She's That Founder: Business Strategy and Time Management for Impactful Female Leaders

032 | Master Your Transition: 5 High-Value Launch Business Strategies for Corporate Stars Turned Entrepreneurs

• Dawn Andrews • Episode 32

Share episode

Send us a text

Today, we're about to trash your B-school textbooks. Why? Because you, my high-level corporate star, deserve to step out and shine on your own. You deserve to start a business, and guess what? You don't need a fancy website or a 50-page business plan to do it. 

So grab your notepad and some glitter for the rebellion, and SAVE this episode. Let's dive into the real deal on starting a consulting business that doesn't suck. 

In this episode, I will discuss:

  • Discover the unexpected goldmine already in your hands for starting a business.
  • Learn how to communicate your unique value to attract your ideal clients.
  • Find out the crucial step that most entrepreneurs skip that sabotages their success.
  • Hear why you should price your services higher and command what you're worth.
  • Why you should start selling before you think you're ready.


This episode at a glance:

[05:35] It's not about changing who you are and going out and getting a whole bunch of new skills. It's about changing how you perceive and present yourself. 

[11:49] The process you use to learn may likely be the process you will take your clients through when you work with them.

[18:38] This is not a right answers game coming up with your ideal client profile. It is an amalgam of many different kinds of people you've worked with, brought together in one specific group or one specific description.

[21:35] You start with curiosity, continue with authenticity, and remember to sprinkle in some of your magic. Be vulnerable; be a little weird if you need to. And just think of it as making new friends instead of driving sales.

[26:53]  When you’re pricing, I know you'll probably have some mindset challenges. It's going to feel wobbly to embrace that number, but you can do it. 

Resources and Links mentioned in this episode:


You might also like:

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast

My Good Woman is a podcast for bold female leaders hosted by me, Dawn Andrews! Grab a seat at the table for candid conversations with culture-shifting, glass-ceiling-busting, trailblazing women, leading enterprises th

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “My Good Woman” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

My Good Woman
Ep. 32 | Skip The Textbook: 5 Real Steps To Starting A Business

Dawn Andrews:

Hey there, my good woman. It's Dawn Andrews. Your favorite unconventional business whisperer. And today we're about to trash your B school textbooks. Why? Because you, my high-level corporate star deserve to step out and shine on your own. You deserve to start a business and guess what? You don't need a fancy website or a 50-page business plan to do it. So grab your notepad. You're going to need to take notes and grab some glitter for the rebellion. And let's dive into the real deal on starting a consulting business that doesn't suck. 

Hello friends! Welcome to My Good Woman, the podcast for fierce female leaders. I'm your host, Dawn Andrews, a happily married hockey mom. And the founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking business strategy consulting. Grab a seat at the table with me each week for candid conversations, with culture-shifting glass ceiling, busting, trailblazing women, leading impactful enterprises. We discuss what makes them tick, how they get it all done. And actionable strategies to help you lead with confidence and grow the visibility, reach, and revenue of your business. We're classy ladies, but we don't bleep the swear words. Listener discretion is advised. 

Welcome to another episode of the My Good Woman podcast, the podcast that's just like that mix tape your best friend made you in high school. A blend of familiar hits and delightful surprises that leaves you saying, “Wow, I didn't know I needed this in my life, but now I can't live without it”. Speaking of things you didn't know you needed in your life. Who has ever thought about ditching the nine-to-five or six or seven or eight grind? And starting their own business. You can raise your hand. I can totally see you through the microphone. And you are not alone. 

That's why today's episode is all about breaking down the fantasy of the straightforward start-up process. Because we all know the best parties are the ones that break the rules. Though I will admit I was not very much a rule breaker back in the day. But when it comes to business and especially when it comes to starting a service-based consulting business built on your own expertise. I am all about breaking rules. 

