I see this quote floating around social media a lot, “Burn the boats”!
While it’s a nice idea to go “ALL IN” when it comes to being an entrepreneur, betting on yourself (which I’m 100% all for), and going after your dreams, I think burning the boats is not only unrealistic, it’s DANGEROUS!
That’s why I can’t wait to share my personal entrepreneur journey from a successful offline business to how I transitioned to the online space and reinvented myself into a personal brand business!
If you’re anything like me and ever felt like other people became a success seemingly “overnight” or they were able to drop all their responsibilities like having a mortgage, a family, health insurance… all the things to become a bazillionaire entrepreneur overnight, we definitely need to talk!
I can’t think of a single person who became a success by “burning their boats”. It just doesn’t happen that way so let’s chat about what we CAN do, what I did so far in my entrepreneurial journey, and continue to do!
I think you’ll feel so much more hopeful and empowered afterward!
Here’s a sneak peek of what we talked about:
- [9:29] How I don’t put all my eggs in one basket!
- [11:45] Why there’s no such thing as an overnight success!
- [20:41] My exact timeline and what I did first, second, and what’s next!
- [34:46] How I created three streams of income and what they are!
How I Don’t Put All My Eggs In One Basket
We see these really inspiring quotes, like “burn the boats” in reference to entrepreneurship. This notion of burning the boats is tempting unless you have rent, mortgages, healthcare, or children to take care of. If you’re anything like me when I started my online journey I didn’t just one day decide to quit my offline business and completely pivot overnight to an online business with no product, audience, or email list.
There is no shame if you’re currently in the transition period of going from offline to online in your business or if your business right now is a side hustle. We have to create a plan because becoming an entrepreneur doesn’t happen overnight.
To hear more about the real problem with putting all your eggs in one basket, skip ahead to 9:29.
Why There’s No Such Thing As An Overnight Success
When I first started online I had 15+ years of experience as a full-time makeup artist and wardrobe stylist in production and television. Bodybugg bands, the first wearable body trackers, had just come out. They were so ugly that I decided to add crystals to them. Soon people noticed and started asking me to bling out their bands too.
I started selling custom sparkly Bodybugg bands as a side gig. I would get home from my production work, eat dinner, hang out with my husband, and then around 10 o’clock at night I would start my side gig. I charged anywhere from $100-$150.
Eventually, I recruited one of my sisters and we started making custom license plates and cell phone covers too. We kept getting ripped off left and right by other “competitors”, but in reality, there really was no competition, because no one could be us. Even though I was already an entrepreneur offline, my side gig helped me tiptoe into the online space.
My Exact Timeline and What I Did First, Second, and What’s Next
I mapped out my entrepreneurial journey because I want you to know that you are not going too slow and you are not too far behind:
- In 2012, I started blogging: People had tons of questions about makeup and styling, so I started blogging to share the answers to the questions I kept getting asked over and over again on repeat.
- In October 2014, I became an affiliate marketer: I started to grow a tiny audience of fewer than 3k people. I didn’t even have an email list. I showed up authentically and documented in real-time what I was doing. As a result, I generated over $70k in affiliate sales with a tiny following and zero people on my email list.
- I did my very first live video on Periscope, in July 2015: My life (and business) was forever changed after getting pushed in front of my first live video. I was no longer the faceless, voiceless person behind my blog that had grown in popularity.
- In February 2016, I then became number one in affiliate sales: I went from $70k to $400k in affiliate sales and started to partner with major brands. Because I go all-in on being particular and specific about a handful of products, I’m still the number one affiliate for Ring Lights.
- I beta-tested my digital course, Lights Camera Branding (LCB) program in March 2016: I was flying home from working behind-the-scenes at QVC when I brain dumped the idea for my digital course, LCB, after reading Pat Flynn’s book Will It Fly?
- In September 2016 I spoke and sold for the first time on stage: While I don’t recommend doing that, every little stepping stone and milestone helped me create the business that I have today.
- LCB went from a DIY course to a hybrid coaching experience in February 2017: This is when I started to scale back the amount of time I was dedicating to my offline business.
- I created my backend membership in May 2018: The LCB Insider’s Club, which is my alumni-only backend membership was literally birthed from a desire from my students who wanted more.
- March 2019 is when I made my first 7-figure year: It took me 15 months to get to my first $1 Million dollars in revenue. Some people do it fast and it takes some people ten years. The most important thing is that whatever your journey is it’s your journey and you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
- We had our biggest 6-figure launch yet in May 2019: Way more than the wins, the failures, obstacles, and challenges are what motivate, drive, and give us something to work for.
Skip ahead to 20:41 to hear more about how to put in the dedication, stay focused, and do it despite the haters.
How I Created Three Streams of Income and What They Are
There is no such thing as security – even with a job, there is a false sense of security. I have three streams of income and that makes me feel a little bit safer and a little bit more secure in an industry and a lifestyle where there are no guarantees:
- Digital Course & Backend Membership: I’ve got my digital course, LCB, and that goes into my backend membership, the LCB Insider’s Club, where I get to hang out with people and really see them blossom their business. I share the many pros and cons that people don’t talk about with backend memberships here on my blog.
- Affiliate Marketing & Referral Relationships: I still do affiliate marketing and have tons of referral relationships. I have multiple blogs on affiliate marketing, including an amazing two-part series you can access here.
- Consulting: I still do consult which allows me to work with the best of the best. In the past five years, I’ve worked on three New York Times bestseller book launches. I’ve also consulted with CNN, Foxx, and many shows that pivoted last year to livestream from their own home.
Get On My VIP Waitlist!!
If you’re not already on my VIP waitlist for Lights Camera Branding, get on the waitlist today. In less than one month we’ll have the opportunity to hangout together to really laser focus on the direction you’re going, where you’re headed, and what’s next on your entrepreneurial journey.
With Grit & Grace, xoxo!
Tiffany aka Coach Glitter
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