The 3 stages of building your online business that will take you from beginner to pro.
Yes, it’s great to have some boxes ticked and some questions answered when you are looking to start your online business.
But, the truth is you may never feel 100% ready.
Sometimes you need to get out of your head and out of your own way to make significant shifts in your life.
Now, I’m not endorsing being reckless. It’s important that you weigh up the pros and cons of starting your online business.
But, if you’re watching this then chances are...
you either have your own small creative or spiritual business that you would like to grow or
you have dreams of starting your own business.
If that’s the case then you’re in the right place. Today I want to talk about the 3 stages that you may experience as you evolve as an online business owner.
OK, there are 3 stages you might encounter on your business journey. The first is the
The GP
The general practitioner is usually where we start. And no, I don’t mean you need to make an appointment to see your doctor! All will become clear in a sec.
In the beginning, we are passionate about starting a business but... we’re not exactly sure what direction we want to take it.
We’re interested in a particular area.
Let's say, you love to knit...
You’ve been doing it for a while. It's an enjoyable hobby, a way to unwind after work and you think you could turn it into a business.
But, at this stage, you’re not sure if you’re going to knit things to sell on eBay or Etsy...
You’re not sure if you would like to teach other people how to knit using your tips ‘n’ tricks...
There's a lot to consider...
And if you decide to knit gifts, what will you knit? Tea cosies, newborn onesies, cardigans for Nans, high-end throws for boutique shops?
Can you see how it’s very broad at this stage? And that’s the point.
Because when we’re in the GP phase we’re:
experimenting
learning about the industry
Discovering the market
weighing up the logistics of starting a business.
You’re not investing much more than your time at this stage so it’s a great time to discover what lights you up.
Let’s go back to this G.P. reference. So, a GP is a doctor who has an understanding of general health issues.
If you have a headache, sprain your ankle, have a rash on your arm or upset tummy... you might go to your GP because they’ll be qualified enough to help you.
Now, if they think your condition needs further examination then they’ll refer you to a specialist.
Stage 2 is: The Specialist
The specialist is known for a particular thing, skill, talent, gift or craft.
For example, they’re not just an artist...
they are a sculptor
oil painter
photographer
calligrapher
tattoo artist
cartoonist
illustrator
graffiti artist or
graphic designer
They go a step further than the GP because they niche down.
For example, if you have a rash on your arm and you visit your GP. Your GP might look at it and decide you should see a dermatologist... someone who specialises in skin conditions.
Specialists find their zone of genius and hang out there.
They devote their time, energy and efforts to becoming the best they can be at that particular skill.
They do this to such a degree that they become known for this particular talent or gift.
And it’s when other people start to see them in this way that you reach the third and final stage:
The Master
It’s said that once you’ve dedicated 10,000 hours to a particular skill that you can describe yourself as a master.
This is when other people see you as an expert.
By this stage, you’ve acquired recognition and accomplished things in your field.
You’re in a position to teach and lead others. This is when people come to you to learn and study because you can show them how to get similar results.
Now there’s no fast rule on age or the length of time it takes to become a master.
After all, a 10-year-old musical prodigy who has been studying and playing classical piano since the age of 4 will be more than qualified to teach, say someone like me... who can play nothing more than chopsticks.
And this is something that I want you to hear…
Don’t wait for the perfect time to turn your side hustle or passion project into a money-making machine.
There's someone out there waiting for you to be their mentor, leader or source of inspiration.
Now, of course, there’s more to creating a profitable and meaningful online business than working through these stages...
But I wanted you to understand that it’s ok to not have all the answers when you’re starting out.
You can stay in the GP space for a little bit while you get clear on the 5 key questions:
Who you’re in business for
What you will do
Why it matters to you and your customers
How you will show up and serve
When you will take action to make this happen
Now, there’s power in niching down and getting crystal clear on where your zone of genius is.
So, you’ll want to transition into the Specialist space and hang out there as soon as possible.
And then serve and add tons of value as a specialist and eventually, other people will see you as a master.
So, as I said in the beginning, get started!
There's no such thing as the perfect time but... the time is always perfect to do what's right… and if that means starting your own business then this is your time.
I'm currently offering free calls to passionate and creative souls... like you... looking to turn their dream idea into a living breathing online business.
It's your chance to ask me anything and gain clarity around your concept, strategy and goals.
There will be no selling or pressure to commit to anything. It will be 45 mins where you and your business take centre stage.
I’ve done this in the past and spaces fill up really quick. There’s only one of me so there’s a cap on the number of calls I can take.
But if you’re serious and you want to take positive action in direction of your business dreams...
Then hop on a call with me and we’ll make this happen.
The link below will lead the way ~ BOOK A FREE CALL
Love Nat