Randi Boyette had what many of us might consider a dream job…working for 13 years at Christian Dior. Imagine company cars, traveling around the world, designer clothes and bags….sounds pretty great right? Randi shared that it was great….but it wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds. Weeks on end of traveling, staying in hotels every night, spending tons of time on airplanes and in airports and not being able to sustain relationships with friends and family…these are just some of the downsides to those “glamorous jobs” that not everyone talks about. After 13 years, Randi decided that she was tired of living out of a suitcase and wanted to make her dreams come true on her own terms. In this episode, Randi and I talk about some really important topics like transitioning into a new field, making the most of your resourcefulness as an entrepreneur and learning how to price yourself when you are first starting your business. Not only does Randi share some fascinating stories, but she also shares actionable techniques that will help grow and scale your business.
Sometimes You Have To Trust Your Gut
You can have the most wonderful job in the world that everything thinks is cool and glamorous and pays well but you stop feeling excited about it…you should know that something is off. Now, let’s be honest, no one is 100% excited about their job 100% of the time. BUT you should still be excited to do the work generally and you shouldn’t be feeling dread when it’s time to go in. Randi knew it was time to leave when she stopped being excited to get on that plane and close the next deal. She started to feel like she wasn’t listening to her authentic self, even though she was at a good job, one that she liked and one that she was successful at. Moral of the story? Don’t let those outside factors quite the voice in your head. Trust your gut when it tells you that it’s time for a change.
Before You Transition, Make A Plan
Once you’ve decided it’s time to make that change, Randi suggests that you always make sure you have a plan before you do. Making a big change in your life and your career can be exciting but if you get caught up in the whirlwind and forget to make a plan for yourself, you’re going to be jumping into the abyss. Before you jump, make an actionable plan for yourself that will propel you forward in what you want to do. For example:1. Start reaching out to clients you think you want to work with2. Research, research, research3. Look for freelancing opportunities with people you’ve worked with before or who are in your industry4. Make sure you have some savings to give you a cushion when you’re first starting out5. Do some more research
The Most Predictable Trait Of A Entrepreneur Is Resourcefulness
When Randi decided to jump into the digital marketing world, it was a field that she was not that familiar with. She had tons of great marketing experience from her previous jobs, but not growing up with all of the emerging technology meant that she was a bit of a loss when it came to the “digital” part. So when she was asked a question by a client or had to answer an email that she didn’t know how to answer, she knew that in the next 24-48 hours she was going to figure it out. That’s when that resourcefulness came into play.
When Do You Draw The Line Between “Fake It Till You Make I”t And “I Just Don’t Do That
” This can be a really hard line to draw. Of course, none of us want to admit we can’t do something. If you’re a resourceful entrepreneur, oftentimes you’ll jump at the chance to figure something out even if you don’t know how to do it yet. Randi suggests taking good look at what you’re being asked to do. is it something that interests you? Is it a feudal you want to get into? If so, go for it! Figure it out and use that resourcefulness to make it happen! If not, know that’s it’s ok to pass and admit that it’s not something that you do. Randi mentions the key is to refer that client to someone who can help them. That way you are still providing some value to them.
How To Price Yourself When You First Get Started
I know, I know. no one likes to talk about money. But at some point, you are going to be asked what you charge for your services. When you’re first starting out, it can be really hard to know if you’re pricing yourself too high or too low. Randi says when she first got started, she knew she was doing work for a lot less than she was worth, however, she knew she had to validate her business by having some work to show in her portfolio. Still, feeling lost? Call your competitors. Not people necessarily in your geographical area, but people in the same industry that you aren’t directly competing with. Ask them about their pricing and use that information to gauge what you feel is fair to charge based on the marketplace.
