"What’s the best advice you can give to someone looking to get started in business, internet-based or otherwise?"
This was quite possibly my most successful request. From Start-up founders to Start-up coaches to food topping innovators and a couple millionaires - As usual - I was amazed by the responses.
1)
Alex Genadinik
Founder
Problemio
"You must follow your passion. Starting a business is easy, but spending years of hard work to grow it and turn it into a success is incredibly difficult. So if you follow your passion, that will help immensely in getting through the ups and downs. And when I say follow your passion, I mean it in a broad sense. Having a business itself can be a passion. The competition of being a business owner and seeing something you make grow can be fascinating enough.
And once you are following your passion, be very
disciplined and hard working. Get mentorship when you can, and don't try
to do things alone. And be ready to work harder than you've ever worked
before, and then some! "
To learn more please visit Mr. Genadinik's site: problemio.com
To learn more please visit Mr. Genadinik's site: problemio.com
2)
David Jackson
Host
School of Podcasting
"My advice would be to pick a date on the calendar to launch. Figure out
what you need to do and work backward. Then you can figure out what you
need to do each day to follow the path to your launch. In the end you
need to START. You can't get better at something until you START doing
it. So many people get paralysis by analysis. They want things to be
perfect before launching. Unfortunately, they never launch because they
just need "one more thing." Realize that if you aim for perfect and you
miss, you will more than likely land on "very good." Start. Start.
Start!"
To learn more about Mr. Jackson - please check out his site: schoolofpodcasting.com
To learn more about Mr. Jackson - please check out his site: schoolofpodcasting.com
3)
Lajuan Stoxstill-Diggs
Author/Founder of
Craigslist Hustle
Craigslist Hustle
"My situation is unique in that I never
intended to start a business. I was laid off by my employer and had a family to
feed, so I was looking for ways to make extra income. I was motivated from the
beginning to keep a roof over my family’s head and food on the table and that
is what helped me get started in business. I suggest taking time to find a
situation that motivates you so that you have the initial push to move forward.
It could be you’re tired of the long work hours and not seeing your family or
the low pay on your current job. Whatever is needed to motivate you in the
beginning use it and remind yourself daily of this situation so you can stay
motivated. Once you have decided what business venture you would like to pursue
I would suggest finding people in the same or similar field who you can grow to
trust and learn from. This will help eliminate
a lot of pitfalls that may come in starting a business. If you do not have
anyone personally then I suggest reading books that will accomplish the same
purpose. The internet is full of resources
from successful business men and women who have poured out years of wisdom into
EBooks and paperback books.
When it comes to starting an internet based business and you are low on finances, then I suggest you invest time learning from others and doing it yourself. When I wrote and self published my book The Craigslist Hustle I didn’t have a clue as to what was needed to get it out into the market place. So, I spent a lot of time on Google and YouTube learning from other self published authors, as well as learning how to use Photoshop and other computer programs so I could bring the EBook to the marketplace. Once the EBook became a success, I went back and learned what was needed to bring the book to print. If your business offers a service or product and you are short on time, then I suggest you barter in exchange for someone else doing the things you are not familiar with in the beginning to get your business off the ground. Craigslist is a great place to find talented graphic designers, publishers, lawyers, and others who would be willing to barter their services in exchange for your services or product. I hope this has motivated you the reader to pursue that business that you’ve always wanted to pursue and I look forward to reading your success story in the near future!"
To learn more please check out his site: mrcraigslisthustle.com
4)
"1. Be financially prepared. Starting a business is a very daunting task as many people find it difficult to take that leap of faith in leaving a secure job with benefits for one that is truly unknown. While some companies can grow slowly as a "second job," others will require "all-in" efforts. If you don't have complete control of your financial life before you decide to start your business, you will find that you're not able to throw your whole self into your new business. Be financially prepared to not take a salary for a few years if needed and know what impact that will have on your life. Be prepared to not take those vacations or enjoy those weekends with family. Remember, greatness does not come without sacrifice and while most people will never understand the feeling that sort of sacrifice, it's the entrepreneur that loves their life the most because, regardless of those sacrifices, they wake up every day to make this one better than the last in growing their business.
