Erin Marcus, founder of Conquer Your Business, is not one to mince words. She’s a no-nonsense “tough love” coach for startups. But given that most entrepreneurs are pretty stubborn and laser-focused, that’s what most of us really need.
She joins The Savvy Entrepreneur to talk about why having absolute clarity about what you want from your business is the place to start.
She shares with The Savvy Entrepreneur how virtually every decision you make about your business should be driven by what you truly want. That includes everything from the legal form of your company, to whether and what type of funding you seek, to the employees and skillsets that you hire, to the processes you develop.
If you aren’t totally clear about what you want and don’t stay laser-focused on that, you will soon find your business runs you. And that often leads to burn out, discouragement, and even the end of your business.
Erin and I also chat about the other side of the equation: How badly do you want it? Starting a business is a daunting journey. Many entrepreneurs find that what they think they want comes at a price that is too steep.
So it’s equally important to focus on what you’re willing to sacrifice to get what you want. That includes the financial risks you’re willing to take, but also the challenges to important relationships in your life.
Erin stresses that there is no judgment in her work. It’s perfectly OK to be a solopreneur and stay that way, if that’s the balance that works for you.
And it’s also OK if you realize your goals change along the way. Lots of entrepreneurs start out thinking they want to grow big and scale and look for venture capital funding, only to find out that’s not the path that truly makes them happy.
Take a listen to our chat! We talk about a set of basic considerations that every entrepreneur and small businessperson should think about, and regularly revisit to make sure you stay on track to your goals. And, that you stay healthy and sane while doing it!
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