Discover practical advice, inspiration, and insights to help you succeed in business and grow both personally and professionally.
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Lots of people try to bend the truth to get ahead — but this is probably the worst way to build alasting career or business in sales.
From embellishment and omission — to outright lies that completely misrepresent what’s being sold — we all know how frustrating it is to deal with a dishonest salesperson. That’s why honesty can make you far more successful in sales — because people will always choose to do long-term business with the person they can trust.
And if you want more reasons why being 100% forthright is always the way to go...
Here are 7 Reasons Why Honesty is the Most Effective Sales Strategy
Vera Quinn joins top business podcast hosts to discuss leadership, her entrepreneurial journey and more. Here are our three favorite takeaways!
Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, once said “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
And no matter where you are in that journey — whether you’re taking the first step into entrepreneurship and trying to grow yourself, or you’re leading a team you want to develop, it’s important to examine the advice that has made other leaders successful.
Our CEO, Vera Quinn, has recently joined a few top podcasts to discuss the Cydcor approach to leadership — and how Vera continues to develop the team.
While a lot was discussed on these shows, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite takeaways — which will expand your definition of leadership and teach you how grow the people around you.
Culture is a bit of a buzzword in most corporate circles — with many leaders taking a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to their values.
But in discussion with Chris Waters on To Lead is to Learn, Vera presents a different way to go about culture:
Lead by example.
“I can say whatever I want to say, but it’s about my actions,” Vera says. “If we’re in a meeting and I’m not modeling the culture, someone on the team will speak up. We hold each other accountable. We call each other out.”
Vera and Chris go on to discuss the self-awareness and courage this requires as a leader.
We may think of the “courageous” leader as someone who’s always right and becomes a poster-child for the company’s values. But we are all human — and true courage comes from a leader willing to put themselves on the same level as their team.
Vera explains that if we shed the idea that we have to be “perfect” and instead make ourselves an ingrained part of the culture (just like everyone else), we can attract a team that enhances our strengths and sures up our weaknesses.
So, as you lead and build culture with your team — remember this:
A good leader is someone who allows their team to hold them accountable.
That takes courage.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
On the Leadership is Female podcast, Vera and host Emily Jaenson discuss strategic leadership.
To break the concept down, Vera highlights the two things a leader has to do:
At a glance, this may just sound like “telling people what to do.” But that’s what a boss does, while leaders take a different approach.
The keyword for Vera is “point.”
The leader can guide a team to where it needs to go — but it is by everyone’s own volition that the actually work gets done. As Vera and Emily discuss, it takes empathy to lead this way.
Vera explains that the best way to do that “pointing” is to “match opportunity with ambition.”
By taking the time to learn the individual goals of your team, you can align their ambition to the opportunities that need to be captured within the business.
Then, the team member can be personally invested in taking on that responsibility, rather than being forced to do it.
That’s how you end up with a team that you are leading, rather than having a group of people you are bossing around. Big difference.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
You may have read the last point and wondered:
“Ok… how do I empathize with my team and learn what their ambitions really are?”
And that’s exactly the topic that Vera dives into with Teri Schmidt, host of Strong Leaders Serve.
Vera tells Teri about her rise to leadership — and how a coach once told her that she needed to transition from “being interesting to being interested.”
“At the time,” she recalls, “I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be the bright, shining star.”
But a leader who tries to do that will not be a leader for long.
Vera highlights the importance of attracting talent around you — and moving from being the person everyone wants to learn about to being the leader who’s actively invested in learning more about their team.
“It changed my paradigm of being a leader,” Vera says, “and it even changed how I approached being a spouse, mother, and friend.”
Funnily enough, when you put the focus on “being interested,” you’ll draw more people to you compared to when you’re trying to be the most “interesting.”
People want to follow a leader that’s invested in their interests, story, and expertise. They don’t want to follow someone that makes it all about themselves. And while building rapport with your team is a big benefit to this mindset shift — doing this also sets you up to learn more than you ever could before.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
And when it’s all said and done, learning is the number one thing that a leader should be doing. That’s why we always get excited when Vera gets on a podcast to share some of the lessons, she’s learned at Cydcor.
You now have three actionable insights that you can act on today. So, get out there, keep growing as a leader and developing your team!
If Yoda was a sales manager, what would he say at the team meeting?
Blake from Glengarry Glen Ross isn’t the nicest of characters, but he still has the most quotable sales lines of all time.