2. Be the jack of all trades. One thing I've been very proud of is the fact that I can write press releases, balance the books, update our web site, handle logistics of orders, be active on social media and pitch to retailers all in one day. Many people consider themselves good at a few things but weak in others. If you're starting out on your own and cannot be reliant on support from others in areas where you are weak, you're at a huge disadvantage. Even if you can delegate later, you have to know your business inside and out and perform all tasks associated within. In the beginning, you'll probably have to do everything on your own anyway. You'll find that as you grow your business, you'll be met at some point with empty promises from people who say they will, but ultimately won't…then it becomes yours to fix. Never say you "can't" do something because you're not good at it. Simply learn how to do it and do it. There is no excuse for you not being able to perform any task associated with growing your business."
To learn more about Ms. Busha's secret sauce - please check out: slawsa.com
6)
"Simply stay focused on building a great product first. Then properly marketing that product. Then building the team to grow. In that order exactly, otherwise, failure looms".
7)
"Live for the no. Learn why. Move on. If you're going to think about quitting every time you get turned down you're never going to make it. And for every no you get, you're closer to the most fulfilling and wonderful yes yet."
To learn more about Ms. Schmittauer please visit: savvysexysocial.com
8)
9)
"Self care is my #1 tip for Entrepreneurs who want to rock their
business like they really mean it. You and your needs are the priority -
NOT the business, NOT the soon-to-be-clients. YOU are the priority.
Your body is the only container you’ve got for all that creative juice.
We’ve become masters at ignoring what matters most. Important things like feelings, and the physical needs of our very own bodies. We blow ourselves off usually because we feel stressed and pressed. Because there are Really Important Things you need to do and you don’t have time. I know. I hear this a lot from Awkwardpreneurs (read, entrepreneurs who are NOT rocking it like they mean it).
When it comes to starting an internet based business and you are low on finances, then I suggest you invest time learning from others and doing it yourself. When I wrote and self published my book The Craigslist Hustle I didn’t have a clue as to what was needed to get it out into the market place. So, I spent a lot of time on Google and YouTube learning from other self published authors, as well as learning how to use Photoshop and other computer programs so I could bring the EBook to the marketplace. Once the EBook became a success, I went back and learned what was needed to bring the book to print. If your business offers a service or product and you are short on time, then I suggest you barter in exchange for someone else doing the things you are not familiar with in the beginning to get your business off the ground. Craigslist is a great place to find talented graphic designers, publishers, lawyers, and others who would be willing to barter their services in exchange for your services or product. I hope this has motivated you the reader to pursue that business that you’ve always wanted to pursue and I look forward to reading your success story in the near future!"
To learn more please check out his site: mrcraigslisthustle.com
4)
Julie Busha
Founder
Slawsa Gourmet Topping
"1. Be financially prepared. Starting a business is a very daunting task as many people find it difficult to take that leap of faith in leaving a secure job with benefits for one that is truly unknown. While some companies can grow slowly as a "second job," others will require "all-in" efforts. If you don't have complete control of your financial life before you decide to start your business, you will find that you're not able to throw your whole self into your new business. Be financially prepared to not take a salary for a few years if needed and know what impact that will have on your life. Be prepared to not take those vacations or enjoy those weekends with family. Remember, greatness does not come without sacrifice and while most people will never understand the feeling that sort of sacrifice, it's the entrepreneur that loves their life the most because, regardless of those sacrifices, they wake up every day to make this one better than the last in growing their business.
2. Be the jack of all trades. One thing I've been very proud of is the fact that I can write press releases, balance the books, update our web site, handle logistics of orders, be active on social media and pitch to retailers all in one day. Many people consider themselves good at a few things but weak in others. If you're starting out on your own and cannot be reliant on support from others in areas where you are weak, you're at a huge disadvantage. Even if you can delegate later, you have to know your business inside and out and perform all tasks associated within. In the beginning, you'll probably have to do everything on your own anyway. You'll find that as you grow your business, you'll be met at some point with empty promises from people who say they will, but ultimately won't…then it becomes yours to fix. Never say you "can't" do something because you're not good at it. Simply learn how to do it and do it. There is no excuse for you not being able to perform any task associated with growing your business."
To learn more about Ms. Busha's secret sauce - please check out: slawsa.com
Max Teitelbaum
Co-Founder
What Runs Where
"Just jump in. The biggest thing that holds people back is fear. Fear of
failing, fear of losing something or even just fear of trying. The best
way to get started is to get your hands dirty."
failing, fear of losing something or even just fear of trying. The best
way to get started is to get your hands dirty."
