Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Misty Dorman, Owner of Life Ninjas, located in Sahuarita, AZ, USA.

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

I help overwhelmed entrepreneurs implement systems, strategies, tools & tech to save time & mental calories growing their home biz.

Tell us about yourself

For over a decade, I found myself fumbling around, trying to grow a home business, with very few results. It was really frustrating, but I believed in my big God-sized dreams & that I could do it if I had the right tools & knowledge. Once I finally learned what's working for people in my industry, I felt passionate about helping others avoid wasting time, energy, & money growing their businesses (so they could achieve their God-sized dreams too).

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel most accomplished when I'm helping others achieve breakthroughs of all sizes. I also feel a sense of accomplishment when I stretch myself to do something out of my comfort zone. One example I can think of that hit both of these marks is the Direct Sales Summit I hosted right at the start of the pandemic in 2020. I interviewed 27 speakers (including some well-known top earners) in the network marketing industry, which was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay outside of my comfort zone. Doing this allowed me to grow so much as a person, help thousands of people, and grow my own business as well. I was able to use the momentum then to launch my Life Ninja Academy membership, which I am super proud of & has become the main focus of my business.

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

My audience is specifically entrepreneurs & something I think we all struggle with is that we have to wear so many hats & run all aspects of our business (until we can afford to hire help). This can make it really hard to focus enough time on income-producing activities & lead to a lot of shiny object syndrome as we try & find ways to make all of these different tasks easier or become more knowledgeable about how to do them. This is definitely something we focus on in Life Ninja Academy - how to really identify what's overwhelming us, then prioritize & streamline the right tasks to move your business forward & do it with less time & effort.

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

  1. Pick just ONE marketing strategy to start with. You don't need to be everywhere and do all the things. Focus on just one & really master it first. It's ok to have a presence on multiple platforms but choose one to focus your time & efforts on. Preferably, your strategy should include growing your email list and a platform you can SEO traffic to (such as a blog). Remember, you do not own social media, and you can get shut down even if you didn't violate any policies. (I may have learned this the hard way.) Make sure the content you're driving traffic to lives somewhere you have control over.
  2. Invest in yourself & your business. You wouldn't be able to open a brick & mortar without investing some money into your business & educating yourself on how to run it. You need to do this same thing when you're running an online business.
  3. You are going to have setbacks & even hit a brick wall every now & then. It's what you do with them that matters. You are the CEO of your business, so you need to think like one. Don't act out of emotion. Follow what the numbers are telling you. Do more of what works & less of what doesn't. Every "failure" is really just an opportunity to learn & improve. Beyond every brick wall is a breakthrough & you WILL come out stronger on the other side if you have the right mindset, so don't give up!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mistydorman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dormanlifeninjas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeninjamisty/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lifeninjamisty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistydorman/

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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