Posted by Eric Remer

These two words are spoken quite a bit around the halls at PaySimple (and probably in many growing organizations around the world). But what do they mean?

Activity defines the person who is willing to put in time, but not willing to engage himself – a person who tries hard, but is not willing to care. Active people are essentially going through the motions, doing what they are told, but adding little or no value in the creation process.

Productivity defines the person who is fully engaged in what he is doing, and not just at the office, but in life. Productive people are passionate about their goals, accomplishments, and destinations. They are creators. They can change a concept into an experience and a napkin sketch into an operating business. That is the power of productivity.

So why is it so important to small businesses? In my view it is critical for all businesses to focus on productivity, versus activity, because small businesses simply have fewer resources and less room for error. If everyone is just being active yet not productive the business will not move forward. In today’s business climate, if you are not moving forward you, you are moving backwards, and we all know businesses will not survive for long going in that direction.

If everyone in a growing business contributes at a high level of productivity, it not only makes for a great company, it makes for an incredible collective experience.

Popularity: 97% [?]

Posted by Eric Remer

I was recently in a meeting with a director of business development for a Fortune 100 company, and as we discussed a potential deal that could provide tremendous value to both organizations, it became clear that size does matter—and in a way that might not be so obvious.

Smaller companies benefit from large organizations’ breadth, infrastructure, brand recognition, and vast distribution. Large companies, however, benefit from the nimble nature of smaller companies. Small companies can often create, execute, and implement with a drastically quicker turnaround by avoiding the bureaucracy that plagues many larger organizations. There are simply less “cooks in the kitchen,” which makes us much quicker on our feet.

During the meeting, the representative from the larger organization eloquently described the value each of our companies was bringing to the table: “We think of ourselves as a big yacht that has the ability to cross the vast ocean. However, when we get close to shore, we are not so great at maneuvering. That is why most yachts tow a few jet skis on back—so they can navigate the shoreline.”

It was a great analogy that perfectly described the symbiotic relationship between big and small companies. Both add tremendous value, as long as each party appreciates what the other brings to the table.

So there is no need for small companies to have an inferiority complex. Simply understand the value you bring to the table, and find the right partner who sees your value as well!

Popularity: 84% [?]

Posted by Eric Remer

What does it mean to go all the way? We all do it at various points in our life, but rarely do we have the inner knowing to live our entire life in that mindset.

How do you know when you are going all the way? To me, it is that uneasy feeling you get just before you commit yourself to take the leap—combined with the absolute knowing feeling you have directly after the jump. The place in-between holds most of us back from really going all the way in every aspect of our lives.

Every small business owner at one point made the decision to go all the way. They took that leap of faith into the unknown, betting that their passions and desires to create something would make a difference in people’s lives. Yet many small business owners, after they courageously make that leap, unknowingly become like every other business. All of their unbridled passion and love for why they originally started a business becomes lost in a fog of uncertainty and fear, and their passion becomes much more work than a labor of love.

It is my belief that if we all continued to go all the way and trust that inner feeling/knowing that we all possess, regardless of the “norms” we are going against, the level of innovation, productivity and overall happiness would be off the charts.

The reality is, if you are truly following your inner voice and going all the way at all times, you’re not only going to succeed, you already have!

Popularity: 15% [?]

Technorati Tags: small business, business owner, innovation

Posted by Eric Remer

There is a line in the middle of everything we do, in the middle of every decision, in the middle of every action. The line is really a question: Is this selfless or selfish?

It is my belief that all selfless actions ultimately yield the highest of selfish returns. We are by nature selfish beings, as whatever we want for ourselves is by virtue of wanting it, selfish. Which, in my view, is neither a good or bad thing, it just is. With that said, how do we shift our daily focus of our true intentions on selfless actions that are focused on much more than fulfilling some innate desire, and provide platforms of empowerment for those we come in contact with?

More importantly, how does this relate to business? Business is just a platform for our daily lives; all actions that empower our lives empower our businesses. However, the questions that most of us have are, “How does this really help my business? How does this bring in more customers, increase revenue, generate greater overall business success?”

Below are examples that can best demonstrate the power of selfless intention:

Team: We all know that businesses are all about the people. The collective energy that the team brings every day is the number one factor of success in any business. A business cannot really thrive without great talent that is motivated, validated, and excited to be a part of something that empowers their personal and professional growth.

Selfishly, I am very aware that when I focus my selfless true intention on these developments in my own business, with no ulterior motives, that I will be surrounded by a group of people that empowers me, our customers, and their fellow team members to the highest level of success. This atmosphere attracts more great team members, more customers, more business partners, increased revenue, and ultimately greater overall business success.

