by Daria Steigman on March 9, 2010
I was a little surprised last week by all the attention surrounding Chris Brogan’s day rate. A little of it reminded me of when I started my business and a few (former) friends decided I was really sitting around eating bonbons and cashing trust fund checks. Mostly it reminded me that too many people don’t know how to value their work.
My day rate may not be $22,000, but I do not allow organizations to pick my brain by the hour. My hourly strategy rate is primarily used to establish a retainer or a project fee–both of which build in start-up, research, concepting, and so forth. Not to mention intelligence, know-how, and expertise.
Why would anyone walk into a room and discount that?
Photo by Esparta (Flickr).
Tagged as:
Business,
Chris Brogan,
pricing,
Strategy
by Daria Steigman on March 4, 2010
Should you be on LinkedIn? Plaxo? BizSugar or Open Forum? While it’s easy to be online, the vast array of options can leave even the social-media-savviest business person overwhelmed. At last check, my AddThis button linked to over 230 separate platforms/sites.
Because time is a finite resource and we can’t be everywhere, I recommend applying a simple three-pronged business test for social presence:
- Will it help me be found?
- Will it help me connect with my audience?
- Will it help me identify new business?
I explore these questions in some detail in a new IABC CW Bulletin article, Bringing Social Media to Your Business. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Photo by jenny downing (Flickr).
Tagged as:
AddThis,
BizSugar,
Business,
IABC,
Independent Thinking,
LinkedIn,
Social Media
by Daria Steigman on January 28, 2010
The fire alarm in my building had a glitch last night. By glitch, I mean it was going off every 45 seconds or so. (And yes, the fire department came out the first time.) The management solution was to have someone man the switch and try to turn the alarm off as quickly as possible after it sounded–until someone from the alarm company could get there to assess the problem.
This is a plugging holes approach. Alarm sounding for no reason; okay, we keep switching it off.
Why not try to figure out why the alarm might suddenly be going off incessantly?
There was a crew working late last night installing new molding on the top floor. Molding + Ceiling = Working Close to Fire Alarm Wiring. I called down to suggest that perhaps something the work crew was doing had triggered the problem. A couple minutes later the alarm stopped glitching.
Now I don’t know whether my solution was the solution, but it was certainly better than just plugging holes.
Are you plugging holes or seeking solutions?
Photo by wobble-san (Flickr).
Tagged as:
Business
by Daria Steigman on January 26, 2010
During the IABC/Washington panel discussion on 2010 trends, I posed the following question: Is 2010 the year we break down silos? In retrospect, I asked the wrong question.
Breaking down silos is critical, but it’s not about whether we do it–it’s about how. In the communications world, I’m finally hearing more conversation around “integrated” again, but I still see media separated from PR separated from marketing within organizations. Agencies are often worse (think digital practice groups, for example).
When will companies be ready to stop organizing their operations around tasks? And how might this new look take form?
Photo by accent on eclectic (Flickr).
Tagged as:
Business,
Innovation,
Silos,
Workflow
by Daria Steigman on January 5, 2010
I’m taking a page from Chris Brogan this year. He annually identifies “three words that I use as guidance for how I should conduct my efforts in the year to come.”
My three words for 2010: incubate, endorphins, and endurance. I’m going to use them, hopefully wisely, to guide my business.
- Incubate—While I’m not particularly rash, I am prone to scattering my efforts and trailing off in new directions. This year, I’m resolving to let my ideas take form before I take action. After all, there’s not much sense in digging in before you’re ready.
- Endorphins—I’ve described being a solopreneur as needing to be innovative, to know how to identify and seize opportunities, to be a risk taker, and—of course–to be independent. For me, this works best when I’m forward-focused. Endorphins give you a natural high, and I’m resolving to keep them flowing to keep me on track.
- Endurance—Owning a successful business requires being committed for the long haul and accepting that it requires hard work every day. Now that I’ve hit 20 years, I’m targeting 25. I have a mantra when I’m running any significant distance. It’s forward motion, and it’s all about understanding that if you keep going, one step at a time, you’ll find your success.
What are your guiding principles for 2010?
Photo by Son of Groucho (Flickr).
Tagged as:
Business,
Chris Brogan,
Entrepreneurship,
Workflow
I was a little surprised last week by all the attention surrounding Chris Brogan’s day rate. A little of it reminded me of when I started my business and a few (former) friends decided I was really sitting around eating bonbons and cashing trust fund checks. Mostly it reminded me that too many people don’t know how to value their work.
