, that experience is now being packaged and given to South African SMEs free, as corporate videos, every month at the Netweb Event. Their experience, as a company that pitches for deals and exposure in the corporate world, enables them to deliver great objective driven presentations.

For Missing Link developing the most cutting edge message, in the shortest possible time and helping you leave an unforgettable impression of yourself is just another day at the office. Well not exactly, but you’d have to see their workspace to know why.

When everyone complains about investors not being angels, closing doors and blaming the recession, you can profile your company creatively.

Don’t reinvent the wheel, just write a 2 page company profile (excluding the cover page) clearly stating:

• Who you are.

• What problem you are aiming to solve as a business.

• Why you are the best people to solve such a problem.

• What you have done to build your lower than 5 year old company.

• And write a single page cover letter telling us why you are most deserving of the prize.

After spending some time doing all this send it in by email to info@aquanova.co.za. Then you can go back and reinvent the wheel.

NetwebTV [episode #1] with a superhero

When I first wrote about influential people changing the world below the radar, I had a very vague idea of the talent in South Africa.

We went out to Cerebra and interviewed Mike Stopforth for NetwebTV. The video was removed, so we give you only the interesting bits of the conversation.

Here it is, judge for yourself.



Or you can download and share the audio version here.

Startup Africa : Rockstars of note

When I met Ismail Dhorat of Startup Africa some weeks ago, whom I caught offguard here. We discussed a possible synergy between the Netweb Event and them where we'll work on bringing current emerging business content.

It was only after our meeting and a quick coffee that we designed the last event.

They have a simple a concept, bring relevant and current business content through their blog. It sounds simple enough, but content isn't that easy that source.

More excitingly though, exciting for us that is. Startup Africa is the Netweb Event's new home.

I guess guess geek is the new cool or rockstar. Thanks guys..........