The Intrepid Entrepreneur

Thank you so much for all your support throughout the years at Intrepid Entrepreneur.

I want to make you aware of my latest project, Channel Mastery. Check it out at: VerdeStrategy.co

And subscribe in iTunes right here.

Thank you, and I will see you over there!

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/patrick-mcginnis/

How many people are able to quit their day jobs and jump right into a successful entrepreneurial career? Hardly anyone that I know has been so lucky. No matter how passionate you are about your work, it takes time to build a business.

Patrick McGinnis is an entrepreneur with a background on Wall Street, venture capital, private equity, and the author of “The 10% Entrepreneur”. We’re digging into what it means to be an entrepreneur with a day job.

Patrick’s explaining what makes someone a 10% Entrepreneur, and how continuing in your current job can profit everyone. We’re getting into the benefits of hands-on experience, diversifying your skill set, and developing entrepreneurial muscle, in just 10% of your time. Patrick knows what it is to work for your money, and how important it is to insulate your income.

This is an amazing episode for those of you working multiple jobs, and everyone interested in getting started on something new this year.

Bravery and Business Quote “I decided I was no longer going to do things where I put all of my trust into somebody else.” Patrick McGinnis

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The Cliff Notes

• Don’t quit your day job! Start something new and get involved with entrepreneurship with 10% of your time.
• Diversify your skills by trying different kinds of ventures and business ideas. The more you do, the more you learn.
• A 10% entrepreneur wants to create a diverse portfolio of living, breathing businesses that function on their own.
• Developing more skills and entrepreneurial muscle will benefit you in and the company you work for during the day.
• You don’t have to have money to be a successful entrepreneur. Start small and grow as your business demands.
• No job is really 100% safe. Things happen, so diversify your skills set and income so you’ll always have something to fall back on.
• Don’t fall for entrepreneur FOMO! Starting a business is not as glamorous or exciting as it seems. It’s a lot of hard work with slow payoff.
• Be empowered, not overwhelmed, to take the first step. Spend 10% of your time developing your concept, or getting involved with another new business.
• You can only learn so much by reading and taking courses. Get out there and start trying things.
• Working on the side will give you proof of concept for your business before you go all in or try to get investors.

“Most entrepreneurs don’t jump right into things. They develop on the side until they get proof of concept.” - Patrick McGinnis

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  Resources

About Patrick McGinnis

Patrick's book The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job

Patrick's SPEECH at Google

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/solocast-2/

Happy 2017 Intrepid Nation!

I’m know we’ve all been slammed over the past few months, what with the holidays and now the rush of starting out new years out right. Some of you probably noticed my absence over the past few weeks. I’ve missed you!

This is a special solocast from me to you, dear audience, to fill you in on the new project that has been keeping me so busy--it’s so exciting! I’m also giving you a sneak peek at the changes coming to Intrepid and the Alliance this year. Get excited for some new programs and some new resources!

Bravery and Business Quote “We’re in it to build lifestyles, we’re in it to do what we love and to build a tribe around something that we love to share.” -Kristin Carpenter Ogden

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The Cliff Notes

• Find out what exciting new project has been keeping me so busy this quarter, and why I’m so pumped about it.
• Heads up for some exciting changes coming to the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast next month!
• How to make sure you’re on the waitlist for the Intrepid Alliance
• New opportunities for members of the Alliance, and some special offers for those of you still waiting.
• I want your feedback and requests for the new year!  Let me know what you’d like to hear about. Send your ideas to: [email protected]

“Serving you through this podcast, through Intrepid Entrepreneur & through the Alliance is my favorite thing to do” -Kristin Carpenter Ogden (click to tweet)

 

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/The-Right-Audience-Johannes-Ariens

How much have you accomplished this year? Maybe 2016 has been a big year for you and your company-I know it has been full of surprises for me.  

My guest on this episode is Johannes Ariens, and he’s here for the second time this year to talk about the second project he’s successfully launched in 2016.

Johannes is sharing how his new project LOGE met its Kickstarter goal in the first week, and what this means for how they’re moving forward. We’re talking about setting stretch goals and how to work towards them progressively.

Johannes is also discussing how he’s using multiple channels to drive people to their campaign, and what these channels all bring to the perception of your brand. We’re digging into communicating with the right people, not the most people, and giving those people an authentic, inside look at your work.

