Don’t be afraid to seek out learning from others.
Bill Michelon is a savvy tech entrepreneur that has been successful in a very competitive landscape. Digital media buying is not for the faint of heart. With billion dollar companies fighting to buy the same placements online, a smart and effective strategy is needed to create a strong sales funnel for a business. This alone can turn the average person into loyal customers that believe in your brand for years to come.
Bill’s experience as a media buyer has led him to gain a significant insight into the highly competitive online advertising space. As a driven and ambitious entrepreneur, Bill Michelon regularly gives back to the community. He is active in mentoring young students entering college as well as new business owners seeking an experienced leader to give practical business advice.
Where did you get the idea to get into media buying?
I’ve always had a strong background in sales. Once the internet grew up and matured, media buying was a natural fit for me. It’s certainly a tough field and that’s another reason why I decided to get into the space: it’s fast paced, competitive and on the rise with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Routines are a great way to start your day productively. I start out every day with repeating a task. Sometimes I’ll actually meditate and other times I’ll do something that requires a different focus, like making coffee by hand.
I prefer using a Chemex to make my morning coffee as opposed to a regular coffee maker. The process of grinding the beans, heating the water and slowly pouring it over the grind is as satisfying as it is necessary to accomplish a task before I start work.
When you win small, you win big!
How do you bring ideas to life?
Notepads and notebooks play a big role in brain storming and coming up with new ideas. I develop a strong plan and then piece together parts of the puzzle on paper before putting it all online and building something.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to cryptocurrency markets right now. 2017 has been a very eventful year for the space.
Cryptocurrency is a trend that’s really thrilling to me too. Little do most people know, it has the power to completely change the way we shop and live as consumers worldwide. A lot of new comers are day trading this market right now, but I think there’s more value in investing for the long term.
Finding and identifying valuable companies through cryptocurrency research on sites like CoinDesk.com is a good way to get started.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Do this: set an alarm to wake up every day at a certain time. I prefer to start my days early before the sun rises. There’s something very rewarding about getting a head start to the day while everyone else is sleeping. It’s a matter of pride for myself in sticking to it during the week.
If I can stay disciplined at something simple as waking up at a time when everyone else wants to relax, I can stay ahead of the game and be more productive throughout the day.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to stick with every idea I have and be sure to see it through, if it works then it works. And if it fails, it gives you insight on how to form your next big idea.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
I’m still a firm believer in working hard and not necessarily smarter. A lot of my peers outsource everything and think that it’s the best way to get things done. For me, it’s not always the case. I love just cranking out some work knowing that I can still get the job done.
I do outsource when it’s needed, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping your skills sharp!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
We tend to neglect our mental wellbeing sometimes. An entrepreneur’s mind is wired to just work, work, work! You can get obsessive about a project and not see the light of day. I wouldn’t have to say it if it weren’t true!
For me, it’s important to take breaks and get a change of scenery every now and then. Sometimes I go for a drive, a walk or a hike when the weather’s nice. You need to give your brain a chance to rest in order to come back with fresh ideas. I encourage everyone to keep their mental health as much of a priority as their business.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
This is more of a mental strategy than anything else, but be confident in your product. When people see your enthusiasm and your faith in your product, you’ll attract talent to your team and grow your business. Always stand behind what you create one hundred percent and then some.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Every entrepreneur fails at some point in their life. Whether that is in leading others or making bad business decisions or simply having the “end goal” not be as successful as you initially planned, the best thing we can do as entrepreneurs is to be tough and learn from it. Seek out a mentor and ask for help from like-minded individuals.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I would suggest everyone seek out a mentor. You can learn a lot from someone in your industry that knows more than you. It may sound like obvious advice, but 90% of business owners have too much pride and want to figure it all out on their own. Don’t be afraid to seek out learning from others.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I recently spent is buying multiple courses on Udemy.com. If there’s a subject matter you’re interested in, check it out. It is by far one of the quickest ways to learn a new language, skillset or satisfy general curiosity of the world. I love learning and I recommend everyone to keep learning.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I find automation and organization software to be extremely useful. It helps me keep track of my own business needs. By keeping goals, tasks, and ideas organized, I get a better picture of where my business is going and where it currently sits. Management tools like Asana are great for getting your business neat and organized.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
One of my favorite books, and a favorite among colleagues of mine, is Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. It was a big hit last year when it was released, but I’ve read it at least once every quarter. Sometimes I just flip to a few of dog eared pages that I’ve found very inspiring.
It’s the story of how Phil Knight built Nike into the global empire it is today. From making the first pair of running shoes in a garage with a waffle iron to the success they now see – it’s the ultimate inspiration story for anyone that’s every started a business. It’s a must read! Pick it up if you haven’t!
What is your favorite quote?
There’s so many to choose from but the one quote that has always stuck with me is from Master Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back – “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
I think that hits home for a lot of people. Either do something or don’t. Just like Phil Knight’s slogan for Nike, “Just Do It”, it’s a reminder to simply be tough and fight through the obstacles we face. I love the mindset of not just attempting things, but setting out a goal to see an idea or challenge through to victory.
Key Learnings:
Don’t set out to attempt, but set out to accomplish.
Start each day with a small win. They become larger victories.
Invest in yourself with education. Explore what excites you.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.