@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Plan to be solo and not go back to traditional corporate America and mutual decision making” @leedrozak
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Company of One” recommended book by panelists
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “I’m completely happy by myself. I have a business coach.” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 How do you think through the thinking of staying solo?
“I don’t think about it. Being solo doesn’t mean you don’t have people who don’t help you. I don’t want to have other people relying on me for their livelihood.” @TaraClaeys
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Wish that I learned to play the piano or guitar when I was younger. Want to be able to jump on stage at a moments notice. WordCamp karaoke moment.” @TaraClaeys
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “My personality gets in the way with my own success. Battle with introvert/extrovert dilemma. If @aaronjorbin didn’t make me talk at WordCamp New York it would change me entire career” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Fail faster, cut ties with things that don’t work or make them better. Get to the next point. Not everything works out the way we want it to.” @leedrozak
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 What do you wish you could tell your past self?
“I had to make those mistakes and its ok. They brought me to where I am today. Start my own business sooner” @JosephHHoward
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Kept trying to appease a client who was taking advantage. Called person who referred them and told them in an honest conversation to work out differences” @leedrozak
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Was too positive when times weren’t as positive. Having my teams back is being honest and helping them be their best selves” @JosephHHoward
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Email is a todo list that anyone can control out of order.” @JosephHHoward
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 boomeranggmail.com/ is something used by all of the panelists. Can pause email from coming in unless during certain hours.
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Look for red flags (personality, language) and trust your gut when taking on new clients. If it takes me more than 30 minutes to write an email than I stop and call them. Email is wonderful and terrible at the same time.” @TaraClaeys
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “While in labor I called a client to tell him I was having a baby because he didn’t know. Being honest and being human resulted in only 1 lost client. Hiding behind pleasantries would make me appear less reliable.” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 Tell us about a difficult challenge that became a teachable moment:
“Was easy to work all the time before having a child. Radical transparency helps for difficult unplanned circumstances.” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “No kids here. I also love to wake up, start working, and plow into what I love to do. I work when work needs to get done. I feel like every day is like Saturday. My business is my hobby. It’s perfect for this time in my life.” @JosephHHoward
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Felt guilty when teenagers would always see me working or on my laptop. Then I got over it. Because it is something I love to do. When I want to stop, I do.” @TaraClaeys
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Part of it is training clients. My clients know not to call me unless it is an emergency. And if they call me and its not I get mad at them.” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “Morning is for organizing things and learning new things. Occasionally I work late at night if it is crunch time.” @bethsoderberg
@WordCampLanc @bethsoderberg @JosephHHoward @leedrozak @TaraClaeys @charlie3 “I make it look like I work normal hours but don’t. I make sure my small baby doesn’t see me with my laptop. When the baby sitters are there it is go time.” @bethsoderberg