Citizen Kane isn’t just the greatest movie of all time because it has a good story — it also teaches us a thing or two about what business success really is.
Business and Hollywood collide in this blog. Here are 10 inspiring sales quotes from movies.
Criticism is an opportunity for growth — but only if you know how to properly deal with customer complaints.
Let’s face it — everyone’s a critic these days, and it’s all but impossible to work a job without getting some negative feedback at some point in your career.
Even the most successful people deal with valid criticism. In the end, their ability to handle and interact with that feedback is what sets them apart.
Knowing how to isolate, identify, reflect on, and act on negative feedback is a skill they have developed over time — and doing the same will help you grow in your career or in entrepreneurship.
The next time you need to respond to negative feedback, turn to this four-step framework.
It’s all too easy to view negative customer feedback as a personal attack. There’s a fine line between constructive criticism and insult — and sometimes the feedback is just downright mean. But even when something falls into the category of constructive criticism, it can still hurt!
The first thing you need to do is isolate the feedback. It is not reflective of you, the person. It is reflective of the experience the customer had with the product or service.
Isolate the feedback as if you were a neutral, third party to the situation. This will remove any emotions, disappointment, or anger that you may be feeling about the situation and allow you to interact with the customer’s concerns in a positive way.
A lot of the time, the spirit of the negative feedback is valid, but the way it’s said isn’t. Your job is to not let the presentation of the criticism bother you (even if it comes in the form of yelling or choice language) while trying to identify where the real problem lies.
After you’ve isolated the feedback — you can identify where the real concern lies.
This may seem like a simple step, but it’s usually anything but. Customer feedback doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There are usually factors outside of the situation that impact how the response is worded or expressed.
A customer may rant about 10 different things that you did wrong — when all of those 10 things boil down to one specific concern that the customer can’t quite put their finger on. Or they may simply state that “this is bad” without explaining any of the reasons why they feel that way.
To work with negative feedback, you sometimes need to play detective. Ask questions that allow the customer to fully express their feelings. This won’t just help them feel heard, it will also give you the context you need to get to a solution.
Don’t just aim to listen, aim to empathize and understand.
Don’t say “I hear you” while someone is complaining — say “I understand.” Big difference there.
When the customer is finished explaining — repeat back what you’ve heard, but remove the emotion out of it. Be matter-of-fact as you walk through what’s just happened. This will prime the customer to start viewing the situation as a solvable problem (and not an emotion-crushing disaster).
As you go through your recap with them, focus on the handful of issues that are really at the crux of the issue. Even if these are things outside of your control. Take responsibility for them. The worst thing you can do is “try and pass the buck” — and in a world where everyone’s trying to point fingers, most customers will respect you for taking accountability.
At first — negative feedback can seem overwhelming and impossible to fix. But when you get good at finding the one thing that sits at the heart of the complaint it becomes manageable.
When the key issues are identified, act swiftly. Show the customer you’ve listened to them in the way you go about resolving the matter.
The most important work happens after the specific situation has been put to bed. Your job now is to evolve so that the problem does not happen again with another customer. It can be useful to discuss the negative feedback with your boss or peers — not to gossip or complain about it, but to get their opinion about how you handled things and how you can improve.
The odds are that they’ve gotten the same kind of feedback at some point in their careers. Listening to their experiences will help you grow — and will also reveal that getting criticism is normal (so you shouldn’t feel too bad about what that customer said!).
Reflecting helps you fix a problem before it becomes a trend. When you invest the time to think about how customers are responding to your product or service — you can start developing a tangible list of action items that are going to help you grow.
The best businesses are the ones that listen and adapt based on their customer’s needs and concerts. The greatest entrepreneurs have a spotlight on them at all times — and are criticized relentlessly. Knowing how to turn a negative piece of feedback into an opportunity for growth is a skill that directly correlates with success.
So, remember that everyone gets negative feedback sometimes — and if you know how to interact with it, that feedback can be a positive turning point in your career or entrepreneurial journey.
The last step in these situations is always to act. Take time to improve based on feedback and move forward with confidence and integrity.
There will always be negative feedback. But if each complaint is different than the last… you’re going in the right direction!
Are we just being sticklers—or does being on time ACTUALLY matter?
