seo penguin

Starting Your Small Business While At a Company

Apr 5, 2010 conference, laidoffcamp, sem, seo, social media

Starting Your Small Business
Moderator – April
Panelists – Nikki, Brandon, Carly

April: If you could give people one word of advice what would it be?

• Nikki: Don’t do everything at once
• Carly: Keep the eagle vision, have the big picture, but come down to mouse vision where it’s what you can do right now today to keep on focus. No small step is small.
• April: Be as open and as clear as possible with life partners, friends, clients. Really take a good look at what absolutely has to happen right now to make this happen. What money do I need to save up; what kind of skill set do you want to do; have your goals objectified.
• Brandon: You’re never going to have everything perfect to just start your own freelance. You’re never going to be ready to just make the plunge. Just do it. Begin meeting people who can help you grow your business, be potential clients. Meet them outside of your work place asap. Tell all of your friends and family that you trust that it’ll happen and ask if they can help.
• April: Tell people even if you think people will steal your idea. You’ve the passion, not them. Even if there is competition, it’s still collaboration. More likely than not they’re willing to share their help and information.
• Nick: They’re not here to steal your idea, they’re here to help you. Pair up with people that are in the same field.
• Nikki: Have a positive support group
• Carly: Small business owners are a great support network. Great connections at networking events. Hello we’re all in the same boat.
• Nick: Business cards don’t even get pulled out, because people are wanting to build a relationship/connect with you on a collaborative effort. Find personal networking groups as it’s far healthier than the old school way of pulling out your business card to sell yourself.
• April: If the networking group is not your speed, find one that is so you can meet people.
• Carly: It’s only as authentic as you make it. You can make friends no matter where you show up even if you don’t like the group you attend. If you’re real you’ll meet real people.
• Brandon: If you haven’t been to networkingphoenix.com go there.
• Nick: Or eventification.com
• Sam: And meetup.com
• Carly: Yes, meetup.com is good for also just meeting people, because once you freelance you’ll want to meet people.

Attendee 1 Question: How do you share with people – friends, linkedin, etc – that you’re working and freelancing/own a business?

• Brandon: If you’re not starting a competing business you can start promoting, but you know the culture of your own company better than I do so you’d have to make a judgement call on posting it or not. It’s the people that know you that will be better reference at the beginning than posting it on linkedin.
• Carly: Is there anyone that you can ask as a 3rd party within your company?
• Attendee 2: I spout my knowledge, trying to create a network to show what I can do, but I’m not selling myself yet… and someday I will.
• Brandon: If I know what he does, and can vouch for him I’ll help him find clients, and I’ll support him.
• Attendee 2: Even if you’re not advertising it’s the people that you know that can help you out.
• Carly: It’s building a rapport, building a relationship and that’s what’s important.

April: Who wants to share what it is that they’re working on, or doing? (story time – some speakers stories are kept private but here are some take aways)

• Carly: If there is something that you’re supposed to be doing, something that you’re passionate about it’ll happen, and that’s why you can’t keep a job, because you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing.
• Attendee 3: Share some experiences and fears on doing this?
• Brandon: It was an incredibly nerve wracking thing, but I had confidence in the people that supported me and the people that I had connected with.
• April: I don’t call it fear anymore… I call it the hunger. I’m afraid that if I don’t make enough money I’m going to go hungry, that I’ll end up on the street. If you’re going to do this make a fear list – my boyfriend will leave me, I can’t pay rent, I can’t buy food – and look at why did that happen. If you see them it’s a warning sign, and when you realize those are there you can make steps to fix it. When I feel that I go to a networking meeting because I can walk away with a lead. When you see those things coming up, alleviate it by doing something that can correct it.
• Brandon: Things that caught me off guard: Insurance costs… I’m talking about bond insurance, liability insurance, short term disability, long term disability care… other marketing expenses like marketing, things that you don’t take into consideration when you’re ready to leave. Have a backup fund–
• April: Please for the love of God, have a backup fund. Do not live paycheck to paycheck. Just throw the money into an account where it can save up.
• Carly: Business plans are important…
• April: I work off a large goal – I want to do this by the end of the month, I want to do this by the end of the year. It can change month to month.
• Carly: And figure out what it is you can do to get there.
• Nikki: Be flexible because it needs to be fluid.
• Speaker 1: How do you find that focus, how do you figure out how to do it.
• Nikki: Focus on who your perfect client is. I know how to market and who to market and what services to offer when you realize who that perfect client is.
• Nick: After a while of working for certain types of clients you can help refocus and narrow down what it is you’re wanting to do you can refine your business plan.

April: Thanks guys!