Escape from Cubicle Nation

Congratulations to another corporate employee flying the coop

I have to say that I LIVE for emails and blog posts like the following I got this evening from Paul Lefebvre:

Hi Pam,

Another happy reader here who has made the jump into their own business. Thank you for your blog; it was a great help.

This is my blog post about my change:

http://www.logicalvue.com/blog/2008/02/leaving-the-day-job/

Thanks,

Paul Lefebvre
LogicalVue Software, Inc.
http://www.LogicalVue.com

I am so thrilled that my writing helped Paul have the confidence to make the leap.  But if you read his post in detail, you will see the MANY great things he did which make his a perfect case study for all of us:

• He tuned into his interests and tested a business idea
• When it didn't pan out due to market conditions, he scrapped it but held onto the idea of working for himself
• He spent lots of time immersing himself in a new area of interest, and not only learned about it, but contributed to the field by writing and speaking
• He built an outside network while still working as an employee
• He started consulting gigs on the side of his day job to test the market
• He maintained a totally professional relationship with his employer, even opening the possibility of doing consulting for them after he leaves
• He acknowledged the support of his spouse and kids, who obviously give him strength and support
• He is building a business model which includes both products and services, which will give more flexibility and diverse income streams

I could go on and on.

Basically Paul, I am just exceedingly PROUD of you!

Thank you so much for inspiring us all.  Congrats on the birth of your business, and please let us all know what you learn in your first year as a full-time start-up!

New to business or in business and struggling?

I just got wind of an interesting opportunity for the right business owner who is struggling a bit and could use some "public" (aka live media) coaching.

Do you fit this profile:

• Interesting person with a good story to tell
• Interesting business that many people could understand and relate to
• Significant challenges in your business that you could use some help with
• You could be starting up, or in biz for a while and need some tune ups

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please send me an email with "struggling biz" as the email subject header to pcs (at) ganas (dot) com.   Let me know the following:

• Your name
• Your contact info (phone/email)
• Your biz location
• Brief description of biz
• Brief description of struggles

Time is of the essence - send me the message by end of day tomorrow, Wednesday, February 27.

Let's see what we can cook up - who knows, some interesting publicity could come out of it!

5 reasons entrepreneurship is the best personal development on the planet

If you want to grow as a human being, you could climb really tall mountains.  Or run marathons.  Or study the great written works.  Or study yoga in an ashram.

Or ... you could put your entire livelihood at risk and become an entrepreneur.

I don't think running a business is for everyone.  But I do think that it is the best way on the planet to learn about yourself.

In this 9 minute podcast episode, I list 5 reasons why I feel so strongly about this.  You can find it here.

Listen in to see if you agree or disagree, then share your opinion here! 

Pam keynoting for new Club E chapter in N. Scottsdale 2/28

I am excited to be the kickoff speaker for a new chapter of Club Entrepreneur in North Scottsdale, Arizona next Thursday, February 28 at 5pm.

Club E is a wonderful group that has a great cross-section of all-age entrepreneurs and wannabes.

If you are in the area and want to come join us, please do!  I won't blather on for too long, I promise ... the main point is to get the participants talking and visiting with each other so that some strong, supportive entrepreneurial relationships are formed.

I am going to abandon my torn jeans and sweats for actual business attire, which is quite exciting.  I will also be dragging along my husband and baby girl, since she can't be away from Mom for too long at her age, for obvious nutritional reasons.  :)

Come on down - I would love to see you!

Sign up here - it is free.

Welcome!

Welcome New York Times Readers!  For an introduction to this blog, start here.

Regular reader?  See EfCN featured in the Times today! Go on, leave your job!

Why would you want to walk through the Ring of Fire?

I have had quite a few new visitors lately, so for those that aren't familiar with this standing feature, I do a guest post once every two weeks on Martha Beck's blog. She is my mentor, and the person who taught me the life coaching skills that I use every day on my clients, my family, friends and myself, or anyone else who will listen.  While a bit more purely "personal development" oriented, I feel the topics mix quite well on Escape from Cubicle Nation, because we all know that navigating fear and staying strong and confident are key components of surviving the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Here is an excerpt from today's post:  Why would you walk thorough the Ring of Fire?

It may seem a bit strange to brag about coming from a proud lineage of divorced relatives. But proud I am:  my parents and every single aunt and uncle in my family got divorced and remarried. 

"That explains it!  I always knew something was a little 'off' about that Pam Slim," you say.  "Coming from a broken family like that."

Fascinating interpretation.  And dead wrong.

What I gained by watching my parents and relatives go through painful, gut-wrenching, excruciating divorces was the realization that by walking through hell with an open mind and willing heart, you come out a freer, happier and more whole person.

Martha calls this hell the "Ring of Fire" in her forthcoming book Steering by Starlight.