So today we are digging into the real first steps of starting a business, not just any business, but a small service-based consulting firm using your own money and your own expertise. It's very similar to how I started my consulting business, free range thinking; we are now 20 plus years into equipping entrepreneurs to confidently lead their businesses to exceptional growth. And I'm sharing with you what I did. But before we get into the meat of it, here's a little nudge for you. 

If you have been thinking about taking that bold step from executive with expertise to entrepreneurship. Why not check out my executive transition mastermind? It's the easiest way to create and launch a profitable consulting business in community with others. To learn more, go to DawnAndrews.com/Mastermind and apply for the program. Join the waitlist and let's get you out of that office and into your own business. 

 Now, back to the show. 

I want to help you skip the textbook, get past the stalling, the perfectionism. The thinking that everything has to be pretty polished and perfect before you start. And then of course the overthinking that comes after the regular thinking. When I started my business, I took care of basics, like a business name and logo, starting a business bank account, getting a business license. I was a sole proprietor. I had no website. Was it a perfect start? 100%. No. 

Did I get started fast so I could try things, sell things, and see what resonated with my potential clients? Absolutely. It was scrappy and it was messy. And it was terrifying. Starting a business is a shift from nine-to-five thinking where you're focused on a specific set of tasks to becoming a CEO where you need to handle everything in your business. And if you stall on getting sales, there is no business.

So here are the five real steps to starting your business. And a couple of things not to do. And if you want to get a kickstart on building your business, pause the recording and play along as we go. Build your business literally, as you're listening to the episode of the podcast. I'll be giving you specific things to do to move it forward. So this is a listening and a learning and doing opportunity. Think of it, like your business building workshop. 

Ready, here we go. 

Step one -Start with your gold mine, which is your current job.

The Harvard Business Review says that our professional expertise is the most underutilized resource we have, which is saying something when you consider that's what you do. And they aren't talking about anyone else they're talking about you, your skills, your professional expertise is your underutilized resource. It's the biggest golden nugget in your gold mine. And the number one thing that will help you create a beautiful business, you. Your company didn't just hire you and promote you into your role for funsies. They saw something special in you, something golden. Maybe it's your knack for project management, maybe you're spectacular at business development. Or it's your incredible persuasion skills, that unique way you handle clients.

 It's time to look at every one of those skills and figure out how to repackage them. And here's the twist, it's not about changing who you are and going out and getting more skills. It's about changing how you perceive yourself and present yourself. We're just going to repackage everything that you're already great at. We also need to repackage that mindset a little bit because jumping from nine to five to a CEO mindset means understanding the value of what you bring to the table. We always see it in terms of where we've been hired and whether or not we've completed tasks as opposed to a more global use for all of our special skills.

I like to think about that quote from Joyce Meyers who said a number two pencil and a dream can take you anywhere. It makes me want to fill my little pencil cup on my desk with a bunch of number two pencils. So guess what? You are the number two pencil. All we need is clarify the dream. Here's your first action step to take in this episode about getting your business started in an unconventional way. Ready. 

Make a list of the things you're currently being paid for right now.

Maybe you look back at your old resume, maybe you update your old resume. What you're looking for is the skills that can be applied or used to help your new clients instead of your old boss. So as you're listening to this recording, Be safe if you're driving. But the first action step is to make a list of everything you're currently being paid for right now. What were you hired for? What are you doing? And how can those skills be repackaged to help your future clients instead of your old boss? 

Take a moment. Go for it. 

Another nugget in your goldmine, besides your skills, is your relationships so many nuggets in your goldmine? Do you realize how amazing you are? You need to leverage those relationships at the beginning and ongoingly. You might have a little black book and I don't mean the romantic kind. I'm talking about that corporate Rolodex. Wherever you keep those names and numbers you've collected over the years. Your ex-boss who always believed in you, a junior employee who always looked up to you. The colleagues that you worked with cross-functionally who always had your back. These are your people and they are the foundation of starting this new business. 

