Location, location, location.

Think of your content like a brick and mortar business -- the location determines who will see it. By moving your business a couple of blocks down the road or to a new city, you’ll have the ability to reach a new audience, but you may also be leaving your biggest fans behind.

With content, you don’t have to rely on only one location. Today, there are many places to republish your content. Instead of only being able to publish on your personal blog or website, which was once your only option, you can reuse, repost, and repurpose content to get the most out of your marketing efforts. Here are 5 reasons you should be republishing your content to LinkedIn.

#1. Your Potential Audience is Astronomical

For most of us, our personal and business websites don’t have millions of unique visits each month. LinkedIn, however, does. With over 38 million unique visitors every 30 days, it’s not hard to see why it would be an attractive place to get your brand and content out to people who may benefit from it. Not all LinkedIn members will see your content, but because of their sharing and search features, your content has the ability to reach more eyeballs than anywhere else.

#2. Give Your Profile Depth

One of the greatest benefits of publishing on LinkedIn is the ability of your content to strengthen your profile. Having a long work history and a few recommendations is fine, but nothing gives your profile a better way to connect with visitors than through content.

Your post headlines and images can be seen by everyone who visits your page, giving it some much needed character and a stronger visual presence.

#3. Reach a Specific Audience

We build our networks around common interests and people we look to gain value from and provide value to. Your LinkedIn network is filled with people who are most likely in your target market. Everyone in your network can receive a notification each time you publish a post, which is like a non-intrusive email. This helps get your articles and posts in front of a focused audience easily without having to send emails or begging people to read your newest post.

#4. Gain Followers and Connections

Publishing on LinkedIn is the easiest way to get new connections and followers. Before starting to publish every day on LinkedIn (December 31st), I had a total of 1,062 followers. Nearly 80 days into the year, I’m currently at 1,862 followers. Although I wouldn’t recommend publishing every day, publishing on LinkedIn will increase your followers and connections because you’re providing value and giving people a way to connect with you.

#5. Lead Leads

Face it, many people that may benefit from what you offer will never visit your website. Any opportunity to get those people to your website or relevant information on what you offer is a potential money maker. What you’re writing about will show others the value you provide and will lead them to your website, product, book, or whatever else you have to offer.

Example: Many authors use LinkedIn to republish a small section of their books. The post engages the author’s target market, provides a preview of the book, and allows the author the ability to present additional information on how to purchase the book at the end of the post. It’s a valuable tool to market what you have to offer. Use it wisely!

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Want to create amazing content to strengthen your brand and increase sales? Let’s get started! Email me at [email protected].

Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming forPursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Michael is publishing 365 times in 2015. To find out why, read the first post of the year here!

To wear too many hats: To try to fill more roles at once than is realistically possible.

“I wear many hats,” is a phrase I’ve heard at least once a month for the past four years from my former boss; an entrepreneurship professor and founder of a non-profit organization. Entrepreneurs willingly accept the hat-stacking challenge that comes along with the territory of being their own boss. We have taken this phrase from an indication that we’re overwhelmed to a sense of pride, but is it something to embrace, or something that should be changed?

In a recent conversation with Commercery Founder Aiko Thurlow, we talked about the importance of tools and apps for entrepreneurs, and the challenges we face when starting up. “The truth about a small business is that when you’re starting off, you have the nice title of CEO, but you’re also the accountant, bookkeeper, marketing expert, web developer, and sometimes even the janitor.”

So what happens when the hats become too much to handle? What if you’re wearing the wrong hats?

I’m a natural multitasker, but that doesn’t mean all of the tasks I do on a daily basis align with my skills or interests. For example, my accounting, scheduling, and organizing hats are hideous.

The ugliness of these hats I try to wear prevents me from being able to focus on my beautiful hats. “What happens with wearing so many hats is that it’s really hard to keep on growing the business. A lot of times you end up working in the business instead of growing it,” added Aiko.

Hats I’m Taking Off

Like a bad girlfriend or boyfriend, there are some hats that are worth saying bye, bye, bye to (sorry for the NSYNC reference). I’m outsourcing several hats to allow my more attractive ones to shine. Goodbye scheduling and time-management hats, it’s time for you to go!

