Starting From Scratch

"From the ashes, a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring…" — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring.

If you want to know more details about the before story, please read this. The summary: I lost my job at Expedia after almost six years. Yes, pandemic attack. Yes, I was laid off along with other 2.999 human beings.

The critical fact about this: Expedia, my job, became my world and, beyond that, my own identity. So, you can imagine, I was devastated. The depiction of what we can call "the ashes state."

A year has passed, I can say that I am a young squab with little fiery feathers. I am still growing to become a full Phoenix.

I decided to do something risky, be selfish, think about my happiness instead of all the obligations I felt. I decided to become an idea, a very vague idea, to be honest. When I started making YouTube videos, it was for fun and my addiction to learn new things and technologies. Then I began to call myself a coach, but I didn't find the money to get a certification. So, who was going to trust me? Who was going to pay for my services? Do I have something to give?

It is not easy to sell a product/service if you don't have confidence in yourself. My essential recommendation for you is:

Look at yourself like you were a stranger –ask for help if you need it from a friend or a coach–, and assess yourself. Look for your qualifications as a professional, your improvement areas, your skills, what you can do, what you want to do.

Delphi Oracle has power still: Know thyself!

Once you know who you are, then it's time to discover your motivations to do things in the world. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read Start With Why by Simon Sinek (affiliate link) or watch this video.

DISCOVER YOUR WHY before you do anything else!!!

Now, some practical lessons from my journey that I would love to share with you:

The reason why you get out of bed every morning.

Your reason to leave your bed every day should be related to your business, as it is what you do and makes you. Why? What you do as a human being is quintessential to determine your happiness (success, wellness, etc.). Think about a time when you were in a job you hate. You get me now, don't you?. DON'T WASTE YOU LIFE.

Authenticity first, clear message second.

Once you are you, the real you, I mean. In other words, you are not selling smoke; you have a genuine product/service that you want to offer to the world. You believe in it, and even you are passionate about it. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!

You need to build a clear message to reach the right target and fulfill your why! Authenticity and good intentions are not enough. It would help if you learned how to know your audience, build a clear message, and distribute it.

Better done than perfect.

This one speaks for itself. However, let me add something: allow yourself time and space to test your ideas, messages, and product/service. You don't have to know it all from the start.

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!

What your audience, target, buyer persona, or your mom are screaming at you. Listening is one of the best skills, but it is not easy to learn and cultivate.

Be courageously vulnerable

• Be humble.
• Ask questions.
• Admit when you can't do something.
• Look for help.
• Learn from your mistakes.
• TRY! Always try!

Be mindful of your product/service portfolio variety.

Just a fancy way to tell you: don't put all your eggs in one basket!

Think about a combination of active and passive income.

Do what is best for your client.

Give them all your brain, soul, and heart. Don't try to convert them into cows, but free birds! They will be your best advertisement.

Look for spaces to connect with your audience.

Don't sell fake packages and put people into stupid funnels; connect with your audience:

• Live videos
• Clubhouse
• Live events
• Interviews

Build a community

Give first value, don't ask. Opportunities will come.

Give what you have!

Numbers are just numbers.

Don't become obsessed. Been there, done that. Please, don't do it!

Use your time, money, energy, and attention wisely.

• Use the right tools, pay for them.
• Hire a coach.
• Invest in the minimum equipment. More technology doesn't mean better quality.
• Delegate.
• Plan and visualize.
• Invest in social media just the right amount.

Differentiate your brand from your ego.

Straight forward yet challenging.

I hope these ideas help you in your own Phoenix journey!