Cynthia launched into the room, all pumped with energy, her flyers in hand.  The meeting room was already crowded.  She immediately arranged her three flyers on the nearest promotion table, even though there was scarely any space.  She combined someone else’s flyers into another person’s pile to make room for her own to be splayed out. 

She’d made sure her wallet had plenty of business cards before she left the house and she added several to the table too.  Cynthia thought it was okay to place them on top of another person’s flyers.  “Afterall, he’s in carpet cleaning, so everyone can tell we’re two different businesses.  And, with my photo on my cards, I’ll stick out.” 

Looking ever the part of the consummate professional in her new pants outfit, even though she had few clients and no current prospects for more, she eagerly jumped into an existing conversation with a small group nearby.  She began with a long introduction of herself, not noticing the awkward looks on their faces since she’d interrupted someone mid-sentence who had been talking. 

When it was time to give her 30-second business introduction, she went over the alloted minute per person.  The meeting leader had to ring the bell twice on her, but she didn’t pay any attention, and kept on with a few more sentences before finishing and walking to her seat.  ”I pay for these meetings,” she thought, “and 30-seconds is no where enough time to tell everyone all I do.”

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What makes some ideas take off and others remain duds that are difficult to get off the ground?   Well, it’s true there’s a lot to be said for timing (Is it something others want to hear right now?  Has it’s time passed?  Is it too ahead of it’s time?)  But there are other important points to cover that make the difference between a hit and a flop, here are a few of those:

1.  Don’t do it in a vacuum.  Whether your project is really a one-person operation or involving many, you still need others to help you get the job done or at least encourage your best efforts.  In solo projects, let others learn your good ideas and support you.  If you’re expected to interface with others or get feedback from them, don’t put it off, it could save you fix-it time later.   How you communicate your project lead and launch strategy is important to garner their input or simply their vote, not to mention their respect.  In bigger projects your smooth planning and approach can allow you to be more transparent, fulfilling on a team machine that runs smoothly and with cooperation.

2.  Have a clear idea of what you want the end result to be.  Even if you’re making some of it up as you go along, you have a well-reasoned direction based on some track record of experience and research, that has others want to follow you.  You don’t have all the answers, yet enough of the map is there combined with your firm belief in your goal, that you’re able to rally a united spirit in others where they’ll want to solve any new problems with you.

3.  Express a confident attitude that is open-hearted, generous and enthusiastic.  Your passion in general and specifically for your idea, helps you and others want to find ways to correct whatever is necessary along the way.  You not only inspire leadership, but you’re able to ask for it easily and others will want to assume leadership roles to support your great idea.

4.  With your big picture vision, don’t miss the details.  However, do as few of these details yourself as possible.  Instead, manage others to become engaged and each be an important cog in the wheel turning.  Hire a Virtual Assistant to do some of the details you don’t want you or your participants distracted by.

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