HOW TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
THE 10 BIGGEST MISTAKES YOU CAN MAKE
AS AN ENTREPRENEUR
Learn From My Mistakes - SAY YES! and Become a Success!
HOW TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR!
A SLIGHTLY TRAGIC STORY . . . WITH A VERY HAPPY END
Are you an entrepreneur who is ready to give up? Do you think it will never happen for you or you think it's too hard?
READ MY STORY
It's time to tell you about the many - many - mistakes I made.
Why am I sharing this with you? Because it's important that you know that this whole "Get Rich in 2 Weeks - While doing 4 hours naps in your hammock" story is bullshit. Entrepreneurship is something you learn by failing like crazy and by more . . . but I will share that later with you.
I made a crucial mistake. And I'm begging you to NOT make this mistake!
For 2,5 year I didn't ask for help. I struggled, had very little money, high levels of fear and stress. I almost crumbled under the heaviness of having a dream without being able to realize it!
THIS HAPPENED
* February 2014 I decide to break with my old business partners and loose all my money, clients and office space. I had been a freelance consultant since 2002 and have to start completely afresh!
The Big Villa Office I left behind
MISTAKE 1 CREATING 'STUFF' WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF MY SOUL CLIENTS.
* March 2014 I spent my last money on an Online Business Program and realize working online is amazing. After taking off in the wrong direction (at least 9 times) I decide on creativity and business.
I read EVERY book on creativity and take EVERY course on the subject. I combine everything with my own background in marketing, branding, art and design and start creating.
The Life Explorers Creative Way was one of the first programs I created. Income $ 0
* Summer 2014 After years of non-creative years I create, and create and create. And I love every moment of it.
MISTAKE 2 WORKING WITHOUT GOAL OR A CLEAR PLAN *YOU CANNOT REACH YOUR DESTINATION WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HEADING.
* December 2014. I am very happy with my decision to change everything, but money is really tight, I completely lack support and have no strategy.
One of the programs that DID work. revenue $ 27.500
* January 2015. I feel lost, I have awesome clients - who soon have huge success - and work as a brand consultant, but I don't know how to be an online entrepreneur! I create program after program. Without a clue how to fit it into a bigger structure.
MISTAKE 3 THINKING THAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS SOMETHING I CAN ESCAPE *WE ARE NOT BORN AS ENTREPRENEURS IT'S A SKILL YOU NEED TO LEARN LIKE DRIVING A CAR.*
I constantly think of new things to do and come up with this webinar. Over 750 people join (all organic reach!). At the end I mumble something like: "You can buy my creative program" . Nobody buys: income $ 0
MISTAKE 4 95% FOCUS ON CREATING AND 5% ON BUSINESS AND STRATEGY WON'T WORK. AT ALL!
* March - May 2015, I create The Creative Journey. It's a labour of love. Everything is hand made. Years of research are in this program. It takes me 3 Months to create it. I spent $ 465 buying the wrong online programs. 1 amazing person buys the program for $440.
I give it to 5 people - 4 never even thank me for it.
The Creative Journey - a true labor of love and knowledge. Income $ 440
* August 2015, I create a free Creative Challenge, it takes me 5 weeks - I even make videos in Berlin for it - 78 women join. They love it. I get raving reviews. "You completely changed my creative possibilities" someone writes. After it's finished I invite them to work with me. Nobody reacts.
My first challenge! Completely adore the adventure. Income sadly $ 0
MISTAKE 5 ORGANIZING A CHALLENGE (OR ANY OTHER EVENT) WITHOUT HAVING TO SELL SOMETHING AT THE END AND GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY!
* September - November 2015, The busyness remains. I create more programs than humanly possible. But because I don't know how to be an entrepreneur it's like I'm working only for me all the time! I see entrepreneurs - who started at the same time as me spending their holidays at Bali. I know I'm not supposed to be jealous . . .
MISTAKE 6 NOT STAYING IN MY LANE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE SOMETHING GROW BECAUSE OF MONEY FEARS AND ZERO PATIENCE!