Customers: I am sure many people are reading this and saying, “That’s great, but how does that help grow my customer base and pay the bills?” The answer is, if your authentic intention is truly focused on helping your customers succeed. Then selfishly, customers will flock to you.

Selflessly, we focus all of our intentions on genuinely helping to simplify and empower the lives of small business owners. Disclaimer: I’m not here to say that we are perfect, don’t make mistakes, or don’t drop the ball at times. But from the design of our electronic payments technology, to the way we answer the phones, fill out applications, and provide support, our core focus is directed at helping small businesses succeed—which is not always the case for small business marketers.

Each and every person we touch on a daily basis should feel our true intent to help him or her. Selfishly, I am very confident that if we are able to execute on that intention, we will accomplish tremendous growth.

The reality is you can always have selfish when you are focused on selfless, but it never works when you start on the other side of the line.

What side of the line do you operate your business?

Popularity: 23% [?]

Technorati Tags: selfless, selfish, Business, small business, technology

Posted by Eric Remer

I recently read an article that compared Entrepreneurs to Artists. Potentially a bit self serving as an Entrepreneur, I immediately gravitated to the message of the comparison. Although I always felt like a creator and knew my business creations had the potential to touch lives, it was the first time I had seen such a comparison, and to be honest, it did serve to provide me some internal validation that my daily activities were much nobler than just “going to work”.

In our society we often look at creative fields—such as artists, authors, actors—with a kind of reverence that these people created something beautiful out of nothing. They take a blank canvas, blank pages, or simply lines and make them come alive. By the way, I am one of the many that hold such pursuits in high esteem, as I get to enjoy their passionate creation along with everyone else they are able to touch.

Can Entrepreneurs really be looked at in the same light? Absolutely!

Entrepreneurs who start businesses also take a blank canvas and stir up their ideas and passions (and often all of their money, resources, and time) to create something that does not exist–often with much more at risk and much more at stake than any other type of creator. Entrepreneurs/small business owners create hope, opportunity, ideas, innovation and serve not only their customers, but provide a platform for others to live their dreams.

Small businesses, started often with nothing more than an idea and a hope, are responsible for over 70% of all net new jobs over the past 10 years. Over 50% of all non-government payroll is provided by small businesses. Just think how staggering those numbers are. More importantly, think about the risks and obstacles that were overcome in the creation process. Think about the people that were touched, the jobs that were created, the products and services provided, the communities developed.

That to me is the true essence of creation!

*Small business statistics from http://www.411sbfacts.com/.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Technorati Tags: Entrepreneurs, innovation, Small businesses, new jobs

Posted by Eric Remer

Why do you do what you do? This was a question a good friend asked me during a recent trip to NY. Why? Such a simple question, but also a question that most of us fail to focus our energy on. Most of us can tell you what we do. How we do it. But very few can answer the question of Why? Why do we do what we do? Not just in business, but in life? To me the question and the answer cannot be segmented between business and other parts of our life. The question is simple. Why do I get up in the morning and do what I do?

I have known the answer for some time, and though it has created clarity for me and driven my daily decisions. I have often failed to communicate my purpose clearly enough to enable those around me to take this vision to the next level. So what is my Why? Simply stated it is “To create platforms that help stars to shine.” In every aspect of my life, every moment, every segment, I focus on creating platforms and environments that enable stars to shine. The more stars that begin to shine, we all benefit from the incredible energy, wisdom, and love that these stars bring to the universe.

But what are stars? We are all stars, yet very few of us are willing to shine. I mean really shine. My definition of shining is living authentically as the greatest version of ourselves at every moment of every day. To me, in what I am focusing my energy on today, I have created a platform, an environment that allows and supports at the highest level, the incredible people “stars” who dedicate themselves to growing as people and professionals every day, to truly shine. In turn that collective energy comes together to create a platform that allows other groups of stars to shine.

At PaySimple, we focus all of our collective energy upon the small businesses of America. As those small business “stars” shine, our collective hopes, collective dreams, and collective energy of our universe evolves and grows. We create platforms that Simplify and Empower the lives of small business owners. Why? The impact these stars have on all of our lives is much greater than most of us realize. Over 50% of all private sector jobs are employed by small businesses. Over 70% of all net new jobs over the past decade were created by small businesses. Small businesses help people live the lives they aspire to. That is powerful.

Why do small businesses do what they do? More than a third of small businesses don’t make it 2 years, more than half don’t survive 4 years. In spite of overwhelming odds of long term success, these stars continue to shine and follow their passions, their dreams, their visions to create something better for themselves, their families and their communities. They are the creative force of America and the world.

If I can help to create platforms to enable these stars to shine, the answer to my Why is as simple as the question.

Popularity: 21% [?]