Remember that post I did 2 weeks ago about "The Business of You"? Well, Gwen Bell, the inspiring entrepreneur I wrote about read the post and was so gracious as to grant me an interview all this week! Today, this Wednesday, and this Friday, Gwen Bell will be sitting down with thinkandgrowchick.com to share her insight on crafting her niche in the business world and living the entrepreneurial lifestyle. I've taken the lead in asking the first round of questions, but for Wednesday and Friday, Gwen Bell wants to here from you! Many of you have either written to me or commented on various post about your desire to start a business—now is your chance to get advice from one of best. If you have any questions for Gwen Bell, leave them in the comment box below, email me at Courtney [at] thinkandgrowchick.com, tweet me, or leave your question on my Facebook fan page.
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TGC: For those readers who are just learning about you for the first time, can you tell us a little bit about who you are and the businesses you operate/entrepreneurial work you do?Gwen: My work is on the social web. I help people get aligned with their message so they can share it well on the web (and off it).I started my first business five years ago in Japan - Yoga Garden is now in its fifth year. My best friend and business partner, Patrick (with whom I run The Mindfulist) runs it now that I'm back in the States. I recently wrote about the work I do as a consultant.TGC: One of the things I love most about your blog is your uncanny ability to describe “the entrepreneurial life”. You are a virtual mentor to many who desire to make a living from their dreams. Can you give some advice to young, entrepreneurial women in particular who know what they are passionate about but are unsure of exactly how to turn that passion into a profitable venture? How have you gone about it, especially when you first got started?Gwen: When I opened the yoga studio in Japan I took a real leap. Patrick and I drained our bank accounts in a foreign country to pay our deposit and first months' rent. We were both raised by our grandparents and both sets of grandparents said: kids, you're on your own. Getting a loan wasn't an option. We were winging it, in our early twenties, abroad and broke.You know how they say "leap and the net will appear"? I think you make your own net, one day at a time.Funny story. When we started out as entrepreneurs, Patrick and I thought the definition of entrepreneur was "do everything yourself." We wanted a rock garden on the balcony of the studio. What did we do? We rode our bikes back and forth a mile each way from the Home Depot lookalike store, Homes. And we carried bags of rocks in our baskets. Dropped them off, then went back for more.As an entrepreneur, the better route is to ask: what rocks am I hauling? And is there a more efficient way to do this? Is there a better way for me to spend my time? In the early stages, you don't have cash flow or options. As you grow your business, start looking out for those areas in which you're hauling rocks.TGC: One of your latest projects is “The 101”, an action-based consulting session that is actually wrapping up this week. Without giving all the goods away, what’s one common issue that you see with the entrepreneurs you have been working with who want to make their presence known online? Gwen: We're often looking for permission to be our fullest selves, on and off the web.We stress over what people will think if we live at our edges and share that stories with others. In my experience, if you're not living at, and sharing, that edge, you may make a healthy living. But you likely will never experience extraordinary growth. Be aligned with your message, and share it unabashedly. That will excite others to share it, too.TGC: Though "The 101" isn’t the first consulting session you’ve ever offered as an entrepreneur, I think it’s really bold and creative how you’ve packaged your knowledge into a service offering that people are actually willing to pay for. What suggestions do you have for entrepreneurs looking to do the same with their specific body of knowledge?Gwen: It took five years, a lot of mentoring, reading and speaking at conferences, as well as building my client portfolio to reach the point where I felt comfortable packaging services.Hire an executive coach. One of the most important decisions I made in 2010 was to hire an executive coach. Working with someone weekly who reflects your values back to you helps you make better decisions in your career, whatever stage you're at.Work with professionals. Hire people to teach you what they know. I remember when I started out. I hired someone to teach me the ropes of living and owning a business in Japan. It was the equivalent of $150 USD for an hour. It seemed like such an investment at the time. But hiring her saved me thousands (and thousands) because I avoided mistakes I would have made without her expertise.Mentor others. You have to know yourself and your work backwards and forwards to package it confidently. One way to learn about that is to teach. When you do, you'll start booking the clients you want. Knowing yourself and sharing yourself online in a way that aligns with your values ensures you attract the customers you will enjoy.Unplug. In our pursuit of online life we neglect our bodies, our in person only friends, our on the ground network. Don't forget to take time away from the web.
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Many thanks to Gwen Bell for sharing her knowledge with us budding entrepreneurs. Remember to leave your questions for Wednesday's sit-down with Gwen in the comment box below.
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