The Succeed Network!

How I got to where I am and why you can too! (That is, get to where you want to be, not get to where I am unless you want to... :)

2006-10-22T15:22:00.000-04:00

(Thanks again for the kind words, Robert!) I recently got this comment via email and I thought I'd address it here (since it may or may not be useful to others): "...how [did] you [manage] to get where you're at in life, and how I can stumble myself in that direction." I think the key things for me have been determination (or some may call it hardheadedness... :), resourcefulness and my positive outlook. Regarding determination, one of the things that I am trying to teach my kids now is that "can't" is a bad word. Why? Because in my eyes it is! There are very few things that you are not able to do and in those cases those are the words I try to use: "I am not able to..." But, for the most part I often hear people say "can't" when they don't want to or are afraid to do something. My kids are a prime example. This past summer, I taught my oldest daughter, who was 7 at the time, to ride her bike. (Well, now that I think about it, I didn't really teach her, I encouraged her, but you catch my drift...) At the beginning she was saying that she couldn't do it and that she would fall, etc. etc. I told her that she could do it and reminded her that can't is a bad word. So reluctantly, she started trying and before you know it, she was riding by herself! (Within a couple of weeks, she started riding my son's, her older brother's bike.) The moral is that you are the only thing or person holding yourself back. Got something you've been wanting to do, but haven't done it because you don't know how, are afraid to or any other excuse? Now's the time to do it! Among the worst excuses I hear is I don't have time. Why is this one of the worst? Because you can always make time for things that you really want to do. For example, right now, I'm blogging from my Treo while on the way to the King of Prussia Mall in PA. (And no, I'm not driving in case you are wondering, my wife's driving. :) Why? Because I enjoy it! What else could I be doing? Sleeping (though I did snooze for a few minutes...) So what are you putting off that you could be doing instead of sleeping or watching 24, Lost or Survivor? Succeed! eMarv

How not to succeed! or alienate any potential customers

2006-09-08T04:04:00.000-04:00

Inman News - Anti-Do-It-Yourself Site I saw this on the Inman Blog and I must say that I was very disappointed! What do you think?

Idea: YouTube or Google Video booths

2006-08-31T07:39:00.000-04:00

I havent been very good about posting but I wanted to post this idea before I forget.

With the expansion of personal videos on the Internet, I thought why not have video booths at malls & other places like there are picture booths.

They can be placed close to areas where there is normally a high concentration of young people like close to movie theaters.

So what do you think? Could it work?

eMarv

What is work? - Chapter 1 - How to Stifle Innovation

2006-07-18T17:08:00.000-04:00

First of all, work is a place for business whether your business is a commercial business or government, profit or non-profit. Employees are there to work. And in a business, employees must solely focus on their work. There should be no time for play or distractions. Work is not supposed to be fun. After all it is in fact work. And employees can't be working if they are having fun.

In addition, there must be a clear cut separation between employees' work & personal lives. In this regard, there should be no fraternization between managers and workers. Managers & workers must know their place in the food chain and not let personal lives interfere with work.

How to stifle innovation book idea

2006-07-06T00:51:00.000-04:00

I am thinking about starting to write a book about how to stifle innovation. (Naturally, for those that don't know me, I am all for innovation. :) The reason why I want to take this approach is because I want to use some of my experiences supporting government clients and how they stifle innovation to show readers what not to do. So in future postings, I expect to continue to write about the potential chapters in the book. What do you think? Do you think this will work?

What would happen if everyone told the truth?

2006-06-22T23:58:00.000-04:00

Thinking about joining a startup?

2006-03-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

Bona tempora volvantur--by Guy Kawasaki: Nine Questions to Ask a Startup

Make sure you read Guy Kawasaki's blog post on the 9 questions if you are thinking about joining a startup. It could mean millions for your if the company is extremely successful...

Hope this helps let me know what you think!

New Idea Hunt for General Mills

2006-03-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

From: editors@BigIdeaHunts.net Date: 3/7/06 2:39 pm

To Our Inventor Network:

We're looking for innovative ideas for General Mills in the category of fun, healthy kids' snacks. Ideas will be evaluated for licensing contracts, and merchandise prizes will be awarded. Deadline for the Hunt is April 25, 2006.