I hired a virtual assistant to manage my daily schedule, which has increased my productivity and assisted in managing my time. This simple change has already had a significant impact on my business. I’m still trying to incorporate additional tools and people to help make the most of my pretty hats, but it sure feels good having someone else wear these ugly ones for me.

Choosing Hats to Take Off

I create lists on a daily basis. There are several tasks that I consistently tend to avoid because I HATE DOING THEM! These same tasks are often the ones I’m terrible at.

After recognizing the tasks that you dislike and are bad at, write them down and rank them based on importance. Start with researching and brainstorming possible solutions from the top down. You may find an online tool or app, or realize you need an assistant or intern. By finding people or tools that can handle these responsibilities and free you of the burden that comes with them, you’re allowing your business to grow.

Do yourself a favor, find one hat you can take off today. For information on tools that can help you with your ugly hats, visit Commercery.com. If you need someone to help with your writing, blogging, or content marketing hats, I’d love to talk to you! Visit TrepRep.com for more information.

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Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming forPursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Michael is publishing 365 times in 2015. To find out why, read the first post of the year here!

The debate over whether entrepreneurs are born or made has always seemed stupid to me. It’s my opinion that with the right focus, guidance, and support; anyone who wants to start a company can become a successful entrepreneur.

Although I believe anyone can become an entrepreneur in the right situation, there are some of us that can’t do it alone, and others who have the right tools and traits to build something without anyone’s help.

For nearly four years, Katie Sowa and I co-led the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO). We made an amazing team, which allowed us to run an organization of 200+ chapters and over 5,000 student members on our own. Each year, we planned and hosted a National Conference with over 1,000 attendees and 70 speakers with no other full-time staff. It was exhausting, but an amazing experience that was possible because we worked so well together.

In 2011, we attended a CEO Regional Conference hosted by The University of Tampa. Entrepreneurs from around the country came to speak to students about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, the risks and pitfalls of running your own business, and how they’ve been able to achieve success. Joe Abraham, the creator of BOSI Entrepreneurial DNA, shared his theory on Entrepreneurial DNA based on years of research. The four areas of entrepreneurial DNA he identifies are Builder, Opportunist, Specialist, and Innovator.

A Builder is a highly focused, business savvy individual who operates based on the bottom-line of their business, often driven by data and metrics.

An Opportunist is where entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson fit in. They are fearless and act on instinct.

Specialists are entrepreneurs who do one thing very well. Doctors, including my wonderful mother-in-law who is a chiropractor, are specialists. They are not usually risk-takers and their business is based around their passion and expertise.

The one category I instantly connected with was Innovator. An innovator uses creativity to set themselves and their business apart from others.

For a more in-depth breakdown of each type, check out this BizTimes.com article.

During a short break in the conference, Katie and I both took the BOSI DNA test to see what our Entrepreneurial DNA said about us. I was desperately hoping to be a builder – someone who has the necessary skills to start and build a venture from the ground up. I internally knew this wasn’t one of my attributes, but that didn’t make me want it any less. The results came back, and there were no builder traits found. I was off the charts in the Innovator and Opportunist categories, but had little to no showing in the Builder and Specialist categories.

Katie’s results were the exact opposite. She was as high as you could be in the Builder category with several attributes of the other three categories. I was a little jealous, but this helped me realize why we worked so well together. In short, my crazy ideas and enthusiasm would be lost without someone to help put them in place strategically while staying focused on the higher-level needs and goals of the organization. Without Katie’s abilities as a leader and builder, my entrepreneurial characteristics may have done more harm than good.

This was a significant moment in my entrepreneurial journey, and although Katie and I no longer work for CEO, we often team up for projects because we know how each other works and how we each bring something different to the table.

