learn before you leap: lessons in entrepreneurship
TRANSCRIPT
Entrepreneurship and Virtual Agency Life. Startup Lessons Learned, Leadership and Inspiration
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{Kate Finley, @KateUpdates Belle Communications [email protected]
About Me ...@KateUpdates @thinkbellecom #OSUPRSSA
Belle Communications
What to Expect ...• My Story + Secrets to Success
• Define Entrepreneurship
• Get a Mentor
• Startup Lessons Learned
• Consulting vs. Agency Ownership vs. Virtual Agency
• How to work for an entrepreneur
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Chicken Sandwiches and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’{
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@KateUpdates @thinkbellecom #OSUPRSSA
Secrets to Success• Go for the title.
• PUSH past your comfort zone in networking.
• Always strive to add value and keep your word
• LOVE Mondays.
• Treat their business like YOUR business.
• Compare and despair.
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I want to start an agency one day because …{
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Entrepreneurship Is …
“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled.” - Professor Howard Stevenson, Harvard Business School
• Conclusion: Entrepreneurship is a mentality. You don’t have to start a company or launch a product or service to be an entrepreneur.
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Consulting, Starting and Agency or the Entrepreneurial Spirit Ready. Set … Jump?{
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Consultant or Agency?• Team component
• Expenses (virtual agency benefit)
• Responsibility and delegation
• Credibility
• Defining your ‘All’
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Virtual Agency Life• Flexibility and freedom
• Entrepreneurial
• Creative team dynamic
• Always ‘on’
• Discipline + routine
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Qualities of a *Successful* Business Owner
• The ability to handle frequent uncertainty
• Flexibility and resilience
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Business sense
• Discipline and self-control
• Strength of character
Finding a mentor and avoiding the question they never want to hear: Can I ‘pick your brain’? {
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Finding a Mentor• Follow and engage on social media and blogs
• Comment on and share their content
• Study them … what do you like? What would you do differently?
• What do your mentors read, watch, listen to? Explore and learn.
• Send an introduction email
• Paying it forward
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How to know when it’s time to ‘plunge’ into consulting or agency ownership: When will I be ready?{
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Leadership IQ• Am I better at listening or talking? Listen more.
• Do I regularly set goals for myself that I accomplish without procrastination?
• Am I a person of my word? Do people trust me?
• Do I feel comfortable communicating my ideas and preferences without worrying about what others may think, say or do?
• Do I inspire those around me to be better?
• How well do I handle stress, change and uncertain situations?
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Learn before you leap.• Learn how to manage client expectations, gain client trust as a preferred account contact and
answer questions. Stretch Goal: Communicate bad news to a client and present the solution to the problem.
• Learn how prospecting and new business work. Stretch goal: Cultivate a lead and bring in a piece of new business.
• Learn how to manage a team and motivate team members to do their best.Stretch goal: Get involved in the interviewing process and on boarding process for new team members.
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Learn before you leap.• Understand how to create a comprehensive PR strategy with measurement and marketing tactic
integration.Stretch Goal: Construct all or part of a PR strategy that includes social media and content.
• Experience a PR crisis and observe how it’s handled by your leadership team, including how each audience is advised (stakeholders, media, customers, community leaders, etc.) Stretch goal: Construct a crisis communication plan.
• Understand how fees are charged and hours are allocated for clients within an agency.Stretch goal: Communicate retainer recommendations and changes
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How to Successfully Work for an Entrepreneur• Organize and know your world
• Follow up (aka don’t assume)
• Communicate more than you think you have to
• Value our time
• Answer before you ask
• Make yourself available to help
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Dont panic.
Key Takeaways • Are you a leader? Cultivate and grow.
• Find and engage a mentor.
• Learn before you leap.
• Create a game plan based on whether you’re like to be a consultant, own an agency or work for a flexible / virtual agency.
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Thank you! Follow our team at facebook.com/BelleCommunications or connect at LinkedIn.com/in/KateFinley.
{Kate Finley, @KateUpdates Belle Communications [email protected]
@KateUpdates @thinkbellecom #OSUPRSSA