Meet 5 Entrepreneurs Who Run Circles Around Social Media Gurus

"If you don't understand business and the whole idea of economics and ecology, and sociology, you cannot be an entrepreneur." [quote adapted from Hartmut Esslinger interview about design]

You should pay attention to the backgrounds and stories of these 5 entrepreneurs. It's in the details that you learn the most -- and they give away quite a bit of detail, given how they make their income. The first thing you need to understand as you read these profiles is that although these entrepreneurs all built a platform with their blogs, your blog is not a business.

David Ridley says it better: blogs don't make money. Businesses do. [hat tip Larry Brooks]

I view these professionals as part of the same human team as you and I, each expressing what they bring to the table in unique ways, according to what they choose to do. They all have one thing in common: the commit to and plan their hard work and success, they live in the important vs. urgent quadrant. 

The moment you blame, you lose: Jonathan Fields

The image I picked for him (hope you'll forgive me, Jonathan) is attached to an amazing post about accountability, working hard, and earning a seat at the attention table.

As I've been reading post after post about his plans for 2010, I notice the clear language, and the concrete resolve to align, build, collaborate, signal, impact, eliminate, give, and teach with the gratitude of someone who is mindful and in the present.

Lest you think this is a bit too touchy-feely for you, take a look at his background. He graduated on the top of his class and was a was a hedge-fund/securities lawyer, first for the S.E.C. and then for Manhattan mega-firm, Debevoise & Plimpton.

I'm loving his posts on business strategy, which he categorizes as entrepreneurship -- this is the stuff you learn from the most, looking at different models, what's under the hood, how they compare, how to think through questions to ask. This is a beautiful mind at work.

The little things matter. Do them: Chris Guillebeau

His mission is to help people live unconventional lives, make their own choices, and change the world. We talked about his philosophy and work here before.

The name of his site is the Art of Non Conformity, where he offers Unconventional Guides -- a series of high-value/low-priced eBooks and mixed-media courses that solve very specific problems.

The most notable aspect of his work to me has been his ability to attract a small army of remarkable people who are committed to his -- and by reflection their -- success.

I love his series on world domination. Any day you need a bit of an adjustment on life and thinking, check in with these posts. 

[image credit]

To find signal in the real time noise, use the right filters: Louis Gray

He's a self-described massive consumer of technology, living and participating in the heart of Silicon Valley.

And now thanks in part of the platform he built with his blog since 2006, has become the Managing Director of New Media at Paladin Advisors Group, a new consultancy focused on Marketing, Public Relations, Sales Process, New Media and Advisory.

Are we transitioning from institutional thinking to networked thinking as Thomas Powers says here? Louis has been one to call it like he sees it in technology -- early stage, or adopted -- and online. 

He worked on his own (stealth) start up for five to six months before launching into it full time. Just because he's so prolific in his writing about technology, and the company just sort of popped up, don't make the assumption that it wasn't and isn't hard work.

He's a master of tools. See his whole presentation on using the right filters to find signal in the real time noise.

Your business is worthless if it depends on you: John Jantsch

Think of John as the small business marketing coach who's been giving lots of practical advice and content away for free at Duct Tape Marketing. Those words I used in the intro were meant to make you reflect about creating a business as an asset.

John picked the best name for his site and blog and has very much a no nonsense approach. Many business owners don't have the shiny object syndrome about tools many marketers have, I find, and his direct style no doubt appeals to them.

Many small businesses are time strapped, and no doubt appreciate the resources John puts into each post -- I grab several ideas every time.

You can have both your soul and success for your business: Sonia Simone

She's my kind of marketer -- for people who hate marketing. In fact, she defines herself as a relationship counselor for businesses. If you want to test her remarkable communications methodology, sign up for free e-classes.

In addition to her business, Sonia is senior editor at Copyblogger, and one of the founders of the Third Tribe Marketing community, where I'm currently a member.

What I like most about Sonia is her clarity of purpose in everything she writes (and does) -- here are 50 things your customers wish you knew, for example -- and the fact that she had a previous life in corporate America.

***

Their lessons are not lost on me. I've been learning a lot from each one in the last couple of years and changing the way I work and think about business problems.

The point is not to be perfect -- a guru. The point is to choose to be remarkable, and knowing that it comes at a price -- hard work. Every day, they win the battle of attitude and approach over the cards they're dealt.

Who are you learning from? What's most notable to you about them?

© 2010 Valeria Maltoni. All rights reserved.

Comments

[maricelam]

Great post...really worth reading and retwitting the posts it links to...

[John Jantsch]

Thanks Valeria,

I am as flattered by this brand recognition as anything I've read about Duct Tape Marketing - see, little tiny companies can have brands!

[Chris Guillebeau]

I'm honored to be in such a top group! Thank you so much, Valeria. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

[Kathy Snavely (ProfS on Twitter)]

You are known by the company you keep; and you keep good company, Valeria! Thanks for encouraging us to be advised by folks of such excellent caliber! Kudos!

[John McTigue]

I've been following these folks for a while now, so I'm surprised you don;t classify them as social media gurus. I guess it's all a matter of definition. To me leaders are leaders. The rest are followers.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@maricelam - thank you for stopping by. Yes, I'm tricky that way. I pack my posts with useful links and content.

@John - I'm still blushing at the thought that I asked where you were from twice in the same conversation! I blame the drink. Thank you for providing ideas I can try right away.

@Chris - indeed. I can't wait to catch up face to face over some crepes :)

@Kathy - that sounds about right. Also like to mix things up a little. You will see a lot of variety in the "about you" page and on profiles I run at this blog. Good to spread the wealth beyond usual names.

@John - that's because they define themselves as entrepreneurs through their work, it's in their brand. As I wrote before, leading brands lead.

[Ivan Walsh]

If you don't have a business plan, it's just a hobby.

[Bill Lublin]

Valeria - Why am I never suprised when I follow a tweet back to an interesting post and its written by you?
Great post - really interesting choices - and really good information
:-)

[Jonathan Fields]

@Valeria - thanks so much for the kind words and for allowing me a place in your post with some amazing movers and thinkers.

@John McTigue - Two thoughts. One, I don't know anyone who's a social media guru these days. Things are moving too fast and we bounce between holding on for dear life and riding the wave. Two, while we all leverage social media in a fairly intensive way, we do it as a means to a bigger business end. So, our goal isn't so much to build big followings, but rather to build attention assets, permission, interest, engagement, value and credibility in anticipation of some future business outcome. Is it fun, too? You bet!

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Ivan - a business plan can simply be a one-pager that says you're going to make money and here's how.

@Bill - we do need to schedule that lunch. So much to catch up on!

@Jonathan - the more I read about you and your work, the more I had to write this post so you could be in it. Hope we'll have the chance to meet face to face in the coming year.

[Randy Vaughn]

And for anyone reading this wondering how John Jantsch treats all those coaches in his network, he gives away TONS of ideas, tips, tools, and resources to all his coaches as well. It is why the Duct Tape Marketing brand continues to spread.

[Nancy Williams]

What a fantastic and grounding post, Valeria. I have followed several of these entrepreneurs (notably Jonathan Fields and John Jantsch) for several years and I will spend some time with the others thanks you your overview.

I think the point you made so well here though is it isn't the medium which maketh the entrepreneur - it is the person and the attitude. Too many people get caught up in the tools and lose sight of what they can actually give to others. You have provided some fine examples of people who have left the tool gazers behind without even meaning to.