How to Use Your Entrepreneurial DNA to Your Benefit

Knowing what you’re bad at is powerful information. Surround yourself with people that have skillsets you don’t, and don’t put yourself in situations where you may struggle on your own. When starting a new project or business, I know that I may not be the best person to run it all by myself. I seek help from people like Katie, who are skilled at putting sense and direction into any project, and can lead that project or business to success.

I tend to gravitate towards people who have different skills. Both my wife, Erica, and the Founder of Pursuit, Liz Presson, are very strong Builders and are able to put structure around my sometimes wild creativity.

Want to take the test? Visit bosidna.com. Looking for a fun read about partnerships? Check out this Business Insider article on 10 Super Successful Co-Founders and why their Partnerships Worked.

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Michael Luchies is the Founder ofTrepRep, Director of Content Programming for Pursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, Co-Host of the Entrepreneurs on Campus Radio Show, Trepidemic Co-Host, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+,LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Michael is publishing 365 times in 2015. To find out why, read the first post of the year here!

I’m Michael Luchies, an entrepreneurial writer, father of a one-year-old, and a big sports fan. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

It’s a simplistic networking pitch, but the power of making an interesting first impression and building a foundation to start a conversation is extremely important when pitching yourself, an idea or a business.

An elevator pitch is a succinct and persuasive sales pitch, but it has applications that reach far beyond selling situations. In college, students have the opportunity to compete in elevator pitch competitions and are often required to give pitches as a part of their curriculum. The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) hosts the National Elevator Pitch Competition, which gives each student 90 seconds to convince a panel of judges/investors that their idea is worth giving a chance. I had an opportunity to compete in 2009 and then to help organize during my time as manager for CEO. Although it may be appropriate to talk for a minute and a half straight in a competition, in most real world situations, it’s not. So does this mean that you need different pitches for different situations? Well…YES!

My introductory example is a basic networking 15-second mini-pitch, which is designed to give enough information to start a conversation with nearly anyone, but not so much information that they are overwhelmed or put to sleep. It can be used for a product, idea, business, or yourself.

As pointed out in Dessert First Pitching, the average attention span has decreasedover 30% in the last fifteen years from 12 to 8 seconds. Grabbing the attention of your audience immediately is extremely important, whether networking or competing in a competition. By pitching the most interesting or relatable aspect(s) of what you’re sharing first, you’re giving each situation and opportunity your best shot at success.

Today, I’m headed to Chicago for the 2015 Self Employment in the Arts Conference. In addition to speaking on a panel and moderating several sessions, I will be giving a keynote talk with Katie Sowa about the importance of pitching and how to create a mini-pitch. The audience will consist of hundreds of artists, musicians, and design students from colleges and universities across America, and each will be required to do the exercise below and then get off of their butts to start putting it to work.

How the Mini-Pitch Works

Length: Maximum of 15 seconds.

Goal: Give the audience enough information to understand who you are and what you do, and help begin a conversation.

Parts: Think of a head and three legs.

Create your 15-Second Mini-Pitch

The mini pitch is perfect for a short introduction or when you’re asked what you do for a living. Remember that you’re not trying to close a deal with this pitch, you’re trying to start a meaningful and productive conversation.

Head: The head of the pitch is who or what you are representing, whether an idea, business, or yourself. The head should be a maximum of three seconds. Your audience doesn’t care much about your name or the name of your business, they are going to relate (hopefully) to one or several of the legs of your pitch.

Leg 1: Start with the most relevant fact/statistic to your audience. Since this article is about both writing an entrepreneurship, I started with “an entrepreneurial writer” hoping this would get your attention and start a conversation.

Leg 2: I took a wide net approach for my second leg by introducing information that I’m a parent. Since a lot of people can relate to kids and being a parent, I’m hoping this information can help me relate to you. I would normally keep the legs more relevant to your overall goals of meeting people, but I’m just attempting to start a conversation. If my pitch was only for business purposes, I would mention that I’m the Founder of TrepRep, Interview Editor for Under30CEO or Director of Content Programming for Pursuit.

Leg 3: This is your last shot to connect with your audience and save the potential to have a conversation with whoever you are talking with. Sports has always been a great conversation starter for me and I like to use that to help me connect with other sports fans, who are often also part of my target market.

