Written by: Cathy Dimarchos, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Most people start their business with a vision, a dream. It’s the “Side Hustle” while they stay in their current job so WHY NOT YOU?
Let’s talk about this so we can make your DREAM BECOME REALITY. When you set yourself a target and a timeframe to turn your dream into a goal that becomes a REALITY.
I am often asked why I am so passionate about Entrepreneurs and the answer is simple. I want people to feel the joy that I do in doing what they love and not be chained to their work. I am all about making things happen, there is nothing that can’t be achieved especially when you know deep down this is what you really want to do.
Your dream is what is calling you but you just can’t seem to let go of your current job because you need that income stream, so let’s create a roadmap that you can use to get you started.
FACT
Most people who dream about doing something for themselves are in this very same position – they hold back too until they know it all. But the truth is you will never know it all and so you stay within your comfort zone (but not in your happy place). Those who are prepared to invest in themselves, and back themselves, draw a line in the sand and say “Today I am creating my roadmap and I am an entrepreneur”.
Those who set out to succeed, start with the right intention to make it succeed and they seek out people who have done it before and succeeded. They know they want this side hustle to be set up with structure, a timeline and most importantly by knowing their numbers.
I know most people say “NUMBER’S AREN’T MY THING!“ but if you aren’t prepared to know your numbers, your side hustle will fizzle. If not in 2 years it may in 5 years and there are many statistics that show us this pattern. So don’t become a statistic.
Let me share a little inside news. Most people that will sell you a story about how to start a business — will sell you a marketing and sales strategy — and whilst this is a vital part of business, it does not SHOW you how to set things up to succeed with solid foundations.
Every successful business across the Globe has a CEO, a FOUNDER that understands what it takes to run a business and how to keep it growing. YES GROWING. It’s not just about starting; it’s about building it too.
The target is to REPLACE YOUR CURRENT SALARY, EXCEED IT and WORK LESS.
There is a lot more that goes into setting up a side hustle / a business, and most of the time I would spend more time with you on working out what you REALLY WANT. After all, this is about you! Your dream! What you want for you, for your family, your kids. You want more “ME” time and you want to be able to do things that you know will work.
BUT today I am going to share 3 TIPS to be aware of as you start to plan.
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Anyone who cannot show you how to run your numbers is not serving you. Remember, any support you get is about showing you how to do things. This means they have done it on their own and succeeded for several years. Don’t let them sell you a story.
Know what service or products you are offering and how to package them up
Don’t discount always add value.
Your time is MONEY so include it in your service cost. You don’t work for free!
Build-in time for every touchpoint.
Remember you are building to scale. This leads me to my next TIP.
HAVE YOUR OPERATIONAL DUCKS IN A ROW
Here is something I see when people set up their business. They think it’s just them, but thinking ahead about “WHAT ELSE?” needs to be taken into account. You need to think about the business when its bigger than you from the onset.
You are not setting up a side hustle to become a slave to your dream, you are setting it up so you have freedom. You are setting it up because you want more “YOU” time. So, it is important that you think about options that will help you scale and grow and have you involved less and less. You are no longer trading time for money.
If your business is to run without you, what do you need?
Who else can do what you do when you are on holidays?
If you wanted to multiply your business by 100 what needs to happen?
All of this also costs money. Have you budgeted for this?
What comes first the scaling or the increase in staff/automation/systems?
Knowing how to plan for this and stage it so that you are responding to the needs of the business is about knowing your numbers and building a solid foundation.
Investing in the right people to guide you and listen to your vision is the key. But it does not stop there. There is always the next step.
ARE YOU READY TO THINK LIMITLESSLY?
Yes, that is right! When you start you also need to know what you will be doing as you exist.
I hear you – “Cathy I haven’t even started!” Yes, but I am about success and let’s face it. You don’t get in a car and drive aimlessly. You get in knowing where you want to go and what time you need to be there, so this is no different. It does not mean that you can’t change things, but it does mean you have clarity in what you want to achieve, why and most importantly by what timeframe.
I have set up businesses since 1997. I have scaled businesses here and across the globe, across cultures, across industries. So, when I share a few tips, it is because I am passionate about people succeeding. I don’t sell a dream – you have a dream. I help you create the roadmap so you know how to get there.
BUT I THINK LIMITLESSLY. It’s my job to help you THINK BIG.
Oh yes if it does not work, well I will be open with you and we will crunch numbers and look for solutions so you know what you need to do to make it work. You will see a business and the impact you make because once you see what is possible you will keep striving toward that goal because you NO LONGER want to be chained to someone else’s dream.
I won’t sell you a story! That’s not me sorry. I combined my lived experiences, with 35 years of finance and well let’s face it, setting up businesses since 1997 and I am a qualified counsellor so you get the whole of me supporting you to break through barriers.
Are you ready to take that step? You know when you are ready.
If you want to know more you can connect with me and ask “WHAT ELSE?”
Never ask “What if?” ask me why and you will begin to understand why I do things differently and help people create their new dream.
Cathy Dimarchos – The Alchemist in business
Want to learn more from Cathy? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website.
Cathy Dimarchos, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Cathy Dimarchos is an award-winning business advisor, mentoring and coaching leaders internationally, and is an indefatigable philanthropist who believes we can all contribute to lifting the baseline of people across the world one person at a time.
She founded Solutions2you with purpose for impact so that she can serve others and leave a lasting imprint. As a professional advisor and motivational voice, Cathy dedicates her time to perfecting a combination of people, business and situational skills. Her values take centre stage and business becomes honest and expressive. She believes that knowledge exchange leads to self-reliance with effective and sustainable outcomes.
Her Advisory services extend to New and Established Entrepreneur’s, teams and large corporates and supports people to become antifragile in a world that is forever changing, stretching their boundaries.
“When we rise, it is important to also lift those around us”
