Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Justin Welsh, located in Accord, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help people launch, grow, and monetize their one-person internet business through social media. My customers are people who want to take and build a variety of different revenue streams: service-based businesses, digital courses, subscriptions, sponsorships, and affiliates. They are generally folks with 5-10 years of work experience in fast-growing companies, who were previously intrapreneurs, and are now looking to build something of their own.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a former executive operator in the technology space. After a decade of leading high-growth sales teams, I started to suffer burnout, which culminated in a massive panic attack. 911 was called, and I literally thought I was dying. After some soul-searching, I decided that I wanted to build my life with significantly more intention. To get away from the 9 to 5 rat race and spend more time with my wife doing things I really enjoyed. I quit my job and built a consulting and advising business by growing my audience on social media. I'm motivated because I see so many other people experiencing the same stress and burnout that I did, who don't know how to change their life. I want to show them that it's possible.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I've received over 1,000 direct messages and emails from followers and customers telling me that I've helped them unlock a completely different lifestyle. A lifestyle they weren't aware of was possible until they started following me on social media. Making an impact is the best feeling for any business owner.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing for me is managing my time effectively. By nature, I'm a workaholic, and I tend to say yes to too many things. To overcome that, I use "No" templates and stick to a decision matrix that allows me to validate whether or not a particular ask is something I should say yes to.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Share your knowledge openly. The best way to become known for something is to talk about it online every day simply.
- Listen to what resonates and what doesn't. Remember to take the time to analyze what's working and what isn't when you create social media content. Do more of what works and less of what doesn't.
- Help people achieve a specific outcome. Learn about the biggest problems your audience has, and start figuring out exactly how to solve them. Once you do, you have a service business. Services businesses can be productized, and pretty soon, you will have multiple ways to make a living.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.justinwelsh.me/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thejustinwelsh
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwelsh/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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