Personal example: In my example that starts this article, the head is my name, and the three facts about myself are the three legs.

Business example: TrepRep is a content creation business that works with entrepreneurs to increase the impact both their personal and business brands.

“TrepRep is a content creation business” is the head, and the legs are the focus on entrepreneurs and the increase in impact of an entrepreneurs’ personal and business brand are the three legs.

Now create your mini-pitch and share in the comments below!

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Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming forPursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Interested in Why I’m Publishing 365 Times in 2015? Read the first post of 2015 here! Want to be a part of my series? Share topic ideas or volunteer for an interview in the comments below.

The most powerful and influential leaders, celebrities and entrepreneurs in the world transcend their niches and industries. You don’t have to be a sports fan to know who Michael Jordan is, nor a fan of Microsoft to know who Bill Gates is. Similar to how these celebrities have risen to become influencers, the television show Game of Thrones (GoT) has exceeded the standards set by their fantasy television predecessors to heavily impact pop culture on a large scale.

After their first season on HBO had averaged 2.52 million initial-airing viewers an episode, the series pulled off the rare feat of significantly increasing viewership year after year. In the fourth season, which ended in mid-2014, GoT averaged 6.8 million viewers on the initial-airing night, becoming the most popular show in the history of HBO.

GoT has developed the above mentioned following by telling a unique and wildly entertaining story and keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. They have provided the best show of its kind and been able to build on their legacy week after week. The popularity of the show has grown like a weed, and according to Varys -- so does influence.

Influence is powerful. “Michael, you inspired me to…” is the most invigorating and exciting sentence that anyone could say to me. Not only does influence grow like a weed, so does the want and need to influence and inspire others in a positive way once you get a taste of making this type of impact. Since starting my quest to publish every day this year, I’ve received several comments and messages stating that I was the reason someone else took action to write more frequently. It’s a great feeling to have inspired someone, even in a very small and insignificant way.

By influencing others, they pay attention more deeply and engage with you on a greater level. Because of their engagement and interest, you start to work harder and smarter to make a bigger difference. GoT didn’t get lazy with their storylines or character development, they worked hard to increase the quality of the show. I plan to do the same with my articles to increase the chances of positively impacting my readers.

The beautiful part of influence is that everyone can have an impact on others. You don’t have to be a social entrepreneur, teacher, preacher or wildly successful television show to influence others. While most of us will never have 6.8 million people interested in what we’re doing, being an inspiration to others is a powerful tool, and one we should work towards enhancing. Here are seven techniques for growing your influence.

Exceed Expectations

Employees, leaders, and businesses keep their jobs and reputation by meeting expectations, but they create influence and grow by exceeding them. You don’t get applause for doing your job; you earn the appreciation and respect of others by going above and beyond when no one is expecting it.

Make an active effort to deliver more than what is expected of you every time. Using this strategy as a freelancer has earned me dozens of repeat customers, unsolicited tips, and one of the highest feedback ratings among thousands of freelancers who provide a similar service.

Tip: Don't go out of your way to under-promise just so you can deliver more than what was promised. Find tangible ways to provide more value. The unexpected gesture builds credibility and a stronger relationship. Think of it as bringing a rose to give your date before going out to dinner. The dinner was expected, but the rose, although a small gesture, may stand out more because it was unexpected.

Listen

How often do we actually listen to others? Hearing comes naturally to most of us, but listening is a completely different skill. Listening includes hearing details that other people would gloss over and giving additional thought to what’s behind the spoken words.

Tip: Start by trying to remember the names and details of everyone you meet. Remembering the names of people you meet, their families, what they like, and other pieces of information will earn their respect and show them that you are listening.

Stay Top of Mind

Don’t let people forget you exist. Find ways to stay relevant in the minds of those you want to keep as contacts.

Tips: Send monthly updates of what you’re working on. Meet monthly for coffee. Setup a get together for people who share common interests.