If there’s anything we’ve learned from three decades in business (and counting), it’s that time is one of our greatest assets as entrepreneurs. If you don’t keep on schedule—and disrespect the time of others—you’re not going to get very far at all!
In this blog, we highlight 7 reasons being on time matters—and how you can make punctuality your superpower.
Here’s how to level up your listening skills and become a better leader.
Have you ever stopped in the middle of a conversation and thought, wait a minute, this person isn’t even listening?
It’s a frustrating feeling.
The reality is that most of the time, people really aren’t listening. Despite what you may think, it’s not enough to just sit back and let noise flow into your ears.
So what does this have to do with leadership?
When we think of the greatest leaders, we often think of profound public speakers—leaders who inspire, command, and tell others what to do.
But more important than all of these traits, is the ability to listen.
As a leader, you are responsible for the people on your team. Their problems are your problems. Showing up for them requires stepping into their world, seeing their thought process, and understanding the problems that they may be encountering.
Listening is the gateway to all of these insights.
The better you understand a person, the more effectively you can lead them.
By listening to them first, you can align the team’s goals with their personal aspirations.
You can offer solutions to problems they might be anxious about before you set them to a task.
You might even uncover untapped strengths or gifts that they have, just through conversation.
Ideas don’t have to all come from the mind of the leader. On the contrary, the best innovations typically come from collaborative discussion. Your job as a leader is to facilitate as many conversations as possible, acting as a moderator while your team presents, adapts, and perfects ideas.
Active listening will help you better understand the collective vision, while also bringing forth the tough questions that will strengthen the idea. That’s why getting every brain in the game and encouraging candor in our meetings are two of Cydcor’s core values!
There’s also a massive interpersonal benefit here, too. Active listening is a difficult skill to master, so many people just aren’t used to being listened to. Because of this, the feeling of being heard is one of the best gifts you can give to someone.
Active listening is more than just a performance!
A common piece of advice on this topic is to “show that you’re listening.”
You’ve probably been told to nod your head, make small noises (like uh huh, yeah, and even the occasional wow!), and smile.
There was a time when this wasn’t terrible advice, but doing these alone is far from active listening.
These signals tend to be overused by people who are merely pretending to pay attention. The speaker may feel like they’re getting the right feedback from the listener, but something is a little off.
If these come naturally to you, then they’re great ways to show you’re listening. If you’re someone who likes to smile, smile. If you naturally nod your head when listening, let it happen.
Just don’t force it. The person wants to talk to you, not a bobblehead doll.
There’s a better way to “show” that you’re listening:
Ask good questions.
Conversations are often two people fighting over their turn to talk. Asking a follow-up question or trying to dive deeper into what’s just been said is a great way to show that you’re here just to listen.
Sometimes, you may be at a loss for how to keep the conversation going, but asking good follow ups is a skill that you can develop.
Don’t try to do too much. Simply asking for the “why” behind what’s been said, or asking how they came up with that particular idea goes a long way.
It can be uncomfortable at first, but you should (especially as a leader) learn how to ask tough or critical questions. This is not to be mean, or to shoot the speakers idea down. Instead, a difficult question—framed the right way—can make their idea stronger.
People—suprisingly—like being asked tough questions. They see that you’re not just telling them what they want to hear. They learn that you care enough about their success to challenge them.
Active listening takes thought—and if you’re thinking critically about what’s being said, you’re taking it to a whole new level.
Ok, this one is situational.
If you run into someone in the hallway and strike up a quick conversation, it would be a bit odd to whip out your notepad. But in situations like meeting, a notepad is a great listening tool.
Taking the time to write down what’s being said affirms how you value the speaker. What’s being said isn’t just useful in the moment, it’s worth saving for later.
When it comes time for questions, you’ll be able to reference the specific language that the speaker used and dig into things that you otherwise might have lost as the discussion went on.
The act of writing something has a positive impact on memory and learning—and even if you forget, you still have the notes!
This means you’ll be able to reference what’s been said, long after the meeting is over. When you apply this, the speaker’s words have long-term impact. Talk about a confidence boost!
As children, we were all told that we have “two ears and one mouth for a reason.” It’s more than a corny platitude, it’s the formula for great leadership.
As a challenge, strike up a conversation with someone you don’t talk to often. Try to get them to do as much of the talking as possible—and see what you can learn from them and the experience.
Keep doing that—and you’ll master this amazing leadership skill in no time!
Visit the original article here.
