The Ultimate Power in Business - Authenticity

blog 2014
Written By Andrew Ford

I have been reading Steve Job's biography (on a Kindle strangely enough) and see in his story what I see in a lot of entrepreneurs I work with - a huge love for what they do. They care. A lot.

They care about their customers. They care about their products and they care about what they do. In fact, they care so much they will put themselves in harms way to keep doing what they love.  They risk their money, security and even relationships in their relentless pursuit of helping others. And Damn do I respect that. I respect them so much I often work with them for free just to help them on their way.

The question I have is why? Why do they put others ahead of themselves? Why would Steve Jobs put himself in an early grave to make our computers, music players and phones more beautiful? Why do entrepreneurs quit their high paying, relatively safe jobs for the shark infested waters of small business? The only answer I have is that the heart is more powerful than the head. The love for the mission these people are on, outweighs the common sense of financial safety and regular work hours. That's why when encountering yet another challenge in business, instead of giving up, most entrepreneurs double down and give it some more. It's tough but worth it, I have heard them say. And you know what, now I understand.

I have been in my own business, Social Star, for over a year now and I am not afraid to tell you at times, it has been tough. There have been times that I have wanted to give up. I am not too man enough to admit that I have shed a few tears. I remember one particular Saturday a few months after leaving my job and before the business really took off. I was with my kids and Huddy suggested we go for breakfast. We were outside our favourite cafe, we had been many times, but this time I was so broke that I couldn't afford it. Things were so tight. I was so ashamed and it broke my heart to admit it to them.  I so wanted to escape to the easy and stable world of corporate employment. But I didn't. I couldn't. What example and legacy would that provide my children? You can't give up on your dream and passion just because it gets a little tough.

Every time I consider doing that, I think about why I started the business in the first place and find a bit more to give. You see the real reason I started this business was to help fellow entrepreneurs live their dream. Help them escape the trap of the corporate consumption lifestyle and dig deeper into the meaning of what work is all about. There is the secret fulfillment in life that money just can't buy and it's called helping others. My new Audi I gave up didn't give me an ounce of satisfaction compared to the feeling when I helped one of my wonderful customers live her business dream at the amazing age of 60!

There is no better reward for me in my work than a client whose life I have changed for the better. Even with the small ways that we impact their lives with a shiny new Personal Brand or an easy to use website. It feels good. The rest is just gravy. That's why I can't and won’t give up. Even when it hard and I feel like it's not coming together. You have to push on and go back to the basics - how do I help people more today. What can I do to better serve my clients? 

No one is perfect. Companies are not always going to get it all right. But I do believe, if you care, genuinely care for your clients, than they will love you back. And that my friend is why we are all here in the first place. 

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(the link is http://www.andrewford.com.au/book/)

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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