From Employment to Librarian of Fortune

Mary Ellen Bates

BatesInfo.comConference for Entrepreneurial

Librarians10 March 2011

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Jessica Hagy is very funny. See thisisindexed.com for these and other fun graphics.

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The Thrills and Chills of Entrepreneurship

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The Thrills

The Chills

Flexible schedule Work from home Your clients love

you You love your boss

24/7 schedule Live in your office You have to find

clients You make all the

decisions

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The Thrills

You can try anything

You can turn down work

Can be lucrative Pride of ownership

You only have X hrs/yr

You have to find the work

Ca$h flow Life-long marketing

The Chills

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Skill sets of info-entrepreneurs

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Skill sets of info-entrepreneurs

professionalbusiness

entrepreneurial

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Entrepreneurial skills

• Tolerance for risk and ambiguity• 100% client-focused

Constantly learning what your clients want now

• Move out of employee mind-set 100% responsibility for all aspects

of your business

Entrepreneurial skills

• Strategic perspective• Self-discipline, self-confidence• Self-starting

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Business skills

• Be able to: View yourself as a business Close a sale Talk about money Say "no"(You can learn these skills!)

Business skills

• Think five years out Is your business name timeless? Are you taking short-cuts? Do you look like a start-up?

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Professional expertise

• Research or other service skills• Network of colleagues• Investing in prof development• ID opportunities to add value

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Things I wish I'd known...

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Learn to love uncertainty

• Embrace ambiguity

• 100% client-focused means open to anything

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Self-management

• Time management Just 1,000 billable hours/year Procrastination management

• Budget management NEVER exceed a budget Perfection is the enemy of good

(enough)

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Cash flow

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Cash flow insights

• Have 6 months' living expenses• Don't fund operations w/ credit• Learn to talk w/ clients about $$

$• Set your rates as someone in

business, not just starting a business

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Employee or independent?

• Are you still marketing yourself?

• Are you working for multiple clients?

• Do you control your work flow, schedule?

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Form an advisory board

• A board of mentors: who you respect who understand professional

service companies for feedback, insight & advice

Marketing plan

• Tangible goals• Simultaneous marketing efforts• Evaluate monthly• Try Test each approach 100% or

not at all

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I marketing..... NOT!I marketing..... NOT!

Friends Don't Let Friends Cold-Call

Why I don't believe in cold-calling for info-entrepreneurs

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Marketing for introverts

• Work the social media• Write a blog• Write an e-newsletter• Stay in touch

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Be creative...

• Find obscure holiday• Snail mail cards to all clients

International Respect for Chickens Day

Queen's Birthday Groundhog's Day Shameless Promotion Month

• Speak in front of your clients• Volunteer with your clients'

assn Member-facing job!

• See yourself as a brand Mary Ellen Bates ™

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Marketing for introverts

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The Imposter Syndrome

If they only knew how ___ I am...Once they find out I don't know

this...99 compliments, and all I hear is

the 1 criticism

De-fusing the Imposter Syndrome

• Take feedback gently• Look at yourself as a third-party• Learn self-appreciation• Let go of knowing it all

• Fake it 'til you make it!

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BatesInfo.com/book

BatesInfo.com/coaching

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Mary Ellen can be reached at303.772.7095 ormbates@BatesInfo.comwww.BatesInfo.comBlog: Librarian of Fortune.com See BatesInfo.com/tips for free

monthly e-newsletter

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