Entrepreneur University

Owning your own business is sometimes a juggling act.

In the beginning, you are working paycheck to paycheck, giving your clients a 110% to prove yourself and busting your tail just to make ends meat.

Over time, if you decide you want your business to work it does get easier... and then you are able to do what they call "development". Reading books, taking classes, seminars, audio motivation etc.

Business owners must stay current and know their stuff. In a game that is ever changing, you have to keep your mind fresh.

With that said, Social Media Mack has taken a vow to never stop learning...

Here is a reading list we are going to start out with to broaden our horizons:

Yes! 50 Scientific Proven Ways to Be Persuasive - Noah J. Goldstein

It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks - Howard Behar

Ten Deadly Marketing Sins - Phillip Kotler

Raving Fans - Ken Blanchard

And don't forget the audio in the car:

Why We Want You to Be Rich - Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki

The Difference - Jean Chatzky

Your brain is always needing some conditioner (like washing your hair) and you will NEVER know everything.

We will let you know how this reading turns out. Try it... you might like it!

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Wednesday is a special day for me! One year ago.. I stepped off the plane from CA to OKC again with no job, no where to live and just a little bit of cash...

That's how the story starts. It's still going and along the way I have learned valuable lessons that I feel inclined to share with all those contemplative entrepreneurs. (so listen up...)

Things you should know BEFORE starting your own business:

* Your life is not your own (that is if you want to succeed) your business is a baby that cries all the time and sometimes spits up and YOU get to clean it up.

* Get a defense team: Pre-Paid Legal, an attorney .... something. You NEVER know what kinda petty drama will happen.

* Don't let people push you around. Do a good job but set boundaries!

* Take vacations.. even if you are working while you are on them.

* Save Receipts (FOR EVERYTHING NO MATTER WHAT)

* Write it down... Word of mouth is garbage in the business world

* Do it for the right reasons and not for the money.. cause you will be broke for a while :)

Anniversary lunch this Wednesday.. if you want to hear more of the story that began the madness. 12 noon at IRON STARR

More opportunities to get involved

Social Media Mack will be there as a sponsor and would love to see you show your support!

What Did You Do?

When it is your time to leave the Earth... What will people say about you?

Did you DO something? Play your part? Make this world a better place to live?

My company found a way to give back to a local Oklahoma non-profit. Teen Parent Resource Center (TPRC) is an organization that tugged on our heart strings and now we are playing our part!

TPRC was founded by Laquita Lewis, with a mission to develop and implement outreach programs/services that provide a second chance to teenage parents and their children.

By doing this, they are nurturing the development of our community. The program also promotes stable families and hope for the future!

Lewis says her passion is to "motivate the young women and men she works with to continue their education and help them become self- supporting mother and fathers". She believes anyone who has the passion and desire WILL succeed!

TPRC has several areas in which they help teens: counseling,tutoring, parenting classes, job searching and so much more.

The center will be open to the public beginning in August and will have its Grand Opening September 8, 2010.

TPRC is always seeking for new people to get involved thru volunteering or monetary endorsement.

Visit their Facebook page to keep up and learn more.

No matter what organization you decide to get involved with, You should do YOUR part!

Supersized!

Being on the go with your business is a common thing amongst business owners. Waking up early for meetings and going to bed late because of after hours events can really put a damper in your eating habits.

So..... With that said. It's Diet Time! Getting back in shape is something I am demanding from myself. (My office does have a free gym I can use) Hitting the weights and medicine ball.

Plan on reading full documentation via blog. You can keep up with my progress.

Wish me luck I need it!

"I Made It"

STOP. and Watch this Video.. Listen to the lyrics. If you don't have 3 minutes to watch it let us help you with them.....

"I look up to the sky
And now the World is mine
Ive known it all my life
I made it, I made it!
I used to dream about, the life I'm living now
I know that theres no doubt.
I made it, I made it!"

You will always have people that dislike you because of your success. It matters not if you are nice or if you are rude. They will point out your every flaw and plan for your demise.

So just so EVERYONE knows... Social Media Mack. Com has "made" it.

Happy watching.

The Hustle Grind

Guest Blogger Brennan McCloy

You know that you have an idea or product that you could use to make a sizable income or at the very least, enough profit to leave your bank with a smile. But, where do you start? What do you do? How do you do "it"? Here are some simple steps that you can follow that will make marketing your small-business very productive.

Answer these questions:

Who are you selling to?

What are you selling?

When should people buy and/or use your product?

Where can they buy it?

How can they buy it?

Most importantly... Why should they buy it?

Once you have your 6 questions answered you then must advertise it. Research how other people have successfully marketed the same kinds of goods and services that your are selling. You must follow before you can lead.

• Become the best. No one sells as much cola as Coca-Cola. No one sells as many shoes as Nike. Become the absolute best at what you do and do not be shy to tell people that you are the best. Learn as much about your competition as yourself and beat them. It's a tough world out there, kiddo.

• Know everything that there is to know about what ever field you're in. You must stay current and in-the-loop. If you are not current then you will fade away as quickly as you came in.

So Let's re-cap:

Answer the 6 questions.

Develop a marketing/adverting plan and then put it to work.

Become as skilled and knowledgeable about your field as you possibly can.
Stay on top of your game and think about the future or your industry.

That's a basic run-down for starting your small business. Remember, patience is a virtue but without persistence, patience becomes laziness.

Is Social Media a Fad?

Check out our promo video featuring Social Media Mack. Com and with a special shoutout to Vintage Coffee from Oklahoma City.

Your Networking Life Made Easier

Growing your business seems to be the the thing most entrepreneurs are focused on these days.

Granted, our economy is recovering from what we call the "21st century recession", but YOU increasing your revenue boils down to one thing: RELATIONSHIPS.

Whether it be direct contact with a buyer or someone, who knows someone, meeting people and cultivating that bond with them will be the driving force that will put you into the next tax bracket.

Being a New Media expert, when working with small business or start-ups I will hear: "Well, I would love to meet new people but I just don't know where to go?" or "I have a very minimal marketing budget and can't afford to join city associations".

Well, now there is a website that will aid you in your time of networking need. Networking OKC. com is your one stop shop for all the FREE .. yes I said it FREE networking events in Oklahoma City. If you pockets are feeling a little heavy, their are some paid groups you can connect with as well.

Organizing an event? This site even has a forum where you can "submit" your event info and have it posted on the site.

So get out there and meet someone. You never know when their Grandma might need your services.

Social Media Mack. Com's Grand Opening

For those of you that don't know we are having our Grand Opening THIS week. We wanted to take this time to reflect on the journey thus far...

Nine months ago, I, CEO was unemployed with no where to live or work. Blessed enough to have an amazing friends to support me, little did I know I was in the right place at the right time to embark on my journey as an entrepreneur.

And now... we have open our offices in the Executive Suites of a 6 story building in Oklahoma City, OK and boy are we jumping up and down.

Everything works out for good and can't wait to see what the next 9 months bring.

Hope to see you there!