Scott McKain is a Bestselling author, Hall of Fame professional speaker, and a leading authority on creating distinction for your business and career — that’s Scott McKain. His book, “Create Distinction: What To Do When ‘Great’ Isn’t Good Enough To Grow Your Business” was named by thirty major newspapers as one of the “Ten Best Business Books” of the year.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak
When business started difficulties overcame:
““For me it was a function of age. I started at a very young age and who wants to take advice from someone very young. What do you know? And I would stand up in front of audiences and they’d have their arms folded like what are you going to tell me? After a few years that ceased being a problem but it was at the very beginning, and I learned that I had to be more prepared and better equipped. I learned a lot of things that were of extraordinary value because of those difficulties. That’s one of the things I see today with many of the millennials, that same problem. Sometimes it’s difficult to get people to take you seriously simply because of your age. Instead of fighting it, understand more about where those people are coming from”…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft Book by Stephen KingFavourite Quote:
“That which is easy to do, is also easy not to do, which is why most won’t do it” – Jim Rohn
Recommended Online Resources:
Podcasts
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
“Be distinct. Find a way to stand out in your marketplace. Customers don’t choose to do business with you, customers choose to do business with you instead of the alternatives. So if they see no difference between you and the competition, then they have to come up with some way to differentiate, which is why they seem so concerned about price. But if you can find a way to stand out, create distinction, attract customers not only to come but to stay and to bring their friends, and then you truly have a successful business. The purpose of any business is to profitably create experiences that are so compelling that customers have no choice but to be loyal. If you can do that, you’re on way to a very very successful business”…[Listen for More]
More About Scott McKain:
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
Danny Glover “We have to be that wedge that drives the question and asks the hard questions.”
Other Quotes From the Chat with Scott McKain:
- “Great isn’t good enough”
- “Just because you’re great today doesn’t mean you’re going to be great tomorrow”
- “Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, familiarity breeds complacency”
- “Entrepreneurs who have a desire to learn more I’ve found are the entrepreneurs who do the best”
- “Show me an entrepreneur without doubts and I’ll show you an entrepreneur without a business”
- “I don’t think there are secrets to success, I think there are systems to success”
- “Regardless of the business we’re in, there’s a way we can make a difference”
- “There are three levels: sameness, differentiation, true distinction – when you are so known and so good at what you do customers are attracted to do business with you simply because of what you bring to the marketplace”
- “If I can find a company that plans retention with as much passion and precision as they plan acquisition, that’s what makes it stand out. But as entrepreneurs we think the way to grow our business is to get more customers when it’s the combination of acquisition and retention, and how we stand out in the marketplace is what will help us accomplish both”
- “I would have been better off to limit the number of people who were giving me advice”
- “That’s one of the things that concerns me when I see entrepreneurs today, they think it’s about the product. It’s not about the product or the service, it’s about the customer. If you don’t have a specific plan on how you’re going to obtain and retain customers then you’re going to have a very difficult time”
- “Are there ways you could take your business into a new genre and totally blow it out?”
Scott McKain
Wow! What a privilege to be with you, Neil! You are a terrific interviewer — and it was a distinct honor to be your guest!
I hope your listeners find this to be of value — thanks again!
Neil Ball
You are welcome Scot! I had a great time chatting with you. Thanks for sharing your awesomeness