The Greatest Teacher of All….
Things I've learned starting a business....
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there”
-Theodore Roosevelt
1. I am thankful to have an amazing business partner!
Having a business partner, who just so happens to be my best friend, is the biggest blessing of all. Our skillsets balance each other's well and we have each other to lean on when obstacles come our way.
In a way, our firm is the partner for business owners who are going at it alone. Need a sounding board? Call. Need to brainstorm new ideas? Lets grab coffee. Feeling stuck? We got you.
2. Setting your rates for services is tough.
Why isn't there more transparency around service fees? I mean, can a girl get a cheat sheet... What has helped Moxie the most is 1. knowing our worth and 2. having a strong vision of who we want to serve and how. Being a boutique firm, Catherine and I have made it our proghtive to serve a smaller client base really well.
3. There is abundance!
When I meet other humans in our same sphere of work, I root for them. Every person and business is unique. Our individual approaches to the same solutions may or may not be the best fit for a client - I want every business owner to land with the solution that is the best fit for them, be that us or a competitor.
4. Not to get bogged down by the little things.
If you want until your website is perfect, it will never go live. Don't let things like brand colors, logos, or presentation slides paralyze you. Publish the article, post the content, your brand will continue to evolve, your services will niche down, and your approach will become more targeted - But you have to start!
5. Have a plan and revisit your plan often.
Moxie's approach: we have a 3 to 5 year vision, sent 90 day goals, and meet each week to ensure we are on track to meet those goals. Having a vision and a plan means we know when to say "yes" to opportunities and when to say "no thank you".
It is common, especially early in business, to want to say yes to everything! But every "yes" is ultimately a "no" to something else. At the end of the day, every person has a limited capacity, so make sure you are intentionally making space for the things that serve you well!
6. Know your numbers!
Establish business KPIs (key performance indicators) from the get-go. Even when your income in $0. Tracking your KPIs is data, and data is a powerful tool when it comes to propelling your business forward.
7. Invest in foundational resources.
Open the business bank account, pay for the accounting software, sign up for the platforms that promote automation. Implementing foundational tools and resources from day 1 is so much easier than waiting until you are in over your head!
Let's face it - I could write for days on this topic... When you're really paying attention in business, the lessons are endless and often!
Catherine and I are rooting for you!
With Moxie,
Angeliki
