10 years in the making, when I look back at the actions I took and mindset shifts I experienced while being mentored in my first few years of my coaching business, I find these to be the most important to build a momentum and revenues. I had a vision and the passion to keep me focused each day. I was scared, excited, humbled, uncertain, and hopeful and most of all grateful to be on the path to transforming lives after 22 years in the entertainment industry. If you are further along in your business not to be called an emerging entrepreneur, this may be a helpful reminder to go back to the basics for a refresher!
1. Embrace the life of an entrepreneur.
What that means is it’s time for a serious mindset shift that requires being full of moxie to make things happen on a daily and weekly basis. Essentially, all the results are up to you. You may have guidance, resources, and ideas, but the action is up to you.
2. Throw perfectionism out the window and never look back.
There is no such thing as being perfect when running a business. It’s the most vulnerable, humbling experience of your life aside from parenting. Feed your mindset daily with positive, forward-thinking, spiritually rich content like your life depends on it; because it does. Your business is born of your passions. Take it serious.
3. Let go of any need to use excuses why something can’t be done.
Logically this makes sense and the first reaction is “of course!” But when it comes to action – that’s where the rubber meets the road. Take action. Initiate. Don’t rely on others to do the thinking for you. Trust yourself.
4. Be resourceful like you never have before.
Google anything you need. Find tutorials on YouTube. Seek experts for advice via blog articles. Read. Listen to podcasts. You have an abundance of resources at your fingertips. Use them. You end up incredibly empowered when you take the initiative to find answers on your own. Then you get to forward the inspiration onto your clients.
5. Educate yourself how to be a brilliant marketer.
“Once you are an entrepreneur, your main focus/effort first and foremost is to market yourself.” You have three tangible components of being an effective entrepreneur: marketing, sales, and your expertise/genius/talent in that order. Without achieving the first two, there is limited opportunity to expand and grow the third one. Learn the language and strategies of online marketing.
6. Be flexible in learning the different styles of writing content for online marketing.
It’s not meant to be by the book. It’s not an English class. It’s creative and conversational – like you are talking to your audience. Yes, grammar counts; but online marketing is a whole new art to learn. Let go of the traditional forms of writing and marketing. They don’t apply here. Be creative. Learn from the experts by reading their blogs, emails, and sales pages.
It took me a full year to really learn how to do this coming from Journalistic standards and writing as a career. Once I learned it, I loved it because it gave me creative freedom. Learn the language of email marketing. Here is a list of terms to help you get started. http://bit.ly/savvymarketing-terms
7. Choose an email marketing program and teach yourself how to use it until you can hire a Virtual Assistant.
Your business will depend heavily on it. Anyone who owns a business today must get good at email marketing whether it’s sending a few emails out a month or several a week.
These sites have tutorials for you. Email addresses must always be permission based. That means you either ask verbally or via email if you can add them to your list.
I spent hours and hours over a few months learning on my own how to use Constant Contact with the help of their tutorials and customer service. Teach yourself how to be a savvy online marketer.
8. Begin building your email list.
Drive traffic to your site inviting people to opt-in for your free offer. Ask friends, family if you can add them. If you do get their permission, go to your opt-in box at your site and add them there so they can get your free guide. Be conscious of anyone you meet professionally to ask them if you can add them to your list. Some will. Some won’t. Keep going.
9. Learn the difference between a coach and a consultant.
My version is this: a coach guides you with their expertise to hold you accountable for your actions to create the results you said you desire. A consultant goes on site with a client and does the work for them and with them. This is more of a servicing role. Usually you don’t want to mix to the two. Very different work expectations and rates.
There may be a need to mix them for an account but be very clear in the beginning with the client what you will do and what is not part of the service. You can offer add-ons where they pay for additional services that are not part of the package they invested in.
Never giveaway your expertise because you think you are obligated to. If it’s not in the deliverables and they want it, you kindly and professionally explain the service has a fee to it. Let them decide if they want to pay for it. Otherwise, do not do it.