5 Ways to Build a Team of Leaders (While Saving Yourself Some Work)

1. Promote cross-departmental teamwork

Do away with departmental boundaries by creating teams able to work in multiple fields to make the most of your employees' skill sets. When you create these groups, place certain people into leadership-like positions in order to promote their project management capabilities in smaller settings.

2. Give others authority

Letting employees make decisions, rather than simply dismissing them when offered, is actually a great way for people to begin tapping into their problem solving and analytical skills early on, practices that may serve particularly useful when transitioning into leadership roles.

3. Tell your staff about your process

One of the most intriguing parts of leadership is the mystery around it. Few people who aren't leaders actually know how important decisions get made, where the company is planning on going, and how products get decided from start to finish. Being free and transparent with your information shows employees the steps they'll have to take when they try to step in as leaders rather than leaving them blind.

4. Express your passion

When people training to become leaders see how much you care about a team, project, or organization, they're much more inclined to be passionate about the same things--especially if that means maintaining structure and efficient maintenance when they take on leadership.

5. Be clear about responsibilities

Setting clear roles for each person, as well as the tasks they're expected to do, aids in helping future leaders set those exact same roles. In some cases, it may even help them learn how to create new ones, a sometimes necessary step that accompanies a company's growth.

9 Things Terrible Bosses Say to Themselves, Seemingly Every Day

1. "I shouldn't have to thank my employees for doing their jobs."

Yes, you should. Praising employees is the courteous thing to do, and from a performance point of view, praise reinforces positive behaviors and makes it much more likely those behaviors will occur in the future.

By all means, expect your employees to do their jobs, but praise them when they do--because that's your job.

2. "I shouldn't have to work under this kind of pressure."

Yes, you should. Join the leadership club. Every boss is stuck in between, with employees the "rock" and customers, vendors, investors, and even yourself the "hard place."

If demands seem overwhelming and pull you too far away from your team, get your employees more involved in your projects and responsibilities.

They'll be glad to help, especially if they gain skills and exposure in the process.

3. "I don't get paid enough to deal with this (crap)."

You're right. Great leaders are chronically under-compensated and under-appreciated, and that will probably never change.

But great employers see the satisfaction they gain from praising, developing, mentoring, and helping employees reach their goals as a part of their total compensation package.

If you don't see it that way, rethink whether you want to run a business--otherwise you'll always be dissatisfied.

4. "My employees do better when I leave them alone."

If that's true, it means you are the problem.

Great employees don't need (or want) to be told what to do, but they do need to hear they do a great job -- it will help them learn about new directions or strategies. Everyone likes some amount of attention.

Just make sure the attention you give makes a positive impact.

5. "I don't have time to deal with all the politics/agendas/emotions."

Company politics can be a factor even for a business owner in total command of the operation.

Tough. It's your company. If the culture is bad, fix it. If politics keep people from doing their jobs or performing as well as they could, fix it.

Taking care of any problems that make it hard for your employees to do their best is your job. Do your job.

6. "I don't want her to get too much credit."

Don't be afraid your employees might outshine you. Your goal is to have employees outshine you.

Great leaders surround themselves with outstanding talent. That's how they become great leaders.

The better your team, and the individuals that make up your team, the better you look.

7. "I don't know why they're complaining. It was good enough for me ... "

Do you train employees by tossing them into the fire simply because that's how you were once treated? Whenever you feel something was "good enough for me," realize that it isn't good enough for your employees.

Determine the best way to train and develop employees, and then make it happen. Any bad experiences you had should shape a more positive approach, not serve as a blueprint.

8. "I need to be seen engaging with my team... so I'll go chat with Kim."

You need to get to know employees on a personal level, but do you gravitate toward those with whom you share common interests? Maybe so, but the employees you need to connect with the most are often those with whom you have the least in common. Kim may be the path of least resistance... which means she shouldn't be the only person on your employee engagement list.

Every employee deserves your attention and respect. So take an interest. Ask questions. Find a common interest -- even if it's simply trying to help that person reach his or her career and personal goals.

When you make a sincere effort, your employees will make it easy for you. After all, we naturally appreciate anyone who is interested in us.

9. "He doesn't like me, so I'm not going to waste my time."

Few things are more awkward than working with, or even just talking to, employees who you feel don't like you.

Reach out and clear the air. Say, "Mike, I don't feel our working relationship is as positive as it could be, and I'm sure that's my fault. I really want to make it better."

Then let Mike vent. Sure, you may not like hearing what he says, but once you do, you'll know how to make the situation better.

Making things better is what your job is all about.

06 Tips for Your Marketing and Sales Reps to Consistently Produce Value-Added Content

Combat waning attention spans by getting straight to the point.
Marketing professionals have bemoaned the decrease in average attention span among their audience for years now, especially when it comes to younger buyers who grew up firmly in the digital age. After all, according to a landmark 2015 study, the average human attention span lasts only 8.25 seconds, famously shorter than the lengthy nine-second attention span attributed to goldfish.

Still, statistics like that one don't have to sound the death knell for content creators. It's natural to want to use the opening salvo of your content to set a scene, but this can contribute to your readers finding something else to occupy their time. Tell your audience the important lessons up-front,to pique their interest, and then flesh out your ideas through storytelling as the piece progresses. As attention spans dwindle, remember: Directness is your ally.

