The Insider Archive
2009: A YEAR OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Innovation Matters, Volume 3, Issue 1 - January 13, 2010
The new year always brings an opportunity for personal betterment, new business development and professional growth. As we begin 2010, Innovation Philadelphia has brainstormed a few strategies to offer creative entrepreneurs, creative job seekers and creative professionals looking to jump start the year and turn opportunities into realities. With 2009 behind us, this is the time to lay out a plan for achieving the business and personal goals you have for the next twelve months. We hope that you are able to use a few of these suggestions in your plan and wish you a prosperous, innovative and creative new year!
Creative Entrepreneur
The past year offered challenges to many entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the Philadelphia region and around the globe. While many businesses saw cuts in profits and layoffs, there were new opportunities for those who got creative in their strategies and who sought diligently for new clients. Currently, freelancers make up 26% of the US workforce (Business Week). Indicators are pointing to a slow economic recovery and an increase in freelancers. While many businesses and entrepreneurs are still feeling the pinch, here are a few ways you might be able to increase your market share and foster new business relationships.
1.) Cultivate contacts already in your book. Many of us have address books full of contacts - current clients, old prospects, colleagues, friends and family. Take the time to go through your contacts and identify old prospects who might now be in need of your services or current clients who you haven't checked in with recently. A short email or even a brief phone call is a great way to re-engage a prospect who might be considering adding the services you offer. It is also a great way to add on to services you offer an existing client by re-evaluating their needs and their budget. This no-cost outreach takes a little time and has the potential to generate substantial results.
2.) Spruce up your website content. Once the hard work of developing a website and drafting the preliminary content is over, there is a tendency not to update the text. Now is a perfect opportunity to take a look at your site and give it a fresh voice. Make sure that the information reflects who you are, all the services and products you offer are listed and that pictures or portfolios are recent and compelling. A website is many times the first impression a potential customer or client has and you want to make sure it is your best work. Innovation Philadelphia will be following this piece of advice - we are in the process of minor updates to our site and its content - check back at the end of January for new and updated resources!
3.) Network with new professional associations. Everywhere we turn we hear how important connections and networking are to business development and to meeting new clients. You probably attend more networking events than you would like to count, but are you meeting new people or seeing the same faces over and over again? Many networking events are offered through professional organizations and associations, but by attending those types of events you probably meet people in a similar line of work or people who you already know. Try to attend at least one networking event per month from an organization you do not belong to. Check with friends and colleagues to find out what groups they are affiliated with to get ideas about new groups to access. This should bring you a new network of people to share ideas with and to promote the services and products you offer.
4.) Evaluate your place in the market. The market where you sell your goods and services is constantly changing with competitors and products entering and leaving in a steady stream. Self-reflection and evaluation are necessary to maintain a competitive advantage. Take some time to determine your position in the marketplace - are you standing out among your competitors? Is the market for your goods or services saturated? Is there something else you can do to advance your position in the market ? By taking a step back and looking at the entire picture of your industry or sector you may see a space for new product or service or find new ways to distinguish the products and services you currently provide. If nothing else, you will be more aware of industry trends and be better prepared for changes that might take place in the future.
5.) Gain a stronger sense of your finances. Take a very critical look at what you actually need to run your business. During a time when people are hustling to find new business and develop new relationships, now is a great time to see how healthy your business finances are and to know how much you need to bring in to survive. By knowing your exact financial needs, you will be in a position to determine the types of jobs and how many jobs you should be undertaking. Many times, entrepreneurs and freelancers are offered projects or assignments that will help pay the bills but aren't necessarily top picks. With know your exact expenses, you might have the benefit of turning down jobs you aren't passionate about. Start the year off with a financial plan that can drive the types of projects or clients you take on throughout the year.
Creative Job Seeker
Job seeking can be a harrowing experience. Take control! This process is not forever and it can be fun. The connections made during job seeking will serve as a great network later on. Take this opportunity to gain confidence, learn about yourself and your limits and demonstrate strength to your network.
