Work In Public & The Most Important Leader [M&M #020]
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Marketing
🧱 Work In Public
I had a really interesting CEO named Jason on my WhichWayNow?! podcast several months back and I asked him this question that'd been burning in my mind…
When building something as an entrepreneur...
Do you advise sharing your process with the world?
Or is it best to keep your cards to your chest until you're ready to launch?
I wanted to come to a calculated conclusion as to whether it's generally better to work and create in public. What I mean by working in public is that you share your ideas, projects, wins, and losses with the world - no hiding the process.
Come to find out...
This is a huge key to unlocking the next chapter of your business.
Especially for new preneurs.
Instead of staying hidden in the basement working away until something is perfectly refined and polished, solopreneurs who work in public create conversations and generate new insights that relate to what they’re building and the people they aim to serve.
These players bring people into the conversation early as opposed to keeping them on the fences until the big reveal.
Think about it.
Keeping everyone guessing as to what you're up to is a wasted opportunity to market and refine your ideas while creating new connections at the same time.
Going the 'quiet' route seems to be motivated by the fear that someone else may steal your ideas or in some cases, you're just not willing to look like anything less than perfect to the outside world.
This is the more self-centered, self-conscious approach between the two.
This is also a huge no-no for new solopreneurs that don't have much of an audience or offering yet.
There were many years in school where I wouldn't raise my hand because I didn't want to look stupid if I gave the wrong answer. Keeping your ideas to yourself is kinda the same thing.
It takes courage to work in public.
Working in public is an ‘others-focused’ approach where you're bringing the world into your process. There's also have massive upside because you’ll recieve a wide spread of feedback that helps you progress the development with confidence.
It’s a true win-win.
Working in public allows others:
To have a say in what the final product becomes
To see what’s on the horizon for your biz
To be a part of the brand’s story (inner-circle + trust)
Working in public affords you:
Honest feedback from customers before launching
An opportunity for good content that helps your marketing efforts
An opportunity to generate hype and anticipation of something new on the way
Higher levels of trust are built with your audience in the process
The chance to learn quicker, while avoiding certain setbacks
An opportunity to build your audience because you’re in front of people
Don’t Hide - Be Seen
Don’t Hoard - Share
Don’t Guess - Ask
Don’t Assume - Verify
#workinpublic
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Also note that working in public can be done gradually.
You don’t have to reveal or share everything obviously.
The more you come out of your shell, the quicker you’ll grow your audience and your bottom line.
This has proven to be successful for many people (myself included).
Start working in public.
Mindset
🦸♂️ The Most Important Leader
Are you a leader? Should you be?
Leadership isn’t just for certain roles on a team.
Leadership is something for all of us to practice.
We all need leaders. We all need to lead.
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As a solopreneur, it’s your duty to lead even moreso than corporate directors, managers, even CEO’s.
In corporate or larger company environments certain people are tasked with the responsibility of managing or leading a team. - Makes sense.
And so it is assumed that those people hired for those roles are the leaders within that group. But wait...
Does this mean that all the othersubordinate positions don’t need to possess the qualities of a leader?
My answer is: No.
They should still be responsible to lead but in a different, likely smaller capacity.
For all of us one-person biz’s out here, this is even more important.
It's your duty to lead:
As a guide for your audience
As an example for anybody counting on your success (i.e kids, family)
As a guide for younger professionals following a similar path to yours
As an advocate for your customers
As a support and encourager of yourself (you are your own cheerleader)
Everyone is counting on you. No pressure lol... 😳
Not many people are consciously looking to you to be their leader, but most, if not all people are ready to embrace you as one if you choose to rise to the occasion.
This is the difference between good and great.
Typical and exceptional.
A short spurt of success and a long lasting impact.
What does it mean to be a leader though?
Well, each situation will require different actions or character qualities to be tapped into.
Leaders are:
Brave not timid
Kind not conniving
Givers not takers
Empathetic not selfish
Honest not manipulative
Meek not weak
Strong not commandeering
The highest warrior is the one with the deadliest sword that never needs to draw it from his sheath. 🗡️
If you want to truly progress to the next chapter in your journey, a large dose of leadership will be required.
No moment is too soon to begin sharpening these abilities.
Think of one tricky situation you’re currently in.
What would a great leader do?
Now do that.
Repeat this exercise over and over in every moment of your coming days and you will begin to chisel out the true leader that already lives within.
Be careful, for the heaviest burdens are placed upon the select few who can bear it.
This is a badge of honor.
Embrace the struggle.
Take pride in the story you begin to write for yourself.
The best view from the mountain is at top. ⛰️
I’ll see you along the way as I continue on my path as well.
Until next time ✌️🙂
- Ev