Experiment with different structures.
Leads and prospects can be fickle, so it's understandable that we sales and marketing professionals like to stick with those tried-and-true techniques that have worked in the past. Developing new methods requires some element of trial and error, and content creators are wary of wasting precious resources.

However, just because something connects today doesn't mean it will always land the same way. It's a good idea to incorporate different structures into your content-development program to keep things interesting. If your blog posts are typically text-based, you can work on building a multifaceted infographic that tells a complete story on its own. Or, try recording a video intro that will hook the viewer, and then expand on your topics in detail through the following text.

Put a new spin on old content.
Nobody ever said that every piece of content you publish has to be completely new. In fact, the only hard-and-fast rule for content creation is that it is useful only if it provides value to the customer. As long as that requirement is satisfied, there's nothing wrong with re-publishing posts, articles or studies that served you well in the past.

If you do this, make sure you improve the old post in some way to distinguish it from the previous iteration. You could seek out updated statistics, or research new examples of innovative companies that are succeeding using the advice at hand.

Solicit content from your audience.
Consumer-facing companies have long understood the potential benefits of distributing user-generated content. According to Adweek, 85 percent of respondents find visual user-generated content more authoritative than brand-developed visual content. The good news for B2B marketers is that user-generated isn't just for B2C companies.

You can play the game like innovative consumer businesses do and try your hand at unique content efforts, like having a customer record a behind-the-scenes video or hosting a contest or sweepstakes on social media. Just remember that distributing the best-quality content is always your goal, regardless of the source.

Use data to discern what speaks to your buyers.
Market research has evolved so much since its infancy that it has basically morphed into a different concept entirely. As early as the 19th century, newspapers were conducting street polls of their readership, and to solicit input on new products in the 1960s, Madison Avenue advertising firms used focus groups to represent entire segments of the buying populace.

Today, you have a new avenue to do the same thing: Through just a few minutes of social media browsing, you can uncover more product feedback than most companies before the Information Age could ever dream of. Take advantage of this research channel and of the data contained in your CRM and buyer personas to develop content customized for your buyers.

Build on opportunities for engagement.
Users may appreciate the insights they gain from a piece of content, but that doesn't mean they want to be lectured to. After they've had a chance to digest the information, many of your prospects are looking for an opportunity to contribute to the discussion and share their own experiences.

04 Ways to Develop the Leaders You'll Need in the Future

1. Stop choosing potential leaders based on unrelated skills.

Gallup's 2015 State of the American Manager Report, which studied 2.5 million manager-led teams in 195 countries, found that the top two reasons employees are promoted to management positions are because they were successful in a non-managerial role or because of their tenure with the company. Neither of those criteria have any proven correlation with leadership skills or relevant experience.

Create a better means of measuring for true leadership potential. Look at the culture of the organization and envision what it would look like for someone to lead by those values. Also consider how successful leaders evolved over time in the organization. Then use that information to make a list of recognizable traits to look for as signs of leadership potential.

2. Broaden leadership development to more employees.

People learn and grow at their own unique pace. Requiring that an employee reach a certain position or be with the company for a certain number of years before they're offered leadership opportunities holds back those who might be ready for more responsibility now. Or even worse, it might push those who aren't yet ready into leadership roles.

Instead, let leadership development be a company-wide initiative. This gives more people the chance to take the next step in their career. It also creates a larger pool of possible great leaders to draw from across the organization.

3. Track progress and growth.

There's no way of knowing who is ready to step up and lead unless development is monitored. Remember that this is a process. Employees need feedback from their mentors and coaches to know for certain what skills they've mastered as well as where there can still be improvements made.

Develop a way to assess progress for different leadership positions, and be clear with employees and coaches about what success would look like in different situations. For instance, explain what is expected of a first time project leader. Get everyone on the same page about the developing leader's responsibilities and how that should guide their team.

Then collect thorough feedback from all those involved. Ask the leadership candidate what challenges they faced as well as where they think they thrived. Pose the same questions to those they supervised and organizational mentors. Over time, this will reveal patterns that make it easier to identify who is best suited for leadership in the long-term.

4. Focus on continual leadership development.

There is no such thing as too much experience. There is always more that can be learned. After leadership candidates have been identified, continue to nurture them. This keeps employees from feeling that they have plateaued, which is unfortunately common.

05 Steps to Becoming a More Recognizable Brand

1. Focus on storytelling, not product features
Without a good brand story, your product holds no inherent or emotional value for your customers. As author and story coach Lisa Cron tells us, humans are hardwired to respond to stories. When a brand makes a deep impression on us, it impacts our buying behaviour. A 2013 Psychology Today piece showed that, when evaluating multiple brands, "Consumers primarily use emotions (personal feelings and experiences) rather than information (brand attributes, features and facts)."

It's about building a human connection with your customer, not touting the bells and whistles of your product.

Keep in mind that a good story needs to be backed up by an excellent product. Even the most talented creatives can't change the perception of a poor product.

2. Don't try to be something you're not
In order to last the test of time, your brand message needs to be true to who you are as a company. Don't get hung up on what's cool or trending now. Instead, focus on how you solve a real and enduring problem for your customer. Some of the most 'uncool' products have the strongest brands. Think about online accounting software Freshbooks, major appliance company General Electric or toilet paper company Charmin -- they know their customers and how to sell to them. Focus on what you do best and offer an authentic experience for your customer.