What is the Ring of Fire?

The Ring of Fire is part of a bigger picture shown here:

Martha describes each component:

The Shallows (Material Reality):

"The exterior shell of our life is what I call the "Shallows."  You might also call it the world of form, of physical objects and the thoughts that cluster around them.

When your consciousness is fully attached to this realm, you are a material girl or boy.  You're mentally trapped in your concept of yourself as isolated, limited and separate from all other things.  Your socialized beliefs and your lizard-fears direct your actions, which consist of running from things you dread and grasping at things you desire.  Maddeningly, no matter what you do, danger is never fully averted and desire is never permanently fulfilled.  Life is a bitch, and then you die."

The Core of Peace (The Stargazer):

"At our very cores, unperturbed by the disturbances of the shallows, lies that Stargazer self.  No untruth can exist at this level of awareness: no apparent separation from the fabric of the universe, no pain, no fear, no death.  The real reason we feel so starved in the shallows is that we aren't made to be satisfied with material possessions, or with concepts of ourselves as famous, noble, smart, handsome, righteous, influential, blah blah blah.  What we really want is the peace of the Stargazer.  The irony is that this is already present in every single one of us, though it's obscured by the dense matter of our lives at the shallowest."

The Ring of Fire:

"The Ring of Fire is the emotional process we must go through to reach the Core of Peace.  There are only two ways to accomplish this.  We can disbelieve any false ideas that are causing unnecessary pain.  Any unavoidable pain -- loss of health or a loved one for example -- we must grieve."

My family's Ring of Fire ignited around our kitchen table in 1971.  I was five years old.  I can still vividly recall every detail of the moment: the red and white checkered table cloth, the feel of my Mom's lap and the look on the faces of my siblings as my Mom and Dad told us they were getting a divorce. Although they said a lot of things, only one phrase from that conversation stuck with me for decades afterward:  "We love each other, we just cannot live together," they said.

My stomach dropped and I felt a heaviness in my chest.  My safe, ideal, neat, organized world was blown apart.

Read the rest here.

Nice guys do finish first: Shoestring Branding stands out

I just took a peek at the new small business page at Alltop (which I told you about last week) and was delighted to see my friend Mario Sanchez made the page, alongside other experts like Tim Berry, StartupNation, Duct Tape Marketing and Fast Company.

His blog is called Shoestring Branding and has all kinds of practical tips about do-it-yourself internet marketing for the small business owner.

What I like about Mario's story is that he has not been blogging for very long (since September of '07) and has done it on the side of his "day job" as a way to share a passion, build his personal brand and be of assistance to a target market that interests him.  This is an excellent way to dip your foot in the pool of entrepreneurship.  How well people respond to your blog is a great indication of who may want to work with you in the future.  I don't recall if Mario plans to start a business anytime soon (since he has a day job, maybe he is keeping that quiet from blabbermouths like me!).

The fact that he has gotten noticed by some of the higher traffic blogs so soon is very cool.   He is a really thoughtful, positive person and always contributes something meaningful to blog conversations.

Congratulations Mario!

Pam's podcast calling in sick

Quick apology:  Last week I mentioned I was going to resume my podcast today.  Unfortunately, I got bronchitis, so I would at best sound like Lauren Bacall and at worst break into ghastly coughs in the middle of trying to explain my point.

Kindly grant me one week to recover, and I will be back at you on Monday the 25th.

Although it is hardly related to the subject of the podcast, the only topic I can think of at the moment is "Lessons learned from two months of watching germs float from one member of my family to the next, in an unending circle."

I have no answers, only seek advice.  Let's hope this is the end of it, and that your household is free of such misery. :)

The secret to a fun and thriving business? Be a matchmaker

Some of the most common questions I hear from new and aspiring entrepreneurs are:

• How can I get the word out about my business to influential people in my market?
• How can I get people to link to my blog or website?
• How can I get mainstream press coverage?
• How can I find great mentors?

There are tips, tools and methods to accomplish each of these things but perhaps the most effective long-term strategy is also the most counter-intuitive:  be a matchmaker.

What is a matchmaker?

A good matchmaker is someone who constantly looks for ways to connect good people, ideas and institutions without the expectation of payback.

Without the expectation of payback is the part that may seem counterintuitive, since didn't I just say that being a matchmaker is the best way to further your own business goals?  Yes, it is.  But in order for it to really work, you have to just trust the process and not count on a direct "I scratch your back, you scratch my back" return favor.

Let me use some examples so you know more clearly what I am talking about, then I will tell you how to avoid a few common traps.

What are some concrete ways to be a matchmaker?