I hope you enjoy this episode – It’s part training, part inspiration and 100% entertaining!

Bravery and Business Quote “If you push, something’s got to happen. No matter what, you’re going to learn from that.” Johannes Ariens

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The Cliff Notes

• Think about entry-level consumers. How can you make your business or community more accessible to people who might be interested, but inexperienced?
• Don’t be afraid of being uncomfortable. If you’re comfortable, you’re probably not challenging yourself enough.
• Push really hard. Either way, something is going to happen and you’re going to learn from the experience.
• Acknowledge what you’re bad at. Work on improving those skills and know how to delegate and take advice from experienced experts.
• Active and engaged followers are much more valuable than many, uninvolved followers. Quality means more than quantity.
• You don’t need a global audience to be effective, you just need to be dialed in to who your audience is and how to connect with them.
• Figure out what people perceive your intent to be. Know what clients think that you support and work to bring that perception in line with your vision.
• Know your numbers. How many people do you need to invest in your project? How many purchases? Views? What, specifically, do you need to succeed?
• Set different kinds of goals. Have immediate goals and then set stretch goals to aim for next. Know where you’re heading now and where you’re heading next.
• Make time to talk to people beyond social media. Don’t just share what you’re doing online, but talk to people that you know and network in person.

“If it’s uncomfortable, then you’re probably doing the right thing” Johannes Ariens

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  Resources

Twitter: @JohannesAriens

Kickstarter for LOGE Camp

LOGE

Radify

 

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/The-Right-Audience-Johannes-Ariens/

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Ron-Andrews/

How many of you are working in a small town? Maybe some of you, like me, sometimes work out of your house and love it. Well this episode is for you!

I’m sitting down with Ron Andrews of King Cage. Ron runs this highly successful company from his home right here in Durango, and he’s sharing is secrets to small-town success.

We’re getting into keeping with your founder’s vision, knowing how big you want, or don’t want, to your company to be, and keeping your business organized in your house.  Ron’s also talking about how he got the idea for King Cage, and where his product line has expanded from his original product.

For all of you trying to hustle outside the big city, this episode is full of advice from someone who’s living the passion-driven entrepreneur’s dream!

Bravery and Business Quote “Quality and consistency is what you’ve really got to stick with.” Ron Andrews 

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  The Cliff Notes

• Living near people who are experts in their field is a great asset to you, no matter where you live.
• Having customers who are excited about your product brings more enthusiasm and energy to your work and company psyche.
• Don’t feel unable to leave your current job. Find a way to support yourself doing what you love.
• Look for trade shows in your industry to expand your reach and customer base.  
• Specialize your products. Once you have a product that sells well, look for ways to improve and personalize it to your niche.
• Add value to your product. What can you do to help your clients even more than you already are?
• Advertise at a rate that you can sustain your business. Don’t look for orders so big you won’t be able to fulfill them.
• Keep your company the size you want it. Don’t feel pressured to expand or grow in ways that aren’t consistent with your founder’s vision.

“It’s easy to connect with a person because it is so intimate here and close.” Ron Andrews

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  Resources

 

King Cage

Interbike Expo

  Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Ron-Andrews/

 

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sonya-Looney/

So much has changed in how we market and sell products over the past few years.  It’s not just about using social media, but about understanding what customers want from the brands they support.

I’m sitting down with Sonya Looney, World Champion Cyclist, writer, speaker, and adventure seeker. We’re talking about how she has re-designed and re-written the relationship between athletes and sponsoring companies.

 Sonya’s sharing how she got into cycling, and how that passion led her to leave her career twice to become an entrepreneur. We’re getting into what companies should look for in the athletes they sponsor, and how athletes can market themselves better. It’s not just about results!

 This is a great episode for anyone looking to build their brand, or maybe even sponsor an athlete.

