Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John Crestani, Founder of Advancepay, located in Malibu, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Advancepay shows which of the 5m brands work with which of the 80m creators and sells lists of their contact information to marketers working at brands and agencies.
Tell us about yourself
I started programming at 8, built/sold my first company at 27, and have earned tens of millions of dollars selling products and services online. I desire to help others have the same success as I have had in marketing, and I am creating software to allow marketers of all experience levels to get ROI from working with content creators rather than having to spend their budget on ads for a low ROAS.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Growing my affiliate marketing business to $5m/year in revenues and then selling the company.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Management of task-oriented, remote employees. As I've scaled my businesses, we always end up having to hire task-oriented workers outside my core areas of specialization and knowledge. Effectively managing employees doing this sort of work can become a challenge. I've had to read numerous books on management and spend years gaining experience in managing effectively. The best book I recommend for this is Working Backwards.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
If you're trying to start and run a business today, my three tips would be:
- Don't ever give yourself the option of giving up in your first three years.
- Break the rules, not the law. There are rules everywhere. Terms of service, etc. Break them. Most people will try to play within the arbitrary boundaries society and companies set up.
- Change your social circle to be comprised of people who are already where you want to be financially. Do you want to be a 10m/year business? Hang out with folks running 10m/year businesses. Common sense.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.advancepay.io/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069991314517
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johncrestani/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnCrestani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrestani/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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