1. Introduce like minds. This example is the Fiddler on the Roof definition:  envision two people you know who would be a great fit together.  While the result of effective romantic matchmaking is marriage,  the result of "like minds" matchmaking is a business relationship that could take many different directions:  business partners, mastermind peers, supportive friends or creative catalysts. After I learned that one of my favorite "adopted professors," Srikumar Rao was going to Japan, I wanted to introduce him to my uber talented friend Garr Reynolds.  I sat back and imagined the delightful, creative, uplifting conversation they would have over tea, and it was enough to inspire me to send an email introducing them to each other.
2. Set the stage for a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.  I don't know if you have seen the old commercial which shows one person rounding the corner with a jar of peanut butter and the other rounding the corner with a chocolate bar.  They collide, and the result is a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.  My best example of this is when I introduced my dear friends Desiree Adaway and Marilyn Scott-Waters.  Desiree heads volunteer mobilization for Habitat for Humanity, and Marilyn is an extraordinary paper toy maker.  After introducing the two, Marilyn created a special fold-out paper house that Desiree promoted to her youth groups to raise awareness of poverty housing.  As the wonderful world of serendipity works, Desiree ended up in England representing Habitat for a boy scout fair.  Prince William happened to stop by her booth and colored a paper house.  When I saw this picture, I knew Reeses Peanut Butter matchmaking had very wonderful, unexpected outcomes.







3. Share a great story with the press.  If you are hooked into your market the right way, you are in conversation with your clients and prospects on a daily basis and have a keen sense of their businesses and what they are trying to accomplish.  If you see a publication that you think would be great for featuring their story, let them know. If you have a relationship with a journalist, pitch the story.  I have been lucky enough to match one of my blog readers with USA Today, which resulted in a front-page story in the Money section.  This is a very mutually beneficial thing since journalists are always looking for great stories and great sources for quotes.
   
4. Link like crazy  There is a reason blogs are so viral in nature:  by including lots of links in your blog post, you send traffic all over the place. You definitely want to share your own expertise on your blog, but be generous with your referrals to other people.  It will come back around!
5. Forward information to someone who can use it.  I get great, unsolicited  resources all the time from my blog and ezine readers.  It is so helpful, and definitely makes me want to extend a hand to those who help me.
6. Refer ill-fitting prospective clients to someone appropriate. You should have a clear picture of who your ideal client is for your product or service.  If you run across someone who clearly has a need but will not be best served by you, refer them to the best person you can think of.  You never want to send someone away with a simple "sorry I can't help you," since you never know if they might know someone who does fit your perfect profile.  If you help them find exactly who they need, they are more likely to send people your way. But don't count on it, of course, which brings up the next section:

Sure fire ways to kill good matchmaking:

• Keep track of favors and expect a near-term payback.  If you keep marks on your wall of how many times you helped someone and expect them to return the favor right away, you will be very disappointed. The other person will feel your intent, and you will not come across as genuine.  Because you aren't!  Real matchmaking is based on total delight at seeing good things happen as a result of your introduction.  You may never get payback from the person you helped, but this should not deter you.
  
• Force people into a pre-determined funnel.  Some people can be deluded into thinking they are working the matchmaker model by referring people to a pre-selected group in their network.  Often, referral or affiliate fees are involved which makes the matchmaking financially motivated.  This changes the way that you listen to the needs of the person you are trying to help.  Instead of thinking "who would be the best resource for this person?" you are thinking "would Sally, Jose or Thomas be the best resource for this person?" I don't think it is wrong to use a referral or affiliate relationship, just make sure it is the right fit.
• Break the trust of your confidantes by introducing the wrong people.  The more connected and exposed you get, the more emails and calls you will get from people asking you to introduce them to those in your circle.  Just because you get the requests does not mean you have to make the introduction.  Make sure you introduce people who would truly provide mutual benefit, otherwise you will soon become known as a pest.
  
• Ask people you hardly know to make an introduction for you.  My friend Martha Beck gets cornered at social gatherings, dinner parties and speaking events all the time with people who want to meet Oprah. Just because she knows her does not make it appropriate.  A much better question to ask is "how did you build up such a great platform?"
  

I hope you find, like I have, that the sheer pleasure of matchmaking makes it worthwhile.  It also, over time, positions you as a connected, generous person.  And that is exactly what will give you a screaming hot platform.

Happy Valentines Day! 

It is finally real: The Escape from Cubicle Nation book will be published by Penguin Portfolio/Berkley

After many months (years!) of talking about writing a book, it is finally a reality.  I am delighted to announce that Penguin Portfolio/Berkley will be publishing both a hardcover and paperback version of Escape from Cubicle Nation. It is scheduled for publication in the Spring of 2009.

The book will be a comprehensive guide for making the transition from corporate employee to entrepreneur.  It will cover not only the nuts and bolts of starting a business, but also guidance on how to get through the fear and anxiety that accompanies the process. Just the kind of stuff we talk about here on the blog!

