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Both Feet First

Nathan Monroe

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Good morning everyone! Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.

I have been struggling for years to come up with an idea that I felt was worth executing, even before reading the MFL. I have even made some posts on here in regards to what I should do and how I should do it. Analysis paralysis basically, although it was not all unfounded.

I do not know if this will work and I do not know how to get customers. In short, this is all unknown and maybe using this post as a running advice thread would be beneficial early on. I digress....

I am taking everyone's advice and just STARTING. The idea is an imperfect one, but am starting an IT solutions company offering break/fix, managed services, server/storage management, disaster recovery solutions, and much more. I knew I just needed to start NOW, and not keep thinking. I have purchased a PO Box, domain, invoicing software, and phone number for the business. I will file the LLC in early 2017 (around when I intend to get my first customer).

Some other advice I have gotten is just to simply help others. I am not sure how to incorporate the two, but I see needs all around me. While I am firmly middle class and have no excess debt, there is abject poverty all around me as I live in central Appalachia. While I cannot fix their issues for them, perhaps I can assist if they are willing. I am thinking about two things:

1: Having special pricing for NPOs, churches, medical and dental clinics, rural development companies, legal defense, and more. Assisting those that help the community at significant discounts while providing enterprise expertise is not something that is abundant around here.
2: Providing economic opportunity (which there is a massive lack of here) to rural, young, aspiring professionals. On the job training, education, and other forms of outreach. Honestly, we are far from being able to help, and this idea is imperfect. Those I would seek to help could be lacking basic education. IE: I cannot hire "illiterate Jethro from 20 miles up the holler." Too much of an uphill battle. But if a student debating if he/she should graduate HS or drop out because his economic opportunity is limited to Walmart, McDonald's, or selling drugs and educational opportunity is non-existant; this would be a perfect candidate. The education is free, the experience is free, and we could pay $15-$20 an hour for the right candidate. I would just need someone who is able to learn, wanting to learn, and has good work ethic.

Anyway, need to dig up some customers first. Was thinking of surprising each new customer by zeroing out their first bill.

No real question here......just looking for thoughts if anyone has some.
 
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Nathan Monroe

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Kind of a bummer, was looking forward to some insight from those more seasoned than me. Sent out a mailer today, and setup social media pages.

Signing off now.

Regards,
NM
 

lewj24

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Kind of a bummer, was looking forward to some insight from those more seasoned than me. Sent out a mailer today, and setup social media pages.

Signing off now.

Regards,
NM

Why would anybody reply to this thread once you put this. I'm only replying because it irked me. Nobody has to give you free advice. But dude your title doesn't match up with anything you wrote.

You should have titled it "Both Feet Last."

All I am reading are action fakes/wantrepreneur. And then you said you want to give your first customers your service for free after they agreed to pay you. What? Why? How does that benefit you?

Quit being a wantrepreneur and get some sales.
 

Nathan Monroe

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Why would anybody reply to this thread once you put this. I'm only replying because it irked me. Nobody has to give you free advice. But dude your title doesn't match up with anything you wrote.

You should have titled it "Both Feet Last."

All I am reading are action fakes/wantrepreneur. And then you said you want to give your first customers your service for free after they agreed to pay you. What? Why? How does that benefit you?

Quit being a wantrepreneur and get some sales.

Not sure what I did to come off so offensive to the point that nobody would reply to this. Moreover, I didn't mean to "irk" you.

Never in my post did I say that I was entitled to or expecting free advice. The community here also always been responsive and courteous, until now.

Furthermore, I fail to understand what you mean by "both feet last." I quit self-doubting and took a leap. I made the jump. Something the community here strongly urges, to just start something. Action fakes? Perhaps? I am not sure. The fact that I am investing money into this and putting in all of my free time means something significant to me; I am sorry if a lack of sales makes me a "wantrepreneur." Frankly, I do not see the need to be so rude online. Especially to someone you don't know, someone who is starting out, and someone made a post that wasn't directed towards you. I apologize if I offended in anyway.

"You said you want to give your first customers your service for free after they agreed to pay you." In the MFL, the forum, and many other VERY successful entrepreneurs also talk about helping others. Help someone. Give. Give before you take. That was my attempt here. I was rolling around what I called imperfect I ideas. Helping NPOs and other businesses that assist those that like in abject poverty by scrubbing their first couple hundred dollars seems more like a "thanks for doing business with us." Not making me a "wantrepreneur." The hope was this would harden the customer relationship. Honestly, if that is a bad idea I would have hoped for...."Nathan, don't do that, it is a crappy idea and here is why."

Brother, again I'm sorry and issue a formal public apology to you and the community here for offending anyone. If I came off curt it was because A) I was busy and B) I a REALLY EXCITED and was hoping for a little feedback from the community that has been good to me.




In an effort to clarify, here is the synopsis of my earlier post:

Kind of a bummer,was looking forward to some insight from those more seasoned than me. = You guys rock and I aspire to be like you, I JUST TOOK THE FIRST STEP. I have not heard from you, what do y'all think?

Sent out a mailer today, and setup social media pages = Put out some adds and emails to potential clients. Is this the correct step?

