Learn Before You Leap: Lessons in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship and Virtual Agency Life. Startup Lessons Learned, Leadership and Inspiration

@KateUpdates @thinkbellecom #OSUPRSSA

{Kate Finley, @KateUpdates Belle Communications [email protected]

About Me ...@KateUpdates @thinkbellecom #OSUPRSSA

Belle Communications

What to Expect ...• My Story + Secrets to Success

• Define Entrepreneurship

• Get a Mentor

• Startup Lessons Learned

• Consulting vs. Agency Ownership vs. Virtual Agency

• How to work for an entrepreneur


Chicken Sandwiches and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’{


Secrets to Success• Go for the title.

• PUSH past your comfort zone in networking.

• Always strive to add value and keep your word

• LOVE Mondays.

• Treat their business like YOUR business.

• Compare and despair.


I want to start an agency one day because …{


Entrepreneurship Is …

“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled.” - Professor Howard Stevenson, Harvard Business School

• Conclusion: Entrepreneurship is a mentality. You don’t have to start a company or launch a product or service to be an entrepreneur.


Consulting, Starting and Agency or the Entrepreneurial Spirit Ready. Set … Jump?{



Consultant or Agency?• Team component

• Expenses (virtual agency benefit)

• Responsibility and delegation

• Credibility

• Defining your ‘All’


Virtual Agency Life• Flexibility and freedom

• Entrepreneurial

• Creative team dynamic

• Always ‘on’

• Discipline + routine


Qualities of a *Successful* Business Owner

• The ability to handle frequent uncertainty

• Flexibility and resilience

• Exceptional interpersonal skills

• Business sense

• Discipline and self-control

• Strength of character

Finding a mentor and avoiding the question they never want to hear: Can I ‘pick your brain’? {


Finding a Mentor• Follow and engage on social media and blogs

• Comment on and share their content

• Study them … what do you like? What would you do differently?

• What do your mentors read, watch, listen to? Explore and learn.

• Send an introduction email

• Paying it forward


How to know when it’s time to ‘plunge’ into consulting or agency ownership: When will I be ready?{


Leadership IQ• Am I better at listening or talking? Listen more.

• Do I regularly set goals for myself that I accomplish without procrastination?

• Am I a person of my word? Do people trust me?

• Do I feel comfortable communicating my ideas and preferences without worrying about what others may think, say or do?

• Do I inspire those around me to be better?

• How well do I handle stress, change and uncertain situations?


Learn before you leap.• Learn how to manage client expectations, gain client trust as a preferred account contact and

answer questions. Stretch Goal: Communicate bad news to a client and present the solution to the problem.

• Learn how prospecting and new business work. Stretch goal: Cultivate a lead and bring in a piece of new business.

• Learn how to manage a team and motivate team members to do their best.Stretch goal: Get involved in the interviewing process and on boarding process for new team members.


Learn before you leap.• Understand how to create a comprehensive PR strategy with measurement and marketing tactic

integration.Stretch Goal: Construct all or part of a PR strategy that includes social media and content.

• Experience a PR crisis and observe how it’s handled by your leadership team, including how each audience is advised (stakeholders, media, customers, community leaders, etc.) Stretch goal: Construct a crisis communication plan.

• Understand how fees are charged and hours are allocated for clients within an agency.Stretch goal: Communicate retainer recommendations and changes


How to Successfully Work for an Entrepreneur• Organize and know your world

• Follow up (aka don’t assume)

• Communicate more than you think you have to

• Value our time

• Answer before you ask

• Make yourself available to help


Dont panic.

Key Takeaways • Are you a leader? Cultivate and grow.

• Find and engage a mentor.

• Learn before you leap.

• Create a game plan based on whether you’re like to be a consultant, own an agency or work for a flexible / virtual agency.


Thank you! Follow our team at facebook.com/BelleCommunications or connect at LinkedIn.com/in/KateFinley.

{Kate Finley, @KateUpdates Belle Communications [email protected]


Learn Before You Leap: Lessons in Entrepreneurship

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