Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in video marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Patricia Kelikani, Founder of Lucrative Videos, located in Redlands, CA, USA.

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

I’m an Emmy Award winner and video marketer who helps online business owners and large organizations grow their businesses with video. I do this in a couple of ways:

  1. Because I totally understand that video can feel overwhelming for online business owners, I created my business—Lucrative Videos. I help entrepreneurs make more money with video so they can have raving customers, be known as experts and leaders in their niche, and have more time to be with those they love. Unlike many who focus only on social media videos, I teach how to make pre-recorded videos that are high-quality, evergreen, and strategic so that each video is seen by their ideal client for years to come as they increase their income and impact.
  2. I also create custom videos for organizations to market and promote their brands. I have so much fun helping my clients grow their businesses with video!

Tell us about yourself

I love video. Ever since I was a teenager in the 1990s, I loved getting my hands on any camcorder I could find and make a video for a class project. I also loved writing and dreamed of being a TV news reporter. After college, I sent out my resume tapes only to hear:
“You look too young.”
“Your hair is too long.”
“Your voice is too high-pitched.”

Long story short, I got a job at a large nonprofit where I worked behind the camera as a documentary filmmaker. I was able to travel the world to remote places and shine a light on untold stories. The videos I made helped businesses make more money so they could ultimately help more people. It was such a rewarding and meaningful job. Word spread around, and other companies contacted me to create custom videos for them to help them grow their businesses. So I moonlighted for about a decade as a freelancer.

Then after I had my first child, I resigned from my corporate job and officially went all in on my own business. That way, I could have more flexibility to be with my baby while still serving my clients. It was a win-win. But a few years ago, I also noticed that some business owners who wanted my services couldn’t afford them. So I created a more affordable option—an online course that teaches entrepreneurs how to make their own videos so they can increase their income and impact. I just love seeing entrepreneurs get out of their comfort zone and grow their businesses with video!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is designing my business in a way where I can spend lots of time with my family while having multiple 6-digit businesses. I do this in a couple of ways:

  • I have a handful of loyal clients whom I make custom videos for. So I don’t have to keep finding new clients since my current ones keep coming back.
  • In my online business, I’ve created what I call Lucrative Videos. These are videos that I make once—yet are seen by my potential customers for years to come and are like my twin selling for me 24/7. I’ve also automated processes and have a small team.

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

I think one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is suddenly dealing with imposter syndrome. It seems to pop up whenever we get outside of our comfort zone and do something new. I call it the “inner mean girls” who tell us we’re not good enough.

It’s important to squash those negative thoughts immediately and replace them with positive and encouraging statements. Because remember, you were created on purpose and for a purpose. There are people out there who need YOU to help them. And, yes, you are more than good enough for the job. You were made for it.

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

  1. Get outside of your comfort zone. When you do that—that’s when you can catapult your business. But if you stay in your comfortable bubble, you and your business will remain stagnant. And as the saying goes, “What got you here, won’t get you there.”

    For many of my clients, they get outside of their comfort zone by showing up on video. It’s scary at first to be on video and to be “out there” on the internet. But as research shows, video is the most powerful tool for marketing your business. It’s created breakthroughs not only in my own business but in my client’s and students’ businesses, too.
  2. Give yourself permission to start slow and be content about it. When I first started my business, I had a newborn baby. And then three years later, another newborn. I worked a couple of days a week. Yet sometimes, I got frustrated with myself that I wasn’t making a lot more money year after year. So I would have to remind myself “why” I started my business—To make money and help others WHILE being able to spend time with my kids. It was a pretty stress-free work environment that was perfect for our family. Now that my kids are both in school, I’ve been able to double my business in one year. So it’s all about accepting the season you’re in.
  3. Do your best and forget the rest. Comparing yourself to others will only bring you down. So put blinders on just like what horses wear during a race and stay focused on YOU and your own growth. That’s why it’s important to remember your why—why you started your business. It’s not about vanity social media numbers or hustling until you’re burned out. It’s about making money while making a positive impact in this world.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://lucrativevideos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patriciakelikani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriciakelikani/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/patriciakelikani

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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