Lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership and what it's like working for an entrepreneur.

1. Entrepreneurship and Virtual Agency Life.
Startup Lessons Learned, Leadership and Inspiration
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA
{
Kate Finley, @KateUpdates
Belle Communications
Kate@ThinkBelle.com

2. About Me ...
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

3. Belle Communications

6. 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
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

7. Chicken Sandwiches and
‘The Devil Wears Prada’
{
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

8. @KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

9. 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.
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

10. I want to start an agency
one day because …
{
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

11. 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.
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

12. Consulting, Starting and Agency or the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Ready. Set … Jump?
{
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

13. @KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
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Consultant or Agency?
• Team component
• Expenses (virtual agency benefit)
• Responsibility and delegation
• Credibility
• Defining your ‘All’

14. @KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA
Virtual Agency Life
• Flexibility and freedom
• Entrepreneurial
• Creative team dynamic
• Always ‘on’
• Discipline + routine

15. @KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA
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

16. Finding a mentor and avoiding the question they never want to hear:
Can I ‘pick your brain’?
{
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

17. 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
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

18. How to know when it’s time to ‘plunge’ into consulting or agency ownership:
When will I be ready?
{
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

19. @KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

20. 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?
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

21. 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.
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

22. 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
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

23. 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
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA
Dont panic.

24. 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.
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA

25. Thank you!
Follow our team at facebook.com/BelleCommunications or connect at LinkedIn.com/in/KateFinley.
{
Kate Finley, @KateUpdates
Belle Communications
Kate@ThinkBelle.com
@KateUpdates
@thinkbellecom
#OSUPRSSA