Building a brand from scratch has been one of the hardest things I have ever done (next to being a mother). With so many twists and turns, updates and changes sometimes it can be hard to keep up.
That is why I wanted to take a few moments to encourage you not to get so caught up in trends and the importance of being open to blazing your own trail.
When I first started out in 2011, I had no clue what I really wanted to do and honestly, I was such a religious person during that time and my greatest joy was encouraging others on their journey. Although there is nothing wrong with inspiring and motivating others, what I noticed was my bank account was not reflecting all the hard work I was putting in day in and day out.
I had no financial goals, and I did not view myself as an entrepreneur during that time because I was so “preachy” which was inspirational but lacked buy-in.
Fast forward to 2021 where I have been a full-time entrepreneur for seven years and overall, for 10, there is so much I have learned along the way that has allowed me to remain relevant, innovative, and profitable.
As I share these tips, I would like you to view them from the perspective of “How to Grow Your Business to Lasting Success.”
- Be clear on who you are and what you do. – This one can be tough because truth is we are all still trying to figure it out right? Who you are will always evolve, therefore, focus on who you are in this moment of your life and what you have to offer others.
Try asking yourself the following questions:- Who am I at the core?
- What do I most enjoy doing?
- What problem(s) do I help others solve?
- What type of life do I want to create for myself?
- Develop a scalable strategy. – Create a plan of action that will not only make impact in the lives of others but generate residual income for you as well. The difference between a hobby and business is one makes you money while the other one doesn’t. Now I don’t have time to go into all the talk of how money shouldn’t be our main driving force, but it helps you do more, gain more access and impact more lives by reaching more people.
- Embrace technology (specifically social media). – Utilizing social media has been a very lucrative tool for me especially when I learned how to do it more efficiently and not use it as a diary (come on, we have all been there; no judgement.) I was having a blast on Facebook and then comes Instagram, then Periscope; in which I was often trending and now Clubhouse & Tik Tok.
I am the first to admit that all these platforms were becoming overwhelming to me because I don’t consider myself to be a very tech savvy person. But here is what helped me relax: As a business owner, it is okay to do what feels good to you while not being afraid to step outside of your comfort zone as well.
Another tip in embracing technology is pacing yourself and knowing that you don’t have to jump on every platform at once or at all if you don’t want to. I like to research things before diving in and using them, while some of my peers like to dive head-first and figure it out along the way. Neither is wrong. Why? Because we are giving ourselves permission to do what works best for us.
In a separate blog, I will share with you some of my favorite apps to use in business and then in another we may get into books I have read that helped grow my business as well. Anything that I can do to help you succeed in life and business is always my pleasure. - Set financial goals. – The sooner you do this the better. Do not wait until you are in business for years like I did before you clearly map out how much money you want to make and how you intend to make it.
Begin by asking yourself the following questions:- How much money do I want to make?
- How do I intend to make it?
- What tools/resources are needed to accomplish this goal?
- Hire a Success Coach or Mentor- Connecting with a mentor or coach is one of the best gifts you can give yourself because they can provide you with wisdom that can save you time, energy, and money.
Unfortunately, many people sell themselves short in this area because a false narrative they often replay is, “I can’t afford to hire a coach.” Meanwhile, they show up on social media in fabulous apparel looking like they are living the life when the reality is they are stuck, unhappy, and leading unfulfilled lives.
It boils down to priorities and asking yourself, ‘How bad do I really want this?’
My entire journey I have had several mentors and coaches. Some were touchable and others I gleaned from afar by investing in their masterclass, workshop, books or listened to their podcast. I have found both to be beneficial.
There was a time in my journey where I needed to meet with my business coach once a week because I was still learning my way. But as I began to apply the information, discover my voice, and find my footing in the marketplace, I was no longer in need of my hand being held. I could finally hold my own.
But guess what? That would not have happened if I did not hire a coach and heed their wisdom.
I am a coach to coaches, and it took me years to find my niche but after ten years of inspiring and motivating others to evolving into a Breakthrough Strategist, I learned that my purpose had evolved, and I too had to shift.
Today I am a High-Performance Coach who trains female entrepreneurs on how to UNLOCK their perspective, UNLEASH their potential and ACTIVATE their life purpose without losing themselves in the process.
How did I experience this transformation? By hiring a success coach who could see further than I am and help direct my next steps. It does not matter how successful you become, you will never have all the answers and that is why it is important to remain humble and teachable.
We are coming to the end of our time and I would love to hear from you about today’s topic and learn what resonated with you the most. If you would do me the honor of commenting below and letting me know how this article helped you and share it on your social platforms and with your circle of friends!
Until next time…