From networking with industry leaders to learning from top innovators, these are the can’t-miss events for this year.
Connecting with others is the best way to grow as a professional. Most of the world’s top companies understand this—and put on yearly conferences to bring their organization, network, and industry together.
Among these, some organizations take it to a whole other level. Featuring life-changing breakouts and late-night networking parties, here are the top corporate events we can’t wait for in 2024
This multinational event pays homage to the entrepreneurial spirit. Cydcor, a leader in outsourced sales, always puts on a great show at its annual National Conference.
NatCon gathers business owners and entrepreneurs from throughout Cydcor’s network of independent sales offices. Held in Texas and Montreal, both conferences celebrate the past success of top performers while fueling future growth.
In powerful breakouts with leaders such as CEO Vera Quinn and Executive Chairman Gary Polson, entrepreneurs will glean the experience and wisdom that’s come from Cydcor’s 3 decades (and counting) in business. NatCon also invites top performers to come share their unique recipe for success, as breakouts/pannels touch on various innovations and opportunities within the industry.
Running for three days, NatCon reflects Cydcor’s reputation for excitement and momentum. The energy builds to an award ceremony honoring the achievements of top performers in ICLs throughout Cydcor’s network.
NatCon 2024 is scheduled for September—and is the perfect boost for entrepreneurs looking to finish the final quarter of the year strong. Last year’s theme was “Game On” and we’re eagerly waiting on Cydcor to reveal the focus for this iteration of their National Conferences.
IBM has been a global leader in technology research and consulting for over a century—we expect nothing less than monumental from their yearly conference.
Since 2018, IBM Think has allowed business leaders and tech insiders to learn about and discuss the latest in industrial technology. Think 2024—hitting Boston in late May—will focus on using AI to scale businesses, a hot topic that will continue to trend as the year goes on.
Over 5000 attendees from over 1000 organizations will be able to hear directly from the minds shaping the AI revolution. This includes keynotes from IBM’s Head of Research Dr. Darío Gil, Senior VP of Product Management and Growth Kareem Yusuf, and over 150 other industry leaders. Along with all the buzz around AI, business leaders will also learn about leveraging IBM’s Quantum to get a tech boost over their competitors.
IBM has had an active hand in technology innovations throughout the modern era. If you want to hear what their top minds are thinking about in 2024, don’t miss out on Think!
This yearly event is a force to be reckoned with—literally. Dreamforce, put on by CRM leader Salesforce, is known to put San Fransisco to a standstill. Bringing in thousands of attendees (with over 40,000 coming in person last year), Dreamforce is as much a logistical marvel as it is a fantastic corporate event.
Salesforce is a software that professionals across organizations use daily—which makes for a diverse and multidisciplinary crowd. Whatever your job title is, there’s a keynote or workshop that dives into the nitty gritty of how you can use the technology more effectively.
“True to the Core,” a Q&A with Salesforce’s top execs, continues to be a top highlight for those curious about features, updates, and even their biggest frustrations with the software.
It’s not all business at Dreamforce, though. The party schedule is just as extensive as the event’s educational offerings.
Dreamforce 2024 hits San Francisco in September. Best plan ahead: traffic getting into town will be a nightmare!
There are few opportunities to rub shoulders with the world’s top CEOs, executives, and business leaders quite like this. Put on by the big four firm Ernst & Young, the Strategic Growth Forum allows attendees to network and learn from “the authors of the future.”
The marquee event of the forum is the Entrepreneur Of The Year® US awards—which recognizes the incredible leaders that will shape the economy for years to come. The Illumination Experience is also a highlight—offering executives in attendance hands-on time with cutting-edge technology that will play a major role moving forward. Keynotes and workshops on topics from revenue growth to market insights are also on the agenda.
Beyond all this, the Strategic Growth Forum is one of the best environments for good old-fashioned networking. If you’re looking for investors, new partners, and even customers, this is where they’ll be.
EY’s Strategic Growth Forum 2024 takes place this November in Palm Springs.
Google’s playful approach to innovation takes center stage at I/O, the company’s flagship developer conference. It’s even become a tradition for the event dates to be revealed via an interactive puzzle game.
I/O is an opportunity for developers around the world to hone their problem-solving skills, get ahead of the curve on innovation, and have fun doing it.
