Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Perry van Beek, Founder and Owner of Social.ONE, located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Since 2009 I have been training and coaching salespeople and entrepreneurs to structurally find new clients using LinkedIn to help them consistently grow their revenue.
Tell us about yourself
I started my own business as an export consultant in 2007. After I nearly went bankrupt for lack of clients, in a final desperate attempt, I turned to LinkedIn. Within six weeks, I had three paying clients. I started sharing what I did on LinkedIn with my network, and it just took off. In 2009 I had to stop my export consultancy because I was too busy with my LinkedIn advice. Three months later, I was on national television in the Netherlands.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In 2018 my book LinkedIn Sales Navigator for Dummies was published worldwide. It has since become a bestseller. That year, I was also the keynote speaker at a Harvard Business Review event.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
- Time management: entrepreneurs must wear many hats and balance multiple responsibilities, which can lead to long hours and a heavy workload.
- Dealing with failure: the reality is that many businesses fail, and entrepreneurs must be prepared to face setbacks and failures and have the resilience to pick themselves up and keep going.
- Balancing work and personal life: entrepreneurship can be all-consuming, and it can be difficult to separate work from personal life.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Focus on the success of your customer: if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money.
- Be flexible and adaptable: the business world is constantly changing, and successful entrepreneurs must be flexible and adaptable.
- Start! Don't wait until everything's perfect. It will never be perfect. Just start already and roll with the punches.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.social.one/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perryvanbeek/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.