I always evaluate ideas solely on merit and try to ignore what is established or representative of the status quo.
Halden Zimmermann began his career as a process engineer for an Automotive, a Global Tier 1 components manufacturer where he took on many roles of increasing responsibility in plant management. The company also sponsored Halden for the MBA program at the University of Rochester, Simon School of Business, where was one of the youngest to graduate the program.
Halden changed careers to with more global exposure at Alcan Packaging, Inc., and as the Director of Continuous Improvement for the global food, meats and beverage packaging sector he was heavily involved in the strategy, execution and facilitation of operational excellence and corporate strategic initiatives. He then relocated to Paris, France in a Global Marketing role, where the CEO wanted him to focus the same toolsets leading and transitioning the commercial organization to a more dynamic and process-oriented organization, which used segmentation and value-based pricing to improve margin.
After returning to the U.S., Halden transitioned to the healthcare market and was recruited by Cardinal Health to lead one of the largest pharmaceutical businesses in marketing and product development. After much success growing the business and through innovative disruption based offerings, Halden was then promoted to lead Global Marketing and Pricing strategy for the Medical Products business, where he had ownership of strategy and long-term growth for the $9 billion dollar supply, capital medical equipment, and laboratory solutions business.
Most recently, as the President for an OEM motion control solutions business in a fortune 500 public company, Halden owned and managed a global P&L with commercial and operational presence in every major economy.
Where did the idea for high-impact blogging come from?
The idea came to me after several years of blogging as a hobby. I had built up a sizable following without any specific effort to do so and realized there was a great deal of potential there, so I began looking into specific factors for driving growth and enhancing profitability. The result of those efforts turned into the concept of high-impact blogging.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I still have a number of responsibilities to take care of aside from my blogging work, so every day is unique. Since I can be quite busy on any given day, I make every effort to find some time for quiet reflection each morning in order to focus my attention on what must be accomplished and to outline an agenda to ensure I am as efficient as possible.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Details are very important to me, so I keep a notebook with me at all times that is filled with a variety of ideas I feel have value. When I have some free time, I flesh out those ideas and include all of the relevant details so that I have a fully developed idea to evaluate and potentially implement.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
I am excited by the increased focus on accessibility across newly developed technologies. This is especially the case with many of the blogging platforms, as increased ease of use means that more people will have access to a platform enabling them to share their unique insights and ideas.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I always seek out new and interesting concepts and ideas, particularly those that challenge established practices.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I worked as a landscaper throughout my high school years, and while I enjoyed the time outside and the physical aspect of the work, the pay was not exactly all that great. I knew that any career I pursued would have to offer compensation that reflected how I value my time.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
My blogging career began without profitability in mind, so I would definitely take a different approach to the way I initially arranged the blog so it would be better suited for generating revenue right from the start.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I always evaluate ideas solely on merit and try to ignore what is established or representative of the status quo. It is all too common to see great ideas ignored because they differ from what is established or accepted on a widespread basis.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
I stay very active on a number of platforms that provide excellent exposure by hosting e-courses, writing guest posts and taking on freelance assignments whenever possible. This has helped me attract new readers and has helped enhance the legitimacy of my brand.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest failure has to be the fact that it took me longer than it should have to recognize the potential earning power of blogging. It started out as a simple hobby to share information, but I could have been earning quite a bit had I recognized the potential earlier.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Creating and selling digital products through a blog or some other digital platform is a low-cost opportunity that has the potential for a significant return.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently purchased new software that makes promoting blog posts so much easier. It has saved me a great deal of time and has freed me up to address other responsibilities requiring my attention.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
There are so many, but I have always been a big fan of WordPress because it is so simple and intuitive for new users.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
For entrepreneurs looking for creative thinking strategies, “Thinkertoys,” by Michael Michalko is an excellent choice.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Chris Hadfield’s book, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,” offered a number of fascinating insights and lessons that I have applied to my own life, both personally and professionally.
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