Anna Piasek’s Post

5 lessons I wish I had known when I started my business (Something every aspiring entrepreneur should consider) → 1. Every Journey is Unique How fast you exit doesn’t define success: ↳ Exiting in 2 years doesn't equate to success. ↳ Exiting in 7-10 years doesn't signify failure. Industries and growth speed vary: ↳ Sometimes, even top founders find their next startups take longer to grow. Do this: Reflect, avoid comparison, and embrace lessons. → 2. Aim for funding that enables hiring A-Players Your vision is set: ↳ Now, attract the right people to fuel it. A-Players accelerate growth. They propel your vision faster and farther. On a tight budget, you may hire cool people but not-so-A-Players ↳ Not-so-A-Players often yield not-so-A-results. → 3. Understand your Product & Business Model In and Out. Dive deep into market analysis. ↳ Understand demand and supply dynamics. We thought we'd build a big business in 2 years. It turned out we spent the first three years just understanding the business model & the product. Recognized late, we needed to build a MARKETPLACE and identify ICP for both sides. → 2 businesses under 1 roof Could’ve saved 2 years with this insight... → 4. Know Your Market Inside Out Immediate market potential & ICP = your essence. Your essence = Your focus. Your direction. Your actions. Know your essence! Focus on your closest market achievements, not distant millions & billions. → 5. Choose Your Advisors Wisely Be discerning with partnerships. Avoid distractions not aligned with your vision. Early-stage complex engagements often more distracting than beneficial Your business voyage is filled with lessons at each turn Embrace them, learn, and sail forward. Hit LIKE if you found these insights useful! ♻️ REPOST to help other aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey.

Do you have it as good as you think you do? Or are you under an illusion? Many companies are very good at creating the illusion that you need them, they are giving you so much, and that you have a sweet deal with them. That nothing out there is better, and that your best solution is to stick with them. I always find it really fascinating when I speak with recruiters that tell me they have loads of freedom at their agency and that they have a sweet deal already. But when we start to get into the details, they start to describe how they actually still have a lot of limitations. They start to describe how things aren’t as amazing as they seem on the surface. What does freedom, support, and great earning potential actually look like in your agency? What could it look like if you worked for yourself in partnership with District4? Here’s a round up of what I’ve found so far: 👇 #thursdaythoughts #recruitment #recruiter #flexibility #freedom #earningpotential #success #support #founder #remotework #digitalnomad #solopreneur #entrepreneur #startup

My friend spent months generating leads for his business, which was a total waste of time. He made the same mistake that many entrepreneurs make. He was trying to sell generic marketing agency services to companies. When you offer a generic service, it is hard for people to relate to a specific problem and identify 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂! What are you the expert at? Why do I choose you? He identified his challenge and made the critical change many founders struggle to make. Entrepreneurs think they will have fewer opportunities by focusing too narrowly. The opposite is the reality. It gives them much need 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲. Now, his company aims to help startup founders write books and build personal brands. Business is booming! 🎉 He was already providing that same service. The only difference is that potential customers could now 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺. Specialization and expertise in business are essential, especially for small companies. Selling a generic "we do everything service" is never as good as being the expert at one thing. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

12 telltale signs that you are an entrepreneurial material. I have been in this entrepreneurship journey for a little while now. I have been obsessing over one simple question: What sets great entrepreneurs apart from the rest? We all agree, they are just wired differently. But how exactly? Here is my honest observation after closely studying many of the successful entrepreneurs of our generation: 1. Curious: ↳ Successful entrepreneurs have a strong sense of curiosity that lets them explore new opportunities ↳ They often challenge the status quo 2. Experimental: ↳ They are not afraid to test out new ideas ↳ They often use structured methods but at times, unstructured too 3. Adaptable: ↳ Their ability to adapt to changes is remarkable ↳ They often foresee the unthinkable 4. Decisive: ↳ They are savvy with decision-making ↳ They value speed over perfection 5. Self-Aware: ↳ They know their strengths & weaknesses ↳ They attract the right talent who can complement their abilities 6. Risk Tolerant: ↳ They anticipate risk every step of the way ↳ But they also work actively to manage & mitigate those risks 7. Embrace Failure: ↳ They are not afraid of failing ↳ Because they know that each failure is an incredible learning opportunity 8. Communicator: ↳ They set the bar high for effective communication ↳ They leverage communication to build relationships, negotiate deals & inspire teams 9. Innovator: ↳ They understand the power of creating unique value ↳ Prioritize innovation over profits 10. Visionary: ↳ They have a vision & can truly inspire others ↳ They lead by example not just by words 11. Persistent: ↳ They are adamant about pursuing what they believe in ↳ They remain unflustered even when faced with setbacks 12. Optimistic: ↳ They see a world full of possibilities ↳ They light up their environment through positivity Listen, at the end of the day, these are by no means set in stone and there will always be exceptions to this. You have to identify what your strengths are & double down on that. I sincerely hope you found this helpful and if so, please repost ♻️ this to your network & give Raghav Balasubramanian a follow for more!

