ly struggled with in the first 6 months after I launched my business but from there I smartened up because you can only do that for so long then your whole life begins to be affected. A big part of staying on track is just having rituals in your life. The schedule I have created for myself consists of working only on my business in the morning. I don’ t take any outside calls and focus on my business products solely – looking out for the bottom line. And I find that by kind of chunking up my day and having accountability people – you know, those you can say to –‘ can you please make sure I am having fun in my life’,‘ can you please make sure that I am going to the gym’. So I have some friends that I have made my accountability partners – things that I need balance in my life with I have made quite vocal and they hold me accountable. That seems to really help.
Kristi: What do you think about running a business is different than when you went into it?
Andrea: I guess I would say it’ s lonely. A lot of my clients are not here in Vancouver. More like they are all around the world so because I’ m doing it at an affordable rate it’ s not like we are getting on a plane to go visit clients like
I used to; instead we are meeting through Skype – not in person. In terms of some of the things that are different I guess that I was just used to being part of a big brick and mortar office. So I would say yeah, it is probably a little bit lonelier than I expected. But then that’ s why I think women’ s groups are so great. I am part of a mastermind group and I have a really amazing support system around me which I intentionally built and that’ s really important for me not to feel as lonely.
Kristi: What are the TOP 3 things a Startup can do to brand herself and her business in 2013?
Andrea:
1. You need to have a purpose besides just making money. Our business has a huge opportunity to make an impact in the world. Each one of us has a unique purpose to fulfill on earth and as an entrepreneur it’ s important to tap into that and find what you can contribute that will make an impact. Communicating that‘ why’ behind why your business exists is essential. Seventy percent( 70 %) of people do not care if a brand disappears. In order to connect a customer to your brand you have to have a deeper reason than just making money.
2. Knowing where you want your business to go in the next 5 to 10 years from now. Because if you’ re going to create a brand the next biggest mistake I see entrepreneurs making is that they just think about the now – or the next 6 months to a year. If you want to develop a brand that has the potential to become famous then you need to at least explore where you want your business to be in 5 to 10 years from now specifically.
3. Knowing exactly who you want your customer to be. This may
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