6)
Aaron Kahlow
CEO & Founder
Online Marketing Institute
"Simply stay focused on building a great product first. Then properly marketing that product. Then building the team to grow. In that order exactly, otherwise, failure looms".
To learn more please visit: onlinemarketinginstitute.org
7)
Amy Schmittauer
Savvy Sexy Social Blog
Vlog Boss Studios
"Live for the no. Learn why. Move on. If you're going to think about quitting every time you get turned down you're never going to make it. And for every no you get, you're closer to the most fulfilling and wonderful yes yet."
To learn more about Ms. Schmittauer please visit: savvysexysocial.com
8)
COREY POIRIER
“Don’t go into a business you’re not passionate about. Operating a
business won’t be easy and you will encounter many challenges along the way.
After interviewing over 2500 high achievers and discussing the importance of
passion, I’ve rarely encountered a leader / business person who has achieved
astounding success in any field or area of business they are not passionate
about. If you’re passionate about the business, you’re more likely to stick
with it during the lows, and to make the most of the highs. I would also add
that you should be willing to fail, and to make mistakes (as there is no better
way to learn and grow then in the trenches), to invest time and money in
personal and professional development, to select and learn from the right
mentors, and to become and remain completed focused on whatever task you’re
working on at a specific time.”
Please learn more about Mr. Poirer by checking out one or both of his sites: conversationswithpassion.com or coreypoirier.com
9)
Robin Hallett
Intuitive Healer, Rock Star Reader,
Creator of Sacred Bling
Intuitive Healer, Rock Star Reader,
Creator of Sacred Bling
We’ve become masters at ignoring what matters most. Important things like feelings, and the physical needs of our very own bodies. We blow ourselves off usually because we feel stressed and pressed. Because there are Really Important Things you need to do and you don’t have time. I know. I hear this a lot from Awkwardpreneurs (read, entrepreneurs who are NOT rocking it like they mean it).
My philosophy: Taking breaks for meditation, exercise, and proper diet aren’t options, they’re musts.
These practices make up the fuel that help us rock our work like we really mean it."
Please check out her website: robinhallett.com
10)
Mitch Joel
President
Twist Image
Twist Image
"If you're looking to get started in any business, learn that business
inside and out. Thankfully, the Internet is here to help. Set-up Google
Alerts for everything related to that industry: key terms, key leaders,
key clients and more. Subscribe to any
and all relevant industry trade publications – this includes the
physical magazines as well as e-newsletters and more. Read every book on
the subject that you can find. In short: become an info-vore. Love it
more than your competitors. Love it more than anyone.
Then, once you're eyeballs deep in it, start blogging. Start doing the
hard work and critical thinking about what needs to change in the
industry and what your perspectives are. Pushing that further, attend
all industry events and (better than that) get active
in your industry." -
Please learn more about Mr. Joel's business check out his site: twistimage.com/en
10)
Jim Palmer
The Newsletter Guru
"Follow the
Money
Successful
entrepreneurs know the importance of following the money. When their customers
ask for something,
these entrepreneurs find a way to supply their customers with whatever they
want. That’s what
following the money is all about—go where the money leads. After all, you’re in
business to make a profit.
Successful
businesses continue to expand their offerings. They continue to follow the
money. Since it’s easiest to
sell to your top customers—the hyper-responsive ones—that should be your focus
as you follow the
money.
Become
intimately familiar with his or her customer list. To begin with, you should
not only identify your top 20%, you
should also segment your list by identifying the top 10%, top 5%, and even your
top 2 %.Your top 2
to 5% of customers are not your typical customer. They should receive different
marketing messages and
even different offers than the typical customer. If your goal is to sell as
much as possible and achieve
the highest possible profits (and that’s a worthy goal), this can be made much
easier by selling to
your repeat customers in unique and different ways.
If you’re
not exactly sure which products or services can be profitably added to your
arsenal, here’s a very easy
way to find out: Ask! Go back to your customer list and focus on your top
customers. Create a survey to
bounce your ideas off them, and measure the responses. It can be as easy as
listing your ideas with a one
to ten scale, and have them rate how likely (or unlikely) they’d be to buy or
use it.Your current
customers are the ones most likely to buy from you again. Find ways to sell
more to them.
