Business Tips From the Trenches
Expert Advice to Start Your Small Business or Side Hustle
Make money faster by minimizing mistakes and reducing your learning curve.
How? Read what 12 Business Owners share via their bite size tips and lessons learned.
This newly released book will be your new best friend!
Book Preface
Let me make a confession. I did not seek to become a business owner, let alone a full-fledged entrepreneur. However, over a three-year period that is exactly what I became. I actually transitioned from being an employee into a business owner involuntarily, suddenly over one weekend. I suffered the unexpected jolt of being laid off from a job I expected to have until retirement. The COVID-19 pandemic changed that. It had a devastating effect on the hospitality industry, especially in Southern California where I live.
One day I’m a happy and successful employee in a job and company I like. And the next day I’m out on the street. Unemployed. My wife is scared to death. And the kids are looking at me wide-eyed, waiting for me to reassure them. Yet, I’m suffering silently, agonizing over how I’m going to support my family and keep our house. But instead of showing that, I’m maintaining a positive façade for my family’s sake.
If I have learned nothing else in life, it’s that some of the best things that can happen to us come on the heels of what we think at the time is bad news or an unlucky break. But much of life is about perspective. At the time, I remember being gripped by the fear of not knowing any of the answers that I felt I needed to know. I do not have a master’s degree in business, nor at the time any experience running a company. But I did have some experience in sales, marketing, and management, that when coupled with my large LinkedIn following of 150,000 followers (at that time), gave me confidence in my own skills. But it was enough to believe that I could make a small business successful if I ran it lean and focused on helping other small business owners increase their visibility on LinkedIn, to help drive their sales. In essence, I launched Bowman Digital Media that weekend after I was laid off, on a shoestring budget (I only had $12,000 total in the bank), and on a prayer. I had faith. Blind as it might have been at the time.-
Looking back, I wish that I had been able to have someone who could tell me how to do it right, and what to avoid. I could have saved a lot of trial and error time. And a lot of money.
This book is what I wish I had in my corner during those early days, when I was establishing my company.
Are you looking to start your own business? Or perhaps you already have started one, but find yourself having growing pains, hesitant about launching new services or products? Or are you a more seasoned business owner who now feels stuck as to how to get to the next level? If you are any of these, no matter how much you have or don’t have in reserves, this book is for you.
It really is the book I wish I had been in possession of when I so circumstantially found myself suddenly thrust into the world of being a start-up business owner. This book is authored by me and a collection of hand-picked business associates. We all are small business owners and entrepreneurs who have been where you now stand. Because of this, we are going to share with you some of our most important tips and lessons learned from our decades of combined business experience. Our purpose: to hopefully help you avoid many of the mistakes we each made on our path to success and greater financial independence.
The goal is simple: we want to help others! Business ownership and entrepreneurship can, and should, be a rewarding and fun experience. We want to help others benefit from the trials, toils, and learned knowledge that we, the authors in this book, have accumulated, so that you can better enjoy your future ride. Think of this book as a crash course in business management, operations, marketing, human resource management, and much more. In each chapter, you’ll find three tips and one significant lesson learned about what each of us wishes we could have done better. These tips and lessons can help you accomplish your goals faster, which will lead to generating more revenue quicker, and making less mistakes along the way.
Too many small businesses fail because the owner either doesn’t get the help they really need, they run out of money because of lack of sales, or they ruin their reputation by biting off more than they can possibly handle at that stage. All of these mistakes can be avoided. And this book aims to help you do just that – avoid the mistakes we made, benefit from what we did right, and overall, remove some of the usual bumps in the road of small business ownership.
Let me start my own tips with the following encouragement and a few thoughts gained from talking with thousands of business owners over the years. First, 1) no one has all the answers, so don’t wait to start a company, launch a new service or product, or grow your company until you have figured it all out. Truth is, you never will have everything figured out. So just start it, and modify and pivot as necessary as you go. 2) That said, do run your business on a solid business plan that has been vetted by someone who knows the industry you are in or going to be getting into. There is great wisdom in listening to others who have gone before you. Ask people for advice, guidance, and even emotional support. Most are willing to give it, if only asked. 3) Know that your closest friends and family might not fully support you in the beginning of your journey as they might need time to adjust to your new reality. But that’s okay. You must have a certain amount of fortitude, inner strength, and plain old faith. Most of all, always keep the faith. 4) Don’t forget to make time for yourself, your family, and some outside hobby or personal passion. If you don’t, you’ll fall apart at the seams much faster than you think possible. In this journey you are on, or about to be on, self-care is of utmost importance. Do not neglect it. Finally, 5) don’t try to do everything yourself. You need to hire and surround yourself with a team as soon as humanly possible. If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go with a team.
