As small business owners, we often feel like we have to do everything ourselves. 

Sometimes this is because we think nobody understands our business or objectives as well as we do and won’t be able to do the job to the same standard.

But most often it’s because we tell ourselves that we simply can’t afford to spend any money.

There are so many hats we have to wear, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the most economical way is for us to do it all.

But in reality, this is frequently not the case.

The tasks we are weaker at often correspond with those we are slow to finish, or those we fail to complete to our own quality standards.

What I want to talk about today is WHY it is so important to know when to turn to the experts and ask for help – even when this means a financial outlay.

I hope this is useful to you. 

Making yourself inaccessible - the old marketing style - so you can look more in demand?

Is playing hard to get a good conversion strategy? 

Not for me. Business is about relationship and if you don't have time for a coffee, don't expect sex further down the line, let alone a long-term relationship.

My thoughts on a recent encounter, or (in my opinion), the best way to ruin a great referral and lots of marketing time, and money! 

Do you shy away from defining your own brand and presenting it to the world?

Clarifying WHO you are to YOUR market means that you will need to present yourself with intentions.

In today's market, standing out from the crowd is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Your brand over time can evolve but there is some crucial work that needs to be done in the early stages (or if you feel like a change of branding is relevant to you now).

What is your PROMISE to your clients? How is that translated in your personal brand?

I hope today's podcast is helping you along your 'branding journey'.

May of us are language professionals who have decided to work for ourselves.

I’m wondering... 

Is this because being self-employed is an escapable part of our persona and being an entrepreneur is something we’ve always been driven to do, or do we find ourselves in this situation because an opportunity arose that we simply couldn’t turn down.

Recently in a networking group I run, I asked:

“If you had to give a percentage value to the relative importance of having excellent business acumen versus being an engaged and passionate teacher to be truly successful, what would you say?”

That answer? “You have to be 100% into the business, 100% into teaching”.

We work in a passionate industry: to be a teacher is to be a giver, and to be a language teacher is to immerse yourself in the topics of linguistics, culture, society: subjects that run deep.

But passion is not enough. 

With freedom comes responsibility.

Having the autonomy, independence and liberty to grow and shape your own business is a wonderful thing, but it only happens (successfully) when underpinned and reinforced by a solid understanding of business management.

I’m always seeing parallels in my life between entrepreneurship and learning languages.  I really do believe that there are lots of similarities between running a business and learning to speak another tongue. Today it is about commitment!

Numbers are everything in a business. Full stop. Whether you like it or not.

Most of us, in the language world, aren't so keen about crunching numbers - we're better at words than we are at numbers!

I've had my fair share of accountants over the years. Until now, more bad than good.

Failures - bad relationships - lack of results... Always bring a lesson along the way, don't they?! 

What's important is to identify what they are and how to avoid them going forward?

That's what I did.

3 accountants - 3 mistakes.

The mistakes they made dealing with me. The mistakes I want to ensure I don't make with my own clients.

My thoughts in this podcast.

Hope that's useful to you.

Nathalie