How To Make Your Business a Utility Platform for Others

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I have to say my inspiration to write this post came from listening to Mitch Joel from Six Pixels of Separation interview Derek Sivers, founder of cdbaby.com, now student of life in general since selling his company 3 years ago.

Cdbaby's story, if you are not familiar with it is the classic tale of someone who started something for the benefit of others, largely because he experienced the need himself. As I kept listening to the SixPixel's Podcast, I realized that if everyone were to set out the way Derek did from the get go, we would have better, more effective human global networks and commerce.

I'm not suggesting that his struggle was any less ardous, or that he didn't have the challenges all entrepreneurs have, nothing that is worth anything should be easy. But it all started with the need to solve a problem for a group of people in this case, broke musicians.

But how do you build a true utility platform for a particular community?

I’m afraid this is not one that you get to be a spectator on, then weigh in with insight and business acumen while you valet park. I believe you have to own it and live it!

Derek’s a musician, so his first question was: How do I sell my music? The rest as they say … is history!

After listening to the podcast twice, then heading to his website to peruse his blog I discovered some pretty interesting underlying trends on how to create a different kind of framework. The right digital compost that can foster growth based on unique solutions to real problems: 

• Understand the need by living the need.

• Truly care about those you are providing solutions for.

• Have a value first - money later mentality.

• Develop a geological kind of patience.

• Understand the technology trends behind the industry.

• Don’t sell out, but understand what you are best at.

• Keep a problem-solving approach to marketing in general. 

I’m definitely buying Derek’s book, “Anything you want” … an interesting title I thought!. Learning about how others not only made it but failed horribly in certain aspects of their journey, is to me free real life education. In many ways the best kind, the kind we learned from our parents!

Derek also wrote a 71 page ebook titled “How to call attention to your music” … if you are a musician is a must read. If you are digital marketer and custom content producer that enjoys working with artists, it is also a must read!

You can download his ebook here … and remember to share it!

If you found this post useful, please share it with your network!