December 3, 2021
This post is a little different...
Rather than simply sharing successful outcomes or writing a "how to", this is an update on what I am currently working towards and looking to achieve ⤵️
I've had a partner ever since I got into business (2014). But, a few of months ago I took my first steps into the unknown, alone.
Most recently, I was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) @ Jaspr. I've now made Jaspr a client of mine, changing my role in the business to Director of Optimization (DOO) and allowing me to focus more on the things I enjoy. That is, process optimization and automation.
Making this transition from full time employee to part-time consultant has freed up my calendar... Now I must create value and other revenue streams in new and different ways. The start of a new chapter.
So what now?
I plan on doing what I have successfully assisted with in the past — Starting businesses quickly (more on this here —> The Rapid Method).
My goal is to launch a new business idea every quarter 😬
The desired outcome is a profitable model with clear and simple processes that I can hand off to an operator to handle the day-to-day, all within ~3 months.
I will be sharing my journey here (both successes and failures). I will be documenting the exact process of starting these different businesses via this blog (and possibly a podcast 🤔).
Business Criteria:
- Simple — I am not interested in creating complex systems or processes
- B2C/D2C — Selling directly to consumers rather than to other businesses
- Small Team — Similar to a business that I co-own (Air Quality Canada), these businesses should be able to operate with a single hands-on operator (occasional help from contractors or virtual assistants is fine)
- Profitable — Focused on profit and staying lean
- <$5k Funding — Starting these businesses shouldn't break the bank
- Clear Offering — It shouldn't require much education to acquire a customer
What is the first business?
It's already underway 🙂
An E-commerce brand focused on selling top quality tech and travel products for men.
I already acquired my first few customers, but the Cost to Acquire a Customer (CAC) was too high. So... I paused all marketing efforts and hired a Shopify developer on Upwork to improve the website. Now that this phase is complete, I will pivot my efforts back to marketing.
Why this business?
- Prior to Jaspr, my entire business career was focused on service-based companies. Jaspr significantly increased my interest in the e-commerce world.
- The first product to launch was obvious... The perfect everyday travel bag. This is something I've always searched for, bought, and tested the last few years while travelling and working remote... So I decided to create it for myself!
The bag isn't ready yet... It's currently still in pre-order mode. Because of this, I decided to search for suppliers who already had products ready to sell that fit the brand and theme via dropshipping (where the supplier ships directly to the customer). This allowed me to launch the online store while the travel bag continues to go through iterations and production.
I am giving myself ~1 more month to achieve a working profitable model, and before I begin to focus on the next idea.
Stay tuned!
PS. Whenever you're ready... Here are three more ways I can help you become your most productive self:
- Access my Free Notion Task Manager → Get Access
- Get my Notion Personal OS to manage your business & personal life → Learn More
- If you need help mapping, creating & optimizing your systems → Work With Me
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