In business, never lose sight of the power of one
Why I'm crawling and walking before I run.
Things have been shakin’ and bakin’ in my portfolio career over the last 8 weeks.
In December I launched my first digital product (an Operating System to help portfolio careerists run their one person business like a well oiled machine) and just a few weeks later, I wrapped up an almost two year project with a big client.
Ahh…that portfolio life: as one revenue stream ends, another begins.
It’s been a hectic time in the most glorious of ways. After years in the startup space and chasing that elusive product-market fit, it’s wild that my Operating System seems to have quickly found it. No one is more surprised than me each time a Stripe notification pops up on my phone, another signal that I’m finding my way.
For the first time I see a pathway to scaling one arm of my portfolio, and my efficiency-addicted brain immediately wants to jump into growth mode. To automate communications, chat-bot my customer service and bring someone onboard to help manage feedback, questions and testimonials. I’m tempted to abandon my high touch customer service model and sprint ahead, so I can focus on the next 100, 1000 and 10,000.
But that would be a dumb business decision and today is not the day to screw it all up!
You see, in my humble opinion the foundation of any good business - whether it’s a solo operation, high growth startup or corporate behemoth - starts and ends with one.
One conversation. One insight. One customer. One client. One purchase. One dollar. One lead. One positive review. One subscription. One recommendation. One referral. One thank you note.
One is the most important number of all. It’s the origin. The starting point. The block upon which everything else is built and the vehicle allowing long term success to take root.
One conversation generates an insight that leads to 10 new customers. A single raving fan spreads the word to 100. One dollar is proof you can make many more.
First one, then 100, then 1000, then the world.
🎙️ How I’m keeping the principle of one front of mind even as things are heating up:
Why I think the principle of one is SO important if you’re building a portfolio career, business, personal brand or community
How the principle of one manifests when you’re in year 1 vs. year 5
How to get your first 1, 10, 100 raving fans
Why you need to do the unscalable before you can scale
Time and money aren’t my most valuable assets right now, information is
🫶🏼 When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help:
The Portfolio Career Operating System: learn and implement the exact system I use to run my multi-six-figure portfolio of work across startup consulting and advisory, mentoring, writing, speaking gigs and digital products.
Portfolio Career Mentoring: 1-1 sessions to help you build a career that sits at the intersection of freedom, creative fulfilment, meaning and money.
Shoot me a DM on Insta: I’m here to say hi and answer any and all of your burning Qs.
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…to help you build a financially lucrative and creatively fulfilling portfolio career and life.
This was a great read Anna! I especially enjoyed the chat :)
Your approach to business is so admirable Anna. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing your smarts.