Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast
Advice, support and encouragement to stop being a corporate prisoner and start your own business
When is your brand "good enough" to start marketing? If you are just starting to market your business, you might feel a little exasperated when trying to choose a perfect brand name.  It may feel like until you do this, you can't move forward with any marketing plans and you feel stuck and frustrated.

In this episode, I cover:
  1. What a good branding process should look like
  2. Which marketing activities you can undertake before your brand is fully baked
  3. Which marketing activities you should hold off on until you are 80% or more satisfied with your brand
I also mention a few resources:

My second podcast First plan your life, then plan your business
Great brand naming resource:  namedevelopment.com
Example of a great brand:  Legal Sanity
Guy Kawasaki's book Art of the Start
Marketing/branding resources for coaches:
Andrea Lee's book Multiple Streams of Coaching Income
Suzanne Falter-Barns' site getknownnow.com

Please let me know what you think about this topic on the blog!  escapefromcubiclenation.com
(I know at least a few of you will really disagree with my approach - let's hash it out!)


Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_When_is_your_brand_good_enough.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:53pm MST

Proud member of the Island of Misfit Toys Do you often feel like the oddball in your family, your job or your profession?

Drawing on inspiration from the "Island of the Misfit Toys" from the 1964 classic movie Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, I outline ways to:
  1. Celebrate your unique quirks, differences and personal history
  2. Tie them in with needs in your market
  3. Be proud of the misfit you are and reflect it in an authentic and kickass brand!
For those that are fans of the movie, I found a really fun link with some of the back story of the characters and how it was made:  Rudolf:  Behind the Scenes

Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_Proud_member_of_the_Island_of_Misfit_Toys.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:00am MST

The customer likeability factor Knowing what business to start is a huge question for many aspiring entrepreneurs.  Aside from examining your own passions and interests, you can gain great insight into this question by thinking about your ideal customer in the following dimensions:

  1. Who would I genuinely like to work with?  What characteristics do they share?
  2. What impact would my product or service have on their life?  How does it feel to know I am having a positive impact?
  3. How would I feel talking about my business with these customers? 
See how the "customer likeability factor" impacts your decisions about what business to start.  Please share your thoughts on the blog!  www.escapefromcubiclenation.com
Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_The_customer_likeability_factor.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:19am MST

The curse of competence

Do you do something very well, get recognition and rewards for it but feel very burned out and dead when you practice it?  You may suffer the curse of competence, a deadly trap for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

This episode discusses how to avoid starting a business based on a skill or ability you are burned out on.  It can seem the easy path to money, but often leads to real frustration and apathy.

Some strategies discussed:

  1. Disconnect the ability from the job description
  2. Create a personal development plan to give yourself time to learn new skills
  3. Consider a mix of "curse of competence" and new skills to kick-start your business

I'd love to hear your comments on the blog - www.escapefromcubiclenation.com

 

 

Direct download: curseofcompetence.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:41pm MST

Beat negative self-talk when starting a business

Two of the most critical elements of becoming a successful entrepreneur are developing a positive mental attitude and defeating negative self-talk.  This is important to not only produce great business results, but also to enjoy the day-to-day process of building your business.

In this episode, I discuss two elements of a postive mental attitude:

  1. Distinguishing between your "essential" self and your "social" self to ensure you are doing work you are meant to do
  2. Using a simple 4-question process called "The Work" to overcome negative self-talk

Sources I refer to are Martha Beck's book Finding Your Own North Star:  claiming the life you were meant to live and Byron Katie's Loving What Is:  Four questions that can change your life 

Leave comments at www.escapefromcubiclenation.com

Direct download: Escape_podcast_-_Beat_negative_self-talk.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm MST

Reduce your marketing dread

In this episode, I cover three things that help new entrepreneurs overcome their dread of all things marketing:

  1. Readjusting your marketing mindset
  2. Clearly defining a niche
  3. Selecting and creating a marketing plan

I reference two helpful marketing experts:

Robert Middleton from www.actionplan.com and

John Jansch from www.ducttapemarketing.com

Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_Reduce_marketing_dread.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:00am MST

How do I choose which business to start?

Many people have questions about which business to start.  But most approach the task from the wrong angle, believing that if they just think about it enough that the answer will magically appear.

In this episode, Pam covers:

  1. A myth about the process of deciding which business to start
  2. Insight into why it is such a difficult quest for veteran corporate employees 
  3. A (fun) homework assignment to get some insight into the best business idea for you 
Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_What_kind_of_business_should_you_start.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:46pm MST

Escape Podcast - Plan your life then your business

This episode covers the importance of thinking about the kind of life that would make you happy, healthy, stable and fulfilled before you run down the road of creating a business plan.  I include an easy-to-complete exercise with just enough "woo woo" to make you relax in your cube.

Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_Plan_your_life_then_your_business.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:53am MST

Escape Podcast - First episode

This episode introduces the purpose and intent of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast.  It will build on content I write on my blog www.escapefromcubiclenation.com as well as include interviews with interesting, informative, passionate and creative people who know more than a thing or two about entrepreneurship.

Direct download: Escape_Podcast_-_First_episode.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:45am MST