Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

The last part of our interview episodes with Krishna Mohan dive into how he helps companies grow.  The primary concept is planning for growth.  However, we also need to ensure we give the changes time to be effective.  Krishna often sees this as an annual approach and that fits well with budgets, resources, and incorporates seasonal differences where they occur. Planning For Growth The first part of any plan is setting a goal.  We need to create a finish line that is our current situation plus the desired growth.  Once we have those in place, we need to set a course for those end goals that have reasonable milestones along the way.  It is unlikely you can double or triple your business in a year.  However, you can grow aggressively and load up your pipeline with resources and potential customers to make the needed steps over a longer term.  There is a reasonable limit to growth smart and effectively.  That limit constrains what we can do over a year, but we can stretch our timeframe beyond twelve months and achieve those objectives. Avoid One And Done There are the above limits on growth that we need to be aware of. But, likewise, we want to grow sustainably.  This situation is like a diet that works but then is immediately abandoned.   We instead want to take steps and grow in a way that builds momentum and habits.  Those will allow us to grow and continue to build on past success instead of struggling to maintain our new levels of success. A Little Background Krishna loves to share what he has learned along the way to becoming a successful Entrepreneur and Business Coach.  You might be able to convince him to share a copy of one of his books. 1. Elite Real Estate Professionals- Leaders in Real Estate Industry (#1 Best Seller on Amazon) 2. Insiders Secret to Build Business Credit and Financing 3. How I find $10K in any Business within 45 Minutes (Available for Free on my website: https://geniusbusinesscoach.com/ ) He also is offering a 3 Part business education series for free.

We continue our discussion with Krishna Mohan with a focus on the question, "are you ready for growth".  Everyone wants to grow their business.  However, not everyone is truly ready to pay the price in focus and effort to do so.  There are risks and investments required.  We start there and then move into the concepts of working in your business as opposed to on your business. Are You Ready For Growth? Growing a business requires you to be ready to sacrifice short-term goals to invest in the future.  There is no magic pill that allows you to continue focusing on your business and grow it at the same time.  There is planning required and a diversion of resources towards growth.  You can look down or ahead but not both. There are many reasons to say "no" when asked, "are you ready for growth".  There is nothing wrong with that.  We can look at how to adjust a plan for your level of risk acceptance or need to maintain the current course of a business.  You may also want to get more things stabilized in your business before focusing on growth. Work In Or On Your Business Many businesses languish as small operations because there is a lack of work on the business instead of in it.  The difference between these two approaches is whether your daily business needs consume your time and resources or if they allow you time to plan and look for new business.  When your current customers consume all of your resources you are working in the business.  On the other hand, when you have time to search out new customers, you are working on it. A Little Background Krishna loves to share what he has learned along the way to becoming a successful Entrepreneur and Business Coach.  You might be able to convince him to share a copy of one of his books. 1. Elite Real Estate Professionals- Leaders in Real Estate Industry (#1 Best Seller on Amazon) 2. Insiders Secret to Build Business Credit and Financing 3. How I find $10K in any Business within 45 Minutes (Available for Free on my website: https://geniusbusinesscoach.com/ ) He also is offering a 3 Part business education series for free.

This episode starts a discussion with Krishna Mohan.  We start with some of his background and a journey from specific experiences to building general solutions.  This is a story about converting your unique experience and approach into something that is a fit for others that they may not have found otherwise. A Typical Start There is a lot of Krishna's background that can be glossed over and seem typical.  He started out as a hard worker and smart individual then went to work for a big company.  That could have been almost the end and he could have ridden that corporate path.  However, he saw value in what he had experienced that was unique and needed to be shared.  All of those specific experiences could be adapted to provide more general solutions.  Thus, Genius Visionary was born. A Little Genius Sprinkled In Few would argue that Jack Welch is a legend in the world of business.  We see in Krishna's story how far-reaching the impact of great leaders can be.  While there are important things to note that he learned from that early experience, it is also important to realize what you might be able to do for others.  Becoming a better developer is not just a selfish pursuit, it will impact others as well. A Little Background Krishna loves to share what he has learned along the way to becoming a successful Entrepreneur and Business Coach.  You might be able to convince him to share a copy of one of his books. 1. Elite Real Estate Professionals- Leaders in Real Estate Industry (#1 Best Seller on Amazon) 2. Insiders Secret to Build Business Credit and Financing 3. How I find $10K in any Business within 45 Minutes (Available for Free on my website: https://geniusbusinesscoach.com/ ) He also is offering a 3 Part business education series for free.