Did you know that according to LinkedIn, over 80% of professionals, consider professional networking to be important to their career success? And a staggering 70% were hired at a company where they had a connection. And I know we think of that, hired into a company as an employee, but you could be hired by those companies as a business owner. So all those connections you built are now going to service your company. They're going to help bring business to your door. So I hope you see where I'm going with this. 

Your network isn't just a list of names. They are potential advocates, clients power partners that are just waiting in the wings. We just need to shift how you've been looking at yourself and how you look at them. Because the key is to work with them, not for them. To guide them as clients, consult with them as partners or be the expert that they seek for advice. That's the power move. So slip into that consulting mindset and get out of the office mindset. 

So ready for the next action step? 

Jot down five names from your corporate life that you feel could benefit from your expertise. 

Reach out, not as an employee, but as a consultant, because it's time for coffee talk. Okay, take a moment. Jot down your five names. Okay, that wraps up our deep dive into step one. You can take a breather. My good woman, you need to recognize your worth and the gold mine that you're sitting on that is you. It's you. And remember there's no looking back now. Only moving forward with a CEO swagger. 

Now let's talk step two in launching this business based on your expertise. 

Step two-  is packaging.

You've already discovered the goldmine of your expertise and your relationships. Now it's time to package it up. Packaging yourself, and not like your grandmother's China, but close- we want to be really careful and specific about how you package yourself. Because the more you do, the easier it is to bring clients to your door. So now that you're glowing with all this expertise, how do you wrap it up? How do you present your shiny treasures to the world? Let's dive in. 

So to get started with packaging, you're going to discover your unique selling proposition or selling point. 

What makes you special? 

And right now I'm imagining sitting across from you or staring at you through Zoom. And you having that deer in the headlights, look in your eyes. As soon as we start to turn our attention to ourselves and we have to talk about ourselves, everybody freaks out; gets stopped, or starts overthinking. And you immediately hit the “I have to be perfect" button and lose your words. And it's okay, but don't do that. 

I'm just going to give you a little mindset tip straight off the top. Before we dive into creating your USP. If you start thinking of yourself as someone who is in service of instead of it being about you. Discovering your USP becomes a hell of a lot easier. You are a product now that can serve and make a difference for others through your business.

Let me put it this way, if I were sitting here on this mic, thinking about myself as Dawn Andrews every insecure button I own would be pushed. I'd want everything to be perfect. I'd be worried about how I look I'd be worried about every word that comes out of my mouth. And instead I'm speaking through the mic, through my heart, to yours, with the greater commitment being that you launch a business. 

It's no longer about me. It's about clearly communicating the benefits of what happens when you get out there and start your own thing, the freedom that comes with that. And when that happens, my ego gets out of the way and I'm fully in service. That's the mindset I'm inviting you to develop as you create your unique selling proposition. Let me help you get started. 

You remember when you were little and everyone said you were one in a million, that you were special. They weren't just being sweet. They were onto something because there is only one of you, and that's a strong USP. The oneness, the uniqueness, the onlyness of you, gives your company an identity, a point of view. Makes it easier to market and find the customers that are for you and stand out from your competitors, which means more sales and more sales means a growing business. So figuring out what that is and how to talk about it can be really challenging when you are the business. 

 So what's your USP? A good place to start is your skills, which we've already done. That was your first step, but you can also talk about the stories that back them up. Who were you in those moments that you created those accomplishments or gained those skills? Were you tenacious, were you lighthearted, were you funny? Think a little bit more about who you were in those moments. Because those unique experiences you've had, or the way that you've learned can be really illuminating when you start to create your USP. 

The process that you use to learn may likely be the process that you're going to take your clients through when you work with them. You can also look at the incredible results that you delivered and how you delivered them. Were you collaborative? Did you stay up late? Start early? Did you learn a completely new set of skills to be able to deliver? All of those things go into making you unique and calling out your USP. 