Follow the
money: Find out what else your customers want to buy and find ways to provide
it for them.
Please check out Mr. Palmers site at: thenewsletterguru.com
Please learn more about Mr. Joel's business check out his site: twistimage.com/en
10)
Jim Palmer
The Newsletter Guru
"Follow the
Money
Successful
entrepreneurs know the importance of following the money. When their customers
ask for something,
these entrepreneurs find a way to supply their customers with whatever they
want. That’s what
following the money is all about—go where the money leads. After all, you’re in
business to make a profit.
Successful
businesses continue to expand their offerings. They continue to follow the
money. Since it’s easiest to
sell to your top customers—the hyper-responsive ones—that should be your focus
as you follow the
money.
Become
intimately familiar with his or her customer list. To begin with, you should
not only identify your top 20%, you
should also segment your list by identifying the top 10%, top 5%, and even your
top 2 %.Your top 2
to 5% of customers are not your typical customer. They should receive different
marketing messages and
even different offers than the typical customer. If your goal is to sell as
much as possible and achieve
the highest possible profits (and that’s a worthy goal), this can be made much
easier by selling to
your repeat customers in unique and different ways.
If you’re
not exactly sure which products or services can be profitably added to your
arsenal, here’s a very easy
way to find out: Ask! Go back to your customer list and focus on your top
customers. Create a survey to
bounce your ideas off them, and measure the responses. It can be as easy as
listing your ideas with a one
to ten scale, and have them rate how likely (or unlikely) they’d be to buy or
use it.Your current
customers are the ones most likely to buy from you again. Find ways to sell
more to them.
Follow the
money: Find out what else your customers want to buy and find ways to provide
it for them.
Please check out Mr. Palmers site at: thenewsletterguru.com
Please check out Mr. Palmers site at: thenewsletterguru.com
11)
Dane Maxwell
Founder
The Foundation.io
"The smartest thing anyone can do is get out of their realm of expertise and knowledge. Don't go with what you know. Get out of that. Go into markets blind and Find The Pain. If you make your business about finding pain, you can then put experts in place to solve that pain and take a cut. The smartest businessmen in the world do just this. MindValley, Appsumo, etc. We don't believe in being experts at subject matter at The Foundation. We believe in being the experts at finding pain, clearly defining it, and then putting experts in place to solve that pain.
If you do anything, Find The Pain. Don't focus on being
an expert. You'll live a much more free life. Who wants to spend years
becoming an expert at something, when you can launch a business in weeks
using this method? I've launched multi-million dollar companies like
PaperlessPipeline using this method. I just Find The Pain in markets,
and put experts in place to create products around that pain"
To learn more about Mr. Maxwell please check out: thefoundation.com
To learn more about Mr. Maxwell please check out: thefoundation.com
12)
Laura Betterly
Founder
Yada Yada Marketing
To learn more about Ms. Betterly - yadayadamarketing.com
14)
Jeremy Frandsen
Co-Founder
Internet Business Mastery Podcast
Jeremy Frandsen is Co-Founder and Co-Host of the Internet Business Mastery* learn more about the podcast here: internetbusinessmastery.com
Nick Peall
Internet Marketer
Public Speaker
"You must be willing to make mistakes daily and find the lessons in
each of them. Some people remain paralysed in the research phase of
their business because they're afraid of failing. But failure is
something that happens a lot when you're in business so you just gotta
expect it and make the most of it. Nobody has success overnight with
their first idea, it takes years of trying and failing before the
winning formula is found.
The other piece of advice would be don't confuse
activity for action. Some people are spending their time appearing to be
working, but not getting an real results from it. You must be able to
identify what the core tasks are then delegate the rest. Reading and
networking and researching are valuable, but if they are not producing
profits each week you have to focus on the main task that will generate
cash flow."
To learn more about Mr. Peall please check out his site: nickpeall.com*on a personal note I've been listening to Jeremy and his partner Jason since shortly after the launch of their podcast and it's an honor to feature them here.
Thanks for sharing this article. People who are planning to start a business will find it interesting especially home based entrepreneurs. Creating a solid business plan is equally important as having a home based business insurance as far as your assets' security is concerned.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jason
ReplyDelete