Guy Kawasaki's Top 6 Tips for Growing Your BusinessPublic speaking coach Jonathan Li explains his 'guy' crush on the business author.

ByJonathan Li

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Speakerpedia

I have a confession: I have a "guy" crush on superstar business authorGuy Kawasaki. And for good reason: He's smart, he's fun and he looks like Jackie Chan (Seriously, people have asked him if he's theKung Fustar.) Kawasaki recently launched a new business book,The Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything.I had an opportunity to interview him about it.

Related:Guy Kawasaki: Social Media Sins to Avoid

Picking up on the book's theme, I asked him his six biggest tips for growing a business. Here they are:

1. Practice, practice, practice.

As entrepreneurs, we need to give presentations regularly. Never speak without practice. Referring to Apple's former chief evangelist, Guy spoke of how Steve Jobs used to spend hours and hours perfecting his presentations, "People thought he just went up there and winged it, and that's absolutely not true."

If you want to be as successful as Steve Jobs, practice hard.

2. Youth can be a strength.

Your age doesn't have to matter. You can beat competitors who have far more experience. Consider the game of designing softwares for millennials. There, a 25-year-old making software for millennials is more likely to succeed than is a 60-year-old.

Kawasaki recommended this way of thinking: "I wanted to use a product like this, and there was nothing like it, so I decided to create it."

3. Tell your product 's 'story.'

Storytelling helps customers understand what makes your product stand out: How did you discover there's a need in the market? Why did you create this product?

Your product story, Kawasaki said, could be, "I'm a millennial and I want to use this product. I know other millennials want to use it too."

Related:Could Your Posts Pass Guy Kawasaki's Social Media Test?

4. Position yourself against the market leader.

When you're going up against a market leader such as Google, you have to acknowledge that it exists. You should also explain why you're different. Imagine if Toyota said, "We are introducing Lexus. It's the best high-end industry car." People would say, "Have you heard of BMW and Mercedes? Are you telling me there're no other high-end luxury cars now?"

That's why Lexus uses the following positioning, Kawasaki said: "We are as good as Mercedes and BMW, but half the price."

5. Find your why.

The "why" of your startup is what gets you motivated. Kawasaki, whose purpose is empowering people, said that his own "why" is simple: "I have four children. I've got a lot of tuition to pay."

Find your "why," so you'll be fired up to reach the sky.

6. Great endorsements start with a great product.

除了个人勇气向一个influencer to endorse your product, the entrepreneur obviously needs a great product. Kawasaki's books, for example, are endorsed by successful leaders such as Richard Branson and Arianna Huffington. But it takes time to create great products that attract these testimonials.

Don't overestimate the power of an influencer recommending your product. Product reviews from average customers matter, too. People are not waiting for theWall Street Journalto bless the new iPhone, Kawasaki said. They look at online reviews and decide if they will buy the product.

As chief evangelist at Canva, the online graphic design company, Kawasaki told me that he himself wants to be more famous than Jackie Chan.

Don't worry, Guy. I'm in Hong Kong. I might be the first one to ask Chan, "Are you Guy Kawasaki?"

Related:This Startup Just Landed Guy Kawasaki as Its Chief Evangelist

Wavy Line
Jonathan Li

I Help Business Leaders Deliver Their Message Effectively, Confidently And Have The Impact They Want On Their Audience

Jonathan Li helps professionals conquer their fear of public speaking and improve their public speaking skills. To obtain his free report of "The Professional Kickstart Guide: The Exact Strategy I Use To Feel Comfortable Speaking In Public, go now to ImprovingPublicSpeaking.com." He can be reached atTheExpressiveLeader.com.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

An 81-Year-Old Florida CEO Just Indicted for a $250 Million Ponzi Scheme Ran a Sprawling Senior Citizen Crime Ring

Carl Ruderman is the fifth senior citizen in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Palm Beach metropolitan area to face charges in connection with the scam.

Business News

'Soul Crushing': Internet Sleuths Notice Something Is Very Off With This Condo Listing

From the grey carpets to the fluorescent lights, it's obvious that this home was not always a home.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

'Awful Advice': Barbara Corcoran Slammed For 'Tone Deaf' Business Advice to Interns

The "Shark Tank" star shared tips on social media about how interns can increase their chances of getting hired full-time, but the public reaction didn't go as planned.

Green Entrepreneur

Phoenix Has Hit 110 Degrees for a Month, But This One Invention Is Cooling Things Down a Tad

For the Arizona city amid a record-breaking heat wave, cool surfaces bring a modicum of relief.