 My friend, Molly Mahoney calls it your quesadilla of awesome. It's a combination of what makes you unique in the way you physically look. In your preferences and tendencies, the things that you enjoy, even the things you like to eat. 

Action step time, take a moment and make some lists about yourself to start to discover what your USP is.

And then if you want to take this up a real big notch, really fast. Use chat GPT feed in that list of uniquenesses, along with the kind of clients that you want to serve and the skill sets that you have and let it take a stab at it. Ask it to give you three options for a unique selling proposition. And from there at least you have something to push off of because we all abhor a blank page. So take a moment and do that now, make your lists. Give it to Chat GPT and see what comes out. 

So welcome back again. We're working on your USP. And the bottom line with all of it is your individuality is your superpower. Dr. Seuss famously said, “There is no one you-er than you”, and your you, is your USP. So embrace it. Sell it. Take action. And remember to pause the podcast. If you need to and get to work. Okay. Step two part two. We're still talking about packaging. 

So the next part, once you have your USP is being able to communicate your value so that other people get it. 

And we've all been there when you're trying to communicate your value. The first thing that most people do is head towards corporate jargon. Especially if you've come up in corporate, you're going to bring all of that into your new business life. And you're going to feel a little weird for awhile because you need to transition from being trained into somebody else's identity into your own business identity. 

So the first thing that I do when I'm talking about communicating your value is look at where you're using the jargon and see if you can drop it.

Because it makes sense when you're inside the corporate environment. But as soon as you start talking to companies that are not inside that ecosystem, it sounds really weird. Synergistic Why? We collaborate, we find ways to work well together. Just make it fourth grade, man. I'm telling you. It just simplifies everything. We don't need to overcomplicate it. It's like wearing a ballgown to a beach party. It looks great, but it is completely out of place. 

So what's the game plan for communicating your value? How do you share what you do and how you can help your clients? It's really simple. Speak human. Be yourself. And sprinkle in some of your flare. Your potential client should feel like they're chatting with a friend, not sitting through a corporate presentation. 

They're buying from you. And another layer that can really help you out with this is the power of testimonials and case studies. 92% of consumers trust recommendations from others even when they don't know the people, which I think is a really weird statistic, I think that's pretty wild, right? That people buy because somebody said it was a good idea, even if they didn't know the person. if you have wins from your corporate life, that translate into your new business, showcase them. Have your previous clients that you worked with inside your business share the benefit they got from working with you. Let the world see the magic that you bring. Next action step. Ready?  

Reach out to a former colleague or boss, someone who has seen you in action.  Ask them for a testimonial or recommendation and ask them for authenticity over flattery. 

In fact, a little behind-the-scenes tip. Write the testimonial for them highlighting the skills that you really want to bring forward when you're starting your business. Let me give you an example. I had a friend reach out recently who's a copywriter. He asked me for a testimonial, I pitched it back to him. And I said, “what do you want to say about yourself? What do you want your clients to know about you? Because whatever that is, I know I've already experienced it as your client. So you write the testimonial and I'll tweak it. So how about that?”. 

And that way, the testimonial that he gets really speaks to his customer's desires, concerns and objections. And align to help him make sales. Whew. I know I told you this is going to be an action-packed episode. Take a moment. Think about who you want to reach out to former colleague boss collaborator And ask for that testimonial. 

Okay. We're wrapping up section two, which was packaging. Section one was mining your gold, the job that you're already in. And section two is packaging; how to translate and communicate your value, your USP, and sharing what you offer. Because your value, isn't just in what you offer, but how you package and present it. You need to make your clients feel, believe and see the real authentic you, because it's what has you stand out? All right. Are you ready for step three of the real steps to starting your business? Here we go. 

Step three- It's time for client hunting.

And no, I don't mean in the Hunger Games or the purge sort of way. That's gross. I love The Hunger Games. I've read the books three times. I am that nerd. But here's a Pearl of wisdom from Seth Godin, everyone is not your customer. Remember, we're client-hunting. 

