Lauren Bacon is a creative and passionate entrepreneur, a veteran web designer, and author of The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business.
They share their lessons they’ve learned from creating a profitable business and are champions of showing you how having your own business is the most fun you can have while making a living.
In this video interview Lauren shares why she loves being an entrepreneur, what’s unique qualities women in business possess, why she and Emira wrote their book and her passion for helping grassroots entrepreneurs.
What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?
Knowing that even when things are rough, my fate is in my hands. I love having the power to create the work life I want.
What’s been your biggest challenge to-date and how did you tackle it?
The place I think we (that is, my business partner and I) really got stuck was the tug-of-war between staying small and growing. For the first five years, it was just the two of us, but by year five we were struggling to keep up with demand for our services.
So we finally gave up & hired help — and it was the best decision we ever made. It took a lot of prodding from our friends & colleagues, and we had to face several deep fears we had, but once we had took a few deep breaths and looked those fears in the face, we never looked back.
You just celebrated your business’ 10 year anniversary. What’s your secret?
I picked the right business partner.
Seriously, I don’t know how people do this without a trusted partner at their side. She’s incredible, and she makes me smarter, better, and braver every single day.
What’s been the most invaluable learning experience for you as an entrepreneur?
You know, I would say that the reason I became an entrepreneur is that I have an insatiable hunger for learning. Every day brings new learning experiences, and that’s why I love my job.
Why did you and your business partner Emira write your book “The Boss Of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business”
A lot of people were asking us for business advice and book recommendations and there wasn’t anything out there we felt was truly fantastic.
We wanted there to be a book that answered the questions we had when we were starting out, and we found the books on the shelves were either a) geared towards would-be overnight millionaires, b) self-help books disguised as business books (those are mainly aimed at women), or c) boring as hell.
We thought there ought to be a guidebook that encouraged you to define success for yourself, and then walked you through how to create a business that reflects your values — while still feeling conversational and fun. Being your own boss is fun, so learning how to do that should be fun too.
What is the main lesson you’d like readers of your book to learn?
You know a lot more than you think you know. I find a lot of women entrepreneurs in particular doubt their own expertise, and they’re reaching for business books even though they probably know more than we did when we started out.
One of the essential lessons of entrepreneurship is to trust your gut, so start there. Be very choosy about what advice you follow and who you turn to for guidance.
What would be your key piece of advice to women wanting to write and publish a book?
Approach it like a business project. You need to be able to market and sell your book in order for a publisher to consider it a good bet, so build up an audience (through blogging, Twitter, magazine columns, whatever) and then leverage that to get a book deal. Know who you’re writing for (and selling to) and create a book that is unique in that marketplace.
Do you have any daily habits that propel you to success?
Goodness. I have a lot of daily habits and I have no idea if any of them are significant enough that they could propel me (or anyone) to success. But here’s what I’m paying attention to right now:
Exercise, because when I’m healthy, my energy and stamina stay high and I can get a lot done. Breathing: I actually put “Breathe” in my to-do list every day because that’s the only way I can remember to do it. It really helps.
And prioritizing: I’m an obsessive list-maker, and I check, edit and re-organize my to-do list several times a day to accommodate shifting priorities. I ask myself constantly, “What is the most important thing for me to do right now?” — and then I do that one thing.
What are the 3 top books you’ve read that have made a personal difference to you and influenced you and why?
I was an English major, so this is an impossible question for me. If we’re talking business books, I would say “Small Giants: Companies that Choose to be Good Instead of Great”
I could probably give you ten sets of three books, each in a different genre: 3 top novels, 3 top non-fiction, 3 top comic books, children’s books, poetry, etc. etc. But that’s a horrible answer, and I’m avoiding the question. So let’s say…
1. Infinite Jest
2. From Hell
And although the plot revolves around Jack the Ripper, the story is also about architecture, city planning, religion, knowledge, power and politics. So it’s not like a CSI episode – it’s a story that can be read a dozen different ways.
3. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence
[For more books I recommend check out: Must Read Books. – Natalie]
How do you create work/life balance?
Well, we’ve tried to create a business that allows us to leave work at 5 o’clock. That doesn’t always happen. But I feel like so long as your work is fun, and you’re able to bring your whole self to work, there doesn’t have to be a big slash between “work” and “life” and then the balancing act gets a lot easier.
What is your mantra that you live by?
“Believe nothing; entertain possibilities.”
One lucky reader will win a signed copy of Lauren and Emira’s excellent book The Boss of You.
Simply state below why you love being your own boss and if you’re thinking of starting your own business why you want to become your own boss. Winner announced next Saturday.