Lead With Ease - Leadership with Mike

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mike Ashie, Creator of Leadership with Mike, located in Toronto, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I have an online education platform where I help guide leaders. I help managers become confident leaders with “no nonsense sense… if that makes any sense”.

My YouTube Channel: www.YouTube.com/leadershipwithmike.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve always found myself in leadership roles. There was a time that I was overlooked for a promotion SEVEN times. I didn’t like this at all! So I decided that I wasn’t going to wait for someone to “allow” me to be a leader. I started my YouTube channel as a way of sharing what I believe to be right and wrong in terms of leadership. That decision helped me create my business in the face of losing my job due to the pandemic. The channel has grown to 30,000 subscribers and over 1.5 million views. This is the cornerstone of my business.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say my biggest accomplishment is hearing firsthand how something I’ve shared I’m in a YouTube video or in one of my training programs has helped someone get a new job, earn a raise, or simply helped them set boundaries that they’ve used to enrich their lives. It’s an amazing feeling to know you had a small part in someone’s growth.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Learning EVERYTHING! It started with learning how to create, record, edit and publish videos. Then it was learning how to make it profitable with courses and coaching. From there, I needed to learn about email list building and how to create funnels. This has all been fun and exciting, but it’s nothing like having a job. With a job, someone tells you what you need to accomplish. Being a business owner, I can only blame myself or rely on myself for outcomes.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have a plan for how the business makes money right from the beginning. It sounds obvious, but you can sometimes get excited but the idea you plan for the income (or lack thereof).
  2. Start building your email list from Day 1. I thought I’d wait till I had a proper following and a proper offer for people. I missed out on thousands of contacts, and the MONEY is on your list. Not on your socials.
  3. Finally, plan to make half of what you think is reasonable and plan to spend double what you budgeted. Money issues can really throw a wrench in your plans! So have buffer space.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mikeashie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624112098479120/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadership_with_mike/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/leadwithmike
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipwithmike/

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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