How Facebook Can Change Your Business
Have you ever felt alone in your entrepreneurial endeavors? Are you still searching for a like-minded community or group? Have you wanted to reach out for help but were too nervous to ask?
I get it. I’ve been there too. When I got laid off in 2015 from my in-house design job, I began my lonely journey as a solo-preneur.
2 years and 3 specific Facebook comments later, everything has changed.
Tip #1: Step out of your comfort zone and seek to connect.
After realizing I couldn’t get very far by myself, I nervously reached out in a large entrepreneur Facebook Group to see if there were any local meetups or groups I could attend. It was a big step for me to actually post a comment in a group of 30k members. That one Facebook comment led to me joining an amazing mastermind group which I am still in to this day. No more lone wolf. I now had an accountability group that pushed me to grow and achieve things I never thought were possible. After the first 3 months in that group, I launched my business, Marks and Maker.
Thus began my journey of engaging and commenting on Facebook even when I felt insecure or uncertain.
Tip #2: Ask crazy questions and reach out to those who want to know more.
The next life changing comment brought me to meet my friend, web designer, and business partner at my side gig, Pre-lance. I hesitantly posted a question about an unorthodox pricing method (again, in a group of 30k members) and was met with opposition, minus Susana, who inquired for more information. After exchanging a few emails and hitting it off, learning that we attended the same college AND she lived in my husband’s small hometown, we figured out a way to work together and have been collaborating ever since.
Tip #3: Find a virtual mentor and never stop learning.
Engaging on Facebook has brought me not only my mastermind group, a business partner but also my dream mentor.
I had been wanting a mentor but I was not sure where to look. After coming across extremely valuable content by Chris Do from The Futur on business and design, I felt I had met my virtual mentor. He is an amazing designer, has run his agency for 22 years, and wants to help as many people as possible. When I saw he was sharing helpful business guidance as well as design education I had missed from not attending my dream art school, I was hooked.
I started binge watching his YouTube videos and doing the design assignments he posted on his Facebook page. I spent hours soaking up the lessons and working on as many of the design exercises as I could. There were so many things he was sharing which I had never learned.
Since I slowly gained the courage to participate and engage on Facebook over the past few years, I posted my work along with the other designers as I finished the exercises. I used to keep my work to myself but this time I really wanted to learn, refine my skills, and get feedback. I spent hours following each step he listed and made sure my presentation and sketches were as good as I possibly could get them. Instead of just skimming the information or assignments, I completely immersed myself in them. Over the course of a few weeks I slowly completed each exercise and had to spend a few minutes scrolling down the Facebook page to find the original post so I could comment with my work (wish I would have used the “save post” option, whoops!).
To my surprise, Chris reached out to me.
Chris Do.
Reached out.
To Skype.
ME.
WHAT?!
It felt like the massively more intimidating Joanna Gaines of graphic design was calling.
In case you haven’t heard of Chris, he’s a pretty big deal in the design world. Many of us designers and business owners respect and look up to him.
So when Chris Do calls, you answer.
Nervously tripping over my words, I answered that first call.
That one call led to a few more, which led to this (first of many) on-camera coaching session.
Never in a million years did I think I would be where I am today. I went from a shy, lonely, and insecure solo-preneur to making strides in my business along side of amazing friends and my all-time dream mentor, and you can too.
Whether you’re a designer or running your own business in a different industry, Chris’ wisdom and advice are applicable. Follow along with me in my journey. Apply what you learn to your own business. Share your progress. Let’s not go at this alone any longer. Let’s grow together.
Click on the image below to see the series:
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