I’m super excited to be talking to these awesome entrepreneurs – and glad that it’s on a topic that isn’t necessarily technology focused (although that’s part of my chat). I’m putting together my notes and here’s a preview.

The first step to rounding out your skills and your team is to determine if you need to find your Z in the first place – and what exactly that Z is. How do you do that? Read on…

1. Focus on your strengths.

Rather than try to teach yourself everything (how to use Twitter, how to blog, how to get featured in a major national magazine), focus on the stuff you love and are good at – and then get better at those things. You might be great at sales but rotten at bookkeeping. You might abhor writing in a blog, but can see yourself keeping a video blog. Focus on the stuff that keeps you happy instead of slogging through what doesn’t come naturally. Grow your strengths and accept that you have weaknesses.

2. Educate yourself – but just enough.

To be clear: I’m not saying to ignore your weaknesses. It’s still important that you educate yourself about things that are missing instead of burying your head in the sand. Don’t be like Billy Joel. Make sure you’re savvy enough to know when a hooligan is leading you down the garden path. But hooligans aside, keeping in the know will make sure you’re keeping your company at the forefront of things. So read what you can. Follow important blogs. Talk to people in the know. Find trusted advisors. Attend talks and networking events. Crowd source on social media if you need to get an answer.

3. Build the right skills

There are some skills that you’ll need to develop no matter what. Any successful company will rely on its leader (i.e. you) to, well, lead it. Devour anything about how to be a better at sales, how to the best leader you can, as well as how to manage and coach people.

Lots more will be in the talk, but here’s more a taste:

1. Outsourcing, including why and how. I’ll address how to hire contractors and consultants – both locally and abroad.
2. Assembling your team of trusted advisors. How to find experts and mentors, as well as when to use a business coach and consultants.
3. Building your tribe. Finding people (clients and non-clients) who can champion your business, including how they can help you network and develop your business.
4. Using social media, especially Twitter and LinkedIn, to keep connected to your contacts.

Hope to see you there!

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