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5 Lifestyle Business Myths Debunked

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5 Lifestyle Business Myths Debunked

How awesome would it be to travel to cool countries while still making money? The first time I heard someone talk about “lifestyle business,” I thought they were lying.

Making money online seemed like a dream, but in the last three years, I have seen it’s possible.

For 12 years, I worked a physical job that I hated. I woke up at midnight to deliver bread and deal with angry customers at grocery stores. The first time I heard a podcast talking about lifestyle business, I was hooked. I wanted a lifestyle that involved travel and location independence, so my family could move to Maui, Hawaii.

When I put my toe in the water in 2011 by self-publishing my first book, I got a rude awakening with the all too common experience of not selling any books. I turned to the Internet for answers but all I got was myths and commonly-accepted hype.

Here are five lifestyle business myths I had to overcome to build my dream business and life:

 

1. The money is in the niche

One of the most common pieces of advice you get when building an online business is to “niche down.” You’re told the more you niche, the more money you can make. While industry-specific niches can be profitable—such as teaching Real Estate or how to become a flight attendant—theme specific niches need to be more general.

One of the best ways to build traffic to your online business is by writing for large authority websites such as the Huffington Post, or Entrepreneur Magazine. These sites have millions of visitors, being too specific won’t appeal to the wider audience. There is money in certain niches, but niching isn’t the only way to build.

 

2. Copying successful entrepreneurs work

Just because a strategy or way of running an online business worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work out for you. In fact, it’s very unlikely you can duplicate someone else’s success by copying. Your goal should be to model success and systems. Not copy them.

People buy from someone they know, like, and trust. That happens when people connect with you and that connection can’t come when you’re copying. Be you. Be original. What makes you who you are is what helps you and your business stand out.

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is going to be, why not create a life you don’t have to escape from.” – Seth Godin

3. Become an expert

While there is some truth in becoming an expert, the way that it’s taught isn’t helpful. People connect with people, not “experts.” If they don’t like or respect you as a person, it doesn’t matter what you’ve accomplished. True experts focus on adding value to their audience, not pushing titles to impress people.

You become a real expert when you add value to your audience. When you continue to learn and hone your craft, when you build a loyal following and they connect with your message, then you become an “expert.

 

4. Create more products and courses

When you see entrepreneurs who haven’t been successful online, it’s because they’re focused too much on the products and courses. They’re always designing a new course and creating new products, but don’t have an audience to sell them too.

If you only have ten minutes, you should spend eight of those minutes building your audience, one-minute creating the offering, and one minute resting. Building an audience is the hard part and the step too many people don’t spend enough time on. Build your audience now—even if you don’t have anything to sell. Having an audience means you can always sell later.

 

5. You will make money quickly

One of the most dangerous myths is that you can build an online business and make money quickly. The people preaching this myth are probably trying to sell you their program or course. Before you buy into the myth, realize that this lifestyle takes time to build.

There are 900 million websites, 250 million blogs, and 150,000 podcasts. No matter what your business topic is, many others are also talking about the same thing. It takes time to stand out from the crowd and build a solid foundation. You only get what you put into this. If you hustle, you can build quicker, but it will still take time.

Brendon Burchard
Once I was able to see the truth, I was able to build my business. It was slow going at first, but I was able to eventually leave that job I hated. Today, I operate a six-figure-a-year business from my home base in Maui, Hawaii. The business supported our move here 14 months ago.

Waking up every day and experiencing the freedom to spend my days on the things that are important to me is priceless. I wasted so many years existing and have made my goal to live truly for the rest of my days. I hope you’ll join me.

Don’t accept these myths. Build a successful lifestyle business on the side and with focus.

Kimanzi Constable is an author of four books and a writer whose articles have been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business Insider, SUCCESS Magazine, NBC, CBS, FOX, and 80 other publications and magazines. He is the co-founder of Results Global Impact Consulting and Senior Editor at The Good Men Project. Learn more and get a free guide at kconstable.com.

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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