Everyone is not your customer. Okay. I'm having that moment again. I'm imagining us sitting across from each other and you're saying, I want to help all women. So do I, but all women are not your customer. There's a certain subset of people that are really your people. So laser-focus, pinpoint, and zero in on your tribe. They're out there. Trust me. Everyone isn't your perfect client and it's okay. But here's what's not okay; and this is why I'm asking you to do this as you listen.

According to HubSpot, just 42% of marketers know the basic demographic information of their target audience. Just the demographic information. Age. geographic location, income, whether they're married or have children. Basic and that's good. That's fine. And truthout, I was totally like that in the early days of my business. 

But I am trying to share this all with you to help you learn from my mistakes and to speed the process from business concept to making sales. If you are clear on who your target audience is, especially your first initial target audience, really clear, really specific and laser-focused. You will be able to market with ease. It will save you a ton of time and a ton of money. And it doesn't mean you're excluding other potential customers or clients. It just means that you're starting your marketing conversation with one person in mind. And you'll be able to clarify your message without struggling. And you will be able to make offers and make sales. 

And if you can do all of those things, then you have a business. And there is plenty involved in running a business that can be ongoingly stressful, but if you nail this part down, you make running this business, especially in the earlier days, so much easier for yourself. So from your perspective, Who's waiting to lap up all that expertise that you're serving up? And if you don't know yet, here's your action step. 

Spend some time reflecting on the projects, tasks and results that garnered you the most praise or recognition in your corporate role.

Who benefited? Make a list of the individuals or groups who fit similar profiles. So we're moving beyond just demographics to geographics and psychographics. And if you don't know what psychographics are, it's the why. Why they do things, how they behave, why they make the choices that they do or why they don't choose things. Even if you're making this up your best guesses, it doesn't have to be a literal real person. 

This is not a right answers game coming up with your ideal client profile. It's an amalgam of lots of different kinds of people that you've worked with or brought together in one specific group or one specific description. So for instance, I have an ideal client in mind for this podcast. She's 35. She lives in Brooklyn. She likes old-school hip hop. She has her own business. She's not a coffee drinker. She's about the tea and matcha specifically. She has kids who are small. And she's trying to manage, bringing up a family and also bringing up a business. hopefully, you're starting to get the idea here, right? She even has a name, but I'm not going to share her name with you. That's my personal private stuff. 

But that's what we're looking to do here is to put a name and age, a lifestyle together for the person that you're actually selling to. And if you're thinking to yourself, I'm going to sell the companies. This is a B2B business I'm starting. That's good too. But who in that company? What title do they have? What role do they play? Because the bottom line is you're still selling to an actual human, even if they are a representative of a much larger company. Once you have your list of potential candidates for your target audience then focus on your outreach and offerings and their needs and pain points. 

When you put those two pieces together. It will help you bring to the surface who this ideal client is. If you need to use AI, get on ChatGPT and make it happen. Prompt it to create an ideal client profile for your type of business. And just to be straight with you, I use ChatGPT all the time to help my business owners get started so you can use it too. Give it a shot. See, if it gets it started for you. Okay. pause the recording. Take a moment now. And draft out your first ideal client profile.

Okay. We're still in step three, part two. We're client hunting. We just talked about your ideal client profile. And now it's time to start the conversation with them. Because to make sales, you got to go out and talk to people. You got to pop some bubbles conversation bubbles, not champagne bubbles. 

Because it's not about hard selling it's about heart selling. According to Salesforce, 88% of consumers say the experience a company provides is as important as its services. And the experience for your customers starts from the very first time that they get to know who you are. And even the first time they see your social posts. So it's not just about what you're offering, it's about how you're connecting with them. 

