Netrepreneur Personality Traits

I have always had the entrepreneurial frame of mind - seemed to have come naturally to me. Both parents had their own businesses, so I was exposed to that environment at a young age. I actually remember in high school thinking about ways to make money rather than be in class all day. If that meant working 10-12 hour days, 3 jobs or 7 days a week that was fine by me. And, I did just that. I was raised to believe that the sky was the limit if you were willing to work for it; maybe that is why work is easy for me.

For whatever reasons, I never saw barriers. I always strove for more rather than taking the easy, consistent or predictable road and settling for less. Risk - what’s that? With the risks I have taken, I don’t view them as risks at the time. In retrospect, only then do I perceive them as the actual risks they were. Challenges - bring ‘em on! That is the attitude and history that has made me a fish in water with technology.

I think this is fun, amazing, exhilarating and a challenge every day I sit down at this desk. I never know what will be in my e-mail, what opportunity will become apparent, what client or potential new partner will call to add some new twist to my day. What a blast! Right? Right for me - but not many. . . I have found that not every personality is conducive to being self-employed, being online or having a successful online program. I can spot those with True Netrepreneur potential a mile away!

While this environment of constant flux, ongoing knowledge acquisition and consistent change is something I thrive on, many involved in technology are confused, frustrated, aggravated and wish there was a better way. A better way . . . wow. How do you help folks who feel that way about one of the most unbelievable opportunities in our history for businesses of every size, shape and methodology to gain market share, get the edge over competitors, learn new skills? I am not sure you can help. There is no “better way” other than to learn, apply and work hard. Aren’t those the very staples that build most successful businesses and by the way, this fine country?

When I first started consulting in the early 90’s I admit I was naive. It was crystal clear to me what this technology would do to our lives, in business and for entrepreneurialism overall. The floodgates had opened. No doubts in my mind! I was excited about the opportunity to bring all this wonder and opportunity to those who wanted to participate. I was willing to teach, mentor and coach anyone with the desire to succeed. I had been a corporate trainer and came into this with the skill set and patience to effectively transfer knowledge and skills. I wanted to help folks to grow their businesses, be the first with something new so they had the edge over their competitors. Something that would remain “new” for a long time. Something that was going to change the way of doing business, as we knew it - forever.

After over 9 years, that naiveté is now a thing of the past. One cannot teach those who do not want to make the effort to learn, apply, work hard - no matter what level of patience is involved by my side. So much of a Netrepreneur’s success has absolutely nothing to do with me or is within my control to change.

Below are traits and attitudes I have identified are those necessary to anyone who wants to get involved in and succeed with technology. They have proven the test of time and can be learned or acquired if one so desires. It is one thing to call yourself a entrepreneur; it is quite another to successfully become a True Netrepreneur.

1. Knowledge Acquisition: True Netrepreneurs are well versed in the amount of technology they have to understand, the knowledge and skills they must acquire to succeed that pertains directly to their program. Ask any one of them - there is no way around this and it wasn’t easy. They determined what they needed to know to run their online program effectively and if they don’t want to be an expert in certain areas, they partnered with those who are proven experts and make them a welcomed part of their team. The basics of what a business owner needs to know to participate successfully online is more than most want to embrace. Those that are True Netrepreneurs go through the frustrations of getting past any roadblocks of understanding so they can reach their goals.
2. Business Savvy: True Netrepreneurs have an innate ability to be able to make their decisions solely from a business point of view. They have strong overall business experience off-line and know certain staples need to be in place and practiced to succeed. They assume the same with their online presence and are willing to do their due diligence to ensure the decisions they make are made from a information based point of view not on how they “feel” or what they are “willing to deal with” but on what will ensure their success.
3. Relationship Building Skills: True Netrepreneurs know how to nurture their business relationships to instill open communications and an environment for their partners to have the latitude to successfully do the job they were hired to do. They prefer to engage in long-term mutually respectful partnerships rather than be classified as just another customer. Their relationship with their partners reflects this attitude. They do not challenge their partners based on non-qualified or less experienced resources. They put their trust in their partners to do their job - which is to make them successful. With all the inaccurate information and noise available about having a successful online program, they prefer to rely on their partners to tell them what they need to do, know, and think about rather than try to absorb or question every bit and byte of information.
4. Non-Egomaniacal: True Netrepreneurs realize the need to put their ego on the shelf so that they can be informed, coached and advised in areas they have no experience in. They do not want their weaknesses catered to. They don’t want issues sugar-coated. They want to get to the crux of what is required for them to succeed even if that means it may not be what they perceived. They welcome being told when they are incorrect on issues important to their program’s health. They would rather be told they are wrong and correct the situation rather than have “being right” limit their success.
5. Desire to Succeed: True Netrepreneurs have an insatiable desire to succeed. No matter the hours required, the costs involved, the time that will be required of them to be spent investigating new markets, trends, software, applications. They accept the fact that to succeed with technology will be an ongoing challenge where the only consistency is change. They make a point of listening to their partners to keep ahead of the competition and they do not piecemeal that advice when applying it to their program. This desire pushes them ahead through the frustrations, challenges and unknowns.

The above traits make the difference between unlimited potential success and frustrated settling for less. For those who are not True Netrepreneurs but only play one on T.V., the proven way to success makes working with me a sometimes unpleasant experience. I challenge them to be the best they can be with their online program only to receive excuses. My realistic methodology is taken as making things more difficult, expensive or not catering to the “customer is always right” attitude. I make each client aware of the variables and issues necessary for them to reach their goals and don’t compromise on my recommendations or standards in the guise of customer service - in the long term that would be a disservice.

The True Netrepreneurs that I partner with realize the importance of the information and recommendations I advise as many times being time-sensitive and directly relative to their level of success. They distinguish my track record, the experience and expertise that I bring to their program as a rare commodity. They don’t question advice based on less credible information that may cater to their weaknesses. They know that my only goal is to make them successful and hopefully more comfortable in a very difficult and ever changing environment. They know I am here to hold their hand and to discuss their frustrations without having to personalize issues because they feel insecure in an arena that isn’t their forte.

That is what I am here for and am proud to be part of. There is nothing like having a client who begins a bit unsure and uninformed and then to watch them blossom into one of the True Netrepreneurs I describe above. I guess I now know how parents feel when watching their children graduate from college. Pride, happiness and anticipation of the exciting things that the future holds for them.

What are average Web Site costs? Let’s answer a question with a question. What is an “average Web Site” anyway? I don’t think you would find a single business owner that would be satisfied with an “average” Web site. In my experience most want extraordinary.

Average: n
1. An intermediate level or degree.
2. The usual or ordinary kind or quality.

In order to succeed online, you need more than “intermediate” or “usual or ordinary.”

You could visit 100 different developers and get 100 different price quotes based on your description. The price will vary based on the business experience and skill set of the developer, what their services include and what type of site you would like them to create for you. And, many times clients are surprised at how what they feel is a simple description, may not be as simple to implement.

Since each site owner has different desires and expectations, you can very quickly see how there can be no such thing as an “average Web site cost.”

What Determines Web Site Costs?

For example:

• How many total pages do you want to have in your Web Site? Most developers charge by the page.
• How many contact forms would you like to have? The complexity of each form can determine the price.
• Do you want any special functionality or scripts that need to be integrated? If we can use an “out of the box” application or existing scripts, the costs are much less.
• Is the functionality you desire something that has to be customized to your requirements? Reinventing the wheel or customization of established applications takes time, skills and additional cost.
• How many images or photos do you want the developer to “Webolize” and integrate for your site? Quality graphic creation for the Web is a skill set in of it self in order to have visually appealing photos and graphics on your site. The number of graphics/photos will dictate the time required to integrate them into your new site.
• How much support and training will you require to run your new online operation?

Look at building a Web site like building a house. Number of bedrooms and baths, attached garage, Jacuzzi, hardwood floors or vinyl or whether you have central air or not can and will affect the final price tag of your home. The very same methodology applies to determining the cost for Web sites.

Based on my 13 years of online experience, when potential customers are looking for the “average” cost, they are more times than not looking for the least expensive cost. What a mistake!

Now that your Web Site will be your company’s face to the world, price shopping based on average Web Site costs alone, can many times have the customer choosing a less experienced and skilled developer. The results will then have a negative impact on their online presentation and reputation.

Web development is still a fairly new industry. If you are seeking out prices for your project, you’ll find project costs will fluctuate from developer to developer. This is where it is imperative for the customer to be an educated consumer.

Clients cannot let their lack of knowledge or intimidation with technology prevent them from learning enough to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. If they don’t make the effort to investigate their potential online partners, they may find they will not get what they assumed they were paying for. Nor will they experience the necessary ROI to grow their program.

Just as in any service business, those who are good at what they do, do not compete on price. They don’t have to because referrals keep their production schedule filled with new customers who see the value in what their skills and experience can bring to their program. The same goes for technology consulting.

To gravitate to an individual or company solely based on them being the least expensive is surely not a wise business decision when you need to trust and rely on that consultant for your business image, branding and ROI. In a day where almost everyone is a “Web designer”, the onus is on the customer to determine who in fact has the professionalism, skills, experience and expertise and more importantly the ethics and integrity to help them reach their goals.

Customers also need to understand that those very same traits come with a price tag. To think you would get an experienced professional presentation at the cost a high school student or what a beginner who dabbles in Web design software may charge is basically naive.

That said, when you choose the right partner, for all the right reasons, you should have no problem recouping your investment by experiencing a strong ROI based on their ability to guide you appropriately. When looking for a developer, you should also be seeking a long term partnership. Not a company you can hire today who can go out of business tomorrow, but a true partner that will be there to help your program grow to its full potential as technology evolves.

Your “average Web Site cost” should also include marketing assistance and expertise. When it comes to creating Web Sites, you literally have to think about the marketing aspect before you type a single bit or byte of code. If your developer doesn’t have this marketing expertise or the ability to assist you with your marketing strategy once your site is launched, you are starting out with a major disadvantage.

So, I guess that old adage does apply to average Web site costs. You really do get what you pay for.