*GENERAL MILLS HUNT FOR FUN, HEALTHY KIDS' SNACKS General Mills is seeking fun, innovative kids' snacks that are wholesome and shelf stable. Snacks should appeal to kids ages 4-12 and their moms. Key characteristics: snacks should be innovative, nutritious, tasty to kids, fun and interesting, convenient, portable, require only simple or no preparation, need no refrigeration, and make minimal mess.

For complete guidelines and entry forms, please visit www.bigideahunts.net. ----------------------------------------------------------

Big Idea Group 175 Canal Street, 5B Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: 603-641-5955 Fax: 603-641-5995 InfoBIG@BigIdeaGroup.net

Tips in Traffic (Be Efficient) - Feb 27, 2006

2006-02-27T07:40:00.000-05:00

One of the books that I recently finished reading that directly addresses efficiency is Time Traps where the author provides tips & strategies on how to manage tasks (not time) more efficiently. (The book is geared specifically for salespeople, but I think a lot of the tips apply to everyone.)

One of the more memorable things that was noted is that people waste time doing unnecessary tasks. (I must admit that I am guilty of this but I'm working on it. :) One example presented in the book is faxing. How many times have you stood in front of a fax machine trying & retrying to send something. These types of tasks should be delegated to others as much as possible. If you don't have anyone working for you, then at least make sure you have something important to do while you are waiting for the fax to go through.

So take a look at your daily activities and see where you can squeeze more out what you are doing. I'm sure you already know of some things you do that waste time (e.g. check email & voice mail every 5 minutes, chat with a buddy when you have something, etc.). So limit or stop doing those activities! You'll be happy you did!

Happy Monday & succeed NOW!

Marvin Corea http://www.eMarv.com

Tips in Traffic (Persevere) - Feb, 21, 2006

2006-02-22T02:17:00.000-05:00

I went with the family to see Curious George this past Saturday. (It was ok, but not in the same league as Ice Age, Finding Nemo, etc. At least the kids enjoyed it! :) The main character outside of George is The Man in the Yellow Hat (TMITYH). He was told that the museum where worked was closing so he set out to saving it. He didn't know how and then came up with the idea of finding an ancient statue. He did not have any expeditionary experience, but this did not stop him from continuing his mission. He persevered and overcame his shortcomings and saved the museum.

Now you probably may not be saving any museums anytime soon (maybe you are :), but having the ability to persevere will take you a very long way. For example, it can help you land a job or a contract that you've been seeking.

One thing that you have to be careful of though is not to be a pest. to prevent this from happening make sure you give people enough time to respond or react to your request. For example, when trying to find a position, do send your resume through traditional channels, e.g. via the company website. (Most people will stop here.) However, there are several other things you can do to persevere and get your resume in front of the decision makers. Here's a few: -tap your network to see if you have any friends of friends that work at the company -call the company, find out as much info about the company and position as possible (you should actually do this before sending your resume through traditional channels) -find out who the hiring & HR managers are, who is the ultimate decision maker, then contact them, ask for informational interviews -be polite, sincere and courteous in all of your interactions with the company's people, you never know who will have a hand in the decision to hire new people

These are just a few things that you can do to get hired, but as you can see it takes perseverance especially if you don't have an inside connection.

Everything else being equal, those that persevere are the ones that will usually come out on top.

I'd be interested in hearing any of your perseverance-related stories. Please share them!

Succeed NOW! . Marvin http://www.eMarv.com

PS I started this tip on the road, but I couldn't finish it because I needed to concentrate on the road. :) So I finished this tip at home.

Tips in Traffic (Be Confident) - Feb, 16, 2006

2006-02-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

Luckily (for me at least), my wife got over the fact that I didn't give her a V-day gift. She got her revenge during our Aikido class last night though... Ouch! (Anyone have any ben-gay? :)

Now onto the tip... Be Confident! Confidence goes a long way especially when interviewing. Confidence, enthusiasm & sincerity can make a world of difference (at least if you are speaking in public or want to work with good companies, (shameless plug) like my own).

