A "secret" little talked about toll position...

[Dien Rice]

Sorry I haven't posted lately... Just had so much on my plate!

- I have started an exporting business... with a partner
- I have started an online identification business, with a specific application (which I can't talk about just yet)... with 3 partners...
- I am starting out in a finance-related business... with a partner...

I usually work on multiple projects. There are always some that won't work, so I drop them... But this time, too many seem to be going somewhere!

But that leads me to another point... contacts as toll positions!

In the first business - the export business - we have a 40-foot shipping container full of products on its way to its destination. Almost everything in the export business, I'd say, is due to contacts. You need the contacts to know the good sources. You need contacts to know who to sell to on the other end! It doesn't have to work that way (with websites like Alibaba now)... But that's the "old fashioned way" and that's the way we're doing it. In this case, my partner has all the contacts... But, as I work with him, I'm getting those contacts, too... And the right contacts can be a powerful toll position...

In the second business, there are multiple toll positions at work. I can't talk too much about this one, but... One of my partners has an indispensable toll position through his contacts. The other partners have a software IP toll position. My toll position? I'm the one that brought everyone together... I have a contract with the first partner, who is himself indispensable, and that's what "locks me in"...

In the third business, again, my partner has all the contact-related toll positions... Without this partner, we wouldn't be in business! I brought some contacts to the table too (though not as critical as my partner's)... However, this is one business where my writing and copywriting skills are handy, and they help to give me a toll position within our partnership...

The right contacts can be a powerful toll position! But, it's one that, while it's very common, is not talked about much in that way...!

Right now, I gotta get my nose back to the grindstone...

Best wishes,

Dien

[GordonJ]

AH, yes, we get it.

It seems that Contacts coupled with Knowledge is one of Glenn's best weapons too.

The question, from the forum's perspective is>>>

HOW are you finding these? Are they coming to you? If so, why?

Are you seeking them out? How?

Or is it more mystical, like being in motion and attracting like thoughts?


Thanks Dien.

Gordon

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Sorry I haven't posted lately... Just had so much on my plate!

- I have started an exporting business... with a partner
- I have started an online identification business, with a specific application (which I can't talk about just yet)... with 3 partners...
- I am starting out in a finance-related business... with a partner...

I usually work on multiple projects. There are always some that won't work, so I drop them... But this time, too many seem to be going somewhere!

But that leads me to another point... contacts as toll positions!

In the first business - the export business - we have a 40-foot shipping container full of products on its way to its destination. Almost everything in the export business, I'd say, is due to contacts. You need the contacts to know the good sources. You need contacts to know who to sell to on the other end! It doesn't have to work that way (with websites like Alibaba now)... But that's the "old fashioned way" and that's the way we're doing it. In this case, my partner has all the contacts... But, as I work with him, I'm getting those contacts, too... And the right contacts can be a powerful toll position...

In the second business, there are multiple toll positions at work. I can't talk too much about this one, but... One of my partners has an indispensable toll position through his contacts. The other partners have a software IP toll position. My toll position? I'm the one that brought everyone together... I have a contract with the first partner, who is himself indispensable, and that's what "locks me in"...

In the third business, again, my partner has all the contact-related toll positions... Without this partner, we wouldn't be in business! I brought some contacts to the table too (though not as critical as my partner's)... However, this is one business where my writing and copywriting skills are handy, and they help to give me a toll position within our partnership...

The right contacts can be a powerful toll position! But, it's one that, while it's very common, is not talked about much in that way...!

Right now, I gotta get my nose back to the grindstone...

Best wishes,

Dien

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by GordonJ

AH, yes, we get it.

It seems that Contacts coupled with Knowledge is one of Glenn's best weapons too.

The question, from the forum's perspective is>>>

HOW are you finding these? Are they coming to you? If so, why?

Are you seeking them out? How?

Or is it more mystical, like being in motion and attracting like thoughts?

Thanks Dien.

Hi Gordon,

I think being "out there" and actually being active (in a business sense), means you'll meet other business-minded people...

In Harvey Brody's report ( http://www.sowpub.net/files/harveybrody.pdf ), Harvey talks about different types of people - the "No. 1," "No. 2," and "No. 3" types... (See pages 29-30.)