1.) Don't underestimate informational interviews. We all have networks. College, past employment, social groups and even your everyday coffee shop stop are your networks. All of them have the potential to help hone your career goals and even open your mind to occupations and paths you never considered. Tap into them formally with an informational interview. The easiest way to schedule an informational interview is to utilize your email list or Linked In. Think of it as a networking tool more than a job interview. Be positive, professional, inquisitive and thankful.
2.) Assess your electronic presence. What is the world seeing about you when you aren't looking? You would be surprised how you are judged before a face-to-face interaction. Take control of your reputation and do a full assessment of your electronic presence. Begin by asking yourself "What are the 3 adjectives I want people to think of when they read this?" Define those adjectives and stick to them. This means reviewing, reading, editing and synchronizing your message of who you are online, over the phone, etc. Major outlets to assess would be your profiles (Linked In, Twitter, Facebook...), your phone message and your email signature. Do you want to use one professional photo for all of them? How about your tagline? Keep your presence simple, clean and concise.
3.) Break your keyword rut. When searching for jobs, it is easy to visit the major job sites daily and click your saved search for "web developer" or "art director" and get frustrated with the minimal new jobs available. Break your keyword rut! Your personality is defined beyond your first and last name and so are jobs! Try typing "innovative" or "humor" or "creative" and see what you get. It's free and only takes a few minutes. You may find the perfect position you that never popped up before.
4.) Revamp your networking. Part of finding a job is who you know. Networking is key, but doing it effectively is mastered by few. Just because you are unemployed, does not mean your time isn't worth money. Assign yourself an hourly wage and calculate what attending the event will cost you. Is it worth it? Also, networking goes beyond events. Activities like coworking and internships offer exposure to working professionals while they are working. They begin to think of you not as a social acquaintance, but as a colleague with professional talents.
5.) How much are you worth? Job seekers seem to avoid the topic of salary at all costs. It is a top concern while job seeking, but is discussed late in the process. Take control and know what you want. Your target number should be in the middle of your range and share that with the interviewer appropriately and early on in the process. Begin by asking "Is there a salary range for this position?" If the salary is much lower, maybe it can be negotiated higher due to your experience or maybe the benefits package is unbeatable.
Creative Young Professional
Having a job in these times can be challenging. Many are working on overload due to personnel cuts and not finding too many rewards other than being employed. Take this time to think of your career in 10 years. Where do you want to be and what do you need to do now to get there?
1.) New partnership for success. Working with the same team of people is attractive because expectations are predictable. But many times, working with new people pushes us beyond our comfort zone and develops new skills and attitudes. Find someone you haven't worked with and get together to expand your skill set and get to know someone new. Ask to be put on another project besides your usual with a different team. Employers will see and appreciate your initiative.
2.) Event swap. New events and associations are always great to try when expanding your network. Ask a friend if they will bring you to one of their regular events to introduce you to the organization and new people. Bring that friend to one of yours. Not only does this make you look like a great connector because you are bringing a new person, but you have a partner to break the ice for you.
3.) Skill development. We can't do everything, no matter how much we want to. But, we can pick one skill to develop. Whether it's a personal interest or professional necessity, what is it you want to learn and master? If it's a creative outlet you need, how about a class in painting or writing? For work, maybe sales knowledge or research strategies are something missing in your skill set. Whatever it is, stretch your brain and ignore your comfort zone.
4.) Seek non-monetary rewards. Many companies are freezing salaries and forgoing bonuses. Seek non-monetary rewards that may be just as important to you. Does your company have memberships they can subsidize? How about suggesting new benefits such as gym discounts or transit checks? They cost the company slim to none, but have an incredible impact on the well being of employees. Also effective is requesting extra vacation time or a title change to reflect a promotion, even though your salary does not.
5.) Coffee or lunch once a week. Make a goal to have coffee or lunch with a different coworker or colleague once a week. Sift through the contact list and email 4 people you haven't talked with in a while and schedule a time to rendezvous. It will be refreshing to expose yourself to a new personality and break out of the routine.
For whatever category you fit, embrace 2010 and take control of your creativity. This year is set to be one of opportunity, growth, collaboration and intensity. Be a major player instead of sitting on the sidelines. Good luck! Innovation Philadelphia will be there to cheer you on along the way.