What I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self...
Mar 13, 2024
Looking back at my business journey, I realize that there were many lessons I learned along the way. Some of these lessons were hard-earned, while others were a result of making mistakes. No matter how they were acquired, all of these lessons have helped me become a better entrepreneur. In this article, I will share some of the most important ones with you.
1. Stop worrying about what other people think - you aren't doing it for them!
Your partner doesn't get your business? Neither does your family? Who cares! You're doing this for you and your future customers. Do you think my family saw the value when I told them I was walking away from a corporate career to teach people to use that app full of dancing teenagers? Absolutely not - but I saw it and have made a real difference in my clients’ businesses. (In fact, that’s something that I talk about in a book that I had the privilege to co-author, Remarkable, which you can check out here).
2. You don't have to know everything!Sometimes our imposter syndrome creeps in and tells us that we need to know everything - and I mean everything - before we start. That's not true! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - you don’t have to know steps 1-10 to help your audience. So what if you only know the first three steps? Give your clients the first three steps and you can learn the rest.
3. Don't worry so much about niching down!
Niching down does not mean that you are excluding people or that you cannot work with people outside of your niche. Of course you can! (It's your business - you get to call the shots!)Yes, you want to have a target audience so that your content is directed at someone, but don’t be afraid to work with people outside of your ideal client.
4. Don't do it all at once!
Video marketing is hard work -there's scripting, filming, editing and posting. If you try to do it all at once, you're going to burnout quickly. That’s why I developed a system that is actually sustainable - you can check it out here.
5. Be authentic.
When we see the success of others, we want to emulate that ourselves. It’s totally understandable and I’ve caught myself doing it too. But don’t. Don't try and imitate what [insert big name in your field] is doing - it will come across as fake. You are you, and that’s a big part of what makes your business special. So you’re not an extrovert? That’s fine! About 30% of my clients are introverts, and they show up on their video as their authentic self. Guess what? Their audience loves it!
6. Take the RIGHT advice.
Growing a business is like being pregnant - everyone will have advice, whether you ask for it or not. So how do you know what advice is worth taking and what is just noise? There’s two key pieces here. First, know yourself, your business and your business goals. Your version of success may be different than the person who’s giving you advice, so make sure that you’re on the same page. Second, look at the results. Talk is cheap, but if someone has the business that you’re trying to go, chances are that the advice that they’re giving is going to help you get there.
7. Share the whole picture.
Social media is hard - especially as we’ve become used to seeing perfectly curated content where everyone looks like they’re winning all the time. But that’s not real life. For everyone one big success, there are nine failures that help you learn. Be vulnerable and show your audience the whole picture. Show the times that you’ve messed up along the way. Show your mistakes. Not only will you connect more deeply with your audience, but it’s also just as important to be authentic (remember that, from above?).
BONUS: You’re going to keep making mistakes.
I’m not so naive as to think that I’ve stopped making business mistakes. However, looking back down the mountain and seeing where those mistakes have helped me grow and learn, I can see them with a fresh new perspective. As well, I can see now how to find the right experts with the right advice that can help me avoid some of those mistakes along the way. If you’re looking for the right advice when it comes to growing your business using TikTok, get in touch with me today! I’d love to chat.