A No. 1 type of person is generally the good type - he or she is basically honest, and is happy to contribute their fair share to reap the rewards...

A No. 2 wants to share in the reward, but doesn't want to lift a finger to help. They are essentially "freeloaders"... (I think these people are unfortunately quite common.)

A No. 3 is a person with a hidden agenda. They are not honest, and given the chance, they'll rob you blind!

I like to help people... When I meet people, I first assess if I think that person is a "No. 1," "No. 2," or a "No. 3." If they are a "No. 1" and I feel that my skills could help them, I try to help them out (time permitting) for free! If they are a "No. 2" or "No. 3" - I move on...

The "No. 1" types of people will always try to "give back" if you help them... That's what I've found.

In these businesses, my partners are all "No. 1" types of people, who I tried to help out for free in the past. In return, they've come back to me with some incredible business opportunities...

As it turns out, these people are also all people with amazing contacts. I am not a super "contacts" person... I probably have an average sized list of people I know. However, the people I mentioned earlier, who I've partnered with, all know a lot of people. The person in the 3rd business project I mentioned in particular, I would say, is what they call a "super-connector" - this person's contacts astound me!

Anyway, I think that gives an overview of how it's worked out... I didn't really plan it this way, but the opportunities have really come from helping, for free (time permitting), the "No. 1" types of people... These people will always try to give back to you, if they can, if you are able to help them out...

Best wishes!

Dien

[GordonJ]

When you meet someone, you say you assess them? How?

By gut feel? Any things to look for? Markers? Indicators?

A 1 from a 2 from a 3, may be a difficult thing to guess.

Giving stuff (time) for free is what you do?

So, is it based on reciprocity? IF they give back or at least respect your time and acknowledge your gift?

If you give, and they just keep taking, and taking...does that help with the assessment?

You've discerned the four projects are worth your time to pursue, out of what number of projects? Is it about potential? Or more personal about trying something new?

Gordon


q

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Hi Gordon,

I think being "out there" and actually being active (in a business sense), means you'll meet other business-minded people...

In Harvey Brody's report ( http://www.sowpub.net/files/harveybrody.pdf ), Harvey talks about different types of people - the "No. 1," "No. 2," and "No. 3" types... (See pages 29-30.)

A No. 1 type of person is generally the good type - he or she is basically honest, and is happy to contribute their fair share to reap the rewards...

A No. 2 wants to share in the reward, but doesn't want to lift a finger to help. They are essentially "freeloaders"... (I think these people are unfortunately quite common.)

A No. 3 is a person with a hidden agenda. They are not honest, and given the chance, they'll rob you blind!

I like to help people... When I meet people, I first assess if I think that person is a "No. 1," "No. 2," or a "No. 3." If they are a "No. 1" and I feel that my skills could help them, I try to help them out (time permitting) for free! If they are a "No. 2" or "No. 3" - I move on...

The "No. 1" types of people will always try to "give back" if you help them... That's what I've found.

In these businesses, my partners are all "No. 1" types of people, who I tried to help out for free in the past. In return, they've come back to me with some incredible business opportunities...

As it turns out, these people are also all people with amazing contacts. I am not a super "contacts" person... I probably have an average sized list of people I know. However, the people I mentioned earlier, who I've partnered with, all know a lot of people. The person in the 3rd business project I mentioned in particular, I would say, is what they call a "super-connector" - this person's contacts astound me!

Anyway, I think that gives an overview of how it's worked out... I didn't really plan it this way, but the opportunities have really come from helping, for free (time permitting), the "No. 1" types of people... These people will always try to give back to you, if they can, if you are able to help them out...

Best wishes!

Dien

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by GordonJ

When you meet someone, you say you assess them? How?

By gut feel? Any things to look for? Markers? Indicators?

A 1 from a 2 from a 3, may be a difficult thing to guess.

Giving stuff (time) for free is what you do?

So, is it based on reciprocity? IF they give back or at least respect your time and acknowledge your gift?

If you give, and they just keep taking, and taking...does that help with the assessment?

You've discerned the four projects are worth your time to pursue, out of what number of projects? Is it about potential? Or more personal about trying something new?

Hi Gordon,

A "gut feel" is certainly part of it... But not everything, I think...