While I/O is largely attended online, Google has emphasized interactivity for its 2024 event. There is a wide range of communities attendees can join, allowing them to network with developers from around the world. The hope for Google is that these connections last much longer than the event itself, as newly formed professional connections fuel future innovation.
I/O 24 takes over the digital realm in mid-May—and it’s not just professional developers who are excited about it. Hobbyists and novices alike are invited to come attend. Consumers also watch over I/O with a curious eye—as the event often reveals new features and tech products dropping later in the year.
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Whether you’re celebrating success with top performers in Cydcor’s network, or learning about the latest AI innovations from the heads of IBM, nothing rivals what you’ll experience at these top corporate events!
Maybe we’ll see you at one of them!
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.sfweekly.com/marketplace/top-5-corporate-events-2024/article_58dcb2c6-21d0-11ef-a7ab-afacf66c1887.html
Inventor, politician, writer… Benjamin Franklin wore a lot of hats in his life (in addition to being the guy on the $100 bill). But in everything he did, he was a leader — and his quotes on the topic can benefit every aspect of our lives.
Cydcor Chairman and former CEO Gary Polson has learned a lot from this legendary founding father. In this blog, he shares 5 leadership lessons from “The First American.”
Celebrating three innovative game-changers.
Here at Cydcor, we foster and celebrate a community of entrepreneurial ass kickers, while priding ourselves on being unmatched in our drive to help emerging companies achieve their goals. And while our expertise is what we believe sets us apart from the rest, this article shifts the focus to industry giants who are now changing the lives of others.
It’s easy for titans such as the three people below to celebrate their global success and ride off into the sunset, but the mark of a great leader lies in inspiring others to hit the heights they themselves once aspired to achieve.
At Cydcor; “we’re a people-helping-people business.” The following three entrepreneurs have followed suit, building brands that have resulted in thousands of jobs being created - while also making the world a better place.
Jessica Alba’s Honest is currently disrupting the multiple consumer product market all while creating a community for conscious customers. Having stepped down from her role as CEO in early April 2024, she continues to provide strategic advice to the company she founded as a labor of love.
Valued at $550m in 2022, Honest has been led by Alba’s dedication to accountability and integrity. Much like her career in the Hollywood spotlight, she admits to putting pressure on herself to achieve optimal results. “The business kept me in a constant state of pressure, sort of like a hamster wheel,” she reflects.
Alba’s decision to start from scratch came from an innate desire to find that fearlessness she experienced as an up-and-coming actress. “You can’t really fail if you try,” she points out. “Besides, there were no real expectations for me to be successful at anything.”
With her staunch mantra that ‘women can excel in life, and should be treated with fairness,’ Alba created Honest with the goal to introduce products that women can trust. “I knew {when I started} that there needed to be someone to show the world the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion with regards to brand values,” Alba says. “I’m glad I could fill that void.”
A first-generation Iranian-American entrepreneur, Leila Hormozi first came to prominence as a top-selling fitness trainer in the Orange County region of California. After helping to scale hubby Alex’s fourth business, and each one after that she branched out to the software, service, e-commerce, and brick & mortar industries, rising to brand positions in each of those companies while co-founding Acquisition.com.
The holding company for all of her brand ventures, Acquisition prides itself on ‘making real business education available to everyone’ with Hormozi’s philosophy that “the true measure of a leader is the ability to create other leaders.”
With the company generating over $200m in annual revenue, Hormozi’s unbridled work ethic - likened to a ‘wartime’ battle, is matched only by her ability to let others in to celebrate the victories. “A win for one is a win for the other,” she told Entrepreneur.
Hormozi’s no-frills, transparent approach to her businesses has resulted not only in the generating of millions in revenue but also a workplace culture that thrives on overcoming adversity. “Rather than shying away from hard work and responsibility, we encouraged it,” she shares. “We buckled down to reinforce our internal team culture to ensure there would be no error. Ultimately, we never want to make promises to our suppliers that we can’t keep.”
Serena Williams is new to the entrepreneurial game but is turning heads with her approach to the cosmetics industry.
Having founded the appropriately named Wyn Beauty in early 2024, the former Grandslam tennis champion may have taken a step off center court but is well in the trenches when it comes to providing a service for those who are constantly on the run.
“I needed something for my active lifestyle that included hours on the court,” she admits. “Wyn is long-lasting and designed for an active lifestyle that includes sweating and daily living.”