Provide Value to Others

Think about your best friends and favorite products. Why are they your favorite? There are outliers, but our closest friends and favorite products are our dear to us because they provide us with value. Every relationship you have should be beneficial to both people. Unfortunately, with connections and people we meet, we often force ourselves to remain friendly and act like we should just stay in contact because we think we should, not because it’s a beneficial relationship. You can put an end to relationships without value by providing value to others.

The more value you provide to others the stronger your influence. This doesn’t have to be time intensive or extreme, but finding a way to benefit others is a valuable skill.

Tips: Introduce contacts that would greatly benefit from knowing each other. Make recommendations to others facing a problem based on your area of expertise.

Spread Your Wings

You won’t inspire anyone if you don’t get off of the couch. Get involved in events, give back, and strive to improve yourself. What steps can you take today to begin making an impact on others?

Tips: Write an article, get back in touch with someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with, volunteer to speak at a local event.

Be Vulnerable

The above mentioned quote comes from a scene where Varys tells Tyrion Lannister the story of how he was maimed as a child, and later shows how he took revenge on his tormentor. The conversation raised the profile of Varys to Lord Lannister and made him relatable and likable; increasing his influence.

Being vulnerable is an important part of being a leader, and someone people respect. If you’re too hardheaded and tough to show that you are human, how will anyone be able to relate to you? Admitting you can be flawed and being willing to share failures with others will earn respect and the admiration of those you are leading or trying to impact.

Tip: Watch 4 Powerful Things Leaders Should Know About Vulnerability

Additional read: 10 Strategies To Grow In Your Influence With Others

For those of us who are active on social media, avoiding the shared words of wisdom from historical figures and celebrities is an impossible task. I don’t usually think twice about a quote that I’ve seen before, but this one in particular has been popping up everywhere, even in the comments on several of my posts. I couldn’t help but think of the trap many of us fall into when “choosing a job we love,” so I decided to dive into the difference between job and occupational happiness.

This quote comes from Confucius. For those in the crowd who don’t know his historical significance (don’t worry, I didn’t remember either), Confucius, a Chinese teacher and philosopher, was a brilliant leader whose words still make an impact 2,500 years later. Many quotes from his work are now shared to gain followers on social media. I am sure he would be very proud. On a serious note, Confucius influenced an entire way of life (Confucianism) and made an impact on hundreds of millions, if not billions.

We live in a much different world than what existed in 500BC, but many people tend to believe this quote has always been, and remains to be true. In my article Why Passion Makes Work Harder, I covered why doing work you’re passionate about is not a walk in the park. You don’t half-ass things you love -- you work hard, long hours, and usually at a very high and efficient level. Although the joy of the work distracts from some of the negative aspects of ‘work,’ it still takes your time and energy and is done for money.

In addition to a job you love not being work, I disagree with Confucius’ assessment of a job bringing us happiness. Stating that choosing a job you love will result in never ‘working’ a day is completely false because jobs are much different than an occupation that we’re passionate about.

Occupational Happiness

Your occupation, or the focus of your work, should come from your passion. It’s your passion that drives your work input and output. If you hate being a doctor, you’re probably not going to perform the best surgeries (sorry for the grim example).

Being extremely passionate about finance could make you an excellent accountant, but whether you are happy or not working at Pocket Protector Finance Corporation doesn’t depend on whether you are interested in the nature of your work or not. If you love finance, you can start your own company, consult other firms, and yes, be very happy even at Pocket Protector Finance Corporation if the company and position align with your wants and needs in a job.

Job Happiness

Happiness within a specific job is determined by you, your surroundings, pay, emotional well-being and other factors. This includes relationships with co-workers, bosses and the commpany. Just because you can’t stand your job due to a difficult boss, it doesn’t mean you don’t love the type of work you’re doing.

I recently made one of the toughest decisions in my life – to leave a job where the focus, people I helped, and general nature of it was everything I ever wanted. I was passionate about the work we were doing, but I let the ‘job’ get the best of me. I no longer loved the position, but my passion for the focus of the work never left.