Normally, when we (at Esenai) interview folks, we do a phone interview first. One of the reasons why is to get a feel or first impression for candidates. This is a great opportunity for candidates to shine. People can show a little personality and actually demonstrate their confidence. We are able to get an idea of a candidate's confidence level by listening to how the candidate talks (tone) in addition to what the candidate says.

So be confident! And if you are interviewing, make sure you have a cheering squad that will get your confidence up before the big show! It can make the difference in getting the job or not. Don't have a cheering squad, you say, then read something inspirational or motivational like (another shameless plug) The Succeed Network! blog.

I know you can do it, you must know that you can do it and you will do it!

Succeed NOW!

Marvin Corea http://www.eMarv.com

Tips in Traffic (Say thank you) - Feb 15, 2006

2006-02-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

I am not a big fan of Valentine's Day, so even though I usually get my wife something, I didn't this year. Big mistake! I should have made sure we were both on the same sheet of music. Naturally, my wife was upset... :( Don't make the same mistake, talk with your loved one to make sure they are not expecting something. Don't make the same mistake I made! :)

Now on to the tip... 3 words: Say Thank You!

This is so easy to do, we often forget. For example, while driving & someone let's you pass, just a quick hand in the air will do the trick. (If you are too cool, then throw up a peace sign. You know how, make a V with your index & middle fingers.)

A thank you will go a long way especially when someone has has a long & thankless day. A sincere thank you will normally lift that person's spirit. It doesn't cost a thing & can make a world of difference!

Thanks for reading!

Succeed NOW! Marvin Corea http://www.eMarv.com

Tips in Traffic (Tell the Truth!) - Feb 14, 2006

2006-02-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day! So did Halmark really create Valentine's Day?

No matter... Here's the tip: Tell the truth! Be candid. I am not implying that you should be mean. In contrast, be respectful and tactful. Approach it from a constructive criticism standpoint with emphasis on the constructive part of it! Think of how you would want to be approached if someone was telling YOU that you are wrong and be more sensitive than that.

From the DC beltway....

Succeed NOW! Marvin http://www.eMarv.com

To network or not to network, that shouldn't even be the question

2006-01-27T21:16:00.000-05:00

Let me define networking by mentioning what it is not: -It is not a one way street, e.g. you should not be asking others what they can do for you, you should be asking what you can do for them. (sound familiar...) -It is not about simply passing your business card to every living being in a social gathering. (That is the networking equivalent of spamming. People will think "who the heck is this person" & look for the nearest trash can. I've actually done that & it doesn't work! :) What you should do is get to know people a little and ask them what their interests are, what they are looking for and how you could be of assistance. Some of you may think that you have nothing to offer someone else (though this is not valid excuse since you can find practically anything you could ever want on the Internet), but if you at least know what the person is looking for, you can get back to him/her if you come across something that could be useful to the person. You can't really go too wrong on this because (especially if the person is a subordinate or peer) s/he knows that you are at least thinking about him/her. (Now you shouldn't send irrelevant & useless information too often since you will appear to be clueless. :) -It is not about being impatient & expecting the next $100 million contract from the first person you meet. You need to build trust in order for your network to be effective & building trust takes time. -It is not about waiting till you need something from someone to start talking to the person. By that time it is unlikely that that person will be willing to give you what you need. However, if you have already been speaking with the person and, even better, have already helped them out, they are much more likely to help you out. It's human nature. Of course you will come across bad apples that only take and never give, but the benefits of helping others far outway the drawbacks of dealing with selfish people on occasion. -It is not about taking as much as possible without giving anything back. You will quickly establish the reputation of being a selfish person. -It is not about making false promises about what you will do and then never follow through. You will again obtain a bad reputation as someone who makes false promises or essentially is a liar. If you can't help someone, let the person know & if possible refer the person to someone that may be able to help. You are then at least seen as someone who is honest and respectful of others' time. -It is not about waiting for people to come to you. It is about you finding others who you can help and who maybe in the future can help you.

In essence, networking is about giving without conditions or guarantees. (There is a little more to it than that but you will learn more as you go.)

Happy networking & let me know how I can help you? :)

http://www.eMarv.com

Are you an Entrepreneur raising capital for your Start-up?