This episode offers a side trip during the interviews season and focuses on meaningful discussions.  We have mentioned difficult discussions.  However, the important ones are the ones that teach us and provide experience without having to experience failure.  We can find them anywhere and just need to go into them with an intent to go deeper. Meaningful Discussions - Start With Tell Me Your Story There are many ways to get others to share their experience with you.  I have found the best way is to directly ask them to share their story.  This may be the journey of their career or how they managed to buy that hotdog they are eating.  The scope and range can vary widely.  However, the key is to get them to share the desired story.  You are showing interest and they likely will respond with a valuable conversation. Honest Curiosity When you start from a position of curiosity and open acceptance of the position of others it can lead to meaningful discussions.  That seems to be an important point to make in the modern world of my way or the highway.  The good news is that you will grow and learn by being challenged by the experience and opinions of others.  You do not have to blindly accept nor reject their position.  Take it in, reflect on it, and allow it to refine and define your views and thoughts.  It is a way to think outside of the box with others serving as your muse. Take The First Step There are many ways to reach out to others.  You can find a mastermind group such as ours.  You can also find sites like the lunch club.  These are just a few ways to get yourself out of your comfort zone and grow your network of resources.  I think you will find it is far easier to learn from meaningful discussions than you expected.

Here is a bonus episode in our interview with Sam McNeill.  They provide a memorable marketing sort of tool known as insta-hit.  He mentioned this during the interview, and it is impressive to see it in action.  That gives us an excellent launching pad for talking about ways to stick in the mind of your customers. Use What You Have For Memorable Marketing There is definitely a link from the insta-hit to work done by Song Division.  However, it is just a fun little thing they can add to any event.  You have talents related to your work and beyond.  Use those to find ways to add a little color to a drab presentation.  You might even be able to get them to remember your key points and relate them to your company.  Wow!  That is almost like a brand. Yes, those little things can go a long way towards building memorable traits around your company that can define your brand. Have Fun One of the points mentioned by Sam is that he remembers these songs years later.  They provide a unique experience for the customer but also keeps it fresh for the artist.  Do not underestimate the value of keeping morale and excitement high.  When you start phoning it in, the end is coming soon.  You will see everything deteriorate.  Therefore, the more you do to keep everyone looking forward to the next job, the more likely you are to see continued success. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about Sam's work and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision

We wrap up the main part of the conversation with Sam McNeill as we mention difficult conversations.  That is a perfect start for his stories about building a team and maintaining high morale. Next, we discuss roles and cross-training in the wild without getting into the academic terms and suggestions.  Take notes as this is a valuable conversation. Difficult Conversations Sam mentions the book about dysfunctional teams and difficult conversations.  There is a link below to learn more about this book from Patrick Lencioni.  We move forward from there to see how Sam has managed to sort of avoid difficult conversations.  Yes, they still exist.  However, they are not so difficult when everyone is on the same team and shares goals.  People can self-select themselves out of places they don't feel comfortable and would not be very productive.  Leadership is still required, but it tends to be more player-coach in its approach, and everyone feels valued. Cross-Training We wrap up this episode talking about how he has grown his team. First, he found areas where he needed help.  Then he found people that could provide the needed skills. Of course, there is always overlap and a need to avoid people falling into ruts.  Nevertheless, filling skill and experience gaps are important steps during the early growth of a team.  The unmentioned part of all of this is chemistry.  It may seem hard to find someone that does not get along with a personality like Sam, but we all get on each other's nerves at times.  The important part of building a team is finding people that generally gel while still being comfortable and different enough to raise questions.  We want to row the same way while keeping a lookout that we are not rowing in the wrong direction. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about Sam's work and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision Another Useful Link: The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team

