It’s sometimes hard to filter out all the advice of influencers in the entrepreneurial space. Do you really need to follow all of their advice to achieve a successful business?
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Today, I’m sharing my spicy takes, which are the things that I’m taking a stand on. These are the things in the industry that fire me up!
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Things I am Taking a Stand On
We are influenced by so many people and brands.
The amount of impressions we get from other people is vast, and it leaves us feeling like we have to follow in someone’s footsteps.
Today I am sharing the thoughts that may seem controversial in my little bubble. They are the opinions I have that are different from those whom I am influenced by.
1. Do It Your Way
The way that I, or your peers are doing it may not be for you. The way that you build your business should reflect the way that you need to build it.
“You do not need to subscribe to anyone else’s philosophy on how to build a business.“
If you are going to build a business your way, you will have to use your own thought processes, and understand your values, beliefs, boundaries and skills. Alll of this takes some time to dive into.
A business in a box is just not possible, and it won’t lead you down a fulfilling path.
This is why when you are building a business you need to be in community under the direction of someone who will give you the ability to process what works for you.
2. Sell Your Skills First
People come to me often and ask me “How can I make money?”
If you are an operator, you will make the most money by selling your skills first.
Where is the combination of what you are interested in, what you are excited about, and what your experience lends you? That is where your service offer is built.
“If you need to make money right now, look at where your gifts are, and start selling those.”
This is why teams exist. No one person can do all things with excellence. Solopreneuers look to plug the gaps in their business with people who have your skill set.
“If you want to make money, ask yourself what you do better than anyone else, and start talking about that.”
When people come to me, they are usually re-assessing themselves or are in a place where they just need income and I am always going to direct them back to their skill.
From there, you can productize it over time, meaning you can take your skill and turn it into something you can replicate on a one-to-many model.
3. Marketing
If you are a service provider, social media marketing is not needed.
When you’re building a business, you need to start having conversations. You can leverage social media platforms to build relationships so you can get on the phone with people and build connections. Those things will translate into sales.
“You are not going to sell a high ticket service based offer off of social media, especially in the beginning.”
The fast path to selling is through a conversation. Social media should come much later in your journey.
Leverage the platforms to look for connections that will lead you to be referable.
We spend too much time paying attention to people who have much larger audiences. What are you going to do with a large audience anyway? Social media and email marketing are long games.
Instead of focusing your efforts on all of the marketing methods, go straight for the conversations.
4. Reports
Most people eventually hope to earn more, and work a little less. How do you get there?
Report on your productivity and the ROI, progress, efficiencies, and potential revenue that you are bringing in.
“Make sure you report on all of the goodness you are bringing into a company.”
When I was first starting out as a solopreneur, I would report to my clients in the same way I reported in my corporate career, and I was recognized for it by my clients.
If you want to shine, create a dependable, repeatable report that you produce on a consistent basis.
If you want to increase your rates, the most effective way to do this is to have a track record of reporting so that you can show your progress. This takes away the subjectivity.
5. Desperate Attracts Desperate
If you find yourself in a desperate mindset, it is definitely felt on the other side.
When people are desperate there is not a lot of clarity, and if you are both desperate, you can’t expect any clarity in what you will be doing. There is going to be so much scope creep that happens.
Make sure you know what you are getting into from the start so you can fully express yourself, have good communication, and be in alignment with your values.
Join us for Growth Getters Live so you can spend 3 days learning how to build a business that works for you!
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