Ever had one of those days where you just want to flip the table, yell “I’m done!” and walk out of your office with a flourish?
Yeah, I’ve been there too. I mean, who hasn’t daydreamed about trading in their “daily grind” for the sweet freedom of entrepreneurship? The coffee breaks are unlimited, the boss is amazing (it’s you!), and there’s no dress code… except for maybe those occasional meetings where pajamas are frowned upon.
So here’s my story. I didn’t always have it all figured out—far from it. Before DigitalAizeMe became my entrepreneurial brainchild, I was busy building my first business, WizKidsClub, which focused on STEM education for kids. This venture was like my entrepreneurial bootcamp; I learned everything from writing books to launching products, managing social media, and scaling a business. It was a wild ride, full of lessons and, yes, a few sleepless nights. But with every challenge, I grew more confident. If I could navigate the crazy world of educational products, surely I could take on anything—right?
Spoiler Alert: I totally could. And I did. And now I’m going to help you do it too—minus the caffeine-induced jitters.
Phase 1: The Big Idea (AKA: What the Heck Am I Doing?)
1. The big Why: Escaping the Corporate Labyrinth I once had a cushy corporate job, and on the surface, it looked pretty sweet. But deep down, I felt like a cat trapped in a room full of rocking chairs—stressed, restless, and desperately trying to avoid disaster. I needed to do something that actually mattered to me and, more importantly, something that didn’t require wearing uncomfortable shoes every day.
2. Planning & Plotting: The Birth of DigitalAizeMe Armed with nothing but Google, an ever-growing list of ideas, and a questionable amount of late-night snacks, I dove into research. Google Trends and Ubersuggest became my new BFFs as I tried to figure out what people actually needed help with. Turns out, digital marketing was my jam!
3. Customer Stalking (in a totally non-creepy way) I spent hours lurking on social media, reading comments, and joining forums. I became a digital Sherlock Holmes, uncovering what people wanted and what they were struggling with. (No pipe or magnifying glass needed.)
4. Idea Validation: Yay or Nay? Instead of diving in head-first like I usually do at buffets, I decided to validate my idea first. I sent out surveys using Google Forms to get feedback. Thankfully, people thought DigitalAizeMe was a good idea—phew!
5. The One-Page Plan: Because I’m Not Writing a Novel Here I used a Business Model Canvas template from Canva to map out my idea. It was like a cheat sheet for my business plan. Finally, everything I’d been juggling in my brain was neatly on one page. No more waking up at 3 a.m. panicking about forgotten details!
Ever heard of Melanie Perkins? She launched Canva after validating her idea with a simple prototype and some feedback from students. Now it’s a billion-dollar company. If she can do it, so can we!
Phase 2: Building & Launching (Where the Magic—and the Chaos—Happens)
1. DigitalAizeMe Goes Live! Creating my website felt like launching a rocket ship. After countless hours wrestling with WordPress, I finally hit “publish.” Boom! DigitalAizeMe was born. I celebrated by dancing around my living room and promptly worrying about all the things I might have done wrong.
2. Branding: More Than Just a Pretty Logo With Canva (my trusty sidekick), I designed a logo and brand identity that screamed, “We’ve got your back!” And maybe a little bit of “We know what we’re doing… mostly.” Brand identity isn’t just about colors and fonts; it’s about telling your story. Mine was: I’m here to help you not freak out about digital marketing.
3. Testing the Waters: MVP Edition Before I threw everything into the mix, I decided to launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This was just a fancy way of saying, “I’m testing this out to see if people like it before I do a victory dance.” I created a freebie digital marketing guide and waited to see if anyone would download it. They did! (Victory dance commenced.)
4. Marketing on a Shoestring Budget I wanted to invest only limited dollars for testing, hence, I turned to free tools like Buffer for social media and Mailchimp for emails. My strategy? Be everywhere, be helpful, and pray the algorithm gods would be kind.
5. Operations & Admin: Keeping the Circus Running For the behind-the-scenes stuff, I used free tools like Google Workspace and Trello to keep things organized. Who knew running a business involved so many spreadsheets and to-do lists? At this point, I was juggling so many tasks, I could probably join Cirque du Soleil.
When Airbnb launched, they started by renting out air mattresses in their apartment during a conference. Talk about an MVP! They tested their idea, and look at them now—a billion-dollar business. Moral of the story: Start small and grow big.
Phase 3: Managing & Scaling (Because Now It’s a Thing!)
1. Managing Like a Pro Wave became my go-to for managing finances. It’s a free tool, and it made me feel like a legit business owner, not just someone who occasionally wore a blazer on Zoom calls.
2. Evaluating: What’s Working, What’s Not Google Analytics was my new obsession. I’d check it daily, analyzing what content resonated and what didn’t. Data never lies, even if sometimes it’s brutally honest.
3. Networking: Making Friends in All the Right Places LinkedIn groups and local meetups were game changers. I connected with other entrepreneurs, swapped war stories, and even got some business leads. Who knew talking to strangers could be so lucrative?
4. Scaling Up: More Services, More Impact I started adding new services based on client feedback. Each new offering was like a new level in a video game—exciting, challenging, and sometimes terrifying. But it was worth it.
5. Continuous Learning: Never Stop, Never Settle I binged free webinars, read books, and took courses. The world of digital marketing changes faster than my son’s moods, and I needed to keep up to stay ahead.
Spanx started with just one product. Founder Sara Blakely expanded slowly, adding new products based on customer needs and feedback. Today, Spanx is a household name. Start with one great thing and build from there!
You Can Too Get Your Dream Business Started!
Ready to turn your “crazy idea” into a profitable reality?
LET ME HELP YOU:
- Leverage your unique strengths (even the ones you think are weird)
- Define your business vision (beyond just making money)
- Take consistent, strategic action (and celebrate every win, no matter how small)
Your dream business is just a few strategic steps away. If I can do it, you can too—no circus skills required! Call me today and let’s get started today and make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.
