Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Why did I start a blog?
2. What do I want to gain from my blog?
3. What do I offer my readers that is unique from any other blog out there?

For me,  I started a blog because I love to write, but more importantly I love to communicate and spark discussion.

My number one goal is growth. Nonstop, unadulterated, constant growth – through establishing connections and generating leads to both personally fulfilling and professionally profitable endeavors.

My blog is unique not because of my outstanding writing (there are others out there who are much more eloquent than myself) it is unique in the expectation my readers have to having a two-way conversation. I’m approachable and available. I respond to (nearly) every comment here and have since I launched back in February. You don’t need to “subscribe to comments” here because you WILL have a response if you leave a comment – usually a follow up with another question or idea to keep things going. I share my personal email address with anyone who wants it and I respond to EVERY email that comes my way (go ahead and try me)

I don’t talk TO people – I talk WITH them. I don’t dictate ideas, I share thoughts and leave things open for discussion. This blog is never an open and shut case, there’s always a “To Be Continued” – and while you’ll rarely walk away with a solution, you’ll almost ALWAYS walk away with a new perspective and outlook. This is much less a blog than it is a community. And it continues to thrive because all of you give it a pulse. Your blog, brand, or business is nothing without a supportive community.

So go back to those three questions above. Write them down somewhere and look at them from time to time. Your goals and objectives, your defining characteristics – these will continue to grow as you (and your blog) develops. Pay particularly close attention to number three. In order to be successful, as a blogger, an entrepreneur, or even a Fortune 500 company, you MUST offer something to your “consumers” that they can’t get anywhere else.

A quote by Steve Pavlina was recently brought to my attention. He says:

“You must become so convinced of the benefits of your product or service that you feel you’d be unjustly depriving people by not doing everything in your power to get the word out. “

In short, not only do you have to establish a unique stance in the market, you have to believe so passionately in what you’re doing that other people can’t help but buy in. Define who you are and what makes you special, and then do everything you can to share that with the world. If you aren’t offering something unique, you aren’t offering anything.

How would you respond to the three questions above? How do you define and distinguish yourself (and your blog)? What is your “Product Differentiation Strategy”?

Welcome to the real world

You’re in your early twenties, fresh out of college, eager to take on the working world. As you’re handed your diploma you ascertain a certain knowing of ‘this is it’ only to soon find yourself as a very small fish in a large pond of desperate job-seekers.

You wake up one morning and realize there are a lot of companies out there that simply aren’t interested in you – they don’t want your disregard for “meaningless work” – they want someone who will come in and get the job done without asking questions – someone with experience and qualifications who requires little training and minimal hand-holding.

But that old school ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ mentality is losing ground. The most successful companies, or at least those who are aspiring to grow and develop into the future, are realizing that growth requires a staff that is willing to grow with you – and that when employees can claim ownership and find meaning in their work – knowing not only the ‘what’ but the ‘why’ – they’ll contribute above and beyond simple expectations, and in doing so, will make your job a heck of a lot easier.

Generation Y, collectively, presents an interesting challenge to hiring managers and supervisors. We are, as they say, a force to be reckoned with. Bringing something new to the table – something extremely valuable – a fresh perspective and a drive that cannot be ignored. As a memo to all CEO’s, here are three ways to encourage dedication and innovation amongst your twenty-something staff.

Make yourself approachable

We’re young, and while we may think we know it all – we really don’t – at all. But we are hungry for knowledge. We want to learn. We want to be smarter than you. The only way to grow and develop is to learn from each other, and more importantly, learn from those who have come before us; the people who have been in our shoes, achieved success, and live to tell the tale. As with any relationship, if you don’t take the time to invest in your employees, they won’t bother to invest in you. It takes very little effort to make a big difference. Simply knowing that you’re there with an open door and open mind when approached goes a long, long way.

Give the job meaning | Explain “why”

There is a dividing line between Gen Y’ers – those who think micromanagement is the devil, and those who think we need to be told exactly what to do. I find myself somewhere in the middle, and I think most people my age can relate. While we don’t want to have someone standing over our shoulder at all times – we do want to know the ‘why’ behind everything. Our biggest flaw (or possibly our greatest strength) is in our reluctance for doing mundane work. We want meaning, we want purpose, and we want to know our role in the grand scheme. You (as a supervisor) need to go an extra step and explain the ‘why’ behind even the most mundane tasks. Why? Because when we understand why we’re doing something and how it’s important to the big picture, we’re much more likely to commit to the overall success of the company vision.

Just trust me

There are VERY few CEO’s who welcome in new ideas, innovation, and approaches from their young staff members. For most, entry-level means keep your mouth shut and do your work. Maybe the ideas of a young twenty-something should be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s my opinion that the companies with the best culture are those who welcome the opinions from their entire staff, whether your on the 101st floor or in the mail room. You (hopefully) hire top-notch people for a reason – you do it because you believe they will bring value to your team, that they offer something unique, and that they will contribute to more than just the bottom line.

My memo to the collective CEO: Expect your employees to do what they were hired to do – but trust them to do more. Hear them out, promote a creative environment, and encourage innovation.

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What advice would you give the CEO’s and supervisors of the world? How do you give your job meaning? Are we entitled to be entitled? Share your good (or bad) experiences in the conversation below.

We’re all fully aware of the dating process. You put in you’re time – brush up on your charm skills, take her out for a nice seafood dinner (and then hopefully call her again), play the role of the gentleman as you politely decline to ‘come up for coffee’ for the first few dates – all of this leads up to that fateful moment – you’re at her door, you lean in, overcoming the awkward silence, and land the first kiss. One thing leads to another and before you know it you have three kids, a second mortgage, and floral bedsheets.

Relationships take work, they take time to develop and commitment on your part. We all know the ‘rules’ – we know what it takes to get someone to (hopefully) fall in love with us (women, the above examples applies to you as well, I’m not singling men out here). But so often we forget that these same practices, the wining and dining, swooning and complimenting – they carry over to the business world. Providing exceptional customer service goes hand in hand with opening the door, complimenting her on her new haircut, and yes, even paying for dinner (or at least reaching for the check). It’s all about providing a memorable experience that keeps them coming back again and again.

Times they are a-changing. We’re no longer living in an economical dictatorship. People don’t want to be told what to do, they want to be provided with information.  They want YOU, as the seller, to persuade them, to convince them that what you’re ‘selling’ is better than the rest. Those who master the art of persuasion, the give and take, and understand that ultimately the final buying decision is up to the customer, are the ones who will realize the most success.

Just as you can’t make people fall in love with you, you can’t make them buy what you’re selling. It’s all about romancing your customers – turning on the charm, taking them by the hand (figuratively speaking), and giving them a reason to fall in love with you, your product, and your service.

James Chartland over at CopyBlogger sums it up perfectly in his recent article: Old School Marketing No Longer Working? Blame Canada

No one wants to be told what to do anymore. They want to be persuaded, gently convinced that what you have to sell is really good for them…

So now everyone wants you to be helpful like that. They want you to give them valuable information and tell them directions and hold open doors for them. They need to know that you’re willing to give before you receive.

No more me, myself and I. It’s all about asking what you can do for your customers today.

Next time you’re wondering how you’re startup can compete with the big businesses of the world – throw on the charm and remember that customer service goes a long way.