Five things I’ve learned six weeks into launching a business.

On June 16th I took a six-year step. I quit my traditional job at a really great employer making an awesome salary and went out into the world of entrepreneurship, hunting, gathering, and dragging food home for my family. That hunting and gathering takes the form of leadership development training as the founder of Proof Leadership Group, an organization focused on democratizing elite leadership training for the social sector.

I wake up some mornings and still can’t accept my new title of entrepreneur. That title feels like it’s reserved for someone other than me, for those people who take big risks and pour their souls into adding value to the world through some meaningful product or service. Then I remember that’s what I’m striving to do.

So what have I learned that may help you as you’re deciding on your next step? These five things:

1. Your network is bigger than you think. For some reason, I thought when I leapt I would be starting from ground zero. The reality is that I brought with me 10 years worth of friends, colleagues, and contacts who have championed me and want me to succeed. You’re likely the same.
2. The why and how are more important than the what. In fact, most great business are 90% marketing the why and how — why should I care and how will it make my life better — and 10% “here’s what it actually does.”
3. Business is relationships. No, really. Before I leapt I had a mentor tell me that the most important metric in my business was the number of people I talked with on a weekly basis. He said to set a goal for the number of contacts I would make and then hit it. At first I thought, “No way. Product and business model and delivery are equally important.” Wrong. It’s 100% relationships. At the end of the day, your audience is humans and your goal is to serve them.
4. Get ready to do it all. This week I’ve gone to the Post Office to mail off books, made deposits at the bank, paid bills, gathered receipts for bookkeeping, scheduled meetings, checked email, printed documents and worksheets, planned trainings, delivered trainings, coached people on the phone and in person, and provided follow-up support. I’m the Chief Everything Officer. Most people might say that they want to get into entrepreneurship to get away from all of that stuff. Turns out I actually don’t mind it. In fact, I love it. Why? Because I decide. And I don’t do anything that doesn’t provide a value-add. I’m all about efficiency and so I don’t spend time doing things that have no payoff. Entrepreneurship is great in that way.
5. It’s ok to iterate. I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Heck, I didn’t publish my book for six years because I wasn’t sure it was going to be the most epic, mind-blowing, New York Times Bestselling book on the planet. It took a friend telling me to just “publish the dang thing already” to finally pull the trigger. I’ve been the same in business. “What is the ultimate, life-changing, stream-lined leadership training package that appeals to all people?” Who knows. I’m still figuring it out in spite of spending the last six years training people. It’s a tough challenge, but I’m learning to simply enjoy the challenge of figuring it out. Iteration is the key.

The past six weeks have been liberating. If you’re considering a leap, here’s what I’d recommend:

• Build an emergency fund of 6-9 months of living expenses.
• Create a list of contacts and add to it weekly.
• Develop content.
• Get testimonials from folks who you’ve worked with. Follow the PSR formula — Problem, Solution, Result.
• Do your research. Figure out what you’re offering, to whom, why, how will it change their life, what is it on a nuts and bolts level, and how will you know when you’re successful.

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And, when in doubt, take action. Oftentimes the path doesn’t become clear until you act.
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