For today’s discussion, we’re going to take a step into the start-up space. Whether you have your eyes set on an entrepreneurial venture in retail, finance or technology I hope that our conversation will ignite a spark within your own career path.

Let me introduce to you a powerful serial entrepreneur. Today’s guest is Erica Amatori. She’s the Director of Marketing at Burrow and Co-Founder of TheBit at the impressive age of just 23. Tune in below!

SHOW NOTES:

Erica is the VP of Marketing at Burrow, an e-commerce start-up that is changing up the furniture space. Their value lies in that their furniture is extremely comfortable and adaptable. She’s also the co-founder of thebitdaily.com a source from crypto-education and a crypto-community (1:26).

On knowing when to invest her time or money on a start-up, Erica first needs to believe in not just idea, but also the team (2:50).

“To know whether a start-up is right for me I act like my own venture capitalist firm.”

Start-ups are a roller coaster. The highs are high, the lows are low. When you don’t think there is a market for your service or product, you have to be real with yourself and move on (5:12).

“It’s not a failure, it’s a learning.”

— Erica Amatori

Book recommendation by Erica: The Dip by Seth Godin ß Click here to check it out.

With an idea, is it better to be authentic or original? Erica says neither. She thinks you truly need is product market fit. A demand and audience for the product (7:15).

To Erica, “innovation” means to find opportunity gaps and fill them. Finding a broken process and fixing it (9:00).

Innovative ideas come from innovative people. Character traits such as curiosity allow you to question the current processes and finding new solves. Practice this by always asking questions (10:20).

“Behind every successful person there are a lot of unsuccessful years.”

— Erica Amatori

Want to get start in your start-up now? Erica advises to go out there and start doing market research and find if your product or service is valuable (13:20).

Loved this episode? Share your voice and leave a review on iTunes now!

Have you ever dreamt about an ideal reality, maybe you see yourself running your own company, managing your own shop or working your way up at the office but in a different department.

What’s stopping you? Fear can be the number one reason that restrains you from achieving that ultimate reality. How do we overcome that paralyzing fear that seeps into our minds telling us you can’t do it?

I think it’s about about taking risks and being bold. Today on the podcast I am honored to have Alisha Johns, the Founder and Creative Director of LISH creative. She’s an innovator and creator who has a flare for color and a passion for entrepreneurship. Today’s episode will be a discussion around creating smart content, how to take those risks and what’s needed to be bold. Listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

Alisha started her career at a few agencies in Pittsburgh for a small team that worked on huge projects. There, she wore a lot of hats that prepared her for owning her own business (2:32).

She works with up to 14 different contractors at one time. Alisha believes that showing appreciation and gratitude for your team is important for management. That, and knowing when to let go of control (3:34).

Trying to show that gratitude in your workplace? It can be as simple as thanking them and telling them that you appreciate them (4:38).

On delegation, Alisha focuses in what she is best at and then delegating the things she knows other will be better at (5:25).

Right now in her industry it’s all about video. She’s seen an increase in videos requested by clients and she believes that challenge will be how can brands differentiate their videos from each other (6:04).

The latest Instagram video launch, IGTV doesn’t seem to be attracting many viewers as of recent; but, we both agree that it is a good platform to direct viewers to engage in longer form content (7:10).

Alisha defines “Smart Content” as a way to get across to people that Lish Creative isn’t just taking pretty pictures. They (Lish Creative) are going to break down the brand (their client) and tie in content to their greater marketing strategy through learning about their consumer and tell their story (8:23).

Alisha’s creative process? Learning as much about the brand and their brands’ consumer as much as they can. Sometimes the brands’ product can be the most inspiration to spur creativity (9:27).

So many brands end up looking the same. Alisha challenges, “Why not break the mold!” (10:55).

Alisha recommends to chip away at your passion. She did so for 3 years to start her business and eventually leave her full-time job (13:10).

Want to start a side-hustle? Take initiative and just start it! It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about starting and building a portfolio of work. Don’t worry about what people think! (14:25).

Loved this episode? Share your voice and leave a review on iTunes now!