Bravery and Business Quote “If you do the things that you love and put everything into it, it’s going to grow in ways that you never could have imagined”  Sonya Looney

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  The Cliff Notes

• Acknowledge what makes you excited. Sonya was working for a start-up and realized she loved the marketing side of things more than her job as an engineer.
• Protect your priorities. If a job or hobby is getting in the way of what you’re passionate about, find a way to rearrange.
• Don’t be afraid to pivot in your career. Just because you’ve spent years growing in it, or getting a degree doesn’t mean you should stay if you’re not happy.
• Look for partners that have the same passion and following/ clients as you. What brands are attracting the same kind of community that you want to be a part of?
• Pay attention to what makes other people good at their jobs. Even people in other markets, what makes them so effective? Pull those things into your practice.
• Focus on two way communication. Respond to people who engage with you on social media, and keep track of what they’re enjoying.
• Do what you love and believe in. If you’re working hard towards what you’re passionate about, people will take notice and stay connected.
• Worry less about an athlete’s racing results than about what they can bring to your product. What can this athlete’s personality and following bring to your company?

“It’s not just about putting content out there, it’s about responding to every person that you can that’s engaging with you”  Sonya Looney“

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  Resources

 

Sonya Looney’s Website

Sonya Looney on TED Talk

  Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sonya-Looney/

 

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Brent-Reinke/

Who do you go to for business advice? Outside of the people in your life who support you emotionally, who do you rely on for experienced advice about where your company is going?

I’m sitting down with Brent Reinke, co-founder of Vapur and attorney and advisor to entrepreneurs for over 25 years, and we’re talking about the importance of having an advisory board. It’s all for the benefit of your company!

Brent’s getting into how to look for advisors and setting up clear expectations. He’s also sharing how having the right advisors can save you from making mistakes, and make you look better to investors, even when you’re just starting out.

Even if you don’t think your business is right for a formal advisory council, this is an amazing episode about getting advice and the importance of having a strong network to keep your business healthy.

Bravery and Business Quote “Finding advisors comes down to finding people that have a high-degree of passion because they've done it.”  Brent Reinke

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The Cliff Notes

• Advisory board members can help new entrepreneurs to avoid mistakes and navigate pitfalls as they get started and develop.
• You can have a formal or an informal group of advisors, depending on the needs of your company and how much of a network of support you already have.
• Advisory boards and members may change as your company evolves and starts looking towards new goals.
• Most early stage companies don’t need a formal set of advisors. They need to have people around and available, but this doesn’t need to be a traditional board format.
• How you compensate advisors depends on what stage your company is at, what kind of financing it has and what requirements there are of the advisors.
• Who you ask to be an advisor is very industry specific. Do some networking to find people in your field who have experience, and then look to industry professionals, lawyers, accountants, etc. for their expertise.
• Set expectations with your advisors. How much time will you want them to set aside? When will you meet with them? What kind of advice are they expected to provide? How will they be compensated?
• It’s not just knowledge and experience that advisors bring to the table, but also their own networks.
• Leverage your advisors into better financing. You might not have the expertise investors are looking for, but your advisory board might.

“It's critically important as you talk about this idea of board advisors to set proper expectations on both sides.” -Brent Reinke 

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Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Brent-Reinke/

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Matt-Inglot

Freelancing can be a tough market. Not only do you have to hustle to build up your client base when you get started, but even when you’re established you can worry that every job is your last. It’s an exhausting field if you’re not organized. 

Matt Inglot of Freelance Transformation is here to give us the Dos and Don’ts of getting started as a freelancer, and to talk about expanding your business once you’ve got things going. He’s getting into sticking to your goals, holding on to your vision, and getting recurring revenue.

Matt’s also sharing his advice on the importance of going to events to meet clients, and how you should decide which events to attend. As Matt says, freelancing is all about relationships.

Matt’s offering some great resources from his company, Freelance Transformation. If you’re even considering freelancing, you’ll want to give this a listen.

Bravery and Business Quote “You have to be very intentional with the type of work you want to be doing. Decide what type of work is going to allow you to meet your goals” - Matt Inglot

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The Cliff Notes

• Stay intentional with your clients and what type of client you want to work with. Will they help you get closer to your goals?
• Consider your financial and lifestyle requirements in what clients you accept. Know what your criteria are and be comfortable saying no.
• Make sure you have your business model figured out as a freelancer before you try to branch into having employees.
• Look for ways to meet people face to face. Go out and meet with people at events and conferences build connections. Be where your prospective clients will be.
• Follow up on meetings. It’s easy to get busy and forget to send those emails, but they’re so important to building connections.

3 Things New Freelancers Should Do

1.      Have clarity around the clients and projects you want to take on
2.      Collect clients and opportunities that you can keep working for and not just one-time jobs.
3.   Get out of the house and meet with people face to face.

