Frank Agin is president of AmSpirit Business Connections, which empowers entrepreneurs, sales representatives and professionals to become successful through networking. He also hosts the Networking Rx podcast, which has insights and interviews related to better business relationships. Finally, Frank is the author of several books, including Foundational Networking.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
Different people inspire me at different times for different things but there is no one person that I say aha that’s what I’m aspiring to
When business started difficulties overcame:
“the first difficulty is patience. Because we all work hard. Most people who go out on their own they are a hard worker and they understand their craft, whatever that might be. Whether you are a plumber, electrician, attorney, accountant, whatever, you understand your craft or else you wouldn’t take that step. And I just assumed hey I really understand my craft, I am a good lawyer, I’ve got an accounting background as well, I’m good with numbers, I am going to crush it. And it never moves as fast as you think it should. So, to have that patience of you know what I just need to stick to it, that was a hard thing”…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success Book by Wayne BakerFavourite Quote:
“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Recommended Online Resources:
Givitas Is The Software That Boosts Performance & Builds Culture – Give and Take. Givitas is a purpose built, web-based platform that gives employees equal access to the collective intelligence, knowledge, and expertise of their peers
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
“One: get your debt under control. Don’t have a lot of debt because that will impair the types of things you do. Along the same lines have some money saved up. Give yourself lots of runway so this thing can take off. Don’t go into business with a bunch of credit card debt, a bunch of these obligations, don’t feel like you need to start with a fully decked out office with all the best equipment, start small. Don’t have a lot of financial commitments. What that does is that allows you to make smarter decisions ”…[Listen for More]
More About Frank Agin:
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
“Entrepreneurs are great at dealing with uncertainty and also very good at minimizing risk. That’s the classic entrepreneur.” Mohnish Pabrai
Other Quotes From the Chat with Frank Agin:
- “I can help you around certain mistakes but that doesn’t guarantee that you will be in the same place that I am in because sometimes our mistakes in life are really good for us. And I don’t mean in a hey we learned a hard lesson sort of a sense but I am sitting where I am because I left the firm when I left the firm. If I had left the firm year earlier, I probably would have been on a different path. I may have had a conversation with somebody else it may have gone a completely different route. So, it’s hard to say well don’t make this mistake or don’t make that mistake because every day is different”
- “I think the big secret to success is certainly relationships, making sure you have relationships, making sure you have people who will send opportunities your way. They will send information your way they will introduce you to others and will be a sounding board, the encouraging force, be that celebrating person to when things go well. But I think the big thing is just you have to kind of stick to it. That’s the secret to success”
- “the only thing you can really count on is change”
- “it’s not that people are not generous it’s that we don’t do a good enough job asking… We simply need to ask more”
- “my goal this year is to ask more, I am going to keep asking more. I don’t care if people tell me no, that’s not point, point is that I ask”
- “most people don’t say no, they are going to come through in one form or fashion”
- “yes, it’s scary and I don’t know what’s beyond the horizon but for me to discover whatever that new ocean is I need to push beyond it ”
Leave a Reply