Live Art Days. Loved Every Minute of them. Costs $ 1.750 - Income $ 4.500
* December 2015 - March 2016 I organize the Gloriously Imperfect Art Days in a beautiful barn in the Netherlands. Without any paid advertisement. Every day is fully booked. Because I don't know how to upsell (I actually forget to invite them to work with me!) the women leave at the end the afternoon and I never see them again.
MISTAKE 7 ORGANIZING FUN EVENTS WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT A NEXT OFFER FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
One of the Gloriously Imperfect Art Days
* January 2016, my email list doesn't grow! There are 311 people on my list, I write beautiful emails and create freebie after freebie, but I never get any reaction. When someone asks me how my business is going I just smile and nod as enthusiastically as I can. I feel ashamed about my own inadequacy to be a success.
One of the many freebies that didn't help me grow my list
MISTAKE 8 SPENDING DAYS ON CREATING FREEBIES WITHOUT HAVING A CLUE HOW TO GROW MY LIST WITH IT.
* March 2016, I work for 3 Months - day and night - to create The School of Art & Life for HSP Women- I get emails from known experts like Dr. Ted Zeff and Dr Elaine N. Aron who tell they adore my program and see the huge relevance. I share that huge news on Facebook and get 6 'Wow' that is amazing's!
I have NO idea how to sell it. I must have created at least 6 sales pages!
672 hours of work. Income $ 38
* April 2016 By sheer miracle 2 wonderful women buy my program. It's 19 dollar per month. They pay the Early Bird fee of $ 9,- The result of 672 hours of love, creativity, hard work, 27 years of expertise is 18 dollars.
MISTAKE 9 SPENDING MONEY AND TIME ON A MEMBERSHIP *OR ANYTHING NEW* WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW COMPLICATED A MEMBERSHIP IS.
After selling only 2 spots I try everything to get more people. But instead of reaching out to my audience I keep hiding and keep designing more stuff!
* May - June 2016 I FEEL HORRIBLE AND CRUSHED. I WANT TO GIVE UP.
The only thing that keeps me financially stable are my branding and marketing clients. But it's a constant struggle. When I visit my 'Welcome-to-the-Fifties-Accountant' he sighs and says: 'How can someone with that little income have so many papers and so many bills'.
I'm shocked, ashamed and have NO idea what to do. I work and work and work and I can't make it as an online entrepreneur.
Why does nobody buy my programs? Why am I invisible to the people I KNOW I can help and support? What's wrong with me? Am I that horrible a person?
MISTAKE 10 WORKING IN SOLITUDE WITHOUT SUPPORT AND BUSINESS FRIENDS IS THE BIGGEST BUSINESS MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE!
May 2016 I publish The Wonderfully Weird Woman's Manual . The e-book is an instant success. Income $ 6.000 *You can get the e-book + workbook here
Summer 2016, my friend Anneke asks: "Do you have any support? Who is your coach?"
I'm dumbfounded. Because somehow I thought I had to figure it out myself. I completely focus on my tiny bubble. I've become a horrible freebie hunter, gathering virtual dust like crazy, because I'm afraid to invest. Because I'm afraid I'm lost anyway.
But an important seedling has been planted! I start looking for someone who can help me!
I find a coach who's very structured, analytical and matter of fact. She really understands entrepreneurship. I see that she has the organisation and confidence that I lack. I know there are many super known coaches out there. But I want to work with someone who's within reach and not some far away star I can never talk to in person.
* August 2016, I join a Mastermind and than this happens ->
Completely 'shot from the hip :-)' but as soon as I say: Hey who wants to be in my Mastermind 9 women sign up!
* September 2016 I start the Flow Mastermind and 9 women Sign up! 9!!! Simply because I invite them.
Finally people starting to download my gifts!
* November 2016, I finally stop 'shooting from the hip' and consistently apply the business strategy that I learn, my list grows from 311 to 2.100 subscribers (and I get lovely responses)
I also decide on my hook! Instead of trying to sell Everything! All my focus is on authentic branding (even though I also know everything there is to know about accountability, coaching, art, creativity, communication and what have you.)
