by Mike Ososki, PMP
Joe Noonan goes by “Coach Joe.” As Head Coach at Inside EDGE Consulting, Joe leads initiatives aligned with personal and professional growth, consulting to CEOs, sales leadership and entrepreneurs. He recently spoke to us about how Project Managers can start smart when launching a successful independent consulting practice.
Joe offered plenty of sage advice, peppering his talk to highlight specific takeaways and often asked, “Deal?” to help achieve audience buy-in.
Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Owning your own business is not for sissies, and one must constantly be asking, “What are my skills?” Wearing all the hats to start, it’s a far cry from being a specialized cog in a big corporate machine. So before you take this kind of bold career jump, prepare well to reduce risk with a plentiful array of resources ...
SBDC, the Small Business Development Center, with zero cost consulting and an office in every state.
SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, with free mentoring, business planning workshops, and much more.
SBA, the Small Business Association, for bankers and loans, with government backing for 75% of your loan.
To begin, you’ll want to be thinking about foundational elements like business structure, personal brand building and professional image, and how best to define your Unique Value Proposition. As a start point, you can schedule a free 60-minute consult at Inside EDGE, too.
It’s important to be a good storyteller and get uncomfortable in a positive growth-inducing way. Certifications like those offered by PMI and pro coaching can help a lot. Navigating into uncharted territory can be a scary solo venture, so seek continuous feedback from trusted sources.
Google “how to start a business in Georgia,” choose your business name and get the state and local licenses. Your good CPA can help choose the best business types, eg: LLC, S-Corp, Inc., etc.
Joe states that 83% of people start Monday morning without a plan and recommends that for less stress, do a plan. Compose 5-second and 30-second pitches. Focus on your non-beer IPA: Income-Producing Activities. Do you want make $400/hr or $30/hr or zero dollars per hour? Toward optimizing your odds toward success, spend some time to work up your Ideal Client Profiles.
Be proactive vs. reactive. Design and implement good time management—kind of like they did for you in your high school schedule! But for better breathing and balance, plan on 30-60 minutes down time in the morning and afternoon, with nothing scheduled.
You’ve heard it before, and it bears repeating. People don’t forget how you make them feel, so feel good about yourself and share that spirit in all your interactions. Learn more at https://www.inside-edge-inc.com/
