Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kat Elizabeth, Founder of Magnetic Brand Co., located in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I offer coaching, strategy, and courses for entrepreneurs and experts wanting to build magnetic personal brands that allow them to get recognized and paid to do what they're brilliant at (while making the world a better place!) Some of my clients are building their brands from scratch when they find me, and others may have been working for a few years as service providers, but what they have in common is they lack the confidence to show up as their true selves and be seen as the experts they are — often because imposter syndrome and/or over-complicated strategies are holding them back!
Tell us about yourself
I actually began my professional journey as an actor - performing in main-stage musicals in Australia. But despite it being my "dream job," it didn't take me long to realize it wasn't all I thought it would be. I struggled with anxiety and depression for a couple of years before deciding to take a break from the industry and reassess. It got worse before it got better, however! During that time, I had what I call my "quarter-life crisis" — going through a divorce, filing for bankruptcy, and being hospitalized with glandular fever (it was touch and go for a few nights while in the ICU!)
Coming out the other side, it felt like I was rebuilding not only my career from scratch but also my life. It took some time, but I started following my creative nudges again, which led me to write and produce a cabaret show and, almost by accident, begin my career in marketing which eventually led to becoming a freelance copywriter, then launching a YouTube Channel and finally becoming a course creator and coach.
The reason I care so much about personal branding + the work I do today is that building my own brand is what allowed me to come back from rock bottom and opened up an entire world of possibilities to me. It gave me the freedom to experiment, pivot, and create while (eventually!) getting paid much more than I ever did as a professional actor. I believe everyone's life would be that much easier if they were known and valued for being themselves rather than just what's on their resume.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Ooh, that's a tough one to choose! Personally, I think it's really about the fact that I've created a life and business that's completely on my terms — one that allows me to experience the kind of freedom and fulfilment I was hoping to find as an actor but never did. But even cooler is the impact I get to create through my clients. Finding out that one of my earliest coaching clients is absolutely killing it at her business (one she was considering quitting when we met!) between having a waitlist, being approached by LinkedIn to create courses on their platform, and even getting to speak at the United Nations. I get more excited about their successes than my own!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The self-doubt! You're constantly bombarded with content from other entrepreneurs who seem to have it all together, and it's so easy to compare your real life to their highlights reel, wondering if you're behind or missing something obvious. Then there are the ads from "gurus" that tell you they'll sell you their "secrets" to success and only add to that doubt. Only you eventually realize that everyone struggles and there are no secrets. It's about doing what feels best for you and sticking with it 'til you see results.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Simplicity is everything — make your plan simple so it's sustainable, make sure your product/service can be explained simply, and always look for the path of least resistance. It's so easy to over-complicate things, thinking it makes it "better," but it's just not true — and if you can't explain your business model on a napkin, it's probably already too complicated.
- Know that success is about habits, not about flashy one-off events. Focus on the 1% improvements you can make daily and keep doing that... forever. Your results will compound, and one day you'll wake up and have to pinch yourself about how far you've come.
- Don't be afraid to experiment! From content creation to preferred social platforms, offer types, and email marketing software — you won't know what works (and feels good) for you if you don't try it. And like I said, don't believe anyone that says they have the "secret" to success. There's no single path to success, and you'll get there quicker when you start paving your own.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://magneticbrand.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatelizabeth/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkatelizabeth/
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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