Take People with You: How to Elevate as You Grow
When I first stepped onto Ohio Dominican University’s campus for my first class, entrepreneurship was the furthest thing from my mind. I had no idea how to start a business or even that it was possible for someone like me. I was raised by a single mother; my father is incarcerated and has been most of my life, and at that time, no one in my immediate family had graduated from college.
Fast-forward 14 years. I’m a college graduate, wife, and mother, and I have a 10-year-old business (5+ years of entrepreneurship).
Although I am a huge advocate for establishing a digital presence, I can admit that most of my clients have come through referrals. Yes, my digital presence helped to seal the deal on contracts. However, when people were told by someone they trusted, “You should work with Tonnisha!” That held more weight than an Instagram post ever could.
Are you familiar with the “scarcity mindset?”
According to Google’s AI, “Having a scarcity mindset is a way of thinking that's characterized by the belief that resources are limited and that you can't have everything you want. People with a scarcity mindset are often preoccupied with what they lack, leading to chronic worry and fear. This mindset can manifest in many ways, such as:
Constantly worrying about time
Being fixated on saving money
Avoiding spending on necessary items
Hoarding
Competing with others
Prioritizing self-preservation”
When it comes to our business, we must remove scarcity from our way of thinking and take people with us as we grow.
Here’s how…
Speak people’s names in rooms they’re not in.
It’s one thing for you to have a seat at the table, but how amazing would it be if you also pulled up a chair for someone else? Whether it’s a meeting with your teams or a networking event, if someone is missing from the conversation, speak their name and make sure they’re brought into the room the next time.
Refer prospects to other providers.
Over the last couple of years, I have made it a habit to refer other service providers to prospective clients. I do this because 1) there are other people I admire in the industry who I think are amazing 2) there are other creatives that can do things better than me (design, building websites, SEO, etc.) and 3) there’s enough money and clients to go around! Simply referring to another provider who can get the job done if you can’t is a great way to take people with you as you grow.
Share people’s content.
I know we all have our IG aesthetics for our grids, but we can at least share people's content on our stories. This takes about two seconds and helps expose other business owners to a potential new audience.
There are so many other free and paid ways to give people opportunities and take them with you as you grow. If you have some ways that work for you, reply and let me know so that we can share!