I never knew I could love the nature of my work so much while feeling beaten up and discouraged on a daily basis by the job. Maybe I just needed a change. I’m not the only one who gets burned out due to an environment or employer that has nothing to do with the occupation. After all, there’s a reason the average worker stays in a job just 4.4 years.

What do you think? Am I on to something here or just nitpicking on the words that Confucius used to get across the point that the enjoyment from pursuing your passion will make work seem like play?

I hope Confucius doesn’t mind, but I decided to reword his words of wisdom. “Follow your passion and the days of your work will enhance the change you make in the world, and your enjoyment of it.”

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Tomorrow’s Post: How Being Stubborn Can Ruin Your Business

Interested in Why I’m Publishing 365 Times in 2015? Read the first post of 2015 here! Want to be a part of my series? Share topic ideas or volunteer for an interview in the comments below.

Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming for Pursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

This post has legs of its own, but consider reading yesterday’s post: If You Will It, Will It Become?

ob·liv·i·ous

“not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.”

My first date in high school revealed how bad I was at picking up signals from others. I went with Megan, my sophomore-year girlfriend, to a play at our school’s auditorium. It was winter and cold outside, but warm in the auditorium. About 30 minutes into the play, Megan said, “I’m so cold.” Without missing a beat, I replied “well, put your coat back on.” It wasn’t until two days later when her best friend made fun of me when I realized what I had done – or not done.

How could someone be so oblivious?

Have you ever gone days, months, or years without knowing something that everyone else knows, and you just happened to never hear? It’s not chance or luck – it’s failure. You failed by not getting the information you needed to recognize something that the market (or majority) around you already knew. Entrepreneurs, husbands, wives, idiot boyfriends on their first date (me in the story) and the rest of us do this regularly, but you don’t have to be oblivious, and honestly, can’t afford to when it matters most.

In the first part of this series, we looked at trying to force things to happen that weren’t meant to be by looking at an entrepreneur, Michael Somers ofinternrocket.com. Michael, with the help of a mentor, made the right decision to step away from a business that was trying to push technology onto its potential customers, to focus on the business that was a ‘market pull,’ where customers were falling into it because it had the proper product/market fit. While forcing an unwanted product onto an unsuspecting customer base is one way to fail, being oblivious to obvious signs that are available to you is another point of failure that deserves attention. I’m not saying my high school relationship ended because I didn’t put my arm around her, but being oblivious to obvious signs has hurt me in personal and business relationships.

Difference between Stubborn and Obvious

There is a distinct difference between being stubborn and being oblivious. In my dating example, I was completely oblivious to the situation. I wasn’t refusing to listen to her and rejecting her very subtle request for a little warmth, I just didn’t understand all aspects of the situation or collect enough information to get a clear picture of what was going on. Entrepreneurs have this same problem.

The Oblivious Entrepreneur

Young Millennial entrepreneurs, myself included, are the most likely to fall into the entrepreneurial pit of the oblivion. We are inexperienced and naïve, but confident, and passionate more than we are careful and well-researched.

We want to get shit done -- not wait for other people to create it. There are success stories even for those who lack the sense to fully gauge what they are getting into, but the chances are slim, and this success isn’t easy to repeat.

My examples:

• I’ve spent tens of hours working on a business that already existed, and it wasn’t doing well while being much better than the version I had the capacity to build. About twenty minutes of research would’ve prevented this situation.
• I spent several months working on Stub Exchange, an in-game sporting event ticket swapping business. While getting other people together to help build a MVP (minimum viable product) version of the business, we discovered that the areas we planned to launch the service in had laws that would completely prohibit what we were building.
• I once lost my entire website (Stubs4Sale) because of a glitch without knowing it was even possible. I thought the host site had the proper backups in place – I was wrong, and was forced to sell off my inventory to help pay for school instead of trying to spend the time to rebuild it.

Being an oblivious entrepreneur and obtaining success is like completing a corn maze with a blind fold. Being stubborn enough to pursue your dreams when everyone tells you not to is one thing, but being unaware of the dangers, marketplace, competition, and needs of the customers is a nearly sure way to fail.