I am assuming that you are a relatively smart individual. After all, you were smart enough to pick up this book. Have the faith that you can absorb the many tips and lessons contained in this book; they will make your journey so much easier and more rewarding. We can’t necessarily make the sometimes lonely road ahead filled with late nights any easier. Nor can we keep you completely from making any mistakes, for you will make mistakes because you are only human. But rest assured that no one who wrote in this book will ever judge you for your mistakes. We’ve made them too. And you know what, let me encourage you that mistakes actually help us learn, if only we allow them to.
So, buckle up and keep reading. We have a lot to share with you. I, and all the authors in this book, are excited for you and others as you benefit from our lessons and insights. We all wish we had this book before we started our business ownership journey. Because of that, we are most certain that this book will become a regular reference guide for your future journey. Even after you’ve read it, keep it close at hand, and refer to it often. And at those times you are stuck, come back to this book and look for the chapter that most fits your situation, and re-read that chapter. If you do, you will be generously rewarded. How do I know? Remember, we’ve all been there before. And this book is how we got from there…to here.
One final thought as we begin this journey together…if you have any lingering doubts, I will tell you that I’ve never been happier or had more financial independence than I do right now. Being a business owner has been an incredible journey, yes filled with some struggles and hard times, but also filled with immense joy that is unexplainable and also the pride that comes from seeing my company logo next to a lot of really cool projects over the years. That, never grows old. I can’t wait for you to get that same experience as you continue forward with your new company, or new business expansion, or service or product launch, or just getting to the next level. On behalf of all the authors in this book, I wish you unparalleled success accompanied by much satisfaction and fulfillment. Now, let’s begin…
- Ira Bowman
Owner of Bowman Digital Media
Author Bios
Ira Bowman
Professionally Ira is a marketing and sales expert, photographer, graphics designer, website builder, philanthropy owner, Search Engine Optimization content writer, published author, and TEDx speaker.
Ira Bowman holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University where he graduated with a 3.916 GPA in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Business and Religion. This says a lot about who Ira is, as he has many interests, and he strives to do things with excellence.
Over his 25-year career to date, Ira has worked in the restaurant, e-commerce, print, and marketing industries. The majority of Ira’s career has been spent in a sales role in the print and graphics industry helping small and medium-size businesses gain market share and increase sales. Since June of 2020, with the launch of Ira’s business, Bowman Digital Media, Ira has focused on helping increase visibility for his clients on social media and increasing website traffic. The internet has become the main source of commerce and visibility is important to increase sales.
Joel Phillips
A seasoned entrepreneur, Joel is CEO and Founder of Proshark as well as Founder, CTO and Global Managing Partner of the Strategic Advisor Board. He has extensive experience in leadership, innovation, software development, automation, app development, data sciences, analytics, cybersecurity, and real estate.
He serves on multiple boards and believes the next step in technological evolution brings the convergence of blockchain, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and data sciences.
- Member of Mensa, Bellwether and ACA
- Licensed Real Estate Broker with commercial development experience
- Resume includes 4G Development, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, eAssist Global Solutions, and American Loans
- Volunteer work includes J Ryley Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Planning Commission Chairman
- Hobbies include flying, sailing, golfing, biking, music, and music production
Janet Hogan
Janet proudly calls herself “the guru of what not to do” despite the fact she’s spent 40 years heading up 4 businesses turning over $70 million in industries as diverse as hospitality, advertising, real estate development and even destination wedding management.
If anyone knows what it is to ride the rollercoaster of business triumph and tragedy, it’s this veteran of enterprise from Down Under.
Today she is the very successful and more importantly happy and fulfilled Founder and CEO of The 5th Door, the breakthrough program she created to help established and aspiring business owners cross the threshold of radical self awareness so they can make a living doing what they love, without having to take all the tumbles she took to get there.
Dr. Andrea Renee Rivera
From 1992-2007 Dr. Andrea Renee, DACM, LAc. enjoyed 15 years of international acclaim as the president founder of Andrea Renee, Inc., an innovative Jewelry design and manufacturing house based in SOHO NYC. Her collection was carried in the top global department stores including Barney’s NY & Japan, Daimaru Japan, Fortunoff, Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Nordstrom as well as her own SOHO NYC boutique with celebrity clients including Drew Barrymore, Johnny Depp and Julianne Moore. She enjoyed recognition as one of New York Magazine’s “favorite downtown jewelry designers” and was featured as her company spokesperson in media coverage including NY Times, NY Magazine, In Style, Entertainment Weekly, Seventeen, Elle, Cosmo & Savvy Japan, NY Post, Time Out and Good Day NY.
