“Poke the bear” to create the life you want, with The Branding Man Steve Keith
Steve Keith shares how he went from being clueless about his professional goals to owning a successful employer branding business.
Steve joins me in this episode and we discuss:
- Why being humble and asking for help is key to scaling your business
- An entrepreneur’s guide to self-care
- How to grow without putting too much pressure on yourself
In this episode we discuss:
00:27 Introduction to Steve Keith
- Steve’s background [00:43]
- What Steve is focusing on right now [01:14]
03:36 What caused Steve to leave employment and start his business in 2018?
09:26 How Steve started his business six weeks after quitting his job
09:26 How to turn your strengths into a career
- Maintaining focus [11:27]
- Gaining credibility as a new entrepreneur [13:01]
13:57 Steve’s biggest failures during the early stages of building his business
- One event that forced Steve to swallow his pride [15:55]
- The danger of putting too much pressure on yourself to succeed in the beginning [18:55]
21:36 Steve’s winning habits as an entrepreneur
Quick Juice Questions
27:29 What is your best tip for those thinking about leaving full-time employment?
Do it! Focus on what you want to get out of your life, what’s holding you back at the moment, and what you’re really passionate about. Just have a go at it. But I will also caveat that with: Have a plan.
28:34 What are the first steps that aspiring entrepreneurs should take?
Ask people around you what you’re good at. You can build a career around that talent, skill, or strength.
30:12 What has inspired you the most in your journey and where are you most inspired?
It’s been the work of younger people. One of the most inspiring conversations I’ve had is with a young entrepreneur, Natasha, who I had on my podcast recently. She took her passion for fashion and turned it into a business. In the last couple of months, she used that as an opportunity to do some really great things. It really inspires me when I see a person who spots an opportunity and runs with it. Sometimes I can be incredibly introverted and go into my own shell. I go for walks during those times and do and think about absolutely nothing. When my mind empties like that, that’s when I tend to have my best ideas.
32:16 Which book has inspired you and changed your thinking the most?
I’m a big fan of Seth Godin. He’s a marketing guru and wrote a book called Purple Cow. It’s completely changed how I see things and today and made me eager to understand what makes people tick.
33:38 If there’s one last bit of Executive Juice you can share for people who want to get to the top of their property game, what would it be?
Grab hold of the opportunities you have no matter how small they might seem because you never know where they’re going to take you.
Quotes
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Those who’ve experienced success will be more than happy to throw down a ladder and pull up others who are on the same journey.
- Life’s too short and too many people limit themselves to having conversations with themselves about what they could be doing.
Connect with Steve Keith
Books mentioned