Stop Chasing the Hot Girl!

Too many entrepreneurs and companies in general spend all of their time chasing the hot girl. The problems with this strategy are that the line is too long, the competition is steep, the attention span is short and the expectations are unreasonably high. When starting, managing or growing any business or functional department focus on where you can create real wins that will make the hot girl pay attention.

So who is the hot girl in business? It is the whale in your sector; it is Google, Comcast, Facebook, GE, Experian, Apple... the large entity(ies) that can turn your interesting business into a very successful enterprise.

The problem is that too many of us try to go in too early and we get shot down... time and time again. Instead we should be focusing our time on creating quick wins through successful smaller conversations that create awareness of and interest in our existence. Business, much like starting a conversation with the opposite sex, comes down to three things;

1. Control: The person that controls the nature of a relationship or negotiation is most often the one being approached. They are in the position of power because you are showing your interest in them.
2. Interest: There must be a common interest. Be realistic with your expectations of the value that you bring to the table. Having an "idea" or what you believe to be "great game" is often not enough value to garner the interest of the other party.
3. Engagement: Once you have their initial interest you have to be able to engage them in your vision and passion. This comes down to your personality. People's belief in your business starts with their belief in you. Gain their trust and respect and you will have the opportunity for a second date.

The key to success is creating a logical path.

• Who to approach
• When to approach
• How to approach

This is different for each business and must take into account the stage of your business, existing contacts with prospective partners and market factors that effect your impact on the other party's business and their appetite for new partnerships or investments.

There is a reason why the expression "you never get a second chance at a first impression" has lasted and been passed on so much throughout time. You can always have the conversation later, you can never take back the initial impression you make.