Solopreneur180

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 16, putting yourself, your business out there

In business, you know that if you don't promote and market, you can't succeed. No matter how excellent your service is or what fantastic value you offer, if people don't know about you, you're not going to have a chance to do business with them.

To move your business higher levels of success, you must practice self promotion in ways that feel unnatural at first. Consider self-promotion as a tool to inform and uplift others, as a way to take the spotlight off yourself which will allow the conversation to have a natural feel. Remember, if you're not sold on yourself, no one else will be either.

In this week's episode, Realtor, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist debunk the myths and fears of self-promotion, by breaking down what self-promotion actually means. By uplifiting your auiance you are connecting with them and allowing them to get to know you on a personal level. Shawn and The Storyographist provide personal insights on how to implement this strategy. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How to take the spotlight off you
• Uplifting your audience
• Sharing is caring
• What you put out is what you will attract
• Don't be too shy to ask

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 15, can an entrepreneur have work-life balance?

Striking out it out on your own can be a very liberating experience. You're the one calling the shots and directing the course of your life and career, which is why it's easy to get caught up in that feeling of power, so much so you can put your life on hold just to run your business.

Work-life balance is a critical component of success. People need 100% of you to maintain relationships. If you can't find or create that balance, then every minute, every hour, every day, you steal away from your life in favor of your business will cost you.

In this week's episode, San Francisco Real Estate, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist dive deep into the work-life balance for a solopreneur and share personal stories of how they work towards maintaining personal relationships that help them succeed and stay grounded. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Balance implies perfection
• Having the discipline to say no
• Set boundaries and expectations
• Calendar your time (i.e., appts, calling mom, etc.)
• Carve out time for you

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 14, start your side hustle TODAY.

"I'd love to, but I don't have time!" "I'm not sure what I should do."

These are two of the biggest excuses we hear when it comes to explaining why they could never have a side gig, even if they have a great idea. Instead of hiding behind excuses, maybe it's time to step out of the shadows and jump in feet first. Remember, everyone has 24 hours in a day—you chose how you prioritize your time outside the office.

In this week's episode, San Francisco Realtor, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist compare notes about side hustles, and how through trials and tribulations, are still passionate about each "hustle" they take on—noting that that the first taste of success keeps driving them for more. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Go into the side hustle with eyes wide open
• Enthusiasm is a MUST
• Be passionate about it
• Don't make excuses 
• The first taste of sweet success

You can connect with Shawn and Cielo on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 13, starting a new career at 40.

By the time you reach 40, you are almost into two decades of your career. If you're in the same field in which you started, you will most likely have a great deal of experience (both work and life) at this point. And, you may be several rungs up on the corporate ladder.

However, you don't particularly care for what you're doing, or maybe you've just burnt out. You feel stuck and unsure of what to do next. You start debating the next course of action, thinking you're too old to make a change, and honestly, change is hard and scary. 

While it may sound trite, it's never too late to make a change, and while your transition won't be simple and may take a great deal of effort, going to work every day to do something you don't enjoy or that isn't gratifying, is far more difficult.

In this week's episode, San Francisco's Real Estate Agent, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist share what it's like to pivot after 40 and what you can do to survive a massive career change. While change is hard at any age, Shawn and The Storyographist share why they did it and how, while not always graceful, everything works out as long as you learn to fall forward.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Do the work, build your portfolio
• Learn from failure
• Fall forward, consider the next moving piece
• Identify holes and how to reinforce them 
• Determining financial security

You can connect with Shawn and Cielo on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 12, decision-making model.

Becoming a solopreneur and forging it on your own can be a thrilling experience. You're calling the shots and putting it all on the line for your new business. Every decision you make has an impact, from your service or product offering to your business cards and website, you call the shots.

But, in the same right, it can be a nerve-wracking experience for precisely those same reasons. So, what items should you consider before making a decision? Should you gather all the data to make an informed decision or throw caution to the wind and go with whatever seems right at the moment?

In this week's episode, San Francisco's Real Estate Agent, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist provide the different ways solopreneurs can make decisions. From a 5 step process to placing all your data into a grid, both agree having a designated approach will allow you to step back and focus on the things you can control. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The 5 step decision-making process
• How the use of a grid can make decisions easier
• Avoiding analysis paralysis 
• Focusing on the things you can control 
• Burn the boat

You can connect with Shawn and Cielo on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180, Episode 11, what is sales, marketing, and branding.

As a solopreneur trying to make your mark on the world, it's easy to place your branding and marketing strategy on the back burner because, let's face it; sales are what's keeping the lights on. However, in this instance, sales are like putting the cart before the horse, while needed to sustain - you need a thoroughbred powerhouse to pull you through the mud.

