#GrowNOW The Podcast

Part of being an entrepreneur is having the ability to use our set of quality skills that we develop, not only for our business but also practicing those skills for a better life experience. And right on top of the list should be learning how and when to say NO.

It can happen that sometimes “NO” is not so much the best answer but also the ONLY answer. So how do we go about identifying those times? We are taking a look in this episode, at the clear signs that we should pay attention to, before committing to anything.

How often have you invested time and energy in deals that were a clear NO from the beginning? If you had only listened to your instinct, one of those quality skills we were mentioning…

Why is “saying NO” such a debilitating decision? Is it driven by fear or maybe lack of self-confidence? This is indeed a complex subject with sometimes specific reasons but nevertheless there is a common thread of truth tying together the examples we talk about in this episode of the untold stories of entrepreneurs.

Depending on our beliefs and past experiences, we don’t relate to risk in the same way. What can seem as adrenaline and a challenge for some of us, others think of risks as major red flags, that immediately trigger panic and fear.

Does staying in a “safe” situation seem like a long term solution for anyone? More likely no, and more so, is a safe bet for stagnation and progress killing. Developing the ability to take risks, especially calculated ones, is almost a requirement for entrepreneurs and off course, is a skill that can be learned and polished over time.

In today’s episode, we will be going over the 5 steps formula to start looking at deliberate risks with a more welcoming and accepting eye. 

Step Nr 4, even if a bit uncomfortable at first, can be applied on all areas of life, not only in business.

What would you reply to the phrase: “To sell you, is to help you”? Would you consider it a manipulation? Would you take it as an insult maybe?

Being a salesperson in not well received, especially in Europe. The image of somebody quite pushy, that makes endless conversation and has a tendency to twist the truth, is that an accurate representation?

The ability to sell is accompanied also by a feeling of trust, authenticity and deep caring that the person standing in front of you is very receptive to. In today’s episode, we are going over 5 tips on how to “sell” your sales technique and have people perceive you as a genuine person.

Once you become an entrepreneur, you are here for the long run, always working on developing your business and never disconnecting from the market. Because once you stop doing these and just settle on your “I made it” throne, you can be sure that the newcomers are paying the same attention to the market just as you did in the beginning and finding exactly the angle that you thought is not worth pursuing.

The success of every business is in giving their clients EXACTLY what they are looking for, and not because there is no other choice on the market. So how to disrupt your own business from within and be ahead of your “shadow” competitors? Tip nr 1- understand your client’s complaints.

One example of a company that didn’t believe in disrupting the market and didn’t listen to what the clients were asking? NOKIA

In today's episode, we are presenting the 5 most important tips on how to practice a disruptive approach of your business from inside out.

How often do you take an aerial-view of your business? As entrepreneurs, we tend to focus mainly on the daily matters at hand, and face the issues only when, and if they appear.

To our members of IMN Paris Business Club, we systematically have them audit their own venture, in order to determine if they are still on track with their business goals and values, since any successful business needs to present value-added and be sustainable, in addition to being profitable.

The 5 essential questions that we are discussing in this episode apply to all types of structures and they shine a light not necessarily on your products or service, but rather on the success of your clients, your team and your community.

What is the main difference between entrepreneurs succeeding, even in times of crisis, and those who don’t? While the whole world was on physical and mental lockdown, the business owners that refused to dig their heads in the sand and call it quits, were the ones that did at least 1 of the following:

- showed up as a leader

- didn’t get stuck on what is no longer possible

- observed and understood human behaviour

We know it takes a lot of energy to stay in the constructive mindset of moving forward and look for the systems that allow us to cope and be creative. But Rome wasn’t build in a day, right?

We discuss in this episode what determined entrepreneurs actually do to be successful, no matter the type of crisis they encounter.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses alike, have the disadvantage that they are less protected in these kind of crisis situations. Nevertheless, business owners are facing bigger or smaller crisis on regular basis, especially in the first years of existence and somehow, the most persistent and determined of us still manage to push through. Why would this be any different?

Any crisis is defined by the immediate need of a decision and isn’t this a great opportunity in itself? No more “one day I will”, the time to act is NOW: implementing with creativity, increasing the value-added that we bring to the table and so on. In this episode, we have put together a series of tips for all the entrepreneurs out there that are looking to shift their focus and put this crisis in a different perspective.

Is being an entrepreneur just a trend or is it indeed the most wanted job in the world?

You may find that when starting your own entrepreneurship journey, your experience is completely different from that of a relative or a friend that started in similar conditions. That’s because whatever blocks you, blocks your business. And in the same time, your business can be as successful as you are. YOU are the key to your own success or failure.

In this episode, we adress 3 real and important tips to assure you are getting the best results from the time invested. Because truth be told, being an entrepreneur means 100% focus and you need to know from the beginning your “absolute must” priorities.

The truth is that entrepreneurs have relevance on the market and there are signs that being an entrepreneur is a very tempting possibility for a lot of people that are looking to have a secure financial future.

Nevertheless, this common desire brings with it a few common mistakes, that we often see, especially in our IMN Paris Business Club. Many of our members have experienced these blunders more than once.

Luckily, in business as in life, we can prevent rather than repeat obvious misconceptions about what it takes, in this cases, to really become a business owner. We explain in this episode the 5 common mistakes, so you can avoid them. Honestly, you would be surprised how many people fall for mistake nr 4 .

And as it was our custom in the first 2 seasons also, we offer practical solutions, not only answers in theory; for this episode, 5 alternative questions that you can consider before opening your own business, and in doing so, setting you up for success.

What drives people to become entrepreneurs and how do you know if this is for you? The good news is that is never too late to start the entrepreneurship journey but for most, still, working for somebody else is seen as a first option, due to the financial security. A 2018 study states that 5% of the world’s workforce are actually entrepreneurs working for themselves. The numbers have been shown to be increasing but how many are actually successful, considering the risks involved?

Are you someone that is:

If you have answered yes to at least 1, you are an intuitive entrepreneur and many of the characteristics presented in this episode apply to you. Let us know if we have overlooked any important features.