3. Give value to get brand love
Your content should focus on building relationships and helping your customers make informed and well-thought-out decisions. That way, when they choose your product or service, it's because you're actually the best fit, which will lead to stronger, longer lasting relationships. Not every piece of content you create should be about your product or lead to a direct sale. You need to understand your customer journey and where content fits in (that's why you should have a documented strategy). With a strategy, you can develop a consistent brand experience across all of your channels, which is absolutely essential for long-term growth.

If you can nail down a content marketing strategy for your business, then you've discovered a cost-effective way to increase awareness about, and engagement with, your brand.

4. Be customer-centric on social
Focus on networks that are relevant to your target audience and start getting social. No matter how big or small your company is, around 67 percent of consumers in the U.S. expect to contact your brand on social. Good customer service on social is directly linked to business growth. A report by Aberdeen Group finds that businesses with social customer service experience around 7.5 percent year-over-year growth (compared to 2.9 percent without social customer service), so don't underestimate its value.

Brands like Zappos have built their entire brand image and reputation around amazing customer service. They understand that having a loyal customer is 10 times more valuable than the customer's first purchase.

5. Make connections offline
With so many branding opportunity opportunities online, it's easy to forget about the importance of combining online and offline experiences. Going to conferences, meeting local people in your industry and public speaking are excellent ways to fast-track your brand's visibility. These in-person events will help build your authority as a thought leader and get you facetime with key influencers in your industry. It really does pay to get outside. As CEO and professional speaker Jess Ekstrom points out, 90 percent of her leads come from connections made at conferences.

If you're not sure where to start, think local. Host a small luncheon, run a seminar, or try career mentoring in your community. If you're looking for conferences or events to attend in your industry, check out Meetup, AllConferences.com and Lanyrd. These are useful general directories that can get you on the right path.

15 Ways to Save Now So You're Rich Later

1. Negotiate your bills.

Just because a company quotes you a price doesn't mean it's the best one they can offer you. Start by contacting the companies with which you have a regular bill, for example:

• Phone
• Insurance
• Cable
• Credit card

If you contact them and explain that you have been offered a better deal elsewhere, they may be able to negotiate a better price for you, especially if you are a long-term, loyal customer. If they can't offer you a better deal, it may be worth switching providers. 

2. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions.

We often get lured into paying monthly subscriptions because we feel it would encourage us to use them. Unfortunately, most of the time that's not true and it's just another way to eat away at our bank balance. Think about whether or not you really need the subscriptions mentioned below:

• Gym membership
• Netflix
• Magazine subscriptions
• Spotify
• Amazon Prime 

3. Shop retailers who offer rewards.

Because retailers want you coming back for more they often offer a variety of rewards such as coupons, discounted offers, and even freebies. Create an email address specifically for these programs and shop according to the deals each retailer offers every week. You can also shop secondhand or with online retailers who offer better prices, like Ebay, Amazon and Craigslist. 

4 Ignore links that promise fast money.

There is little more embarrassing than falling for the online scams that claim you can earn thousands of dollars a month by clicking a link and investing a couple of hundred dollars. Similar to fad diet pills and online gambling, very few ever make a cent, let alone a living.

Becoming rich takes time, patience, and discipline, so instead of investing your hard-earned cash into what adverts call "online deals", put it in a savings account. You could also learn how to invest in stocks and shares. If you learn the basics, you could slowly generate a moderately good income on the side. 

5. Stop buying branded products.

Fancy marketing is something we all fall for. The beautiful packaging and catchy tagline are probably what lure you in, but here is a secret: the product is no different to your supermarket's own brand version. Aside from the product not being different, the own brand version will cost a fraction of the price. 

6. Don't spend just to keep up with others.

Your personal goals are what should matter to you the most, not what other people are achieving. It can be disheartening to see your neighbor roll in driving a new car every year but remember that as nice as it would be to have one yourself, you don't need it. Work towards something bigger and better than material possessions and you'll reap the rewards in the future. 

7. Cook at home.

Eating out is extremely expensive, not to mention the drinks you probably order with your meal. Some ways to cut out expensive restaurants could be to:

• Invite friends over for dinner parties
• Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other important landmarks with a big barbecue gathering
• Take your lunch to work with you
• Plan ahead so that you don't pick up food when stressed

You may also find that hosting events in your home with family and friends lowers the amount you spend on drinks, as all good guests bring a bottle or two with them to an event. 

8. Make your own coffee.

If you spend $3 to $5 a day on coffee, it's time to stop. Aside from the mound of sugar you're probably consuming, you could save up to $35 a week; that's more than $1,800 a year. Instead, invest in a nice thermos, coffee machine or just higher quality coffee from the supermarket, and make your own at home. 

9. Automate your finances.

Automate your finances so that all your bills are deducted from your bank account directly after every paycheck comes in. For example, if you get paid on the last day of every month, schedule your bill payments for the first. Organizing will help you have a much more realistic view of your monthly budget and how much you can set aside for savings. 

10. Think of the environment.

Here is some happy news: taking strides towards being more eco-friendly will actually benefit you financially as well. You could have a positive impact on the environment and cut your bills significantly by:

• Spending less time in the shower
• Turning off the lights and all electrical devices
• Changing to energy-efficient light bulbs
• Getting a programmable thermostat
• Connecting to a smart powerstrip
• Insulating your water heater
• Air sealing your home
• Dry lining your clothes 

11. Rent or sell your belongings.

Whether it be clothes, electronic devices or even cosmetics, we all spend money on things we often do not need. Decluttering your home is a great way to start afresh and earn a bit of spare cash.