“In freelancing and agenting, relationships are the number one thing.”  - Matt Inglot

(Click to Tweet)

Resources

Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com

Tilted Pixel: TiltedPixel.com

Podcast : FreelanceTransformation.com/blog/podcast

Bonuses for Intrepid Listeners from Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com/Intrepid

Double Your Freelancing Conference: DoubleYourFreelancing.com/conf/

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Matt-Inglot

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/david-kortje

Have you started a business or venture in the past few years, and are not sure where to go next? Maybe you’re trying to expand your appeal to more customers?

In this second Hot Seat Coaching episode, I’m sitting down with David Kortje of Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex to answer his questions about marketing, outreach, and what to focus on next.

We’re getting into using loyal customers as ambassadors, partnering with other brands, and trying to share the experience of your work with potential consumers. David and I are also talking about getting statistics on your customers and followers, and learning what obstacles might be keeping more people from getting involved.

For anyone trying to build their consumer appeal and get more people involved in their business, this a great episode full of hands-on advice.

Bravery and Business Quote

“How do we share the authenticity of our story and our passion? How do we tap into the community and get more people to join?” - David Kortje

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The Cliff Notes

• Study your followers on Facebook and any other social media. Get data on the ages and interests of the people who pay attention to you and are coming to your events.
• Facebook live video and other video mediums are a gateway to showing people what you can do. Show your audience what it’s like in your gym or business and the kinds of people involved in your community.
• Look for events to bring people in and introduce them to your business. Host events like an open house or anniversary party for people to feel invited in to just see how things work.
• Try to get local coverage. Talk to local news affiliates or reporters to get them to come to your space and film, do a feature article or special event coverage.
• Use loyal customers as ambassadors to recruit people. They can invite friends, or talk about how much involvement has changed their lives to bring people in.
• Set goals for membership, sales, and outreach, a specific outreach plans so that you have something to work and plan towards.
• Retail is changing. Look for ways to bring the experience of your business to other people, either through mobile events or outside events. Go to potential customers who might not come to you.
• Think about other brands and companies your clients might be using to co-market with. What brands might share clients with you and be interested in hosting an event or marketing campaign with you?

“We’re trying to put a narrative around climbing so that people can will understand the community and the soul around it.”  -David Kortje

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Resources

Climb Bliss ClimbBliss.com

Blog: ClimbBliss.com/Blog

Hey Press media contacts : Hey.Press

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/david-kortje

Listen at: Intrepidentrepreneur.net/saying-no

How often have you quit something, only to come back to it? When you’re driven by passion for an idea, it keeps coming back until you get it right.

Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong is sharing why she retired twice from the sport, and how she came back each time to win again. We’re getting into making goals, prioritizing your time, and creating your own solutions to the changes life throws at you.

Kristin’s also sharing how she and her husband got the idea for their startup K-Edge, and where the company is heading next. They’re listening to their customers!

This is such a great episode about mental toughness, creative solutions, and learning to say “No.” You won’t want to miss it!

Bravery in Business Quote “There are things you have to decide that are essential and things you have to remove from your life” - Kristin Armstrong (click to tweet) Cliff Notes:

 

• Kristin Armstrong is a three time Olympic gold medalist in cycling in 2008, 2012, 2016.  She has retired from cycling twice and both times was brought back by her love of cycling.
• It takes mental toughness to succeed. Iron will is required to set your sights on a goal and then make it through all the little steps to get yourself there.
• When something isn’t working, adapt. Life circumstances change, so you need to be willing to adjust your plan to your current situation in order for it to success.
• Don’t be afraid to remove things from your life. You can’t do everything, so decide which things are the most important to you and prioritize.
• Don’t let in the outside noise. Focus on the task in front of you and don’t feel the need to explain yourself to your critics.
• Create your own solutions to problems. Kristin and her husband designed a chain catcher to prevent her from losing the chain on her bike during competitions.
• Listen to your customers and know where the market is heading. K-Edge has expanded to provide solutions to other issues that cyclists have, some in response to questions and ideas from customers.

  “The most important thing is you have to enjoy your journey” - Kristin Armstrong (click to tweet) Resources:

K-Edge.com

KristinArmstrongUSA.com

Listen at: Intrepidentrepreneur.net/saying-no