Since 2007 she has delivered over 9000 coaching treatment sessions as a peak performance healthy lifestyle coach and Acupuncturist. She has been a certified Yoga Instructor/Meditation Teacher teaching exercise therapy since 2007 and a Passion Test for Life and Business Coach since 2011. As an Acupuncturist and licensed primary care physician in CA, she is extensively trained in both Eastern and Western integrative, functional, preventative medicine as well as nutrition, pain management/orthopedics, acupressure massage, energy work, herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Tonia Stoney
Tonia Stoney is an energetic and passionate piano and music theory educator, composer, and mentor, specializing in teaching children at beginner and intermediate levels. With 30 years of experience, she brings an infectious energy to her teaching and has a genuine love for working with kids. Tonia believes that playing the piano is similar to building with Legos, as each note helps to create a musical piece.
In addition to her dedication to music education, Tonia has a remarkable background. She served in the U.S. Army, where she displayed superior leadership during combat operations, earning her the Bronze Star Medal for her exceptional service.
Tonia’s impact and accomplishments have garnered recognition. In 2015, Tonia established Music Is For Me, LLC, which received the Community Service Arts Award and has also been featured in South Carolina Voyager Magazine’s Hidden Gem – Inspiring Stories Series. She has also been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame for receiving the Best Piano Instructor Award for five consecutive years.
With her extensive teaching experience, infectious energy, military service, and composing abilities, Tonia Stoney is a highly regarded figure in the field of piano education and mentoring.
Will Kralovec
Will Kralovec is a social entrepreneur, innovator, and visionary. He pushes perceived limits seeking to make the impossible into the probable. He has three professional priorities that drive his work: people and improving the human condition, creation of the built-environment, and social impact business.
Over nearly 30 years, Will has held leadership positions spanning all three economic sectors (i.e., private sector, government/public sector, and nonprofit sector). His professional experience includes work in real estate development, investment underwriting, finance, economic development, city planning, urban design, affordable housing, community development, and entrepreneurship.
During his career he has helped start and/or grow six early stage companies. Today, Will runs JJK Places, PBC – a social impact real estate development company that uses real estate, space, and the built-environment to increase opportunity, community, wellness, and social equity – especially for historically underserved populations. Structured as a public benefit corporation (PBC) and Certified B Corp, JJK Places is one of the country’s first “Fourth Sector” real estate development companies.
Will holds three master’s degrees: MBA from Cornell University, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and Master of Urban Design, both from the University of Colorado. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Vermont.
Danila Palmieri
Danila brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, manufacturing, mining, and metals companies in Brazil, Latin America, and the United States. He worked with companies such as Experian, Votorantim Metais, and Braskem in Brazil. She has extensive experience implementing projects to evaluate, analyze and improve business strategies. She served as Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager in Brazil. She helped lead M&A processes in Latin America and Brazil, working to integrate the cultures of the acquired companies.
In 2013, she moved to the US and founded Connect Solutions, intending to support Brazilian companies operating in the US. Focused on Strategic Management Planning, Organizational Development, Recruitment & Selection, Employee Relations, Compliance, American Labor Law, and adaptation to the local culture. In Atlanta, she was part of the Brazilian American Chamber of the Southeast USA team for 7 years and Chairman for 1 year. Served for 5 years as a member of the Board of WTC Atlanta.
She holds an MBA in Business Management with an emphasis on human resources from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, São Paulo, Brazil. Financial Management from Emory University, Startup Funding from Cambridge University, Customer Service Experience from George Washington University, and is currently studying the Chief Human Resources Officer Program at the Wharton University of Pennsylvania.
Tia Cristy
I am a Personality and Tips Expert in Health and Beauty through radio, television, and print. I continue learning every day, so I can provide trusted and accurate information to others. I read medical journals for fun. I cheer on others so that people might continue to push themselves to be the best that they can be and inspire me in return.
I have been under the umbrella of writing my entire life. Since the start of my career, specializing in words, I’ve contributed to newsprint, local magazines, web, scripts, copy, and manuscripts. Today, I also help others with their words by ghostwriting and teaching voice. My favorite thing about what I do is making others feel special. I have the unique opportunity to make someone’s day slightly better by what I say. And I take that very seriously.
In 2012, my tips blog site, TipsfromTia.com was launched. Now, with over one million unique visitors and 100k+ subscribers and followers on social media like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, I am grateful to share all of my knowledge on living a better lifestyle.
TipsfromTia.com won Best Blog for Wellness and Beauty- USA for 2020 and 2022. It has also been nominated for a prestigious Webby Award, a Lovie Award, and two UK Blog Awards all in the categories of Best Lifestyle and Best Beauty blog.
I know the importance of being a brand. I want to be known as a trusted resource for my readers and followers. I am honored to be an Alum speaker for the TEDx Women’s Conference and winner of Most Influential Lifestyle Businesswoman 2023.