Consider listing items on Ebay, having a garage sale, and even listing your spare room on Airbnb. In some parts of California, a spare room on Airbnb goes for up to $4,000 a month, something to seriously take into consideration if your bills are high and you have a mortgage to pay. 

12. Stop using your credit card.

Although not all bad, credit cards should be used sparingly. They are great for:

• Building a credit rating
• Cashback rewards
• Emergencies

That said, if you don't have the funds to pay it off, you could end up in serious debt. Make your credit card an emergency card. Do not keep it in your wallet when you go grocery shopping or to the mall. 

13. Get involved with free activities.

You may feel that participating in family and friendly activities are always expensive, but they don't have to be. You could simply swap an afternoon at the movies for a day at the park with a picnic and a Frisbee. You could also look up community activities in which you are interested.

If you get your hair, nails, or teeth done regularly, you should consider visiting vocational schools in your area, as they often host free events so that students can practice. Don't be scared, they are supervised by professionals and although it may not be worth the $100 you spend on your hair every month, you'll still receive amazing service! 

14. Maintain your car.

Better yet, walk, rideshare, or table public transport wherever you can. That said, I do know that these options aren't available to everyone, so if you have to drive to and from work or college every day, make sure that your car is fuel efficient and that you look after it by:

• Regularly cleaning the air filter
• Making sure your tires are inflated and rotated
• Checking the oil and water levels

Lastly, avoid parking and speeding tickets at all costs! 

15. Put in the Hours and save what you earn.

Of course, if you have a full-time job, it can be difficult to find the time to earn spare cash on the side, especially if you have a busy social life or a family. If you can, putting in additional hours alongside your job is a great way to save money. For example, you could:

• Do some freelance consulting
• Find a weekend job
• Teach or mentor
• Sell products online

10 Horrible Habits That Destroy Your Happiness

1. Constantly comparing yourself with others.

The temptation to compare ourselves to others is almost overwhelming. However, constantly comparing ourselves to others will result in dissatisfaction with our own lives.

It's easy to look at someone else and think that they have the perfect career, the happiest relationships, make more money or seem more attractive. But comparisons are never fair, because we are all unique human beings, with our own talents, fears, passions and traits. We have vastly different life experiences, desires and goals.

When comparing yourself with others, try to balance your perception. Remind yourselt that we are all human. No one is perfect. We are all just striving to put our best face forward. 

2. Not appreciating what you have.

No matter what your circumstances in life, you have so much to be grateful for. Every day you draw breath is an opportunity to work toward your goals, serve others and find all the little joys in life. When we are ungrateful we dismiss the importance and value of all that we have.

Gratitude changes your life. Being thankful shifts your focus away from what you don't have toward how full and wonderful your life truly is. No matter how successful you are, unless you take time to count your blessings you will never feel you have enough. Gratitude reduces stess, brings peace of mind and makes you more resilient and caring. 

3. Letting fear or hate control you.

Our brains are hardwired to warn us of real danger and keep us safe, but fear and anxiety can paralyze us. Fear of failure is a barrier to pursuing our dreams. Fear of putting ourselves "out there" influences the choices we're willing to make in life.

The same goes for hate. Allowing ourselves to be consumed by anger just mires us in cynicism and animosity. Difficult experiences can fill you with pain, but making decisions based on hate steals your ability to focus on what really matters to you. Hate bleeds you of your happiness.

Stop holding on to your fear and your hate. A meditation practice and journaling help you let go of those emotions. Take time to reflect on your actions and how you treat others. Don't let hostility creep into your life. 

4. Focusing on the past or the future.

If your consciousness is dominated by the past or focused on the future, you're likely to miss experiences and opportunities right in front of you. You must live in the present to be engaged with where you are and who you're with. Otherwise, without even realizing it, you are letting life pass you.

Dwelling on the past usually means unresolved issues are weighing you down. Focusing entirely on the future usually means that you have anxiety about what is to come and your ability to handle it. Research shows that those who stay focused on the present are happier and feel more connected to others. Practice mindfulness by focusing your consciousness on the present moment. 

5. Trying to control what you can't.

It is frustrating to spend a great deal of time and effort making plans, only to discover life has taken you on an entirely different path. "This isn't how things are supposed to go," you tell yourself. It seems so unfair, because you had it all worked out.

Control freaks take note: the best thing you can do for yourself is realize you aren't always in the driver's seat. You can spend all your time and energy trying to come up with the perfect way to plan and predict the world around you, but things aren't always going to go your way. You have to learn to let go.

Too often our desire to control everything is rooted in anxiety and fear -- we believe the worst will happen if we aren't behind the wheel. At a certain point you are just fighting the universe and making yourself extremely unhappy. Instead of trying to control every detail, allow life to unfold naturally. Feel the freedom that comes from loosening your grip on what you have no control over. 

6. Getting caught in the blame game.

Constantly blaming people for your problems or circumstances is a destructive habit that will hurt you and those around you. When we blame others, we relinquish accountability for our own feelings and actions. We shift responsibility to someone else because we don't want it to be our fault. It's a way of explaining to ourselves why something has gone wrong that we think will make us feel better.

