Kevin Harrington is well-known for his appearances on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, but before he made offers to buy businesses on television, he was busy building dozens of companies of his own. He is credited with the invention of the “infomercial” and was a key creator of the “As Seen on TV” channel, with over $4 billion in sales of products as a result. He has been called “the embodiment of business innovation,” with dozens of original ideas and processes to his credit. Recently, in an interview on Business Innovators Radio, Harrington discussed his new book, Key Person of Influence: The Five-Step Method to Become One of the Most Highly Valued and Highly Paid People in Your Industry, and what inspired him to write it.
“While it is exciting for entrepreneurs to build a business from scratch, what they need to stay in business is sales,” notes Harrington. “My system allows them to establish prominence in any market and ultimately boost sales by five or tenfold through the power of scalability.”
Further, Harrington says that becoming a “key person of influence” is not an option for the successful entrepreneur. “There are dozens of people out there who can do what you do. You have to establish yourself as a key person in your field,” he notes. “How do you become a key person in your industry? I have established five steps that, if you follow, you will become a key person who influences your business and your industry.”
According to Harrington, it is very important to have a concise, “perfect” pitch to promote yourself. “When I got an interview to be on ‘Shark Tank,’ I prepared a pitch that explained my strengths and what I could bring to the table,” he notes. “You must always know your perfect pitch if you want to become a key person of influence, because you never know when you will have to give it.”
Other principles Harrington discusses in his book include seeking the help of mentor entrepreneurs to help new business owners overcome the issues related to business start-ups; raising individual profiles by appearing in as many locations as possible to discuss industry issues; change to a global mindset rather than a local one; and partner with someone who can bring new skills or ideas to the table. To hear the entire interview, visit http://businessinnovatorsmagazine.com/kevin-harrington-key-person-of-influence/. The book is available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Key-Person-Influence-Five-Step-Industry/dp/1781331162.
About Kevin Harrington: Kevin Harrington is an entrepreneur and one of the key participants in ABC’s Shark Tank. He is responsible for more than $4 billion in commercial sales through dozens of businesses he has founded.
