You, inc.

Ben Blanquera was the guest speaker at the December 2010 CYP CLUB networking breakfast. Here are my notes:

1. What are the five most important things to me? 
2. What are the five areas of my life to which I dedicate the most time? 
3. Do they align? 

Consider treating yourself and guideing your decisions as if you were a incorporated business.

Your assets would be:

1. What you know 
2. Who you know 
3. (I would add, Who knows you)

Also, consider this:

• Your car is a depreciating asset, yet you invest money into the maintenance on a regular basis.
• Conservatively, if you consider a vehicle which costs $10,000 it is reasonable to say you might invest $2,000. 
• This amounts to 20% of the original value!

If you leverage your assets (knowledge and relationships) to earn a salary of $50,000 per year would you be willing to invest in personal maintenance in the same way you do for your vehicle?

• 20% of your salary would be $10,000! 
• Or perhaps you can look at 20% of the time traded, which is 400 hours.

In what ways do you invest in yourself?

How am I making it easy for others to easily recognize my skills?

Often a resume will only get a few minutes (if that) when employers are searching for talent. Degrees and certifications are indicators that communicate you are skilled in one way or another. Is your only signal to employers an formal education that ended when you started in the work force?

Relationships are very important to success in business and life. There is a difference between simply having a network, and having a strong network - only one will make a difference.

Being connected to people or having a large following is valueable when those in the network are willing to vouch for you and your skills. The best way to earn that credit is to get work alongside people in your network.

"Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

Startup weekend January 14, 2011 

• http://columbus.startupweekend.org/
• 54 hour period to generate lots of ideas, and lots of businesses

Q: Should we be encouraged to start a venture on our own, or join someone else?

There is a need for people that start things, and a need for people that join others. The main lesson is: you can't swing, if you aren't in the ballpark. Don't let time pass and never learn if your idea could have been a reality. 

When was the last time you did something you were scared of doing?

Many thanks, Ben