We think by making someone else responsible, regret and remorse will be lifted from our shoulders. In reality, we are always liable for our own actions and good communication isn't a one-way street. No one else can make us do something, and no one else can take responsibility for it. 

7. Fixating on your possessions.

That awesome new car you are coveting will never love you back. That great new couch or expensive watch won't bring you a sense of belonging or fulfillment. It will add to stress and anxiety if your budget is tight or you are already struggling to pay off credit cards.

When you concentrate your life around money and material things, you lose sight of what truly makes you happy. People. Experiences. Pursuing your dreams and desires. Love and joy. Money helps us take care of ourselves and others, but when we focus entirely on wealth or amassing riches, we forget the importance of what's in our heart and soul, the things that bring us comfort and cheer. Seek a balance in life, and recognize that wealth cannot buy happiness. That is something that must come from within. 

8. Surrounding yourself with toxic people.

Bad relationships with toxic people steal your happiness. Negative people suck the joy from life. If you're not careful, their pessimistic mentality will seep into your mindset. The sad reality is, toxic peopledon't care about you and never will, no matter how hard you try to impress them.

You need to be wary of those who constantly negate your opinions, who only turn up when they need something or who don't respect your boundaries or wishes. These are the types of people who don't know how to have a healthy relationship with others.

Don't let bad relationships continue to hurt you or bring you down. Be assertive and confident in who you are. You deserve to be around people who treat you with respect and kindness. 

9. Letting procrastination wither your ambition.

We all, from time to time, put off the task we dread or invent excuses to explain why we haven't done something we ageed to do. But habitual procrastination does real damage to your long-term happiness. By procrastinating, you are losing precious time and energy that you could be using to pursue your goals and dreams.

When you look back, will you feel frustrated and annoyed at how you spent your time? Was there value and purpose to your days? Or did you let important opportunities slip through your fingers? Don't wait until it's too late. Begin today. 

10. Being your own worst critic.

We believe we must set high expectations and be hard on ourselves when we fall short. After all, self-criticism is necessary to identify your flaws and perfect your craft. There is some truth to the importance of being self-aware of areas that you need to work on. A bloated ego will get you nowhere fast. But constantly beating yourself up or putting yourself down isn't helpful either. Negative self-talk will only hurt you and keep you from realizing true happiness.

The key is to examine the reasons you're so harsh on yourself. Are you truly disappointed because you know you can do better? Or do the opinions, desires and assessments of other people have undo influence on you? Are you torturing yourself because you're afraid of letting other people down or because of what others will think of you?

Take time to connect to the real you. What do you really want? Who do you want to be? What are your passions, likes and dislikes? You must find the way to be yourself and appreciate and love who you are. Put aside the negative dialogue that runs in your head in favor of constructive criticism. Remember to be kind to yourself as well as others: that's the road to true happiness.

6 Ways to Build a Billion-Dollar Sales Machine

1. Target market influencers—and crush it.

Rather than adopting a scattershot business development approach, Handley's team targeted and prioritized doing any business, no matter how small, with influential core buyers in their market. That way, the big boys would send a lifeline signal to a predominantly referral-based market that "ListenTrust was legit."

It worked. ListenTrust scored gigs with four top marketing influencers and over delivered with each one. "We got very good and very noticed," Handley exudes. Clients expanded their relationships and made referrals. "That generated tons of new business and spared tons of time building the company into a sales machine."

2. Give, don't take.

Handley credits his success to selflessly sharing knowledge with a zero expectation of return. This approach quickly elevated ListenTrust to the industry's "go-to" expert knowledge source.

The company was open, transparent, and shared information that competitors wouldn't. ListenTrust's massive visibility turned into customers. "People keep us at the top of their mind," Handley enthuses. "They know we're honest, transparent, and give 150 percent."

3. Look at major catastrophes as significant opportunities.

Handley's sales success partly exploded from tactics and mindset. But the biggest factor was viewing obstacles as opportunities. He witnessed this firsthand.

One day, a frantic client called Handley with an emergency. The client was behind on answering more than 11,000 service emails and had set up a phone number without realizing they were getting thousands of calls a week. ListenTrust was needed to fix the problem immediately. Dollars were leaking, and reputations were on the line. Handley couldn't push back without losing the client, but he'd need to move mountains to honor the appeal.

Instead of freaking out, Handley saw the opportunity. Sure, he ate the cost of some extra employees and worked insane hours, but the outcome was an invaluable case study for ListenTrust.

"It's a huge company that has referred many leads," Handley explains. "That kind of optimism and effort generated tons of new business."

4. Remember that strategic selling is your best friend.

Handley points to strategic selling as an ace in the hole. Early on, ListenTrust focused on strategic selling within one industry to accelerate sales. And they turned enemies into allies to grow even faster.

"We were competing against other market leaders," he recalls. "Instead of slugging it out toe-to-toe, we formed a strategic partnership where they upsold us to their clients."

5. Know your numbers intimately.

With great growth comes great responsibility. While watching sales explode is a fabulous feeling, Handley warns entrepreneurs to keep a hawk-like focus on their numbers.

"Only with a firm grasp of how growth hits key metrics can entrepreneurs scale efficiently. It's the difference between making half a million—and half a billion," Handley cautions.

"Sometimes you grow so fast and focus so much on operations that you neglect understanding your KPIs and all the moving parts that impact your net revenue. You can't reach $1 billion in sales if you run out of cash on the way."

