The Real OZ

The REAL Oz
By Rich Schefren

All along their journey, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion hear about the great and powerful Oz.

If only they can reach him... All their deepest wishes will be granted.

They brave the Wicked Witch of the West... and flying monkeys... and sleep-inducing poppies to see him. And when they finally reach the Emerald City, Oz is just as fearsome as they imagined, with a booming voice and a giant head shrouded in smoke.

I'm talking, of course, about the cinema classic The Wizard of Oz.

You've seen it. So you already know what happens next to poor Dorothy and crew.

While they're all quaking in their boots (or ruby slippers, as it were) Dorothy's little dog, Toto, tugs at a side curtain to reveal the REAL Oz - a stocky little fellow with a bushy moustache and a bit of a stutter.

I caught this scene again recently while my daughters were watching the movie on DVD. (My youngest loves it, though she's a little scared of The Wicked Witch. And it got me thinking...

All of the most successful people I know in the Internet marketing business have their own "man behind the curtain." That person takes care of everything behind the scenes, making sure the business is running smoothly on all cylinders and not missing a beat. And he's vital to its success.

I've got my own version right here at Strategic Profits. He's my COO and partner, Brian Johnson.

If you've ever been to one of my events and seen a pale, dark-headed guy running to and fro with a walkie-talkie and a look of complete exhaustion, that would be Brian. Brian's involved in every decision we make, and his tireless efforts and pit-bull tenacity have played a major role in the success of Strategic Profits.

While I'm doing my work as the "face" of the company, I trust Brian to take care of everything else. Basically, all the stuff involved in day-to-day operations falls on his plate first. And I must say, he does a phenomenal job. I honestly don't know where I'd be without him.

As I said, all the top people I know in this business have their own Man (or Gal) Friday.

People like Mike Filsaime, who's got Tom Beal... Jay Abraham, who has Spike Humer... and Jeff Walker, who has Jon Walker. But that's just to name a few. Many others work tirelessly behind the scenes to help generate multi-millions for their companies.

So what does this mean to you?

That's easy. You should already be thinking about adding someone like this to your own business.

I know, I know. You're saying, "I'm just a one-man show, Rich. How can I add somebody to the mix when I'm struggling to make ends meet as it is?"

A while back, I asked the Internet marketing household names who "appeared" on a conference call what their biggest constraint had been in growing their businesses, the overwhelming majority made this confession:

"I was trying to do it all myself. And burning out quickly."

It wasn't until they started hiring people - beginning with a "man behind the curtain" - that they experienced the tremendous growth and prosperity that put them over the top.

Now, most of them have a full staff to do all the annoying busywork that was holding them back. Which means they can concentrate on the most important matter at hand: making more money. And to say it's worked out very well for them would be an understatement.

But don't rush to hire the first person you come across. Here are a few suggestions for finding a winner...

* Make Sure You're Compatible With Each Other

This is very important. Remember - you'll be spending an extraordinary amount of time together, so you need to be able to communicate without cringing. And even if the person comes highly recommended with a long list of top-level experiences, none of that will matter one iota if you can't stand being in the same room with him.

* Get References - and Lots of Them

You don't know this person, but his friends and former employers do. So make sure you talk to them before pulling the trigger. Find out about his work habits and personal issues. Ask how he resolves conflict and why he left his former position. Because, believe it or not, people have been known to stretch the truth on a resume. So dig deep. You'll be surprised by what you find.

* Establish a Trial Period Before Hiring

In the marketing world, what do we do when we have a brand-new campaign? We TEST it. Hiring a right-hand person is no different. Make sure he knows he's working on a trial basis (90 days is usually enough) and that, at the end of that time, you'll decide whether to continue the relationship. And have everything in writing, so there's no confusion later.

Follow these guidelines when hiring your "man behind the curtain," and you'll be well on your way to seeing your company explode with monumental growth and record-breaking profits.