Portfolio is the home to such great business books as Purple Cow by Seth Godin and The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki.  It is headed by Adrian Zackheim who has edited some of my favorite books like Good to Great by Jim Collins, The Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams and The HP Way by David Packard.

My editor will be Emily Rapoport, who is one of the smartest, most encouraging and savvy people I know.  I feel very lucky to work with her.  She is the one who championed this book and made it happen inside Penguin.

My killer agent Joelle Delbourgo, who made the leap herself from corporate to entrepreneur a number of years ago, walked me through the totally foreign and sometimes daunting process of writing my first book proposal.  I truly could not have done it without her, and I am so grateful for her expert guidance.

I can't avoid an intolerable academy award-like acceptance speech since I have so many people to thank for getting this far, so please bear with me!

• My coaching clients not only read my blog religiously, but part with their hard-earned cash to work with me.  I am truly humbled by their bravery and honored to have worked with each and every one of them.  Getting into the deep, personal issues that the transition from employee to entrepreneur entails is not always easy.  As a coach, I know I don't have all the answers, so the search for what works, and doesn't work, has shaped what I think needs to go in the book. 
• Fellow authors Bob Walsh, Ramit Sethi, Garr Reynolds, Andy Wibbels, Glenda Watson-Hyatt, Matthew Scott, Sophronia Scott, Andrea Lee and Suzanne Falter-Barns, my mentor and inspiration for building platform with this blog, have all been incredibly helpful and encouraging.
• Home girls and boys Marilyn Scott-Waters, Laura Back, Suzanne Babb, Philippa Kennealy, Lisa Evans, John Dodds and Robert kept me sane and made me laugh in moments of anxiety.
• Exceptionally kind and connected local Phoenix entrepreneurial mentors Francine Hardaway and Peter Burns welcomed me to a new city when I arrived from the Bay Area 4 years ago and made me feel at home.
  
• My Mom and bonus Dad Larry encouraged me to have fun and make time for myself, my husband and my kids while blogging up a storm.
• I got great early support for this blog from the uber wise posse of Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Kathy Sierra, John Jantsch, Bob Sutton, Srikumar Rao, Rich and Jeff Sloan, and Hugh McLeod.
• Martha Beck and my coaching comadres Brooke Castillo, Meadow DeVor and Michele Woodward are true sisters and make me proud of our profession.
  
• The unwavering faith of the "Original 6" readers of my blog:  my Dad Lewis, bonus Mom Dee, sister Gretchen, brother-in-law Gary and best buddies John Fritz and Desiree Adaway gave me an audience when no one else would listen.
• My husband Darryl is my biggest supporter and my kids are my creative muses.  21-year old Jeffery keeps me young and reminds me of the power of love.  When Josh was 6 months old, I started my blog.  Now Angela is 4 months old and I got a book deal.  Coincidence?  I think not. :)

But who do I really want to thank?

YOU.

Thousands and thousands of you have sent emails, commented on posts, shared your personal stories, given feedback on surveys and outlines, sent interesting articles and URLs, linked to this blog and offered me really great advice and encouragement when I needed it. 

This book proposal would not have sold, and this book will not get written without you!

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

Would you like to help me write the book? Join the Escape from Cubicle Nation Advisory Council

I know that I am going to have lots of specific questions in the next 7 months as I write the book.  So instead of driving all my blog readers crazy with a nitpicky posts every 5 minutes, I have created a special group, the Escape from Cubicle Nation Advisory Council.  Those that join this voluntary mailing list will act as a source for things like:

• expert advice
• personal stories
• questions about the direction of chapters
• referrals to great resources

I would love a whole bunch of different kinds of people to join:  corporate employees that are thinking about making the leap, other entrepreneur coaches, subject matter experts, new and seasoned entrepreneurs.  Anyone and everyone is welcome.

You can jump off the list at any time by hitting the "unsubscribe" message at the bottom of each message.  I will be clear what I am looking for in my email subject headers so that you can easily scan and delete messages that don't apply to you.

What I would love is a list that I can send messages to in the spur in the moment, without worrying about people feeling spammed to death.

I will still ask for feedback from my blog readers, just on a less-frequent basis.

If you want to join this advisory council, enter your name and email here:

Please make sure to confirm your subscription by responding to the auto-generated email that will come to you immediately after you sign up.  If you don't get this message, check your junk mail filter.

That's the story and I'm sticking to it!

After all this excitement, I have come to the realization that I now have to WRITE the book!

My Aunt Char, also known as Miss Beadle from Little House on the Prairie, sent me the following email after receiving three messages in a row from me yesterday about my excitement at the book deal:

"Yikes! That is fabulous. Now stop reading all these congratulations and get to work!"

Good thing there is a pragmatist in the family.

So I am off to the races.  I am going to follow the advice of Bob Walsh, who tells me the only way  to get it done is to write every day.

Let's get started!