Signing off now. = I am on a conference call, gotta run.

Regards = Regards
NM = My initials.






Warmest of regards,
Nathan
 
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luniac

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meh just saw wall of text didn't feel like reading it honestly. sorry bro.
 

_Master_Shake

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I'm sure @lewj24 didn't mean to offend, but he is right, you're kinda starting your business backwards. You've established a domain, thinking about an LLC, PO Box, invoicing software? For what? You're acting like you're preparing for some kind of Black Friday sale where you're expecting thousands of customers to knock down your doors. Hell, my dads ran a construction business for 20 years and he's just NOW getting some of the things you're talking about.

Start with getting a customer, see if there's even a need for what you're offering, then scale up. Don't start with scaling up.
 
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Nathan Monroe

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I'm sure @lewj24 didn't mean to offend, but he is right, you're kinda starting your business backwards. You've established a domain, thinking about an LLC, PO Box, invoicing software? For what? You're acting like you're preparing for some kind of Black Friday sale where you're expecting thousands of customers to knock down your doors. Hell, my dads ran a construction business for 20 years and he's just NOW getting some of the things you're talking about.

Start with getting a customer, see if there's even a need for what you're offering, then scale up. Don't start with scaling up.

No biggie, nothing was taken personally. I tell my kids that kinda stuff is called "name-calling" and isn't nice. :p

This was my train of thought here:

I HAVE a PO Box, domain, etc. I am not getting them, they are already obtained. And we are not talking about huge expenses here. $60 for the PO, $10 for the domain $20 for 2 years of hosting and email, invoicing was cheap $50, and I did the website and facebook/twitter myself for free. All told I am merely $140 into it no including the LLC papers ($300).

I am going to do an LLC in January 2017, so as not to complicate my taxes for the sake of the last two week of the year. I don't have customer's yet so there would be no sense in it.

Now that this is done (or nearly done), I am seeking customers. That's the unknown part. I have sent out some email blasts, promoted the page on facebook, and .......not much else. That all was done today. I am happy to cold call, go door knocking, etc. But what is the best approach? Guess until I find it I will be doing all of the above.
 

Chimp

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. The education is free, the experience is free, and we could pay $15-$20 an hour for the right candidate. I would just need someone who is able to learn, wanting to learn, and has good work ethic.
How exactly are you making money providing this for free?
 

Nathan Monroe

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How exactly are you making money providing this for free?

Actually is would provide economic opportunity to those who have very little. But on the back end I can pay someone a mere $15-$20 (a gold mine for some around here) an hour (1099?) and make a good margin, even with discounts to NPO and other organizations helping the community. Also to be clear, we would not just NPOs :) Just trying to come up with a clever marketing strategy while trying to help others. Helping others has been drilled into my head by a lot of my inspirations, including those on this forum.
 
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Nathan Monroe

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Actually is would provide economic opportunity to those who have very little. But on the back end I can pay someone a mere $15-$20 (a gold mine for some around here) an hour (1099?) and make a good margin, even with discounts to NPO and other organizations helping the community. Also to be clear, we would not just NPOs :) Just trying to come up with a clever marketing strategy while trying to help others. Helping others has been drilled into my head by a lot of my inspirations, including those on this forum.

and WHILE working they would pick up on critical job skills. Guess I left that out...
 

juan917

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Why would anybody reply to this thread once you put this. I'm only replying because it irked me. Nobody has to give you free advice. But dude your title doesn't match up with anything you wrote.

You should have titled it "Both Feet Last."

All I am reading are action fakes/wantrepreneur. And then you said you want to give your first customers your service for free after they agreed to pay you. What? Why? How does that benefit you?

Quit being a wantrepreneur and get some sales.

@OP I recommend reading up on Grant Cardone if you want some sort of direction on selling. It's a skill to be learned. No doubt you will suck at it first
 

Nathan Monroe

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@OP I recommend reading up on Grant Cardone if you want some sort of direction on selling. It's a skill to be learned. No doubt you will suck at it first

I guarentte I do! Tried my hand at it before. I'm too honest and, as seen above, curt. It just don't jive. Maybe I just need to smile more. :)
 
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lewj24

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Nathan Monroe

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If you think being called "wantrepreneur" is rude and not nice you need to get some thicker skin.

You were using the term to be rude, and no it wasn't polite. These are facts. My feelings aren't hurt and my skin is thick enough. Please note where I said I didn't take it personally.

Please read my response to your post, then let's move on. Surely there is a better use of your time?
 
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lewj24

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You were using the term to be rude, and no it wasn't polite. These are facts.
No, these are not facts, you just made that up.

Please note where I said I didn't take it personally.
It seemed like you did. And you should have taken it personally since it is some personal advice. It is up to you whether or not to use my words as an insult or as constructive criticism.

Surely there is a better use of your time?
Sorry for taking time out of my life to give you advice.
 
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Nathan Monroe

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No, these are not facts, you just made that up.


It seemed like you did. And you should have taken it personally since it is some personal advice. It is up to you whether or not to use my words as an insult or as constructive criticism.


Sorry for taking time out of my life to give you advice.

Time to move past this. I already have.
 

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