Neil Hernandez's Blog

Chase the Passion not the Money

How do you really make money? By not chasing after money. I say do what you are passionate about, work on it, and then the money will come. Even if you have to wait 10 years doing what you love but not making a dime. You see when you do what you love, people will see it, you'll attract it and then you make it. But if you do not do something you love or accept mediocrity, then people will see and feel you are doing it for another reason besides love.

Salsa Dancing

What does it mean to be good?

It depends on the observer. For example, I know how to do a little bit of salsa dancing. So am I good? Well, to someone who dances salsa all the time and has reached more than a beginner level of competency, I'm probably not viewed as much more than an advanced beginner. They may view me and say "he has the basic steps, but has a long ways to go". However, if someone completely new to dancing viewed me on the dance floor, they may say "wow, he is good!" Why? Because, the person who is new to dancing thinks I may be good compared to him, who has little or no experience in dancing.

So if you want to be really good in something you can completely get into it (like the couple above) and put your time and energy into becoming near the best you are capable of in it. Or you can watch and observe what the really good people do. Keep up with their actions. Then, when the time is necessary, learn the "basic step" and many people will think you are good.

The Best Eastern European Grocery Store

I like to cook food of various ethnic types. Whenever I'm in the mood for something Eastern European (like Lamb Shank) I goto a particular grocery store about 20 miles from where I live that specializes in food from that area. I go there because I know it is the best grocery store for that type of food. I don't goto the local grocery stores (Jewel and Dominick's), I go to this grocery store.

This grocery store has chosen to specialize and cater to a certain audience. That is, people who want Eastern European Food. As a result, anyone that wants anything Eastern European goes to this grocery store. This store does not cater to the masses like Jewel and Dominick does. This store focuses on a certain niche market. As a result. People flock to the store.

Likewise, when you run a business, you have a choice to market to the masses, or you can focus on a smaller niche. In this world of ever increasing choices, getting the attention of the masses could be very expensive and different. Instead, this grocery store decided to focus on one particular niche, serve the niche well. As a result anyone who is interested in that niche will likely find you more remarkable.

The Old Fashion Way

I do business the old fashion way:

It I don't like you or if you don't like me - it is probably best that we don't work together.

If I sense that you don't trust me or you sense that I don't trust you - it is probably best that we don't work together.

I can't be comfortable enough to have a social drink (coffee) with you or if you don't feel comfortable enough to have a social drink with me - it is probably best that we don't work together.

If it doesn't feel right - it is probably best that we don't work together.

If I can't tell you exactly how I feel, or if you can't tell me how I feel - it is probably best that we don't work together.

But if I like you, trust you, feel comfortable telling you how I feel and if you feel the same way - then we probably should work together.

iList

A new cool website to post jobs:

http://ilist.com/

Open Space

We all know the US Auto Industry is in trouble. A couple decades ago that would have been unimaginable. After all, this is the US where everybody drives cars and the Big 3 was untouched by domestic competition. What happened? The biggest reason I think is because of what Seth Godin calls Boundaries:

Consider the American car companies. When faced with real boundaries (like the diminishing supply of oil and the high price of gasoline) they ignored them. When faced with no boundaries (like the opportunity for rapid technological advancement) they hid.

Likewise, recruiting companies are faced with boundaries today. There is the real boundary of HR in companies getting greater and cheaper access to alternatives to using agencies (an agency can purchase one password access to Monster for year or one contract recruiter for 6 months for the same fee as an agency charges for one placement). There is also the apsect of no boundary. There is no boundary as to how much or to what extent recruiting agencies use technology to make their organization better.

In short, in these rapidly changing times, we are given an opportunity to rise and shine. The only question is what are you going to do about it?

How to make money on the Internet

Seth Godin brings us the timeless blog post: How to Make Money on the Internet:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/11/how-to-make-mon.html