Building Successful International Contacts: Los Angeles Entrepreneur Ross Weitzberg

I have been talking a lot about our International Entrepreneur programme; so its about time I introduced you to one of our International contacts. Ross Weitzberg is the President of Space Potential www.spacepotential.com in Los Angeles USA, a company which specializes in designing unique exhibits for various trade shows around the world.

Sharon met Ross in July when she was in Beverly Hills on a research and development trip for Vision. Since then Vision and Space Potential have been in constant contact developing ideas for future projects in Los Angeles.

During one of our recent conversations I asked Ross about the importance of establishing a network of International contacts.

Ross:
The best method for us to be successful is by creating a strong network of vendors who we can rely on. It is because of this we are able to connect with resources all over the world.

We are always looking for new ways to meet people who can help us service our clients better and I find development tools like the International Entrepreneur Program by Vision Development Consultants to be a great concept and very useful for developing new business and markets.

Brendan:
Is it easy finding and developing these contacts?

Ross:
No, the challenge of course is finding these resources. The Internet offers great opportunities but sometimes you do not really know who is on the other side. I use many other methods for finding qualified companies as well, such as networking groups, attending International Trade Committees at the local L.A Chamber of Commerce, various trade show groups and industry websites.

Brendan:
Once you have found these contacts; how does it help?

Ross:
They say you are only as strong as the people around you. Great, so then you should surround yourself with who ever you can. Not everyone can be a good resource but maybe someone they know can be.
Building relationships with foreign clients has been a great niche for us because doing shows in America is a bit different than doing shows overseas. Many foreign companies find it convenient to work with a company like ours because they don't have to worry about anything being done incorrectly and it can be more cost effective. With trade shows there are many differences for example terminology, costs, logistics, language, currency, rules and the booths themselves to name a few.
Therefore having an awareness of International needs and Business language is essential, and having that contact which can personally recommend you or signpost a possible opportunity is priceless.

I can prove that it works...you now know someone in America.


Many thanks Ross, we look forward to enjoying the LA sunshine with you next year.

For the past two years Vision have been developing our own International Network to assist our clients and UK companies generally.
If you would like to utilise our expertise then call our Head office on 0044 0115 9418242.

Entrepreneurial challenges: 26 minutes and counting

26 minutes- that's how long you've got with me. Get on with it

The guy facing me couldn't have been any blunter. On one level I understood his impatience. He was a busy, successful entrepreneur. On another level I wondered why I'd shown up.

I'd done my homework about him and shown up with an agreed list of questions. You know that Im always open to learning from people more successful than me. But at that point I had to keep my nerve and think how I could make the best use of the time.

So I said again that I wanted to learn how he'd created his success.. At which point he pushed a large book across his desk and said "You can learn everything from my book."

I did persist and I did get my 26 minutes but you know what, the lessons I learned from that particular entrepreneur were probably not the ones that he wanted me to learn.

You see that if someone had taken the trouble to cross the Atlantic and chosen me from a list of dozens of entrepreneurs, I know that I'd have taken the trouble to allocate them proper time and meet them with a different attitude.

Not just because I love to talk about being an entrepreneur, but because I know I couldn't ever get better PR. We're taught aren't we that if we do well you may not hear about it from clients. But if you screw up then it's likely 15 people will tell all their friends about your mistakes.

Confidentiality dictates I can't pass on his name but he certainly isn't on my list of people to mention in my new book Formula for Success featuring some of the people I met on my trip to LA. And I definitely won't be recommending him as a go to guy for people I lead on the Entrepreneurial Business programme to LA.

Somewhere down the line, he will lose out on business he might have done if he'd showed commonsense and some courtesy to me.

Sharon

Successful Entrepreneurs - how they differ in their attitude to failure

Have you ever wished you could sit in front of the CEO of a global company and ask them how they did it?

Successful entrepreneurs have something special and it has to do a lot with their attitude to failure.

Many business owners in the UK become paralysed when they hit snags. What marks out those who keep going is their motivation and will power to win.

In the US failure is something that is seen as a natural progression towards success. The occasional bankruptcy not a stigma but learning process.

On my trip to Los Angeles the entrepreneurial attitude came across strong and clear and that's something we at Vision are working on now. To give fellow entrepreneurs to get that shot in the arm that comes from being with people in business who have overcome the odds... time and again.

If you want that for yourself and your company our International Entrepreneur Programme may suit you. It's intense, it's focused and it's limited in the number of people who can take part.

I believe there's too much gloom out there. We need to get out and make those opportunities for ourselves. What do you think?

Oh and if you're interested in the programme, contact us sooner rather than later. Your company needs it.