FelinesWhoLunch

A business lifestyle guide

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The Shy Entrepreneurs guide to Networking

It's not what you know it's who you know, heard that phrase a million times but have no one to fill the roll of connect. Well all is not lost my friend, I to can relate to the sudden grip of social awkwardness and self doubt that ensues with the thought of approaching a group of strangers. Since I'm all about solutions, here are my tips to get you networking with ease.

1. Join a membership club

These kind of clubs used to be synonymous with socialites and their upper crust connections but not anymore. With the surge of creativity and the onset of what I like to call the the Entrepreneural Revolution, hubs of innovation are springing up everywhere. What I like is the fraternity/sorority feel of them, with access to a range of different events and facilities catered to your needs.

2. Charity

A common thread among successful entrepreneurs and a piece of advice they give is the importance of philanthropy. It's not all just about warm fuzzy feelings and faux social awareness narcissism but if you look deeper, philanthropy sets the stage to foster innovation through human connection. Many aha moments are made through exposure to new ideas, cultures and conversations.

Even though your not a millionaire yet, you too can harness the power of connections. Networking is more than just collecting business cards is also a chance for market research.With that in mind, giving your time to a worthy cause can set you in the midst of potential clients/customers that can give valuable insights to your business. Lastly, there's no easier way to think of an ice breaker than speaking about a common vested interest. 

3. Hobby

When your doing something you love it definitely shows. This point is very similar to charity, the only difference is you enjoy all the benefits. Having hobbies outside of your business endeavors is a great way to relax and give yourself all the TLC it needs. So while your having some much needed "down" time, you never know who you'll bump into doing the same.

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10 Things I wish I knew when I became an entrepreneur

1.Read "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill is the Big Homie to every self help, motivational personal development guru out there. He wrote the book in the 1930s after interviewing over 500 successful businessmen. Its said to be the most read book among successful entrepreneurs. IMO,this book really breaks down the emotional and mental capacity needed to become an entrepreneur.   Click the link to listen via  Youtube

2.Get a Role/Business Model

As a kid, we all remember there was someone who we wanted to emulate. This person had that special something that inspired us. Take this notion and apply it to your business endeavors. It should be your job as an entrepreneur to find out how an already successful entrepreneur/company got to where they are. 

This essentially saves you a lot of time and you have a rough guide on how to navigate. You can see where the holes in your ideas are and where you can put your stamp. To be a winner you have to have winning habits. And there's no better habit to emulate than that of those who are winning in the field you wish to. Needless to say, its a step that is often overlooked but its the most valuable. Yeah, you cant get the person in the flesh to tell you how they did it (sometimes you can, wink wink felineswholunch) but getting it secondhand is the next best thing.

3. Get a personal book keeper and learn basic accounting

I got this step from listening to Retire Young, Retire Rich by Robert Kiyosaki.  

Kiyosaki explains that the first business anyone has is their personal finances. Once you can manage this, then you are truly ready for a business. I couldnt agree more, because money comes and goes very quickly. If your not on top of your finances and how you use it as a resource, expect to be broke very soon.

Now this brings me to the next point, of learning basic accounting. If you cant read a P&L statement, please sit down with your book keeper and learn. Too many times we've seen celebrities with financial problems because they have someone else signing their cheques and have no idea whats going on with their finances.

4.Vision Board

Once you've read "Think & Grow Rich" you'll realize how important visualization is. Out mind is the first place of conception for an idea, once its conceived it is well within your power to achieve. For the vision board put down images of things you want to happen in your life, both personal and career wise. Place this board somewhere you'll see it both morning and night. You want to be thinking about this ALL THE TIME and have a BURNING DESIRE to achieve these results. Most importantly, if there are any statements make sure they are in the present tense.

It definitely is a shame the way society seems to have lost touch with the way our brains function. Our Right brain is the centre of our imagination and creativity. Once we've accessed the right brain to create something our left brain works out the logic to make it happen. Now because we've become so entrenched in a FEAR culture, we turned our left brain against us and make it tell us reasons we cant achieve greatness.

5. Business Plan

For years and years, I avoided doing a business plan and in hindsight I'm like Damn girl, why you want to make your life soooo hard. The reason, all the business plans I came across were so damn long and full of jargon that my brain just shut down. My break through happened when I applied for the start up loan and got it on the very same day. That business plan was the most straight to the point  and in depth template I ever filled out.

It made me understand cashflow and really think about my company's journey to its third year and beyond. I knew exactly where my money was going and what expenses would be ongoing. But most importantly summing it up in two words, I gained CLARITY and FOCUS. 

6. Networking

Sometimes the prospect of introducing yourself to new people is quite daunting. Most of us have been taught that selling yourself and your skills is something you let others do for you. You never toot your own horn, you have to be modest and if your a woman, that is most definitely unbecoming. 

