There’s a lot of advice out there about how to improve your business, which can make it hard to know where to look for impactful content. In a recent CHF Accelerator conference call, our staff and 2018 Business Accelerator Fellows discussed navigating entrepreneurial media and shared the business articles, podcasts, and videos that struck a chord with them. Here are a few of the recommendations that came out of that meeting.
Prep and Launch–Getting into the Right Headspace to Start Your Business
What’s the Worst that Can Happen as an Entrepreneur? (Entrepreneur)
In this video, six business owners are interviewed about the worst-case scenarios that happened in their lives and businesses, and how they overcame them. I know at some point, there’s a possibility that something might happen to me, my company, my computer, or competitor, and I want to be prepared. It’s good to see how other people overcame obstacles. —Nadia Fairlamb
Samuel Adams: Guy Raz Interviews Jim Koch (How I Build This podcast)
The guest on this show, Jim Koch, worked for a Boston consulting group, and he woke up one day thinking, “I’m not sure I want to do this for the rest of my life…or even tomorrow.” The host notes that leaving a steady job was a big risk, but Jim said that the big risk was to stay at the consulting group, wake up at 65, and realize that he hadn’t done what he was supposed to do. —Elizabeth Hulings
Leaders Create Leaders (Entrepreneur)
I’m drawn to pieces on communication–whether it’s negotiation, how to give a TED talk, or how to express what you want to say. This interview features an artist who talks about demystifying the nonsense that artist output is magic. It’s important to show that the art practice takes time, and to show the public that it’s a real job. —Kristin LeVier
7 Things Leonardo DaVinci Can Teach You About Creativity (Inc.com)
This article validates what’s required to create a successful business: find balance, write things down, and be independent enough to go with your gut. —Donna Lee Nyzio
The 3 Rules I Use to Stay Productive & Not Feel Overwhelmed (Entrepreneur)
This is something I’m constantly trying to work at: scheduling and time management. —Juliana Coles
How to Develop an Authentic Brand Narrative
It’s Not You, It’s Your Story: Why Branding Matters (Entrepreneur)
This article is about developing a story for yourself and your art. The brand is much more than the logo; it’s about creating something with lasting impact. You have to have a story and stay with it, so that your brand speaks for you. —Belgin Yucelen
The Director Behind the Ocean Eleven’s Franchise Shares How His Storytelling Skills Helped Build His Liquor Startup (Entrepreneur)
Having someone in the arts who’s using storytelling skills fits so much with what we’re talking about here [at CHF]. One of the things that Soderbergh says is “I enjoy telling this story more than I do selling one of my films.” I think for all of us who are crafting our own stories and struggling with it, it’s nice to hear that a director as famous as Soderbergh still finds that to be a struggle as well. —Gregg Chadwick
How Glossier Hacked Social Media to Build a Cult-Like Following (Entrepreneur)
I’m interested in growing my social media, and I knew this company was ad-targeting me; usually I don’t like that, but it actually worked, and I’ve bought things from them! I am interested in what they did and why it worked so well, because their business grew very quickly. They offered new ways to engage with an audience, and the article offers a lot of tips. —Kristen Brown
Going Deeper–Adjusting Your Strategy & Practices
My Beverage Company Launched a Sunscreen. Here’s How We Knew It Was the Right Time to Diversity Our Business (Entrepreneur)
It’s about identifying the right time to diversify. The risks are that diversifying is a big time-suck, and there’s a risk of losing your focus or core values, and core business. The quote that I really appreciated is about timing: “If you have a solution to a problem that no one else has solved yet, and you’re ready and well-placed to jump on that opportunity before anyone else, then it’s a good time to diversity.” —Willy Bo Richardson
5 Highly Effective Negotiation Tactics Anyone Can Use (Inc.com)
I chose this because each of my projects is custom, so everything I do is based on what one client needs. The article elaborates on the advice to listen more than you talk, use timing to your advantage, and frame a negotiation correctly. —Bethany Taylor
How to Figure Out What Your Time is Worth (Entrepreneur)
This author measures time according to the outcomes, and how those outcomes relate to the long-term. It’s easy to make a schedule and list what you have to do, but more difficult to relate it to the whole picture. The piece gave me a fresh way to look at time management. —Paula Ensign
Counterpoint
Why I Won’t Hire A Ninja (Forbes)
The problem with the rockstars of business is that they get that way by giving “advice,” but it’s really implied criticism, for example, “The Five Things You’re Doing Wrong With Your Business.” It’s like a threat, and it’s all nonsense. List posts have value, but recent studies have shown that we have a glut of that information, and people are spinning out a lot of mediocre content. —Daniel DiGriz
