Monday, west coast rapper and biz-savvy entrepreneur Snoop Dogg rang the NYSE bell as a kick-off to Global Entrepreneurship Week. Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 (November 16-22) knits together a series of events worldwide to encourage youth to embrace innovation and explore their potential to be the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Following his appearance, Snoop sat down with CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo to talk shop and share some bizness lessons and tips. Is this anything we haven’t already heard before? Not necessarily, but hey, if it’s coming from Snoop Dogg, it’s gotta be gold.
Establish your brand identity – How are you “known around the whole globe”? What’s your message?
Use social networks to evangelize your brand – Snoop says: “Have your hands in everything that’s moving, whatever it is.” Make sure that your brand is out there and that your engagement is personal.
Competitive differentiation – If you’re trying to break into a crowded or established market, you’re going to have to do something strategically original and “do something different that’s never been done before.”
Engage mentors and get help – Where would Snoop be had he not ridden Dr. Dre’s coattails? Find the people who get it and have been there already to help you break into your target markets.
Operating without access to capital – In the absence of money, do you believe in the quality of your idea and are you committed enough to build towards an opportunity that will attract money?
Engage your customers – Understand your customers and engage them beyond your product. Make them feel like they’re part of the process.
Failure breeds creativity – Failure motivates you to re-create to ensure that you’re creating the best businesses in the world.