6. Go beyond just hiring the right people.

Although vital, it's not just about hiring the greatest people. Understand this: every single rock star can only take you so far.

"Most companies can't grow more than two or three times with the same directors," says Handley. "The guy who got you from zero to $3 million usually can't take you to $30 million; most people don't have the talent for that. You can't grow beyond your own personal growth."

09 Cybersecurity Threats You Need to Know

1. Ransomware. Ransomware is one of the fastest-growing forms of attack. Kasperskyreports the rate of attacks increased to every 10 seconds for individuals and to every 40 seconds for businesses in 2016.

Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your system unless a ransom is paid. The ransom is displayed on the screen with a message stating you must pay a fine or fee in order to access your own system. Ransoms have ranged from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

Common methods to distribute malware, such as ransomware, include unsecured public Wi-Fi, clicking links in emails, or unknowingly downloading malware when installing legitimate software.

2. Pharming. Pharming is a kind of online fraud designed to redirect a legitimate URL to a malicious website instead. The fake site is designed to look like the real thing. Once you enter your information, the hackers can harvest your login credentials.

3. Phishing. Phishing involves fake emails that look legitimate. They are designed to induce the recipient to visit malicious websites, download malware, or voluntarily give up login credentials by replying to the email. Quite a few hackings start with phishing schemes targeting a company employee. In fact, one study claims that 91% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email--suggesting that employees are one of your company's softest targets.

4. Distributed Denial-of-Service Attacks (DDoS). A DDoS attack involves a cybercriminal using a large number of computers to launch an attack to disable a network, website, or server. This is accomplished by repeatedly sending requests to a server or network, until the target is overwhelmed. The result: a crashed website, or one so slow that legitimate users can't access it.

5. Keyloggers. A keylogger is one of the more insidious types of malwares out there, because it keeps a record of every keystroke you make on your keyboard. So, essentially, it copies every input, giving the hacker important data, such as usernames and passwords.

6. Spyware and Adware. Spyware and adware are used to collect information. They enter your system through a free download, or they are installed without your consent automatically when you visit a malicious site. Once inside, these sneaky software programs start collecting information, including usernames and passwords of sites you visit.

7. Viruses and Trojans. A computer virus, just like its biological counterpart, infects the host and changes how it functions. A Trojan is a piece of software that will install itself on your computer and run automatically. It is an executable file that typically is embedded within legitimate software you download.

These nasty pieces of malware can turn on your camera, disable your security settings, hijack your browser, or infect other computers in your network. And of course, they can give hackers access to personal and business data in your computer or business network.

8. Exploits. Exploits are when a hacker takes advantage of a vulnerability in any software on your system or computer. Websites, operating systems, and apps are all vulnerable to exploits. This is why security updates are issues--and why you should always install those updates promptly.

For example, let's say your website is built on WordPress software. If you don't keep WordPress updated to the latest version, hackers can "exploit" your out-of-date software to access a vulnerability they've discovered. They could hack into your website, deface it with spammy Viagra links, or fill it with malware that infects anyone else who visits your site.

9. Wi-Fi Eavesdropping. If the Wi-Fi system you use is not secured, you could be "eavesdropped" by cybercriminals. Your laptop, tablet, or other device would essentially be open to evil doers. So, remember that the next time you are tempted to log in to that free Wi-Fi system.

06 Signs Your New Hire Will Be Successful at Your Company

Interest in personal projects.

You want your new hire to be someone who gives it their all when working on a company project, but this can be difficult to gauge before you see them at work. That's why Adam Steele, owner and operator of link-building company Loganix, looks to see that the candidate is motivated to complete projects outside of the office.

"I love to see that people I'm hiring have self-motivation and an interest in their own projects," he says. "I created a position for a developer once because I was so impressed with the projects he had played with when he was in between positions. He is an invaluable member of the team today who creates little apps for me that automize everything I do."


Willingness to accept feedback.

Roger Lee, CEO of 401(k) provider Captain401, recognizes that the ability to absorb feedback is what separates a great hire from the pack -- so he tests his candidates with mild criticism.

"I make it a point to give light critical feedback in an interview. You don't want a pushover that accepts all criticism, nor do you want the defensive 'my way or the highway' type," says Lee. "A good hire will thoughtfully evaluate feedback and have the flexibility to change. A great hire will ask questions to understand feedback so they can course correct on their own in the future."


Humility.

"One question that really gets to the core of a candidate's ego is 'Do you consider yourself smart or lucky?'" says Adelyn Zhou, CMO of research and strategy firm TOPBOTS. A candidate who doesn't show appreciation for their success probably isn't someone you want to work with.

"This question identifies whether or not a candidate recognizes that their success is usually the result of many external factors outside of their control," she says. "While I want to hire someone smart, I also want to hire someone appreciative. It's good fortune to be born smart."


The ability to cite examples.

A list of skills on a resume means nothing if the candidate can't back it up with tangible examples. Sam Saxton, president of spiral stair manufacturer Paragon Stairs, asks follow-up questions to find hires who don't just talk the talk, but also walk the walk.

"Everyone tells you they're hardworking, innovative, a team player, etc. But those who can back these claims with real-world examples are the candidates to look for," he says. "The more I started to ask follow-up questions (tell me more about that, tell me how that worked), the easier it became to identify value."


Quick response time.