And while stamina is the name of the game in the tennis industry, Williams cites her patience as a transferable quality to her brand endeavors. “I’ve learned to not rush things,” she says. “It took a long time to find ingredients that were clean, but the key is not to introduce a brand until I have it right.”
Stating her gratitude for having ‘the gift’ of a mentor, Williams believes it’s important for young women entrepreneurs to have an established woman to look up to. Williams leads by example, also leading a venture fund that primarily invests in businesses that are started by women of color.
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As these three entrepreneurs continue to kick ass and further their impact on the world, we at Cydcor will continue to do the same.
The entrepreneurial journey is never easy, but investigating the success of others is a great way to see what’s possible and push the limits yourself!
Here’s what happens when entrepreneurs put serving others at the heart of their business. What could this mean for your entrepreneurial journey?
We’re living in the golden age of entrepreneurship.
In 2023, nearly 5.5 million new businesses were started in the United States—the most ever in a single year. As more entrepreneurs bring new products, services, and brands to market, we can only expect that number to keep rising.
But 70% of startups fail within their first 5 years—a testament to how hard it is for entrepreneurs to cut through the noise and build a business that lasts.
Here at Cydcor, we just celebrated our first 30 years in business. While celebrating this achievement, we’ve been able to reflect on our story, and how particularly difficult those first few years were.
For an entrepreneur to lead their startup toward success, it takes more than just talent and hard work (though putting in the work is crucial). It comes down to the business model.
Creating a business model that can turn a profit—consistently, for years to come—is easier said than done. But there is one element that is present in all successful business models, one that you can implement no matter what industry you are in:
Serve others.
Here’s how serving others supports your entire business model—and why it’s the only path to a sustainable business.
The best businesses begin with the solution to a problem…
Helping someone solve a problem is one of the highest forms of service. If you can create a business that alleviates pain and improves the lives of others, you’re on the right track.
That’s why some of the most profitable companies start almost by accident—launched by entrepreneurs who are not even trying to start a business. They’re just people who set out to fix a problem—and are rewarded for it.
A sustainable business model is based on a mutual exchange between a business and its customers. Starting out, the ball is in your court as an entrepreneur to kick off such a partnership. If your first priority isn’t to better the lives of your customers, it doesn’t matter what the rest of your business model is—nobody will be interested in buying from you.
We live in a world where it seems everyone wants something from us. Putting service above everything is what will set you apart from the competition—and make people excited to be working with you over others.
A business isn’t successful just on the merit that it can extract money from its customers.
A business is measured by the problems that it is solving for others. The money comes afterward. And people feel good paying for something that they know is making their life better.
For a startup to survive, building trust is crucial
What happens when you start solving people’s problems, and put service to them first?
They trust you. If you’re an entrepreneur getting a startup through its first few years, trust is your greatest asset.
When you give to others, they often willingly give back. This could mean referrals, great reviews, or even continued patronage.
Getting trust is what so many entrepreneurs struggle with—because it’s not just about saying you’re here to help, it’s about following through on the promise.
This is where the pack starts to thin. Every business says they’re out here to help people, but only the best allow those principles to carry into their day-to-day actions.
Success is just an opportunity to serve MORE people!
Of course, there is no business model without a mechanism to turn a profit. If serving others first is a means to make money, what should happen when the business is bringing in revenue?
That just means you can serve more people!
If you want your business to last, it’s important to not lose sight of the initial mission. It’s easy to be customer-obsessed and put service first when you’re small and starting out—but it gets harder and harder as you grow.
But if you keep laser-focused on putting service first, new opportunities to help others and drive more business emerge.
With scale comes the ability to lower the price of your service or product while maintaining the quality and margins. Now more people can access your solution than ever before.
Growth also necessitates a larger team. Now, you’re not just serving customers—you’re getting opportunities for people to support their families and build a career.
Profit also gives you the chance to give back. Many entrepreneurs find joy and fulfillment in philanthropic endeavors that go beyond their core business.
If you keep your business model centered around service to others, you achieve a snowball effect. The commitment to bettering the lives of others becomes the means for making a profit. And making said profit is a means to bettering more lives.
This is what separates the startups that fizzle out after a couple of years, and the businesses that continue to grow as the decades roll on.
At Cydcor, we’ve always been in the “people serving people” business. It’s what’s allowed us to grow through our first three decades in business.
