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mike michalowicz

9 Lessons Learned as an Entrepreneur

This blog currently appears on the Redondo Beach Patch:

This is my 10th year running my own company, and in the past decade I have certainly had plenty of opportunities to learn a lesson or two. I have failed plenty, and from failure comes enlightenment.

I have compiled nine of the most important lessons I’ve learned in hopes it will bring hope or comfort to other current and future entrepreneurs out there.

It’s OK to increase fees. Most of us are guilty of charging too little when we first take on a client, and then we feel guilty asking our clients to pay more for our services even after years or working well together. Get over this now.
You are an expert. If you make a living doing what you do, you’re an expert. Clients hire you to fill a critical role for their business based on your expertise. Embrace that role and do it better than anyone else.
It’s okay to disagree with a client; in fact, sometimes it’s critical.

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Yep, There’s a Community for That

In May, I received an email from someone I follow and whom I consider a colleague and my entrepreneur cheerleader.  His name is Mike Michalowicz and he is the author of “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur” – that is how I first came to know him.  His email was asking me to be a part of something big with him; he was in essence assembling a team of freaks to help create buzz to launch his next book.  Freaks?  Buzz? Business Books? This was so me.

I read his first book years ago, loved it, and bought a copy for a friend of mine. I even had the privilege of speaking with Mike on the phone once after reaching out to him  for clarity on one of the book’s exercises.  Seriously, he got right back to me and scheduled a time to talk me through it!  He’s a good egg.

So I signed up to become a Buzz Warrior for his new book “The Pumpkin Plan”.  It seemed easy enough, tweet here, share there, snap a pic or two and share the love.

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