Giving of What You Have

In the days past, if you wanted something done for you, made or constructed, you went into the local village or town where maybe there might be one person who could do so. If there was nobody in the local city and if you were lucky there would be a traveling professional who would come through your Hamlet every now and again, and you could hire them to make you whatever you needed while they were in town.

The good and bad news is that we live in a time when waiting for somebody to show up or having only one source to make something we need is no longer a real problem. Today we can go to the Internet, ask about something and get 100 million responses on our browser in milliseconds. That is great for customers. It does become a little bit harder for those building and developing the product to get noticed. Today it seems it’s more how you market rather than what you actually make.

So, how do you get people to notice you? And this is a fair question. Build it better, cheaper, faster? Most places do this, and those who do it best do get some notoriety from it.  Some preach about waiting and only building something after you’ve talked to the customers. Yet what type of lag time would that actually cause? Read the demands of the crowd and create for what they’re asking? You have to consider how fast you can build it, and how quickly the product will go from a must-have to a discounted has-been?

Even if you are waiting for a customer, you probably already have your niche. And, you should have your professional plan in place. And if you’re watching the crowd, you might be able to anticipate where they’re looking next. There is no guarantee the customers will really go there, yet if you pay attention, you may become well-versed at reading their tides.

You want to ensure that you have deliverables that are viable to the needs of the public. To have less relegates you to the world of discounts and passive sales. You just need to realize that even the best deliverable is often modified to the needs of a particular user. 

You are smart, bright, and you are ready to make a positive mark within your profession. Stretch forth and make your star shine.

Thank you for being with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof