One skill for quicker success. POST FOUR.

[GordonJ]

The skill?
Asking the right questions.

If you've spoken to me you know I ask a lot of questions.

Recently I've been asking questions that YOU should have asked yourself.

What comes easy and natural to me (in addition to the focusing of attention) as a questioned oriented person, full of natural curiosity...

apparently isn't a skill that many have.

There at least two schools, one is invent/create/acquire a product then try to sell it.

OR, find a market first, then sell them a product. About a 50/50 split of these strategies (RE: efficacy).

I think the first way is longer and requires more money up front. It is why you see people on the Shark Tank who have spent tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars creating a product.

Most of the people I advise, about 80%, I suggest they find a market first.

HOW?

Well that's a good first question but even better is WHO?

I analyze all biz from the transactions (life time value) backwards and forwards.

First is the INTERSECTION. Where does your sales offer meet or intersect with your prospect? Why there and how?

If they respond to your created stimulus as you designed it, for a sale, then you've made a sale. What did they buy? Why? Or why not?

I consider the control of the INTERSECTION to be of paramount importance to the marketer.

Asking the right questions can save you time and money before you pull the trigger, BUT...

also afterwards too.

I have four guys who started their project after answering the year from now question, a week later, they found out they were barking up the wrong tree because...

small limited market
degree of difficulty in execution
dependency on third parties
slop and mess

All four are now more comfortable with what they are doing, and know and understand adjustments will be made along their journey. BECAUSE they have learned how to ask better questions...

of themselves and of others.

What questions are you asking? Are they the right ones?

.j

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