15 Bosses Share Their Biggest Launch Lessons - When I Grow Up

15 Bosses Share Their Biggest Launch Lessons - When I Grow Up Recognize some of those faces? Theyre the pretty, smart, bad-ass  mugs of successful business owners some former clients, and all friends! #blessed And because theyre all so kind and helpful, they agreed to answer the question: Whats the one thing that you wish you had done differently when you launched your business?   Youre gonna wanna take notes  ??   Rebecca Tracey  Business and Marketing expert for new coaches  The Uncaged Life I wish that I had focused in on a very specific topic and started creating content around JUST that topic. I had a few similar niches that I was trying to reach and didnt have a strategic plan in place, so wasted a lot of time blogging about stuff that didnt really lead people to buy a specific program from me. If I was to do it again Id create a program about ONE topic and write blog posts, do podcast interviews, create webinars, and opt-ins, and run FB ads ALL about this one specific topic with the intention of getting clients into that ONE program. So in a word FOCUS! Kira Sabin  Ringleader of the Dating Shitshow  The League of Adventurous Singles Given myself a big, fat break. I had so many expectations of what I needed to be doing, how much money I was supposed to be making, etc., that I about talked myself out of this business that I truly love. I now know this is a long-game process. You will evolve and grow and so will your business. Esmé Weijun Wang  Award-winning author and founder of The Unexpected Shape, a resource site for ambitious people living with limitations If I could launch my business all over again, I would spend *much less money* on educational products and coursesâ€"or, at least, I wouldve more carefully vetted the ones I did sign up for. I wasted literally thousands of dollars to learn outdated information from people who werent even experts in their field. Its l tempting to take All the Courses or read All the E-books, but information overload is a real thing. Be careful about whom you learn from (and Michelle is the Real Deal, FYI). April BowlesCreative Business Consultant  Blacksburg Belle I wish I wouldve truly believed in myself. In that first year of business, I wish I had a way to see the future and know that I was going to make it. It wouldve prevented a lot of sleepless nights and bellyaches, and I didnt really make it until I believed I could do it. Whether you think you can or think you cant, youre right. Henry Ford Jenny Blake  Business strategist and author of PIVOT: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One  Jenny Blake I wish I had focused on creating steady, recurring cash flow, rather than project-based billing as many coaches are taught to do (i.e. billing for a 3- or 6-month engagement). With the project-based billing structure (or rather, lack of it), I never knew what I would be earning and when, and I felt like I was constantly chasing down invoices and new clients to pay the rent. Switching to monthly retainer billingâ€"where clients are billed on the first of every month, have 3 sessions at the same day/time each week, and can cancel at any timeâ€"saved my business and my sanity. I could finally predict how much I would be earning each month based on how many clients I had. In my book I call this a cash (flow) cowâ€"every business needs one! Kate Gremillion Career Consultant  Mavenly + Co.   I would have focused on doing one thing really well rather than try to be everything to everyone. I learned the hard way that not everyone is meant to be a client and some people can’t afford you and that’s OK. Listen to your gut, and be true to your mission. Sarah Von Bargen  Writer and teacher  Yes and Yes I wish Id been more strategic about how my blog posts related to my services and offerings. Sure, *some* of my blog posts related to what I did/sold, but the vast majority of what I published wasnt related. Be ye not so stupid as me! Susan Hyatt Master Certified Life Coach  SHyatt.com I wish that I had hired help sooner. In the beginning, I was doing everything myself, as most of us have to do. I wish that someone had said to me, Susan, you need to delegate and hire out everything that takes you away from your coaching magic. When I did hire an assistant at the end of my first year in business, it was a real game changer! Kate Swoboda Life Coach, Author, Director of the Courageous Living Coach Certification  Your Courageous Life Spent more time articulating exactly how, in very pragmatic terms relevant to someone’s day-to-day life, someone practices courage. I think that better articulation of what a courageous life looks likeâ€"beyond just endlessly talking about happiness, authenticity, and inspiration!â€"would have helped my right people find me and resonate with me, faster. At the same time, I appreciate the wide open space I gave myself for experimentation and figuring it all out, and especially since I love where I’ve ended up, on some level I wouldn’t change a thing! ?? Alexandra Franzen Author, Writer, Writing Teacher  AlexandraFranzen.com When I launched my writing business, at first, I had almost zero clients. I wasnt very busy. I had tons of free time. I wish I had used that free time to walk by the river every day, eat lunch outside, bask in the sunshine, or visit my mom and dad. But instead, I spent my time obsessively checking my Twitter stats and refreshing my inbox inside a dark room. All that precious time wasted. What I learned is that if youre not that busy, it can feel terrifying, but also it can be a huge gift. Being not that busy probably wont last forever, so cherish that free time while youve got it! A few years down the road, when youre solidly booked up, you might nostalgically reflect back on those early days and wish you were a little less busy all over again. Paula Jenkins Life and career coach  Jumpstart Your Joy I wish I had fully trusted that I already knew what I loved, and had the courage to follow that. It was easy, early on, to get distracted by the shoulds. When I boiled it down, I love helping people find their voice; I rejoice when people (re)discover what brings them joy, and I fought following the path that would let me do those things. It turns out that podcasting, coaching, and consulting is THE things that I adore and that I can do as my work, too. Tanya Geisler  Leadership Coach  TanyaGeisler.com Thinking that someone else had all the answers was a source of suffering early in my business build. I wish knew then, REALLY knew then, that I could trust my own guidance. Like, bank on it, trust. Sure, some people will have specific insight into specific challenges and its smart to ask for that helpbut for the most part? My way IS the way. Was then, is now. Tiffany Han Writer, Speaker, Teacher  TiffanyHan.com I wish thats Id gone BOLD with my message and given myself permission to stand out in this crowded marketplace. Its okay to turn heads yo! L’Erin Alta  Soul guide, Shadow diver, Spiritual teacher  SisterFire.com Nothing! No one promised that building a business would always be easy or simple or profitable â€" but I knew I was doing what I was born to do and that it would be worth it. So I studied, took courses, worked with coaches, applied what made sense, let go of what didn’t. I was focused and persevered, even when it was hard. I picked up part-time and temp and full-time jobs when my business wasn’t making money. I kept going and growing and learning and eventually created a business that I love (that loves me back). Shenee Howard Brand Strategist  Hey Shenee Mindset, baby! I know it sounds woo but I cant tell you how many of my problems early on were about my f-ed up mental game and not honoring my worth and setting boundaries with people. My best advice is to learn the business and the mindset required for being a business owner. That stuff is key. Oh! And talk to as many people as possible about the problems you solve. It will make everything easier! Want a custom plan to launch your business in 90 days? Make it happen now with an experienced guide at the helm (ahem ahem).