Career Succes Factors For Entrepreneurs

Career Success Factors for Entrepreneurs

A Career Coach’s Perspective

Matt Casey

January 20, 2011

Topics

Introductions and backgrounds

Business is not our business today

Self awareness

Differentiation

Support

Connections

Well-being

Q & A

The Business of Entrepreneurship

Be realistic about your business objectives

Understand your unique value proposition

Take a hard look at your competition

A marketing foundation is absolutely necessary for your success

For best results, marketing and sales should work hand-in-glove

Plan for the future

It's all in the execution and learning

Source: The Seven Critical Success Factors for Launching & Driving a Successful Business, Kickstart Alliance, http://www.goto-silicon-valley.com/articles/mike-gospe/seven-factors2.shtml

Know Thyself! - What Type of Entrepreneur are You?

It’s easier to do what you are!

What is your personality type?

What is your preferred role? (see below)

Strengths vs. Weaknesses/Blind spots

Values

Goals

Interests

Leader Manager Advisor Champion

Are You Different Like Everybody Else?

Personal branding – Differentiate YOU!

What is your unique value proposition? Your ‘special sauce’?

Where is your brand? Can I find you?

Lone Rangers Don’t Survive – Support Matters

You can’t run a business all by yourself, everybody needs support, sometimes a team

Asking for help is not a weakness “Guy falls in a hole…”

Who are the people in your corner? Champions, Mentors, Coaches, Partners

How do I find other people?

What do I do when they are here?

Be open to unexpected sponsors, advocates

Do You Network?

Who is your network?

Family/friends

Former/current colleagues

Teammates/employees

Other

How do you build your network?

Make yourself interesting

Agenda-less meetings

Informational interviews

Event participation and leadership roles

Always, always, always follow-up

LinkedIn to everybody!*

Holistic Lives of Entrepreneurs

It’s your life!

Are you focusing on what makes you happy?

Do you have balance?

Have you defined ‘success’?

Are you taking care of yourself?

Business Matt Adventure MattRock Star Matt Uncle MattRelationship Matt

Family Matt

Travel MattRunner MattFriend Matt

Career Discovery

Career Evaluation, Search and

Strategy

Career Toolkit

Goals

What is Career Coaching?

Designed to collaboratively uncover your key strengths, aspirations, skills and needs to best define your unique value proposition and to develop your career goals

A focus on the hard and soft skills for your next career move, developing tactical plans for defining and targeting best opportunities

Developing and aligning your career documents to maximize your exposure and differentiate you from your competitors

Work Skills, Values, Passions and Goal Inventories, Career Liftoff® Interests, Career Anchor Assessments, MBTI Personality Profiles

Job options, job search support, interview preparation, recommendation solicitation and management, elevator pitches and personal brand creation, industry transition strategy, networking techniques and connections and compensation negotiation tactics.

Resumes and CVs, cover letters, thank you letters, Linkedin profiles, presentation documents and personal branding statements

Coaching Provide tools for self discovery, guide discussions and ask questions about ideas and options, focus work, help develop tactical plans, create a supportive and safe environment to grow, offer considerations and solutions and overcome personal and professional obstacles

Resources

Personal and Career Assessments

Live Careers: www.livecareers.com

Career Liftoff® Interest Inventory: www.careerliftoff.com

PersonalityMax™ Personality Assessments: www.personalitymax.com

Strong Interest Inventory®: www.cpp.com

PersonalDNA™: www.personaldna.com

Networking

Use your University Career Advisory Networks

Join groups that interest you (e.g. America Marketing Association, Healthcare Business Association)

Career Coaching

If you would like to know more about career coaching services or would like a free consultation, please contact me at [email protected] or (617) 480-7085.

Thank You