Employee to Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Identity and Your Role
Authentic role models
Keep expanding your support circle to include advanced and experienced business owners so you will be challenged to grow.
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur who is looking to transform your identity and take your business to the next level? My client, Jancina Dyer is the founder, owner, and CEO of the Colorado Lash Company built a successful side hustle business as a lash technician while working as an ophthalmic technician. She had so many creative ideas and wanted to implement them, but was frustrated by being labeled “just an assistant” by her bosses and “too ambitious” by her colleagues. In order to fulfill her creative vision and step into her full potential, we mapped out a roadmap to the business of her dreams and transformed her identity in the process. In this blog post, I'll outline how I partnered with Jancina Dyer as a business strategist and coach and share the 10-step action plan so you can do the same.
Jancina Dyer always felt like a misfit and an outlier, because instead of just doing her job and calling it a day, she was driven by passion and purpose and dreamed of more. She is the founder, owner, and CEO of the Colorado Lash Company, and after a career as an ophthalmic tech, she is now fulfilling her purpose as a leader in the beauty industry. With her commitment to safety and innovative ideas, Jan has developed a unique approach to her business, challenging the status quo while excelling in her craft.
Jan started her business with a partner because while she saw herself as a visionary,m she did not see herself as an implementor, while her partner was one. After dissolving the partnership, Jan felt stuck as a solo practitioner with a big vision she had no idea how to execute. Jan also faced the challenge of being an older entrepreneur in a field dominated by younger women. She initially felt limited by her age but was able to face these limiting beliefs and use them as motivation to continue to grow her business. In order to achieve her vision, Jan worked with me for several months and together we created a roadmap and strategy for her business. We identified her service, education, and product pillars, and focused on taking strategic action to develop them one at a time. Jan was also able to make the identity transformation from employee to entrepreneur and understand the importance of this shift.
So why do we need to transform our identity while transforming our role? What I have discovered from being self-employed since 2010 and working with dozens of female solopreneurs and business owners is that when you are a star employee, you have mastered the mindset and skillset of being exactly who your employer needs you to be, meaning you are responding to their needs and priorities and conforming to them. Becoming successful as an entrepreneur means conforming to your needs, goals, and priorities which means you are the one who determines them. Taking ultimate ownership and responsibility for your company depends on your ability to do so because as the business owner, you are quite literally where the buck stops. You become the visionary, the risk taker, the strategic planner, the implementer, the chief executive, the financial officer, and the administrator. Most of us do not have strengths and skills in all these areas but often need to wear all these hats if we are self-funded until we have generated the revenue to hire those who have these abilities.
If you are on the path of transforming your identity and role from employee to entrepreneur, there are several factors to keep in mind:
Identify your vision and goals.
Develop a strategic plan to reach your goals.
Address mindset blocks or limiting beliefs that hold you back.
Take action, test, and adjust as needed.
Transform your identity to that of an entrepreneur.
Leverage the commodities of time, money, energy, and opportunity cost.
Put yourself on the thought leader path and begin sharing your expertise
Surround yourself with like-minded people who will help you grow.
Identify your vision and goals
Identifying your vision and goals is an essential step in achieving success in any venture. When it comes to business, setting a clear and achievable goal is essential for success. To do this, take a moment to reflect on what your desired outcome is. Ask yourself questions such as: What do I want to accomplish? What am I passionate about? What kind of impact do I want to make? Once you have identified your vision and goals, it is important to create a plan of action. Think about what steps need to be taken to achieve your desired outcome. Make sure to consider the resources you will need and the timeline you want to work within. Additionally, it is important to be realistic in your goal setting. Set achievable goals and make sure to break them down into smaller, achievable steps. If you need help, reach out to a mentor or coach who can help you build a plan of action to achieve your goals.
Once you have identified your vision and goals, it is important to stay accountable. This could be anything from setting reminders in your calendar to checking in with your mentor or coach. Additionally, it is important to track your progress throughout the process. This will help you identify what is and isn’t working so you can adjust your plan of action as needed. Lastly, be sure to celebrate your successes along the way. Achieving your goals is a long and often challenging process, so take a moment to appreciate the hard work and dedication you have put in. Celebrating successes will help to keep you motivated and focused on reaching your goals. Identifying your vision and goals is the first step to achieving success, so embrace the process and stay focused!
Develop a strategic plan to reach your goals
The next step in the process of building a successful business is to develop a strategic plan. This plan should include a detailed outline of how the business will meet its goals, including objectives, a timeline, resources, and a budget. The plan should also include a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape, including potential competitors and their strategies, as well as an analysis of potential customer segments and their needs. Additionally, the plan should consider any potential risks and their mitigation strategies, as well as a clear strategy for marketing and promotion. Finally, the plan should include a detailed timeline for implementation and a budget that takes into account the cost of resources, materials, and labor. Once the plan has been developed, it should be tested and adapted to ensure that it is achievable and that it meets the needs of the business.
Once the strategic plan has been developed and tested, it’s time to start fully implementing it. This requires a commitment of time, energy, and resources, so it’s important to stay organized and be mindful of the timeline and budget. In addition to the plan itself, it’s important to create a system for tracking progress and holding contractors or employees accountable for their tasks. This system should include regular check-ins with the team to ensure that tasks are being completed and that the plan is on track. Additionally, it’s important to establish clear communication channels between team members and other stakeholders and to provide regular updates on progress. Finally, it’s important to be flexible and willing to make changes to the plan if needed, in order to ensure that the business meets its goals in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Address mindset blocks or limiting beliefs
The third step to addressing any mindset blocks is to reflect on the beliefs that are causing the blocks. Once you identify the beliefs that are causing the blocks, it is important to challenge them by looking at the evidence. Ask yourself questions such as: Is this belief true? Is it helpful? Is it realistic? Is it necessary? This can help you to gain a better understanding of the beliefs that are holding you back and help you to make more informed decisions. Some of the blocks that Jan Dyer overcame during our work together were thinking that she is a visionary, not an implementer, that her age is a barrier in the beauty industry, and that she could not see her ideas all the way through to success.