I'm an introvert. That's why I'm on a podcast mic. And to be clear when I say I'm an introvert, I'm completely capable of having conversations with people. It's not a capability issue. It's about how drained I feel afterward. So I'm being vulnerable for a moment. To share how challenging it can feel when you start having a sales conversation with people, but it doesn't have to be that hard. You just start practicing. You start with curiosity, and continue with authenticity. And remember to sprinkle in some of your charm and magic. And be vulnerable. A little weird if you need to. I've started thinking of it is making new friends instead of making sales. Be that captivating, fiery version of yourself that draws people in like a moth to a flame. Because you wouldn't be in your current position if you weren't already capable of that. 

So here's your action step. Engage in a genuine conversation.

A light conversation with someone from your newly identified target audience. Get curious and ask them about their challenges with their business. Or in their work and about their dreams. Listen more than you speak. And see where the connection takes you. Okay. That's step three, my fearless go-getters. This is the end of our audience-hunting expedition, but remember finding your audience is just the beginning. It's the start of countless conversations, connections and collaborations. So take a deep breath. Grab another sip of water. And I'm going to be right back with two more golden nuggets to fuel your journey.
---

COMMERCIAL BREAK

 Let's just pause for a moment. My trailblazer, I get it. The journey from executive high flyer to fearless entrepreneur can feel like standing at the edge of a daunting cliff. The overwhelm, the uncertainty, the multitude of steps. They can all be paralyzing. But imagine if there was a bridge. A helping hand to guide you across that big chasm. Step-by-step. This is the executive transition mastermind. And it is me leading you through it. It's more than just a program. It's a sanctuary for overwhelmed executives. Like you, who dream of breaking free from your corporate lifestyle and starting your own business. We're here to strip away the confusion and provide you with a clear strategic roadmap. From the initial stages of ideation to launching your profitable consulting business. And we've got your back. 

Our secret sauce. The AI rebel business process. In our first mastermind onboarding session, we utilize this cutting-edge tech to establish your business foundations. No more floundering about wondering where to start, what to say, what to charge. We streamline this journey. So you can leap straight into what you love, which is serving and hopefully selling. And that's not all beyond the strategy, there's strength in numbers.

You'll join a community of like-minded individuals, all navigating the same transition, ready to share, support, and cheer you on. So if the thought of going solo sends cold shivers down your spine, remember this. With the executive transition mastermind. You're never alone. Don't let the overwhelm of starting a business take you hostage. 

Take the reigns visit DawnAndrews.com/Mastermind and join the waitlist. Transition from corporate to entrepreneur with confidence and clarity. Visit  DawnAndrews.com/Mastermind  to apply and step into your next chapter with a tribe by your side. 
---

And now back to the show. 

Y'all we're almost done with the five real steps to starting your business. 

Step four -Price your services like a queen. 

Now we're tackling a topic that gets everyone's heart racing, a little faster money. I love it. I love it. I love it. If you've ever wondered how to price your magic without shortchanging your worth or scaring off clients, you're in the right spot. First things first you're not a bargain bin. You're not, you are the premium aisle. 

According to a study from the Journal of Marketing consumers, associate higher prices with higher quality. So let's just price those services right up there. And when you price your services, remember you're not just selling your time or expertise. You're selling both of those by the way, but you're more importantly selling transformational solutions and value. As the saying goes, if you think professionals are expensive wait till you hire an amateur. 

Pricing was a huge deal for me when I launched my business. I was thinking like a therapist or a personal trainer and I was trading hours for dollars. I had no connection to the difference I was making for my clients. Everything was coming through me or was about me and not about the service and the difference I was making for people. I think it was just because I was scared. And that's what happens to everybody when it comes to pricing. So after working with me, clients would get the new job or a huge pay increase, or improve the leadership and operations of their business. 

Which would increase profits, sometimes doubling or tripling what their businesses were making before we started and freeing up a ton of time for the people I was working with. And over time, I started to feel resentful that I was being paid so little when they were getting such big results and making so much. And whose fault was that? T'was mine. T'was my fault. So I doubled my rates and then I doubled them again and again. The deficit in pricing was more about a scarcity mindset of my own than having the right approach to pricing. Because it takes courage to ask for that new pricing and to stand in the space of somebody saying no, you gotta have some cajones of steel. 

