January 2018 - Rafferty Pendery

Rafferty Pendery: The Expert Every Entrepreneur Needs

Jan 30, 2018

There are thousands of wannabe entrepreneurs and business owners, but only a few actually distinguish themselves from the crowd. It takes a lot of passion and determination to get a business off the ground.

I’ve put in the hours to become an expert in the fields of entrepreneurship, marketing, and more. Not only have I founded my own company, but I’ve also gotten involved in multiple industries and worked with people all over the globe.

Want to know how?

Read on to find out why so many people are looking for the voice of Rafferty Pendery.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

You can learn business, but you can’t teach drive. The people that actually make the jump to become entrepreneurs have the confidence and passion it takes to succeed.

After I founded my online marketing firm a decade ago, I could have been content with the achievement of starting a business. After all, it’s a big deal to create something and watch it grow into a successful enterprise.

However, I knew that it had the potential to become something bigger.

I used a combination of creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to turn one business into a group of six companies that span across the globe. That takes a lot of vision and drive, which I want to help other people develop in themselves.

Constantly Learning

Of course, even the experts know that the learning is never finished. There’s always another experience to help you grow as a professional.

I help facilitate learning for new entrepreneurs through this blog, where people can find ideas and advice on how to become giants in their field. If you’re looking for something more academic, you could also check out a research paper that I’ve co-authored on online tech.

Those research papers helped me become one of the youngest to join The Explorers Club, an international society for scientific endeavors. Learning isn’t over for me, either!

The Rafferty Pendery philosophy shows up in my businesses, too. For example, my company Rethink Training is centered around employee education. It helps to make sure that people feel engaged at work and comfortable with their duties, which improves retention.

Great Experience

Not everyone can say that they’ve worked on a project for NASA. Fewer people can claim that they’ve worked for Time Warner, Hilton, Mizuno…the list goes on.

When you go to someone for advice, you want to make sure that you’re asking someone who knows what they’re talking about. I can guarantee that my advice comes from experience — over a decade of it.

I’ve been in this entrepreneur game for a long time, which has led to me helping people around the world as an international speaker. Whether you’re looking for advice on starting a business or you’re marketing an effort you’ve already started, I have expertise that will come in handy.

Get In Touch With Rafferty Pendery

Interested in working with me or just finding out more about what I do? Feel free to get in touch.

You can shoot me a message using this form right here.

An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Public Speaking

Jan 25, 2018

America’s number one fear is public speaking. This article is about fears faced and overcome. This guide to public speaking aims high.

Simon Sinek is shy and yet he is one of the most inspirational speakers you could listen to. He is the third most-watched presenter on TED talks. With this guide to public speaking, you can start your journey to speaking excellence.

If you are an entrepreneur and you want to develop your business through public speaking, read on.

First Prepare

Being a great public speaker starts with your preparation. Like most things in life, success in public speaking follows careful preparation.

Understand your audience. What is their interest in listening to you? Who are they and what do they need from you? What is the single big, memorable, idea in your speech?

Craft an engaging presentation and know your stuff. Don’t memorize every word but do know the framework of your presentation and what you are talking about. This will help you with confidence.

Overcome Your Fears

Your comfort zone is the area of experience that you are familiar with. You know you are safe there because you’ve been there before and survived. Most people are outside their comfort zone when speaking in public.

Increase your comfort zone by making small steps outside it and discover you still survive. In public speaking terms, start small, with smaller groups and then increase the challenge. Prepare, know your subject and grow your comfort zone and you will overcome your fears.

Engage Your Audience

Powerpoint slides, speakers notes, and autocues get in the way of a personal engagement with your audience. If you want their hearts and minds you need to make an emotional connection as well as an intellectual one. Speak from the heart.

Try telling a story with an emotional content. Use anecdotes they can identify with. Talk with your audience rather than talk at them.

Don’t Be Too Relaxed

It’s great to be able to manage your nerves but don’t be so relaxed that you fail to communicate passion. Too laid back a presentation suggests that what you have to say is not important. Direct your confidence towards a goal, energize your presentation.

Be There

Sometimes concentration on doing the presentation right means you forget to be fully present. Looking from corner to corner of the conference hall is not making eye contact with the audience. Take time, pause and look people in the eye.

Breath

Of course, you know that you need to breath. Even though you generally breathe without thinking too hard about it, take a conscious breath before and during your presentation from time to time.

Call it a Zen thing if you like but a simple conscious breath when you feel the movement of cool air into your nose and warm air out of your nose centers you. It’s great for pre-speech nerves and creates drama during your speech.

Big Finish

What is the single big, memorable, idea in your speech? Deliver it clearly and confidently so they are in no doubt about what it is.

This Guide to Public Speaking Is Just the Start

A guide to public speaking can only be a starting point. Watch other speakers and learn from them. Find opportunities to speak in front of people and build your confidence and capability.

Public speaking may be part of the kit bag of skills that make you a successful entrepreneur. If you would like to learn more about being a successful entrepreneur, click here.

5 Things Every Tech Entrepreneur Should Know

Jan 23, 2018

Are you an aspiring tech entrepreneur looking to create new technology-oriented markets and strike business success? Well, the good thing is you don’t need technical expertise to succeed if you have a great idea for a tech company or a product idea that will positively impact the tech market. But you do need to know a few things if you want to succeed.

