A lot of people talk about starting their own businesses but never actually take the plunge.
Bianca Lenz is not one of them.
Lenz, who has an extensive background in health-related marketing, launched her own boutique agency, B. Lenz Marketing, in March 2021. And although she still has a full-time role as a marketing manager for a weight loss company and remains passionate about health and wellness, she knew she wanted to do something more.
“I started my business to help people make their dreams come true in terms of marketing and getting the word out about their businesses,” Lenz said. “I saw it as an opportunity to grow my skill set while helping others in the process.”
Because of her background, Lenz has grown accustomed to being asked for her marketing advice. Over time, though, she began realizing that people valued her opinions and insights and started thinking more seriously about launching her own business. Then the pandemic hit and suddenly, things started falling into place.
“I had more people begin reaching out to me and asking for help because they were starting companies of their own,” she said. “At the same time, while I was stuck in the house, I spent a lot of time figuring out a little more about myself, what I cared about and what filled my cup. And I got to the point where I was ready to combine my passions, put them out into the world and see where they took me.”
Now just over a year into her venture, Lenz has several clients on retainer including attorneys, real estate agents and even dog trainers. Between her full-time job and her agency work, her days are jam packed with activity, but she’s thrilled she made the leap.
“I love being able to do both jobs and challenge myself,” she said. “If it doesn’t work out, then I’ve learned. And if it does work out, then I’m going to keep on learning.”
Lenz’s Best Suggestions
If you’re contemplating starting a business but aren’t sure how to take the first step, here are some of Lenz’s thoughts and suggestions:
- Recognize and value the things that you’re good at: Many of us have a tendency to diminish our skills when we talk about them and therefore, we end up selling ourselves short. “I don’t think enough people pay attention to the things that come naturally to them,” Lenz said. “The things that are easy for you are not always easy for someone else and the things that fill your cup are not always the things that fill someone else’s cup.” Spend some time thinking about the areas in which you excel and take some online assessments if you’re not sure (Lenz recommends the Enneagram personality test). Additionally, reflect on what people often ask your advice about. Is it writing? Finances? Fitness? Armed with this information, you can begin strategizing how to turn your skills into a business opportunity.
- Don’t feel like you have to go it alone: If there’s something that’s not in your wheelhouse and it’s holding you back from moving forward with your business idea, don’t be afraid to consider outsourcing. “If you can focus on what you’re good at and then hire people who are really good at those other things, you’re going to scale your business so much more than you ever could just trying to be a generalist and doing everything on your own,” Lenz said. Not able to bring someone on full-time at the beginning? There are plenty of people out there who will take jobs on a freelance basis – maybe even someone you already know!
- Harness the power of your circle: If you’re still in the early stages of planning your business, don’t hesitate to lean on the people you know for guidance. “I tend to talk all my ideas out loud to see what other people think of them,” Lenz said. “I asked them ‘could this be a business? Could I do this?’ and they responded ‘yes, that totally makes sense.’ Finding that support in my circle was definitely helpful.” But aside from just talking with your close contacts, Lenz advises stepping out of your comfort zone and communicating your ideas to people you don’t know very well. Getting their feedback can be just as valuable and can yield suggestions you may not have come up with on your own. Plus, the more you share what you’re doing, the more potential opportunities can end up coming your way. For Lenz, a simple conversation with a real estate agent revealed that person’s need for help with marketing. That agent is now one of Lenz’s clients.
- Take things slowly: When you’re starting a new business, it can be tempting to dive in headfirst, but that may not be practical, especially if finances are an issue. Lenz has opted to keep her day job as she develops B. Lenz Marketing, which gives her some breathing room. “Having a full-time role and doing this on the side allows for a little bit of testing to happen in the beginning, which can only help down the road,” she said. “Don’t feel like you have to do everything at once.”
- Pay attention to your needs: There are many great things about owning your own business. You don’t have to answer to a boss. You can, in theory, set your own schedule. And you’re probably doing something that you love. However, Lenz said, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why it’s important to check in with yourself regularly to see how you’re handling your stress. “If every single day you feel like you’re drowning, it may be time to scale down a bit,” she said. Should you find yourself in this position, it’s OK to take a step back and reassess. Would you be better off working with a partner? Having one client instead of five? Or should you table your idea for a little while? There are no wrong answers here, but being honest with yourself is critical. “Continue to reflect as you build your business,” Lenz advised. “Because if you lose sight of yourself, your business is not going to do anything well either.”
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