In Zurich with fellow Masterminders
* March 2017, I keep focussing on strategy and growth and on being really visible! "
My first Challenge that made feel like a proper entrepreneur!
* May 2017 I create Authentically You - my free branding challenge - 450 wonderfully weird women sign up.
* June 2017, 42 amazing wonderfully weird entrepreneurs sign up for The paid Personal Branding program The Real You. Having that many of my Soul Clients in the group is amazing!
One of the beautiful testimonials I got after the Real You
* July 2017, 16 wonderful wonderfully weird entrepreneurs sign up for The Mastermind. 4 women have been working with me for a long time! The best compliment I could get!
One of the exercises in the Real You
* August 2017, 900 (holy cow 900 !) wonderfully weird women sign up for Authentically You.
My son sees the Eifel Tower for the first time !
August 2017, I treat my family to a lovely luxurious trip to Paris. After the many years of financial struggle it's pure bliss to properly wine and dine my loved ones.
One of the Masterminds for Wonderfully Weird Female Entrepreneurs
* September 2017, 51 amazing brave entrepreneurs sign up for The Paid Program Real You!
More Lovely words!
* September 2017, I travel to Zurich to meet with my Mastermind *it's love!* I return home feeling nourished and truly empowered. I'm ready to change the world.
Meeting my fellow Masterminders at SigrunLive was absolutely amazing
* October 2017, there are 3.863 wonderfully weird entrepreneurs on my email list and I receive numerous wonderful emails from readers.
* November 2017, 1.698 (!) wonderfully weird entrepreneurs from 52 countries sign up for Authentically You.
* January 2018 I run 2 Masterminds with my Soul Clients, my entire year is planned and I feel in control of my business (seriously, I get goosebumbs writing this, I feel like the CEO of my own business before, it's absolutely awesome)
I find out that I made more money in the last Months of 2017 than in all the years since 2014!
I have changed my accountant. The new accountant loves what I do and gives it her all to bring flow into my international stream of income. I'm taking myself and my business serious!
Giving a talk in Zurich
January - July 2018 I'm in a VIP Mastermind and travel between Amsterdam, Zurich and Geneva and decide that I'm ready to grow my Wonderfully Weird Queendom even further. Because I've got the right support to make things happen! I'm know as the Personal Branding Queen and support female entrepreneurs who struggle seeing their unique brilliance to create a personal brand that leads to more clients, more revenue and more impact.
A dream come true! The Wonderfully Weird Academy has become the living room of over 120 female entrepreneurs!
August 2018, I've got an amazing team of three (including my own husband!). 2018 and 2019 are all planned. It's lovely to feel in control and at the same time have the freedom to change whatever I want to change.
September 2018, I meet my clients in Zurich and lead a Magical 'Create your Brand in a Day' workshop in a fancy hotel suite that gets raving reviews!
AND NOW . . . WHY IS UNDERSTANDING MY MISTAKES IMPORTANT AND WHAT HAS IT TO DO WITH YOU?
TWO THINGS
1. Success never comes overnight. It takes time to build a business.
2. When you really want to become a success it's the right support and the people who lift you up that will be the difference between you giving up and you really flying!
3. There is NO such thing as self-made. It takes a village to grow your business. From your business mentor, cleaning lady, to your business friends, your team, family and clients, building a business is a joined effort!
Whatever you do, do NOT give up. Find the support that you need and make your dream come true!
Be well and share your uniqueness with the world!
Esther de Charon de Saint Germain
Brave Branding Queen
P.S. Want me to support you? Check out the Brave Business Academy
P.S. Since 2018 my business is growing consistently. Bringing in over 200K and growing towards 500K
I'm not telling you to brag, or to impress you, (it's not my way) but to let you know it's really possible. You can do this too (and yes! I would love to support you to get there)
The combination of Self-Love, Business Strategy, Marketing and Brave Branding works like magic!
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