So this brings me to the courage to ask for what you're worth. The sweaty palms the butterflies. I know, putting a price tag on yourself and your services can be nerve-wracking, but here's something to chew on. Consultants are notorious for undercharging for their services and leaving a whole lot of money on the table. If a company hired you full-time. Considering your salary, all your perks, your benefits. Your lovely corner office. What would that cost them? Your consulting price is a steal in comparison. 

And as Oprah says, you get in life what you  have the courage to ask for. So stand tall, take a deep breath and command your worth. Okay, ready for your action item. Here's how we set pricing.

Calculate the full value you brought to your last corporate gig projects. Your completed time saved, revenue generated. And now compare that with what you were paid.

 

Can you see the gap? I bet you can. Because that's where your consulting price starts and don't be shy about it. I know you're probably going to have some mindset challenges. It's going to feel real wobbly to embrace that number, but you can do it. And if not, you can take it in incremental steps. Start with the highest number you feel you have the courage to ask for an edge up from there. If you're still having trouble, this is where you connect with me. Okay, take your action step. Workout your starting consulting price based on the full value you brought in your last corporate gig, the revenue the company made or the time saved because you were there. 

You ready for the final step of your five real steps to start your business? Are you ready? Ready for step five. Okay. Drum roll. Here. It comes. 

Step five-  Sell before you think you're ready. 

Sell before you think you're ready. 

I'm landing the plane today with something that's a tad controversial. So you're ready for it. You don't have to have everything figured out. You don't have to know how you're going to do everything and deliver everything and have all your ducks in a row to start selling. Let's demystify this, shall we? Waiting to sell is just an excuse. it's because we're waiting to make everything perfect and aligned and have it all figured out. 

But the bottom line is you've never run a business before. And your business is not going to run like your corporate life, because you don't have the infrastructure that you had in your corporate job. You also are engaging with clients or customers in a way that's different than the way you did in your corporate job. The way that you end up ultimately servicing those clients is still to be determined. You're going to have to figure it out on the fly. And those first few clients that you serve, it's going to be a high-wire act that is nerve-wracking and sweaty armpit-making. 

 And you'll also prove your business case quickly by engaging in selling and servicing so stop trying to make everything perfect before you go out and just sell it. Just start selling. Overthinking and over-planning leads to missed opportunities. It's like forever prepping for a marathon, but never actually running it.


Business plans, websites, the perfect shape for your logo. they are meaningful. As you continue to grow your business, they are not your core business at the very beginning. What you have right now is valuable. You've already been being paid for it. Your expertise is ripe and ready because you were already a proven entity in your corporate life. And as the legendary Marie Forleo says, everything is figureoutable so stop waiting for perfection and start taking action. 

In fact, take a moment right now. Let's do a little mindset work real quick. I want you to recount a time that you hesitated or held back and later realized you could have dived in earlier. What did that teach you about taking leaps? That's what I'm talking about. 

if you've been following along, you've done all the pre-work that you need to do to start having conversations and selling. You know who you are and what you're good at. And you're taking that straight out of your corporate life. You know how to package that expertise. So it matches up with what a client might want. You've done some client hunting and figured out who your ideal client might be and started to package your conversation for them. You figured out your basic starting pricing. 

So now let's talk about the magic of presales. 

I want you to hold onto your hat my good woman, because this is where it gets thrilling. Did you know, that according to the Harvard business review, one of the six big reasons that startups fail is because they neglect to research customer needs? Yeah. Ouch. how do you avoid that pitfall? Presales, by offering your service before everything's set in stone, you get immediate feedback. 

