Business Improvement and Social media

 The Myth of Meritocracy

The myth is that anyone can come from anywhere and achieve great success in Silicon Valley if they are skilled. It holds that those who “make it” do so due to their excellent ideas and ability, because the tech scene is a meritocracy where what you do, not who you are, matters.

There is some truth to this statement. To a certain extent, there is a lower barrier to entry in tech than in some other industries. Having a famous father or coming from an old money family would not necessarily be an asset as it might in banking (it wouldn’t necessarily hurt, either). And certainly the highest status in the tech scene comes from one’s job rather than family name, although wealth factors considerably into status.

I frequently heard variations of the saying “everyone wants to take the pretty girl to the dance,” which refers to the tendency venture capitalists have to cluster around popular deals. (The prevalence of this phrase is very revealing of who is in these meetings.) In reality, everyone wants to be in business with young, white, male entrepreneurs with connections to high-status people, a pedigree from certain companies, a well-known mentor. Sharon Vosmek, CEO of the nonprofit Astia that helps fund women entrepreneurs, identified “systematic and hidden biases” in technology funding:

VCs hold clear stereotypes of successful CEOs (they call it pattern recognition, but in other industries they call it profiling or stereotyping.) John Doerr publicly stated that his most successful investments — and the no-brainer pattern for future investments — were in founders who were white, male, under 30, nerds, with no social life who dropped out of Harvard or Stanford.

I selected this article from Curatti written by Susan Gilbert because it shows you great tools to help improve your business branding strategy.

Reach your full potential online with these great resources for business.

12 Great Business Tools for Branding and Email Marketing

With the right tools you can help your brand stand out online. I agree that in order to build a business it's important to take advantage of what's available.

Gilbert provides the best tools to help make your company a more successful one.

Here's what caught my attention:

• Find out what your customers are saying about you online. Go Fish Digital provides insights into complaints and conversations about your brand from over 40 different sources.

• Stop putting off your tasks and stay on track with this handy tool. The Productivity Challenge Timer app for iOS will help you gain more focus on your important projects with its effective timer.

• Get more out of your emails with this powerful Gmail tool. FullContact helps you to find important precise company information as well as where the next meeting will be taking place.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of 123rf.

Read full article here: http://curatti.com/business-branding/

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Need help managing emails & making your #business run more effectively?

I selected this article from Curatti written by Raymond Morin because it explains the growing trend of young entrepreneurs.

How Generation C is having a big impact on starting a new business online.

The Rise of the Independent Entrepreneur

Small business owners are on the rise, especially in North America. I agree that this raises new opportunities as entrepreneurship continues to grow.

Morin explains the impact of the Generation C business owner on our society and corporations.

Here's what caught my attention:

• In the United States freelance workers have increased over the last decade. The self employed accounted for 30 percent of the workforce according to US Census Data.

• The realm of entrepreneurship is currently dominated by millennials under the age of 35. Young baby boomers are jumping on this bandwagon and mimicking their successes.

• As the younger generation has grown older and started families the need for flexible schedules and less commuting has increased.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of 123rf.

Read full article here: http://ow.ly/p27H308Dbkp

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I selected this article from Curatti written by Ivan Temelkov because it explains the successful business methods of author and entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk.

It takes the right focus, dedication, patience and business sense to be successful.

Understanding the Methods of a Multi-Million Dollar Entrepreneur

If you are online then chances are you have heard of the #AskGaryVee Show. I agree that Gary Vaynerchuk has been very strategic and knows how to properly target his audience.

Temelkov reveals several techniques that has inspired him to create his own business.

Here's what caught my attention:

• Focus on your strengths in order to be good in business. Keep practicing this -- especially through the trials and errors.

• Worker harder and smarter than the competition. Use both strategy and tactics which involve implementation and then execution.

• Push through failure and move past the status quo of just earning a paycheck. This will of course depend on how you are wired, what motivates you, and how you cope with situations.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of 123rf.

Read full article here: http://ow.ly/5bBO305o5bU

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So true! Yes, you do have to get real when you think about starting your own business. All those overnight successes you hear about, well, there are very few of them and with hindsight most people's idea of "overnight" tends to foreshorten over time!

Read and get real.

Truth!

Having started and run three successful businesses myself and spoken to hundreds of small business owners I can look back over 35 years and say, “Yep, that was definitely a bunch of crap!” These are the three great myths...

I selected this article from Curatti written by Tia Moreen because it explains how even students can start their own business venture.

How start a new business online while attending college.

So You Want to be a Student Entrepreneur?

You can be successful while studying for your degree. I agree that with the right knowledge and tools you can begin your own business.

Moreen explains the pros and cons of being a student entrepreneur and how to begin the process.

Here's what caught my attention:

• Those who are in their twenties are more apt to be risk takers. These students can leverage their connections with fellow classmates and professors.

• Raising enough capital is one of the biggest challenges of starting a new business. Spending less time with friends and family is also a reality.

• As a business owner you can learn a lot of new skills as you start to wear several hats. Not only are you the manager, but you are also the marketer, accountant, and financier.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.

Read full article here: http://ow.ly/v9gg308YrRO

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I selected this article from Curatti written by John Jantsch because it provides insight into how to achieve your goals in generating new clients.

Lead funnels are great, but you still need a client generation system in place.

Why Your Business Is Not Experiencing Enough Sales

Building a profitable company takes several marketing methods in order to be truly effective. I agree that client lead generation is an essential part of growing your bottom line.

Jantsch explains why these techniques are important to attract the most leads and conversions.

Here's what caught my attention:

• You don't just want leads -- you want customers. You need  steady flow of the right people targeted for your business niche, not just a large influx of prospects.

• Build a system that generates a consistent appointments -- at least 10 to 12. Make sure these are qualified leads who are interested in what you have to offer.

• Create valuable content that will resonate with your audience. This is the workhorse for your lead generation system.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of 123rf.

Read full article here: http://ow.ly/RoSU305UJqj

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I selected this article from Curatti written by Susan Gilbert because it explains how to improve your focus for better results in your business.

How over analyzing your goals and tasks can hold your company back.

Increase Your Business Bottom Line with a Better Focus

If you have been stuck in a rut you may be delaying what can be taken care of today. I agree that thinking too much can lead to lack of growth.

Gilbert explains different methods of creating more focus for increased success.

Here's what caught my attention:

• Be more productive by taking a break throughout the workday. This can help you return with a fresh thought and new perspective.

• Have a good team that can support your business. It really does take a village to get things done -- you can't accomplish all of your tasks alone.

• Narrow down your research and focus on what is most important. This will reduce information overload and help you formulate a better plan.

Selected by Jan Gordon for Curatti covering Curation, Social Business and Beyond

Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.

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Read full article here: http://ow.ly/XzBZ304R5WM

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Interesting to consider as well from various roles/ fields -- what are the missing skills in social media amongst teachers, nurses, social workers, parents, students, police officers etc.

What talents in digital marketing companies will look for in 2014