When Life Gives You Lemons ... 4 Business Lessons From Young Entrepreneurs
You never have a second chance at a first impression. We all have that job interview, presentation, or conversation we dropped the ball on because, rather than going in with confidence, we felt like an imposter in our own skin. When anxiety causes you to dread life’s biggest challenges, it’s time to re-evaluate your approach. “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” offers a way to do just that. Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are,” has over 47 million views and is the second-most-viewed TED Talk in history. If you haven’t watched the Talk, you’ve likely heard about the subject: power poses. Cuddy conducted a study at Harvard University and found that by maintaining a high-power pose — expansive posture — people feel more powerful, experience increased testosterone and decreased cortisol, and tend to perform better in high-stress situations. “Presence” expands on the research Cuddy presented in her famous TED Talk. Standing like Wonder Woman for two minutes to feel more confident is just the start of the conversation. Is it possible to turn stage fright or anxiety into genuine excitement? Can you learn how to imitate a more successful version of yourself until that imitation becomes reality? Do our precious smartphones sabotage out ability to relay confidence? According to Cuddy’s research and the many true stories from other individuals presented in this book, the answer to all of these questions is yes. Lemonade stands are rumored to have originated with New York journalist Edward Bok, who, as a kid growing up in Brooklyn, sold ice water on hot summer days to thirsty passersby. When other water salespeople tried to move in on Bok’s profit, he got creative by adding lemon juice and eventually sugar to the mix. The result of this innovation? Sales soared. Lemonade stands continue to be a popular summer pastime for burgeoning entrepreneurs, and there are a few things we can learn from these humble business endeavors. Be adaptable. Warren Buffet has had business on the brain since birth. During his childhood, when he noticed that a friend’s house got more foot traffic than his did, the future tycoon moved his lemonade stand to the prime real estate. Buffett obviously benefited from this innovation; the jury is still out on his friend. Go above and beyond for your customers. When Ann Handley’s daughter and her friend opened up a lemonade stand, they found a way to connect with their demographic. The location of the stand was frequented by many French-speaking Canadian customers, and since the friend was born in Montreal and spoke French, the girls
greeted each customer in English and French. More conversation makes more sales. Ask for referrals. Megan, kid entrepreneur and owner of “Dr. Megan’s Mad Mango Lemonade” in Louisiana, knows a thing or two about the value of word- of-mouth marketing. Megan makes sure customers have an easy time spreading the word about the refreshing lemonade. In her second summer running the stand, Megan says, “I advertised through Facebook and word of mouth. I created my own business page. I shared it with friends, family, and the community. ArkLaTex Horse Rescue advertised my stand, and I posted advertisements to many local Facebook groups as well.” Build your business around your values. Have you heard of anyone starting a million-dollar lemonade stand? There’s one person who has, and her name is Alex. She was diagnosed with cancer as a young girl, and her determined spirit motivated her to fight back. She started a lemonade stand to raise money for other kids with cancer. The message of the stand with a purpose spread, and Alex raised $2,000 in a single day. Sadly, Alex passed away when she was 8, but her legacy continues to thrive through her family, who turned Alex’s Lemonade Stand into a foundation. It’s raised over $127 million for cancer research.
‘Presence’
Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges
You cannot classify “Presence” as merely a self-help book, a psychology study, or a collection of personal stories, because Cuddy succeeds in blending all these facets into one. “Presence” offers a science-backed take on life and boldness that you can start trying today. Learn how to command respect, speak with poise, become genuinely likable, and develop a sense of confidence that leads to greater success. It all starts when you stop worrying about the impression you make on others and learn how to make a good impression on yourself.
2 • www.JayConner.com • PO Box 1276, Morehead City, NC 28557
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