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Episode #102
Here’s the short version. To listen to the full episode, click on the play button above!
When you are an aspiring or new entrepreneur, you’re a bit like a child learning things all over again. Everything you have learnt as an employee does not really mean that much in the business world.
You need to listen to those who have gone before you to learn what the best actions are to take. There are some things you hear over and over again, too many times not to realise that they are important. That is the advice you need to take notice of. But often they are the hardest to hear! Because they usually are not the easiest advice to follow. It can be tempting to close your eyes and ears and like my little expedition all those years ago, to ignore the advice and go your own way.
There are three things I’m going to share with you now that I wish I had listened to more carefully when I started my business journey, things that if I had taken seriously would have helped me move and grow in my business much faster.
1. 80/20 - SALES & MARKETING / PRODUCT CREATION
In a crowded market, you need to stand out and be seen. You could have the most incredible, most revolutionary product or service out there, but if no one knows about it or who you are, you're going to be left with a warehouse full of stuff or a never seen digital product, and not a customer in sight.
That's why the advice you hear all the time from experienced, successful business owners is, especially at the start, you need to be spending around 80% of your time shouting about what you've got, and only 20% on creating the actual product you're selling. You really do need to spend most of your time getting your message out there, building your brand and making sure people know why what you offer is THE answer to their problems or desires.
It's about standing out from the crowd and telling your story in a way that makes people think, "Yep, I need that!"
You only focus on perfecting your product or service and make sure it lives up to your hype AFTER you know you have a client base for it and even after that, you still need to keep the flow of clients coming. You will never stop selling and marketing, but it does get easier as you become more experienced and automate and outsource some of it. And it can even become fun if you focus on the marketing and sales methods that suit you and your personality.
2. YOU NEED TO GET COMFORTABLE, FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE
Think about it, every big leap forward you've ever taken, every achievement that made you feel on top of the world, it came from pushing yourself, right? From stretching beyond what you thought you could do, from stepping out into the unknown. It's the same with business.
Success comes from trying new things, from taking risks, from daring to fail.
Yes, being uncomfortable can sometimes mean you fail. But in business, failure is like a rite of passage. it's practically a necessity. Because when you fail, you get a crystal clear picture of what not to do.
When you are doing something for the first time, you will make mistakes even if you are following an established framework or plan, and you may not even reach your goal. But the next time, you will be right on target.
One of the biggest truths in the biz world is that you'll never really feel 100% ready . You might think you need the perfect plan, the perfect product, or the perfect moment before you can make a move. But here's the kicker - perfect doesn't exist.
Instead, the real magic happens when you take action, ready or not. That's how you learn, that's how you grow, that's how you get things moving and that’s how you can stop being uncomfortable.
3. REMEMBER YOU’LL ALWAYS BE WORKING ON YOUR MINDSET
Running a business isn't just about serving clients spreadsheets and Instagram reels. It's also about what's going on upstairs, in your head. It's about how you handle the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Do you see challenges as insurmountable obstacles or opportunities for growth? Do you dwell on the mistakes or learn from them and move forward? Your mindset, your attitude, is crucial.
This is something that every entrepreneur deals with, whether they're just starting out or they're at the top of their game. Even the big shots like have to constantly check-in with their mindset and adjust it accordingly.
You see, with each new level you reach in your business, there's a new set of challenges waiting for you. And all of that is gonna require a mental upgrade. You have to outgrow old fears, smash through self-imposed ceilings, and keep developing the courage to step into the unknown.
Remember, managing your mindset isn't something you do just once and then forget about. It's an ongoing process, a daily practice. Because a strong mindset is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your entrepreneurial toolbox.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS…
kicking off your entrepreneurial journey is not unlike being a child learning about the world all over again. Make sure to choose your mentors wisely and listen to their advice. Sure, you'll trip, you'll stumble, but each time, you'll get right back up and take another step forward, until before long you are more confident in your business than you are now in your job.
So, don’t shy away from following the advice that seems the hardest, as it more than likely will bring you the biggest rewards.
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