Tonya Baynes
Tonya Baynes is a dynamic and skilled life coach, workplace coach, facilitator and entrepreneur. With over a decade of coaching experience, she is passionate about guiding individuals towards personal and professional success through targeted coaching and training programs.
Over the years, Tonya has helped individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying stages of life as a life coach. Specializing in values identification, increased self-awareness, and goal setting, she empowers clients to overcome obstacles while growing into their authentic selves. As a workplace coach, Tonya collaborates with organizations to create positive and productive cultures. Her direct work with teams and leadership has consistently augmented employee satisfaction and retention.
Tonya is a skilled, hands-on and engaging facilitator. Through thoughtfully curated workshops, unique events, coaching exercises, and planning sessions, she brings people together to create a shared vision for success.
An entrepreneur, Tonya has launched a coaching company, networking venture and founded a non-profit benefiting African women entrepreneurs. Her leadership, strategic partnerships, and exceptional customer service distinguish her as a respected business leader and a valuable asset to the personal and professional development community.
Dionne Tuplin
Dionne Tuplin, reformed corporate lackey turned anti-latch-key kids advocate, is the founder of M.O.M. Biz Empire. She educates on how by making small, simple changes in your lifestyle and shopping habits you can live a life of wellness without breaking the budget.
Her organization is dedicated to inspiring thousands of Members on a Mission by encouraging others through articles, live streaming and events.
Dionne’s talks are designed to show how to positively use structure, discipline and resistance to instant gratification. Dionne demonstrates how now is the time to teach children to be true to themselves, show empathy for others, and keep family values as the core.
On stage, you’ll feel how Dionne is real, quiet, but with a bold message, teaching audiences practical strategies with immediate and long-term impact.
Dionne has spoken to executives, entrepreneurs, and stay-at-home moms.
Dionne was born in Jamaica, raised in New York, and lives on Prince Edward Island in Canada with her family. She is a graduate of St.John’s University with a B.A. in Sociology.
As a jovial Jamaican, Dionne won’t jerk you around, and she makes the meanest jerk chicken you’ve ever tasted!
Shawn Huber
Shawn Huber is a Certified High Performance Coach with the High Performance Institute and Certified Medical Hypnotherapist. He is the founder of Structured Freedom, a Transformational Coaching company that guides people to connect their mind and body together to become a healthier person.. Shawn believes that by having a plan, people can achieve their goals and dreams, as well as the freedom to live the life that they desire. Shawn has over fifteen years of coaching experience and has worked with a diverse range of clients that all have a common goal of making positive changes to go from “Good to Great”. Remember who is in charge and make it happen.
George Jones
I devote my life to being a father because I grew up without one.
In fact, I grew up without much parental presence in my life. But that’s not to say that there was never an adult who guided me. During my childhood, I crossed paths with a gentleman who irrespective of the difference in the color of our skin, took me under his wings and provided me the care and support I thought I would never get.
The man served as my father. What I didn’t know was it was a hint of a future in fatherhood.
During my early years, my focus was football. My days were filled with trainings, cross-country tours, games, and sports events, and I had thought that that was going to be my whole life. I knew that the NFL was not forever, but at the time I had not imagined otherwise because of roaring cheers and accolades no matter where I went. Life became comfortable, a massive upgrade from a life of scarcity during my early years.
Success in sports brought me a massive level of happiness and satisfaction, but I constantly felt a need for more and that included relationships. I had this longing for love that I could call my own. I didn’t find it in the family that I grew up in, but sometime the universe finds an answer. Because I didn’t find it in my own family and didn’t truly understand the complexity of my own feelings and needs, I had found myself in relationships that were not based in what I was truly seeking-unconditional love.
Tips Covered in Book Include
- Make Personal Development your Friend.
- Being an Introvert Has its Benefits.
- Seize the day AND the week by mastering your calendar.
- Run Your Business Like Your Ministry: Embracing Your True Self in Business.
- From Distraction to Focus: The Power of NOW.
- Invest in Yourself - The Power of Professional Development & Building Intentional Relationships.
- Consistency is key.
- Be selective when building relationships. Ask yourself: Will I still like you in 10 years?
- Learn how to stay up to speed on tech trends
- Focus or Fail
- Trust your gut and vet before you go.
- Believe in Yourself.
- Finding the right team.
- Be yourself.
- If you spend all your time working in your business, you won’t have time to build it.
- Being obscure is bad. You should not ignore marketing and SEO.
- Schedule time for life including time for your family, date your significant other, exercise, sleep and to read.
- Fall in love with automation and outsourcing, it’s a form of business self care.
- Make money first and fast
- Your digital footprint matters more than you know.
- Dream big and keep your feet on the ground.
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