Show, Don’t Tell: My Approach To Leadership And Recruiting
I have been intrigued with success since I was a very young boy. I am constantly seeking out people who can inspire and motivate me to grow and become the best version of myself. I always strive to be the little fish in a big pond.
However, it didn’t take long to realize that a lot of advice from self-proclaimed “experts” was generously dispensed but had little substance. Many people are quick to offer their two cents but don’t actually have the experience to back it up. Part of my learning process was deciphering the bullshit from the applicable and valuable information.
Over the years, a few people have risen to the top. Their advice is consistent and has substance; they walk the walk and talk the talk. I am fiercely loyal to these individuals who not only attract success but also provide incredible value.
You’ve likely heard of Tony Robbins. The raspy voiced, WWE lookalike is world renowned for helping people around the world reclaim their life and find happiness, love and success. From Oprah to Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela to Mother Teresa, Tony Robbins has coached some of the world’s most high profile individuals. On top of all of that, he’s a best-selling author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Tony Robbin’s methods resonate with me and his philosophies have helped me become a better and more successful version of myself.
Recently a documentary, “I Am Not Your Guru” was released about Tony Robbins and one of his seminars, Date With Destiny. Originally, I thought it would be cool to hook up Netflix, pop some popcorn and have a viewing party at my house. I wanted to share my inspiration with my friends.
And then it struck me: Tony Robbins is so influential and has made such an impression on me, why not share it with everyone I know? So I decided to rent a historic theater in downtown Sacramento and invite not only my friends and family but my entire company, SkySlope, and their friends and family. I turned what was going to be a handful of people sitting in my living room into a really cool company event.
The evening was phenomenal. It was so much more than I could have ever imagined. And since this event reached so many people, it turned into a platform to promote SkySlope and recruit talent. I’m a huge proponent of referrals and truly believe that the best business comes from happy clients, customers and employees. This was a perfect opportunity to provide value and let people know that SkySlope is hiring.
Here are a few things we did to promote:
- Put our company name on the theater marquee (tons of people who happened to be walking by asked about the event and SkySlope)
- Gave each employee 10 tickets to give to their friends and family. On the back of the tickets we noted that we were hiring and listed our employee benefits
- Provided branded goodie bags to potential applicants
- Created a funny trailer before the movie started to explain a little more about our company
- Designed branded Snapchat geofilters (duh)
A little bit goes a long way. All I did was rent the theater and provide free popcorn. To take it up another notch I also brought a branded backdrop and red carpet for photos at the entrance of the event. I wanted my guests to feel like VIPs. I wanted to provide value!
But promoting my company was not my primary agenda; it was simply a byproduct of sharing something I love with my sphere.
The cost that I incurred to put this event on was a drop in the bucket for the amount of people I reached. I wasn’t trying to talk about my business, I was trying to provide value. I’ve learned that you don’t have to shove your agenda down people’s throats. You don’t have to write your name in the sky to get people to notice you. Those tactics may work occasionally but they come across as needy and desperate.
Be authentic. If you are passionate about something other than your business (which you should be), go do it! Participate and enjoy your life! If you love wine, join a wine making or wine tasting meetup. If you hopped on the Pokemon-Go craze, meet people that way.
“What you give out in slices will come back in loaves”
Too many people fantasize about what their retirement will look like instead of appreciating the present, and enjoying their passions. Too often we focus on the finish line instead of truly enjoying the adventure. I have found that true success is the journey, not the destination.
Leave me a note in the comments and share how this post sparked ways you can promote your business in an authentic way!
p.s. we really are hiring!
