I’m a lucky guy. I tricked a beautiful, caring woman into marrying me; my three kids are healthy and often well-behaved; and most of my businesses have been successful, affording me a great lifestyle. But all of this luck leads me to one constantly nagging fear— that the trappings of this great life will yield unbalanced, bratty children who will grow up to become knuckleheads.
In all corners of the world, entrepreneurs are playing an integral role in the development of communities, economies and industries. And it all starts with engagement. For Rosemary Tan, a member of EO Malaysia and EO’s former Global Chairman, the art of engaging has helped her find success and significance in business and beyond. In this featured interview, Rosemary shares the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey, the value of EO leadership and how through engagement, she continues to find new value in herself, her business and her life.
Your family has played—and continues to play—a major role in your life, encouraging you to get the most out of everything you do. How have they contributed to your success?
RT: I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for my family. I am the oldest of six siblings, and am blessed to have everyone so close by; we stay in touch regularly and meet every Sunday for a three-generation dinner. My grandma taught me how to seize every opportunity and ‘taste’ everything in life at least once. My dad, who was a successful entrepreneur, taught me the value of hard work and that experience is the best MBA you can get. And my mom, who’s a paraplegic, taught me the power of perspective and to always lend a helping hand. I am truly blessed for the strong foundation my family has given me, as well as the many lessons they’ve provided over the years. My family inspires me to engage the world every day to see what it has in store.
Mindset is everything. In this video, Jason Forrest, an EO Fort Worth member and Chief Sales Officer for Forrest Performance Group, challenges the mindset of “loser millennials.” He offers mindset and behavior changes to unleash this generation’s potential: Change how you see millennials. Understand what drives millennials (they desire to be coached, inspired, and part of a team). Tap into their whys to access their strengths. When you change the way you see millennials, millennials change (along with your results).
So you’ve shaken hands and signed on the dotted line. Time to bust out the cocktails and take a yearlong trip without your cell phone or laptop, right? Almost. Be sure you have the following loose ends tied up, then go ahead and book your flight:
Every day we go through it. We all receive the dreaded, unsolicited email. Most are automated, a copy and paste of previous messaging that often has little, if anything, to do with your company or personal needs. It’s volume versus relevancy. The salesperson figures if he/she sends the same terrible email to everyone, at least 3% of the market will want a demo. Right? Wrong.
In 2015 the average person received 122 emails a day and this figure is expected to grow. In a perfect world these emails would be relevant—they would be timely, personalized, provide value, and even better, make us more productive. Instead our inboxes are like battlefields and we’re all just trying to survive the constant barrage. As a marketer, if you want to move prospects through the buying cycle, you have to provide custom-tailored value. Here’s how:
By Cindy Koebele, EO Minnesota member and President of TitleSmart, Inc., a full-service title insurance company.
The title insurance industry, like many others, has faced incredible change over the past few years. I started TitleSmart, Inc. in 2007 during the collapse of the housing market, precisely because I believe change and chaos breed opportunity. Remaining focused on the core of our business, while others are distracted by temporary circumstances, is at the heart of our business plan.
During the recession, while most companies were pulling back and investing less in their clients, we jumped in with enhancements to the closing process that impressed our customers at a time when they were feeling let down by others in the marketplace. An unwavering focus on creating a superior customer experience saw our company through one of the toughest times in our industry and left us with a loyal base of customers and a clear direction for the future.
As the owner of a commercial art gallery for more than 24 years, I never imagined that people would buy art online, or that I would be selling to them without any prior relationship or connection. I had seen the importance of developing mutual trust and respect with clients, and per tradition, I would nurture these working relationships over a period of years. However, I was proven wrong; while I have continued to spark and build new connections around the world as an art consultant, I’ve done so remotely with the ability to work anywhere. I’ve heard companies refer to someone like me as a “nomad,” and I know many entrepreneurs who fit this class of professionals.
This interview was held for the purposes of publication in the March 2016 issue of Octane magazine.
An integral part of the entrepreneurial journey is knowing how to seal a business deal. Recognized as one of the best business school professors in the world, Deepak Malhotra is the Eli Goldston Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and a workshop facilitator for EO. In this interview, Deepak shares insights from his book, “Negotiating the Impossible,” and expounds on how to position yourself for success.
Sales might be soaring in your online business, but opening up shop may be trickier than you think.
Retail in 2015 was abuzz with a new trend: successful e-commerce companies choosing to open brick-and-mortar stores. The latest was Amazon, who opened up a bookstore in Seattle in November. Smaller companies have said brick-and-mortar space has allowed them to communicate their brand and create a seamless customer experience.
But is setting up shop in a physical space right for everyone?