Interested in starting your entrepreneurial journey in personal development, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Campbell, co-founder & talent development of Eager Labs.
Tell us all about your business...
It should be possible for all leaders to grow, regardless of their company level or location. Develop into the most effective, supportive leaders possible. Eager Labs provides live, online leadership development programming for companies and individuals looking to do just that. Our cohort-style programs allow leaders from a diverse set of companies and industries to come together to learn from each other and create a long-lasting leadership community.
What's your background and motivation to grow as a solopreneur?
To be honest, I never saw myself becoming the co-founder of a business in any capacity! I joined Eager Labs as their first outside hire and became addicted to the experimentation and autonomy small business has to offer. To me, it was imperative to create learning and leadership development offerings that could be easily adjusted to learners' developing needs and helped them create new and efficient habits. After three years with the company, I was asked to take on a co-founding role and happily accepted, to continue on this mission.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping to foster a community of driven professionals who want to better themselves and those around them.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a solopreneur?
Knowing when to stick to your guns, (whether that applies to your strategy, client interactions, marketing, etc.), When a change would be beneficial for the good of the company as a whole.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run or grow a small business today?
- Experiment, experiment, experiment
This doesn't mean changing your strategy every day, week, or month (please don't do this), but it does mean finding ways to carry out experiments on a small scale, such as product offerings, etc. to see how customers respond. Maybe it's changing the pricing strategy with a prospective client, pitching a new product or way of implementing it with another or trying out a new marketing medium. Anything that's quick to test and aligns with your values is worth the data you'll get back from it. - Fail fast, fail often
I'm a recovering perfectionist, so these last two points have taken a concerted effort from me to consistently implement. My team has helped tremendously in keeping me accountable and encouraging me when I've been hesitant to take a risk. Finding "accountability-buddies" to give that extra push or insight into your decision-making is key. - Teamwork makes the dreamwork
Use your resources! Even if you don't have a team, identify people in your life whose opinions you trust and ask them to be your thought partners. Just remember to show your appreciation for them as much as possible. Our team consistently says "I appreciate you!" to each other when we're collaborating, and that small acknowledgment goes a long way.
If there was one thing you could do repeatedly to help grow your business, what would it be?
Market yourself and your services -- i.e. get your ideas out there! Find channels you can post about your products and services, and offer those up in some capacity for free to get word-of-mouth recommendations and feedback.
Where can people find you?
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