"You can tell a lot about a person by the time it takes for them to respond to an email," says Dave Nevogt, co-founder and CMO of Hubstaff, a time-tracking software platform for remote teams. So whether you're coordinating for an upcoming interview or waiting for a thank you note, pay attention to how quickly the candidate responds.

"I don't expect applicants to follow up within seconds, but a response within a few minutes or a couple of hours demonstrates more reliability than those who take days to respond," says Nevogt. "This is especially important for remote teams like ours because effective communication is key."


Passion for learning.

Derek Broman, CEO of discount gun retailer Discount Enterprises LLC, looks for new hires who are not only passionate about learning, but are also willing to speak up and teach their colleagues -- even their boss.

"I'm the boss, but I know I can learn from the people I hire. One thing that indicates success is a passion for learning," he says. "I try to surround myself with people who know and enjoy what they're doing, and we can learn together and from each other."

09 Daily Strategies for Staying on Top of Your Game

1. Start now.

Do all you can to get ahead at the beginning of any new quarter, goal or strategy setting session. If you work extra hard at the beginning you will approach the end of the quarter confident your numbers will be met or exceeded.

Starting strong helps you coast to the finish line with less stress than starting slow and agonizing over whether you will make your numbers or meet your goals. 

2. Leisure can wait.

Always put responsibilities first. Stop putting off what needs to get done. Procrastination only robs you of the time you desire for leisure activities. Remember why you chose your career and what's required to stand out amongst the best.

To start strong, conquer your most stressful 20 percent first, and use any leftover, bonus-time to chip away at less important 80 percent. Your leisure time isn't going anywhere. When you are tempted to put things off, tell yourself you're unwilling to settle for average. 3. No one is perfect.

Business is not designed to be clear, easy or perfect. If you have been giving it all you've got, whatever mistakes you make are necessary and perfectly fine. Each mistake made at 100 percent effort becomes an invaluable learning experience, designed for your personal growth and evolution. The more mistakes you make, the more you grow, the more you develop your knowledge and expertise.

Everyone messes up. Take it on the chin like a champ, analyze where things went wrong, figure out how to do better, then self-correct. 

4. Make time for fun.

There is no greater joy than the hard work that goes into the pursuit of your goals. However, if your life is all work and no play, you will not have the necessary space from your career to actually enjoy it.

You need personal time to gain perspective on the benefits of what you do each day, and to stay connected to the reasons that drive you to achieve. Enjoy the ride. Love what you do, take vacations, be social and  give time and attention into those you love. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

5. Career isn't an end.

Thriving in a great career is not the end of your freedom. Work isn't where the fun ends, it's where all of your new, important adventures begin. There is so much ahead of you that will expand your life. Each step along the way opens new doors of opportunity, which enrich your life in immeasurable ways.  Adventure, challenge and creativity push you to grow physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. 

6. Get involved.

If life is boring, something is wrong. Always seek ways to get involved -- join groups, build networks, go to the gym, or attend church. Network within your own industry by attending as many in-person events/dinners as possible.

Focus on building strong relationships with your peers and senior executives. If you're interested in further training and experience, request that your company provide the education and leadership training you desire. The more knowledge and experience you seek, the better of a leader you become, and the more you stay ahead of the pack. 

7. Say yes.

Each day brings new opportunity. Say yes to new things that take you outside your comfort zone. Say yes to your personal growth by choosing to do the exact things you fear. Train yourself to risk, and to risk again. Convince yourself to push through doors where uncertain results loom on the other side. Relish new experiences that bring you the knowledge and depth to stay ahead of the game. 

8. Be realistic.

You are not born with endless supplies of time, effort, confidence or greatness. These things wax and wane all throughout life, and sometimes throughout a day. Business is full of the unexpected. Know and respect healthy limits. You cannot be successful if you consistently feel you're not measuring up because you don't have enough time or the skills developed to be who you want to be.

You will burnout under this pressure. Learn to succeed one imperfect step at a time. Success, like any other virtue needs some space to blossom. 

9. Personal care.

Personal care is crucial. You must be physically, emotionally and mentally sound to have the energy and brain power necessary to be as successful as you desire to be. For this reason, eat clean, get enough sleep, drink water, exercise and take a day off here and there just to relax. You're certainly in your career to make money, to get ahead and to make a significant difference in the lives you touch, but you cannot do this at the expense of your own health. 

14 Things Ridiculously Successful People Do Every Day

1. They focus on minutes, not hours. Most people default to hour and half-hour blocks on their calendar; highly successful people know that there are 1,440 minutes in every day and that there is nothing more valuable than time. Money can be lost and made again, but time spent can never be reclaimed. As legendary Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller told Kevin, "To this day, I keep a schedule that is almost minute by minute." You must master your minutes to master your life.

2. They focus on only one thing. Ultra-productive people know what their "Most Important Task" is and work on it for one to two hours each morning, without interruptions. What task will have the biggest impact on reaching your goals? What accomplishment will get you promoted at work? That's what you should dedicate your mornings to every day.

3. They don't use to-do lists. Throw away your to-do list; instead schedule everything on your calendar. It turns out that only 41% of items on to-do lists ever get done. All those undone items lead to stress and insomnia because of the Zeigarnik effect, which, in essence, means that uncompleted tasks will stay on your mind until you finish them. Highly productive people put everything on their calendar and then work and live by that calendar.

