Comments on: My Biggest Fear

By: ZAC

ZAC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:01:36 +0000

forgot to respond to this. Michael thank you so much you are a true friend and a visionary. I am so lucky to have met you and to have you in my corner. Let me know when you need your corner tended to

By: ZAC

ZAC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:45:02 +0000

thanks for stopping by peter and thanks for the support. Writing the post was very cathartic. And all the support and comments have helped tremendously. Thanks again!

By: Peter Darnell

Peter Darnell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:13:53 +0000

My first reaction is to applaud your honesty. My second reaction is that you are so much stronger than you realize. And my third reaction is to say that you probably already realize.
Zach my new friend you have the soul of, dare I say it, an artist, the mind of a philosopher, the courage of an entrepreneur, and the mind of a business man. Not a bad combo, cowboy, The answer is to keep asking the questions and be honest, in my opinion.

I see a lot of monsters emerging from the sifting sands of the social media cyberspace world. Snake oil salesmen as you accurately described it to me, cheats, misunderstanding, dishonesty, a lot of low road taking.

The high road is always the best one to take, even if it takes a long time to get where one wants to be. This is me talking to myself as much as it is exchanging ideas with you. I hope you do not take it as pontification.

This is an expensive city and this culture is driven by money (and fame) so it is impossible to avoid feeling bad when there is a the lack of money.
All that glitters is not gold, my good man.
More soon
Peter

By: ZAC

ZAC — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:16:58 +0000

Cassel, I ain’t gonna give up on this. I believe in my heart and soul that there is something here, a business, a career for myself and value for the people and companies I am helping. Thanks for the support and for the advice.

I agree if I can make it through the first year, or even 6 months, I can make this work.

By: Cassel Shapiro

Cassel Shapiro — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:56:16 +0000

95% percent of people who don’t care for money are affluent. The other 5% are perpetually broke. That you want to shower women with kindness and gifts means you’re a nice guy. I know your hearts in the right place.

Hope you keep working at your advisory business, these things tend to command a hockey stick trajectory if you can work through the incubation. An old boss taught me to say one thing to my clients, and that’s ‘I’m not cheap.’ Your rates aren’t usurious, and your clients can expect an ROI on their investment in your expertise.

Best,
Cass

By: Zacharycohen

Zacharycohen — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:18:09 +0000

In case you missed it, i bared my soul (or what's left of it) this week http://bit.ly/crDdxd

By: ploked

ploked — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:38:33 +0000

RT @zacharycohen My Biggest Fear http://ow.ly/1qd4WC

By: ZAC

ZAC — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:07:32 +0000

thanks cindy!! really appreciate that outlook

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:53:26 +0000

Wow, that was really unexpected. Glad you posted it – I think everyone appreciates the honesty, and it’s reassuring to know that everyone has their fears and insecurities regardless of the confident face we front online. Thanks for putting it out there. And don’t worry, the $ will come…most entrepreneurs don’t get out of the red for 5 years, so you’re probably doing better than you think.

By: Michael Margolis

Michael Margolis — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:54:24 +0000

Bravo Zach, for keeping it real as you always do. As mentioned in other posts, many of us unintentionally use money as a yard stick for self-worth. Its really just clothing that hides our naked soul, and you are peering into the mirror lately. Its not what you do, its who you are that matters.

As I’ve said to you before, social media is just relationship technology. It becomes a mirror of how we show up in relationship (and the dysfunctions that come with that). Being generous is great. Feeling guilty about not being generous enough, is perhaps an issue again about self-worth. Nobody is immune from this including me. There are plenty of times where I’ved lacked confidence and trying to shower others with my time, affection, expertise in the hopes of “not being rejected”.

Being controversial or outspoken is just a defense mechanism for a lot of us. It lets us act out, and gives us a rationalization for why some people might reject us. Trust me, I know that story far too well.

I just “want to be loved”…but stay away please, or you might get hurt or disappointed…I just want you to know what you’re getting yourself into here. Ha! Such is the dance, push/pull of intimacy so many of us struggle with.

But perhaps I disgress here. Lets talk money again. People will value you as much as you value yourself. So sure, I give away tons of content, expertise, and time – because I genuinely care. I don’t sweat the small stuff, I’m not a hard-nosed negotiator. I also am very comfortable about charging very respectable fees (i.e. not cheap) for my consulting services and learning programs. I know the value that I offer and how unique it is.

You need to package that for people into a story they can buy into. We all you’re smart, super smart…remind us, what can I hire you to do? Why do I need this? How does this connect to my needs? If you’re in the business of innovation, you have to educate prospects in how to buy from you. They don’t know – the burden of proof is on you.