Well, Im here to tell you, you better gets to selling because YOU have to be your biggest cheerleader. And YOU, are the template for how people will treat you, so carry yourself with pride and show em what you got.

We all know the saying, "Its not what you know, its who you know". We've all seen it, that lucky SOB that gets a hook up based on personal ties and not necessarily merit. But guess what, great for that SOB, she's using her network to create her net worth and so should you. Keeping it in the family, so to speak, is an age old tradition among us humans. Its an instinctual survival mechanism, that both appeases our ego and reflexes. Thriving off connections and relationships is what we do and that will never change. So if your main circle cant help you advance socially and economically, you dont need to cut them off but you do need to find some friends who are going in your direction. 

7. Learn to Raise Capital 

First rule of business, Never use your own money!!!!!!. Why you may ask, well if your not one of the lucky few who have a trust waiting for them as soon as they turn 18, then Im guessing your cashflow isnt as free flowing. 

You can make an initial investment with your money to get the ball rolling to show yourself and potential investors that your wholeheartedly invested in your business. But once that round is done, I would suggest raising capital in order to leverage your resources. You cant expect a startup in its initial stage to be able to use its profits to grow the business. 

While your busy running the day to day, oppourtunities may arise that cost money that your startup is unable to fund. This is where outside capital comes in handy, to allow you to operate on a positive cashflow and most importantly GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

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The Road Map to Flawless Skin

 If your skincare regimen consists of multiple bottles of facial promises that never deliver, look no further.The answer to your prayers is below, and it comes with easy straightforward directions. 

           This ladies is called a facial map and its origins are from the ayurvedic teachings. This is a holistic chart to show you what the internal causes are for your breakouts. Helping you treat the source of your troubles instead of the symptoms.

Here are some breakout guidelines

Between eyebrows- Too much unhealthy foods or a food allergy. Cutting back on sugar, dairy, rich foods, and alcohol can help clear up skin in this zone.

Forehead-  Lack of sleep and stress, so give yourself a break and get your 40 winks.

Above the eyebrow-  Signs of a weakened immune system. Here's an immune boosting juice recipe

2 cloves garlic

¼ inch ginger

Handful parsley

4 carrots

1 apple

Cheeks- Polluted air or smoking can cause the cheeks to react as they're linked to the lungs.

Side of chin- These breakouts are governed by hormones, so think of it as mother natures way of letting you know her next visit.

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4 easy steps to make money- Jordan Belfort (Wolf of Wall st)

The wolf himself stresses that making money is easy but lining up the fundamental steps to this destination is one of progressive development. And, the glue in which to hold these steps firmly are your STANDARDS. 

Vision

Have a clear and compelling vision for your future, making sure all 5 of your senses are indulged in it. Internalize and envision what your world will be like.

See things as they are but never allow your mind to envision anything worse than what is. See them better, then make it that way.

Goal setters, set goals and abandon them when things get tough but visionaries can never be stopped.

Management of State

Managing the way you feel both emotionally and physiologically  in a moment.

Negative emotions hinder your ability to access your personal resources, rendering bad results.

Most businesses have 3 resourceful states to master, certainty,clarity, courage.

Rich people ACT in the face of fear, while poor people RUN.

Belief

Limiting beliefs stop you from charging forward when you should and causes you to move backward when you shouldn't.

The world is subjective and relies on your interpretation. You have the power to shed limiting beliefs and take on empowering ones.

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What every Entrepreneur should be watching

With the heavy slant of popular culture leaning towards more entrepreneurial content. Ive made a list of shows that you should be watching and why.

1.  Shark Tank

Why?

Its what Dragon's Den should be if the dragon's had a pulse and werent so pompous. You gain knowledge on how to pitch while learning the art of negotiation.

2. Profit

Why?

Marcus Lemonis lets you in on his method to evaluating and staying successful in business which are the 3 P's- People, Process & Product. But what I absolutely love with this show is your able to see the inner workings of different types of businesses and see the problem and the solution all in one go. Muy bueno

And if your feeling Machiavellian and want to learn to play the game of invisible hands.

3. House of Cards

Why?

Because the tale of the dark horse has never been written so sinfully indulgent. Francis Underwood played (splendidly,might i add) by Kevin Spacey will have you at the edge of your seat rooting for his bad ass. Lest we forget Claire, the right hand to the bloody glove, clasping the murder weapon. She's just as cold and you never see her coming.

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I came across this article and I have to say what I liked more than anything, is the writer’s approach. Sometimes in business you have to be able to market your product or skill in a new way that will attract clientele and I think the author has done just that. Hopefully it gives you guys some inspiration on how you can approach marketing, plus its never a waste of time to hear what 50 cent has to say. He’s actually quite wise on a personal level as well ,i.e vision board idea.

