Become Your Own Boss: Tips for Starting and Growing Your Own Small Business

This week I discuss determining your differentiating factors and how this will help you better market your products and/or services clearly. I also tell you about the ONE factor you don’t want to make your key differentiator because it can put you out of business...FAST. 

Quote for the week: Every business is successful exactly to the extent that it does something others cannot.  - - Peter Thiel My IG:@stitchedforsuccess

This week I discuss one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes we made in our business. We were young, excited and very optimistic about almost everything in our early years. However losing focus of our core competency was a painful and costly lesson. I discuss 3 questions to ask yourself to determine your core competencies and ways to avoid this type of mistake by staying focused on yours.

Quote for the week: Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. 

- - Mark Cuban

My IG:@stitchedforsuccess

This episode is part 2 of my discussion with Deidre Bembry, The Insurance Lady. Starting her business during the recession of 2008 Deidre learned some life long lessons that has helped her grow personally and grow her business over the years. In the midst of growing her business, Deidre's family receives some earth shattering news when their 4 year old is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor after weeks of her gut telling her something just wasn't right. They began the fight of their lives exhausting many resources to give their daughter more time. Deidre discusses she and her husband's non-profit, Keris Kares Inc. A nonprofit that exists to support families impacted by Pediatric Cancer.

Deidre Bembry is a mother, wife, entrepreneur, change agent, and philanthropist. She believes that we all have been placed in this world with a designed purpose to fulfill and that your best is still unwritten.  You can get help with your insurance needs by visiting Deidre's website: https://www.asktheinsurancelady.com/ 

Quote for this episode: “Unexpected events can set you back or set you up. It’s all a matter of – perspective.”— Mary Anne Radmacher

Follow me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess. Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic and Anchor.

On this episode I speak with Deidre Bembry, The Insurance Lady. Starting her business during the recession of 2008 Deidre learned some life long lessons that has helped her grow personally and grow her business over the years. A rock star in the insurance and financial services industry, Deidre has starred in a national ad for State Farm Insurance. She has owned and operated Deidre K Bembry Insurance Agency Inc for 11 years and recently opened her second location. In this episode, I bring you part one of my interview with Deidre. It is full of important financial lessons that many of us have learned the hard way in business and in life. We discuss the entrepreneurial itch that is impossible to shake once you have it, and the steps she took to scratch that itch.  

Deidre Bembry is a mother, wife, entrepreneur, change agent, and philanthropist. She believes that we all have been placed in this world with a designed purpose to fulfill. Deidre also co-founded and acts as Chairperson for Keris Kares Inc, a nonprofit that exists to support families impacted by Pediatric Cancer.

You can get help with your insurance needs by visiting Deidre's website: https://www.asktheinsurancelady.com/

Quote for this episode: For better or worse, cash is the oxygen of your business, and you can't last long in any environment without it. - Neil Blumenthal

Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic and Anchor.

Whether you are starting a business or you're already in business, on this episode we discuss the questions you need to ask yourself from the perspective of one of my favorite exercises in my marketing classes. We talk about your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also known as your SWOT analysis. I walk you through completing one of these for your company and leave you with a question that I would love for you to answer.  You can direct message me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess or leave me a voice mail message by visiting stitchedforsuccess.com.

Question: How has Covid-19 impacted your business and what will you change going forward to mitigate or minimize a threat like this in the future?

On this episode I take you through an analysis of your competitors before starting your business as well as when you are growing and scaling your business. What questions do you need to ask yourself and what can you do about competition? Direct message me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess if you have any questions or want to discuss this topic further.

On this episode we talk about determining the target market for your products and/or services and how vital this is to the success of your business. Asking just 3 simple questions will help you determine the best way to market to your customers and help you save time and money. Also drilling down into the different segments within your customer demographic will help you better market and reach your customers. Lastly, I discuss how important knowing that your target market is large enough to sustain your business for the long haul is imperative to success. 

Follow me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess. If you have any business related questions or want to know more about getting started in a new business, feel free to DM me via Instagram.

Happy Anniversary to me! Reading an excerpt from my journal from 2005, I celebrate 15 years of being a full-time entrepreneur this summer. I share with you my thoughts and feelings the day prior to my last day of being an employee and just a few of my ups and downs since.

My unintentional conversation with McBride, CEO of Vitalysys Technologies, after the interview gives alot more insight into mistakes made, lessons learned and long-term strategies for creating and growing a successful business.