The Entrepreneurial Savant

The original name for this secret was ‘Do your homework beforehand.’ however I knew the word homework would cause a horrible reaction from anyone reading this for obvious reasons. Fortunately the Boy Scout motto works even better. A little preparation can mean the difference between success and failure in many situations. One of the best examples is when you have an unexpected meeting or interview that might lead to an opportunity. You get a call or someone makes a referral and suddenly a door is open to you that you never expected to walk through. With a limited amount of time there are a few things you can do to prepare. You can either wing it, flying by the seat of your pants or you can immediately begin gathering information about the person you are about to meet. If you wing it you may succeed but you are equally likely to fall on your face. If you walk in with some knowledge, even superficial, of what the other person does or is concerned with, you can move the situation ahead much faster. Your prep work means the other person does not have to explain everything from the beginning and can get to the nitty-gritty right away. If they’re interviewing others this will probably make them very grateful. After all it’s one less speech to make. And you’ll have taken the initiative, displayed the resourcefulness to have gotten your act together under pressure and most importantly, showed a sincere interest in their needs.
Preparation is vital for job interviews, important meetings, first dates, and a host of other activities. The easiest route to rapid prep work is to get on the phone and ask other people for their knowledge. Google the company and people you are meeting with, check local business magazines for articles about the company you’re going to interview with, ask her friends what she likes to do with her spare time, etc. Sometimes you may have to do your preparation on the run but even a little homework can mean a much more profitable and successful opportunity.

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