We’ve just finished up Round two of the Sticky Business Contest and well into Round three. It’s been great so far, and the 44 remaining participants are putting their all into tasks.
We’ve noticed something interesting. Participants are focusing more on giving strong, solid answers. They aren’t so focused on winning anymore. Sure, they want to win one of the prizes, but they’ve also come to realize that they’re still winners regardless.
People have realized that with a little effort, some thought and the right questions to help guide them, they can move their ideas forward. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
That’s why we’re sharing the task questions with you after the week’s submissions have been sent in. We want to help as many people as we can with this contest, with your goals in life as the prize.
By playing along and answering the questions at home, you can:
- Stop procrastinating about reaching your life goals
- Realize that making a change is easier than you think
- Focus on what’s important to taking the first steps
- Learn the questions that help turn an idea into reality
- See that starting your sideline or full-time business isn’t that scary
You can’t win anything from our contest if you complete the task now, but you can still win. We help give you the jumpstart to set you on new paths in life. That sideline venture you’ve been thinking of? That small business you’ve been setting aside? Start making it a reality.
If you missed Task One, you can read it here. Here’s what participants had to work on for Task Two:
Every business has competition, though, so knowing how you’ll go about convincing your prospects that your business is different from all others is important. Your task is to write a brief plan of how you expect to convince prospects that your business is different.
For example, what will set your business apart from the competition? What will you offer that they don’t? What is unique about your business that makes it special? Why should someone choose your business over the competition? If you had sixty seconds to convince a prospect they should learn more about your business, what would you say?
Contest participants are already working hard on Task Three. Who’ll make the deadline? Who’s going to move on to Round four?
We can hardly wait to see.
Great questions – nice work guys!
I’m going to disagree very slightly with one thing:
“Businesses offer personal fulfillment, but their goal is to create profits for the owner. ”
That’s obviously not the case for non-profits, but even for those of us with some concern for profits, money isn’t always the primary goal.
I did not start my business because of money. Even today I could make more money working for someone else. My goal in my business is and always has been free time: time to spend with my family, time to spend on my pet projects, time for myself.
Of course you’ll counter with “but that takes money”. Yes, true enough, but it only takes so much money. Anything that comes in beyond that, well, I don’t really care much about it. There’s a difference in focus: my goal is having enough time to live my life and not increasing my profits.
I know this is hair splitting and that you fully understand my mantra that money isn’t important but I wanted to point it out for other folks.
Wow, CommentLuv is quick on the uptake today: I just wrote that rant minutes ago!
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…California Proposition 8 by Anthony Lawrence
@ Tony – Actually, I’m not going to disagree with you at all.
You’ll note that I didn’t say “financial profits.” To profit is to derive a benefit. Your business provides you with the profit of free time. To others, their profit might be noteriety, fame, money, satisfaction, advancement…
Profit doesn’t always mean moolah.
Guys, I’m confused by your post. You say that this is Task #2, but my understanding is that this is Task #3.
The first task was to describe our business, and the second was to describe why our business is different than the competition.
Am I missing something?
Stephen Palmer´s last blog post…Are You Shouting At Your Audience?
@ Stephen – Gah. Thanks for that. I’ve amended this post to show task two, but unfortunately, it’s probably already hit the feeds. I’ll whip out a quick update to let people know.
I’ve loved this contest and I can honestly say I’ll place no matter what. Thanks guys.
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@ Writer Dad – Ahh, you’re like our ideal target market or something lol
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I’m one of the 44, and have to say you’re absolutely right, Tony. Although in the current U.S. economic conditions, income must be a priority, it’s certainly not my motivation.
The idea for starting my business has been brewing for years, and this contest stimulated me to begin turning my dream into reality. I’m a world-class procrastinator, so the deadlines have been a great motivator. (The two tasks I’ve completed were emailed just minutes before 10:59 pm CST!)
If you ask me what the prizes are in this contest, I can’t even tell you!
Seriously a great contest guys!
@ Mary – Don’t cut it too close! Ack!
@ Chad – Ah, thanks!
This contest is awesome guys. Thanks for posting all the Tasks so we can play along. I’m just about to post my Task 2 thoughts on my blog. Just wanted to make sure I’m not missing something……has Task 3 been posted yet?
Thanks
Deb
We’ll be putting it up tomorrow, Deb – cheers!
Thanks Jim…Have a great night!