How to Build a Business - The Basics

What essential ingredients do you need before you start pursuing your passion? Cathy walks you through the main steps that will clarify what work you should share with the world, and how you can make it a reality. Learn about the different ways to determine your ikigai, strategies to define and discover your audience, types of content you can create, and methods to turn your outreach pitches into valuable offers. 

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TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. Align with your ikigai. Find the work that you love to do, that you're good at, and that the world wants from you.

2. Know the end user, and where the end user is already going.

3. Assess and get feedback. People love to share their opinion.

4. Create content. Build your runway before you send out offers.

5. There's no shame in not being perfect.

6. Make a decision to embrace a positive mindset.

7. We all have an ecosystem that needs resources to flow.

8. The more you believe it's possible and doable, the more things will change.

9. It's not about sales, pitches, or interrupting someone's day - it's about providing value. It's about empathy.

10. You have a unique superpower, a unique zone of genius. No one else has what you have to offer. Go share that with the world.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The essential steps of starting a business:

1. Align with your ikigai.

   • Get quiet. Go on artist dates, a museum, a walk, meditate. Listen to the voice that leads you to your passion.

   • Dip your feet in. Shadow someone in the industry, pick their brain about the work, do an internship.

   • Or dive all in. If it turns out you don't really like it, you can always change.

   • Our episode with The Office actress Jenna Fischer

   • Our episode with pottery maker & designer Jonathan Adler

2. Find your audience.

   • How will your product / service offer value to someone else?

   • Be specific as possible.

   • Locate where your audience is already going (blogs, coffee shops, boutiques, etc.)

3. Get feedback.

   • Have your customers fill out a survey. Create a focus group.

   • Our episode with Halo Top COO Doug Bouton

4. Create content.

   • Make videos, blog posts, cheat sheets, photos - build an awareness around your passion.

   • Show the behind-the-scenes process, a day in the life, or how-to guides. Create connection and trust.

5. Find a supportive environment.

   • Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and will also keep you accountable.

   • Seek mentors.

   • Consume positive content for a positive mindset. Take responsibility for your beliefs.

   • Our episode with productivity coach Carey Bentley

   • Our episode with fitness expert Lori Harder

   • DietBet for weight loss

   • Our episode with You Are A Badass author Jen Sincero

6. Radiate empathy in your outreach strategy.

   • Think about the person you're trying to connect with. What do they need? How can you provide that and solve their problem?

   • Research the projects they work on. Make sure your work fulfills a gap that can help them towards their goal.

   • Be personable.

• Listener win!

  • Shonah Marie @partnparcelstudio on Instagram