Once you have identified and challenged the beliefs that are causing the blocks, it is important to create a new belief to replace the old one. This new belief should be positive and realistic and should be something that you can hold onto when the old belief starts to creep in again. It is important to write down the new belief and to remind yourself of it often. Doing this will help you to create a new, more empowering mindset and to break through the blocks and limiting beliefs that were previously holding you back.
It is important to be kind to yourself and to recognize that you are not your beliefs. It is okay to have limiting beliefs, as we all do. It is important to forgive yourself for any mistakes and to view them as learning opportunities. Doing this can help you to develop a more positive outlook and to learn to be more accepting of yourself and your beliefs.
Take action, test, and adjust as needed
The fourth step is the most important step of any process as it is the only way to make progress and turn your ideas into reality. Taking action requires you to make a plan, identify what actions need to be taken, and then actually take those actions. It is important to remember that taking action isn’t just about getting started, it is also about continuing to take action and pushing yourself to keep going. Taking action also involves taking risks and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. It is important to remember that even if you fail, you are still one step closer to success. Finally, taking action and keeping taking action is an iterative process. You must be willing to take action, assess your progress, and make adjustments as needed to continue to make progress toward your goal.
Taking action is also about staying consistent and focused. You must remain committed to your goals and stay on track, even when things seem difficult. Additionally, it is important to remain flexible and open to learning new things and trying different approaches. In order to keep taking action, it is essential to keep your enthusiasm and motivation levels high. This can be done by regularly reminding yourself why you started in the first place and by celebrating small successes along the way.
Transform your identity to become an entrepreneur
Most women who start a business begin by doing something they used to do as an employee but are now providing this service as independent freelancers, coaches, or consultants. Even before we hire help in the form of contractors or employees, we need to begin the identity transformation to accept full ownership and responsibility for decision-making, planning, budgeting, marketing, selling, and servicing our customers or clients. I often say “just because you don’t want to have a boss doesn’t mean you want to be a boss” and many women need help to recognize that they are leaders and that they can trust their intuition and judgment. Addressing tendencies like procrastination, perfectionism, people-pleasing, difficulty with boundaries, assertiveness, negotiation, sticking to our scope of work and more tend to hold us back from having the profitable businesses we want and deserve, but all of these behaviors are learned and can be unlearned. Learning to think like a boss is definitely a process and I especially enjoy hearing my clients say that they have come to believe they are capable and confident enough to grow their businesses, especially those who had a hard time seeing themselves as a CEO. CEO is a state of mind, as much as it is a job description.
Utilize the commodities of time, money, energy, and opportunity cost
Jan Dyer knew that she wanted to dial back on the direct service aspect of her business because her time and energy were not unlimited. The opportunity cost of continuing to focus on being a service provider instead of hiring others to provide the services while she focused on growing the business was one of the reasons she decided to hire me. For example, when Jan was invited to a Canadian conference, she weighed the cost of attending, both financial and time-wise, against the potential benefit it could bring her business. By understanding her opportunity costs, she was able to make the best decision for her business.
In determining the allocation of time, money, and energy, Jan also used creative marketing strategies to promote her business. She used social media to reach potential clients and create content that was interesting and engaging. By taking the time to learn the ins and outs of digital marketing, she was able to increase her reach and attract new customers. Additionally, she invested in online advertising and participated in local events, such as trade shows and networking events, to further her connection with potential clients.
Surround yourself with like-minded people who will support your growth
Finally, it is essential to surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you. Find people who have similar goals, who can provide constructive feedback, and who will hold you accountable. With a strong support system, you will be more likely to stay focused and take action consistently.
Jan hired two previous coaches before deciding to work with me, along with purchasing multiple online courses and group coaching programs, yet she continued to struggle for six long years. Most female solopreneurs follow a similar path, including myself, and end up wasting considerable time, energy, and money without making any real progress. In my opinion, the reason for this is that most big-name coaches and course creators are selling a dream (just like the hope-in-a-bottle that is the norm in the beauty industry and the unknown secrets of the diet industry.) Growing a business is hard work and requires a solid foundation as well as an entrepreneurial mindset.
I believe there would be a lot more success stories if women were equipped with realistic expectations and authentic role models so that they can make good decisions about when, and where are how to invest in their business without having so much costly trial and error. When you are just getting started, it’s fine to surround yourself with other beginners, but make sure you don’t get too comfortable there. Keep expanding your support circle to include more advanced and experienced business owners so you will be challenged to grow. If you wanted to become an expert skier, you can only remain on the bunny slopes for so long.
Jancina Dyer’s journey to success has been one of hard work, dedication, and a lot of grit. She has persevered through many obstacles, both professional and personal, to create a thriving business. She has a realistic and attainable vision to expand her service, education, and product offerings and reach an audience of women that had been previously overlooked. She is an advocate for investing in yourself and encourages others to do the same. Jan's story is an inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs. She has shown that no matter your age, you can pursue your passion, fulfill your purpose, and make a positive impact on the world. If you are ready to address the obstacles holding you back in your business, let me know how I can help.
