6 Lessons in 6 Months: My New Life as an Entrepreneur
1. Be Bold | Play offense
One of my favorite parts of being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to be bold. Sure I’ve had my chance at boldness in different careers along the way--but there is nothing quite like boldness for your own business.
So instead of building my website, creating space, and then waiting for clients to come to me, I got to play offense. Seeking out clients was a great way to find people I knew I would work well with--rather than filtering through companies I knew wouldn’t fit into my skill set. Specifically I was excited to find non-profits or companies with a heart to give back (since our goal is to grow sales to grow giving to grow impact).
In playing offense, I made sure to create a list of all my connections, spending time networking with old friends, neighbors, and people in the community who I thought would be a good fit and who I hoped to bring from here to there with my elevator speech (a 1 minute presentation of who you are and how you can serve someone well).
2. Be Disciplined | Freedom requires discipline
One of the most well-known lines from any movie is from Spiderman: “with great power comes great responsibility.” And I think the reason we all remember this is because it rings so true! The more power and freedom we have, the more responsibility and discipline that’s required.
For me, I found that there were 3 ways I needed to be disciplined: with my budget, with my expenses, and with my taxes. Creating a budget at the very start was a great way for me to have a practical goal to aim for. Setting myself up for a win also included tracking my expenses and setting aside taxes along the way.
3. Be Inclusive | Involve your family
One of the more difficult lessons I’ve learned so far is the importance of involving your family in your business. When I initially began exploring the idea of Here 2 There Marketing, I knew that I was the only one in my family who had marketing experience. My wife had spent her lifetime investing in children as a teacher and church leader, and most of my kids have only graduated from college in the last few years.
But because they were so excited and willing to support me, I knew I wanted (and needed) to include them. It’s been such a great experience creating ways for everyone to be involved--whether it’s helping me find new clients through word of mouth, or creating social media posts to increase my instagram presence (since we all know that’s not the strong suit of most 50-year-old men). No matter how small the task, I’m so thankful to have found ways for my family to be part of this business.
4. Be Efficient | Work when your energy is up
Can I just say that the best part of being an entrepreneur is the extinction of the 9-5 job? It has made such a huge difference in my life to not have to spend an hour each way commuting to and from work, and not having to stick to the typical work hours!
Instead, I get to work whenever I want. That said--some people can get a little crazy with this notion. “Working whenever I want” becomes the trap of never working much at all. But I’ve found that efficiency and rhythm is everything.
When it comes to my work days, I have the most energy mid-morning, just after my prayer time. The day is just beginning, I’ve been refreshed in God’s word, and I’m ready to rock and roll! But when I don’t get started with work until after lunch, my head is heavy, my mind is distracted, and the busyness of life seems to creep in more and more. That’s why I always strive to crank things out when I’m at the height of my energy for the day!
5. Be Positive | Not every day brings success
Something most entrepreneurs hate talking about are the bad days. We love to harp on all the good that comes with being your own boss and doing what you love day in and day out. But the truth is that there are plenty of hard days.
There have been times when I’ve struggled to close a deal with a client, have let a client down, or have had difficulty finding a client at all! But it’s important to remember that not every day brings success. Not every day brings growth. So when the going gets tough, it’s vital that we keep going and stay positive.
Maybe this means creating a new plan, exploring new doors, or reconnecting with people. Whatever it looks like for you, the important thing is to pray and persevere.
6. Be a Student | Never stop learning
And finally, the biggest lesson I’ve learned lately is to never stop learning. With 30 years of experience in marketing, there are times when I feel like I’ve seen and heard it all. I think there can’t possibly be any problem that I can’t find a solution for.
But the truth is that our world never stops growing and changing. Just take a look at the technology development that has come about in the last 20 years! That said, I’ve found that we must continue to learn every day.
For me, that often looks like listening to podcasts, reading blogs, and seeking wisdom from those around me. The more we learn, the more we’ll be able to stay at the forefront of the culture and best serve clients.