Branding, marketing, and sales all work together in setting you apart from all the other noise the customer hears. Branding establishes the personality that hooks the customer. Marketing opens communication lines between your brand and the customer, with sales as the call to action, tying up all the loose ends and bringing the cycle to a close. 

In this week's episode, San Francisco Realtor Shawn Kunkler and The Storyographist tackle branding, marketing, and sales for solopreneurs. Sharing tips from past successes (and failures) on why you should establish your brand's personality before you ever develop marketing communications - and how you deliver those messages can make or break the deal.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Branding is vital for solopreneurs
• Establishing your customer avatar
• Stay top of mind, but don't nag 
• Objections are not the same as conditions
• Communication needs to be consistent 

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180, Episode 10, small business networking.

As solopreneurs, our lives get a little demanding, repetitive, and sometimes lonely. Developing new business ideas, marketing them, and implementing everything ourselves can take us to our whits end on certain days. However, if you are going to grow your business, you need to carve out time for networking. 

Networking is a great way to meet new people and generate new leads, new partners, or future customers. It's also a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. Networking provides you with a wealth of knowledge to draw ideas, gain perspective, and ultimately grow your business. And, while there is no one way to do it - as solopreneurs, it's vital to your survival. 

In this week's episode, Real Estate Agent, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist discuss networking. Shawn has a systematic process, including in-person meetings, calls, and handwritten notes. At the same time, The Storyographist prefers connecting with her sphere on social media. While both agree, there isn't a single approach to networking, only that it's vital for business success. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Build a credible presence
• Networking isn't always forward-facing
• Social Media is an excellent way to network (if used correctly)
• You don't need a large circle to start
• Approach networking like you would a friend

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
• Insider's Guide to Buying a Home, Shawn Kunkler
• Sierra Interactive

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180 Episode 9, hiring employees for the first time.

As a solopreneur, you initially envisioned running your business as a one-person show. After all, you competent, intelligent, and passionate about it. Surely, you can handle any situation that comes your way. And, the thought of trusting another individual with your business, your baby is scary.

But, if you find yourself overwhelmed with no time to breathe, that initial vision of handling everything in your business by yourself may need to change, and that's okay. 

In this week's episode, San Francisco's favorite Realtor, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist examine the ins and outs of hiring your first employee. From knowing when to hire, to what you need to ask, both share insights from their hiring journeys to help you understand what to do and who to look for when bringing a new person into the mix.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• To hire, you must first learn to let go
• Take it out of your head and put it on paper
• Don't hire for things you don't understand
• Have a clear understanding of your needs
• Don't hire someone you like

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180, Episode 8, mentor program.

As a solopreneur, you have sole of control over your business. You make all the decisions, whether they're creative, financial, or as simple as who's catering the corporate retreat ( sushi, anyone 😀), but what do you do when you need to bounce ideas off someone? Some suggest a solopreneur find a mentor. It's understandable—after all, it's good advice; having a mentor relationship is often a dream come true. But how does one go about finding a mentor program or an individual who is willing to be their Jedi master?

In this week's episode, San Francisco Real Estate Agent, Shawn Kunkler and The Storyographist discuss how a mentor can impact a solopreneur, whether just starting out or in business for years. As both mentors and mentees, they explain how to approach an individual and develop a mentor style relationship by asking the right questions at the correct times.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Mentors aren't always wearing a name tag (how to find a mentor in an unlikely place)
• Start your mentorship as a relationship
• How mentors are like industry Jedis 
• Why bad questions get bad answers
• Don't expect a mentor to appear; nurture your valuable relationships

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The E-Myth Revisited
• The Artist's Way

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.

Saying no without guilt

Thestoryographist.com and shawnkunkler.com present: Soloprenuer180, Episode 7, saying no without guilt. 

Most of us, as solopreneurs, agree that being busy is a good thing. The more projects we have, the more successful we must be, right?! That isn't necessarily the case. While it feels good to have multiple people wanting your services, the result can lead to overload and burnout. As when your mind is preoccupied, you no longer have the ability to be creative and plan well.   

In this week's episode, San Francisco Real Estate Agent, Shawn Kunkler, and The Storyographist discuss the challenge of saying no, and how we project negativity and rejection to a simple word.  Shawn and The Storyographist explain how setting parameters can benefit you personally and professionally, and by adjusting how you reply to a request can remove the negativity you feel.    

Things you will learn in this episode:  
• Why is saying no such a challenge 
• Saying yes to everything diminishes the quality  
• How to say no without feeling guilty 
• Give it time and think it through  
• Be clear and concise with your answer   

You can connect with Shawn and The Storyographist on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @solopreneur180. We'd love to connect with you.   

Know another Solopreneur who feels trapped on an island alone? Show them some love and share this podcast.