Category Archives: When You are Starting out

Not sure what to do to get your business started? Start with these posts first

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If you build it, they WON’T come

Before you spend a dime on your website, do this

Try these 3 steps before you spend a dime on building your website. I waited patiently.  I knew the question would come up.  It always does when I talk to someone who recently got the entrepreneurial “spark”.  You know that moment when you realize that your passion is something you can get paid for.

So I can just put up a website and people will buy my service? 

Yeahhhh. But.

There is whole lot between “build it and they will come” and your idea.   You’ve got to invest in the marketing, planning, and host of “oh my goodness this is tough” moments.

Yes, you need a website.  But before you spend a DIME, consider these three ideas FIRST:

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How to get over your fear of writing your business plan

Smart entrepreneurs use measuring to blast through their failures.

 

  • Are you having panic attacks thinking about writing your business plan?
  • Hearing the voices of former  teachers telling you how bad your writing is?
  • Freezing up when you try to plan out what goals to focus on?
  • Or just B.O.R.E.D. out of your mind staring at the blank page?

Good!

Then you’ll be all ears when I reveal a secret about writing your business plan.

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1 Page Biz Plan

CLICK THE GRAPHIC TO DOWNLOAD

The 1 Page Biz Plan

“It’s Time For You To RE-THINK The Typical Business Plan…”

When you think of a business plan, what’s the very first image that comes to your mind or the feeling you get? It not only feels dreadful and difficult, but when you envision just how many in-depth pages it can be…it can be downright scary.

I’m here to tell you today that you can no longer fear the dreaded business plan.
In fact, what I’m about to reveal to you is a powerful 1-page business plan that’s going to completely change the way you not only think of business plans…but how you get business done!

Imagine if you could strip out the very core and most essential elements of a typical multi-page business plan and put all the “good stuff” that actually will motivate you, keep you on track with the right goals and more, into a single page plan…

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How to spark interest when asked “What do you do?”

Our actions and decisions today will shape the way we will be living in the future. (2)Do you wish you had a better way to answer the question: : “So what does your business do?”

You might be attending a networking event.  Or a family dinner with distant cousins and relatives.  Or a power house conference where you are meeting dozens of people over a few days.

  • How do you stand out?
  • How do you capture their attention so they want to know more?

Most people tend to introduce themselves based on what they do.  It’s a default in our society to give your name and job title.  The problem is that it doesn’t tell the listener what makes you stand out.  There is no way to differentiate between you and others who offer the same service.

If you introduce yourself with your title, the listener is likely to lump you into a box.  Tell them you are a graphic designer and they think of the last two people that they met who are designers.  Even though your skills are different. Talk about your web design business and they visualize the last web designer who didn’t finish the project.  Share that you are a coach or some new fancy category and they will often give you a blank stare.

So don’t start with your title.  Answer this question instead:

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3 Tips to Grow Your Biz

My recent podcast on DogTrainersConnection with Bonnie Brown

Want tips on how you can earn more money in your micro-business while doing what you love?  Then you’ll enjoy this podcast interview.  I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Bonnie Brown, Founder of The Dog Trainers Connection.  She asked a very powerful question for dog trainers who love what they do but want help in growing their business.  Podcast interview by The Dog Trainers Connection and Malla Haridat

 

Dog trainers – like most service professionals – have to juggle the dual task of serving their clients AND serving their OWN business – aka finding more clients and juggling the many roles of running a business. That’s not easy!!!

So I shared three powerful tips on how dog trainers and other service professionals can grow their biz.

Send me any questions you have after you listen!

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Before you worry about incorporating, do this

Don't start a business by incorporating. Here's what I recommend you consider first.

Don’t start a business by incorporating. Here’s what I recommend you consider first.

Prove that you have a business.  Earn your first check.  Gain your first three sales.  And be stuck with a check you can’t cash because you ain’t got a legal structure.

It might seem counterintuitive to much of the advice that you read about start-ups.  But hear me out on why I’m suggesting you start with a few sales first.

A lot of people start with the technicalities when they get their business started.  Their list looks like this:

  • What their office needs to look like.
  • What to put on their business cards.
  • And stressing over their legal structure.

All those things are important.  But only AFTER you prove your business model works.  Aka you can earn money and have an interested pool of potential prospects. 

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The #1 question I hear from Entrepreneurs

“Help me make more monnnneeeeeeeeeeyyyyy!”

Many people start businesses because of a moment of “Eureka”! They are in love with (Blank).  Someone asks them to provide (blank) and hands them dollars for a job well done.  The person providing (blank) thinks “I love this stuff and someone PAID me to do it?”. So they hang up their shingle and wait for the flood of customers to come and keep them doing what they love.

If you have a big network, you can run your business without paying alot of attention to your marketing.  Your people will tell your story and keep your cash register ringing.

But if you’ve tapped out your existing friends and family network and know you want to grow your business

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Your sucky time management isn’t the problem with your business

Your sucky time management isn’t the problem with your business. You don’t have a time management problem. You haven’t even scratched the surface. The real problem ishttps://mallaharidat.com

Your sucky time management isn’t the problem with your business. You haven’t even scratched the surface. The real problem is

It always seems like time is the enemy.  You aren’t making enough money because you can’t seem to get everything done?  There is too much “to do” and not enough time.

I hear this scenario all of the time from entrepreneurs.  I woke up motivated, Malla.  I had a PLAN!  A few marketing tasks.  Some sales calls.  And a list of operational tasks.  I knew it was going to happen.  But I fell off after:

  • one too long visit with my accountant and a reminder about taxes
  • a no call/no voicemail prospect who told me she was interested but has ignored all of my calls
  • and the three hours I spent messing around with that plug-in which still isn’t working on my website.

I get it!  But you don’t have a time management problem.  You haven’t even scratched the surface.  The real problem is

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Your hot mess: No you can’t serve all clients

Your hot mess: No you can’t serve all clients. I’m just want you to STOP believing you can market to everyone. You are spending your too precious time and resources to prove it is possible. www.mallaharidat.com

No you can’t serve all clients. I’m just want you to STOP believing you can market to everyone. Here’s what you can do instead.

I’ve heard it a thousand times – “Malla, my service is perfect for E.V.E.R.Y.B.O.D.Y”.

No it’s not. You can’t sell to everyone.

But I get it. You need cash flow. You want to establish your business name. So you’ll sell to anyone who is willing to buy.

Let me recommend you try it this way: Pick one market. That you know and enjoy working with. And serve them well.

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Is your business ready for 2014?

This year I'm gonna(fill in the blank)

Or are you still wondering…what the heck happened to last year’s wish list? Here’s what you do to change your biz…

Don’t look up at the calendar.  But in a few days, it’s going to be 2014.

Are you ready for your business to earn more revenue, take on more clients and be able to give more value away?

Or are you still wondering…what the heck happened to your 2013 wish list?

Well have no fear!  You’ve got a few days  to end the year with a bang.

So here’s what I want you to do – go back to the resolutions that you had for your business in early 2013.  You know the list of things that you said “This year ….I’m gonna do _________________”

(And no judgment here if you can’t even find the list!)