A few weeks ago I ran into a web designer who was holding this small, bright red book that had two black stripes on the cover towards the top and it caught our eye. I asked him, “What kind of book is that?” He responded with, “Oh this is a creative book from 99u that I have been reading called Make Your Mark: The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact. Have you heard about 99u?” Right away I knew I had to read this book. I snapped a photo with my iPhone and before the gentleman left he said, “by the way this is the third book in the series, you will want to read the other two first.” Later that day I ordered all three books on Amazon and thanks to Prime they would be delivered the day before I left for vacation.
Vacation being my time to really disconnect and not be tied to my cell, Social Media, and the rest of the internet. Vacation is a time to relax, soak up the sun, enjoy time with friends and family, and really catch up on reading the books we usually don’t make time for while working. Up Interstate 5 towards Redding, California lie wooded areas untouched by cell reception and internet. Yes, this is a rare thing to find these days but thankfully I still have a spot I can go to get away from it all.
Kicking off day one of vacation, I started reading “Make Your Mark: The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact.” Even though it is volume three in the series I decided to start with this one as it directly related to my mindset at the moment. As a business owner, especially those of you in a start-up, you know how important it is to define your purpose and move forward with it. Well, that is exactly what the first chapter is all about. It covers everything from defining your purpose to launching ideas, asking questions and solving real world problems. As an entrepreneur this is something you should consistently be doing, asking questions and solving real world problems. If you are not doing this then you should be asking yourself “What am I doing and why am I doing it?”
From here the book goes into what I can only describe as a perfect blueprint for building a business. It takes you from defining your purpose to building your product, to serving your customers and even to building your team. Everything in the third volume of the series was spot on with my mindset. A powerful and inspirational book for anyone interested in creating a business, anyone already a business owner or anyone just looking for a fresh perspective on building a team or product.
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If that wasn’t enough, I also found the stand out quotes defined in white print between each section to be inspiring and motivating. A few stand out quotes are:
“ Good design is as little design as possible.” – Dieter Rams
“Put the customer first. Invent. And be Patient.” – Jeff Bezos
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” Simone Weil
“The more one does, the more one can do.” Amelia Earhart
The last two quotes listed above really caught my attention, no pun intended here. First, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” Pause and read that carefully. “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” This is something we all want to do right? Grab someones attention! But have you ever thought of it in this way before? Think about it and get back to me.
An example for me would be when someone takes the time to provide me with feedback either on my website, a social media post or in person (the rarest, yet most beneficial for both parties). I am so thankful when someone gives me their attention. You know how hard it is these days to get someone’s attention so when you do be grateful for it! Second, “The more one does, the more one can do.” If I had to pick a quote right now that best describes me this would be it! Yes, I help you understand your purpose in social media, but I do so much more than that. I help make business & technology Stupid Easy™ for you.
I’m a resource for anything ranging from helping you get organized to researching to business coaching to social media and apps. I work with clients who have not even gotten past the idea stage of their business to clients who have been running their business for 5+ years. At the end of the day it all comes down to having someone you know, like, and trust to go over the important things surrounding you, your team, and your business. That is why I like to research and do a little bit of everything so that I can be a valuable resource to you. If I don’t know the answer I look for someone who does.
If the job would be best suited for someone else then I won’t be afraid to speak up and recommend you, my client or potential client, to the right person. For me, it’s all about connecting with you, providing a fresh perspective, and seeing what we can create together that will allow you to continue to move forward. For me the exciting part of my job is the brainstorming and collaboration part because it breaks you, the client, free from your day to day tasks and breathes new life into your business.
Go out and buy this book, “Make Your Mark: The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact.”
I hope this made an impact on you and that you also have a better understanding of me and how Ed Troxell Creative can help motivate and inspire you.