By any definition, Beyoncé is a superstar entertainer, so it's hard
to believe that she would release an album without any fanfare or
advance warning. But that's exactly what she did today when she dropped
her fifth solo album, a "visual album" of 14 original songs and 17 music
videos.
What can you take away from this move? The importance of connecting
directly with your fans -- and for "fans" you can substitute clients,
customers or what you will. "I didn't want to release my music the way
I've done it," the singer said in a statement. "There's so much that
gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't
want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just
want this to come out when it's ready and from me to my fans."
Many of the most successful businesses and professionals have managed
to create this kind of personal connection. And it's working for
Beyoncé: She sold 80,000 copies of the album within the first three
hours. More: Surprise: Beyoncé Drops New Album With No Warning Whatsoever
Originality isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Candy Crush took the mobile gaming world by storm, but not because of
its originality. "Crossing the arbitrary waiting of Farmville with the
one-more-swipe addictiveness of Bejeweled catapulted Candy Crush into
something that no one had seen before," says Adam Toren, a serial
entrepreneur and the co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. Which is to
say that originality plays second fiddle to perfection in the tech
world. The best organizational or note-taking app is likely to share
elements with other apps of its kind. Your goal when building a new app
should be to cross-breed and perfect existing ideas, says Toren. "The
best way to find ideas for your next app is on the top free/paid lists
on any app marketplace." More: The Keys to Candy Crush's Success
Ignore your email in the morning.
Email is a useful tool, but too often we let one aggravating or
demanding email set the tone for our day. Instead of rolling over in bed
to pick up your phone and check email first thing in the morning, wait
until you've set a plan of action for the day. Or at least wait to
respond until you've showered and eaten breakfast, recommends James
Reinhart, the co-founder of thredUp.com, a fashion resale website.
"Immediately getting into an email conversation with a colleague is the
fastest way to derail a productive morning," he says. "Remember the old
adage “your emergency is not my problem� It’s the same with
email." More: 5 Tips to Take Control of Your Inbox
Your first employee should be a generalist.
Making your first hire as the founder of a new company can be a tense
and difficult process. Should you hire someone who is simpatico with
you, or someone who will challenge your assumptions? There are sound
arguments to be made on both sides. One thing you should do is to hire a
generalist, says Karim Abouelnaga, the founder of Practice Makes
Perfect, a nonprofit that works with underprivileged students. When it
comes to employee No. 1, he says, "I've found that having someone who is
good at a few things is better than having a colleague that is an
expert at one or two areas." Unless you badly need help with technical
issues or a specific facet of the business, don't hire a bonafide expert
just yet. More: How to Make Your First Hire Less Terrifying
Learn from the best.
When Josh Flagg, a real-estate agent who stars on the Bravo network TV
show Million Dollar Listing LA, was a kid, he spent his Sundays going to
open houses. "By the time I was in high school, I already knew several
top brokers," he says. One broker in particular captivated him with his
ability to sell clients on home purchases. "This is a little
embarrassing to admit, but I would go home and practice saying the same
things he said," Flagg says. "There are probably scripts for your field
too -- learn them from the top producers." More: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From a 'Million Dollar Agent'
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