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In a world full of wantrepreneurs, Steve D. Sims stands apart as the Real-Life Wizard.
During a conversation on the Inner Edison Podcast, we discussed his unique ability to be a mentor within the world of entrepreneurship. We discussed the importance of authenticity, the power of communication, and his innate ability to make things happen.
Read on to discover the top three qualities that are essential for entrepreneurs in the post-COVID climate.
1. The Importance of Authenticity
Take one look at Steve, and you’ll see that he is the real deal.
While many entrepreneurs go out of their way to show the glamorous side of entrepreneurship, Sims prefers things to be ugly and uncomfortable.
Many entrepreneurs are endlessly chasing millions of subscribers and followers on social media. Sims is content to build a small pack of passionate customers.
Sims states that if your authenticity offends certain people, then they weren’t your ideal customer anyway.
A perfect example of this is when Sims emailed his list of 18K plus subscribers on three separate occasions and asked them to unsubscribe. He states this led to 3,000 fewer subscribers to his emails, which saved him $80 per month on his subscription.
While many entrepreneurs would consider this business suicide, Sims sees it as his way of using his authenticity to build a small pack of passionate customers.
“How many people do you need in your sandpit who value your service? Is it ten million, which you could never handle? Or is ten, fifteen, or one hundred?”
It speaks to the heart of the matter: being authentic helps you find your ideal customer faster than trying to be something you’re not.
2. The Power of Communication
In the post-Covid world, people are becoming increasingly more comfortable with what Sims calls “transactional communication”.
In a world of Amazon’s, it’s all about the order, not the individual. Sims sees this as a real flaw in the design of the way to do business.
Sims believes as people wake-up from their post-COVID haze, it will be the entrepreneurs who offer real communication who will be the leaders in their industry. He states as AI becomes the new standard for solving customer-related problems, many people will crave a real connection.
Looking at the landscape, he notices:
- Entrepreneurs rely on email or text to drive conversations
- Entrepreneurs shy away from real conversation, like phone calls
- Less conversation is leading to a fracture between businesses and their customers
People are hardwired for connection. Sims says, “we are pack animals by nature,” and urging “we need that real connection”.
He feels the more you can engage with your customer in real, authentic conversation, the more connection you will have.
3. Making Things Happen
In the world of entrepreneurship, Sims is the real-world Wizard of Oz. In an industry of talkers, Sims is a doer.
Authenticity and communication are at the forefront of his value to the world of entrepreneurship, and this is no more evident than in his SimsSpeakeasy Events.
These quarterly events bring a group of 40 entrepreneurs together to think differently about the approach to solving problems within their business.
With no itinerary and no goal, entrepreneurs flock to these events for the experience to learn from the entrepreneur whisper. From tours at Elon Musk’s Gigafactory to meeting with leaders in AI technology, you never know what is on the agenda.
It’s the surprise of the events that get people excited about the opportunity. During these two-day events located in different destinations, entrepreneurs learn from Sims about solving complex problems related to their business through his authenticity and sincere communication skills.
COVID or not, Steve D. Sims is making things happen.
Become a Wizard: Make Things Happen
You can learn more about Steve D. Sims through his Make Things Happen Podcast or his book Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen.
For more information and insights that inspire your Inner Edison, follow our weekly podcast hosted by Ed Parcaut.