Knowing that this is the only business model that can stand the test of time, we’re confident that we’ll continue to grow as the decades roll by.
We hope that this inspires you to put service at the core of your business and career. Apply your entrepreneurial drive towards a business model like this—and you will be rewarded with more than just profit!
For leaders, growth is a pivotal part of running a successful business. But to achieve this, seizing opportunities is paramount. Why? It allows you to gain a competitive advantage, build a strong network, generate new customers, and ultimately, increase revenue.
At Cydcor, we foster a community of collaboration, innovation, and personal connections – all aspects that contribute to finding business opportunities. If you’re a seasoned business owner or just dipping your toes in entrepreneurship, knowing how to find said opportunities is the first step.
It can be easier said than done, however. With so much noise circulating media outlets, markets, and society in general, knowing where to look is at times overwhelming. But with helpful guidance to steer you in the right direction, you’ll soon develop the skill to find opportunities behind every closed door.
Whether you’re looking to expand your company’s reach, or interested in how to avoid becoming stagnant in your business, we’ve compiled four key ways for finding find business opportunities to achieve growth.
It may seem like an obvious first step, but it’s more important than you may realize. It is safe to say that at some point during your academic or professional career as an entrepreneur, the term “networking” has been brought up – and I’d wager it’s been a topic of discussion many times. We all know the importance of building and expanding relationships for the development of a business. Yet, for many of us, we have an aversion to networking. In a Harvard Business Review, it’s revealed that executives, other professionals, and MBA students frequently make it known how much they “hate networking”, but Harvard is here to emphasize it’s a necessity for all business leaders.
Maybe you don’t fall into this category, and networking is one of your preferred pastimes. It should become one if it’s not already, or at least an aspect you learn to implement for your business. Finding business opportunities doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn't happen without connections built outside of your organization.
Networking can be as simple as a message over LinkedIn, or even other social platforms like Instagram. But despite the spike in digital communication tools since the pandemic, forming in-person connections remains essential for finding business opportunities. So, the next time you receive an invite to a conference or networking event, don’t decline the RSVP. You never know what potential opportunity awaits!
It goes without saying keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of economic trends is crucial for any successful business. Market research not only provides insight into consumer behavior (valuable information about your target market) but is also a sure way to find business opportunities.
As stated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, “Market research helps you find customers for your business,” and blends “consumer behavior and economic trends to confirm and improve your business idea.”
Gathering population data relating to your target market, which can include age, wealth, interests, and more, can help you to better understand possible business opportunities. It’s essential to know if your product or service is in demand in your area, if you’re competing with similar companies, what your customers can afford, and so on. By assessing available information through market research, you can identify any gaps or areas that pose a potential business opportunity.
By luck or through one of the four methods listed here, you’ve come across a rare business opportunity that could make big shifts in your business. You ponder the pros and cons and question if investing in this opportunity is worth the risk. By the time you’ve concluded your decision, your competitor has pounced on the occasion. Just like that, the opportunity is gone.
This happens all too often, and despite developing the skill for finding business opportunities, without action, becomes redundant. In today's competitive landscape, innovation is integral. “You can’t solve many problems with old solutions,” states Harvard Business School.
At Cydcor, one of the core values that define our culture is change and innovation. We believe that adding value to the people we’re working with and serving only happens when change is implemented. Without change, any business will eventually fall victim to the unyielding grasp of complacency. Like quicksand, businesses can disappear without a trace.
Taking risks is a part of life – both personal and professional. For entrepreneurs, starting a business is a huge risk, but we do it anyway because we found an opportunity and took it.
When was the last time your business went through some sort of change? If you can’t remember, it is time to embrace the unknown. So many opportunities await, it’s up to you to take action.
Last but certainly not least is turning to your team. As they say, the backbone of any business is its team, so what better way to find business opportunities than through the help of your fellow work colleagues?
Teamwork is something we’ve learned from a young age, but somewhere along the way, this value becomes blurred for some. If that’s the case for you and your business, we have some advice: cultivate an environment of collaboration amongst team members! The benefits of doing so are endless and can spur creativity, provide diverse perspectives to problem-solving, and, of course, lead to finding business opportunities.
So, remember, finding business opportunities is about building connections, keeping up with or even staying ahead of trends, taking risks, and utilizing the advantage of strength in numbers. Opportunities come as quickly as they go – it’s about knowing how to find them before the fleeting chance slips away.