Always set aside time each week to focus on networking and new business. It’s hard to fit it in sometimes when you’re busy, but you may not be busy in three weeks if you don’t invest your time now!
Anita’s background includes marketing management, content strategy, copy development, and project management. She also has more hands-on experience than you can shake a stick at. But please don’t shake a stick at her.
Where did the idea for VerbStudios come from?
I liked the idea of VerbStudios because it really gives a good feeling of the movement of words—and how words can move people!
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My core business hours at 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday. I really believe in the power of life balance to make me the most creative and productive. I usually start my day with a long power walk and some yoga—that gives me the best possible mindset for the work ahead. After taking a sweep through my email to catch any “pants-on-fire” urgencies and take care of them, I settle in for an afternoon or writing, editing, project management, checking in with my writing team (they’re AMAZING!) new-business development, and time with my pro bono nonprofit work.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I think you just really have to relax and let every idea come to you, whether it’s inside or outside the box. Look for alternative approaches to traditional business problems. Get REALLY out there with your thinking, and when you find an interesting concept, customize it for your client. The only bad ideas are NO ideas!
What’s one trend that excites you?
Blockchain technology! Right now we’re working with a lot of blockchain startups that are getting ready to launch ICOs (initial coin offerings) and token sales—they need innovative investor-facing content that will help VC firms and other potential investors understand (and get excited about) their vision. Blockchain is SO much more than Bitcoin—everyone should take a look at how this tech is going to transform nearly every vertical industry!
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
It sounds really old-skool, but I REALLY love to make lists! Every day I start out with one, and try hard to stay focused on working through it. Anything that doesn’t get completed, just pops up to the top of the list for the following day!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Besides “Don’t date Gordon?” ???? I think that I’d caution myself to not try to be everything to everybody: Be yourself and find a niche, dive deep, and find your tribe—the success will come from that foundation!
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That you can’t find viable projects at a competitive rate on sites like Upwork. In the blockchain niche particularly, a lot of startups simply don’t know where to turn when looking for an ICO whitepaper writer—those CEOs are pulled in so many directions at once; it’s crazy! If they haven’t found us on icowhitepaperwriters.com, we sometimes have to go introduce ourselves in the places they go to look for help!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Always set aside time each week to focus on networking and new business. It’s hard to fit it in sometimes when you’re busy, but you may not be busy in three weeks if you don’t invest your time now!
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Know everyone—and know everyone who knows everyone. You never know who will connect you to your next project or lead. I’m not necessarily advocating that you connect with everyone who approaches you on LinkedIn, but staying in touch with the core folks who have known and worked with you in years past almost always pays off at some point!
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
When I first started my business, it was just me, the freelancer. I never really envisioned a time when I might need to scale and adapt my business model to be competitive when larger opportunities came along.
To help clients and potential clients think about my offering a little differently, I ended up re-branding to VerbStudios and changing the language I used to describe my company from “me” to “we.”
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Three words: Vegan fast food. It’s starting to be an option in more and more larger communities, but it would be great if someone could harness the potential there and really scale it across the US.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
That would probably be the deposit I put down for my most recent tattoo. It’s still in the process of getting completed, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I finally got around to prioritizing it!
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Google—email, docs, sheets, search, and more! As a former Microsoft employee, it took me a while to succumb to the goodness and flexibility of Google, but now I use so many of Google’s products on a daily basis that I don’t think I could get along without them!
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“Badass Your Brand,” by Pia Silva (piasilva.com). Gives entrepreneurs a fresh take on how to position your offering for maximum impact and success.
What is your favorite quote?
“No comment.” (Wise words from just about any luminary or genius you can think of. Sometimes it’s better to say nothing, rather than issue an off-the-cuff, knee-jerk statement. Breathe, think, THEN respond!)
Key learnings:
• Get organized – but stay flexible. Know what you need to accomplish each day—but don’t freak out or beat yourself up if you don’t get it all done!
• Networking is essential when you’re an entrepreneur – you never know where your next business victory will come from!
• Don’t forget to live your life – If you’re not personally nourished, there’s no way you can nourish a business!
Connect:
verbstudios.net
VerbStudios on Twitter: twitter.com/verbseattle
VerbStudios blog:
VerbStudios on Facebook: facebook.com/verbstudios
VerbStudios on Linkedin:
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.