K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple SON

When the Google guys Sergey Brin and Larry Page, walked into Sequoia Capital to seek funding for their new search-engine technology, they described their company in one sentence: “Google provides access to the world’s information in one click”. That’s fifty-two letters, 10 words. An early investor in Google stated that with these 10 words, the investors immediately understood the implications of Google’s technology. Since that day, entrepreneurs who walk into Sequoia Capital have been asked for their “one-liner”, a headline that describes the product in a single sentence.

As one investor told me, “If you cannot describe what you do in 10 words or less, I’m not investing, I’m not buying, I’m not interested, Period”.

Here are a few examples:

Starbucks creates a third place between home and work. “CEO-Howard Schultz”

We see a PC on every desk, in every home. “Bill Gates-CEO-Microsoft”

Now go do likewise.

Lease A Sales Rep
www.LeaseASalesRep.com
212-518-2477

Tags: investors, tag lines

INC 500/5000 CEO Marital Stats

INC 500/5000 CEO’s were asked about their marital status. Here are the numbers.

79% are married
6% are divorced
15% are single

In the the book “The Millionaire Next Store” the number of CEO’s that are successful are usually married for many years with children. They are also living a simple life, driving simple used vehicles, living in middle class homes and flying under the radar. They made their money the hard way and can appreciate it. Their businesses grew mostly through bootstrapping and no private equity.

Another interesting point is the stability of married life and the support of a spouse in many cases is associated with success.

Of course, hard work, creativity and determination also help.

Lease A Sales Rep
www.LeaseASalesRep.com
212-518-2477

Tags: INC 500/5000 CEO's

Jobs being created. Economy Humming

In November 2011, many jobs were created an indication that the economy is humming. Not growing as fast as we would like, but still growing. Unemployment is decreasing.

We wanted to focus on 3 major numbers that caught our attention. They are the some of the private sector job numbers. The numbers are not large, but they reveal other important movements in the economy.

Professional and Business Services 33,000 jobs
Hospitality and Restaurants 22,000 jobs
Healthcare 17,000 jobs

Professional and business services are used by businesses. These represent staffing businesses, consultants, training, accounting and other services. If these sectors are hiring, this means they are getting more business. So their clients are hiring more vendors. Dollars are being spent.

The hospitality and restaurant sector jobs created are industries that are affected by discretionary dollars. They are hiring. This means that consumers and business are traveling, eating out, booking parties, securing hotel rooms and ballrooms for conferences etc. get the picture?

The growth in healthcare jobs, a growing sector in most economic times, indicates that more people are getting covered by insurance. Which means they have jobs.

Our suggestion is to read into the numbers to figure out what they mean and how they will affect your business. When you hear negative news, balance that out with the positive.

Lease A Sales Rep
www.LeaseASalesRep.com
919-783-4182

Tags: economy

INC500/5000 CEO Quick Responses

CEO’s of INC 500/5000 companies were asked, Are you running the same business you started?

4% say their companies are operating under the same business model.

3% say their company today looks nothing like the original concept.

We are in the 4% category, with some minor changes.

The other 93% said “go away, I’m busy” building a business.

Lease A Sales Rep
212-518-2477
www.LeaseASalesRep.com

Tags: INC 500/5000 Surveys

Economy is Growing

It was announced yesterday that Gilead Sciences Inc. will buy hepatitis C drug developer Pharmasset Inc. in a cash deal valued at about $11 billion that Gilead officials said is a “strong strategic fit. What does this mean?

This acquisition coupled with major investments in other companies by multiple firms, confirm that CEO’s are comfortable where the economy is going. Deals are happening because of excess liquidity in the marketplace. Organizations are seeking places to invest their dollars. Combine this information with stronger retail sales, decreasing applications for unemployment benefits and a growing economy, the U.S. economic engine is moving forward.

All this data will hit Wall Street later, with a rallying stock market, but it could be months before the mass market sees it. Businesses on the ground see these changes first. We are on the ground.

Consumer and business orders are up, consumer spending is up, people are traveling more. Discretionary business spending is up in education, catering and holiday parties.

Focus on the business and opportunities in hand. Move now. Invest now. Grab market share.

Lease A Sales Rep
561-935-6224
www.LeaseASalesRep.com

Tags: economy

INC 500/5000 Org. Social Media Use

In the era of Social Media, many of the INC 500/5000 companies are using social media to connect with consumers and business partners.

Here are some stats:
78% Use Facebook
78% Use Linked-IN
73% Use Twitter
9% Use none of these

Do you wonder who the 9% are? They will tend to be older, established organizations. Additionally, their clients or customers may not be engaged in social media whereby; their non-participation will not impact their business. The other contributing factor is they may want to use it, but don’t know how or where to start.

Smells like opportunity for social media companies.

Lease A Sales Rep
919-783-4182
www.LeaseASalesRep.com

Tags: INC 500/5000 Surveys

Food for thought-Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs see the end of the week as the point to look at what we could have done better and what we didn’t get done. While others see it as the start of their weekend.

Entrepreneurs see Monday’s as the start of something big, while other’s start counting down till Friday. Entrepreneurs see 5pm coming up and say I need more hours! Other see 5pm as the time to be out of the parking lot.

Entrepreneurs think about bringing lunch to the office, while others start counting down at 11:30am.

Finally, Entrepreneurs see the world as how they can make an impact, while others see it as what I can get from it.

Gilbert Pagan
Lease A Sales Rep
212-518-2477
www.LeaseASalesRep.com

Tags: Entreprenuers, Food for thought

INC 500/5000 CEO’s-How they did it

INC 500/5000 CEO’s were asked how they did it. How did they finance their growth. The breakdown:

Personal Savings 21%
Friends and Family 22%
Credit Lines 14%
Venture Capital 13%
SBA Loans 6%
Bank Loans 4%

Interesting note-Only 14% of the fastest growing companies got or took VC money. The vast majority of the funding was personally guaranteed. Friends, Family, Credit and Loans are all secured, at least initially, through personal guarantees. Lesson learned- put it all on the line. Risk taking is the key.

Tags: INC 500/5000 Surveys

3 More Tips to Grow Revenue

Look at your Inner Game. This is your thought process and confidence level. Secondly, look at your outer game, these are the activities that you execute to get sales. Lastly, be action oriented. Make decisions quickly and implement. Stop sucking your thumb.

Tags: grow revenue, sales

How to get revenue in the door. 3 simple tips

1- Lead generation 2-Appointment Setting
3-Conversion.
Gil Pagan
Lease A Sales Rep
212-518-2477
www.LeaseASalesRep.com

Tags: grow revenue, sales