2006-01-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

FYI...

Then the Chicago Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) Venture Forum would like to hear from you!

The CEC Venture Forum is looking for companies who are raising Venture Capital and are interested in presenting at our next Venture Forum in February (date is yet TBD). After the forum, the CEC will follow-up with investors to determine their interest in the companies, to coordinate follow-up meetings, and to provide guidance through the financing process.

Through the Venture Forum and other sources of financial assistance, CEC clients have raised over $15 million in financing over the last 18 months.

If you are or know of a business in the Chicago-land area that is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Melissa Talarico, Program Director for the CEC at:

Melissa Talarico

Phone: (312) 494-6728

Fax: (312) 494-0196

Email : melissa@chicagolandec.org

Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center

330 N. Wabash. Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

Websites: www.chicagolandec.org

www.chicagolandchamber.org

Recommended books for 2006

2006-01-03T09:17:00.000-05:00

The Wisdom of Crowds - a group of independent thinkers is better than the thinkers by themselves The Tipping Point - small things can make big differences & viral marketing Blink - trust your gut (when you know what you're doing) Freakonomics - how things are related that you wouldn't normally think are related (e.g. abortion & crime) Winning - the best chapter is the one on the dirtiest little secret in business: candidness Time Traps - create a team, stop doing unnecessary tasks (i.e. delegate) & start doing more productive tasks The Art of the Start - guide for starting (almost) any organization Rules for Revolutionaries - be different & innovative Never Eat Alone - it's all about relationships & helping others Good to Great - Built to Last - Rich Dad, Poor Dad - The Anatomy of Buzz : How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century BEN JERRYS DOUBLE DIP: HOW TO RUN A VALUES LED BUSINESS AND MAKE MONEY TOO Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty : The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need Joy At Work: A Revolutionary Approach To Fun On The Job Trump Strategies for Real Estate: Billionaire Lessons for the Small Investor Sam Walton : Made In America Losing My Virginity : How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way - Richard Branson's and The Virgin Companies' story

http://www.eMarv.com

Surround yourself with positive people that will encourage you to do your best

2005-12-31T00:22:00.000-05:00

If you want to grow personally & professionally, you need to surround yourself with positive people who will keep you motivated when you are feeling down & give you that extra push when you need it. If you have kids, I'm sure you've probably heard that positive reinforcement is good for kids. Well guess what? It is also good for adults!

Negative people are really draining. Try to stay away from them as much as possible.

BTW, I am not saying that you only need to be around yes people. You should also avoid these. You need positive people who will be candid with you about what you are doing & provide you with constructive criticism that will help you keep going forward.

Good luck! I'm sure you will have a successful new year (especially if you read this blog regularly :)!

http://www.eMarv.com

Spy Kids

2005-12-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Start training them early!

From 12/28 MIT's Technology Review: The National Security Agency's "CryptoKids" website uses cartoon characters to recruit future codemakers and codebreakers. http://wwwnl.technologyreview.com/t?ctl=1058652:429BE90

Investments you can make in your future

2005-12-28T07:35:00.000-05:00

I just bought Todd Duncan's book, High Trust Selling. Even though this book is geared toward salespeople, I thought that a lot of it applies to anyone that wants be successful.

I came across The Law of the Shareholder chapter & thought I'd share the investments he describes. Here they are: 1) Invest in your relationships with those you love 2) Invest in a long-term personal-development program 3) Invest in a ... coach 4) Invest in a competent right-hand assistant 5) Invest in your personal image 6) Invest in a personal financial plan - get a great accountant 7) Invest time in an exercise program 8) Inesst in a client-retention program - for those not in sales, think of your client as the person or organization you work for 9) Invest in a library 10) Invest in technology

Time Traps

2005-12-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

I started reading this book yesterday & I've got to say that I've already had some good ideas about what I need to do to manage my tasks (not time). The primary one is that I need to expand my team.

I currently am in need of a part-time assistant that can help me with real estate related activities. Know of anyone that is high-energy that could help in the Baltimore area? Feel free to email me.

Squidoo - Where everyone's an expert!