Dear Businesses, Don't try to be a Digital Hero 😎 ........ If you're not equipped with the right skills. Similarly, Dear Entrepreneurs, Don't pretend to be a Digital marketing expert if you're not proficient in it. And, if you still need their help, It means you might not be a master of the digital Entrepreneurs, so rather than being a blocker, simply accept this fact and let the experts drive the online success. #digitalmarketing #entrepreneurs #startups #DigitalmarketingAgency #Digitalmarketinghiring #interview #hr #marketing #onlinepromotion

Some clients come to me at the end of their runway. Or let's say 3 months left. They have tried everything. Maybe their product isn't hitting the mark yet. Maybe they've been too caught up in just making stuff. Some have been too focused on what's way ahead. Others can't see past today. And some haven't even really talked to their customers. Bizarre, right? They have: ⤷ Too many assumptions. ⤷ TOO much vision. OK, let's say this is you. That's not a great place to be, right? It sucks, and it's just freaking disappointing. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝘄𝗲? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. Well, I believe entrepreneurs will solve the most important problems in the world. BUT Entrepreneurship is like crashing into a wall as many times as you can stand. Either you DIE or you blast THROUGH the wall. And this is where I step in. I love working with these types of teams. I do not need to be liked. I am not agreeable. I will do what is necessary. Make. It. Work. These are the questions that need to be answered. Let me be clear. These are the questions that NEED to be answered!  1. Who's my customer?  2. Who buys my product?  3. What problem are they trying to solve?  4. What do they need?  5. What do they desire?  6. What is holding them back?  7. Where can we find them?  8. What will solve their problem?  9. What do you think the offer should be? 10. Who can I close NOW? They have to, they need to. The vision will take shape when you start solving customer problems. → There is more clarity. → There is more direction. → There is more urgency. If you know anyone who fits this profile. Tell them this: Stop overthinking, Stop over productizing, Call customers, Call prospects, and start hustling. Or you could send them to me. PS. I'll give them a 1-hour kick-in-the-ass strategy session for FREE.

Is your startup idea any good? As you visualize your future business Perhaps you're imagining your new office space In that high-rise tower overlooking downtown A sure sign of success Who doesn't, right? However, as a first time entrepreneur It's actually a lot better to start small and learn the ropes And know that many small businesses Can grow to provide an income far in excess of most jobs But you have to bootstrap as most of these businesses Don't have the big markets that interest VC firms And in 5-10 years, you can potentially have a profitable exit That is, if you know how to increase the value of your business But first, you need a way to compare different ideas Here's how Make a table with the following: 1. Sales - Estimate of how much you can sell/month 2. Profit - What's left to take home after all expenses are accounted for 3. Time to Market - how long will it take to get your product or service to market 4. Passion - Is this something of interest for you to be willing to put in the needed effort 5. Expertise - Do you have the expertise needed or will you need to hire or learn And then score each item on a 5 point scale Remember the values you assign are relative to each idea And that this is all fairly subjective Based on your viewpoint In order to compare sales and profit You may need to estimate sales/profit for each idea Put some effort into this so you are directionally correct Passion, in my view, is a double edged sword The thinking is that the best business is one Where passion and market demand intersect However, the danger is that you will end up Pursuing a hobby under the guise of a business Yes, sometimes hobbies pan out But tread wisely, nevertheless Using the scoring in your table You should be able to hone into your top idea That gives you the best chance for success And grow to have that beautiful office in the sky Good luck! That's it for this post Follow me for more tips like this one And share your story in the comments below I hope you will like and reshare, if you found the post useful I help startups founders, sales professionals and business leaders win $M deals & build deep customer relationships