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How we made our millions Ep 2

Watch here

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Turning Water to Wine

The stage production she put together for the very first time went off without a hitch and its been a successful endeavor. But before all of that, what I want you to take note of is the way she channeled a less than favorable situation in her personal life and made it a lucrative business move.

As an entrepreneur, you will have to deal with a lot in business but simultaneously with your personal life. Being able to balance the two and channel negatives to positives in any aspect, is a very useful tool to have in your arsenal. Often times, human nature is to wallow in defeat (which I've been guilty of). But one of the things I've come to learn through entrepreneurship, is you've got to be able to take life's punches like a seasoned boxer. You need to not react but take action when you get hit and a little change in perception never hurt anyone.

It takes practice and time, but whats possible for Ms. Kandi is very possible for YOU. In no time, you'll be floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee and counting them coins out the lining of that cloud. 

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Peter Jones: How we made our millions Ep1

Watch Here

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No two words about it, anyone that grew up like I did, during the reign of the Roc Dynasty, knows Dame Dash. The dynamic most times brash and flash CEO from Harlem. We all know that the golden era of Rocafella is over but with all the tabloid rumors, I always wondered, did Dame really fall off.

I never took the tabloids as gospel but when a once so public figure fades into the back scenes, your mind tends to wonder if they good money. So you can imagine my delight when I went digging in the crates and found this combat interview. The only thing I can say about Dame is, he is one formidable character. Hate him or love him but you gotta respect the mans cajones and code, for going out every time on your own dollar and taking the good with the bad. He's what entrepreneurs are made of and he rarely gets the accolades he deserves but those who know , know. Hustler's hall of Fame baby, straight like that.

Press play and Salute a Harlem hitta

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30 is not the new 20- Meg Jay

My sister sent this to me yesterday at like 2am. Im glad I saw it

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One monkey dont stop the show cuz

    Needless to say I went through the stages of being tight (livid) , writing emails in all CAPS, frustration and then a stage of fuck this shit. Then it dawned on me, just use another platform. It was soo easy but my frustration which was pretty much my pride wallowing in circumstances beyond its control, kept me from seeing the simplest most effective solution.

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm- Winston Churchill

I look back and I'm glad that I didn't waste too much time on the situation. This is one of the most important lessons as an entrepreneur your going to need. There's always a solution, you just gotta get out of your own way take off the "everything has to be perfect" glasses and get it poppin. Next time, I know I'll act a lot quicker and find that silver lining.

And if you wanna elaborate on silver linings, all the money Ive spent on the site is TAX DEDUCTABLE.  

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Smart people set value to their time

                        Phuck what you've heard when it comes, to how you've been told to garner wealth through long strenuous hours. The successful in life will tell you, they got there by working smarter , not harder, and by setting value to their time. This belief in hard laborious bone crushing work being the be all and end all to stacking paper is the most antiquated notion going.

Lets be real, if you find a way to get something done a lot quicker than average that's a SMART MOVE. So why should building wealth be any different. The hard cold truth is, its not. Your perception due to what you've been taught has made you disengage success and wealth from the equation. Now, don't get into the mode of thinking that being lazy will yield fruitful result, as the techies say  Garbage in Garbage Out, the energy you put in, is essentially what you get out. Setting value and leveraging your time in the most beneficial way, to yourself, is something we should all be practicing daily.

 Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.

The true secret to success is knowing your time is valuable and letting that be the driving factor in any decision you make.  The successful have been taught how to put a price on their own time, whilst the poor accept what price is given on their time through labor. Think about it, all your life you've been told to jump through the necessary hoops to get a "good job" and be glad for whatever wage is attached. Not once have you ever been told to negotiate for more. I'm pretty sure if you told your friends you did, they'd look at you like you were crazy. Not even taking it that far, but what about all the unwaged hours you put towards your job. I'm pretty sure everyone lets you know that that's expected and comes with the territory, right.

How about we actually look at what happens for a minute. For example, Tiffany works in retail and starts work at 8am. It takes her an hour and a half to get to work. So she wakes up at 5 am to get ready and leave by 6am to get to the nearest point of public transportation. That's already, 3 hours in total of unwaged hours, add 3 hrs for her entire journey to work and back. By the end of the week, you have a total of 22.5 hours, lost from her life that she will never get back or be compensated for in any shape or  form, no learning, no charity, no good feelings or zen, they're just GONE!!!!!!!. If we showed Tiffany how much time she looses in a year and how much money she could make from said time, I'm certain she wouldn't mind an extra £1440 a year, if we're talking £10 p/hr here.

But unfortunately like so many, Tiffany hasn't learnt how to set value to her time so nobody else does, they just give her the going rate.