Dan Stojadinovic here. I often get asked what kind of skill can I develop that will make me more successful. In this blog post I’ll share some of them.
These are not scientific or by any “guru”, they are just my observation in my journey as a full time entrepreneur the last 6 or so years. Please feel free to comment below i if you have any ideas how to improve or new ideas about skills that you would like to add. There is a comment section at the bottom of the blog post. So first some individual internal skills:
1. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. I remember when I lived in Serbia, and when I worked “crappy” jobs here in America, I use to say, why me, it’s not fair etc… At some point realizing that it’s my fault and I had to take responsibility for my situation, that things finally started to change for the better. So I think taking responsibility is a very important principle you should have. I know it’s hard, but try not to blame others, and see how you can take responsibility for the situation next time.
2. CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS. I think most people are in-considerate. I know people get upset when I say this at seminars, but I believe it’s true. Now to clarify what I mean, considerate doesn’t mean nice or rude etc.. A person who goes to church, and is kind, and gives to charity etc.. can be IN-CONSIDERATE. Also an evil person can be considerate. So what is considerate? Considerate in my definition is someone who projects themselves into someone else and thinks in advance about the actions and how they affect the other person. So when they talk or do something they think how will that affect the other person. Very few people have this skill or are even aware of it. If you can develop this skill to analyze everything from the perspective of the other person, you will have a better chance to become more successful.
Consideration will lead in writing better copy, closing more deals etc…
3. COMMON SENSE. One thing that amazes me is how few people have common sense and need everything explained to them. They can’t just think through, but need like a step-by-step press. For example press this button, fill in this line, say these words to your employee etc… and are not able to think what is a logical next step or does this make sense etc… Now the people who don’t have common sense probably think they have it, so I’m not sure how to fix this, but I know it’s important. Maybe ask yourself if you have it or not and try to be honest with your self.
4. SELF HONESTY. I feel like most people don’t want to face the reality and lie to themselves of the real situation. I notice how the way a person describes what is going on is a total disconnect from reality. I think in order to grow, you must admit even bad things to yourself, so you can change them. You must be 100% transparent to yourself and not sugarcoat anything.
5. BAILOUT. I remember how Serbia produced the most ugly and horrible car on the planet after East Germany (they did it for the same reason). The reason Serbia had this ugly car, was that they didn’t have to make a good one, the company lost billions year after year and every year for decades where bailed out. When someone has a bailout available, they are robbed of the God given resourcefulness. I have been privileged to meet over 200 successful “guru-s” and listen to their speeches. One thing I noticed is that most where pushed in a corner at some point of time, and that was the pivotal moment. And in each case there was no bailout, they had to dig deep and find resourcefulness within to pull out. But they had no bailout, some where literally on the street or close to it. No one would lend or give them money and they where forced to figure it out. I guess the lesson is to try to do things with your resources when possible and pretend like there is no bailout (even if there is)! Maybe it’s impossible, since it takes a huge will-power, but I think it’s important to try that.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TO DEVELOP as an entrepreneur that I think will make you successful in any business (or more successful if you already are):
1. COPYWRITING. Even if you don’t want to ever write copy like I do, understanding it will make you more successful. If you have been on my list, you probably know that I have no skill in writing according to 99% of people who comment on it, somehow I’m able to make a profit. Why is that? Well I think the reason copywriting is important and it’s not about the ability to write property grammar or spell correctly, it’s about the ability to communicate with your prospect and make a connection. PSYCHOLOGY is the key to copywriting. Now I don’t have a background in psychology, but I like to observe people and what drives them. Also one blessing I had, was the life experience to see people in different systems from Communism, Socialism to Capitalism and how people behave in each, and derive what motivates them and drives them to action or in-action in each.
I have been paid to write copy a few times and have been able to produce results, but I’m far from the best copywriter. Every entrepreneur should understand copywriting because it’s an integral par to any:
- video
- landing page
- auto-responer
- voice blast
- radio ad
- postcard
- sales letter
etc….
it’s all about copywriting! You have to connect with the audience. Even when you talk one on one at a seminar or networking meeting or on a sales call. I think that 99% of entrepreneurs just don’t’ care about copywriting and we know the horrible failure rate entrepreneurs have (something like 90% fail). I think this is one of the reasons, so if you can improve this skill, go for it. Spend at least 1 hour a week improving your copywriting skills (even if you will not do it, so you understand it). I will have a bootcamp on copy-wring alone one day, THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT I THINK IT IS!
2. TRAFFIC. I think you have to have the ability to drive prospects to your business (I don’t mean only websites). Real Estate Investor and Citrus REIA and Tampa Bay REIA group leader John Ybara a few weekends ago was able to drive 1000 people to his open house. How many realtors in America can drive 1000 people to their open house? Just so you know this is not made up, I was there, and couldn’t believe it if I haven’t seen it with my own 2 eyes!