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 📈 The article "How Macromoves Allow You to Win When Launching Your Business" on Entrepreneur explores the concept of macromoves and how they can be strategically leveraged to achieve success when starting a new business. By understanding and implementing these essential macromoves, aspiring entrepreneurs can gain a competitive advantage and set their ventures on a path to success. Here are some key points from the article: 🎯 Defining Macromoves: Explain the concept of macromoves as large-scale strategic actions or decisions that significantly impact a business's trajectory, encompassing factors like market positioning, product differentiation, and resource allocation. 🎯 Identifying Market Opportunities: Teach how to identify and analyze market opportunities by conducting thorough market research, understanding consumer needs, and identifying gaps in the market that the business can address with its offerings. 🎯 Strategic Resource Allocation: Discuss the importance of strategic resource allocation, allocating time, finances, and manpower wisely to support macromoves and drive the business's growth in its early stages. 🎯 Effective Execution and Adaptability: Emphasize the significance of the effective execution of macromoves and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions. Encourage entrepreneurs to be flexible and responsive, making adjustments to their strategies as needed to stay competitive and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Read the rest of the article from Entrepreneur Media, written by Nancy Solari to know more! (ctto) Share your thoughts in the COMMENTS below. ⬇️ #entrepreneurship #startups #innovation #smallbusiness #business #strategy

The ONE reason 97% of entrepreneurs will never reach 7 figures. They focus on growth. But don't know how to scale. What's the difference? Growth = revenue growth (while increasing expenses) Scaling = exponential growth (at minimal additional cost per unit sold) Let's dive in: There are 3 phases to a business: Phase 1: Prove demand This phase is all about experimentation and finding the right market and product fit. Phase 2: Grow Focus here is on ramping up revenue, building systems and a team. Phase 3: Scale The goal shifts to achieving exponential growth. → In order to grow, you need to spend more. → In order to scale, you need to create leverage. But how? Leverage. -Labor leverage is hiring a team. -Time leverage is automation and systems. -Digital leverage is code or digital products. Once you decide to scale, the sky is the limit. It's a simple shift in strategy. That's all. P.S. What's your favorite part about being an entrepreneur? Share in comments. #entrepreneurship #mindpower #startuplife #successstory #personalbrand

There's one crucial step in starting a business that's often overlooked. Forget about the product for a moment; focus on this instead! Most entrepreneurs dive right into the what and the how of their product. It's a natural first step—what will I sell? How does it work? Why is it better than what’s out there? Important questions, indeed, but perhaps they shouldn't be the first. The real starting line? Understanding your market. Why does this matter so profoundly? Because it shapes not just your product, but the future trajectory of your entire business. It’s about connecting on a deeper level with those you serve. This isn’t about selling a product; it’s about fulfilling a need, and solving a real problem. So far in my journey, I’ve discovered that: 1. Knowing the Market is Key: Before you sketch your first product design, you need to understand who will use it and why. This knowledge is what will set you apart from the crowd. 2. Feedback is Golden: Every piece of customer feedback is like gold dust. It’s these insights that allow us to refine, adapt, and ultimately succeed. 3. Adaptability Leads to Success: The willingness to pivot and adapt based on market understanding has been instrumental in my ventures. It's what turns potential flops into runaway successes. And perhaps most importantly… 4. This Knowledge Shapes Legacies: I want future generations of entrepreneurs to learn from the paths we forge now. It’s about leaving a mark that goes beyond profits—a mark of innovation and understanding. Thank you for being part of this narrative. Your engagement and feedback help us all grow together. 🌍 Where are you joining from, and what's the biggest market understanding challenge you've faced? Let’s connect and learn from each other’s experiences!