Twitter instantly connects us with celebrities and thought leaders. But it's all about who you follow — filling your stream with forward thinkers can help stoke innovation and provide a window into the brains of competitors and customers.
Twitter can be a gold mine for advice and insight, too. Here are five successful self-starters who are must-follows if you're looking to start or grow your own business.
1. Richard Branson
Bio: The 62-year-old British billionaire is best known as the founder and chairman of Virgin Group, which owns 400 companies including Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Records.
Tweets about: Business tips, social good campaigns, nature, conservation, travel and everything Virgin.
Business advice: Think big and don't let anyone tell you your dreams are impossible. Take risks — those are the ones that pay off the most. Don't be embarrassed to start small. (Branson started Virgin America out of the trunk of his car.)
2. Mark Cuban
Bio: Owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theaters and Magnolia Pictures; judge on ABC's Shark Tank; author; investor.
Tweets about: Investing, his many business ventures (including his favorite sports team), the changing world of television, media and his family.
Business advice: He recommends sweating out ideas, opening yourself to intellectual diversity, finding a mentor and hiring people who you think will love working for you. Or, for about $160 a minute, you can call Cuban for advice yourself.
3. Marissa Mayer
Bio: Yahoo CEO and president; formerly Google's first female engineer and employee No. 20.
Tweets about: Yahoo products, Flickr, customer service issues and Yahoo's newest acquisition, Tumblr.
Business advice: Mayer says it's all about avoiding burnout. That means spotting potential employee trouble before it happens, finding a work/life balance and being flexible. She gives women entrepreneurs the same advice as men: "If you can find something that you're really passionate about, whether you're a man or a woman comes a lot less into play. Passion is a gender-neutralizing force."
4. Tim Ferriss
Bio: The author, entrepreneur and angel investor became a global sensation with The 4-Hour Workweek and bestsellers The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Chef. Now, he's an advisor toFacebook, Twitter, Evernote and Uber. He also helped launch the education reform program LitLiberation and belongs to the board of the nonprofit DonorsChoose.
Tweets about: Most often, his books and the four-hour culture. Since his first tweet in 2009, he has tweeted 4,300 times and accrued more than 400,000 followers.
Business advice: He emphasizes "empire building" and communication by refining and practicing a pitch over and over. He also stresses the importance of working backward from your goal and minimizing and automating processes.
5. Jack Dorsey
Bio: Co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Square; recently told 60 Minutes he wants to run for mayor of New York City.
Tweets about: Social good, inspirational quotes, Square, travel photos and videos on Vine.
Business advice: Start small, Dorsey says. Keep a diary, maintain an open flow of communication between employees and managers and make your business transparent. And don't be afraid to break some rules while you're at it.
http://mashable.com/2013/07/12/twitter-for-entrepreneurs/
Who are some of your must-follows on Twitter for business advice? Let us know in the comments below.
Who are some of your must-follows on Twitter for business advice? Let us know in the comments below.
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