Greg Cangialosi, president and CEO of email service provider Blue Sky Factory, started his company with a few thousand dollars in 2001, just in time to get caught in the fallout of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Yet Cangialosi has seen Blue Sky grow each year since its founding, through two of the toughest economic time periods the United States has seen in 30 years. How did he do it? Here are some of Cangiolosi’s top tips for launching a new business straight to the top:
1. Make a conscious decision to become a thought leader and innovator within your industry. Do this by starting a great blog, writing articles with new information, and speaking at workshops and industry seminars.
2. In tough times, don’t be conservative and retreat. Be aggressive and keep trudging, and when things pick up you’ll be seen as a leader in your sector.
3. As the business grows, give big clients and potential clients face time. Web conferencing, phone calls and emails only go so far. Face-to-face meetings are still important.
4. Keep a “work hard, play hard” mentality. When you’re faced with long hours, put your best efforts into every one. Then build in time for breaks so you can reset and come back refreshed. Cangialosi recommends mini-vacations and spa treatments.
5. Keep yourself physically fit through good nutrition and regular exercise.
6. Don’t coast. As an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to become stagnant. When you achieve a goal, you must reach for the next one. “We are constantly adapting to a new level of business, and constantly trading one challenge for the next,” Cangialosi says.
7. Turn your workforce into a community. Have fun in the office and encourage creativity. Employees at Blue Sky Factory contribute to the company blog because they want to, and regularly film fun YouTube videos.
8. Pull back the curtain. Today’s clients and customers want to know they are working with real people, no matter what the industry. Be as transparent as you can.
Tags: entrepreneur, innovation, start-ups, workforce community