4. They beat procrastination with time travel. Your future self can't be trusted. That's because we are time inconsistent. We buy veggies today because we think we'll eat healthy salads all week; then we throw out green rotting mush in the future. Successful people figure out what they can do now to make certain their future selves will do the right thing. Anticipate how you will self-sabotage in the future, and come up with a solution today to defeat your future self.

5. They make it home for dinner. Kevin first learned this one from Intel's Andy Grove, who said, "There is always more to be done, more that should be done, always more than can be done." Highly successful people know what they value in life. Yes, work, but also what else they value. There is no right answer, but for many, these other values include family time, exercise, and giving back. They consciously allocate their 1,440 minutes a day to each area they value (i.e., they put them on their calendar), and then they stick to that schedule.

6. They use a notebook. Richard Branson has said on more than one occasion that he wouldn't have been able to build Virgin without a simple notebook, which he takes with him wherever he goes. In one interview, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis said, "Always carry a notebook. Write everything down. That is a million dollar lesson they don't teach you in business school!" Ultra-productive people free their minds by writing everything down as the thoughts come to them.

7. They process e-mails only a few times a day. Ultra-productive people don't "check" their e-mail throughout the day. They don't respond to each vibration or ding to see who has intruded into their inbox. Instead, like everything else, they schedule time to process their e-mails quickly and efficiently. For some, that's only once a day; for others, it's morning, noon, and night.

8. They avoid meetings at all costs. When Kevin asked Mark Cuban to give his best productivity advice, he quickly responded, "Never take meetings unless someone is writing a check." Meetings are notorious time killers. They start late, have the wrong people in them, meander around their topics, and run long. You should get out of meetings whenever you can and hold fewer of them yourself. If you do run a meeting, keep it short and to the point.

9. They say "no" to almost everything. Billionaire Warren Buffet once said, "The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say 'no' to almost everything." And James Altucher colorfully gave Kevin this tip: "If something is not a 'Hell Yeah!' then it's a no." Remember, you only have 1,440 minutes in a day. Don't give them away easily.

10. They follow the 80/20 rule. Known as the Pareto Principle, in most cases, 80% of results come from only 20% of activities. Ultra-productive people know which activities drive the greatest results. Focus on those and ignore the rest.

11. They delegate almost everything. Ultra-productive people don't ask, "How can I do this task?" Instead, they ask, "How can this task get done?" They take the I out of it as much as possible. Ultra-productive people don't have control issues, and they are not micro-managers. In many cases, good enough is, well, good enough.

12. They touch things only once. How many times have you opened a piece of regular mail--a bill perhaps--and then put it down, only to deal with it again later? How often do you read an e-mail and then close it and leave it in your inbox to deal with later? Highly successful people try to "touch it once." If it takes less than five or ten minutes--whatever it is--they deal with it right then and there. It reduces stress, since it won't be in the back of their minds, and it is more efficient, since they won't have to re-read or re-evaluate the item again in the future.

13. They practice a consistent morning routine. Kevin's single greatest surprise while interviewing over 200 highly successful people was how many of them wanted to share their morning ritual with him. While he heard about a wide variety of habits, most nurtured their bodies in the morning with water, a healthy breakfast, and light exercise, and they nurtured their minds with meditation or prayer, inspirational reading, or journaling.

14. Energy is everything. You can't make more minutes in the day, but you can increase your energy to increase your attention, focus, and productivity. Highly successful people don't skip meals, sleep, or breaks in the pursuit of more, more, more. Instead, they view food as fuel, sleep as recovery, and breaks as opportunities to recharge in order to get even more done.

05 Ways to Take Advantage of Corporate Venture Capital

1. Market validation
Corporate VC funds can provide access to established customers and accelerate a startup's ability to find its product/market fit. Most companies creating these funds tend to have large installed customer bases and can identify early adopters for new technology. Gaining this type of entry can be difficult for an unknown startup still trying to build its credibility. The value of nailing down product/market fit cannot be understated as it sets the stage for acquiring a company's first set of paying customers. 

2. Revenue growth
Once market validation is achieved, developing a commercial agreement can generate much-needed revenue in the early days of a startup. This should be set up as a stand-alone agreement -- not tied to the investment agreement -- that provides market value to both sides. By securing paying customers, you can lessen the requirements for outside capital and, at the same time, demonstrate a sustainable business model.  

3. Domain expertise
Since large companies have a history of being in business, they possess institutional knowledge that can help startups think about issues related to their target market. Daily interactions with customers produce insights that may have implications to a startup's product or marketing strategy. Furthermore, a startup can improve its visibility in a competitive landscape. 

4. Access to capital
Securing an investment from one strategic investor can encourage others to do the same, because if a strategic partner understands the market and the problem and it's willing to put money into a company, then there must be value there. Plus, many corporate investors, whether they are investing from the parent company's balance sheet or a dedicated fund, will invest in multiple rounds. This renewed commitment is a positive market signal and can ease the burden of additional fundraising.  

5. Inherent exit option
Unsurprisingly, investors often choose to liquidate their positions in a business, particularly if they acquire new companies with pre-existing commercial relationships. Over time, as a relationship develops, dependencies can occur that spur an acquirer to want to own the assets, for offensive or defensive reasons. Diligence for these types of deals is a bit easier as the acquirer is already familiar with the company's business and executive team, which makes things move along more quickly.