Welcome to the Online Success Collaborative Podcast!

Click to listen in:    iTunes – Google Play  – Spotify 

This episode is for you if:

• You are a creative who wants to build a sustainable online business.
• You want to uplevel your business without sacrificing what makes you happy.
• You’re wondering how to build relationships with clients that convert into sales.

“One of the things that caused me the most misery, was thinking that I had to get to the next level.  Only recently have I come to terms with the fact that what I want to build is not the thing that my friend or mentor wants to build.”

For Jeff, it’s been vital to define success on his own terms and not assume that he has to do things they way someone else does.  Sure, it can be helpful to glean lessons and strategies from others’ successes, but what works for someone else may not work for you.  

“It’s possible to succeed at all the wrong things.”

On Starting Your Business

“If you are trying to create something, you are an entrepreneur.”

The difference between a job and a business, is that if you own a business you have complete control.  You assume 100% of the risk and could also gain 100% of the reward. Your question shouldn’t be, “How can I keep growing this thing until it gets bigger and bigger?”  Growing for the sake of growing is not healthy. The right question to ask is how big does this need to be to do what I want to do? Be clear about what you want, then get the resources to accomplish this.

Hurdles to Growing an Online Business

Don’t assume that growth means more employees or bigger business.

For Jeff, growth is when he learning something new and doing what he does better.  Growth is also helping certain people in a specific way.

An important metric for Jeff is how many people stay on my email list.  Keeping one person engaged long-term is much more important than acquiring a new lead.  .

“I want to go deeper with the few than wider with the many.”

Finding Success in Online Business

Success is profit.  If a business isn’t profitable it can’t help people or have an impact.  Jeff has a profitable company, but he is also intentionally limiting how much he wants to grow and choosing the business size that meets his goals and lifestyle.  

Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Stay in your lane and don’t compare.  Do what you set out to do and enjoy your successes. Constantly moving the finish line for yourself is the best way to be unhappy.  

Why Do Online Businesses Fail?

Online businesses fail because they don’t act like real businesses.  People see online business like a lottery ticket that’s free and easy.  If you aren’t willing to work hard, you don’t deserve to be a business owner.  So don’t be surprised if you fail. You to treat it like a real business, know that you will suffer losses at times and need to invest plenty of emotional labor.  

Pro Tips:

Connect with the individual to market your offerings effectively.

Jeff views each customer as someone he has a relationship with.  Online marketing is not one to many, it’s one to one a million times over.  Be mindful of the language you use in emails and other communication – are you speaking to that individual?

Consider connecting with people in more personal ways, like a direct message on Instagram or Facebook to personally invite someone to a higher-end offering.

Avoid information overload.

Read curated information on blogs and social media from people you are in relationship with.   You will grow so much more from five good friends than a thousand blog posts.

Flash Round:

Favorite Online Management Tool: Asana

Planner:  Full Focus Planner

Inspirations in Online Business: Ian Morgan Cron of the Typology Podcast

Favorite Book:  The War of Art

Drink of Choice:  Old-fashioned

Resources:

Jeff’s Website

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