In this article, we’ll share some must-have tips for succeeding as an entrepreneur in tech.

5 Things Every Tech Entrepreneur Should Know

What are the keys to success as an entrepreneur in tech? Here are 5 pieces of advice you need to know before you embark on this new and exciting career path.

1. Research the Tech Landscape You Want to Invest In

The reality of entrepreneurship is that there are very few new ideas. Chances are you’re going to go up against a variety of competitors with very similar products or solutions.

So before you invest your time, money, and resources, you should look at the tech landscape and see what competitors are offering, and think about how you meet a different niche. You need to know how your tech product or service is unique, and how you can emphasize these differentiators to potential customers.

2. Take Advantage of Industry Experts

If you know people in the tech industry, you should ask them questions about your potential product or service and take any advice they give you to heart. Pick the brains of industry experts, learn from their mistakes, and know that they don’t need to be offering the same product as you to have meaningful advice.

Studies have shown that sharing knowledge and chatting with other professionals is essential for business growth, but only 25% of executives are really doing this. By taking advantage of these networks, you can carve a spot for yourself as a tech entrepreneur.

3. Surround Yourself with the Right People

One of the most important things you can do as a tech entrepreneur is to surround yourself with people who are as passionate and ambitious as you are. Your employees will be the backbone of your business, so make sure you look for people with insight into your industry, as well as a passion for your product and what you stand for as an entrepreneur.

4. Validate Your Offering

Curious why the majority of tech startups fail? It’s because they weren’t providing a product or service that consumers actually needed! As an entrepreneur, you need to verify that your product or service is something consumers will want to pay for and use.

To increase your odds of success, you need to validate your product offering, determine your target demographic, and figure out how you can target them most effectively.

5. Be Smart & Plan for the Future

At the beginning stages of your business, you need to be smart about how you invest your time and money. You’ll need to sharpen your time management skills, cut corners when it comes to finances, and figure out the lowest cost way to get your product or service out to customers.

Once you do this, you need to come up with a detailed business plan that will help you prepare for any market changes and changes in company growth and profit margins. By doing this, you can help your business survive and later thrive.

Final Thoughts

Succeeding in the tech space isn’t easy, but it’s possible if you’re smart enough and have the right amount of talent and passion! By following these 5 tips, you can have a fighting chance at building a business consumer will love.

Are you an entrepreneur looking to invest in the next big tech? Have any tips or questions we missed? Let us know in the comments!

Overcoming Challenges as an International Speaker

Jan 16, 2018

As an international speaker, you’re bound to be confronted with unique challenges. Inspirational speakers, in particular, must overcome cultural and language barriers to create deep emotional connections.

Following a few simple rules will help you communicate successfully with diverse international audiences. This will ensure your story makes the powerful impact it deserves.

Rule #1: An International Speaker Must Respect Cultural Differences

Perhaps the most important piece of advice for an international speaker is to have at least a basic understanding of the cultural norms. Fail to educate yourself, and you’re likely to make an embarrassing mistake. In some cases, this can completely ruin your credibility.

Here are a few examples to consider:

In Japan, you’re expected to bow, rather than offer a handshake.
In China, business cards should be accepted with both hands.
In Arab countries, the standard is to accept a business card with your right hand only.

Before heading overseas, take the time to learn about the cultural standards. This will help ensure that your message is well-received.

Rule #2: Pay Attention to Body Language

When traveling outside of your home country, it’s important to pay attention to your body language. This includes things like:

The amount of eye contact you make
Your mannerisms
Your posture
Respect for personal space

Remember that what’s acceptable in one country may be completely offensive in another.

Rule #3: Communicate Clearly

Speaking slowly and enunciating clearly is important for all public speakers. It’s even more important when you aren’t speaking the audience’s native language.

In some regions like Asia, the Mediterranean, and Latin America, the tone of voice and facial expressions are an important communication tool. Other cultures communicate with a strong emphasis on hand gestures. Still, others clearly explain what they mean primarily through the words they choose.

Understanding the culture’s preferred communication method will help you bond with your audience.

Rule #4: Choose Your Words Carefully

The same word sometimes has a different meaning in another language, so it’s important to choose your words with care. Avoid metaphors and jargon that may not be understood. For example, you may be well advised to skip the sports analogies and stay away from any type of off-color humor.

Don’t use foreign words unless you are one hundred percent sure of the meaning and pronunciation. Often, even a slight variance can cause a word to take on a completely different meaning. This could have disastrous results and you’re better off avoiding it altogether.

Rule #5: Dress for Success

Depending on where you are speaking, you may need to follow a very strict dress code. In Muslim countries, for example, women are expected to dress very conservatively. Sleeveless shirts, short skirts, and plunging necklines are definitely off-limits.

Dark or neutral colors and conservative designs are almost always the way to go when dealing with international business transactions. Unless you’re completely sure it’s acceptable, avoid anything that’s flashy or shows too much skin.

Stay on Top of the Latest Business Trends

Most public speakers have much more to worry about than the speech itself. Check out my blog for more thoughts and strategies to bring you success in public speaking, business-building, and entrepreneurship.