Now that can be traffic online or offline it doesn’t matter, but you have to be able to drive traffic of prospects to your funnel. In John’s case the funnel started with an open house and registering the prospects on his list. This is a very important skill, but most entrepreneurs can’t do it, and are not willing to learn it or are to cheap to pay for someone to do it for them. But without this skill you can’t be that successful in business. However I can tell you that even in John’s case, skill #1 (copywriting) played a pivotal role to his success (he wrote some incredible copy!). However that is just a part. So these two skills are very important!
3. VIDEO. This is a future skill. I don’t think if you can’t do it, it will break you today, but I think we are heading there. I think we will need a skill to make effective videos. Here is why. I think that everyone on their phone, computer or TV will be able to push a few buttons and pull up a video about you or your business and in a few seconds or minutes and decide GO/NO GO. So that skill is going to be critical. Now if you have that skill now, you are ahead. There are millionaires being made as we speak because they have mastered video effectively. It’s not an easy skill and there is much involved, but it’s worth mastering.
There are more I just wanted to start with these to start the conversion and get your feedback. Please visit the blog and take a few minutes to comment what principles or skills would you add to this post? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below and if you want you can be anonymous. You can be negative or disagree, I want to hear your transparent self, not something just to be nice for the sake of being nice, that will not help us improve. Tell us what you think and how we can all grow and become better entrepreneurs.
PS: I’m going to speak in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday at 9AM. It’s a content packed full day workshop for my friend Terry Nation who is starting a wealth building organization. I was lucky to be invited to the inaugural meeting, if you want a free ticket I have them (since I’m the speaker), just email Aylaw (at) HypeFree.com and she will email you a free ticket (if you have a guest we need their name). It ends around 4pm, and it’s at Holiday Inn, 110 McSwain Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169. It’s going to be like a big part of the bootcamp, but you can get it for free (no need to pay $997).
PSS: We are going to shut down registrations for the HypeFree Internet Marketing bootcamp on Monday or Tuesday and see where we are at. We might re-open in July if we find that we have a few more tickets, but don’t count on that, because you might miss out this year’s bootcamp. If you have not registered for the HypeFree Internet Marketing Bootcamp for this year, this is probably your last chance. If you wait and miss out, feel free to attack me like people did last year, but you can’t say I didn’t warn you the last few months. On the site is states that 15 seats are left. That is not accurate since we haven’t updated the count in a long time. I think it’s more like a few seats, but we are shutting down to contact everyone and figure out where we stand and match that up to the hotel room. If we have seats in July we will let them go on the open market but don’t count on it, grab them this weekend:
http://www.HypeFreeBootcamp.com
Sincerely,
Dan Stojadinovic
(800) 967-0025
Try HypeFree.com for $1
http://www.HypeFree.com
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t think your blog post is about skills, plus this is already covered by Brian Tracy.
Dan,
You never fail to deliver great information with complete honesty. Your experience in living under different economic and political systems gives you a unique perspective from which we can all learn.
Thanks for your continued efforts!
Augie
Thank you Augie, I appreciate it a great deal!
Hi Dan,
I think you make very good points here. Not sure why Peter thinks these aren’t skills. If we can improve it in ourselves, then it’s a skill.
For Common Sense, my take on it is a little different from yours. I agree everyone should try to get better at it, but I realized a while back that not everyone uses the same thinking process. Some people really don’t understand how to take the next step if you don’t tell them. But once you explain it to them (step by step) they will follow your process and be good students. They’ll never be the people who think up new ideas (like you can) but they’ll do the process and quietly become successful once they understand it all.
Just my two cents worth. Thanks for giving us something to think about!
Bonnie
Hi Dan:
I agree, these are great skills. However, I read, or heard, that when you find a skill you are not good at, you should give it up. Find a new way to get the task accomplished (have someone else to do it). The reasoning was, why become mediocre at something when you can improve what you are good at, and be fantastic. Now, we all can’t quit, but it makes sense to quit banging your head against something that doesn’t work. Probably the best example I can think of is, if you are not good at copy writing, hire someone, don’t take a creative writing class.
I’m going to see if I can get someone to talk about this at the next HypeFree bootcamp, I think this is the reason why so many people can’t make money, it’s not the system they buy or develop, it’s the mindset they have that stops them from having success.
Most people don’t want to talk about it and just blame the systems they have. I will try to find someone who can address this at my next bootcamp I think it’s important.
Dan Stojadinovic
http://HypeFreeBootcamp.com
Another great example that just happened at the World cup is Switzerland beating Spain, which was favored next to Brazil to win because of the huge talent Spain has. But the Swiss wanted it bad!
Serbia beat Germany in the second game. Now I look like an idiot but I’m happy idiot!