Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Half an Opportunity

I found this poem in an old book of "inspirational" poetry. 
19th century American, but very Victorian.


Opportunity

This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:—
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.

A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel—
That blue blade that the king's son bears,— but this
Blunt thing—!" He snapped and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.

Then came the king's son, wounded sore bested,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down
And saved a great cause that heroic day.


Rick's One-Sentence Summary: 
It's not the tools you have that count -- it's how you use them.  

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Reaching Out for Help to People Who Are More Important than You

How do you catch the attention of prominent business leaders or investors who can help take your business to the next level? 

Don't Be Angry If I Write | Saving LoveVery carefully.

To advance his mildly successful e-commerce business, a friend of mine was hoping to attract the attention of a certain well-known tech entrepreneur. But first, he asked me to take a look at the email he wrote to ask for the entrepreneur’s help.

When I looked at the email, I realized my friend had made some common mistakes. As I made a few notes on how to improve it, I decided this would also make a useful case study. So I got my friend’s permission to post his email (and my critique). Of course, the details have been changed to conceal his identity and that of the Unnamed Prominent Person.

This critique should interest any entrepreneur or startup aspiring to catch the attention of any business leader, investor or proinent potential ally. Check it out and let me know what you think.
(Paragraphs numbered for easier comparison.)


A letter from a struggling entrepreneur to a much better-known one
  
Dear [Name Withheld]:
  
1.     I am an entrepreneur living in [City name withheld]. A few years ago, I came up with a great idea for an innovative product that allows [people with a certain type of problem] to easily [solve that problem]. I did all of the work on a prototype to get it to the production stage. I should have known that it is not enough to have a good idea; it needs to be marketed to the buying public and to people who can see the vision and push it forward. I have handled most of the production tasks myself, producing rough drawings and prototypes, and travelling to [unnamed foreign land] with my prototype in hand, to find a company to make my product. 

2.     I didn’t have a lot of issues moving my product from idea stage to production stage. The real problems, for me, are being able to speak to the right people in this industry. I have researched similar producers and major brands, and sent out hundreds of emails, only to find out I am not dealing with the decision makers.

3.     I decided to reach out to you [because this person has been known to help aspiring entrepreneurs in the past]. I heard about you [where and how].  That’s when I knew you would be someone to help me move my business along, and get to the next level. 

4.     I am now selling my sandals on my own website. Xyz.com, and through [an impressively large international broker], as well as to one industry supplier in the U.S.

5.     I was hoping you might have the time to sit down with me, have a look at my business, and come on as an investor or mentor, if you see it as something you would like to get involved with.

6.     Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Name Withheld


Rick’s Critique:

Para 1: Your first paragraph provides WAY too much history. When writing to important people, you have to EARN the right to share these details with them.
(ie, Before they care about such details, you have to MAKE them care.)
Don’t begin with the history of your business. Talk about the present or future, instead. These are just details – go with the big picture first. GRAB their attention with something impressive or cool!

Para 2: This is good because you are now getting at the nub of the problem. Prominent people don't have time to go trouble-shooting on your behalf – but they may be intrigued if you can define one specific issue you need help with.

Para 3: I don't get it. You say he is the right person to move your business along, but the context you cite doesn't actually justify that conclusion. Why is this person the RIGHT person to help you with the specific problem cited above? Make the connection clearer. If possible, appeal to his business instincts.
Stress that there is a unique opportunity here to make a significant impact. E.g., “This is an important business, and it could be a big one. But I need some help with… xxxx.”

Para 4: This is great information that should come much earlier in the letter. More important than all the time that you've put into this business (detailed in your Paragraph 1), this paragraph proves you have done some very good work. You're not just a startup, you have traction.
Of course, your pitch could be made even better if you could share a sales statistic (or a cool customer story) that would really make him sit up and take notice. Do you have any of those?

Para 5: This sounds vague and naïve. Your target is very busy. You need to SELL him on working with you. And that means not making an indefinite drain on his time. I suggest you come up with a more specific ask, and make it clear that you’re not asking for a favor – this will be a rewarding venture for him.
(I say “rewarding” rather than “highly profitable” because you might be able to concoct an ask where part of his reward is satisfaction, reputation, or some other intangible that doesn’t cost you as much money.)

Para 6: Let’s try to find a more energetic, epic ending that whets the recipient’s appetite for more.


I don't mean to be hyper-critical. The original letter isn’t that bad. But it’s unlikely to get the desired results, for all the reasons stated above.

What’s important is that my entrepreneur friend knew what he wanted to do, took the initiative to write up a first draft, and then requested feedback on his proposal from someone he trusted.

This is how you get results. Ambition, Action, Reflection, OUtreach and Feedback. Entrepreneurs who do everything by themselves are unnecessarily limiting their own potential success.

Your thoughts are welcome.

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

How Every Zoom Meeting Ends

You know that chaotic scramble at the end of every Zoom meeting and the anticlimactic feeling as they slowly peter out? It's the same in Middle Earth.

Thanks to Josh Gad for reuniting the cast of "The Lord of the Rings." I have posted a few subtitles onto the last two minutes of their reunion to demonstrate that celebrities don't know how to deal with Zoom either.


Yes, it has the "Where was xxx?" part, a too-late passionate speech at the end, garbled "next steps", the competition to be the last person to sign off,  and the guy who's been drinking the whole time.

Watch to the end for Gimli's (John Rhys-Davies) homage to his other most iconic role.




You can watch the cast's full 50-minute reunion at "Reunited Apart": https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=l_U0S6x_kCs

It's more fun than any Zoom meeting I've ever been part of. 

Thanks to @JoshGad for initiating these events and using them to raise funds for charity.