Well, there won’t be any 3pm beers in my future, because I am a business owner. The summer is the time where childcare doesn’t restrict me and I can work a solid 12 hour day with almost no one bothering me. This, as you can imagine, is fraught with it’s own conflict.
I thought that this would be a really solid time to share what I’ve learned about being an entrepreneur in the last 12 months. Here goes: Have a Perspective, Don't be Shy
After a trip to Morocco and a little soul searching, I think we found a tasteful way to craft the messaging. It came in the form of a section on our home page that explained, in no uncertain terms, what type of client would be a good fit for us.
The results have been illuminating. I am often surprised how often this section combined with our “We Support” section is mentioned in sales calls and when talking to the people who work on our team. It really means something to them. It also quietly weeds out people who think drastically differently than us. Although there is a time to "kumbaya" with someone who thinks differently than you, while you’re trying to get a job done those types of shenanigans just cost everyone more money. It turns out that when you craft a clear perspective to attract the type of customer that lights you up inside, it works. Who knew? Take a Break
In the last few months I’ve shifted gears towards building in time to walk and exercise and before bed I take a few moments to meditate (Meditation Minis is amazing). It’s really making an impact on my ability to go to sleep.
Get a Line of Credit
I, too, carried this misconception with me until, as I was tearing up as I signed the papers for my credit line, my banker friend told me that most successful businesses have a credit line. It’s not a bandaid (well it is) but a tool to ensure you have a stable working environment. You don’t want to lay someone off because a client paid their bill late. In fact, that seems crazy! How do you grow like that?
So, my sage advice is to have a flexible line of credit you can use to help augment the slow times. It doesn’t make you a bad person. I promise. Keep in Touch
There are plenty of motivational sayings out there (scroll through Instagram and you'll agree). They all come into sharp focus the minute you decide to pluck one off of the screen and build your professional and personal life around it. The first year has been full of trials, joys and learning. Let's see what year two brings.
What's Next?
If you're interested in learning more about my adventures, follow me on Twitter at @SuperDeluxeMo!
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SIGN UP!Maureen JannI'm a veteran digital marketer whose career has grown up with the Internet. Archives
January 2020
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