Full Interview Can Be Found Here!
TOP 5 LESSONS I LEARNT FROM INTERVIEWING MICHELLE EVANS
Lesson 1 — Build On Your Entrepreneurial Desires Before You Get Too Comfortable (Golden Handcuffs)
Michelle shared how she went to business school with he desire of owning her own business; however she was overwhelmed by the perceived complexity of starting her own business. It looked as if to start a business she needed to have lots of money, lots of knowledge and it honestly looked easier for her to just get a job and figure out the Entrepreneurial path later. She entered into her corporate career and found that she began to progress up the corporate ladder very quickly! In fact by the time she was 28 she was the Vice-President of Marketing and Investor relations at a bank! I know what you’re thinking.. ‘What a lovely problem to have it sounds more like a dream‘ but actually when you know in yourself that you were born to be an Entrepreneur and have the deep desire to become an Entrepreneur you will not feel fulfilled! It’s more like being trapped in these Golden Handcuffs! Golden because you’re being paid well and the benefits seem to be growing but handcuffs because you know within yourself you’re not made for the corporate life! Luckily (and I use this word with caution because I don’t believe in luck and also I don’t think it was a nice moment for Michelle) her boss had a conversation with her which resulted in her deciding it’s time for me to leave and make her business a reality!
I was never taking action to make my business a reality until THAT Moment! — Michelle Evans
Lesson 2 — Your Personal Brand Will Enable You To Grow Your Business Much Faster Than If You’ve Spent Life Blending In
Michelle had created such a strong network and personal brand that when she began to reach out to people letting them know she was preparing to leave her job and begin her own consulting business they jumped straight on board. She was able to replace a 6 figure salary in her Corporate job with a 6 figure income from her own business within the space of 5 months. Typically this kind of change would take Entrepreneurs years to build up to a point where they could leave their job because they would be starting their brand from scratch! Due to the work Michelle had already put in the transition was smoother than it would be for the average person! Michelle is not saying that it’s easy… She had to hustle to keep the level of business high but it was a much more solid platform and she also received recommendations from those who trusted her personal brand already!
Lesson 3 — Be More Than Just A Job Title or You’ll Be Easily Replaced
If you are no more than a job title you are so easily replaceable — Michelle Evans
Michelle explained how you need to be more than just your ‘job title’! What does that mean? Firstly, it means that you need to be crystal clear on what you’re amazing at, what you’re not amazing at and where you add the most business value people know exactly what you’re about! They can see that you are “All In” on the business and not there purely to pick up a paycheque! Michelle was able to be part of the Senior Leadership Team in the Bank at the age of 26 whilst the majority of her peers were in their 40’s, 50’s! Why? Because she LOVED marketing, she made a huge name for herself and went out of her way to speak and share wins that she’d had so people knew she LOVED what she did and was damn good at it! Stop turning up to work, school, college with the mentality of being just another person. It’s impossible for people to buy into you when you are giving the minimum amount of effort or only doing what is expected of you. You must be prepared to Aim A Little Higher than anyone expects you to, Aim A Little Higher than anyone in your position is prepared to and Aim A Little Higher than you did the day before! That’s how you build a personal brand and that’s how you get taken seriously above others with the same ‘job title’ as you!
Lesson 4 — Know, Improve and OWN Your Strengths and Be Open About Your Weaknesses!
I LOVED this section of the interview… It was such a refreshing approach to the typical work on your weaknesses until they become your strengths! Michelle says SCREW THAT! Do not waste your time working on your weaknesses, instead take that time and work on a strength so you become unstoppable! Now she didn’t say ignore your weaknesses, Michelle recommends being mature enough to do the weaknesses when needed but work on finding a contingency plan or a way to ensure that weakness is covered! “If you can take this off of my plate I can give you so much more here and drive the business faster!” Recommended Book: Strength Finders 2.0
Find out your strengths and work on your weaknesses? SCREW THAT! — Michelle Evans breaks it down
The Main Lesson — Use Your Why, Strengths & Brand to Stand Out!
Get an understanding of what drives you, gives you energy and finding that why is so critical, even more critical than what you actually do! Having a strong why and continuing to refocus on it will really help you to figure out what your Personal Brand is! To take this even further sit down and really think about what impact you would like to leave on this world. You could consider the life you want to create for yourself, your family or even your friends. It could be about your ultimate mission; figuring out a clear mission will help you when defining your brand and keep you going when times get rough. Also think about what it does for you personally (it’s okay to be a little bit selfish as long as it isn’t the sole purpose behind what you do) do you want financial freedom, are you inspired by making a difference what’s in it for you? Personal growth, significance, contribution… Really sit down and figure out your why! Try a personality assessment with a difference; she recommends trying one by Sally Hogshead has developed an assessment that isn’t like your typical assessment! Her premise is that you don’t have to learn how to be fascinating, you have to unlearn how to be boring!
you don’t have to learn how to be fascinating, you have to unlearn how to be boring!
You’ve been trained within Education to deal with challenges in a very specific way and fit in to the student box. This is a way to help you undo that so you can STAND OUT. It helps you to figure out what you offer to the world that people love and want more of whilst also helping you to see how you best approach situations. It will help you to see what type of work would suit you, what makes you special and how you can leave your personal stamp on the world. People will be much more willing to work with someone who stands for something, knows themselves and has built a strong reputation! Michelle also mentioned the importance of finding a mentor! We’ve done plenty of episodes on this subject and it’s come up yet again! That’s a sign!… Michelle spent a week with a mentor and realised it was definitely not the route for her! Had she not checked she would have spent a large amount of money studying a subject that she ultimately wouldn’t have enjoyed! Go and find somebody who is doing what you want to do and ask them to mentor you, have a conversation, ask questions, see if you could shadow them!