We continue our multi-part series of interviews with Sam McNeill with a look at when things go wrong and an examination of leaders.  There are times that we go a little off the rails and times where things go completely awry.  The way you respond can help keep the former from stumbling into the latter. When Things Go Wrong, And They Will Sam has a history of being the "guy with the microphone."  That can be the best way to handle challenges or the worst.  You are in the position to impact the situation.  Therefore, it is best if you enjoy being in that role.  One can either run the show or delegate.  Sam enjoys the former and gives us insight into one of the things that make him tick.  He feels most comfortable being on the stage as if that is what he is meant to do.  While we skimmed over that in the interview, that is something we should all know and pursue.  You will always be happiest when you are doing what you were meant to do. Build Your Team It helps to have a solid and reliable team when things go wrong.  The story and details Sam provides at this point of the interview are worth noting.  He mentions the idea of matching strengths to roles and also how to focus on a team as such.  Even when there is a team leader, the team is the most important part.  They do the work and share responsibilities.  This may be best summarized by the Song Division values of excitement, energy, and a willingness to work hard. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision

We continue our interview with Sam with a deeper dive into enthusiasm.  He describes how his love of his job helps him to win customers.  However, that is just the beginning.  He then goes into some excellent examples of how professionalism leads to customer success.  There is more to winning over customers than simply getting that sale.  He walks us through how to ensure each customer is satisfied. Know Your Role The musical band and recording session examples are highly relatable to the IT world.  We can see many of the personalities he describes among studio musicians and "the talent" in our technical teams.  The key to success is understanding your role as much as it is clear on the roles themselves. For example, if you are playing background for Sir Elton John, your role should be obvious.  However, what role John Elton plays on your development team may not be so clear. Win Customers Then Keep Them Sam has dealt with countless projects and customers over the years.  All of those little projects have provided him a pattern for what works and what does not.  The success he has had at Song Division comes from traits the organization espouses and executes.  These include professionalism, consistency, understanding the needs of the customer, and focusing on success. That last item can be tough when things go haywire.  Nevertheless, success can still be possible and must be pursued.  That is how you not only win customers but also keep them. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision

We start our next series of interviews with an example of what happens when you love your job.  Sam McNeill is highly successful and entertaining because of the energy he brings.  You will see that as we go through a discussion of his background, his challenges, and becoming a key part of the success of a company he loves, SongDivision. A Natural Talent Sam is one of those people that is born with plenty of natural talent.  He started as an aspiring musician and actor.  He briefly describes that childhood and his early loves.  This sets the table for his career.  The two worlds of childhood and his future meet up at a Microsoft event as he is introduced to SongDivision. Love Your Job = Success We almost start at the end as Sam points out how much he enjoyed working with SongDivision and the people in the organization.  This enthusiasm put him on track to join the company and see a lot of success.  The important point for us to learn is that success took work.  However, he enjoyed every minute and was even more effective at his job because he had found what he loved to do.  Optimism and excitement are contagious.  When you exude these, you will find success following close behind. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face, and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn a lot more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you then give him a call. SongDivision

We jump into a discussion about repetition as key to your brand success.  However, the next topic of style stages is just as critical.  Then, we touch on several nuggets and suggestions to wrap up our interview with DP.  He provides a few challenges and valuable insight to leave you with plenty of food for thought. Style Stages A key concept for this episode is the idea of style stages.  There are numerous (maybe countless) social media platforms available today.  We should take advantage of many of those, if possible.  On the other hand, some provide a better stage for our presentation content and style than others.  These style stages vary from written form to audio to long or short-form videos.  Therefore, we have a range of options to embrace and find what works best for us. For example, if you have a face for radio, then go the audio route.  When your content makes more sense, and you are comfortable writing, then use those tools. Building The Connection We should balance our comfort zone with how these style stages impact the audience.  DP provides a quote about how people interact as blog readers, video viewers, or audio listeners.  These are important to consider.  Where possible, audio is one of the best formats as it builds a personal connection due to being in the listener's head. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of "NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are," and co-author of "ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media 'Top of Mind'" and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND.  He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience.  First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands.  I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message.  You can do that through his personal website.  Check out the links below. https://dpknudten.com The NonFiction Brand Podcast The NonFiction Brand Book