5 Secrets I Used to Build a Six-Figure Biz with Fewer than 300 on My Email List
“A lot of things that are considered industry standards, like having a large email list, a big audience, and a broad reach - none of that is really necessary in order to be successful in business.”
Janelle Lara
I am going to share with you the secrets I’ve used to build a six-figure company within the first twelve months of my business with a super small audience.
I currently have only 250 on my email list and around 270 in my Facebook group. A small but mighty community!
A lot of advice floating around the internet says you have to have certain elements to run a successful business. The truth is, every business is different! I’m going to share what worked for me and my business! How these five secrets relate to you is completely custom to you, your personality, and your industry.
“What I am here to say, first and foremost, is that there is no one way to build a business. There is no one way that works for every single business every single time.” -Janelle Lara (6:16-6:29)
The 5 Secrets I Used to Build a Six-Figure Biz with a Small Audience
#1 - I hired a good coach.
I realized that there are so many ways you can start a business. I needed someone to say, “Here’s the roadmap for you that will work best for you, your personality, and what you want to do.”
When I started, I had so many beliefs that I didn’t even know I had that were holding me back. Those mindset issues are like mud on our vehicle’s windshield. We need someone to come from the outside and clear our windshields so we can see what is possible. A good coach will do that for us.
Within three weeks of hiring a coach, I had made up the investment. Within twelve months, I am running a six-figure company working just twenty hours a week.
#2 - I committed to radical authenticity and integrity.
It is important to me that I show up as my true self in my business and that I have an authentic relationship with my audience. I have intentionally created a high touchpoint experience for them because I truly care about them and their businesses.
A lot of people say that you need a huge audience, a huge mailing list, and a huge reach, which is breadth. I disagree. I think you need depth. It is more important to me that I have a deep and authentic relationship with my audience than a large reach that is only a surface level relationship. Going deep rather than broad is how I’ve been able to build a successful business with such a small audience.
#3 - I take radical responsibility for everything that happens in my business.
Every single thing that happens in my business is my responsibility. The buck stops here. I believe that taking responsibility for the results and not blaming things like algorithm or people’s small attention spans is what has enabled me to build a six-figure company.
When things don’t go the way I want them to, I explore what may have been wrong and test out different options that lead to being more successful in the future. When we blame something or someone else for the lack of results in our businesses, we stop the potential for growth in its tracks.
#4 - I laid the foundation for a six-figure company from the beginning by acting like a CEO, specifically regarding my finances.
These are some of the things I invested in right from the beginning to lay the foundation for a six-figure company:
Continual coaching with several different coaches
A lawyer to write an evergreen contract so that me, my business, and my clients would be protected
An accountant to help me form an LLC
A virtual assistant to do the things I can’t or don’t want to do
Systems to make my business run smoothly
That’s what acting like a CEO means.
#5 - I upgraded my environment.
I intentionally placed myself amongst peers who are comfortable and familiar with the level of success I want to attain. I chose those who not only consider a $50k day to be normal but who are able to say, “Yes, I’ve been there and done that.”
“The overarching, most-important theme - I hired experts who have done it before, I showed up, and I trusted the process.”- Janelle Lara (43:57-44:10)
If you are in the process of building a business, my hope is that these five secrets will give you some good insight. But if you are tired of general advice and want a specific game plan, you need a coach. I would be glad to hop on a clarity call with you and help you figure out what your next best step will be.
How to get involved
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For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at The Part-Time CEO® Group, my website, or email me at janelle@janellelara.com.
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