2005-12-27T01:18:00.000-05:00

I recently found Squidoo and thought that the concept was interesting. I think this might comparable to Yahoo 360 but Squidoo is probably more for professionals.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

http://www.squidoo.com http://www.emarv.com

About SinceSlicedBread.com

2005-12-07T08:16:00.000-05:00

from SinceSlicedBread.com Since Sliced Bread is a national call for fresh, common sense ideas. A call for ideas that will strengthen our economy and improve the day-to-day lives of working men and women and their families. It’s also a place where ordinary Americans and experts alike can discuss the important economic issues of our times. Our goal: An America where the American Dream is alive and well in the new global economy of the 21st Century. Global competition and the fast-changing world of work create opportunities and challenges that require bold thinking from political leaders. Not only is Washington not delivering, but policies are made without talking to ordinary Americans — yet who is better equipped to offer common sense ideas? Since Sliced Bread seeks ideas that are original and creative, have the best chance of practical success and would most effectively: * Grow the economy * Create good-paying jobs that allow people to raise a family, afford health insurance, pay for their children’s college education, get additional training and save for retirement * Encourage existing companies to expand and entrepreneurs to start new ones. Finally, keep in mind who should benefit from the ideas — whom this contest is about. Since Sliced Bread is also changing the way Washington works. It’s an unprecedented effort to give ordinary Americans — people who are rarely asked for ideas on how to fix the economy — the chance to offer theirs. We’re serious about wanting to change the way policy ideas emerge. Since Sliced Bread is so serious about finding and rewarding good ideas that a panel of respected thinkers and community leaders will choose 21 finalists and public voting will determine the top three ideas. The winner receives a grand prize of $100,000 and our commitment to work to make the idea a reality. The two runners-up take home $50,000. All 21 ideas will be featured in a book to be published in 2006.

Seeking high-growth potential companies looking to change the world

2005-11-26T00:19:00.000-05:00

I recently joined the Active Angel Investors network. (The group is led by John May, who has been at the forefront of the angel investor movement.) I must say that I am glad to have joined a diverse group of folks. This is really one (among many) of the benefits of joining an angel network, one is able to leverage the experiences of other members of the group. As far as my investment interests are concerned, I am interested in helping organizations as a senior advisor, board member and/or investor. (If as an investor, I'd prefer to also be a board member.) Ideal organizations are ones that want to make the world a better place and have high growth potential. If I cannot help you and your organization is compelling, I can most likely refer you to someone who can. Feel free to contact me.

Give! or Pay it forward!

2005-10-23T21:43:00.000-04:00

More than ever...as I continue to read and meet more people, I really believe that in order to receive, one should give without expecting anything in return. This is a true paradox because conventional thinking would have you think that you should try to actively obtain as much of whatever you are trying to gather without necessarily worrying about giving to others. One prime example of giving without expecting to receive is my Army buddy, Joel. He is a very successful business developer that attributes his success to giving to others without expecting anything in return. The reason why he says that it works is because others see that he is willing to share information that they would otherwise not have and they in turn do the same. Needless to say, he has inspired me to become more giving. I think that that has become one of my purposes in life...Giving! I hope that you would also consider it. BTW, feel free to contact me if there's any way I can help you. Pay it forward!

For people leaving the military

2005-09-20T00:30:00.000-04:00

Start looking for work or at least seeing what's out there at least a year before your ETS (i.e. before you get out). You do not want to be in a situation where you have one month before you get out and you have nothing to jump into because that is when desperation will likely overcome you and many employers do not necessarily want someone that is desperate. In addition, it may take some companies a few months before they are able to hire you because of their layers of management and hiring system. I will give you my situation so you can know of one way to do it: It must have been probably January of 2000 and I was tired... Why you may ask? Because my job was becoming boring and it was not challenging. I had just returned from being in the Defense Attache Office in Hanoi, Vietnam (where the job was not incredibly exciting but at leat we got to experience Vietnam). I wanted to do something... something different. So I started exploring opps outside of the military at least a year before my ETS and applied for a position with Oracle Corporation (among others) about 4 months before my early out. Tarisa (my manager at Oracle) luckily saw something in me and hired and the rest is history...