Avoiding Oblivion

There are always excuses when you’re carelessly oblivious: I didn’t know any better! Nobody told me. Everyone told me it was a great idea. I really thought it would work. The dog ate my homework.

No more excuses!

The first step to avoid falling into this trap is to hold yourself accountable and start realizing that what you don’t know is more important to figure out than what you do know. Once you discover your weaknesses, you can actively work towards filling that gap with new knowledge and skills or adding someone with those talents to your team.

So I don’t know how to pick up signals from a woman, what can I do? Well, become good friends with a woman who can provide me insight, poll 50 women, read a book, ask my mother…that may be awkward, but you get my point. Find the information you are lacking and work to actively become more aware of your surroundings. Don’t go into class without having read the syllabus, book, online materials, and without asking classmates what’s going on – be prepared to succeed.

How can you be oblivious-proof as an entrepreneur?

If you’re starting a business, you can become oblivious-proof by creating a deep relationship with your future customers and someone who has done it before and can help guide you – a mentor. Even in non-business situations, consulting with someone who has done it before and the target market of the product/service/etc. is the best route to find out what you need to know, and avoid not getting laughed at by your girlfriends best friend for not putting your arm around her.

For a great read about working consistently to make things happen instead of forcing them into existence, check out Daniel DiPiazza’s How the top 1% actually makes progress.

Also, check out this great piece from Ross Beard on 19 Strategies to Get More Feedback.

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Vote for Tomorrow’s Post! What Should I Write?

Interested in Why I’m Publishing 365 Times in 2015? Read the first post of 2015 here! Want to be a part of the series? Share topic ideas or volunteer for an interview in the comments below.

Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming forPursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

There is a common misconception that people who are passionate and enjoy their jobs aren’t really working -- that the joy from the job and their ability to turn passion into production makes everything easy. The truth is, passion makes work harder and results in you working harder, not less.

On a previous post, 7 Reasons I Freelance for Less Than I’m Worth, a commenter (thanks Madrice!) posted “Very interesting read! When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.” I appreciate the comment, but I don’t agree with Confucius who is credited with this quote. When you do what you love, you work harder!

In one of the quintessential movies about life in a cubicle, Office Space, Peter Gibbons hates his job and comes to terms with this hatred while seeing a therapist.

“So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.”

After leaving in a transformed state of mind due to the therapy, he no longer stresses about his awful job and opens up to superiors about not wanting and not doing any work each day.

“The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.”

Peter has no passion, and no interest in doing any work. This doesn’t necessarily cause the nature of his work to be easier, it causes him to not care, and because of that lack of passion for his job, he doesn’t put in any effort.

If I didn’t enjoy writing about small business, branding and entrepreneurship, I wouldn’t have even thought of trying to publish an article every day of 2015. Sure, I could have shrugged off the idea and made a more reasonable goal, but the enjoyment I get out of sharing with others through writing and my passion for it led to a feeling of need – I had to do it. My passion led me to want to work harder, not work less.

During a recent interview with ONE CEO and inventor Michael Callahan, he stated, “If you have a dream you have to follow it. There is a number of people who don’t, but if you do (have a dream), you have to go pursue it.” The same can be said for passion. You can try to ignore and avoid it all you want, but what you’re passionate about is bound to make a significant impact on your life and to drive you to work harder.

Doing something you’re passionate about may come to you easier than others, but your passion doesn’t allow you to do a half-assed job. You work your butt off to make sure it’s done right and you enjoy doing it. But not working a day in your life because you chose a job you love? My wife begs to differ, and so do I.

What’s your take? Does loving what you do make every day one without work?

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Tomorrow’s Post: If you Will It, Will it Become? An Entrepreneurial Dilemma

Interested in Why I’m Publishing 365 Times in 2015? Read the first post of 2015 here! Want to be a part of the series? Share topic ideas or volunteer for an interview in the comments below.

Michael Luchies is the Founder of TrepRep, Director of Content Programming for Pursuit, Interview Editor for Under30CEO, Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Illinois State University, TEW 2 contributor, and writer of all things entrepreneurship. Connect with Michael on Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.