For example, the "No. 3" type of person - the person with a "hidden agenda" - there is a fundamental dishonesty there, with having a "hidden agenda." If I "catch" someone lying, to me it is a sign to be very wary. It can even be a little lie - in general, I think people who can make up small lies can easily make up bigger lies too... They don't even have to be lying to me. If they lie to someone else, it tells me something about their character...

The "No. 2" type of person is the person who wants to share in the reward, but doesn't want to lift a finger to help. This is the opposite of a hard working person.

You can usually tell, after knowing a person a while, if they are a hard working type of person or not. Since I'm more interested in people who are entrepreneurial, I look for people who work hard on entrepreneurial activities. They don't even need to be "successful" yet... If they're not willing to work hard, then they are probably not a candidate for someone I'd want to work with and help out...

So, perhaps some of the "shortcuts" I use are, I look for hard working people, who think in an entrepreneurial way, who are honest...

As for which projects... I think high potential is a big factor to me nowadays - these are all high potential projects! It's also the person - I like to work with people I like personally. But in addition, you know me well enough... I can't help myself, I like to try out new things, which can be good, but it can be a fault, too!

By the way, Gordon, remember how you helped me last year when I wrote that sales letter to farmers? (Gordon helped me out, because he's a great guy, and he's also an ace copywriter!) That was an example of me helping someone for free (I wrote the salesletter to help a friend's business...) That particular one didn't go anywhere, but that was an example of me trying to help out someone for free, that you saw yourself, and that you gave me great advice on...

Best wishes,

Dien

[GordonJ]

Sometimes Dien,

I wonder about our many and varied interests. We agree, life is more interesting that way, as opposed to doing one thing and making it our "life".

I like the idea of you getting some bigger projects going, as we both would say, about time. And you've only scratched the surface with a couple of those connections, it will be exciting to see what you do, with China for example.

You've known about my quest for Stand Up comedy for a couple of years now, and this AGT thing is the opportunity to quit talking about it and put up or shut up, so I'll give it a shot.

Funny thing, both of us have a tendency to be financially rewarded when we are NOT purposefully working toward a financial goal.

I feel, the forum itself has been a giving center, and we appreciate the contributors over the years, be hard pressed to find a site which hosts more ideas and more "been there done that" information than SowPub.

It has always been more of a labor of love and we've discussed our "dereliction" of financial duty, not milking it more for moolah than it could have been.

Anyhow, I think there is the "attraction" concept at work too, maybe pulling in people, whatever number you assign them, whom have lessons for us.

Interesting times (as it always has been).

Gordon

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Hi Gordon,

A "gut feel" is certainly part of it... But not everything, I think...

For example, the "No. 3" type of person - the person with a "hidden agenda" - there is a fundamental dishonesty there, with having a "hidden agenda." If I "catch" someone lying, to me it is a sign to be very wary. It can even be a little lie - in general, I think people who can make up small lies can easily make up bigger lies too... They don't even have to be lying to me. If they lie to someone else, it tells me something about their character...

The "No. 2" type of person is the person who wants to share in the reward, but doesn't want to lift a finger to help. This is the opposite of a hard working person.

You can usually tell, after knowing a person a while, if they are a hard working type of person or not. Since I'm more interested in people who are entrepreneurial, I look for people who work hard on entrepreneurial activities. They don't even need to be "successful" yet... If they're not willing to work hard, then they are probably not a candidate for someone I'd want to work with and help out...

So, perhaps some of the "shortcuts" I use are, I look for hard working people, who think in an entrepreneurial way, who are honest...

As for which projects... I think high potential is a big factor to me nowadays - these are all high potential projects! It's also the person - I like to work with people I like personally. But in addition, you know me well enough... I can't help myself, I like to try out new things, which can be good, but it can be a fault, too!

By the way, Gordon, remember how you helped me last year when I wrote that sales letter to farmers? (Gordon helped me out, because he's a great guy, and he's also an ace copywriter!) That was an example of me helping someone for free (I wrote the salesletter to help a friend's business...) That particular one didn't go anywhere, but that was an example of me trying to help out someone for free, that you saw yourself, and that you gave me great advice on...

Best wishes,

Dien