People buy or they don't, or they have questions and you can adapt your services based on the feedback you're getting. With pre-selling you understand what works, what doesn't and how to pivot. It's like a real time focus group without the stuffy conference room. And occasionally a big fat check. It starts to get really fun. Because then the selling process, isn't about trying to convince somebody to like you or persuade them to buy your services. It's about finding the right fit for what you do and what they need. And then you get to dance a little bit. And I don't know about you, but I love to dance. Plus feeling that early validation when you make a sale. It is pure gold. And it starts to become a little addictive. So if you feel like you're not up for business development, the sales part of your business. If you approach it in this way, it's a way to make it a lot more fun. 

So here's your action step, consider offering a limited-time package or pilot program at a special rate. 

And use it as a chance to gather insights, and testimonials, and refine your offers based on that real-time feedback, as well as bringing in a little bit of money into your company. Now let's quickly rewind our roller coaster ride through the five real steps to launching your business. Whether you've been with us from the start or you're just tuning in here is the golden rundown you've been waiting for. 

Number one was your goldmine, your current job? It's not just a nine-to-five grind. It's more than just a paycheck. It is a treasure trove of skills and relationships. And it's not about trading hours for dollars. It's about leveraging what you've already mastered. And don't forget those corporate contacts, your next client might be your last boss. That's how it started for me. 

Number two. Step two, number two, we talked about packaging. Not bubble wrap and glitter tape, but how fun. But for real it's about your USP, your unique selling proposition. Stand out, be bold and always remember jargon is the enemy of cool. So let your real-world results do the talking. 

Number three was audience hunting. So Katniss vibes aside. Knowing who you're serving is pivotal. It's like a matchmaking game where you're both the Cupid and the prize. So let's find out who's dying for what you've got, so you could chat them up and pull them in. 

Number four is learning to price like a queen or king or anything in between. but never shortchange your worth. You are the champagne of your industry. So pop that cork with confidence and let the world know that your value isn't up for a bargain. 

And then step five. Remember what it is? 

Sell before you're ready. Yep. You heard it.

You don't need all the bells and whistles to start in the world of entrepreneurship, especially a self-funded consulting business. Action and iteration beats perfection every single time. So get out there, test the waters, refine, collect a check and go again. 

Whew. I hope you've got the beginnings of your business just from listening to this episode. That is what this grand tour was about. It's not just about following steps, but carving your own path with flair and fierceness and a sprinkle of fun. 

All right, my good woman before we close this chapter. I need you to pause, breathe, and truly take in what's about to come. Each and every one of you listening right now has an undeniable spark, a unique force; a special something that the world desperately needs. And I have witnessed countless souls standing where you are right now, teetering on the precipice of something life-changing and I can't stress this enough. 

You are ready. 

Every whisper of doubt, every nagging insecurity, every what if is part of the journey and let me share a truth from the core of my being. I'm all verklempt. I believe in you wholeheartedly unwaveringly and profoundly. 

You're not just creating a business, you're creating impact. You're creating change and you're building a legacy. When you muster that courage, when you take that heart-pounding leap. You're not only elevating your own life, but lighting the way for countless others. And trust me, the world will stand up and take notice. So wherever you are, whatever you're feeling remember this, you have the power, the passion and the potential to create magic. And I'm here cheering you on every brave step of the way. Be a beacon and know the universe has your back. And until we meet again. 

Keep dreaming and believing. Because I believe in you. Thanks for joining me, my good woman. Until next time.  

Thank you for joining me this week. To view the complete show notes and all the links mentioned in today's episode, visit mygoodwoman.com. And before you go, make sure you follow or subscribe to the podcast so you can receive fresh episodes when they drop. And if you're enjoying My Good Woman, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Reviews are one of the major ways that Apple ranks their pods. So even though it takes only a few seconds, it really does make a difference and helps our show grow. This episode was produced by me and Julissa Ramirez. Thank you again for joining me, Dawn Andrews, in this episode of My Good Woman.