Advice I Would Give My Younger Self

Growing a business has to be one of the most intense personal development journeys possible.

It’s a boot camp of lessons to rival elite sports or military training

It tests emotional resilience, humility, realism, creative problem solving, human insight and empathy, boundaries, assertiveness, discipline, organization, reading others’ [and avoiding] bull****, and just developing plain grit.

Here is a list of things I have learned recently that wish my younger self knew:

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥.

I was someone that wanted [and needed] people to tell me I was on the right track.

To encourage me and affirm my decisions.

I needed parents and teachers to tell me well done and to encourage me if I faltered.

I was also very dreamy and had lofty, unrealistic ambitions.

When people laughed at my dreams I halted progress.

When people urged me to take a break and not try too hard or stress myself out, I withdrew slightly.

Or if they simply told me a matter of factly I was okay but not great at what I was doing.

I’d get crushed and shut down.

What I wish I could tell my younger self is to go forward and try out creative and entrepreneurial endeavors even if you’re terrible at them to start with.

Because what I learned by trying would be SO TRANSFORMATIVE to who I was.

I want to tell my younger self that you will always have those who doubt you, question your plans, and urge you to settle down and not try too much.

Do it anyway.

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Related to the first point, I was someone who saw achievement as granted to me through various gateways such as being accepted into a course or program.

Or being invited to step up to a level of leadership or be included in the inner circle of the elite.

If I didn’t get into the course the first time I saw it as a sign it was not for me.

If I was not included in the circle of the elite it was the confirmation I was not worthy.

What I want to tell my younger self is these pathways are only some of the pathways possible.

You can try again later.

Or not even try that path again. The world is wide and mysterious and there are many roads that lead to Rome if you want to get there.

It’s the ones who passionately DO THE WORK and don’t give up who emerge victorious.

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩

I wanted mentors, guides, peers or collaborators to help me navigate my journey forward.

If there was no one in my small circle who was remotely interested in my dreams, I took it as confirmation that my dreams were invalid.

We all need help but it’s a mistake to WAIT for help.

I want to tell my younger self to keep looking for help, keep reaching out relentlessly for the help I needed.

Move cities, states and countries to get in the way of people doing what I wanted to do and who would willingly show me the way.

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞.

It’s a trap to think “I’m too young” - I need to finish school, finish college or university, get the relationship, get married, have kids, buy the house, save money or be financially independent……..before I start.

It’s a mistake to wait to arrive - whatever the benchmark of arrival is.

If you’re just starting out, embrace the status of beginner.

Follow those who are just ahead and help those who are just behind.

Get going and build the discipline, resilience, humility, realism, creative problem solving, and every other thing that will be required in the journey ahead.

Learn to handle disapproval, criticism, rejection, disappointments, failures.

How many “overnight successes” have been 10 years in the making.

Start now.

Don’t give up.

Don’t wait.

Advice I Would Give My Younger Self

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook!

Gary V has a book titled “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook”

The premise of which is to give your audience and community so much value, that when you ask for a sale, people will actually feel guilty for not supporting you, because you've helped them so much.

That's what the title means – give, give, give, and then ask.

Jabs are the value you provide your customers with: the content you put out, the good things you do to convey your appreciation.

And the right hook is the ask: it’s when you go in for the sale, ask for a like or subscribe, ask for a donation.

Putting out great content, whatever your jab is, doesn't entitle you to land the right hook.

It just allows you to have the audacity to ask.

The key to being a strong entrepreneur or executive is to understand that patience is extremely important.

Sometimes the right hook doesn’t land,

Don’t jab for three months and panic.

To land the right hook, you need to understand your audience really well.

And that’s what jabs are for; for getting the information you need to understand your consumer.

Sharing content and providing value helps you explore the pain points of your target audience which in turn sharpens your messaging, targeting and ultimately your solution [which is worth a lot of money]

Don’t be afraid of giving away free value to your audience because of the principle of jab, jab, jab, right hook.

Your audience will need your complete solution and the accountability and guidance that you provide delivering it.

Moreover, by offering so much free value you have earned the right to give the right hook.

If you’ve provided value, given them great content, done everything you can to make the journey as smooth as possible, I can promise you you have that much better of a chance of making the sale and getting that customer.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook | Jen Bishop consulting best lead generation agency

Want To Hire A Team? Let Us Do It For You

If you are busy generating leads for your consulting business using LinkedIn and cold email you will quickly learn ..... it's time-consuming.

There is prospect research, list building, email validation, adding contacts on LinkedIn, sending messages, replying to messages, and following up with prospects.

Not to mention testing different messages to different decision makers to get the best results.

It's natural to think of adding team members who can handle these tasks - whether it's a marketing or sales representative or a virtual assistant.

Growing your team can massively save you time as the CEO and founder to outsource repetitive work to an assistant

However, hiring a team member is no mean feat.

How do you know who is a quality candidate?

How do you manage a team remotely if they are virtually working?

What if you train and invest in them and they leave, then you have to start again from scratch?

What if they just drain your time with questions or deliver work that is sub-par?

Because of these challenges facing consultants and B2B agencies, we have launched a done-for-you service where WE MANAGE YOUR outreach for you.

We have qualified team members who can deliver very specific tasks such as B2B prospect research, data validation, and campaign preparation,

We have standard operating procedures [SOPs] which enable them to send and reply to emails and LinkedIn messages, booking calls in your diary each week.

As part of our service, we handle everything about your campaigns up until a booked call.

We provide tracking, reports, and KPIs

We work with you on campaign strategy, scripts, and targets so you can have full visibility of the campaign progress

It also allows you to be fully hands-free and focus on handling clients, taking sales calls, and growing your business.

If you are interested in a fully done-for-you service for B2B cold outreach using LinkedIn and cold email then DM me below and we can have a conversation.

Want To Hire A Team? Let Us Do It For You | Jen Bishop consulting and marketing strategy social media London UK